Summary

Dexter: Resurrection kicks off with Dexter presumed dead, setting the stage for a complex plot.
The show should avoid baiting fans with Dexter's demise to maintain emotional impact.
Dexter's potential death must be meaningful, not an overused plot device.

Dexter: Resurrection's premiere via Paramount+ was recently confirmed to be on Friday, July 11. Two episodes will be available before the rest of the season rolls out weekly. The teaser clip didn't reveal much about what people can expect from the show, but it did remind fans of decisions that have previously been made in the Dexter franchise.

There is a lot of excitement about the popular serial killer returning to people's television screens, with Michael C. Hall's iconic character being one people remember fondly. However, if Dexter: Resurrection is to bring the franchise back to prominence truly, then a past mistake must be avoided.

Dexter: Resurrection Needs To Be Wary Of Being A Nostalgia Act After Latest Tease

Dexter: Resurrection must be careful not to be a nostalgia act following the latest teased news.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

The Dexter: Resurrection Teaser Gave An Interesting Insight

It Appears The World Will Presume Dexter Morgan To Be Dead

Popular 'How I Met Your Mother' Star Joins Cast Of 'Dexter: Resurrection'

The teaser clip was brief, showcasing Dexter Morgan reading a newspaper and grinning directly at the camera. The headline, which read, 'Dexter Morgan Is Dead,' was then highlighted to the audience. This highlights how Dexter: Resurrection will begin, continuing directly on from the last sequel series, Dexter: New Blood. In the finale of that show, Dexter appeared to be killed by his own son as Harrison shot him. It seemed like that was going to be the end of the series and Dexter's journey, but when Dexter: Resurrection was confirmed, it became clear that the former blood spatter analyst was returning again.

The description of the series has revealed that Dexter will be awakening from a coma at the start of the show, which proves he's going to be alive. Fans expect him to be visited by ghosts of his past during this time, as John Lithgow has confirmed he filmed a brief cameo as the Trinity Killer for this purpose. However, the headline of the newspaper claiming that Dexter is dead is an interesting situation, as it hints that he won't be awakening from his coma in a traditional hospital, which is why his death was announced publicly. But there is a chance this headline and paper were just created for the trailer to piece things together rather than something that will be actively part of the show.

Dexter: Resurrection Must Avoid More Bait And Switch Moments

Fans Don't Need To Be Teased By Dexter's Death

Regardless of how Dexter's latest brush with death is going to be handled in Dexter: Resurrection, it does highlight the need for the show not to repeat that same mistake. The bait and switch of his death being teased and then pulled away is something that the franchise can only get away with so many times. The original series did this in the finale when Dexter drove his boat into the eye of the storm, with people presuming he didn't survive the wreckage. However, he did that intentionally to allow himself to build a new life while everyone assumed he was gone. But then Dexter: New Blood saw the show repeat the same idea with the gunshot, which ended the series on a cliffhanger of whether or not he was alive.

Having Dexter in the show is crucial given that he's the lead character, and that's likely going to be the case for however long Dexter: Resurrection ends up running. However, it's important that the series doesn't make this mistake again within the show. While Dexter is always going to find himself in dangerous situations due to the nature of his life and the manner in which he behaves, that doesn't mean that his death has to be teased so heavily when the show ultimately has no plans to kill him off.

Dexter Morgan's Potential Demise Needs To Mean Something

There Should Be An Emotional Response Attached To This

The possibility of Dexter dying is always going to be there as he pursues dangerous people who have no problem killing. However, audiences are emotionally invested in Dexter as a character, regardless of his behavior. That's why his potential death needs to be handled with care by the writers because the more it is teased, the less impact it has. Every time the show puts him in a scenario where he could die only to survive, it means people start to take it less seriously, and that shouldn't be the case. These are the moments where Dexter: Resurrection can have the most drama and intrigue, but for that to work, they have to be used sparingly. Then, if the series is to end with his death, it should be made clear that it is done.

Dexter isn't a superhero or someone with magical powers, and Dexter: Resurrection will do well to remember that. He's already survived two incidents that most people wouldn't walk away from, so it's important to tone things down slightly with what he's capable of enduring. While audiences are always going to suspend their disbelief to some degree, Dexter has always tried to be realistic. Therefore, that should continue. Dexter: Resurrection has built up all of the interest, and people want high-stakes drama, but the show must be careful with how far the lead role is pushed this time around.

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