During his recent appearance at the Dexter: Resurrection FYC panel, Hall also teased the season’s new main antagonists.
As soon as production on Dexter: Resurrection began, it became clear that the series would introduce not one, but two major antagonists for Dexter Morgan to face. These new killers are the New York Ripper, portrayed by Brian Cox, and the Five Borough Killer, played by Dan Stevens.
While fans had already received a few hints about their personalities, several set photos from Season 2 gave a much better look at their physical appearances, and the differences between them are actually big. From their age to their overall presence, these are clearly two completely different kinds of monsters.
On May 14, during the For Your Consideration Event for Dexter: Resurrection, Michael C. Hall joined several cast and crew members to discuss the upcoming season. Although he could not reveal much because of contractual restrictions, he still used the opportunity, following a question from panelist Liam Crowley, to shed some light on the sophomore season’s two main villains.
Michael actually described the New York Ripper as a veteran serial killer who has been active for a long time, with much of his violent history already behind him. According to Hall, the character is a deeply disturbing and dangerous individual.
In contrast, he explained that the Five Borough Killer is much younger and still evolving into what Dexter would consider a true serial killer. Hall suggested that Dexter may not even fully see him as one yet, describing him more as an aspiring killer who is still “blossoming” into that identity.
Overall, Hall emphasized that both villains are “equally nasty,” but actually exist at completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their journey and experience.
What Hall revealed is especially interesting when taking into account that both Don Framt, the New York Ripper, and Owen Stark, the Five Borough Killer, seem to share a similarly sadistic tactic: taunting phone calls aimed at the people they target.
As revealed multiple times during the first season, the New York Ripper enjoys calling surviving victims or relatives of the people he murdered in order to torment them. A similar pattern appears to be part of the Five Borough Killer’s identity as well, with his official character synopsis confriming that disturbing phone calls are also one of his signature methods. That shared... cruelty is partly what makes both killers feel so “nasty” in Hall’s eyes.
Beyond that similarity though, the two villains actually appear to be complete opposites.
Either way, it honestly is refreshing to see Dexter Morgan dealing with two major antagonists at the same time. Watching him finding way to ago against two killers who are at entirely different stages of their evolution could definitely end up being one of the most interesting parts of Season 2.