Andrew Grevas
Tonight’s the night. Dexter: Resurrection Episode 5 is currently available to stream on Paramount + and will air Sunday evening on Showtime. If you haven’t seen this episode yet (directed by Marcos Siega and written by Katrina Mathewson & Tanner Bean) proceed with caution. This article will be filled with spoilers.
Human Connections
Much of Dexter: Resurrection Episode 5 centers around Dexter’s desire for some level of human connection. Last week, Dexter was both introduced to Mia (aka Lady Vengeance), who had love interest/end of the season victim potential, and also revealed to Harrison that he was still alive. These two relationships were front and center in “Murder Horny.”
Dexter’s initial conversation with Harrison didn’t go well. His son compared him to Michael Myers and told him that he wasn’t sure if he wanted a relationship with him. Which was pretty much to be expected. Thankfully the not always emotionally present Dexter did take responsibility for what happened the last time he saw his son, telling Harrison that he forced him to pull the trigger.
Perhaps the most significant part of this first conversation was Harrison’s disclosure about how killing Ryan Foster made him feel. Harrison potentially being like his father has been a bit yo-yo like. At times, it’s heavily implied that he is also destined to be a serial killer, and other times, we’re led to believe that he’s not. Personally this a question that I don’t think they should go back and forth with for much longer. Harrison doesn’t seem like he shares the same feelings about killing as his father. Dexter told stories about his first kills (complete with the ever handy Dexter: Original Sin footage shown) and Harrison had the opposite reaction. Either we get a strong sense that Harrison also has a Dark Passenger next week or go with the foundation laid out here. But it’s time for a solid narrative direction with this particular question.
Dexter’s fatherly senses seem to be more present than before. His impulses are to protect Harrison, which is why he took Ryan Foster’s watch from him. Not only was this “trophy” torturing him, Dexter knew that he could make good use of it. More on that later.
The New Girl
After Dexter’s initial conversation with his son, he sought out companionship from Mia. Their bowling date was charming, slightly funny and full of romantic tension. Dexter is clearly attracted to this woman and even debates revealing parts of himself to her. He did tell her that he grew up in Miami, which I can’t help but wonder if she will ultimately be able to use against him. When Mia proposed the idea of them killing an innocent person together, Dexter’s short lived infatuation ended. Part of Mia’s appeal was the assumption that she too had a code. She didn’t, but Dexter’s kicked in and took over.
His plan was fairly brilliant. She told him she was going to kill, so he planted Ryan Foster’s watch in her trophy box, waited until she had her soon to be victim back at her house and called the police. He adhered to his code and protected his son at the same time. Mia being incarcerated instead of dead leaves the potential of her return possible, and hopefully that’s a road they go down. While I don’t necessarily see her having her own spin-off, her chemistry with Dexter is undeniably present and there’s story left to tell between the two of them.
More New Faces
Dexter: Resurrection Episode 5 spent a fair amount of time continuing to build up new characters Leon Prater and Charley. We saw Charley visiting her dying mother in the hospital and she spoke as if she were a third grade teacher. Is she guiding the youth of America in the classroom when she’s not herding serial killers for a billionaire? I’m fascinated by Charley and what exactly her story is. The world feels big in this new series, well rounded and populated by characters who I genuinely want to know more about. Later seasons of the original Dexter series had far too many one dimensional characters, but that’s no longer an issue.
Prater was seen filming an interview with the iconic Leslie Stahl, whose casting was a brilliant touch. It made the interview feel that much more important than if a random actor was playing the role of TV journalist. Prater’s story is a touching one—becoming an orphan at a young age and being completely self-made. His claim that a drunk driver killed his parents I found curious. Certainly not enough of a motivation for him to be obsessed with serial killers as an adult. What led to his fascination with the worst people?
We would later see Prater send Charley to visit Mia in jail. Charley was clearly there to ensure her employer was being protected and Mia gave the right answers. She’s not going to make a fuss or ask for help. Charley’s assurance that Prater would ensure that her time behind bars was as quick as possible doesn’t bode well for Dexter. At some point, the connection has to be made between Lowell’s death and Mia’s arrest, right after a new killer joined their regularly scheduled dinner parties.
“You’re All I’ve Got Too”
When the news picked up on the story that Lady Vengeance had been arrested for many murders—Ryan Foster included—Harrison knew that his father had helped him. He went to visit Dexter and they had an honest conversation about relationships, family and Rita. For long time fans of this narrative, mentions of Rita hit hard for many reasons. Her death at the end of Season 4 was truly shocking and perhaps even necessary, but the show changed after her death. The element of Dexter trying to be human and blend in with society was lost. The balance of the show felt off. The memory of the character takes us back to when the show was at its best.
It doesn’t appear that the Dexter and Harrison relationship is going to experience any back and forth. They made up. They said what they needed to say. With the potential dragging of the story out of the way, the show can continue to go at its established fast pace. Which is exciting, knowing that only five episodes remain this season.
There are a lot of pieces on the chessboard. Prater and his group are eventually going to be suspicious of Dexter. Angel is very much on the case and I don’t think Claudette really believes that Lady Vengance liked Ryan either. Both sides of the law are coming for the Morgan family, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Dexter is forced to kill another “innocent” person or two before season’s end, which isn’t going to sit well with Harrison. Or is it?
