The writers have deliberately woven in intriguing elements that echo the earlier seasons.
One of the things television and movie writers love most is sprinkling scripts with Easter eggs and callbacks to earlier stories. Thankfully, Dexter: Resurrection was no exception. The sequel series wastes no time diving into nostalgia, bringing back familiar faces, echoing iconic scenes, and weaving subtle nods to Dexter Morgan’s past.
From the very first episode, longtime fans were treated to John Lithgow’s shocking return as the Trinity Killer, arguably the most infamous villain in Dexter’s history. And those weren’t the only surprises. Cameos, callbacks, and clever narrative choices kept showing up, episode after episode, making the entire season feel like both a continuation and a reflection of what came before.
During the Dexter: Resurrection aftershow (Dexter: Final Cut), writer and executive producer Scott Reynolds explained that these choices were very intentional, meant to mirror Dexter’s history while pushing him into new territory. Before we dive into what Reynolds revealed, let’s break down five of the most obvious—and rewarding—ways Season 1 called back to the original Dexter.
1. The Dark Passenger Killer
The most blatant callback arrives with the press dubbing a new murderer “The Dark Passenger Killer.” This nickname is, of course, a direct nod to Dexter’s own private name for his urge to kill: the Dark Passenger.
This villain preyed on rideshare (UrCar) drivers, strangling them from the backseat with a sharp chain. Longtime fans immediately recognized the method, it perfectly mirrors Dexter’s very first on-screen victim in the 2006 pilot, when he dispatched choir director Mike Donovan in almost the exact same way.
The writers leaned into the irony by even having Dexter visibly annoyed at the nickname, as if offended someone else could share (or parody) his alter ego. It was a clever blend of fan service and dark humor, and a strong reminder of where Dexter’s story began.
2. A Killer Who Looks Just Like Dexter
Another eerie callback comes in Episode 3, when Dexter kills Ronald Schmidt (a.k.a. the Dark Passenger Killer) and realizes how much Schmidt resembles him. This physical similarity isn’t just a coincidence—it becomes a plot device that allows Dexter to slip into his identity and infiltrate a secret serial killer dinner party.
The scene is shot deliberately to highlight this mirror image: Dexter standing over Schmidt’s body, almost staring at a version of himself. It’s a visual reminder that in another life, without Harry’s Code, Dexter might have ended up exactly like the man he just killed.
3. Neil Patrick Harris as the “Tattoo Collector”
Episode 4 delivered one of the season’s most surprising guest stars: Neil Patrick Harris as Lowell, a serial killer nicknamed “The Tattoo Collector.” Harris appeared in a wig styled almost exactly like Michael C. Hall’s Season 4–5 hair, making the resemblance uncanny.
Set photos of Harris and Hall together sparked wild fan theories months before the premiere, with some speculating Harris might be playing Dexter’s secret brother. Of course, that wasn’t the case, but the visual similarity was intentional. As Reynolds later confirmed, each killer Dexter encounters this season was designed to reflect some piece of him—either literally, physically, or metaphorically.
4. The Gemini Killers
Perhaps the most symbolic callback of all came in the form of the Gemini Killers—twin brothers Gareth and Gareth, both played by David Dastmalchian. Their story serves as a chilling “what if” scenario for Dexter.
The Geminis were literally born on the same day, and in a haunting parallel, Dexter and Brian were metaphorically “born in blood” inside the shipping container where they witnessed their mother’s brutal murder.
Much like Dexter and Brian Moser, the twins were shaped by trauma and chose to embrace their darkest urges together, hunting innocent victims side by side. They symbolized the path Dexter might have taken had he fully embraced Brian’s philosophy instead of living by Harry’s Code.
5. The Charley Car Scene
In Episode 9, Dexter reenacts his pilot-episode scene once again—this time with Charley in the driver’s seat. Using the same garrote-from-the-back technique, he restrains her not to kill, but to intimidate and manipulate.
Directed by Marcos Siega, the scene was staged with nearly identical camera angles and tension as the original Mike Donovan moment. For longtime fans, it felt like a deliberate cinematic echo, a reminder of how far Dexter has come while still tethered to his origins.
Scott Reynolds on the Callbacks
The co-showrunner confirmed during his Dexter: Final Cut interview from late August, that none of these callbacks were accidental:
“It’s a reflection of the very first episode when Dexter does the garrote around the choir master. He does it again. This whole season is reflecting on his past and what his future could be. Each person he kills is like a distorted reflection of him. Think of the Tattoo Collector—they look like brothers. That could have been Dexter if he became what Brian wanted. Each kill is a way of ending a different part of his life.”
What do you think? Did these callbacks make the new season more satisfying, or did they feel too on-the-nose? Were there other moments or characters that struck you as hidden references? Share your thoughts in the comments below!