SPOILER WARNING! The following contains MASSIVE SPOILERS for the fourth episode of ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ titled ‘Call me Red’ - Proceed with caution.
Before even crossing the halfway point of the season, Dexter Resurrection delivers one of the most captivating episodes in the history of the series. It makes good on the bold concept that was merely teased at the end of episode three and somehow manages to deliver a little bit of everything that makes the show such a phenomenon: Intrigue, dramatic tension, twisted humor, and of course, blood.
As Dexter puts his plan to infiltrate a mysterious gathering of serial killers into motion, Harrison begins to feel the walls closing in around him. With Batista finally making his first move towards bringing Dexter to justice, this episode gracefully starts to bring the various narrative threads together and ultimately kick-starts the true conflict that will become the focus for the remainder of the season (and maybe beyond?). 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:
- Before infiltrating the serial killer dinner party, Dexter completes his disguise by using some clever forensic counter-measures to create a fake thumbprint from Red’s severed thumb.
- The watch repair shop contacts Harrison about Ryan’s watch which serves as evidence against Harrison and quickly sends him into a tailspin of guilt.
- Charley picks up Dexter (aka Red) and transports him to a luxurious mansion where he is introduced to Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage); An eccentric billionaire with a morbid fascination with serial killers.
- Leon takes Dexter on a tour of his vault where he keeps a treasure-trove of serial killer artifacts including Trinity’s hammer, the table where Brian Moser was killed, and even Dexter’s old blood slide box. Dexter hands over Red’s trophy as a contribution to the collection and secures his place among Leon’s circle of friends.
- Dexter is introduced to Mia - aka Lady Vengeance (Kristin Ritter) - and learns about the sordid details of the dinner party; A safe space for killers to speak openly and share their experiences at the behest of their resourceful host.
- Dexter soon meets three more guests (victims): Al - aka Repunzel (Eric Stonestreet), A safe space for killers to speak openly and share their experiences at the behest of their resourceful host.
- Batista follows the lead on Dexter’s truck and quickly tracks down Harrison at the hotel. Batista launches into a veiled interrogation that Harrison eventually shuts down.
- At dinner, Lowell - aka the Tattoo Collector - provides a glimpse into his process and suggests that his next target will die before he leaves New York.
- At dinner, Lowell - aka the Tattoo Collector - provides a glimpse into his process and suggests that his next target will die before he leaves New York.
- Dexter meets up with Mia - aka Lady Vengeance - for a run in Central Park and learns about her history which inspired her to target sexual predators. Mia takes him back to her apartment and tries to seduce Dexter but he resists and leaves to start hunting Lowell.
- When Lowell reveals that his next kill is mere hours away, Dexter intervenes and gets Lowell on his kill table. Before he delivers the killing blow, he reveals to Lowell that he is the Bay Harbor Butcher (a moniker he claims as his own for the first time).
- After trading notes with Detective Wallace, Batista instigates another interrogation of Harrison and puts more of his cards on the table. He insinuates that he knows Harrison is involved with Ryan’s murder and that he learned how to cover up a murder from his dad.
- Feeling the immense pressure of two separate murder investigations, Harrison contemplates turning himself in to the police. Just as he is about to walk into the police station, Dexter finally reveals himself to his son.
"Who has a fake print and passes for Red? This guy."
The episode kicks off with some good old-fashioned forensic science. Dexter uses his expertise to craft and adhere a mold of Red’s thumbprint to his own thumb and then taps into his fancy wardrobe to complete the disguise. With some playful commentary from Dexter and Harry’s usual cautionary advice, it’s an opening that feels incredibly reminiscent of the original series. With that said, Dexter’s resistance to his father’s teachings in this moment continues to illuminate how he has changed following his brush with death at the end of New Blood.
Dexter and Harry pontificate on the possible dangers that might await them at the “dinner party” but the potential it holds for Dexter is clearly too great of a temptation. Not only will he have the opportunity to meet other people like himself, it might be handing him a list of potential victims with very little effort required on his part. We have seen Dexter resist Harry’s warnings before but here, it feels different. The writers have truly managed to recontextualize their entire dynamic by acknowledging that they have become peers. Dexter listens but he doesn’t necessarily feel like he has to obey.
He continues to embrace his darkness while recommitting to the code and even entertains the idea of using it to help people. The fact of the matter is that the ripple effect created by Dexter’s failure as a father and the brush with death that followed has been felt in every episode of the season thus far. What’s truly impressive though is how they have managed to leverage such a controversial moment in the story to signal a satisfying evolution of the character. It’s subtle but it’s undeniable and it’s not the last time that this transformation will be acknowledged in this episode.
"Definitely not a pig farm…"
And so begins Dexter’s espionage era. After completing his disguise, Dexter follows the instructions on the invitation and takes a ride with Charley (Uma Thurman). Even as someone who knows what’s coming, I found the car ride with Charley to be an incredibly effective scene because it brilliantly acknowledges Dexter’s uncertainty while simultaneously underlining how capable and adaptable he is at this point in his life. He’s on his way to reclaiming his glory days but Charley continues to exude a cryptic and imposing aura that I can’t help but associate with some of his most dangerous adversaries (Isaak Sirko certainly comes to mind).
Whatever Dexter was expecting to find at their destination, it certainly wasn’t a highly-secured palace that immediately makes him second-guess his decision. Watching him fumble at the thumbprint scanner and acknowledge his beating heart in the elevator feels like we are seeing him experience a rare crisis of confidence. Even before he comes face-to-face with the “man of the manor,” there is already a sense of scale and impending dread that I think elevates this season to new and exciting heights.
Enter, Leon Prater - played with equal parts charm, enthusiasm, and an underlying hint of darkness - by the iconic Peter Dinklage. While Prater’s on-screen presence is undeniable and seeing Dinklage and Hall as scene partners hints at the boundless potential to come, it was the unsettling piano melody that stuck with me the most; an unmistakable musical theme meant to accompany Dexter’s mysterious new adversary.
Given how ecstatic Leon is to meet Red in person - not to mention his clear infatuation with serial killers - the real question that bubbles to the surface throughout this encounter becomes: Would he be furious or honored to find out that his sacred gathering of serial killers had been infiltrated by the infamous Bay Harbor Butcher? For now, their dynamic remains cordial but how this whole arrangement eventually collapses is poised to become one of the most delicious plots of the entire series; a fact that becomes all-to-clear as Leon gives Dexter a tour of his vault.
"You really like serial killers"
What comes next will likely be remembered as one of the most insane and unforgettable moments in the history of Dexter. As the thick vault door opens, it reveals a treasure trove of serial killer memorabilia that only someone as rich and connected as Prater could hope to acquire. It is a disturbing but beautifully choreographed scene that seamlessly blends the fictional world of Dexter with horrors from the real world.
Seeing totems of infamous serial killers such as John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer next to iconic symbols of Dexter’s past victims is strangely captivating. But more importantly, the scene provided an opportunity to delve into the rich history of the show for some truly unexpected callbacks and even plant some seeds for new fictional adversaries that may yet have a role to play. It’s a twisted funhouse of fan-service that is brilliantly executed while providing an inspiring backdrop for Hall and Dinklage to use to their advantage as actors.
Of all of the trinkets and easter eggs featured throughout the vault, none were as mind-blowing as Dexter’s very own blood slides; stolen by Doakes and then confiscated by Special Agent Lundy way back in season 2. It’s a mic drop moment that shocked me almost as much as Dexter himself. Running his fingers across the slides while straining to maintain his cover in front of Prater was one of many awe-inspiring moments that will make this sequence a highlight of the season (maybe even the series). While the dinner scene that follows is delicious in its own right, it pales in comparison to the set-piece that precedes it. At the end of the night, Leon issues burner phones to all in attendance and teases a wealth of activities planned in the weeks to follow.
"Your dad’s gone. Nothing you say can hurt him."
Episode four does a lot more than paint a clearer picture of the villain(s) of the season, it also puts Dexter and Harrison on the collision course that we all knew was inevitable. As Detective Wallace continues to pursue her own investigation from afar, it is Batista who finally throws his fedora in the ring and ends up pushing Harrison over the edge. If you have found yourself wondering about Angel’s true feelings toward Dexter, this episode lays it all out on the table; emphasizing just how dedicated he is to finding justice and portraying him as a wise and laser focused detective.
Resurrection has already shown us a side of Batista that we have never really seen before. The huge heart that we all associate with the character is unmistakable - it’s what drives him - but the realization that he let a killer into his world clearly haunts him. What I love about his moments in episode four is that he walks the line between approachable and intimidating detective with finesse. He lures Harrison into a false sense of security, waits for the right moment, and then flips the script to gauge his reaction. On top of that, he keeps the fact that Dexter is alive to himself, knowing that it might be a card best played later; a move that paints him as a foe not to be underestimated.
If you imagined that Batista might be swayed or conflicted by his extensive history with Dexter, that possibility should now seem highly unlikely. He is fueled by loss and betrayal and has abandoned any doubt that he may have had after Dexter made his escape from the hospital. His sights are set on Dexter and the two encounters that he has with Harrison in this episode make it clear that he is not going to let it go; even if it means going straight through Harrison to find the closure that he needs. That determination pushes Harrison’s guilt to a boiling point and ultimately forces Dexter to make his move.
"Much better release than the ballet"
Episode four introduces a whole squad of serial killers for Dexter to hunt but one very quickly moves to the forefront as a major character. Mia - aka Lady Vengeance - is introduced as a Sommelier with a penchant for killing sexual predators; an MO that draws obvious parallels with Dexter’s own code. While Dexter’s history with femme fatales is far from great, she immediately endeared herself to me as a fun and likeable character; a sentiment that took time to form with Hannah and flat-out never developed with Lila.
Dexter and Mia have an immediate chemistry and as their “friendship” outside the walls of Leon’s mansion unfurls, I found myself perceiving her more as an ally than a potential target. While It is far too soon to know what is in store for these two in the context of this season, I can’t shake the feeling that this character is being prepped for her own spinoff. She gets considerable screentime and an opportunity to share her own tragic backstory all within the context of Dexter’s usual vetting process. Regardless of their long-term plan for the character (assuming there is one), she clearly has an important role to play this season and this episode gave us just enough to wet my appetite.
"I’m Dexter Morgan… the Bay Harbor Butcher."
This was an episode all about setting the stage for what is sure to be an elaborate and exciting series. Leon has established himself as a villain unlike any the series has ever seen before, a potential romantic partner has emerged, and a whole gang of tempting targets has been laid out in front of Dexter. But just as quickly as all of these pieces are added to the board, one is subtracted. The (un)lucky contestant in this case is Lowell - aka the Tattoo Collector; a cocky but charismatic killer (from my hometown of Austin Texas!) who filets fresh tattoos from his victims as trophies.
When Dexter’s vetting process quickly escalates, he is forced to improvise to save a life and get Lowell on his table. As much as I liked Neil Patrick Harris in this role, I would be lying if I wasn’t excited to see him end up on kill table so quickly. As expected, Harris and Hall deliver kill-scene magic. Lowell accepts the inevitable but reminds Dexter that he is breaking Leon’s #1 rule after just one meetup. When the subject turns to trophies, Lowell laments his impending doom which seems to remind Dexter of why he took trophies to begin with (a practice that he abandoned in season 7).
Whether Dexter truly intends to continue taking blood slides again is yet to be seen but the exchange does make clear that he is no longer interested in avoiding his true nature. He improvises a blood slide and then reveals his deception to Lowell. What happens next is perhaps the greatest indicator of his transformation. Before the kill, he reveals his true identity as the “Bay Harbor Butcher” - a moniker that he has never truly embraced. What this incredibly symbolic gesture ultimately means for the character is anybody’s guess, but the weight of the moment is simply undeniable.
“Call me Red” is an episode that encapsulates everything that fans love about Dexter. It delivers the longest runtime in the history of the entire show but doesn’t waste a moment of screentime. Every scene is pushing the story forward and moving the game pieces into position for what could be the boldest season in the show’s history. It is packed from top-to-bottom with iconic setpiece moments, colorful new characters, dramatic confrontations, and an exceptionally symbolic kill room scene. Quite frankly, it is Dexter at its absolute best and an episode destined to be remembered as an all-time classic.
Score: 10 out of 10