Clyde Phillips explained the real reason there will be a significant time jump between Seasons 1 and 2.
 |
| Clyde Phillips and Jack Alcott. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
|
When cameras first started rolling and the first bits of information started to trickle out about the hotly anticipated sophomore season of Dexter: Resurrection, it quickly became clear that the season wouldn’t be picking up immediately where it left off.
For months, we speculated that the season would be picking up several years later but it wasn’t until this week’s article in Entertainment Weekly, that we finally have some concrete details; Not to mention some of the reasoning behind this major creative decision straight from the showrunner.
In this short but illuminating exclusive, showrunner Clyde Phillips divulged some of the gory details (literally) about the season's major villains while shining a light on their decision to set the season three years after Dexter dismantled Leon Prater’s serial killer club.
While such a time jump can have a dramatic effect on the landscape of a show, it’s certainly not the first time the writers have leaned on this tactic to set the stage for a season (New Blood’s 10+ year jump says hello). As it has in the past, the choice to do so was made in the writers room in service of the story but those reasons have finally come into focus.
In his interview with Entertainment Weekly, Phillips explains that the 3-year jump serves the purpose of letting Harrison turn 21 so that he can officially start his career as an NYPD police officer.
One of the major themes in season one centered around father and son finding (or refinding) their purpose in life; a journey that led Harrison to show interest in a career in criminal justice. Obviously, it’s hard not to imagine the storytelling potential in exploring that narrative thread considering the unique and delicate nature of Dexter and Harrison’s relationship. For that to truly be possible, a few more years needed to pass to keep the timeline nice and tidy.
While the reasoning is definitely practical, the ripple effect of this decision undoubtedly opened plenty of other creative doors for the writers to explore.
Dexter has moved further into middle age, setting the stage for a midlife crisis, Detective Wallace’s investigation into Don Frampt, aka the New York Ripper, has had time to simmer, and a number of new killers have risen in notoriety. If you ask me, all the pieces have fallen into place for what is sure to be a thrilling follow up to last year’s incredible series debut.
With the premiere date officially set (October 30), it’s only a matter of time before the marketing campaign kicks into full gear and the bigger picture starts to reveal itself. Stay tuned!