Dexter: Resurrection breaks a major rule with the New York Ripper. Here’s why.
The announcement of Brian Cox’s casting as Don Framt (aka The New York Ripper) was bittersweet for many fans. This prolific actor comes with the aura of an iconic villain practically baked into his very presence; an ingredient that is sure to mix well on screen with Michael C. Hall’s beloved anti-hero, Dexter Morgan.
But despite all that, there is simply no denying that some of the very best seasons of Dexter have relied heavily on mystery and mis-direct to build tension and propel the story forward. So with that in mind, the question now becomes: Was revealing this casting choice so blatantly a mistake? Or is this a sign that the second season has much bigger, more ambitious plans than a simple game of cat-and-mouse between Dexter and a mystery villain?
Here’s What We Know Already
While ‘The New York Ripper’ never appeared on screen in season one, a pretty elaborate picture was painted of the character. We know he was active in the 70’s and 80’s but went dormant for a long period of time which left police without any new leads to follow. In time, the Ripper eventually re-emerged to torment the families of his victims with cruel phone calls.
For years, the Ripper cold case plagued Detective Wallace until she developed an obsession which is where we first meet her in Resurrection as she is circling Dexter and Harrison.
Given the huge gap in the timeline and the fact that no new kills have been attributed to the Ripper in decades, it was all but confirmed prior to Cox’s casting that the killer would undoubtedly be much older than the typical Dexter villain. Of course, parallels can be drawn to Arthur Mitchell but I think a huge difference between these two characters will be their motivation.
Arthur was a tortured soul who was driven to kill by a compulsion formed in his childhood by the guilt he felt for the death of his family. Meanwhile, all signs so far point to the Ripper being a violent sadist who derives joy from causing pain and suffering.
I would also argue that stories centered around retired serial killers have always been more chilling to me than the ones about killers in their prime. They are often more confident and frightening in their old age and it often makes them far more dangerous than their younger counterparts.
Even without ever making an appearance in season one, they were able to establish ‘The Ripper’ as one of the most sadistic killers to enter Dexter’s orbit while still leaving plenty of room to develop his character in season two. Given his brutality, age, and experience, I think it’s safe to say that Don Framt will fit comfortably into the pantheon of unforgettable Dexter villains.
What Does the Past Tell Us?
One of the benefits of being around for so long (Dexter first aired in 2006) is there are many lessons to be gleaned from the past when charting a course for the future. If you go all the way back to season one, the Ice Truck Killer mystery can be at least partially credited for hooking audiences and giving Dexter the legs that it has today.
The slow reveal of Brian Moser was the perfect vehicle for keeping viewers glued to their TV long enough to develop an understanding and appreciation for a hero character who kills and dismembers people. The fact that Brian’s true identity was withheld and coupled with a less recognizable casting choice made the eventual reveal a near perfect surprise.
On the flip-side, I think it’s important to remember that casting announcements are not always the giveaway that people seem to think they are. Season 4 achieved legendary status among fans despite clear signals from the creators that John Lithgow would be playing the villain from the outset.
They even painted him as a monster in the opening moments of episode one. None of these “reveals” spoiled the season that followed or made the story any less compelling or surprising; It’s a true testament to the talented writers at the helm and if you ask me, there’s no reason to think that won’t be the case here.
But of course, to find the most relevant and telling example of the relationship between Dexter casting announcements and the level of “intrigue” that follows, I think you should look no further than the first season of Resurrection.
The casting was insanely ambitious—and revealing—and yet, the season went on to be one of the most successful and compelling seasons in the show’s history.
The likes of Peter Dinklage, Krysten Ritter, Uma Thurman, Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Stonestreet, and David Dastmalchian were all revealed (with character details) before shooting even began and yet, the story they crafted kept audiences on the edge of their seats for the duration of the season; Making it one of the most popular and exciting seasons in the history of Dexter.
What’s the Play this Time?
For the first time in Dexter history, the audience’s fascination with an off-screen character actually manifested that character into being. Truth be told, season two of Resurrection could have looked very different if fans hadn’t been so vocal about their infatuation with the mystery killer who danced around the periphery of the first season.
In the season finale, the writers subverted expectation by finally revealing the real name of the infamous ‘The New York Ripper’ via a file folder found in Leon Prater’s vault. Dexter read the name but ended up leaving the file for Detective Wallace to find. What felt like an inevitable setup for a major reveal ultimately fizzled out as little more than a symbolic gesture from Dexter in the season’s final moments.
Luckily, the writers took notice of fan’s obsession and pivoted when breaking season two in the writers room. ‘The New York Ripper’ would, in fact, be central to the story in season two; setting Dexter up for a showdown with an older, experienced serial killer played by Brian Cox (The Bourne Supremacy, Manhunter, Succession). But now that the Ripper has a face, it leaves many wondering if the intrigue and mystery tied to the character has been snuffed out.
If you ask me, this points to something far more complex than fans are expecting. The fact is, season one of Resurrection set the bar very high in terms of storytelling ambition. Leon Prater’s murder club was unlike anything the show had ever dabbled in before and audiences ate it up.
To follow that up, a by-the-books season with the classic cat and mouse dynamic we are familiar with simply won’t cut it. By being so up front about Brian Cox’s casting, all signs seem to point to something far more nuanced.
Of course, there’s also the distinct possibility that this is a smokescreen and the Ripper might not be the primary antagonist of the season after all. Given the show’s emphasis on legacy, I can’t help but wonder if a younger member of Don Framt’s family will be carrying the torch for the Ripper.
If that were the case, it would certainly create an interesting dynamic to explore considering Dexter and Harrison’s complex relationship.
Trust the Show
Regardless of what angle they ultimately choose to explore in season two, I think the casting announcement does very little to actually cancel out any narrative potential. We know the man’s name and now we know his face.
If anything, this suggests that those details are possibly the least important information they could have divulged. Given the ambitious approach to season one, I think it’s safe to say that there is still plenty of mystery and intrigue to come as Resurrection’s sophomore season approaches.