Clyde Phillips opens up about the creative vision behind Dexter: Resurrection’s one-of-a-kind NYC detective.
Dexter Morgan has officially returned to our screens with Dexter: Resurrection, and this new chapter places Dexter in an entirely different setting, making it natural for the series to introduce fresh faces into its core cast. One of the most talked-about additions is Detective Claudette Wallace, a member of New York City’s 22nd precinct, who quickly established herself as a standout presence.
Portrayed by Kadia Saraf, Claudette Wallace immediately distinguished herself through both her presence and her behavior. Whehter she was listening to Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees through her Bluetooth headphones while processing crime scenes or doing her office job at the precinct, she brought something...special to every scene.
Ten episodes in, Claudette Wallace is expected to return for a second season of Dexter: Resurrection, though fan reactions to the character have been mixed. Some viewers are still unsure how they feel about her role, which is understandable given how unconventional she is, not just within the Dexter shows but across television in general. Wallace isn’t actually designed to be immediately comforting or familiar, and that deliberate choice is what makes her polarizing.
To better understand the creative process behind Claudette Wallace, there’s no better source than Clyde Phillips, the creator of Dexter: Resurrection and one of the key architects of the character. Speaking recently in an interview with Love It Film, Phillips explained that his goal from the beginning was to create someone truly different.
He described Wallace as neurodivergent and obsessive, noting that she does not speak in contractions and instead uses full, precise sentences. Neurodivergence, as a concept, refers to natural variations in how people actually think and process the world, often associated with conditions such as autism or ADHD. In Wallace’s case, logic governs everything, and if something doesn’t align logically, it simply doesn’t matter to her.
Phillips also credited Kadia Saraf for shaping the character further once she was cast. He explained that Saraf conducted extensive research and brought her own ideas into the role, helping refine Wallace’s mannerisms.
Through collaboration with the directors, Phillips encouraged a more restrained performance, focusing attention on Wallace’s presence rahter than overt gestures. The result, in his words, is a character unlike most seen on mainstream television, influenced more by unconventional international storytelling than typical...network formulas.
Claudette Wallace is undeniably rare, and this is what actually makes her so intriguing within Dexter: Resurrection. As development continues on season two, it will be interesting to see where her story goes next and how she evolves following the events of the season one finale.