WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Dexter: Resurrection episode 10.
Dexter: Resurrection episode 10, “And Justice For All,” ends in true Dexter fashion with Dexter Morgan dumping a severed body in trash bags into the ocean from a boat. This time around, the body once belonged to Leon Prater, the billionaire philanthropist, who is revealed to have a Dark Passenger of his own by killing Batista in Resurrection episode 9.
After Prater trapped Dexter in his serial killer shrine vault in the penultimate episode, his plan was to let Dexter die by starving him to death. Dexter contacts Harrison using Batista’s phone after a ghostly visit from his brother, Brian Moser, ridiculing him for ever believing in Harry’s Code. Harrison infiltrates Prater’s annual NYPD gala as a waiter and helps Dexter crack the code on Prater’s vault after Dexter tells Charley that Prater’s been keeping tabs on her, which leads her to quit.
Although Dexter: Original Sin was surprisingly unrenewed by Paramount, the future of the Dexter franchise became unexpectedly uncertain. Based on the acclaim of Dexter: Resurrection, it’s still highly likely that the series will be renewed, especially because there are still plenty of narrative and characters to explore in a second season.
That said, Dexter’s final bow in front of the Statue of Liberty in the Resurrection finale is a pretty strong way to close out the franchise, especially considering the divisive endings of New Blood and the original series.
Dexter Kills Leon Prater To Avenge Batista’s Death
One of the more obvious developments that was bound to happen in the Dexter: Resurrection finale was the death of Leon Prater. Despite being a famous billionaire, Prater loses himself completely by shooting Angel in the back four times in episode 9, unlocking what Dexter calls the Dark Passenger’s “urge.”
Once Charley exited the picture, Prater had no one to come to his defense who knew of his serial killer club and fanaticism. After spotting Harrison in the crowd during a speech at his fundraising event, Prater ordered a security officer to kill all the cameras and hand him his gun. Prater was moments away from killing Harrison, still crazed by the power and adrenaline he felt from killing Batista.
Dexter is able to distract Prater long enough, telling him to kill him instead, to signal to Harrison to use the “protection” he had given him. In true Dexter style, Harrison stabs Prater with a syringe full of a sedative, and the rest is history for Prater. Dexter admits he was initially appreciative of Prater putting all those killers in one room, but distinguished himself from them as a murderer with a code. Prater, like the others, was just downright sick, which is why he deserved to die.
Dexter Doesn’t Add Prater To His Blood Slide Collection
Dexter gives Prater the ultimate insult by not including him in his blood slide collection, which he reunited with thanks to Prater’s collecting obsession. Dexter explains that he typically takes a trophy so that he can remember each kill, but Prater stands as an exception for what he did to Batista.
In his final moments, Prater misunderstood Dexter, thinking that not making him a blood slide meant that he would spare his life. Dexter, however, was not swayed whatsoever by Prater’s desperate promises to make him very wealthy, hilariously responding with a nonchalant, “I’m good,” as he rejected Prater’s only bargaining chip.
Prater was more or less “born in blood” like Dexter, Brian, and Harrison, but crossed a serious line by killing Batista. Had he been more tactful, he could have killed Dexter and taken credit for taking out the true Bay Harbor Butcher. Instead, he ends up on Dexter’s kill table and ultimately in the waters of New York’s Upper Bay.
Wallace Discovers The New York Ripper’s Identity
After an iconic dance scene to her theme song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, Detective Wallace finally discovers the true identity of the New York Ripper serial killer – a man named Don Framt. Dexter leaves his file behind in Prater’s vault, where she, Detective Oliva, and other NYPD officers discover Batista’s body and Prater’s murder weapon.
Dexter likely wasn’t just doing Wallace a favor by leaving behind the NY Ripper’s file. Instead, he knew it would get Wallace off his back since she would be so consumed by capturing this “white whale” of her law enforcement career. Wallace and Oliva will likely have a lot of questions about what Batista was doing in Prater’s vault. If they connect this to the fact that the Bay Harbor Butcher’s blood slides are missing, Wallace may start to believe Batista’s theory about Dexter after all.
Charley Flees New York City With Her Sick Mother
Charley’s loyalty to Prater is revealed to be motivated by keeping her sick mother alive with the best possible treatment, which Prater was paying for. However, that arrangement wasn’t enough for Prater to completely trust Charley, as the file that Dexter finds on her proves that Prater wanted to completely own her. This revelation sends Charley walking, leaving NYC for good and moving back to Amherst (presumably in Massachusetts) with her mother.
Charley must have arranged to take a good chunk of Prater’s money with her to ensure her mother would still receive top-notch care. It’s unclear what she’ll end up doing for work or if she’ll even return in a potential Dexter: Resurrection season 2. There is the possibility that she and Dexter team up to take out the remaining at-large killers from Prater’s files, like Al or Rapunzel, especially if Dexter chooses to distance himself from Harrison next season for his safety after nearly getting killed.
How Resurrection’s Season 1 Ending Sets Up Season 2
Dexter: Resurrection proved to be a phenomenal installment and a fantastic expansion of the franchise, which is why it absolutely deserves a second season. The bond between Harrison and Dexter has never been tighter, and the new cast of characters, several of whom are already dead, made for an incredibly exciting and thrilling watch.
The biggest question for Resurrection season 2 will be whether or not it takes place in New York City. It would make sense for Dexter to go after Al first in Wisconsin – I can already see Al biking behind another “ponytail girl” only for him to realize it’s Charley, leading him to Dexter’s kill table. From there, the series could take on more of an “open road” approach, since I suspect Quinn is going to arrive in New York after Batista’s death. This could make it unsafe for Dexter and Harrison to be in Manhattan.
Alternatively, Wallace and Quinn could meet at Batista’s funeral in Miami. This could even bring other OG Dexter characters like Tom Matthews into the fold. The series could switch back to making Miami its primary location if Miami Metro bands together and works with the NYPD and the FBI to solve Batista’s murder case, especially if more evidence arises that he was right about Dexter being the Bay Harbor Butcher.
Dexter may think it’s safe to go back to Miami with Harrison, only to discover that Quinn and a whole new squad of Miami Metro homicide detectives are coming for him. Now that Original Sin won’t be around to give viewers that nostalgic original series atmosphere, sending Dexter back to Miami in Dexter: Resurrection could make for another riveting season.
Dexter: Resurrection
9/10
- Release Date
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July 13, 2025
- Network
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Paramount+ with Showtime
- Directors
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Marcos Siega
- Writers
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Scott Buck