Amid the recent casting announcements, one new character stands out, with fans already comparing him to two iconic original figures.
In the weeks since Dexter: Resurrection officially started filming, several new casting additions have been announced for the upcoming season, and most of them are familiar faces from other projects. Still, one name in particular has fans talking a little more than the rest, and for good reason.
Season 2 is set to introduce a NYPD captain, played by Bokeem Woodbine, and many fans have actually noticed similarities between his character and two familiar figures from the original series: James Doakes, portrayed by Erik King, and Angel Batista, played by David Zayas. So...what’s behind these comparisons?
Well, it mostly comes down to what we know so far about Woodbine’s character. His last name is Mixon (his first name hasn’t been revealed yet) and he serves as the captain of the 27th precinct in the NYPD. He also has a daughter, Fiona, who has just joined NYPD Homicide and will be a rookie this season. As for Mixon’s personality, the official character synopsis described him as “a bulldog” when it comes to his job.
That one word says a lot, and it can actually be taken in more than one way. On one hand, it suggests someone who is relentless, driven, and fully committed. On the other, it can point to someone who’s intense, stubborn, maybe even a bit difficult to deal with. He could be brave and firm, but also aggressive or hard-headed depending on the situation.
Those traits immediately bring James Doakes to mind. Doakes was definitely known for his no-nonsense attitude and for constantly being on Dexter’s trail, and that is why he didn’t last long enough in the OG series.
Based on early reactions, a lot of viewers already see Mixon stepping into a similar role. “Sounds like a new Doakes,” one fan wrote after the casting announcement, while another described him as “Doakes meets Batista.” Some actually focused on the visual similarities too, pointing out his clean-shaven head, with one comment joking, “He’s bald like Doakes was, and that might be a bad sign for Dex himself.”
At the same time, others are making connections to Angel Batista. While Batista wasn’t exactly known for that level of intensity in the original series, Dexter: Resurrection revealed a different side of him in its first season, especially as his pursuit of Dexter became more and more personal. That change actually made him more driven and, at times, more compelling than we were used to seeing.
That is why some viewers think Mixon could be a mix (no pun intended) of both characters. As one fan said, “Mixon is where Doakes and Batista become one character,” summing up the early opinion around Bokeem Woodbine’s role and (possibly) the direction the show might be taking.
There’s also one key detail that keeps coming up in these comparisons: Mixon is a captain. As many of us know, Batista eventually rose through the ranks to become captain of Miami Metro before stepping away. With Batista no longer in that position, it seems like the show may be introducing Mixon as a new authority figure to fill that space.
Of course, all of this is based on early fan reactions, and not everyone sees it the same way. Some viewers actually believe Captain Mixon will stand on his own as a whole new character, and that any similarities are just... coincidence. But still, there are enough parallels.
Either way, Mixon is a promising, and also one of the most intriguing additions to the series. And with Bokeem Woodbine in the role, there is a strong chance the character will bring more surprises than we actually expect!