Episode 10 manages to honor the unforgettable finale of the Trinity Killer season.
Dexter: Resurrection has officially wrapped its first season after 10 episodes across nine intense weeks, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Social media is overflowing with reactions, theories, and appreciation for what many are calling a triumphant revival of the Dexter franchise. The series grabbed viewers from the very first episode and only grew stronger as the season unfolded, leaving the fanbase satisfied but already eager for more.
While there’s sadness that the ride is over so soon, the finale gave fans plenty to talk about. The final scene in particular left many with a sense of déjà vu. And it wasn’t just nostalgia, it was a carefully crafted homage to one of the most iconic moments in the original series.
How Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Ended
After finally killing his main antagonist, Leon Prater, Dexter goes through his ritual: dismembering the body, wrapping it in garbage bags, and preparing for disposal. But this time, instead of heading to the incinerator, Dexter chooses to return to the old-fashioned method that defined much of his past.
Dexter commandeers Prater’s luxurious yacht, fittingly docked at a New York marina, and sails it into the harbor under cover of night. There, he tosses the bags overboard in true classic Dexter style.
For fans, this was a gut-punch of nostalgia. The last time Dexter disposed of a body at sea was back in Season 8 (2013)—and it wasn’t just any body. It was his sister Debra’s, whom he mercy-killed before releasing her into the ocean as Hurricane Laura devastated Miami.
Now, ten years later in the show’s timeline, the cycle comes full circle.
The Season 4 Connection
The finale doesn’t just reference Dexter’s past—it mirrors one of the series’ most beloved episodes: Season 4’s finale, “The Getaway.”
1. The Yacht’s Name: Prater’s yacht is named “Getaway”—a deliberate callback to the Season 4 finale’s title. That single word instantly signaled to fans that this wasn’t coincidence, but tribute.
2. The Nighttime Disposal: Both finales feature Dexter dumping the remains of a killer at sea under the night sky. In Resurrection, it’s Prater. In The Getaway, it was Arthur Mitchell, the Trinity Killer.
3. The Montage Style: Each finale cuts between Dexter’s dark ritual and brighter, more hopeful moments.
- In Resurrection, we see Harrison and Gigi, and Blessing with his wife Constance, sharing tender moments together.
- In The Getaway, Dexter imagines Rita and the kids celebrating Harrison’s first birthday—a fantasy that would never happen after Rita’s shocking death.
4. The Optimistic Narration: Both times, Dexter’s inner voice carries a sense of hope.
- In Resurrection, he feels renewed after surviving a coma, confident he can balance his Dark Passenger with his family life.
- In The Getaway, he looks forward to embracing his family and leaving darkness behind—only to come home to tragedy.
5. The Music: Season 4 famously used Daniel Licht’s emotional “Astor’s Birthday Party,” while Resurrection opts for Donald Byrd’s jazz piece “Cristo Redentor.” The new track, paired with the Statue of Liberty backdrop, gives the finale a fresh yet familiar resonance.
The Inner Monologues – A Side-by-Side
- Dexter Season 4 (Episode 12: “The Getaway”)
“I wonder if Rita is looking at the same moon at this same moment. I like that. Connected by light… Maybe one day, not so long from now, I’ll be rid of the Dark Passenger. It all begins with the getaway.”
- Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 (Episode 10)
“I miss her.” (referring to Debra)
“But now I have Harrison. He can lean on me, and when my darker urges start to swell, I can lean on him. To become more human, more connected. To remind me why I do what I do.”
“I used to wish that I could be different. Normal. A life without my Dark Passenger. But who am I kidding? This is who I am. What I am. I’m Dexter Morgan. Exactly who I need to be. Exactly who you want me to be.”
This contrast is key. Season 4’s Dexter longed to shed his darkness. Resurrection’s Dexter accepts it fully, merging his identity with his role as father.
Final Thoughts
Both finales were written by Clyde Phillips, the showrunner who created the original Season 4 masterpiece and has now redefined Dexter for a new era. Seeing Resurrection deliberately echo The Getaway was a storytelling choice that tied the old Dexter world to the new one, showing how far the character has come while reminding us of the darkness always lurking beneath.
The Season 1 finale of Dexter: Resurrection is a love letter to longtime fans and a promise of even deeper layers to come.
Did you spot the Season 4 callbacks immediately? Which parallel hit you the hardest?