A subtle moment in Episode 6, “Cats & Mouse,” just exposed Prater — and sealed his fate.
Episode 4 of Dexter: Resurrection introduced viewers to a brand-new and unusually captivating character in the Dexter universe: Leon Prater, portrayed by the immensely talented Peter Dinklage. In this chilling role, Dinklage delivers a performance worlds apart from his iconic portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones. While some of Prater’s lavish environments, mannerisms, and regal attire might faintly echo Dinklage’s HBO megahit character, what lies beneath is something far darker.
Leon Prater is a billionaire with an obsession that’s as bizarre as it is disturbing—he idolizes serial killers. His fascination doesn’t stop at reading about them or studying their crimes; it goes much further.
Hidden deep inside his opulent mansion is a secret vault filled with memorabilia from notorious killers—both fictional and real—spanning decades. But Prater’s twisted admiration escalates into something even more unsettling: he occasionally hosts exclusive gatherings for serial killers, treating them with reverence and respect. That is, until they get caught. If the law closes in, Prater ensures they’re quickly silenced, protecting himself from any potential scandal or exposure.
A Darker Side Revealed in “Cats & Mouse”
Until now, Prater has maintained a flawless public image, appearing as nothing more than a philanthropic, influential billionaire. But Episode 6, titled “Cats & Mouse”, peels back the curtain to reveal his most sinister desires—and it sends up major red flags for Dexter Morgan.
The revelation comes during a tense conversation in Blessing’s basement between Gareth, the notorious Gemini Killer, and “Red”. Gareth boasts that Prater’s gatherings started because he wanted to track him—after all, Gareth is the FBI’s most wanted uncaught serial killer. But then, Gareth lets slip something even more chilling: Prater has a fetish for “preview photos” taken right before the kill.
The Gemini Killer's “trophies” are known to be Polaroids of victims after death, but Prater demands something more intimate and horrifying—the moment before the kill, when victims realize their fate. Gareth even admits that for one particular ritual murder in Lake Shawnee, Kansas, in 2020—a father and son—Prater paid him double for the images.
“He pays me double for preview photos. The moment before the kill. When they know.”
Gareth then urges Dexter to ask Prater to see this Polaroid, where both victims are frozen in fear moments before death.
Why This Hits Home for Dexter
Earlier in the episode when scrolls through photos from The Gemini Killer found online, and sees the image of the father and son, he’s visibly shaken. The case strikes a deeply personal chord—he can’t help but imagine himself and Harrison in their place. This emotional trigger pushes Dexter to kill Gareth immediately and solidifies his conviction that Leon Prater is dangerously sick, despite never personally killing anyone (or so he claims).
Prater doesn’t meet the full criteria of Dexter’s Code—he’s not a direct killer—but he funds, supports, and glorifies them. Worse, he takes pleasure in the suffering of victims, a sadistic interest that moves him high up Dexter’s list of future targets.
The Big Question: How Will Dexter Kill Leon Prater?
Killing Prater won’t be easy. He’s a world-famous, highly influential billionaire with a squeaky-clean public image bolstered by high-profile charity work. The last time Dexter eliminated someone publicly recognizable was Miguel Prado in Season 3—and he managed to frame another serial killer for the murder. Could he use the same tactic on Prater?