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| David Zayas as Angel Batista and Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Resurrection Season 2. (Photo credit: Matt Infante/Paramount+) |
The following story contains spoilers from Episode 1 of Dexter: Resurrection Season 2.
America's favorite serial killer is back for another season, and the first episode of Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 wasted no time pulling viewers back into the story. From the very first moments, the premiere delivered a captivating opening, thanks in large part to a dream sequence written by the show's creative duo, Clyde Phillips and Scott Reynolds.
The scene was a clever way to bring back Angel Batista, who sadly died in the final episodes of Season 1. But there is much more to it than a simple dream about what could have been. In fact, one particular choice might actually surprise you.
Before getting into the explanation, let's take a closer look at the opening scene.
What Happened in Dexter: Resurrection Season 2's Opening Dream Sequence
The episode begins with Dexter sleeping at home at night, while a storm rages outside. Suddenly, he receives a phone call from Batista, who greets him with "Hermano" and tells him that he has found an address for the New York Ripper.
Dexter immediately gets out of bed, and the montage that follows shows him putting on his classic Miami kill outfit, grabbing his knives, and getting into Batista's fancy car. Batista even offers him a Cubano sandwich before telling him where they are headed.
One particularly interesting detail is that, in this dream, not only is Batista still alive, but he also knows that Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher and fully supports him anyway.
The two eventually arrive at the location where the New York Ripper is hiding. They actually catch him off guard while he is polishing the hook he uses to kill his victims. Batista attacks him before Dexter takes him down with an M99 injection.
The killer eventually ends up on Dexter's table, with Batista even handing him the knife and encouraging him to once again "make the world a better place."
But just as Dexter is about to stab the New York Ripper, something unexpected happens. The "killer" is suddenly replaced by Batista, who repeats the final words he said to Dexter at Leon Prater's vault before actually taking his last breath.
That is when Dexter wakes up, back in his car, where he has been waiting for his next passenger during his rideshare driver shift.
There is, however, one detail that might have left some viewers wondering. We already know that Brian Cox is playing the New York Ripper in Season 2, so... why was the killer portrayed by Kane Hodder in Dexter's dream?
Scott Reynolds Explains Why Kane Hodder Appeared as the New York Ripper
During his appearance on the latest episode of the Dissecting Dexter podcast, hosted by Gareth Watkins, EP and writer Scott Reynolds revealed that the reason Kane Hodder appeared as the New York Ripper was actually connected to Dexter's childhood. His subconscious essentially chose one of his favorite horror movie icons to portray the killer in his dream.
As many fans know, Hodder played Jason Voorhes in several Friday the 13th movies. And, as we learned particularly through some details in Dexter: Original Sin, young Dexter was a huge fan of those films and the horror genre in general.
Considering how strange and unpredictable dreams can be, something that we all know, it makes sense that his subconscious would picture the New York Ripper as the actor behind Jason Voorhees himself. Of course, this doesn't mean Hodder plays the actual New York Ripper in the series. Brian Cox remains the actor behind the killer in reality.
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| Kane Hodder as the New York Ripper from the dream sequence. (Photo credit: Matt Infante/Paramount+) |
Reynolds also revealed that the idea for this opening scene actually came from Michael C. Hall himself. According to the writer, Hall approached him with the suggestion of giving Dexter a dream about what his life might have looked like if Batista had survived the events of Season 1.
Hall reportedly told him: "I wonder if there's a way... I want him to have a dream of what life could have been like with Batista had Season 1's ending not happened."
And the childhood references did not stop with Kane Hodder. Reynolds explained that some of the gestures between Dexter and Batista, as well as the song playing in the background, were also connected to memories from Dexter's younger years.
For example, the two characters grabbing each other's hands is a direct reference to Predator, another movie young Dex loved. As Reynolds explained, "They grab each other's hands straight out of Predator. So now you know young Dexter loves Predator."
The song playing during the sequence, "The Heat Is On," also has a connection to Dexter's childhood. The track actually comes from the 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop, which Dexter used to watch as a teenager.
The Real Meaning Behind Dexter's Dream About Batista
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Reynolds' explanation is what the entire sequence reveals about Dexter's state of mind.
This wasn't only a fun trip down memory lane or an excuse to bring Batista back for a few minutes, but a look into the guilt Dexter is still carrying following his former friend's murder.
Even though three to four years have passed since Batista was killed by Leon Prater, Dexter clearly hasn't been able to fully move on. After spending most of their lives as friends and colleagues, their relationship ended in tragedy, with Batista dying angry at someone he had once trusted.
In Dexter's dream, things are actually different. Batista is alive, knows Dexter's biggest secret, and still stands by his side. It's the version of their relationship Dexter wishes he could have had, rather than the reality he is trying to come to terms with.
All in all, this was definitely a clever and meaningful way to bring Angel Batista back, even if only through Dexter's subconscious. And honestly, hearing these BTS details from someone directly involved in making the show makes the scene even more enjoyable.