SPOILER WARNING! The following contains MASSIVE SPOILERS for the second episode of ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ titled ‘Camera Shy’ - Proceed with caution.
While the series premiere of Dexter: Resurrection was thrilling in its own right, there was no choice but to spend the majority of its runtime addressing the elephant in the room. With the housekeeping and basic setup out of the way, episode two bursts onto the streets of New York City and wastes no time giving the series the proper start we have been yearning for.
Right out of the gate, episode two introduces a brand new killer that is destined for Dexter’s table before slipping right into a comfortable narrative pacing that longtime fans of the series will recognize and appreciate. Dexter might be back to his old tricks in a new setting but this episode makes clear that Resurrection is anything but uninspired. They take full advantage of the unique landscape and culture of New York City and blend it beautifully with the Dexter ethos. Read on for my full review and analysis.
EPISODE RECAP
Before we jump into the analysis, let’s take a look at the most important story developments in the episode:
- A new killer is stalking the streets of New York City and targeting rideshare drivers. Before he kills an unfortunate victim by decapitation, he mentions a brother who lost everything “because of you people” - Is this killer racially motivated or is he driven by something far more personal?
- Dexter investigates Harrison’s crime scene at the Empire Hotel and overhears a conversation with Detective Wallace. It becomes clear that Harrison did an impressive job with cleanup but this sharp new detective is going to be a problem.
- After his car is towed, Dexter meets a rideshare driver named Blessing who fills him in about “The Dark Passenger” - a serial killer who has rideshare drivers in New York City being overly cautious. Dexter seizes the opportunity to make a living as a rideshare driver as a means of gaining access to this potential target and unexpectedly starts to form a friendship with Blessing.
- Haunted by visions of the lives he has taken, Harrison tries to cope with partying and drugs but that does little more than fuel his anger at Dexter. When he wakes the next morning, he ends up tossing Dexter’s letter and selling his truck to a friend to avoid future reminders of the events in Iron Lake.
- Dexter accepts an invitation to attend a dinner party at Blessings home and ends up accepting an offer to rent their vacant apartment. He questions one of Blessing's friends who survived an encounter with the Dark Passenger.
- Dexter tracks the killer to cyber security firm and is eventually able to identify him as Ronald Schmidt. Dexter intervenes when Ronald tries to abduct another driver and then follows him but ends up losing him in the subway. Harry points out that Dexter appears to be demonstrating concern for strangers and Dexter agrees.
"They call him the Dark Passenger"
After the rather unconventional series premiere, episode two ends up feeling like the actual start of the season. It moves at an efficient pace and is laser focused on arranging the various game pieces for the story that will dominate the rest of the season. Chief among them is the Dark Passenger, a vicious serial killer (played by Marc Mechaca) who ruthlessly targets rideshare drivers. While it is obvious that he is destined to meet his end on Dexter’s table sooner rather than later, his cold-open in this episode reminded me a bit of Trinity’s brutal introduction in season four.
The abduction, psychological torture, and murder of this poor rideshare (urCar) driver in the opening moments of the episode does an admirable job at kickstarting the larger conflict while establishing the tone of the series. The dark, violent, and more cinematic approach of New Blood certainly remains intact but the larger-than-life backdrop of New York City recaptures that vivid, rich atmosphere that so many associate with the original series in Miami.
But what strikes me the most is how covert the writers continue to be with all of the new characters and elements that are slowly being introduced. By design, even details as fundamental as the motivations for this new killer are being kept vague and mysterious. At first, it seemed like he was racially motivated but the hints dropped prior to the murder hint at something far more personal; Perhaps something that relates to the dramatic impact that rideshare had on the New York cab industry.
Whatever the case may be, I think it was a brilliant decision by the writers to coin the moniker of “the dark passenger” for this new foe. It makes perfect sense in context for this killer and hilariously gets under Dexter’s skin. More importantly, his introduction serves as the catalyst for the broader story and creates a ripple effect that is felt throughout the episode; ultimately helping to shape the relationship between Dexter and Blessing and giving Dexter the push he needs to get back to work.
"Harrison is developing his own code"
Resurrecting Dexter Morgan was not the only daunting challenge the writers had to figure out when cracking the season; They also had to figure out the best way forward with Harrison and how his new reality would ultimately bring him back into Dexter’s life. As we saw in the first episode, his propensity for violence in the face of injustice has already resulted in a brutal murder and caught the attention of his father.
When the focus returns to Dexter, we find him in his element as he scours the Empire Hotel for Harrison’s crime scene. I also have to give credit to the writers for acknowledging Dexter’s age and continued weakness following his recovery. The show has occasionally hand-waved these small details away in the interest of storytelling convenience so it’s refreshing to see the show keeping the continuity in check.
Using his skill set to shadow his son and protect him from law enforcement is a welcome twist to the familiar formula, especially now that Dexter is once again shadowed by Harry’s ghost. Making the shift from Deb was a wise choice in this case because Harry’s presence signals a dramatic departure from the self-loathing that Dexter internalized in New Blood. His newfound appreciation for life after almost dying feels palpable and more importantly, thematically appropriate for the series. His dynamic with Harry is especially appropriate now that his relationship with Harrison is more strained than ever and his desire to make things right feels borderline impossible.
Rather than discouraging his involvement with Harrison like Deb did, Harry provides encouragement, support, and an effective representation of how Dexter views his son from afar. He radiates pride and recognizes that Harrison is developing his own code rather than simply adopting the one that Dexter tried to pass down. If you ask me, the surprisingly heroic actions that Dexter takes later in the episode suggest that he might even be following his son’s lead rather than the other way around. Regardless of the reasoning, I think this new evolution for Dexter will be a fascinating dynamic to explore throughout the season.
"Am I moving to New York City?"
While the majority of the setup is in the rearview mirror, there are still some details to be solidified before the story can truly move forward uninhibited. One thing this episode made clear was that they intend to use their runtime wisely and not waste time on mundane or irrelevant details. Over the course of just a few scenes, Dexter makes a friend, finds a target, rents an apartment, renews his drivers license, and secures a new car to use in his new job as a rideshare driver. It was a clever and organic way of answering some of the more uninteresting questions and conveying the passage of time. Before I knew it, Dexter had established a new life in New York City and the story was free to move forward uninhibited.
Of course, this was also the perfect opportunity to introduce a new character whom I expect will go on to become a fan favorite. Blessing Kamara immediately endeared himself to me with his friendly demeanor, empathetic world view, and seemingly limitless generosity. The question going forward now becomes: Will Dexter grow from his positive influence, introduce misfortune to him and his family, or will it be a little bit of both? My instincts are telling me that between Dexter’s admiration of his son’s code of honor and the ray of positive energy provided by Blessing, Dexter just might be entering his redemption arc.
"It didn’t have to be this way!"
With Harrison now reeling from his own wealth of trauma (shooting his father and committing his own murder), Resurrection has wisely seized the opportunity to further expand the series' signature storytelling toolkit. Flashbacks and visions have always been an element of the show but until now, they have almost exclusively been presented from Dexter’s perspective. As we are seeing now, Harrison is experiencing his own visions which serve to illustrate the start differences between father and son.
While Dexter speaks to the people who matter most as a means of keeping himself (and the code) in check, Harrison is quite literally haunted by regret. For a while, my concern was that Harrison would inevitably be set up as Dexter 2.0, carrying the torch and eventually becoming the future of the franchise. Luckily, it appears they have taken a far more interesting approach by exploring his struggle to resist that fate as Dexter fights to repair their shattered relationship. It’s proper drama that, if you ask me, is far more interesting than watching Harrison blindly following in his father’s footsteps.
Only two episodes in and there have already been several memorable hallucinations for Harrison which I hope signal that there are many more to come. While Dexter’s visions have become a seamless part of his psyche for the majority of the series, Harrison’s feel like waking nightmares. He is followed by the angry ghost of his first victim and the guilt of shooting his own father haunts his waking and sleeping hours alike. These dreams mark the writer's commitment to the ending of New Blood while providing new layers to this controversial moment. My hope is that by deepening and addressing the aftermath, they will ultimately redeem that moment to those who didn’t like it.
"Since when do you care about other people?"
Just as things are starting to feel familiar, episode two delivers our first unexpected turn. With Dexter officially on the tail of the Dark Passenger, he finds himself willingly intervening in the interest of stopping a murder. At its core, this may seem like a move Dexter has pulled many times before but as Harry eventually points out, this time was different. In the past, his heroics could usually be attributed to his need to protect children, preserve his fake life, or properly vet his victims. This time felt spontaneous and in the interest of preserving a life.
The potential in a series like Resurrection has always been in the opportunity to challenge the status-quo. Let’s face it, bringing Dexter back to just keep doing the same old song-and-dance would have been disappointing to say the least. Barely avoiding death has been known to shake regular people to their core and inspire all kinds of unexpected changes. Asking how such an event might change a person like Dexter creates a wealth of storytelling potential that they seem keen to explore.
As the episode comes to a close and Dexter finds himself outpaced by his target, it is clear that this new series is ready to explore new facets of the character. Age and physical injury are slowing him down and his new lease on life - among other things - is starting to impact his worldview and motivations in unexpected ways. Even the ways in which he converses with Harry have changed dramatically since 2013. He sees himself as Harry’s “peer” rather than student and that shift feels like it has set the stage for a very different character going forward.
“Camera Shy” is a wildly efficient (and effective) episode of Dexter. It makes great use of its runtime, highlights New York City as a character of its own, and delivers so many classic Dexter tropes through a fresh lens that it’s hard not to be optimistic about what’s to come. On top of that, it feels like more and more of the baggage from the controversial New Blood finale is shed with each new episode. They may be taking their time getting to the grander story that we all know is coming but the buildup feels as compelling as the show has ever been. If they keep this up, Dexter: Resurrection seems like it is on track to become something truly special.
Score: 9 out of 10