Dexter: Final Cut returns with a brand-new episode featuring co-showrunner Scott Reynolds.
Only one episode remains before Dexter: Resurrection officially wraps its first season, but fans are still processing the penultimate chapter — arguably the most emotional and jaw-dropping installment yet. The final five minutes alone left viewers stunned, with the shocking death of fan-favorite Angel Batista. But truth be told, the entire episode was a relentless rollercoaster of tension, twists, and heartbreak.
Thankfully, Showtime once again delivered its signature Saturday treat to soften the blow. Dexter: Final Cut, the official aftershow for Dexter: Resurrection, returned to give fans answers, insights, and behind-the-scenes revelations. And who better to guide viewers through Episode 9, Touched by an Ángel, than the man who co-wrote it: executive producer and co-showrunner Scott Reynolds.
Joining host Jamie Chung, Reynolds appeared on the YouTube companion series wearing a nostalgic “Bowl Till You Bleed” shirt — a nod to Dexter’s Miami Metro days in the original series. With passion and candor, he unpacked the deeper themes and pivotal moments of the episode.
Exploring Faith and Resurrection in Dexter’s World
According to Reynolds, one of the key creative conversations this season revolved around faith, resurrection, and Dexter’s complicated relationship with a higher power. When he and Michael C. Hall first discussed the arc of the season, Hall was intrigued by the idea of exploring what Dexter might believe after having seemingly come back from the dead.
Reynolds explained that Dexter has cheated death and escaped justice so many times that it would be natural for him to wonder if something — or someone — greater might be watching over him. In Touched by an Ángel, this theme comes into sharp focus as Dexter prepares to kill Leon Prater. His inner monologue contrasts the futility of ancient prayers with his trust in cold, hard steel. Yet, in a life-or-death moment when Prater reveals Charlie waiting with a gun, Dexter does something he never would have in the original series — he prays, asking God for help.
Reynolds emphasized that this moment was intentionally humanizing: in moments of extreme fear, even someone like Dexter Morgan might turn to faith, no matter how much he once mocked it.
Leon Prater’s Shocking Proposal
The episode’s central villain, Leon Prater, made a bold and unsettling proposition: to become Dexter’s benefactor. Reynolds revealed that this storyline tapped into something Dexter himself had toyed with in earlier episodes — the idea of using Prater’s network of killers as a twisted playground. The concept of luring serial killers into a circle, bonding with them, and then hunting them down was one Dexter could have lived with… at least in theory.
But everything changed once Prater involved Dexter’s son. That transgression transformed Prater’s arrogance into unforgivable hubris. To Prater, bringing the legendary Bay Harbor Butcher into his operation seemed like a masterstroke, something that elevated his dark empire beyond anything he had built with Gareth. But to Dexter, it crossed a sacred line.
Why This Dexter: Final Cut Is a Must-Watch
With Scott Reynolds not only serving as the co-showrunner but also as the co-writer of Episode 9, this week’s Dexter: Final Cut is an essential watch for any fan. His insights give depth to the themes of resurrection, morality, and faith that run through the penultimate episode — and offer a rare glimpse into the creative process behind one of the most shocking hours of Dexter to date.
You can watch the full eighth episode of Dexter: Final Cut below: