Angel Batista had an exciting scene in the latest episode, and David Zayas delivered yet another outstanding performance.
The eighth episode of Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 dropped on Paramount+ Premium just yesterday, and fans are still buzzing about its shocking developments. Among the standout moments of the episode, one scene in particular has quickly become a fan favorite: Angel Batista’s tense encounter in New York City.
For longtime viewers, Batista has always been the heart of the Miami Metro family — kind, loyal, and endlessly supportive of his colleagues. But in Resurrection, his character has undergone a striking transformation. The shift traces back to Dexter: New Blood’s finale, where Batista discovered not only that Dexter Morgan was still alive, but that his ex-girlfriend suspected him of being the Bay Harbor Butcher.
That revelation shattered Batista’s world. The joy of learning his friend had survived was immediately tainted by the horrifying suspicion that Dexter was the very killer who ruined lives at Miami Metro — including those of Doakes and LaGuerta. Determined to clear Doakes’ name and finally bring the Butcher to justice, Batista has been relentless in his pursuit.
Episode 8, aptly titled “The Kill Room Where It Happens,” gave David Zayas the perfect stage to showcase Batista’s inner conflict and dogged determination. In one of the most gripping sequences of the season, Batista plants an AirPod case in Dexter’s car, tracks him to a wig shop in the heart of Manhattan, and stumbles upon what looks like one of Dexter’s infamous kill rooms. For a brief, breathless moment, it seems like Batista might finally catch Dexter in the act.
But in a cruel twist of fate, his theory is dismissed. When he brings detectives Oliva and Wallace to the scene, they see nothing more than an store covered in plastic sheets and brush him off as an obsessed ex-cop chasing ghosts. The frustration and heartbreak on Batista’s face is what sold the scene — and it’s exactly why TVLine named David Zayas one of the Top 3 TV Performers of the Week.
The outlet praised Zayas’ performance, noting that his “strong camera presence and dynamite swagger has made this Resurrection one worth living for.” And it’s hard to disagree — his performance was layered, emotinal, and a powerful reminder of just how underrated Zayas is as an actor.
This marks the second time this season that a Dexter: Resurrection actor has landed on TVLine’s list. Back in Episode 5, Jack Alcott was recognized for his emotional reunion with Dexter, his first since the New Blood finale. Curiously, though, Michael C. Hall has yet to be featured, despite his powerhouse performance in Episode 7, “Course Correction.” Fans are left scratching their heads at that omission.