‘Rapunzel’ is the only member of Prater’s club who got away, and fans speculate it’s because he already knows Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher.
Episode 4 of Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 thrilled fans by introducing four new serial killers, all hand-picked by billionaire Leon Prater for his annual “like-minded individuals” gathering at his luxurious New York City penthouse. Among the twisted guests was one of the most memorable villains of the season: Al Walker, a seemingly ordinary family man with a horrifying secret.
At first introduced simply as “Al,” viewers later learned that his real name is Al Walker—not “Jolly,” as first assumed due to a mix-up. Al lives a quiet suburban life in Wisconsin, where he’s a devoted husband and father of three daughters and one son. But beneath the wholesome exterior lurks a killer who has already claimed 18 victims.
Known by the chilling nickname “Rapunzel,” Al is obsessed with women’s hair. His ritual is as macabre as it is unique: he targets women with ponytails, strangles them, and then cuts off their hair as a trophy. The character’s disturbing MO, combined with his double life as a doting father, makes him one of the creepiest killers in the entire Dexter franchise.
Bringing Al to life is Eric Stonestreet, whose unsettling yet charismatic performance made the character instantly unforgettable. Stonestreet’s portrayal of a polite, soft-spoken dad hiding a monstrous side gave Al an edge that resonated with fans long after his first appearance.
The One Who Walked Away
By the time the season reached its deadly climax, Dexter had systematically eliminated almost every member of Prater’s club. Yet Al Walker managed to survive, and escape.
In Episode 8, “The Kill Room Where It Happens,” which aired on August 22, Dexter carefully lured Al into a trap, even setting up a kill room inside a vacant wig shop, a poetic location, given Al’s hair-related crimes. But Dexter’s plan unraveled when Al abruptly left New York overnight, abandoning a Broadway performance of Hamilton midway through.
This sudden exit sparked widespread fan theories: did Al suspect that “Red” (Dexter’s impersonation as the so-called Dark Passenger Killer) was actually a killer that targets serial killers? Was his hasty departure a calculated move to save himself?
The answer appears to be no. Careful rewatching shows no signs—no telling looks, no subtle reactions—that Al suspected Dexter’s true identity. Instead, it seems his escape was pure coincidence, a stroke of bad luck for Dexter Morgan.
Why Al Walker Will Return in Dexter: Resurrection Season 2
Season 1’s finale made one thing crystal clear: Al Walker’s story is far from over. In the final moments of Episode 10, the show teased his inevitable return, as 'Rapunzel's' file was among the ones our favorite antihero took with him after escaping Prater's vault. Dexter Morgan is a man who despises loose ends, and Al—an active serial killer with 18 known murders—is the ultimate unfinished business.
With Leon Prater’s dark empire exposed and his network of killers destroyed, Al may be forced to take drastic measures to protect his secret life. Will he try to lay low in Wisconsin, keeping his family safe while continuing his deadly hobby? Or will he become more dangerous than ever, desperate to eliminate anyone who threatens to expose him, including Dexter?
The parallels to Dexter’s most infamous adversary, Arthur Mitchell (the Trinity Killer), are impossible to ignore. Like Arthur, Al is a seemingly loving father hiding a murderous alter ego. Could Season 2 give Dexter another deadly cat-and-mouse game with a killer who mirrors his own double life?
What to Expect Next
Fans can expect high stakes when Al Walker inevitably crosses paths with Dexter again. Will he be a quick kill, or a long-term nemesis who tests Dexter’s code and survival instincts? One thing is certain: Dex won’t rest until “Rapunzel” is no longer a threat.