WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Dexter: Resurrection episode 3.

Dexter: Resurrectionepisode 3, “Backseat Driver”, puts Harrison in the narrative driver’s seat as Dexter makes his first kill and gets closer to the highly anticipated NYC serial killer society. After an impressivetwo-episode premiere,Dexter: Resurrectionepisode 3 shows signs that the best parts of the sequel series are still ahead.

Surpriseguest appearances from OGDextercharactersJoey Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Vince Masuka (C.S. Lee) are sure to bring smiles to the faces of every original series fan.Angel Batista tells his old Miami pals that he’s retiring from homicideso he can catch the biggest killer he’s ever met: Dexter Morgan.

Detectives Wallace and Olivia with police siren lights flashing on them in Dexter Resurrection

It’s remarkable howDexter: Resurrectioncan masterfully balance ongoing storylines from bothDexterandDexter: New Bloodwhile also introducing new subplots and characters. The buddy cop duo ofmurder whisperer Det. Claudette Wallace (Kadia Sraf) and Det. Melvin Olivia (Dominic Fumusa)is strong enough to carry their own standalone police procedural.

On top of all this, Dexter is back to his old ways, hunting down serial killers and making his first kill inResurrectionepisode 3: Ronald “Red” Schmidt. With James Remar’s classic Harry right by Dexter’s side,Resurrectioncontinues to have one of the best starts of any Dexter season in franchise history.

Dexter wearing a hat in Resurrection

Harrison Following In Dexter’s Footsteps Is A Great Move For The Franchise

His Story Is Full Of Tension As Two NYPD Detectives Close In On Him

Jack Alcott is making a statement as Harrison Morgan inDexter: Resurrectionafter his character was somewhat divisive among viewers inNew Blood. Rather than Dexter trying to prevent Harrison from becoming like him,Harrison naturally found the urge to kill in an act of justifiable homicide, planting the seeds of what may become his own budding killer code. Rather than confess, Harrison weasels his way out of a classic NYPD pin, which would have made his father proud.

Harrison getting away with his first kill admittedly requires several strokes of luck, such as a security camera conveniently being covered in pigeon crap, butResurrectionis so fun that even its largest implausibilities are easy to excuse.

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Dexter continues to watch his son from afar, cleaning up a crucial piece of evidencethat would have likely gotten him caught after killing the sexual predator in the hotel kitchen. Harrison getting away with his first kill admittedly requires several strokes of luck, such as a security camera conveniently being covered in pigeon crap, butResurrectionis so fun that even its largest implausibilities are easy to excuse.

The separation between Harrison and Dexter inResurrectionhas been more compelling than seeing them together throughoutNew Bloodthus far. While a reunion is bound to happen eventually,it’s great to see Harrison left to his own devices for a while in New York City, leaving room for his dad to deliver a bit of fan service with his highly anticipated first kill of the season.

Dexter Gets His First Kill & Should Finally Enter The Serial Killer Society

Red Looks To Have A Deeper Purpose Than Just Being Dexter’s First NYC Kill

As the NYPD circles Harrison, Dexter closes in on the “Imposter” that the media is calling “The Dark Passenger.” As strong as the rest ofResurrection’snarrative elements have been thus far,Dexter back on the hunt is what fans have been really waiting to see, and it arrives at the perfect moment in episode 3.

Dexter cleverly traps Red by posing as a rideshare driver, knowing that would be the best way to bait him. Although Dexter’s kill room moment with Red is rather brief,it instantly brings the heart of the series back to its origins, a feat thatNew Bloodstruggled to maintain.

All signs in episode 3 point to Dexter becoming the imposter himself in episode 4, posing as Red and using his invitation to get on the inside of the secret society.

When theDexter: Resurrectiontrailer was initially released, it seemed likeDexterwould have been personally invited to the serial killer society. Instead,Resurrectioninventively finds a deeper purpose for Redthan simply being Dexter’s first NYC kill. All signs in episode 3 point to Dexter becoming the imposter himself in episode 4, posing as Red and using his invitation to get on the inside of the secret society.

Dexter: Resurrectionepisode 3 effectively moves the various subplots along in riveting and surprising ways. Each new installment ofResurrectionso far continues to justify the franchise’s modern revival with not just good, but outstanding quality and effort. ShowrunnerClyde Phillips announced that he pitched three seasons ofResurrectionto Michael C. Hall. At this rate, why not four?

After episode 3,I’m champing at the bit to see Dexter interact with his new serial killer society, featuring the likes of Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage, Neil Patrick Harris, and more. If he does go in as Red, he’ll have to employ his handy-dandy deception techniques, even after dropping the Jim Lindsay alias fromNew Blood, which frankly sounds perfect forDexter: Resurrectionviewers.

Dexter: Resurrection Episode 3

Cast

Dexter: Resurrection follows Dexter Morgan as he awakens from a coma to discover his son, Harrison, missing. His search leads him to New York City, where he confronts his past and the challenges posed by Miami Metro’s Angel Batista, as father and son face their shared darkness.