’Twas the night before Halloween, and all through the city, Dexter hunts new killers while looking quite gritty. But after two decades of living this way, a midlife crisis kicks in.
After decades of killing, Dexter discovers that age is catching up with him. His methods are less effective, and even the most carefully planned parts of his life are beginning to unravel. Combined with his lingering grief over Angel Batista’s death, these changes push everyone’s favorite serial killer into unfamiliar territory.
“Risky Business,” the second-season premiere of Dexter: Resurrection, takes place three years after Season 1. Dexter continues navigating life in New York City, posing as a rideshare driver while pursuing the remaining names on Leon Prater’s list. However, his familiar routine is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
The signs of aging are everywhere. Dexter struggles with his eyesight, enters a passenger’s address incorrectly, and earns a mocking “boomer” comment. He responds by calling himself a “Generation X asshole,” but the funny exchange emphasizes a problem he cannot eliminate. His body is changing, while redevelopment removes his reliable body-disposal site and forces him to reconsider a routine perfected over decades.
Something else, more unsettling, develops: Dexter feels underappreciated. After years of convincing himself that his murders serve a greater purpose, he resents receiving no recognition for his supposed life-saving accomplishments. He even wonders whether James Doakes deserves to be remembered as the Bay Harbor Butcher. This twisted professional jealousy raises a fascinating question: What happens when Dexter wants credit for the secret he spends his life protecting?
Fortunately, Dexter has not completely lost his touch. He tracks down two targets from Prater’s vault: the Midnight Mangler, responsible for 32 victims, and the Yonkers Slayer, a self-proclaimed Satanist linked to more than 20 murders. Dexter dismisses the latter’s excuses about an outside force controlling him. His code remains intact, even if carrying it out is no longer effortless.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Harrison begins his career as an NYPD rookie. Over a meal, he excitedly talks about his new apartment and his future on the force. Dexter offers to cover the upfront costs and co-sign the lease with money from the Iron Lake property. Watching him attempt to become a present, supportive father adds warmth to their complicated relationship.
The episode also introduces the Five Borough Killer (Dan Stevens), who warns police that he plans to kill someone at a baseball game. Despite discussions about canceling the event, tragedy strikes after a rain delay when he shoots a woman in the parking lot, leaving detectives Wallace and Oliva searching for answers.
The premiere saves its surprise for last. Detective Joey Quinn (Desmond Harrington) arrives at the crime scene, bringing Dexter’s past back into play and promising to uncover the truth.
“Risky Business” delivers a sharp, entertaining premiere that challenges Dexter through age, grief, and mounting frustration. His physical limitations introduce a compelling vulnerability, while his desire for recognition adds another disturbing dimension to his increasingly fragile state of mind. Harrison’s growing independence shifts their father-son relationship, and the arrival of the Five Borough Killer adds an ominous new threat.
Joey Quinn’s unexpected return also reconnects the story to Dexter’s dangerous past, setting up a conflict that could expose everything he has worked to conceal. Combined with the welcome return of the original opening theme, these elements make the episode both nostalgic and refreshingly unpredictable. With an 8.5/10, Dexter: Resurrection begins Season 2 confidently, proving that Dexter’s past is never far behind.
What did you think of "Risky Business"? Leave a comment.
Catch Dexter: Resurrection Fridays on Paramount+.
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