The latest episode featured a subtle nod to one of David Dastmalchian’s recent film roles.
Spoiler Warning: The following contains spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection Episode 6
When Dexter: Resurrection showrunner Clyde Phillips teased before the series premiere that fans could expect a treasure hunt of easter eggs, he wasn’t exaggerating. Episode 6, “Cats & Mouse”, delivers not only callbacks to earlier seasons of Dexter, but also sly nods to the actors’ careers outside the show — some so clever that only the most eagle-eyed viewers will catch them.
One standout moment comes during the tense Manhattan bookstore sequence, where Dexter tails Gareth. As Gareth browses, he slips a bookmark into Chapter 6 of a book titled “The Killing Century: A New Era of Serial Murder.” Though the book is fictional, it contains chilling references to infamous killers, both real and imagined. Chapter 6 focuses on the Gemini Killer — the fictional murderer who, in the show’s universe, is still alive and active. This subtle detail reinforces Gareth’s dangerous, calculating nature.
But the real twist comes when Dexter flips to Chapter 8, which covers the Boston Strangler — the real-life serial killer Albert DeSalvo, who murdered thirteen women in Boston between 1962 and 1964. Here’s the genius part: in 2023, the Boston Strangler was portrayed by none other than David Dastmalchian, the very actor playing Gareth. The film, titled Boston Strangler, also starred Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon.
This double-layered reference works brilliantly on two levels: as a meta easter egg nodding to Dastmalchian’s past role, and as a potential hint about Gareth’s character — possibly teasing the twin brother reveal that came later in the episode, given that both the Gemini Killer(s) and the Boston Strangler in this fictional universe share the same “face.”
And the easter eggs don’t stop there. In the same bookstore scene, sharp-eyed fans may notice another hidden gem: several novels by Clyde Phillips himself. Before returning to helm Dexter: Resurrection, Phillips was a published author, and his works make a subtle cameo on the shelves behind Gareth. Viewers can spot at least two of his four books: Fall from Grace (1998), Blindsided (2000), Sacrifice (2003), and Unthinkable (2013) — with the last two being the most clearly visible in the scene. It’s a quiet but fitting nod to the man pulling the strings behind the camera.
David Dastmalchian’s casting in Dexter: Resurrection is a masterstroke. Known for his dark, unsettling performances across film and television, he brings a uniquely chilling presence to Gareth. By weaving in references to his past roles, the series not only rewards long-time fans of the actor but deepens the meta-textual fun for those paying close attention.
Episode 6 proves that Dexter: Resurrection is a hunt for its easter eggs, rewarding the audience with layered storytelling, hidden clues, and sly winks to both the show’s history and its cast’s careers.