Tonight's not the night.
It has now been exactly one week since Dexter: Resurrection dropped its Season 1 finale, and since tonight isn’t a “new Dexter night,” it’s the perfect time to revisit the episode — now with a full picture of fan reactions. The finale, titled “And Justice for All…”, premiered on September 5 on Paramount+ Premium and has quickly cemented itself as one of the most talked-about episodes.
The first season of Dexter: Resurrection has been widely praised as a true return to form for the series — something fans weren’t necessarily expecting after the rocky reputation of past endings. While Episode 9 (“Touched by an Angel”) earned slightly more buzz online, the finale has managed to hold an impressive 9.6/10 rating on IMDb after a full week, proving its staying power.
More importantly, many fans agree: this is the most satisfying ending Dexter has had in 13 years.
Why This Finale Feels Different
To understand why Resurrection’s finale feels so rewarding, it’s worth looking back. The last time Michael C. Hall’s Dexter Morgan had a finale that fans truly embraced was Season 7’s “Surprise, Motherf**ker!”— an episode that gave us James Doakes flashbacks and the shocking death of Maria LaGuerta after she uncovered Dexter’s secret.
Since then, finales have been a source of controversy:
- Season 8 (2013): Dexter mercy-killed Deb, dumped her body at sea, faked his death, abandoned Harrison, and disappeared into self-exile as a lumberjack in Oregon. The concept was poetic on paper, but the execution left audiences calling it one of the worst TV finales of all time.
- Dexter: New Blood (2022): Marketed as the “definitive ending,” the finale saw Dexter killed by his own son Harrison. Many fans criticized it as rushed, lacking payoff (no true confrontation with Angel Batista), and ultimately unsatisfying.
These risky creative swings backfired — leaving scars on the fanbase that Resurrection had to heal.
Did Resurrection Play It Too Safe?
Some viewers argue that Episode 10 of Dexter: Resurrection didn’t take enough risks. And in a way, they’re right. But the decision was intentional — and justified.
Here’s why:
- The big risk had already happened in Episode 9 with the shocking murder of Angel Batista. That twist gave fans the emotional gut punch they craved.
- This is just the beginning. Unlike New Blood, which was designed as a one-and-done series, Resurrection is being built for multiple seasons. Keeping Dexter alive and active in New York ensures the story has room to grow, while making Batista’s death meaningful rather than wasted.
In other words, the finale wasn’t meant to end the story — it was meant to set the stage for more Dexter. And that’s exactly what fans want.
A Finale Packed with Classic Dexter Moments
Safe or not, “And Justice for All…” delivered plenty of what makes Dexter great:
- A chilling Big Bad finale kill (Leon Prater)
- The surprise return of Brian Moser, a fan-favorite callback
- Sharp dialogue and standout performances
- An ending that directly echoes the iconic Season 4 finale
It had nostalgia, payoff, and of course promise for the future.
Final Thoughts
The Dexter: Resurrection finale may not have shocked fans with a daring risk, but it didn’t need to. Instead, it offered a smart, satisfying conclusion that honors the past while keeping the door open for the future.
After years of divisive finales, Dexter finally has an ending fans can rally behind, the best one in over a decade. And with multiple seasons ahead, one thing is clear: Dexter Morgan isn’t done yet.