Here’s what showrunner Clyde Phillips has revealed about whether Season 2 will feature a main antagonist.
One of the longest-standing traditions in the Dexter universe has been the introduction of a “Big Bad” — the main antagonist of the season. From the Ice Truck Killer to the Brain Surgeon, each season brought Dexter Morgan face-to-face with a formidable adversary who either challenged his code, infiltrated his personal life, or became the ultimate threat to his existence.
Even when Dexter: New Blood premiered in 2021, the series stayed true to this formula. Although the snowy setting of Iron Lake was far from the sun-soaked chaos of Miami, the show still centered around a major antagonist (Kurt Caldwell), keeping the cat-and-mouse tension alive.
Later, Dexter: Original Sin explored Dexter’s earliest days and introduced his first real foe, Captain Aaron Spencer of Miami Metro. And most recently, in Dexter: Resurrection, fans were surprised by Leon Prater — a billionaire venture capitalist whose obsession with serial killers and reckless actions ultimately landed him on Dexter’s table. While not the most terrifying villain compared to past seasons, Prater’s psychological games and moral corruption gave fans a fresh spin on what qualifies as a “Big Bad.”
But what about Dexter: Resurrection Season 2?
Fans have been speculating for months, and now we finally have an answer. Executive producer and showrunner Clyde Phillips — the creative force behind both Dexter: Original Sin and Resurrection — confirmed during a recent appearance on the Dissecting Dexter podcast that Season 2 will, in fact, feature a main antagonist. And not just any antagonist, but one he describes as “great.”
“We’ve got a great Big Bad for next season,” Phillips revealed. “And some others that we call little bads, or weekly bads.”
So there it is — Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 will continue the tradition of giving audiences a central villain to obsess over. With the writers’ room officially opening in October, it seems this Big Bad has already been carefully planned out and will likely shape the entire arc of the season.
Of course, this raises the biggest question among fans: Is the mysterious Big Bad actually the New York Ripper?
The Ripper was teased multiple times throughout Resurrection Season 1, even receiving a name reveal in the finale, “And Justice for All…” where we learned he is Don Framt. Yet despite the mentions, viewers never got to see him in action. Many fans believe the groundwork has already been laid for the Ripper to step into the spotlight in Season 2. Others argue his storyline might just be symbolic, rather than the main plot.
Regardless, the confirmation of a “great” Big Bad ensures the upcoming season won’t deviate from the formula that has defined Dexter from the beginning. Whether it’s the New York Ripper or a completely new villain, the anticipation is building, and fans are already buzzing with theories.
What do you think? Will the Big Bad of Season 2 be Don Framt, the elusive New York Ripper, or someone entirely unexpected? Share your thoughts in the comments below!