5 Ways Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 Is Returning To The Original Show’s Formula

Dexter is back once again in the upcoming second season of its revival series. The iconic serial killer, played by Michael C. Hall, first debuted in 2006, and the franchise has been going ever since, albeit with some breaks in between, such as the eight years between the original run and Dexter: New Blood.

Dexter: Resurrection season 1 told the story of Dexter, alive and in a coma at the start of the season, as he recovers from the gunshot wound given to him by Harrison and travels to New York City. He makes this change in scenery for many reasons, such as his desire to flee Angel Batista, reunite with Harrison, and embrace his dark passenger in a new city.

Resurrection debuted with even better reviews than New Blood. The season was praised for the way in which it returned to the roots of Dexter, with a tone more similar to the original run and a strong cast of supporting characters that mirrored earlier seasons.

Resurrection season 2 appears to be embracing the original run even more, moving closer to the first eight seasons of Dexter with a number of interesting creative decisions. Not everything is known just yet about the new season, but as filming is now underway, it’s becoming clear that Resurrection season two is moving even closer to the formula that worked so well during the original show.

Harrison’s Career

A huge part of Dexter seasons one through eight was the presence of Miami Metro Homicide in the story. Dexter worked for the department in the role of a blood spatter expert, and he wasn’t the only one in the Morgan family present in the office. Alongside him was his sister, Deb, who began the series as a junior officer before eventually making her way all the way up to Lieutenant.

This created some excellent tension in the story. Dexter not only had enemies like James Doakes and Maria LaGuerta in the force, but he also had a huge ally in the form of Deb. This helped Dexter in many ways, but also made it more stressful as Doakes, and later LaGuerta, began to discover who he really was. Dexter feared Deb finding out, and he worked hard to make sure that didn’t happen.

Resurrection season two appears to be bringing a similar dynamic into the new story. Set photos taken recently show Harrison in a police uniform, revealing that Harrison has grown beyond his traumatic past and is now a law enforcement officer. This means that, once again, Dexter has an ally in the force, but also has Detective Claudette Wallace breathing down his neck at the same time.

More Dexter Kills

Zach Dilgard/Paramount+

Dexter has killed hundreds of victims over the years. However, one of the biggest criticisms of New Blood was the relative lack of kills from Dexter. New Blood deviated from the formula of the original show, in which Dexter killed a new victim virtually every episode. However, in New Blood, Dexter kills Matt Caldwell in the first episode, and the rest of the story builds from that decision, as opposed to a victim on his table in every episode after.

Resurrection season one changed that, showing Dexter hunting and killing his victims more regularly than New Blood. It wasn’t exactly on the level of every episode that the original show had, but was still a significant increase from New Blood overall. Resurrection season two set photos already show Dexter taking down multiple victims on the streets of New York City, showing that the story moves closer to the formula that worked so well in the original show.

A Big Bad At The Heart Of The Story

Dexter as a show has always been defined not only by its title characters, but by its villains as well. The Trinity Killer is perhaps the best example of this, as John Lithgow’s antagonist has gone down as one of, if not the best antagonists in the entire Dexter franchise. In fact, the love for the character remains so strong that he appeared in both New Blood and Resurrection season one.

Resurrection season 2 again appears to be embracing the big bad central to the story, just as the Trinity Killer season and, more broadly, the entire original run of the show did. This time around, it’s Brian Cox’s New York Ripper in the hot seat; this character was teased in season one as a villain that began killing over fifty years ago and continues to taunt his victims’ families to this day.

The Theme Song

The original Dexter series had one of the most iconic theme songs of all time. The music matched the Miami setting incredibly well, and also matched the unique tone of the show perfectly. New Blood and Resurrection season 1 both left that behind, instead embracing a quick montage where moments from the episode were teased in a blink and you’ll miss it format.

Resurrection season two is set to change that in a big way. Showrunner Clyde Phillips revealed that Resurrection season 2 will feature a new iteration of the theme song, this time with Dexter in New York City as opposed to Miami. This is another huge way that Resurrection is embracing the roots of the franchise, helping to pave the way for future stories in the process.

Lighter Tone

As stated, the original Dexter series had arguably the most unique tone of any television show in recent memory. The premise was, in a way, incredibly dark — a serial killer hides his dark urges from his family and friends, taking out victims on an unprecedented level. However, the tone was light throughout, creating an atmospheric contrast that worked so well throughout the eight seasons.

New Blood moved away from that greatly, with a darker story with fewer moments of comedic relief. It’s more of a somber season of TV, focusing on the inner demons of Dexter and his son Harrison. The revival series changed that, moving closer in tone to the original run, and all signs point to this continuing in Dexter: Resurrection season 2.

Release Date

July 13, 2025

Network

Paramount+ with Showtime

Directors

Marcos Siega