Let’s talk about Quinn’s return in the new season of Dexter: Resurrection, and why it is more complicated than it seems.
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| Dexter Morgan and Joey Quinn in Dexter: Resurrection. (Paramount+) |
There are obviously a lot of huge question marks attached to the hotly anticipated sophomore season of ‘Dexter Resurrection’: What’s the deal with the time jump? How will Harrison’s newfound career conflict with his father’s secret life? How big of a threat is the ailing ‘New York Ripper?’
For me though, the single biggest question I have relates to the return of Joey Quinn (Desmond Harrington) as a series regular. The character’s relationship with Dexter has always been complex but we haven’t learned much at this point about what has transpired for him since the end of the original run in 2013.
Given the way that Angel’s arc ended last season, it would be easy to assume that Quinn will play a very similar role. But given his history and what we already know about the upcoming season, I suspect that it won’t be quite that simple. Let’s take a look at what we know so far and talk about the potential behind his return.
The Time Jump
At this point, the most perplexing and far-reaching question we may have about season 2 is about the impact of the 3-year time jump.
From a writing perspective, it offers up plenty of rich storytelling potential: Harrison is turning 21 and joining the NYPD, Dexter is starting to feel his age more intensely, and the loose ends from season one have had time to simmer and intensify. The New York Ripper’s identity is known to Dexter and the NYPD, Charley has returned to Dexter’s orbit, and Quinn has seemingly followed in Batista’s footsteps.
In Quinn’s case, I question whether his arrival in New York is fueled by his desire to investigate Batista’s death (and by extension, his off-grid Bay Harbor Butcher investigation) or if other circumstances entirely have brought him to the Big Apple. If his friendship and history with Batista led him to carry the torch and continue the crusade against Dexter, why did it take him 3 years to do so?
An alternative theory I would pose is that a Miami Metro case has crossed jurisdictional lines into New York City and brought Quinn along for the ride; providing him the perfect opportunity to find out more about the circumstances surrounding Angel’s demise.
For instance, it’s not a stretch to think that Gabriel Luna’s villainous character may start his murder spree in Miami before migrating to New York. This would of course put him in Dexter’s crosshairs as well and set the stage for his inevitable reunion with Quinn.
Quinn’s Complex Relationship with Dexter and His Moral Ambiguity
Regardless of how Quinn makes landfall in New York City, his moral ambiguity and unconventional relationship with Dexter will most certainly create a sharp contrast to Batista’s approach in season one.
Since day one, Quinn has been a good cop that doesn’t always subscribe to the strict moral standards that defined Batista until the very end. The question now becomes: How will this shape his pursuit of justice for Batista (assuming that is what he is ultimately seeking)?
Considering that Batista told Quinn next to nothing about what brought him to New York in the first place, I suspect that Dexter’s appearance will serve as quite the shock while also raising a huge red flag for Quinn almost immediately.
But where they go from there is anybody’s guess. Will Dexter and Quinn both be pursuing the same target or will Quinn zero in on Dexter as a responsible party in Batista’s murder (not to mention Deb)?
If they are both in pursuit of the same killer, there’s a chance that Dexter’s unique brand of vigilante justice could end up painting him in a more positive light in Quinn’s eyes (if the truth were to surface); Something that never would have been possible with Angel. It could even lead to Quinn becoming another unconventional ally for Dexter moving forward in the series.
This wouldn’t be the first time that Quinn looked the other way for Dexter’s benefit and I think it’s pretty clear that he sometimes wishes he could walk Dexter’s path himself.
His Love for Debra Morgan
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| Joey Quinn and Debra Morgan in the Dexter Season 8 finale. (Showtime) |
With all that said, I think the most powerful and influential force at play in the Quinn situation is actually the love that he had for Debra.
Regardless of the value that he may see in Dexter’s criminal exploits, Quinn will undoubtedly be forced to reconcile that against the litany of injustices that Dexter left in his wake in Miami; Chief among them being the undeniable role he played in Deb’s death at the hands of the Brain Surgeon.
When the original series wrapped, Quinn and Deb had seemingly found their way back to each other only to be ripped apart at the last second. It was Quinn’s love for Deb that allowed him to look the other way when Dexter exacted his revenge for all to see. It was an emotional and understandable human reaction to a tragic injustice but one that I don’t suspect will hold firm so many years later.
If the truth eventually finds its way to Quinn, it won’t be long before he starts to connect the dots back to the collateral damage that followed Dexter everywhere in Miami.
Furthermore, Batista is yet another innocent, albeit unintentional, victim that I suspect will influence Quinn’s motives when it comes to Dexter. Once those truths are acknowledged, I struggle to picture a world in which Quinn is anything other than vengeful. Giving him his opportunity to avenge Deb is also a perfect way to ensure that her presence continues to be felt.
At the end of the day, this show is at its best when it explores the moral battles at play in the hearts and minds of the characters.