Leon Prater may be long gone by Season 2, but the legacy he left behind could shape the future of the series.
‘Dexter Resurrection’ season two has officially reached the halfway point in production and despite having disbanded in season 1, the ripple effects of those events appear to be having a profound, long-term effect on the series.
In retrospect, the wildly popular storyline of Leon Prater feels less like a one season arc and more like a foundational event that continues to influence and shape the broader story as we venture into unknown territory.
In other words, if Dexter’s Miami Metro era defined the original series, it feels like the Prater’s twisted club has essentially defined the second half of Dexter’s story (with New Blood existing to bridge the gap).
Don't Call it an Arc
As we watch the second season of Resurrection take shape (not to mention season 3), one thing is crystal clear: The gimmick (for lack of a better term) introduced in season one set the bar pretty high and the creators clearly recognize the storytelling potential that now lies before them.
To be clear, this goes well beyond the star-studded rogues gallery that I assume is destined to become a staple of the series season after season. The events of season one, for all intents and purposes, was a re-awakening of a character that ceased to exist after his self-imposed exile in 2013 (hence the name).
We watched as Dexter slowly emerged from hibernation, brushed off the oppressive guilt that he felt for the death of his sister, and eventually re-commit to his true nature in the final moments of season one.
But how do you resurrect a character like this - after such a long hiatus - and avoid the pitfall of feeling like a rehash or a cash grab? The answer: You bolster the premise with something bold and ambitious; Something that can reignite the fandom and fuel the story for the foreseeable future. What at first seemed like an unconventional season arc eventually gave way to something much bigger than ever expected.
After bringing an end to Prater in the vault at the end of season one, Dexter absconded with as many of his secret files as he could carry; Files that laid out everything he would need to hunt down numerous killers that were either directly involved with or being considered for Prater’s twisted club.
For me, my outlook on the rest of the series shifted pretty dramatically with this turn of events. Not only did they find a perfectly plausible victim pool for Dexter to draw from going forward (sans Miami Metro), they also introduced enough intrigue and uncertainty to more than justify the existence of this revival (in my opinion anyways).
Circle of Friends(?)
Following up what is arguably the most ambitious season of Dexter is a tall order but there is an abundance of rich narrative soil left to cultivate.
Prater may be buried at sea but the broader stories of several of the new characters remain intrinsically linked to this character in inescapable ways. Even as the story continues to evolve and branch outward, it’s these characters that will keep Prater as a central figure throughout the series (or at least for the foreseeable future).
Charley’s (Uma Thurman) highly anticipated return will most certainly ensure that his misdeeds are not forgotten as the story continues forward.
By learning more about her past and motivations, overlap with Prater’s past activities seems unavoidable; Especially given Thurman’s status as “series regular” in season two. It begs the question: What secrets does she carry with her from her time serving Prater and what role will she ultimately play in Dexter’s activities given their complicated history. If you ask me, her presence in conjunction with Prater’s files will go a long way toward making his presence felt for a long time to come.
Then of course, there is Claudette Wallace. Prater’s files gave her the identity of the infamous New York Ripper (played by Brian Cox) but we have yet to learn why this hasn’t ultimately led to an arrest during the time jump.
I suspect that the name of the game (and the focus of Claudette’s obsession) has now become proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To do this, I imagine she will be leaning heavily on the information reaped from Prater’s vault which will inevitably steer her into a collision with Dexter once again.
Lastly, Mia/Lady Vengeance (Krysten Ritter) is yet another character whose entire involvement with Dexter’s world revolves around Prater. While the true nature of her relationship with Dexter (and Charley for that matter) in season two remains a mystery, her very presence suggests that there are more revelations to divulge about the history of Prater’s club and the killers he associated with.
Only Time Will Tell
Of course, there is still a lot more going on as we enter the sophomore season.
The oft discussed time jump brings with it a whole new path for Harrison while forcing Dexter to continue grappling with his own mortality as he ages. There’s also Quinn’s return which will provide the critical link to Dexter’s past life that was left vacant by Batista’s untimely demise.
Despite all of these spinning plates, I believe it will be Prater’s legacy that ultimately feels like the lifeblood of Resurrection once the dust has settled.
With only a few months left before the premiere, I expect that the vision for the season (and for the future of the show) will start to come into sharper focus soon.
For now, I find myself contemplating all of the ways in which they can capitalize on the wildly successful revival and if you ask me, leaning on Prater’s legacy seems like a no-brainer.