Dexter: Resurrection Finale Explained: What Happened to Dexter and That Unusual Twist

The Dexter franchise is known for its polarizing finales, from the lackluster first series lumberjack exit to the shooting scene in Dexter: New Blood, to many of the season finales in between. But finally, a return to the franchise's glory days was solidified with a satisfying, full-circle ending in the Dexter: Resurrection finale. 

The revival's closing act had it all: tension, surprise, a big farewell, and an emotional payoff that reminded fans of the dichotomy that makes us root for the serial killer in the first place. Scroll down as we break down "And Justice For All…," what it means for Dexter's legacy, and where the show could go from here.

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Trapped in the Vault

The finale picks up where the penultimate cliffhanger left us: Dexter (Michael C. Hall) locked inside billionaire Leon Prater's (Peter Dinklage) serial killer vault, helpless and fully exposed. It's a classic Dexter image, that of the character in a kill room. Only this time it's Dexter's version of a kill room, as he's surrounded by the images of his own making: homages to the same serial killers he stalks. 

It's a fitting way to pick up the episode, given Prater's execution of Angel Batista (David Zayas) the week before. Batista's body is also in the vault, haunting Dexter and the choices that led to this moment. (He isn't the only one haunting Dexter, thanks to the ghostly return of the Ice Truck Killer, aka Dexter's brother Brian Moser, played by Christian Camargo.) Bautista's death is a creative decision that fulfills two purposes in the finale. The first is a nod to the original series, showing how Prater has ended Dexter's professional life in much the same way Trinity (John Lithgow) ended his personal life in Season 4 with Rita's murder. 

The second leads to what happens next in the episode, when Dexter finds Bautista's cell phone and contacts Harrison (Jack Alcott). While Harry (James Remar) questions whether Dexter is trying to save himself or his son, the character brings the show's theme back to the surface by reminding us that in this world, there are no simple answers and that "both things can be true."

Harrison Tackles the Cycle

Building recurring themes was Dexter's strength during the first few seasons and is something Resurrection has successful returned to this year. In a literal sense, if the vault is Dexter's prison, Harrison is the key. In a metaphorical sense, if Dexter is unable to connect with his feelings and is a true psychopath, Harrison is the one person who can unlock him.

Sneaking into Prater's police gala to save his father is how Harrison makes up for "killing" Dexter in New Blood. The later moment was a child breaking a harmful cycle, but the former is a moment of healing for both men. Harrison no longer represents Dexter's Dark Passenger, but a beacon of what his life might have looked like if he had been able to heal his inner child instead of living in the darkness.

It's also one of the most exciting moments of the episode, as Harrison evades Prater and police detectives while serving champagne and tampering with security systems. Harrison is quick on his feet and smart, and his break-in is one heck of a way to showcase that. 

Charley Brown Is Angry

Dexter's search of the vault early on in the episode pays off when Harrison comes face-to-face with Prater's protector. Charlotte "Charley" Brown (Uma Thurman) is about to stop Harrison's rescue when Dexter FaceTimes her with a big revelation: Prater has been keeping tabs on her, too. The betrayal is too much for Charley and she quits on the spot, but not before she allows Harrison to rescue Dexter with a nail-biting, security code scene. Hey, loyalty that's build on blood has always been fragile in this universe, so Charley's defecting comes as no surprise.  

Unfortunately for Dexter and Harrison, escape isn't that easy in the end. Dexter realizes he has dropped his false thumbprint somewhere and can't leave the building undetected. He sends Harrison ahead as he searches for it, only for Prater to catch sight of a fleeing Harrison at the party. 

The Kill Table Returns

If we've learned anything this season, it's that no one threatens Harrison on Dexter's watch. So when Prater reveals he's got Harrison at gunpoint, Dexter is done with it all. Father and son work together to flip the switch on Prater's hostage situation thanks to the syringe Dexter gave his son earlier. Harrison is able to plunge the needle into Prater before he can shoot, knocking him out. As Harrison flees out the back way with the fake thumbprint, Dexter gets to work. 

It's a death that's both nostalgic and vengeful. Dexter restrains Prater on the table with his iconic plastic wrap (that somehow materializes) and returns to the rituals that made him so prolific in the first place. It's a kill that's been a season in the making but with one giant twist: Dexter refuses to keep a trophy of Prater because he wants to forget him. It's the ultimate slap in the face for someone whose satisfaction in life lies within his proximity to serial killers.

Exposing the Truth

Before Dexter leaves for good, he cuts off Prater's thumb for an easy exit, dismantles the body, and wipes the room. He leaves Bautista as is before sounding the alarm and alerting the entire police force to Prater's vault. Det. Wallace (Kadia Saraf) finds Bautista's body and her intuition seems to tell her something is weird, setting up a potential second season. Meanwhile, everyone else assumes Prater was the villain, given the trophies and files they find in the vault.

Of course, not all of the files are left behind. Dexter is always gonna Dexter, and he takes off with some of the documents for future kills. At the top is Al (Eric Stonestreet), the one member of Prater's dinner club that got away. 

As Dexter disposes of Prater's body in the Upper New York Bay, the Statue of Liberty shines behind him. The Bay Harbor Butcher is now the New York Harbor Butcher, and he's got a whole city ahead of him. With love at home and bloodthirst for the future, this killer is fully resurrected and is ready to get his kill on. 

What Comes Next?

This finale could easily be a series conclusion, but creator Clyde B. Phillips has revealed he has a three-season plan that he pitched to Hall when they talked about bringing the character back. Plus, we would like to find out what happens to Charley now that she's on the run with her mom, how Harrison will cope with his father back in his life, whether Det. Wallace will work overtime to solve Bautista's murder, and how Miami Metro will react to the news of his death. 

In other words, we're not quite done with this character, and an official renewal is hopefully around the corner. Until then, the good news is that Resurrection is a full-circle return to the show's glory days, and it finally stuck the landing that fans have been demanding over the years. 

Dexter: Resurrection is streaming on Paramount+ Premium.