Dexter: Resurrection is returning to the 2026 TV schedule for Season 2 on October 30th, and the Bay Harbor Butcher simply refuses to blend in. Despite needing reading glasses and evading capture once again, he's still on his mission to be the serial killer who targets serial killers.

Unfortunately, that's not all Dexter Morgan wants, as the above trailer for Season 2 shows. Amid some familiar faces in the latest look at the series, there's a big clue that points to legacy, and my theory that Dexter's vanity will be his ultimate downfall is going strong.

Dexter's Midlife Crisis Seems To Involve His Legacy

After showing the incoming guest stars Dan Stevens, Brian Cox, and Krysten Ritter as their respective killers, Dex did his usual monologue where he waxed on about legacy. After being disgruntled that a young victim didn't know his name, we hear this:

Meanwhile, Dexter Morgan is still hunting down victims, despite already having the local New York authorities on his case and friends from Miami making trips to try and find him. You'd think he'd relish the chance to fade into obscurity by now, but as we all know, his "Dark Passenger" can never stay dormant for too long.

Will Dexter's Want To Be Remembered Ultimately Be His Downfall?

One strange quirk I've noticed in Dexter: Resurrection is that he's become much more vain with age. In the original series, it was always about Dexter bringing killers to justice. Although as he's aged, he seems to have a weakness for admirers. We saw this when he briefly embraced the community aspect of the serial killers club, and it's rearing its head again in this trailer.

There's a brief moment in the latest trailer for Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 in which we see Dex in the midst of a cheering crowd in Times Square. It seems like it's a fantasy in which the world is praising him for the work he's done killing so many deserving criminals, but I'm just speculating. It is Dexter's ultimate fantasy, but ultimately his weakness as well.

As we saw with Angel Batista, even his closest friends can't reconcile or justify the fact that he is a serial killer. Granted, Batista was actively seeking vengeance for Maria LaGuerta's killer, and he assumed Dex was responsible after finding her old notes suggesting he was the Bay Harbor Butcher.

Despite that, Dexter still chases that dream that people will remember and respect him, and I think that will ultimately lead to his capture or death. I'm so obsessed with this theory I hardly remembered there's going to also be a whole storyline involving Harrison and his new love interest, but I remain excited for that as well.

Here's hoping that Dexter: Resurrection remains as good as the previous season and helps extend the Halloween season with its brand of spookiness. I can't wait to see Dex rock his new glasses, which almost make him look more like a serial killer, if that's even possible.

The Dexter franchise is always good for peppering seasons with twisty reveals, and Resurrection certainly didn’t shy away from that in Season 1, from the Gemini Killer being twins to killing off David Zayas’ Angel and beyond. Season 2 is in production and putting its own twists on film, with Brian Cox portraying the New York Ripper, and we somehow already have a big twist to contend with in the form of returning cast member Krysten Ritter.

Ritter, who is also in the midst of reprising her MCU hero Jessica Jones in Daredevil: Born Again Season 3, was revealed by Deadline to be returning to Dexter Morgan’s world as a guest star in at least one episode destined for the 2026 TV schedule, if not more. (FWIW, she was credited as a “special guest star” for her three Season 1 episodes.) Most interestingly, the details behind her return are completely up in the air, to the point where it’s not even clear if she’ll be one of Dexter’s hallucinations or a completely different character.

The lack of clarification isn't such a bad thing in this case, at least from my perspective, as it means there's a chance one of my seemingly debunked theories about Ritter's serial killer Mia LaPierre could still turn out to be legitimate and applicable.

My Theory: Mia's Death In Season 1 Was Totally Faked

At no point after after the end of Episode 6, "Cats and Mouse," did I think that the Lady Vengeance killer actually died in her jail cell after Dexter's actions led to her arrest instead of her murder. Even when faced with what might otherwise be called irrefutable evidence, in regards to Detectives Claudette and Melvin being there in the cell when the guard indicated she was dead after a quick pulse check.

For one, despite Dexter's initial inability to go through with killing Mia, it's his name in the show title. So unless he's seen plunging a knife into a major character's chest, it's very hard for me to believe that Mia is dead. (I mean, if her decapitated head would have found in her disemboweled torso, that would have done it.)

Second, the way it all played out, there's a chance that Charlie paid off the guard only to make it look like Mia hung herself in her cell. The easiest way to take that phrasing is to think that the guard hung her himself, and then made it look like suicide. But in this case, it's possible that the guard gave Mia a heads up, and made it appear to be a self-inflicted death without anyone being dead at all.

This would certainly require some clever flashbacks to be filmed to show just how Mia worked with the guard and potentially Charlie to make her "death" look convincing enough to fool anyone who isn't a coroner. Which is exactly what I expect to see in Season 2, with Thurman already confirmed to be back.

Sure, other ways exist for Ritter to return in the flesh with Mia's death still being genuine, but none that wouldn't feel awkward. They couldn't possibly pull another twin reveal, right? Or a triplets one?

Stay tuned for more updates on Dexter: Resurrection Season 2, where we'll see more of Chase, since Desmond Harrington was promoted to series regular. We'll also get to meet Harrison's inevitably troublesome new love interest, the daughter of a Homicide Captain, and a new killer played by Dan Stevens. Stream the first season (and its series predecessors) in full via Paramount+ subscription.

Just when you thought it was safe to feel confident about TV characters surviving the rest of the 2026 TV schedule, along comes Dexter: Resurrection with an extremely positive Season 2 update that can only mean bad things down the line. Or at least that’s what I think the case will be, given how a certain someone’s story ended in Season 1. Let’s discuss.

Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 Is Officially Now Filming

April 22 is a big day for the Dexter franchise, as it's the official start date for Resurrection's second season. (If it had only started on 4/20, I could have made the most hilarious "dank" passenger jokes. Or at least passably amusing ones.)

Paramount+ announced the big news, but co-stars Michael C. Hall and James Remar got on camera to share the update with fans on social media, as seen below.

Good times will no doubt be had by all in the coming months as showrunner Clyde Phillps & Co. dig into the story of the New York Ripper, with the uncaptured killer being portrayed by Brian Cox. (If he doesn't tell Dexter to "f--ck off" at some point in the season, Logan Roy-style, it'll be a missed opportunity.) And now for the second-biggest update!

The Good News: Desmond Harrington Was Promoted To Series Regular

After popping up in a couple of episodes during Season 1 as now-Lieutenant Joey Quinn of Miami PD, OG series actor Desmond Harrington was promoted to series regular for Season 2, meaning we'll no doubt be seeing a lot more from Quinn when Dexter: Resurrection returns. Which brings us to...

The Sorta Bad News: Quinn Is Almost Definitely A Goner Now

Take this theorizing with a grain of salt, but nearly 100% of Dexter: Resurrection's series regulars who aren't playing characters with the "Morgan" surname end up dead. The main thing keeping Quinn safe from biting the metaphorical bullet himself was that he was so many hundreds of miles outside of New York City, and that he was mostly in the dark about Dexter's murderous habits.

But then he learned who the Bay Harbor Butcher really is. And Leon Prater's death will likely bring new attention to those murders. So when Quinn learns about Angel's death, he's almost definitely going to put his former coworker in the crosshairs, which is basically signing his own death warrant. Unless the show title suddenly changes to Joey: Resurrection, but that might have people thinking it's a revival of the solo Friends spinoff. Nobody wants that.

Consider that ol' Angel Batista fell prey to Dexter once David Zayas was added on as a series regular for this spinoff after recurring on New Blood. It's not proof of anything, since Uma Thurman's Charlie technically survived and will be back in the mix for Season 2. But Charlie is an exception in more ways than one, and Quinn isn't on her level.

Of course, there were definitely full seasons of Dexter where I outright hated Quinn for being such a douche all the time, so part of me is going to probably enjoy seeing him get moidahed. But it seems like he's in a better place, where his head has been removed from his bum, so I'm sure I'll be all empathetic to his woes by the time Dexter plunges the knife in.

Stay tuned for more on when Season 2 will arrive, but until then, the entirety of the Dexter franchise can be streamed via Paramount+ subscription.

Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 is premiering as part of the 2026 TV schedule, and we're finally going to get some details about the prolific and mysterious New York Ripper. Now, pictures of Brian Cox on the show's set have hit the web. With that, the serial killer's motorized wheelchair may factor into information that was previously divulged about him.

Set photos featuring Cox's character were shared to X, and fans can see "Don Framt" making his way down the sidewalk in his chair. Honestly, I was just previously obsessing over Harrison's new love interest just a bit ago. But I'm now all in on these pictures, and what it could mean for the upcoming episodes.

Does The Motorized Wheelchair Factor Into The New York Ripper's Change In Tactics, Or Has He Always Had One?

As revealed by Detective Wallace, whom Dexter put on the trail of Framt at the end of Season 1, the New York Ripper hasn't killed in five years. Despite that, he's continued to harass his victim's families from untraceable numbers, spreading his antagonistic ways across the New York City area. Given the new information, is it possible that the wheelchair plays a factor in this storyline?

Perhaps a medical event that left him unable to kill, and as as a result, he gets his thrills in other ways. It's a plausible theory, though I also think there's reason to believe the New York Ripper has always used a wheelchair.

Back when there were theories about Leon Prater (played by Peter Dinklage) the famed serial killer, theorists pointed to the length of the murder weapon, Prater's height and the fact that every victim was attacked from the gut region. The Prater thesis tracked, but assuming the Ripper was killing from a wheelchair would also fit the logic for why all the attacks were from the gut. In any case, it's an added dimension to the mysterious character, and I can't wait to learn more.

How Will Dexter React To The New York Ripper?

The most exciting part of The New York Ripper having a central role in Dexter: Resurrection is that we'll likely get to see how the lead character reacts to him. Unlike last season's lineup of celebrity killers, Dexter will come face-to-face once again with someone who has spent the bulk of his life as a killer who's evaded capture.

Brian Cox's character reminds me of The Trinity Killer, who outwitted Dexter in the end and ultimately killed his wife, Rita. Should Dexter directly confront The New York Ripper and try to take him down, can he be sure that he won't be fooled again and lose someone else who is important to him? I'd hate to see Resurrection kill off Harrison, especially since there's an argument to be made that he should be the main character.

I'm eager to watch the upcoming season of Dexter: Resurrection when it becomes available with a Paramount+ subscription. I'm also ready to see Brian Cox in this role, and wonder if he can net another Emmy win due to this performance.

Dexter: Resurrection is returning to the 2026 TV schedule with Season 2, and a whole new lineup of characters. Amidst the massive news that Dan Stevens and Brian Cox will both join the latest batch of episodes as prolific serial killers, I'm hooked on the news that Harrison has a new love interest who will be played by Nona Parker Johnson.

Looks like things with Gigi and Harrison fell by the wayside, as he has a new girlfriend named Fiona Mixon. Weirdly enough, there are some connective threads between these two flames, as Fiona's character description reveals she works in law enforcement.

Harrison Is Dating Someone In Law Enforcement, But That's Not All

Gigi met Harrison at the College of Criminology, but it looks like Fiona will be a step deeper into law enforcement for Harrison. She's described as a "training officer" in the homicide division, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Bokeem Woodbine is also joining the series as Fiona's father, who is also the Captain of the homicide division.

I'm happy to see Woodbine back in a series available with a Paramount+ subscription after his stint on Halo didn't work out. I am very worried for Harrison, though, as he somehow managed to date the one person in New York City who might be the biggest danger to his serial killer father, Dexter Morgan. I get that Harrison wants to work in law enforcement, but does he also have to date cops as well?

Is This Real Love, Or Strategic?

Is it just a coincidence that Harrison Morgan decided to date the daughter of the Captain of the Homicide unit, or is this Harrison's way of making sure his dad is safe? Let's not forget Dexter dated a Chief of Police when he was in hiding, and it ultimately worked in helping him escape Iron Lake before he was captured.

If the relationship is strategic, it seems like a bad idea. After all, I would imagine that Captain Mixon is likely aware of the fact that Harrison was once a suspect for murder. Is he going to be able to evade the natural suspicion that members of law enforcement will have toward him?

Meanwhile, I have to wonder what Dexter: Resurrection has in store for its main character. When last we saw the Bay Harbor Butcher, Dexter had successfully escaped Leon Prater's compound with tons of files on every serial killer operating in the billionaire's secret club. I'm guessing this season will see him pursue a number of targets on the list, but exactly who remains to be seen.

Catch up on Dexter: Resurrection with a Paramount+ subscription, and get hype for the upcoming season! I can't wait to see Brian Cox in the show, and hope we'll see his New York Ripper eventually go toe-to-toe with the Bay Harbor Butcher.

It's no secret that sticking the landing for long-running TV shows can be a difficult task. While some shows have good endings, there have been a ton of bad finales, especially in recent years. Game of Thrones' controversial finale is still a sore point years later, and most recently, those with a Netflix subscription were treated to the Stranger Things series finale. And I've got to address the hate that's been coming at The Duffer Brothers since its release.

There was a ton of expectations ahead of Stranger Things' final episode, which included a long epilogue that provided closure for its beloved cast of characters. But some fans still had problems, leading to a fan theory about a bonus episode. I was personally very satisfied with how the show ended, and think that we need to remember some of the actual bad finales we've gotten in recent years.

Stranger Things's Series Finale Is Getting Too Much Hate

Since Stranger Things is one of the best Netflix shows to binge-watch and has been the streamer's flagship series for years, it was going to be impossible to please everyone. Some folks complained that the final battle against Vecna went too quickly, with others wanting to see Demogorgons involved. And others were bummed about Eleven's fate, particularly those who didn't believe Mike's story and think she actually perished when The Upside Down was destroyed.

But despite how you might feel about Eleven's apparent sacrifice, I think that Stranger Things' epilogue offered a ton of closure. Joyce and Hopper got engaged, The Party graduated from high school and moved on from Hawkins, and the older teen characters were shown coming into their adulthood. And seeing the full cast unite in order to kill Vecna once and for all was thrilling.

Personally, I think that folks out there who are hating on Stranger Things' finale online need to be reminded of some of the terrible TV endings we've gotten. Game of Thrones is a big example of this, particularly Bran becoming King and Dany and Jon's fates. But that's far from the only example.

Dexter's finale was similarly disappointing when it aired in 2013, especially since it was airing at the same time as Breaking Bad's triumphant final season. I also recently watched True Blood, and was reminded how bad the entire seventh season was, including its last episode. Fans hated the How I Met Your Mother finale, and it hasn't gotten better with time. With all that history, I think it's safe to say that Stranger Things' finale doesn't belong on a list with those disappointing entries.

While you can't please everyone, Stranger Things offered a finale that I think will get more love as time goes on. The entire series is streaming now on Netflix, and a BTS documentary about its final season is set to debut January 12th as part of the 2026 TV schedule.

Dexter: Original Sin may not be moving forward with a second season, but Dexter: Resurrection is. The Dexter sequel series was renewed for Season 2 in October, a month after Season 1 wrapped on the 2025 TV schedule. The finale brought some cliffhangers and questions, but it might be a while until the second season is here, as the showrunner revealed when Season 2 will begin filming, and I’m shocked it’s taking so long.

When Dexter: Resurrection began streaming via Paramount+ subscription over the summer, it became an instant hit. So much so that, in the midst of Paramount Global's merger with Skydance, it was revealed that the company wanted to put focus on Resurrection rather than the prequel series, so it was only a matter of time before the renewal was official. Via Dexter Daily, executive producer and showrunner Clyde Phillips shared on The Dark Passengers: A Dexter Podcast how long the writers will need to complete the scripts.

The writers’ room officially opened on October 6, meaning that if the show stays on track, this would take them through March 2026, as the outlet pointed out. Additionally, Phillips confirmed that filming begins on April 13. It’s unknown when Season 2 is expected to premiere, but it can be assumed that fans won’t be getting it until 2027, though it’s possible that it will come in late 2026.

Dexter: Resurrection lived up to its name and became an instant hit when it premiered, so it’s a surprise that it’s going to take so long for filming to start. Of course, it takes time to crank out scripts, but the fact that it sounds like they’re not going to start filming until the writing process is done is definitely a disappointment, since the wait will be long. Especially following the Season 1 finale, fans are probably as anxious as ever for the next part of this story, so it’s shocking that they’re not moving faster on it.

That being said, some shows take longer than others to come out, regardless of how popular it is. Since things seem to be on track for Dexter: Resurrection, it’s possible that it might even start filming earlier than April 13. If anything, the wait for Season 2 will be worth it, even if it will be a very long time. At the very least, the writers’ room has been open for a little over a month, so fans know that the work is just getting started.

Check out a recap of Season 1 while waiting for more updates about Season 2.

I wish that it didn’t take so long for the new season to start filming, but that only means that they’re taking extra care of it to make sure that Season 2 is going to be a great one. Plus, once the holidays are here, time will start to move quickly. That’s the hope.

Dexter: Resurrection blew our minds with its Season 1 finale and set the stage for the story to go a lot of directions in Season 2. Dexter Morgan now possesses all of Leon Prater's files on serial killers and is free to roam the country and hunt them down with his unique brand of justice. While we don't know exactly what to expect, showrunner Clyde Phillips dropped a hint after confirming one character will finally appear.

The showrunner was a guest on Dark Passengers: A Dexter Podcast, and while he was mainly cryptic about what he and the writing team have figured out for Season 2, he did confirm we're going to see the one character who so many were obsessed with in the first season.

The New York Ripper Will Appear In Season 2

My theories about the New York Ripper's true identity didn't pan out, but at least the season ended with Dexter and Detective Wallace learning he is a man by the name of Don Framt. Dexter intentionally left the file behind for Wallace to find, as a way to give her a lead on the serial killer she's pursued for so long.

Did Dexter give Wallace the file as an act of goodwill, or was he doing it to try to keep her off his trail? I'm not sure it'll work after Wallace seemed to have some guilt over Angel Batista's death and will likely continue to pursue his suspicions that Dexter was the Bay Harbor Butcher. That said, she's pursued leads on the New York Ripper for decades, so maybe his leaving the files will pay off.

What Actor Will Be Tapped To Play The Mythical Serial Killer?

The New York Ripper will appear in the 2026 TV schedule, but the big question I have is: who will play the character in Dexter: Resurrection? Season 1 really spoiled fans with an all-star cast of killers, and I think there will be an expectation for the Paramount+ series to tap a big star to play Don Framt.

We heard the New York Ripper's voice in a voicemail left for one of the victim's families, and he sounded like someone who would be middle-aged. Assuming the voice actor who recorded the line wasn't already cast in the role, that leaves the door wide open for actors to come into the story. Part of me wants to see a big name pulled into the mix, but there's another route I'd love to see Dexter: Resurrection consider as well.

Eric Stonestreet really stunned me with his performance as a serial killer, mainly because I was used to seeing him on Modern Family. The same was true with John Lithgow when he played the Trinity Killer on the original Dexter, as I'd only previously seen him on 3rd Rock From The Sun. I'm not sure how many times the show can pull from the comedy well before it feels played out, but I'm willing to see them test the limits!

Dexter: Resurrection will likely premiere Season 2 in 2026 on Paramount+. I'll keep my fingers crossed in the meantime that there are no delays on filming, and that we learn who is playing the New York Ripper before the season premiere.

The American South is full of lore and stories. The nature of the United States is such that every region is unique, and that means every region has its own legends and history to draw from. Over the years, television has tapped into that rich culture of the South with some of the best shows of all time. This is dedicated to those shows and those stories, the TV shows of the American South.

Atlanta

The city of Atlanta has been called "the capital of the South," so it only makes sense that the show named for the town, Atlanta, starring (and created by) Donald Glover, should feature on this list. The show won a slew of awards for its storytelling in the modern South of a music manager (Glover) helping his client, played by Brian Tyree Henry, navigate the music industry, and America, for that matter.

Matlock

There isn't a more classic Southern show than Matlock. We're talking about the original here, of course, the one set in Atlanta starring Andy Griffith as Ben Matlock. It's a stone-cold classic show (and frequent butt of jokes, especially on The Simpsons), and no list about shows about the South would be complete without it. The modern remake is great too, but alas, it is set in New York City.

Friday Night Lights

High school football is a huge part of modern Southern culture, and Friday Night Lights tells that story better than anything else. Over five seasons, following a small town high school football team led by Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chadler), which is based on a book (and a movie that followed) by Buzz Bissinger, the show did a deep dive into the culture and brought it to life in inspiring fashion.

Treme

New Orleans is the most unique city in America. It's truly like no other place on this continent. Treme brings the city to life like no other show ever has. Like creator David Simon's other famous HBO show, The Wire, the city is the main character here. The people who live in the city are what make it New Orleans, and in Treme, we see every aspect of life in the Crescent City.

A Different World

While the show that A Different World was spun off from, The Cosby Show, was set in New York City, A Different World follows Huxtable's daughter Denise (Lisa Bonet) as she goes off to college at the fictional Hillman College in Virginia. Bonet left after just one season, but the show still went on to become an iconic Black sitcom.

Bad Monkey

There's an old saying that the further south you go in Florida, the more north you get, but author Carl Hiaasen, who wrote the book that Bad Monkey is based on, has the great ability to show the Southern side of all of Florida. The show, which you can watch with an Apple TV+ subscription, is just a wonderful and hilarious look into life in the Sunshine State that you don't see on the tourism ads.

Dallas

There's nothing like the drama of a rich Southern oil family to get people excited, right? Dallas captivated audiences for 14 seasons and included one of the most celebrated cliff-hangers of all time with "Who Shot J.R.?"

Eastbound & Down

Danny McBride has really figured out how to tap into the humorous side of Southern culture. With shows like The Righteous Gemstones, Vice Principals, and perhaps his best example, the over-the-top-but-wonderful Eastbound & Down. The show, which is available with an HBO Max subscription, is one of the funniest shows about the South ever, even if it strayed in the later seasons. That first season will always be pure comedy gold.

Designing Women

In the 1980s, no sitcom defined Southern charm than Designing Women. Yet another movie set in the great city of Atlanta, the show about the all-female team of a design firm had one of the best casts of any sitcom from the era. A cast that included Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts. In the later seasons, Jan Hooks got in on the fun as well.

The Walking Dead

Though The Walking Dead is a story that could happen anywhere, almost all of it takes place in the South. The show starts in Atlanta (including an early mission to the CDC in the capital of Georgia), and ends with the crew mostly living outside of Washington, DC, in the Virginia suburbs.

Nashville

Well, as the name says, Nashville is set, of course, in the capital of Country Music. In recent years, starting around when this show debuted in 2012, Nashville, TN, has become the place to live in the South. Everyone from recent college graduates to big stars is flocking to the city with one of the richest music histories in the United States.

The Golden Girls

You might not think of Miami as the South, and to be fair, it doesn't have a ton in cultural common with say, Birmingham, but it's right there on the map, as far south as you can get in the continental U.S., so Golden Girls counts here! The show, which has lived on for decades in syndication, is famous for its zingers and, in the end, its heartfelt message of friendship. It really needs no introduction, does it?

The Waltons

Even if you've never seen The Waltons, a show about a Depression-era family living in the Virginia Appalachian Mountains, you probably know how each episode ended with the tight-knit family saying good night to each other. It oozes Southern sensibilities.

The Dukes Of Hazzard

One of the most popular and most controversial shows on this list has to be The Dukes of Hazzard. Beloved for its daredevil driving scenes and the humorous relationship between cops and bandits, the show was a staple of '70s and '80s TV. In more recent decades, the show has been criticized for its use of the Confederate flag painted on top of the General Lee (which is still a really cool car, regardless).

Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Tyler Perry is a proud resident of Atlanta, and he's invested heavily in developing what has become one of the movie-making capitals of the world. It makes perfect sense that the first sitcom he ever created, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, would be set in the city. The show, which balances silly moments with serious themes, has had a remarkable run on TBS first, and later on BET. It's gone well over 300 episodes, making it one of the most successful sitcoms with a predominantly Black cast.

The Righteous Gemstones

From the demented (and wonderful) mind of Danny McBride, The Righteous Gemstones is simply brilliant. The show, which aired on HBO for four seasons, has a fantastic cast, including McBride, alongside John Goodman, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, and some sublime supporting work from Walton Goggins.

The Andy Griffith Show

There may be no show on this list that espouses the gentile way of life in a small, southern town like The Andy Griffith Show. The name of the fictional town in North Caroline, Mayberry, has even become a noun to describe wholesome small towns all across the United States. The legendary show aired a total of 249 episodes over eight seasons on CBS. It also helped launch the career of Ron Howard, of course.

Army Wives

While not strictly a show about life in the South, Army Wives is set on a naval base in Charleston, SC. The popular Lifetime show didn't have the broadest appeal, to be sure, but it had a dedicated fanbase for the seven seasons it was on.

Dexter

Like some others on this list, we'll admit that Dexter doesn't always feel like a "Southern show" since it is set in Miami, but Florida, even South Florida, should definitely count here, right? How much really needs to be said about the now-iconic Showtime show about a serial killer hunting serial killers? At least we can acknowledge that Jon Lithgow plays one of the most ruthless villains in TV history.

Justified

There aren't a ton of shows set in Kentucky, but Justified would probably be the best, even if there were others. This is a show that has shown incredible legs over the years, remaining as popular–if not more popular–than it was when it first aired on FX.

NCIS: New Orleans

NCIS has had a whole lot of spinoffs. NCIS: New Orleans was the second in the franchise when it was spun off in 2014. Though it was surprisingly canceled after it's seventh season on CBS, it still ended up a very successful show in the popular franchise.

CSI: Miami

One of the most popular TV franchises of the early 21st Century is, without a doubt, the CSI group of shows on CBS. The original, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (set in Las Vegas), first hit the airwaves in 2000, and just two years later, David Caruso returned to TV as Horatio Cane in CSI: Miami. For many, including myself, Miami was just as good as its parent show, and ratings showed that. The show aired for 10 seasons and more than 200 episodes.

True Blood

Anne Rice may be the most famous teller of vampire stories to hail from Louisiana, but Charlaine Harris, who wrote the books upon which HBO's True Blood was based, is a close second these days. True Blood is set in the fictional town of Bon Temps, LA, but it is anything but "good times" for the residents, as this neo-gothic classic show highlights again and again.

In The Heat Of The Night

Based loosely on the book and the 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier of the same name, In The Heat Of The Night followed a small town police chief (Carroll O'Connor) and his top detective, Virgil Tibbs (Howard Rollins). The show, which aired first on NBC before moving to CBS, was set in Sparta, Mississippi, and it was unafraid to tackle complex subjects like racism and police corruption.

One Tree Hill

For nine seasons, One Tree Hill transported fans to Wilmington, North Carolina, in the CW TV show. One of the more popular shows among many Millennials, the show still has its die-hard fans today, more than a decade after ending its nine-season run.

Reba

Reba McEntire first entered our hearts as an actor in the cult classic Tremors. She's wonderful in it, and after another decade of parts here and there in movies and TV, the country music legend landed her own sitcom, appropriately called simply Reba. The hard-working McEntire was born and raised in Oklahoma, but the show was set in Houston. In fact, it's weirdly one of the few shows ever set in the Texas metropolis.

Fresh Off The Boat

ABC's Fresh Off The Boat is a unique take on the Southern show, as it features an immigrant family from Taiwan working to make the American Dream happen for them in Orlando, Florida. Constance Wu gave her breakout performance on the show as the hard-charging daughter, Jessica.

Ozark

I get it, some people might push back on Missouri being in the South. I'm from the Show Me State, so I understand. That said, southern MO, especially in the area around Lake of the Ozarks, definitely has more Southern influence than Midwest, so I just have to include the brilliant Netflix original, Ozark.

I Dream Of Jeannie

"The South" might not be the first thing you think of when you think of I Dream of Jeannie, but it was set in Florida. Tony Nelson, Larry Hagman's character who lives with Jeannie (Barbara Eden), is an astronaut, if you remember, living where so many other NASA pilots lived, Cocoa Beach, FL.

True Detective

When I talk about True Detective, I'm usually talking about that brilliant first season. Other seasons of the anthology show have been set in California and Alaska (two states that are definitely not The South), but the first season was set in that most southern of states, Louisiana. The third season was also set in the South, in the hills of Arkansas.

Hart of Dixie

Any show called Hart of Dixie can't be left off this list. It's also one of the few TV shows set in Alabama, so we just had to squeeze in the popular show from The CW, starring Rachel Bilson as a fish-out-of-water New York doctor living in small-town Alabama.

Saving Grace

One place that doesn't feature in a lot of TV shows or movies is Oklahoma City. Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter, bucks that trend. The TNT show, which aired for three seasons in the late '00s. The show often featured famous spots in the town, and, honestly, it's one of my favorite Holly Hunter roles. The show is underappreciated for that alone, never mind the rest of the excellent cast.

Dexter is one of the best shows to watch on Showtime, and in recent years the franchise expanded with three spinoffs. Those with a premium Paramount+ subscription were treated to both Dexter: Original Sin and more recently Resurrection, which just aired its finale. Showrunner Clyde Phillips recently spoke about Original Sin's cancellation, as well as original plans for even more prequels.

Despite originally being renewed for Season 2, fans were shocked when Dexter: Original Sin ended up being cancelled after all. This is a real bummer, especially because I loved how the cast's amazing impressions of the original Dexter cast. While appearing on the Dissecting Dexter podcast, Phillips (who created Original Sin) got honest about the show being scrapped. In his words:

Ouch. Some of the cast of Original Sin have posted about its cancellation, which obviously came to a huge surprise to everyone involved. As the creator and showrunner, I can only imagine how Phillips is still feeling. After all, he presumably had plans for how to continue the prequel series, and get Patrick Gibson's protagonist closer to the Dexter we know and love. Alas, we'll seemingly never get to see those worlds collide over at Miami Metro.

At the time of writing this, there have been three spinoffs to the flagship series. New Blood started it off, picking up after the controversial Dexter finale. After that came Original Sin, and then Resurrection. The latter brought back a number of OGs, including David Zayas's Angel Bautista, Desmond Harrington's Joey Quinn, and C.S. Lee's Vince Masuka.

During the same podcast, Phillips claimed former Paramount boss Chris McCarthy wanted to keep expanding the Dexter franchise... before Paramount’s merger with Skydance changed things. As he put it:

This is a reference to the Yellowstone franchise, which is constantly being expanded with new spinoffs. Clyde Phillips had a number of these types of prequels in the works, including ones about James Doakes and Captain Matthews. There was also another Dexter show being formed around Jon Lithgow's Trinity Killer, aka one of the franchise's best villains. Phillips shared doubts about whether or not we'll ever see that project now, saying:

He's got a point. If Showtime dropped Original Sin after it had been officially renewed, it seems unlikely that we'll get more spinoffs. But fans are likely going to keep their fingers crossed in hopes of seeing Trinity back. Luckily, Lithgow did have a small but memorable cameo in Resurrection.

The entire Dexter franchise is streaming with on Paramount+ with Showtime. Only time will tell if the property is done forever, of if we'll get to see more of Michael C. Hall's signature character on the small screen. At the time of writing this story, Resurrection hasn't been renewed for Season 2.

Spoilers ahead for Dexter: Ressurection.

The Dexter franchise has been going strong for nearly two decades now, with the flagship series as one of the best Showtime shows of all time. It recently got two new spinoffs (available to stream with a premium Paramount+ subscription), the most recent being Resurrection. I really liked the show overall, but I wish that the finale was less of a cliffhanger to set up a potential Season 2.

Dexter: Resurrection's Season 1 finale offered a thrilling conclusion to the story, picking up after the death of Angel Bautista. While we got to see the conflict with Peter Dinklage's Leon Prater come to a head, there were unanswered questions and teases for a second season that made the final overall less impactful than it could have been. At least, in my opinion.

Dexter: Resurrections Got Bogged Down Setting Up Season 2

After Prater shot and killed Bautista, it became clear who the true villain of Dexter: Resurrection was. The billionaire attempted to lock Michael C. Hall's antihero in his vault to die, but Dexter and Harrison eventually got the better of him. It was awesome seeing Dinklage's villain on the kill table, as well as seeing the title character dump his remains in the Hudson with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Unfortunately, we got a bunch of unanswered questions, as well as a bunch of time teasing what might come if/when the show is renewed for Season 2.

There are some major loose ends to this story. I have to wonder if Bautista's murder will trigger questions from Desmond Harrington's Joey Quinn, who was one of many surprise cameos from the season. While he was worried about Angel's behavior, the fact that he was mysteriously murdered after hunting down Dexter has to be a red flag, no?

Then there's the ending for Uma Thurmans' Charley. While she moved her mother out of New York, she's a loose end connected to Dexter, Harrison and (of course) Prater. The vast majority of the cast of Resurrections was killed off throughout the first season, so the lack of closure for Charley is another question surrounding the finale.

I also have lingering questions about Harrison and Dexter's relationship. While they've obviously taken big steps forward after the finale of New Blood, I still don't exactly know where they stand. Michael C. Hall's character has admitted that his son helps give him some much-needed humanity.

Without a doubt the biggest cliffhanger in the Resurrection finale was Dexter leaving with Prater's files about active serial killers. He'll seemingly be going on the road to hunt more murderers if/when the spinoff returns to Showtime for a second season. This is an exciting concept, but I'd rather the show told a more contained story instead of setting up a second season that might not ever happen.

Perhaps I'm particularly sensitive, but Dexter's original series finale is a super controversial one that fans are still sore over. And since the prequel Original Sin is cancelled, I'd hate for the final episode of the entire franchise to be a cliffhanger for stories we never see. Fingers crossed Resurrection gets renewed soon.

The entire Dexter franchise is streaming now with Paramount+ with Showtime. Original Sin and Resurrections arrived in quick succession, so we'll have to see if we get more from everyone's favorite serial killer.

Major spoilers below for Dexter: Resurrection’s Season 1 finale for anyone who hasn’t yet streamed it via Paramount+ subscription.

Somebody better call the local PD’s glee spatter expert, because I spattered glee all over the damned place several times while watching Dexter: Resurrection’s first season finale. (Okay, I guess no experts are required, since I just willingly confessed.) The last time I felt this enthusiastic about a Dexter finale was well over 15 years ago, when the titular vigilante took down John Lithgow’s Arthur Mitchell, only to discover the Trinity Killer’s final victim was Rita. Since then? Not so wonderful.

The next few season finales from the OG series were more miss than hit, with Debra learning Dexter’s secret and her killing LaGuerta being the two main highlights, and the eight season’s final episode has notoriously been viewed as one of the worst series endings of all time. Clyde Phillips spoke years ago about wanting to repent, though the ball was dropped once more when Dexter: New Blood seemingly killed Michael C. Hall’s character off. The prequel Original Sin raised the ante somewhat, but not enough, and its out-of-nowhere cancellation destroyed any positive momentum.

Despite all that, and against all my expectations, Dexter: Resurrection still managed pulled off quite the impossible victory within the 2025 TV schedule. So grab your camera-thwarting hoodie and let’s dive in.

Dexter: Resurrection Did The Impossible By Restoring My Faith In This Franchise's Ability To End A Season Pleasingly

Like many other longtime Dexter fans, I’ve been having a total blast with Resurrection’s New York City-set plotline and Leon Prater’s killer club meetings, and I think everything involving Harrison has worked worlds better than it all did in New Blood. Yet, given everything that came in the years prior to this spinoff’s existence, I went into “And Justice For All…” expecting to be let down or disappointed in one or more ways.

The egg is all up in my face, though, because the episode was as close to a perfect finale as I could have forced myself into imagining against my own will. It was also a top-notch episode of Dexter: Resurrection overall, which is indeed a separate but equal distinction here, since it could have been a great finale while not matching up with the rest of the season, and vice versa.

The creative team managed to get Dexter out of his seemingly doomed situation
from the penultimate episode’s cliffhanger, and in ways that were both suspenseful and sensible (enough), and without the Morgan gents suffering too much. I would have absolutely flipped my lid had Dexter allowed Batista’s phone to die without giving Harrison the password, but that shitshow of a trope was thankfully avoided.

Leon Prater, both the guiding force and the guiding threat of the season, lost the upper hand while gaining his bloodlust, and was taken down without any big unbelievable showdowns, while also allowing for Uma Thurman’s Charley to escape from Prater’s grip and take better care of her mother. (For now, at least.)

Even Detective Claudette got a happy ending, as she was able to hit the dancefloor for "Stayin' Alive" before having the New York City Ripper's identity handed to her on a silver platter, along with the ensuing investigation into Prater's incriminating collection. The same goes for Blessing, whose temporary foul feelings quickly faded.

A Clear And Logical Route Was Set Up For Dexter: Resurrection Season 2

Had Dexter: Resurrection been a one-and-done season, that ending would have been absolutely perfect, at least within the parameters of this fictional universe. But thanks to its quick success, Paramount+ confirmed its future by ordering up another season. Thankfully, Clyde Phillips likely had an inkling that could happen, and worked the story so that there's a natural next step to this storyline.

While he doesn't seem to have kept the vast extent of Leon Prater's connections to serial killers around the country (and possibly beyond), it does appear as if Dexter curated a list of future targets, that includes the only surviving member of Prater's club that we've been made privy to, including Eric Stonestreet's Rapunzel killer. I can only imagine he'll be among the first to be tracked down when new episodes start again.

I'm sure there are others who will be affected by learning of Prater's death, though. Is it possible that one or more of those other killers will get suspicious about the details behind his death, and will try to avenge him? I like the idea of other killers chasing Dexter, although I don't want to end up with another Rita situation, especially if Gigi is the stand-in for Rita.

None Of My Endgame Theories Panned Out, And I'm Perfectly Fine With Being Wrong

One sign that a show nailed the ending is when a whole host of one's theories turned up empty, and it doesn't even matter. Such was the case here, as evidenced by some of the speculation highlighted below.

• Theory: Det. Melvin was the actual New York Ripper.
• Result: Debunked completely, probably.

We'd previously theorized about the New York Ripper’s identity tying back to Dominic Fumusa's Detective Melvin Oliva, thinking that his boyish fascination with her would be exactly how a serial killer cop would react to being in such a situation. However, Prater's file on the guy had "Don Frampt" as his government name. So unless Melvin legally changed his name at some point while also rising in the NYPD ranks, then this theory is busted.

• Theory: Leon Prater would fund Dexter to track down killers around the world.
• Result: Debunked completely.

To be sure, this idea was more or less shot down (literally) when Prater shot Batista to death and locked Dexter up. But cooler heads have prevailed from more strenuous circumstances, so I still held out hope that Prater might suggest this as a last-minute way to have his life spared. But he only appealed to Dexter as a father by saying he could pay for future generations' educations.

• Theory: Blessing Kamara would catch Dexter in the act.
• Result: Debunked for now.

Part of still wants to think that Ntare Mwine's Blessing has even darker skeletons in his closet than the ones that Dexter let slip out. But for the most part, I was able to tamp that idea down in place of the theory that Blessing would catch his downstairs tenant in the act of something murderous and force him to choose whether or not to break his code and kill a mostly innocent person. That said, it could still happen in the future.

• Theory: Harrison's gal pal Gigi would be revealed as the daughter/relative of another major character.
• Result: Debunked for now.

I'm not saying that Harrison isn't the kind of guy who could easily attract women at unforeseen times of life, but I was immediately suspicious after Gigi went so hard on flirting with him from the jump. Granted, I think they're a genuinely cute couple, and I HOPE she's not a vile person in any way. But how many times has a show like this introduced a new love interest with a great personality who was legitimately only around as a source of pleasure and sympathy? I'm holding off on throwing this theory out as we make our way to Seaosn 2.

While the finale didn't fully reverse the heartbreak of Batista’s death, I did appreciate Dexter making it clear that Angel was a great person, though he could have taken on more direct responsibility for making the dude's life spiral. Perhaps that's part of why Dexter chose then to let his brother Brian out of the mental cupboard, to rub it in that he's always been surrounded by darkness.

Other than that, though, this is as close to a perfect 10 dismount as can be, and is far better than anything I was ready for. I dunno if I like Dexter knowing that I need him, per his final words, but I'm okay with it if it means he'll continue operating on all cylinders.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Touched By An Ángel." Stream it with a Paramount+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Dexter: Resurrection said goodbye to Angel Batista in its penultimate episode, and it set up a relatively dark farewell between the serial killer and his former friend. Fans obviously have their opinions about how the moment played out, but how did actor David Zayas feel about his exit?

Rather than kill Angel to cement what would've been a great offer from billionaire Leon Prater, Dexter freed the retired Miami metro detective in hopes they could make a quick mistake. Unfortunately, Batista wasn't concerned about escaping and immediately began to strangle Dexter until Prater shot him dead. In an interview with TV Line, Zayas talked about the moment and shared his thoughts on his overall storyline:

It certainly made for a powerful moment, with Batista's final words being "Fuck you, Dexter Morgan." While Dexter fans might've hoped they'd share a tender moment with his final breath, the show opted to hit us with the reminder that he's a serial killer. And outside of one specific deranged billionaire who looks like he'll be around next season, most people don't jive with that.

David Zayas' run in Dexter: Resurrection was short-lived, and while he could always return as one of Dexter's hallucinations in future episodes, those moments are few and far between. Ultimately, though, Zayas talked about how he felt "lucky" to be included and was happy he was able to be a part of the story:

It was a great exit for the character, and likely one that will help pave the way for other members of Miami Metro to join the story. Dexter: Resurrection had brief cameos from both Joey Quinn and Vince Masuka, both of whom could end up looking into Batista's death in a future season.

It seems Dexter: Resurrection is setting up a lot of possibilities for the future, as it seems as though viewers can't get enough of the series. It earned a new season renewal, while its prequel, Original Sin, was canceled after just one season.

We know a new season of Resurrection is on the way, but before that happens, we need to see how Dexter will get out of the jam he's in. The episode left off with him locked in Leon Prater's vault, which contains several objects from serial killers. I would imagine he'll make a call to Harrison, who has an opportunity to infiltrate the party as a waiter. Whether he'll be able to save his father is another story entirely, as he doesn't seem nearly as capable as his father when it comes to being crafty.

We'll see what happens in Dexter: Resurrection when the season finale drops on Paramount+ on Friday, September 5th. I'd love to see Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage back for another season, but it seems less likely that either will make it out of this situation alive if Dexter is still around.

Major spoilers below for the latest episode of Dexter: Resurrection, so be warned if you haven't yet watched via Paramount+ subscription!

With so many characters getting killed off already in Dexter: Resurrection's first season, I'd held out a fraction of a hope that the creative team would find a way to get Batista off of Dexter's back in a non-fatal way. That partial-hope was filled with bullet holes near the end of "Touched by an Ángel," unfortunately, with David Zayas' long-running franchise character getting shot to death by the killer-obsessed Leon Prater.

Batista was set up to be the newest victim of the Bay Harbor Butcher after he flapped his gums about Dexter's past to Charley and Prater (and anyone else who'd listen), and while Michael C. Hall's character attempted to free his former colleague, Batista ignored the threat of his captors and just focused solely on taking Dex down for good, and died for it. For all that I thought the cliffhanger was a smart move, storytelling-wise, I'm still quite heartbroken over how far this character was raked over the emotional coals.

I Think Batista's Death And Final Moments Were Smart For How They Fractured Dexter's Psyche

If we're speaking solely about how the events of this show affect and relate to its titular protagonist, then I think Batista's death makes a lot of sense to strike a mighty chord within Dexter's mental state. They used to be really good friends, and there was a trust there for many years that Dexter could still cling to in ways that the other man could not. It's pretty much the only reason Batista lived long enough to get to this episode, showing up at Blessed's house would be enough to sign any other character' death warrant.

Dexter himself showed just how important Batista's opinion of him was when he attempted to clear up the latter's misconception that he'd killed both Doakes and LaGuerta, and he was taken aback when Batista dismissed such attempts to ward off guilt. His final words were a literal "Fuck you" to our resident vigilante, and he died, leaving Dexter the only living being within Prater's fucked-up museum of serial killer weapons and keepsakes.

Hall's manic screams that ended the ep perfectly encapsulated how I'd think anyone would be feeling after everything that went down, especially since he was fully confident that he'd have Prater wrapped, stabbed, and dissected by lunchtime. So all things considered, killing off an OG character was a pretty brilliant way to shatter the main character ahead of the all-important finale. (Given Season 2 was already ordered, we dare not worry about Dex being not-really-killed off again.)

It Breaks My Heart That Batista Fell So Very Far From Grace

When one isn't viewing this storyline solely through main-character lens, however, Batista's death becomes far more heartbreaking and difficult to think about fully objectively. I mean, he was easily one of my favorite characters during the flagship series' run on Showtime, and it wasn't all just due to how great David Zayas looks in a hat.

Angel was the somewhat rare TV example of a cop who's good at his job because he's smart and capable, and not due to being morally untethered or having unique abilities. That goes back to his early days on the force, too, as shown in the renewed-then-cancelled prequel Dexter: Original Sin, with James Martinez in the role.

So it was pretty rough to watch Dexter's actions take such a toll on Batista by the time the OG series ended, and it seemed clear even then that he might never get over LaGuerta's murder, regardless of who was responsible. But one could have pretended that he was living his best life, and the New Blood update that he became Captain of Miami Metro pointed in that positive direction. At least until he learned about Angela Bishop's Butcher suspicions.

By the time he showed up in New York looking for the former spatter analyst when Resurrection's storyline starts, it seemed clear that Batista went to some dark places before making the decision to suddenly vacate his decorated career and life in Florida specifically to track Dexter down. But, because he's a good detective, he actually found his target, and thus had all the right instincts in place to pull off the arrest of the century.

Or at least, the old Batista might have been able to pull that arrest off without incident. In his currently fraught state, however, he was unable to actually prove that all of his suspicions were correct, and instead repeatedly made himself sound like a paranoid lunatic in front of the only two cops who seemingly have an equal investment in his findings. (Assuming this New York Ripper theory isn't true, anyway.) The fact that he continued to lie about being an active homicide captain did not help one bit, either.

Without the cops on his side, Batista took matters into his own hands once more, and thought he'd struck gold by discovering Dex's connection with such a socially conscious bazillionaire like Leon Prater, only to get beaten up and taken captive.

Dexter's Admission About Doakes And LaGuerta Was The Final Middle Finger To Batista's Legacy

I realize that within the fictional reality of Dexter: Resurrection, no one is 100% safe from either a brutal death or a lifetime of regrets. Nobody dies in this show without enough baggage to fill a second casket, and I wouldn't readily expect anything different involving the one person beyond the titular character who's appeared in every franchise entry. I knew he wouldn't get a glorified hero's death or anything, at least.

Still, though, Dexter found a way to make an already depressing situation worse in Batista's final moments. Instead of letting the dude die thinking that he'd come as close as humanly possible to achieving justice to Doakes and LaGuerta's deaths, Dex threw a wrench in by saying he didn't even kill either of them. There wasn't enough time for the show to dig too deeply into those ramifications, but I can only imagine how piercing those words would have been, for Batista to realize that his entire mission was based on misinformation, and that he was now dying at the hands of a monster who wasn't even responsible.

Zayas didn't let any of that show on Batista's face in that moment, though, and he instead flipped it so that Dexter's attempt to free himself of that burden went unfulfilled. So in the end, Batista did get the final mic drop, but at such an unenviable cost.

I guess now it's time to look forward to Batista: Resurrection getting ordered up at Paramount+ while waiting for the Season 1 finale to debut on Friday, September 5.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Touched By An Ángel." Stream the episode with a Paramount+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Angel Batista was ready for a showdown with Dexter Morgan, but the former Miami metro detective bit off more than he could chew in Dexter: Resurrection. Angel died after cursing his former buddy for pulling the wool over his eyes for decades, but David Zayas isn't convinced his time on the show is over.

Dying in the Dexter franchise is often permanent, though a select few actors get the chance to return. Zayas reminded Variety of that in an interview where he talked about his exit, and hinted about how we could see Batista in future episodes:

The actor is correct, and Dexter loves to lean into the character seeing friends and family that have died. James Remar made his big return as Harry in Dexter: Resurrection, replacing Jennifer Carpenter after she filled that role in New Blood. Could Batista be the next returning actor to serve as Dexter's twisted inner conscience?

It's certainly a possibility, especially with Batista cutting Dexter deep by reminding him that his loved ones died because he's a serial killer, even if he wasn't directly responsible for their deaths. As a fan, I would love to see Zayas continue on as a ghost haunting his former friend, reminding him that his "noble" cause isn't quite as virtuous as he's convinced himself.

That said, one has to imagine there are other actors who are in line to return as a ghost before David Zayas. I've wanted to see Julie Benz return to Dexter as Rita since the end of the original series, especially now that Harrison is grown. It would be great to see how Dexter would imagine his late wife guiding him through raising his son and balancing his life as a serial killer.

However, before any of that, Dexter Morgan must get out of the rough predicament he's stuck in. The penultimate episode of Dexter: Resurrection left the serial killer trapped in Leon Prater's vault, and seemingly at the mercy of the twisted billionaire. I've theorized that Prater will return in the next season, based on the current situation. I have a feeling that he'll be working for Prater next season, whether he likes it or not.

Dexter: Resurrection will close out the season on Paramount+ on Friday, September 5th, with Showtime subscribers getting the episode on Sunday, September 7th at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Without a doubt some of the best Showtime shows to binge watch are within the Dexter franchise. Those with a premium Paramount+ subscription have been treated to three follow-up shows in recent years, to varying degrees of success. While I was super bummed that Original Sin was cancelled, the last few episodes of Resurrection have been proving it's the superior spinoff.

The cast of Original Sin is reacting to the news, which is no doubt more shocking since they were originally renewed for Season 2. I'll miss the prequel and those spot-on impressions of the OG Dexter cast, but overall I think Resurrection is a way more thrilling ride. Let's break it down.

I Loved Original Sin, But The Narrative Of Resurrection Is More Thrilling

Original Sin was a blast for a few reasons. I loved being back in Miami, and the way the new cast matched the voice of their predecessor was seriously impressive. Plus, Sarah Michelle Gellar had a role as Dexter's mentor. But it was also a slower story, with the audience watching as Patrick Gibson's title character slowly became the serial killer we know and love. That's simply the nature of prequels in general.

Meanwhile, Resurrection picked up immediately after New Blood's finale. After a coma, Dexter goes to New York to find Harrison, and gets involved in a league of serial killers, whom he's determined to pick off one by one. There are thrills and kills, as well as a number of satisfying plot twists. And, the season isn't even over yet!

Unfortunately, the narrative seeds that were planed at the end of Original Sin's first season will never come to bloom. I personally think the show was setting up Gellar's character to find out his secret, and jeopardize his burgeoning career as both a blood splatter analyst and a serial killer. I was also eager to see the introduction of other characters like a young James Doakes.

More Michael C. Hall Is Simply Better

Michael C. Hall is synonymous with Dexter, and at this point he's been doing it for two decades. While he narrated the first (and only) season of Original Sin, which was another great way for it to tie to the flagship series, having Hall physically back on our screens and hunting fellow serial killers in Resurrection is just plain better.

This isn't a shot at Patrick Gibson's performance in the prequel series. He did an outstanding impression of Hall's vocal cadence and physicality while still making the character his own. But as they say, you can't compete with the original.

Dexter: Resurrection still has two more episodes as part of the 2025 TV schedule before wrapping up. I have to wonder if we'll get Season 2, especially now that Original Sin is officially scrapped. If not, perhaps the franchise will actually end. Only time will tell.

Though no one ever said that TV announcements are meant to last forever — okay somebody might have said those words together before, but not as an absolute truth — one does expect networks and streaming services to hold up their end of a season renewal. Dexter: Original Sin’s cast and crew learned that the hard way when the spinoff was canceled without warning by Paramount+, a turn of events that hasn’t stopped bumming me out since it happened.

Several of Original Sin’s cast members quickly shared disappointed reactions on social media, including co-star Alex Shimuzu, who portrays the often perverse and often giggling forensic analyst Vince Masuka (portrayed in the OG series by CS Lee). Though his initial reaction was as subdued as one might expect, his follow-up post on TikTok is enough to get me dancing even through my disappointment.

The song that Shimizu is jamming to is Calvin Harris' "Feels," which also features Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean. Interestingly enough, though, the post starts off in the middle of the first verse, and bypasses some extremely relevant lyrics: "Well nothing ever last forever, no. One minute you're here and the next you're gone."

Maybe that's the point, though. Maybe Shimuzu didn't want to remind everybody about Dexter: Original Sin's cancellation, and this dance isn't about things that don't last forever. With his caption saying "The beat goes on!" I dare say fans shouldn't worry too much about the actor making it beyond this unfortunate setback. He's gonna crush whatever comes next, no doubt.

That said, Dexter fans are turning out in droves to sign the "Save Original Sin" petitions that went live after the cancellation went public. At the time of writing, the petition housed at Change.org has over 32,000 signatures, and that number is rising fairly quickly.

Shimuzu himself also promoted the petition on Monday evening, sharing the following post:

Considering Original Sin had maintained its renewal status for months, we'd already theorized about which characters we wanted to see back the most, while also theorizing plenty about who might know Dexter's secrets and what Brian Moser entering Dexter's life so early on would mean for the timeline of the OG series.

All of that wondering was for naught, though, at least until Paramount+ and/or Showtimes execs come to their senses and put the order back on the table for the prequel's second season. It's possible that much of the resources that were going to that offshoot are now being directed toward the second season of Dexter: Resurrection.

I can't exactly hate on that, since I am indeed loving Michael C. Hall's New York City adventures. But it's still hard to celebrate any setbacks in this franchise during this second wave. The world needs more Christian Slater as Harry Morgan, dammit.

For now, all episodes of all Dexter series can be streamed via Paramount+ subscription.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched the latest episode of Dexter: Resurrection via Paramount+ subscription or on Showtime, so be warned.

Since the start of Dexter: Resurrection, fans have watched Michael C. Hall’s Dexter fighting to keep his fatherly duties separated from his Code-related activities, only for it all to dramatically dovetail when the episode "The Kill Room Where It Happens" hit the 2025 TV schedule. Our morally driven protagonist was in the midst of having a jolly good non-Vegan meal with Harrison when Peter Dinklage’s Leon Prater made his presence known, thus signifying “the jig is up,” as it were.

I’ve no doubt Dexter will be able to totally bullshit his way out of being instantly taken down by Prater and Uma Thurman’s Charley, because that’s precisely the skillset that got him to this point. But the fact that he was publicly accosted in such a way flies in the face of this character’s logic, and so much of what we’ve seen this season should have helped prep him to avoid this very situation. I’ll allow Al’s escape being a smart plot move, but have to draw a line somewhere.

Dexter should be as anonymous as anyone in a metro area as bustling as New York City, and yet it didn’t take that long for Charley and Prater to track him down. As such, I’m not sure whether this issue is meant to be seen as a specific character flaw, or if it’s an issue the writers just didn’t think to address properly. Let’s get into several reasons why Dex should have been ready for this.

Dexter Spent The First Few Episodes Tracking Harrison And The Dark Passenger Killer

Before directly connecting with Prater’s serial killer club, Dexter spent his early days in NYC stuffing his face in his car while following Harrison, and as soon as he gained knowledge of someone killing rideshare drivers, he quickly gained all the knowledge he needed to identify and track the movements of Marc Menchaca’s “Red,” and was able to approach both his son and target without either being aware of it. I get that he didn’t immediately think others might do the same to him, but that instinct should have kicked in soon after.

Dexter Knew Charley Had Also Followed Red And Broke Into His Apartment

Though he didn’t know everyone else who was involved from the jump, Dexter finding the invitation to Prater’s gathering made him instantly aware that Red’s movements and homebase were identified and infiltrated by someone else, and he later determined that Charley was responsible. To the point where, when suspicions were raised about that apartment’s lack of recent activity, Dexter improvised the excuse that he could no longer live somewhere that others knew about. So why didn’t that immediately tip him off that Charley and others could do the same thing to him?

Dexter Knew That Batista Was Following Him

Even if Dexter didn’t grasp how effective Prater’s head of security was at her job, due to not having known her for well over a decade, he has known Angel Batista for ages, and knows the man is a good detective, whether he’s on active duty or not. Not only that, but in witnessing Batista mixing it up with Blessed’s family, Dexter discovered his former colleague was able to track him down to his living arrangements, likely setting up a major showdown. But did he really think that making threats would successfully keep Batista from telling other proper authority figures where he’s living? Also, how the hell did it take him that long to clean out his passenger door? No wonder he’s not a five-star driver.

Knowing All This, Why Didn’t Dexter Take Better Precautions To Not Be Followed?

As a dude who’s mostly evaded capture for an untold number of murders over the years, Dexter should still be the most evasive and paranoid creature on the planet, regardless of the Bay Harbor Butcher being misidentified. The character shouldn’t have any spare time at this point, because he should be constantly on alert and changing locations on an hourly basis. He should have left Blessed’s house behind the second he saw Batista’s face on the property. He definitely shouldn’t be sitting comfortable and having meals with Harrison.

So what is the deal here? Is this another symptom of Dexter getting older and non-wiser? Perhaps a mental setback to accompany the physical muscle pains he’s been facing? Or is this just a character detail that the creative team didn’t think was pertinent enough to address in full? I can’t imagine that’s the case, though, and would more readily assume it slipped through the cracks.

Of course, the next episode could always feature a big reveal that Dexter DID know he was being followed, and that he set up some kind of elaborate cat-and-mouse scenario to draw Prater and Charley out at just the right time. If that happens, I’ll be the first one in line to congratulate all involved for pulling the wool over my eyes. But until then, I’ll be sitting outside in my car, watching and judging Dexter from afar without him realizing it.

Dexter is one of the best Showtime shows ever, and those with a Paramount+ subscription have been treated to a number of spinoffs in recent years. While the second sequel series Resurrection is airing now, a prequel, Original Sin, also arrived recently. Unfortunately, Original Sin was cancelled... despite already getting a renewal announcement. And now the cast is reacting to that unexpected turn of events.

This prequel series was popular upon its release as part of the 2025 TV schedule, with longtime fans of the franchise happy to return to Miami Metro... especially with the Original Sin cast doing spot-on impressions of the originals. Plus, who doesn't want to see Sarah Michelle Gellar in Dexter? Unfortunately, the network changed its mind and cancelled the show, and now the cast is reacting. Molly Elizabeth Brown, who played young Deb Morgan, took to Instagram to share a photo dump, with the caption reading:

What a bummer. Like the rest of the actors, Brown found a way to capture the spirit of her predecessor. She had the same foul mouth and rebellious spirit from Jennifer Carpenter's Deb, but we unfortunately won't get to see her develop further into the future Miami Metro Police Officer.

While Sarah Michelle Gellar and Christian Slater haven't commented on Dexter: Original Sin's cancellation, a number of other actors have. Alex Shimizu played a young Vince Masuka... including his signature laugh. The actor also posted on Instagram about his experience filming the ill-fated Showtime series. Check it out below:

Clearly, this series meant a lot to those who worked on Original Sin. And one can only imagine the emotional whiplash of getting renewed and then being cancelled by the network.

Patrick Gibson played young Dexter, and while he hasn't posted his own response to the show's cancellation, he was in the comments section of Shimizu's above post. His response reads:

Despite only running for one season, it sounds like the cast and crew of Dexter: Original Sin developed a close bond in their time on the Showtime series. And now they'll likely have to try a little harder to see each other now that they're not returning to set for Season 2.

Another actor who took to social media after the cancellation is Reno Wilson, who played Harry's Miami Metro homicide partner Bobby Watt. He took to IG Story, sharing Shimizu's post and adding:

I'd have to agree. Season 1 of Original Sin was a blast, but there was way more narrative ground to cover before the characters became the ones we know and love from the original Dexter series. I wonder if we'll get more information about exactly why the network changed its mind and un-renewed the prequel.

While we won't see any more of Original Sin, there are new episodes of Dexter: Resurrection airing now on Showtime. We'll just have to see if Showtime is pumping the breaks on the franchise as a whole.

The world of Dexter Morgan returned to the small screen with two new shows, both of which released new episodes as part of the 2025 TV schedule. The first season of Dexter: Resurrection with Michael C. Hall still has a couple episodes left in the first season, while Dexter: Original Sin finished its ten-episode Season 1 back in February. Fans got the good news in April that Original Sin had been renewed for Season 2, but that decision has been reversed. The show has been cancelled, but fans aren't ready to give up just yet.

Dexter: Original Sin Cancelled After One Season

The decision to cancel Dexter: Original Sin came from the Paramount TV Studios team as led by Matt Thunell, according to Deadline. The team is new to Showtime after Skydance acquired Paramount Global. Despite the renewal for Season 2 back in April, a writers room reportedly never opened and production dates were never set. Writers from Original Sin moved over to work on Resurrection, and will return for the second season of the series that brought Michael C. Hall back in the flesh. (The OG Dexter only narrated for Original Sin.)

Dexter: Original Sin released with a subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime as a prequel to the original Dexter. The story was set in 1991 Miami as Dexter (played by Patrick Gibson) goes from student to serial killer with an eye towards avenging. His father Harry (Christian Slater) helps him adopt the Code that guides him to kill only the kinds of people who are deemed unworthy to live. Dexter started the build the habits that were demonstrated in the original series, as he began his work as a forensics intern at the Miami Metro PD.

The show included younger versions of characters from the original series beyond just Dexter and Harry, with some spot-on impersonations of the cast. The Season 1 finale ended on a note that raised the possibility of somebody learning the big secret; now, unless Dexter: Resurrection somehow addresses that chapter in the character's past, fans of Original Sin may never know. That is, unless they get their wish and the series is rescued!

Fans Are Furious

It didn't take long for fans to hit social media to express their dismay (to put it lightly) about the cancellation, with no fewer than three change.org petitions already available just hours after the unfortunate news broke. While the "Save Dexter Original Sin" and "Save 'Dexter: Original Sin' from cancellation" petitions only accumulated 33 and 36 signatures, respectively, at the time of writing on Augst 23, "Save Dexter: Original Sin" has reached 523, and the number is growing.

Plus, there are plenty of unhappy fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) using two main hashtags: #SaveDexterOriginalSin and #BringBackDexterOriginalSin. These are just a handful of examples of how people are feeling. (Comments edited for content and clarity.)

• @joshlovesfilms: "We needed more. The writers planned for us to see Dexter in his apartment, in the green Henley… we still had 15 years of stories left. Fans want more. We need more."
• @SuperSonOfKalEl: "Cancelling Dexter: Original Sin after it was successful and already renewed the day after an episode of Dexter: Resurrection airs is both the stupidest and cruelest thing you've ever done, Paramount."
• @sistapam96: "It’s like you wait with bated breath to find out if your favorite TV show gets renewed. And when it’s renewed you’re like phewwww, we’re safe. But apparently not because they can just choose to take it away at any moment?!"
• @RPoppy19: "I'm truly devastated and so freaking mad... Choosing to cancel Dexter: Original Sin when it was already renewed is just pure evil...The cast deserve so much better, i don't want to lose them. I'M SICKKK."
• @Lailas_Archive: "Can’t any production company just do its thing and buy the rights from Paramount?"

There's no word just yet about whether there are any plans to shop Dexter: Original Sin around to another platform to pick it up, and I personally doubt that will happen. The franchise is continuing on Paramount+ with Showtime, as Dexter: Resurrection is expected to get a second season. The crime drama had the makings of a major hit from the start, with the first episode accumulating 2.1 million global viewers across Paramount+ and Showtime over three days, according to Paramount Global (via Deadline). Paramount Global reported that it was the most-streamed premiere ever in Showtime history.

Season 1 also accomplished something that isn't too common for television: the finale audience was larger than the premiere audience. It fact, with was 27% larger, according to Deadline, with a viewership tally of 2.68 million over three days. Dexter: Resurrection did well with viewers and there were many years of Dexter's life that could have still been explored without overlapping into the timeline of the original series. The future truly seemed bright for Dexter: Original Sin. Sadly, unless fans are very successful with their petitions and/or cause waves on social media via hashtags, this chapter of Dexter's life seems to be closed for good.

The cancellation news came on the same day that a new episode of Dexter: Resurrection released on Paramount, with two more episodes left before the Season 1 finale. To revisit past episodes, you can find them streaming with a subscription to Paramount+ with Showtime now.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Course Correction." Stream it with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Angel Batista was never able to discover the identity of the Bay Harbor Butcher whilst working right alongside him for a couple of decades, but he's determined to close the case in Dexter: Resurrection. The seventh episode ended with an awkward reunion in New York City, after Dexter gave Angel the slip in Iron Lake, and their eventual showdown is now seemingly locked in.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling the 2025 TV Schedule is going to close out with David Zayas' Angel not having survived to make it to a second season. That said, I don't necessarily think Dexter has it in him to kill a longtime friend, and I have two theories about the actual people who will end up taking out the Miami detective.

Theory #1: Charley Will Kill Batista

Leon Prater has shown he has a lot of power in New York City and connections all across the board. If he finds out Angel is hot on "Red's" tail and close to bringing him in, I think it's safe to say he'll send out Charley to handle the problem. He already tasked her with having Mia Lapierre killed to ensure his serial killers' club wasn't exposed to those outside of his influence.

Now that we've seen his relationship with Red grow tremendously in the latest episode, I would expect Prater to do some deeper digging into Dexter's life. He might even be able to uncover that he's the real Bay Harbor Butcher, and thus have Batista taken care of before our protagonist even has the chance to handle it on his own.

Dexter has been more than a little overconfident as of late after taking out a few killers, for all that he called Gareth the egomaniac. I think he's certainly underestimated the type of monster his wealthy benefactor can be when properly motivated to protect things that are in his best interest.

Theory #2: The New York Ripper Will Kill Batista

For those out of the loop, there's been a pretty interesting theory circling the internet about Dexter: Resurrection involving the New York Ripper. Someone on Reddit has suggested that Dexter's landlord, Blessing Kamara, is the New York Ripper. I've enjoyed the idea of this, and I'm close to thinking it may end up being true.

Blessing seems to be a good family man, but he's had brief moments where it seems some darkness haunts him. In short, he's what Dexter is trying to be right now, assuming that he is secretly a serial killer, and he's thriving in a way that The Bay Harbor Butcher would be envious of if he knew.

It also feels like a lot of the theme of this season leans on father-son relationships, with James Remar reprising his role as Harry in Dexter: Resurrection. Blessing is the only other person we've seen be a father in this season, so his character being a key to the story feels likely to me.

We don't have any concrete evidence yet that Blessing is the New York Ripper, but his meeting with Angel here at least connects the two to where, if he were, we now know how they'd potentially cross paths. There has to be some larger reason that Blessing and the New York Ripper are in this story, so I think, from a story standpoint, it would make sense if they end up having some connection to one another.

I've also seen interesting theories that the New York Ripper could be a tease for a storyline that's to come in Original Sin Season 2.

Dexter: Resurrection premieres new episodes on Showtime on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET, but if you have Paramount+, you can watch it on Fridays. I'm excited to see where the rest of this season goes, and with so much talk about James Doakes as of late I really hope they're re-introducing the character in Season 2 of Original Sin.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Cats and Mouse." Stream it with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Just when I think Dexter: Resurrection's storyline can't get any more complex, the Paramount+ series threw a curveball in the latest episode. After writing in recent weeks that I feared the series was blazing through writing off its all-star cast by having Dex take out the serial killers in the club as quickly as possible, we're now given a twist that has me questioning just how much longer the Bay Harbor Butcher can keep hunting.

As Angel Batista and the New York detectives start to get on the trail of what may be a larger conspiracy, Dexter was caught off guard by a surprise he hadn't expected about one of the killers in his circle. To be quite honest, I was caught off guard by the latest reveal by David Dastmalchian's Gareth, a.k.a the Gemini Killer, and I feel kind of silly I didn't think about it sooner.

Gareth The Gemini Killer Is A Twin

After killing Lowell and getting Mia arrested, Dexter Morgan was ready to hunt down the biggest dog of them all. The Gemini Killer is the most prolific and famous killer in Leon Prater's group, aside from Dexter still operating under his alias "Red." After initially being caught off-guard in his apartment by Gareth when he was caught snooping on him at a bookstore, Dexter ended up getting the upper hand and ending the Gemini Killer, or so he thought.

The next day, Dexter showed up for a helicopter ride at Prater's request, admittedly nervous he and his scary assistant Charley would start to suspect the killers going missing wasn't random. Fortunately, and unfortunately, they didn't seem to suspect a thing as Gareth showed up for the flight. As everyone proceeded as normal, Dexter internally panicked, realizing the Gemini Killer was not a fan of the Zodiac, but was actually a twin.

How Will Dexter Manage To Avoid Being Discovered By Prater?

One would imagine that Gareth is aware his twin brother is missing, and that he might've paid a visit to "Red" before he lost contact with him. Dexter: Resurrection only just revealed this twist, so we don't really know how much Prater knows about The Gemini Killer and this big surprise. It's possible that, due to their vanity, Gareth has lived as one person, not wanting to diminish his celebrity should anyone find out The Gemini Killer is two people instead of one.

Whatever the case may be, I can't help but wonder if Leon Prater is quietly onto "Red" already. Sending Charley to check his home after Lowell and Mia were taken out screams paranoia, and he's obsessed with serial killers. He even has James Doakes' blood slides, so he may already suspect he's in the presence of the true Bay Harbor Butcher.

All the while, Angel Batista is on fire in tracking Dexter's every move, even if he doesn't 100% know it yet. I guess their friendship, tracing back to Dexter: Original Sin, is paying off, or he became a much greater detective in the decades since the original series ended. I'm not ruling out this season ending with Dexter finally getting sent to prison, as he seems to be up against some powerful figures in law enforcement who will take him down.

Dexter: Resurrection is firing on all cylinders, so catch new episodes on Fridays on Paramount+ or on Sunday for those with Showtime. As of writing, I'd already put this season at the top of our Dexter ranking list, assuming we're not keeping this series separate from the original run.

Michael C. Hall and the creative minds behind the Dexter franchise tried to end the eponymous serial killer's story twice. So the fact that Dexter: Resurrection is now airing on Showtime and streaming for Paramount+ subscription holders illustrates how successful the IP is. As the franchise continues to garner buzz, Hall reveals that he's aware of the fans' reactions to the ending of the original series as well as New Blood's conclusion. With that, the star isn't holding back his thoughts.

Amid Resurrection's run (which comes with a star-studded cast and a "killer" storyline), Hall talked to Screen Rant about the endings to Dexter and Dexter: New Blood. The end of the OG show saw the lead character living in seclusion as a lumberjack. When fans didn't like that development, the writers tried to shift gears by having Dexter die after being shot by his son, Harrison. When Hall made reference to both of those endings in his recent interview, he talked about why neither seemed to work the way he and his collaborators hoped:

Based on those comments, Michael C. Hall and co. realized that the issue wasn't about how Dexter ended, but rather that they didn't want the ride to end. Fans' appetites for this franchise are still signficiant, which is why we now have Resurrection and the prequel series, Original Sin, which will be returning for Season 2.

While I don't imagine fans will be receive another new Dexter series announcement before the 2025 TV schedule closes out, it does seem that Paramount is committed to making stories about the droll serial killer. There could very likely be a point at which Dexter comes to an end, but that time certainly isn't now.

As a fan, my big takeaway from Michael C. Hall's comments is that it doesn't seem the ride is coming to an end anytime soon. At least, that's what I want to believe, though I think Angel Batista is hot on the tail of his former friend and potentially looking to deliver justice to the real Bay Harbor Butcher.

Of course, Dexter has to end at some point, and the producers already failed when crafting an ending in which he escapes and another one where he dies. The OG series is still great regardless of its controversial conclusion, and I think the last thing many fans want to see is a world in which Dexter overstays his welcome. It all has to end at some point, so let's just hope that when it's time, there's an ending that's worthy of this blood-soaked saga.

Dexter: Resurrection airs on Showtime on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET, but those with Paramount+ can watch the new episodes beginning on Friday. Of course, they can also enjoy the original series, which to still regarded as one of the best TV shows to ever air on TV, regardless of its ending.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Resurrection episode "Call Me Red," so stream it with a Paramount+ subscription or read at your own risk!

Dexter: Resurrection just introduced one of my favorite storylines for the franchise ever, and finally revealed the storyline that brought such a stellar, all-star cast together to join Michael C. Hall. Peter Dinklage made his big debut as billionaire philanthropist Leon Prater, and revealed to "Red" that he secretly runs a society for serial killers to network and share their dark secrets.

Neil Patrick Harris, Krysten Ritter, Eric Stonestreet, and David Dastmalchian all made their way into the story as notorious serial killers, brought together by Prater for mysterious reasons we still don't fully understand as an audience, at least beyond appeasing his bloodlust. One the one hand, I'm psyched because I can see this storyline going in a lot of fun and different directions, but on the other hand, I have concerns after one of those major guest stars has already been killed off.

The Potential For Dexter: Resurrection's Killer Club Storyline Has Me Thrilled

The Dexter universe has been growing with the prequel running alongside the continuation, and I think it could explode in a similar multi-timeline fashion as the John Wick franchise's future, all tied to this serial killer faction. We now have a stacked cast of personable and highly deadly murderers to mix it up with after Red's demise, and while Dexter doesn't necessarily jive with most criminals, it seems there might be at least one that follows a "code" that he can abide by.

Imagine if this season ends with Dexter enlisting or teaching other serial killers in this sordid circle about Harry's "code," leading to some twisted Dark Passenger-infused version of the Avengers? It's a wild idea to consider, but also a possible one, given that it doesn't seem as though Leon Prater himself is a serial killer. Would he be opposed to Dexter teaching the rest of this group how to adhere to his special brand of justice? (Or, perhaps, other groups of misguided killers.)

Truthfully, it seems likely that the bulk of Dex's current colleagues have their own quirks that drive their urge to kill, and won't need additional guidance. The titular character wants justice served, but others like Lowell simply want to retrieve others' tattoos so that he can look at them. Mia Lapierre, on the other hand, might be easier to mold into something of an equal, assuming Dexter ever has the chance to reveal he's actually the Bay Harbor Butcher to her.

I could also see a scenario where Dexter has to hunt these serial killers down, and this becomes a long arc that's drawn out through several seasons of the series. He's already taken down some awful folks in the past, so I'd love to see him spend a season pursuing and eliminating each person in Prater's special club and still avoid detection from his benefactor.

Lowell's Early Exit Has Me Concerned This Story Is Moving Way Too Fast

Unfortunately, I don't think Dexter Resurrection plans on keeping this colorful cast of killers on the series for the long haul. Dexter killed off Neil Patrick Harris' Lowell before the end of the episode, where this new storyline was introduced. It's led me to believe other newcomer actors like Eric Stonestreet and Krysten Ritter (both of whom were blown away by the fans) won't be on the series for long, either.

It's a shame, because I would kill to see a season centered solely around Eric Stonestreet's ponytail killer, and him having the thriving family life that Dexter always wanted with Rita. I'm also 100% all-in on whatever is going on with David Dastmalchian's killer, who appears to be the most cryptic of the bunch.

I should state that we have no idea what the overall plan for Dexter: Resurrection is, and how this whole thing will shake out now that Dexter has already broken the rules of the serial killer club. It's possible that was a one-and-done meeting, and it'll be Prater vs. Dexter from here on out, and he'll go after some of those other killers at a later date.

There's also a part of me that wants Dexter to embrace the community of having other serial killers to talk to. I think that was a good way of further illustrating that he's not a good person, which I've noted both New Blood and Resurrection have illustrated a bit so far.

Dexter: Resurrection streams new episodes on Paramount+ on Fridays, with Showtime broadcasting the episode on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm ready to see where the rest of this season heads, and am holding out hope it's the setup for a much longer story arc than I currently expect.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection. Stream episodes now with a Paramount+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Dexter Morgan's story is continuing with Dexter: Resurrection not long after it seemed New Blood was the endgame. The story picks up where the last one left off, but with everyone's favorite serial killer-killer settling up in New York City to help clean up the latest deadly mess made by his son Harrison. I'm loving the episodes we've seen so far, especially with the continuation giving me major Breaking Bad vibes the longer we get into it.

For all the nostalgia and love I have for the classic series (I also love that James Remar is back), I think the original Dexter did the series a disservice that the revival is fixing. It feels like Dexter is in his "Heisenberg" era in these new episodes, and if that's confusing, allow me to break it down.

Both Dexter And Walter White Are Easy To Root For, Despite Their Crimes

Breaking Bad and Dexter do a great job at taking unsavory individuals (a drug dealer and serial killer) and making them sympathetic. Both are similar in how they execute it as well, giving them noble intentions behind the despicable things they do. For Walter, this was raising as much money as he could to ensure his family was taken care of after he died of cancer. Of course, for Dexter, it's killing violent criminals who have either evaded the law or are operating completely under the radar.

In real life, I think many of us could confidently say we won't root for these types of people in any scenario. Of course, Breaking Bad and Dexter both try to paint their heroes in the most favorable light possible, to the point that the fandom is tricked into villainizing more rational characters like Skyler White or Maria LaGuerta.

These two characters in particular I like to compare, because both shows used illicit affairs to paint them in an unfavorable light. No one likes a cheater, and I applaud both for using that to make the audience more in the corner of the clear bad guys of the show, just because they were shown something unsavory about a character they might otherwise empathize with.

Part Of What Made Breaking Bad Incredible Was How It Reshaped Walter White

Breaking Bad is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows of all time for many reasons, but for me, what sends it over the top is how it reshapes how the viewer feels about Walter White. Throughout the entire series, we see him evolve from a man who is clearly out of his depth to the mythical figure we come to know as "Heisenberg." A lowly school teacher turns into a drug kingpin throughout the length of the series, and ultimately becomes a terrible person in the process.

What starts out as a quest to financially support his family after his death soon becomes a quest to gain as much money and power as possible. He seems to get a great sense of pride that he was manufacturing the best meth in the southwestern United States. It becomes all-consuming, and the deeper he gets, the more willing he is to do despicable things to maintain the status quo. There are plenty of mind-blowing moments where you simply can't believe the person he's become, from allowing Jesse Pinkman's girlfriend Jane to die, to poisoning a child.

Dexter also has its share of mind-blowing moments, but the series lacked the kind of gut-punch that made you feel guilty for rooting for Dexter. Even when he let Doakes die, I didn't really feel too bad for the sergeant, despite having plenty of reason to. Doakes is essentially a villain because he's a good cop who had a suspicion that his colleague was up to some shady stuff, and it turns out he was 100% spot on. At the end of Dexter, Morgan ends up getting away with it all and living in the woods. Not the sort of justice he ultimately deserved as a serial killer, which is ultimately delivered in the novels.

Dexter New Blood And Resurrection Have Leaned Into Reminding Us That He Is Not A Good Person, Despite His Own Opinion

Dexter: New Blood and Resurrection have done a good job thus far of bringing the thing that made Breaking Bad great into its latest stories. Via Harrison, his former girlfriend Angela Bishop, and now his old colleague Angel Batista, we're slowly being shown again that, at the end of the day, Dexter Morgan is a serial killer. Sure, he often tries to kill others who committed heinous crimes and act by his code, but he still only does this because he struggles to resist an urge to kill.

Harry's code or not, he's not a good person, and even his own son recognized that. Even recently in Resurrection, when Dexter went on a manhunt for a serial killer that was using his moniker as "The Dark Passenger," it was more about his pride and the thrill of a kill than it ever really was about a moral code.

What's also true is that Dexter is a survivalist first and foremost. He went and killed the innocent Sergeant Logan under the guise that it was necessary to save Harrison. In reality, he doesn't really want to face any retribution for his various crimes despite the noble intentions he claims to have for his hundreds of murders.

If he did, he wouldn't have fled the city when Angel Batista went to visit him at the start of Resurrection, and I'll be curious to see how he responds should his former friend and colleague get a little too close to the truth later in the series. It really feels like the revival is finally showing us the plot lines that prove Dexter is not the hero the original series portrayed him as, and I'm all here for it, assuming they stick the landing.

Catch new episodes of Dexter: Resurrection on Fridays with a Paramount+ subscription, or on Showtime on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm very excited to see how the rest of this season goes, and if Dexter is going to reunite with his son after they parted ways at the end of New Blood.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article gives away several key details from Dexter: Resurrection. If you are not yet caught up with the revival of the killer series, or any of its previous iterations, don’t get caught stumbling on a spoiler if you continue reading on.

One of my all-time favorite crime TV shows is Dexter, which is why I was immediately intrigued when I heard Michael C. Hall’s serial killer with a heart of gold was coming back for yet another revival series called Dexter: Resurrection, which brings the action to New York City.

Considering the unfortunate reception to the endings of both Showtime’s original series and 2021’s Dexter: New Blood, I found myself certainly welcome to the idea of bringing Dexter Morgan back from the dead for another try. After watching the first couple of episodes of Resurrection with my Paramount+ subscription, I would say it’s a bloody good time, but I’m not so sure if reviving the title character was the right call. Allow me to explain…

Dexter's Storyline So Far Feels Repetitive And Uninspired

Resurrection picks up months after New Blood, in which the title character’s son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), seemingly shot him to death. It is explained that he survived due to the cold weather, which is a little ridiculous, but is the least of my issues. Those started for me when the comatose serial killer begins hallucinating about some of his most iconic nemeses (including John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer, who could also get his own spinoff) to reiterate various themes about his psyche and legacy that any fan should already be familiar with.

However, things become particularly repetitive when James Remar as Dexter’s late adoptive father, Harry Morgan, reappears, and soon, most of their conversations revolve around whether or not Dexter should attempt to reunite with Harrison. Suspicions that his son may have committed a recent murder in New York City do lead him to head for the Big Apple, where he makes friends with a rideshare driver named Blessing (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), who is far too trusting of this stranger, especially with a serial killer specifically targeting rideshare drivers on the loose. Inevitably, he makes it his duty to hunt this murderer referred to as “The Dark Passenger,” mostly because he feels he stole the name he gives his inner demon.

These are all the aspects of Dexter: Resurrection that have managed to bother the shit out of me so far, and I think the list is a little too long for only the first two episodes. With how often his storyline has relied on all-too-familiar themes, repeated dialogue, and plot conveniences, I cannot help but feel that showrunner Clyde Phillips really does not know what else to do with this character while still wanting to keep this franchise alive somehow. As far as I am concerned, the solution was staring him right in the face.

Harrison's Plot Is Far More Interesting To Me

Concurrent to Dexter’s main storyline is a B plot focused on Harrison, now seen working at an upscale hotel and earning a great reputation among the staff and guests. However, he is still haunted by guilt from ending his complicated relationship with his father by gunshot, pondering over the future they could have had if things had gone another way.

Things begin to really turn sour for Harrison when he impulsively murders a man who was about to commit sexual assault on a hotel guest, but manages to cover his tracks pretty well with tips his father taught him. Yet, even his cleanest getaway has a few flaws noticed by Det. Claudette Wallace (Kadia Saraf), whose powers of observation rival Sherlock Holmes. To make matters worse, he is now haunted by visions of his latest victim, driving him to indulge in reckless behavior to cope.

Harrison’s storyline is constantly bringing up questions for me, such as how far he will go to silence his guilt, how his violent tendencies might affect the relationships he has formed in New York, and how he will manage to avoid getting caught by Det. Wallace. In fact, it is the one thing keeping me engaged in Resurrection. I was hoping to have the same reaction to the elements revolving around our main character, but sadly, that is not the case.

I have tended to disagree with some of the more general complaints about the franchise. For instance, while Season 4 may be the best season of Dexter, I don’t think the subsequent drop in overall quality makes the series any less worth watching, and I was not at all let down by the ending of New Blood. I, for one, believe it was a perfect way to conclude the character’s story and, quite frankly, after seeing what he is up to in Resurrection, I think it might have been best if he stayed dead.

I recall, just a few years ago, there was (according to TVLine) an idea to continue this story after Dexter’s death with a series that puts the focus purely on Harrison. Considering how refreshing and engaging his storyline in Dexter: Resurrection has been, in my opinion, I question why that ended up on the chopping block. I am hoping that, by the time this latest revival concludes, my mind will be changed.

Light spoilers below for the first two episodes of Dexter: Resurrection, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched on Showtime or via Paramount+ subscription.

The Dexter-verse is quite the odd duck of a TV franchise. The latest spinoff, Dexter: Resurrection, was directly set up in the premiere of the prequel Original Sin, following the titular character seemingly being killed off at the end of the first sequel series New Blood. Michael C. Hall’s latest venture as the code-following killer even brings back characters unseen since early seasons of the flagship thriller. Perhaps most importantly, from a lore perspective, it welcomes back “Harry Morgan.”

Indeed, watching Dexter: Resurrection’s first two episodes (and then some) was often at its most fun when James Remar’s Harry and Hall’s fatherhood-complicating character are sharing the screen together. As ashamed as I am to admit it, I didn’t even realize how much I missed this element throughout watching Harrison’s journey in and around Iron Lake.

James Remar's Harry Was Understandably Absent From Dexter: New Blood

For eight seasons, James Remar served as both the canonically accurate Harry Morgan (via flashbacks) and as the phantom-ification of Dexter's conscience, and aided in the vast majority of Dexter's actions throughout that run. In making the radical decisions to legally fake his death and to adopt another persona far away from the tanned population of Miami, he became Jim Lindsay. Unlike Miami Metro's former blood spatter mastermind, Jim Lindsay didn't have an innate need for Harry Morgan's advice.

As such, James Remar didn't have a presence in New Blood, so we didn't get to see if non-real Harry would have changed from his signature blue shirt into warmer clothes for New York's snowy weather. Then, when Dexter: Original Sin dove into the Morgan family's backstory, it was Christian Slater who introduced the Harry Code to Patrick Gibson's Dex. Sure, the prolific stage actor appeared on the after show Dexter: Final Cut to share his thoughts on things, but not as Harry.

Harry's Return In Dexter: Resurrection Reminded Me How Hard I Actually Missed His Excellent Pop-Ins

I guess after years of rewatching the O.G. run’s earlier seasons, I took for James Remar’s presence for granted, and didn’t acknowledge his absence in New Blood as forward-facing as I should have. Because holy shit, Dexter: Resurrection immediately profits off of bringing Harry back into the folds of Dexter’s mind. Watching the various (and often hilarious) ways he pops into these new scenes served as a a fantastic reminder of the glory days.

The second episode, “Camera Shy,” features an early scene where Dexter infiltrates the hotel room where Harrison went buck on that would-be rapist’s face with a toilet tank lid. When his non-professional investigation is interrupted by the actual professionals (and the cartoonish hotel manager), Dexter pulls the old “hide in the closet” move. Which is of course both a perfect and imperfect time for Harry to dispense his two cents, as seeing Remar suddenly appear next to Hall in such a cramped setting is going to make my Top 10 moments of the season.

I don’t need or want Dexter’s inner monologues with Harry to skew too humorous, mind you. I’ll freely admit to thinking some of those scenes can be criminally heavy-handed, and always appreciate when levity is mixed in, but I’m fine with those maintaining their emotional core as Dexter works out his issues. In fact, I think it’s even more brilliant when Harry appears out of nowhere in the strangest context, and it isn’t played for a joke, since it’s precisely that tonal juxtaposition that I love to see in this weird-ass show.

Dexter: Resurrection Also Earns My Love For Bringing David Magidoff's Teddy Back

While James Remar's Harry was present during Dexter and missing from New Blood, the opposite was true for David Magidoff's Teddy Reed, who was first introduced as a wet-behind-the-ears officer for Iron Lake's police department. Every show needs a character like Teddy, and while I fully wanted him to continue serving a role in this world, I didn't actually expect to see him back in the narrative for Resurrection given the change in setting.

Let me offer a sincere slow clap for showrunner Clyde Phillips & Co. for making sure to not only bring back the character that was sorely missing from New Blood, but also for bringing back my favorite new element from that one-off season. Now who do I have to talk to about pitching a new spinoff where Teddy solves crimes with the actual ghost of Harry Morgan? Surely someone will help me bring that idea to the 2025 TV schedule. Anybody?

While I wait for answers, be sure to watch new episodes of Dexter: Resurrection when they hit Paramount+ on Fridays, or when they air on Showtime on Sunday nights at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Guess who's back? Back again. Dexter's back. Tell a friend, especially if you happen to know that friend is secretly a serial murderer living in the same vicinity as Michael C. Hall's titular vigilantism-skewing killer. The first two episodes of the sequel series Dexter: Resurrection are now available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, laying out the foundation for where Dexter, Harry and others’ stories are going. Sadly no sign yet of recurring stars Eric Stonestreet or Krysten Ritter, though.

For transparency, I did get to witness both actors’ franchise debuts ahead of the applicable episode hitting the 2025 TV schedule, and they absolutely make this show’s already amazing cast even better. Along with co-star David Dastmalchian, both the Modern Family vet and Jessica Jones alum spoke with CinemaBlend about the new show, and I asked Stonestreet about the crossover between Dexter’s fanbase and that of the long-running ABC sitcom. As he put it:

I can imagine just how much fans might love to screan out Cam quotes from Modern Family, and could also picture how much real-world clown would celebrate his character for making Fizbo such an institution. (Also, not a spoiler, but there actually IS a major infamous clown reference in the actor's first episode.)

There's no such clowning around in Dexter: Resurrection, even if his extremely deadly charcter Al initially seems like he could have stepped out of a primetime comedy. Given the polar extremes between the two shows, Eric Stonestreet doesn't predict that he'll see many fans referencing both series in public, saying:

Not gonna lie, I think Eric Stonestreet's Modern Family co-star Ed O'Neill would be an abso-fucking-lutely perfect addition to the Dexter universe, since he's so perfectly capable of portraying authentic warmth, comedy, and menace with similarly impressive aplomb. But we'll just have to make due to other A+ additions like Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage and Neil Patrick Harris, I guess...

Krysten Ritter chimed in to the fanbase conversation, saying that even though she's more than accustomed to attention from hardcore fans for her Jessica Jones years and her return in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, she was still surprised by the outpouring the followed the casting news. As she told me:

I'm hoping Ritter's character Mia inspires some Halloween costumes for the upcoming holiday, as she dresses quite fancy at times. Not that it would be the most obvious look, I guess.

Stonestreet capped things off by sharing how much he appreciated Resurrection's bosses Clyde Phillips and Scott Reynolds for giving him a chance to turn over a disturbing new leaf in his character portfolio.

Dexter: Resurrection's first two episodes are currently available to stream on Paramount+, and will be airing on Showtime on Sunday, July 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for more on the Trinity Killer prequel that Philips updated fans on recently.

As bizarre as it is to consider for too long, Michael C. Hall’s appetite-heavy killer-of-killers will soon be back on the small screen in a completely new way, with the sequel series Dexter: Resurrection taking both him and Jack Alcott’s Harrison Morgan into the hustle and bustle of New York City. The new series will feature an appearance from John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer, among other former franchise stars, but what about that standalone idea that was previously discussed?

It turns out Dexter producer Clyde Phillips, who took on showrunning duties for Resurrection, hasn’t dropped the ball at all in regards to a potential spinoff digging into the backstory of Lithgow’s Arthur Mitchell, arguably Dexter’s most vicious villain. In fact, he told Collider that the only thing keeping it from happening right now is a lack of a greenlight from the powers that be. As he put it:

Talk about confidence in an idea. Clyde Phillips & Co. not only crafted a working outline for the Trinity Killer’s rise to infamy, but they went ahead and scripted the entire shebang. Without a thumbs up from network execs, that’s quite a big risk to take; or if not necessarily a risk, than potentially a lot of time being spent focusing on a lost cause. But hopefully that won’t be the case.

Arthur Miller gave audiences one of the most shocking TV moments of all time, not just for Dexter, but any show, in the final episode of Season 4. It absolutely changed the course of Dexter’s life, as well as that of his and Rita’s son. Surely he had a similarly devastating effect on other family’s lives prior to that, though, which is the kind of subject matter I’d assume the prequel-ized series would follow.

Within Dexter’s canon, Arthur’s prolific run as a serial killer lasted for three decades, all while he maintained a public life as a beloved and well-respected high school teacher and church deacon. Despite being highly abusive towards his wife and children, he’s also viewed as being a family man, though his views on families are a bit more twisted than most. He crossed the country committing his patterned crimes, evading capture and recognition, and it sounds like the creative team knows exactly where those crimes are happening.

Will we get to see another awkward Thanksgiving dinner quite like this one, though?

It’s unclear whether or not John Lithgow himself would ever be seen on the show, or if he would only appear through voiceovers and narration. It stands to reason he won’t have a ton of time in the near future to take on many TV roles, since he’s set to play Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series.

For now, all we need to do as fans is watch the hell out of Dexter: Resurrection so that Showtime and Paramount+ and all the execs involved make the right call and order up the Trinity Killer spinoff before it’s too late.

What makes TV crime dramas so alluring? It could be the simple thrill of the action or the satisfaction of seeing evil brought to justice, but, for me, it's the twists and revelations that shake up the story. Let’s revisit some of the most mindblowing moments from some of the best crime TV shows, and make sure to keep our SPOILER WARNING in mind.

Omar's Murder (The Wire)

Creator David Simon's The Wire delivered a shocking death that illustrates how even the most imposing and legendary individuals can expire in an unremarkable fashion. Fans of the acclaimed HBO drama anticipated that Baltimore thief Omar Little (Michael K. Williams) might go down in a showdown against Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector), but, instead, was fatally shot by Kenard (Thuliso Dingwall ), a kid who worked for the gangster.

Adrian Solves Trudy’s Murder (Monk)

In the series finale of Monk, Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub's obsessive-compulsive detective, Adrian Monk, finally gets to the bottom of the case that has haunted him for years: the murder of his wife, Trudy (Melora Hardin). The car bomb that killed her was planted by renowned Judge Ethan Rickover (Craig T. Nelson) in order to prevent her from coming clean about their affair from years earlier, which resulted in a pregnancy.

Walt Poisons Brock (Breaking Bad)

One of the best episodes of Breaking Bad sees Walter White (Bryan Cranston) resorting to abhorrent measures in order to take down his most fearsome adversary, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito). Jesse's (Aaron Paul) new girlfriend's son, Brock, winds up in the hospital, leading him to suspect the boy was poisoned by Walt, who insists that the poisoning was a manipulation tactic by Gus. Indeed, it was a tactic, but orchestrated by Walt, who is revealed to have poisoned Brock so he could pin it on Gus and get Jesse to help him kill the ruthless criminal.

Junior Shoots Tony (The Sopranos)

In the Season 6 premiere of The Sopranos, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) shows up at the home of his uncle, Junior (Dominic Chianese), who is suffering from dementia and immediately mistakes his nephew for a dead mobster who robbed him years earlier named Gennaro Malanga. Junior reacts by pulling out a pistol and shooting Tony, who passes out before he can call 911, but luckily, he is rushed to the hospital, where he is put in a coma.

Moriarty Takes His Own Life (Sherlock)

Early on in BBC's modernized reimagining of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's revered mystery stories, Sherlock, fans were introduced to Holmes' (Benedict Cumberbatch) arch nemesis, Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott). However, in only the second season finale, their quarrel of wits came to an end when the master criminal ended his life right in front of the detective.

Love Is A Killer Too (You)

In Netflix's hit crime TV show, You, serial stalker and killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) believes he has found someone who can help tame his dark side in Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti). However, he comes to discover that his seemingly sweet and innocent new lover has homicidal tendencies of her own.

Bones' Parents Have A Criminal History (Bones)

Emily Deschanel's eponymous forensic anthropologist from Bones, Temperance "Bones" Brennan, was abandoned by her parents when she was a teenager. Years later, she would find her mother's remains and, through subsequent investigation, discover that she and Brennan's father were career criminals.

Kristin Shepard Shot J.R. (Dallas)

One of the most iconic cliffhangers in TV history had America wondering who shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) in the Season 3 finale of Dallas. The mystery prompted an astonishing phenomenon that lasted the entire summer of 1980 before the primetime soap opera returned for its fourth season premiere, in which it was revealed that Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby) attempted to kill the notorious oil baron.

Vic Kills Terry (The Shield)

Creator Shawn Ryan's intense, FX original police drama The Shield wasted no time in preparing audiences for what sort of startling twists and turns it had in store. The very first episode ends with the corrupt Det. Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) murdering federal informant Terry Crowley (Reed Diamond) in cold blood.

The Trinity Killer Murders Rita (Dexter)

Most fans of Dexter would agree that the most wicked adversary Michael C. Hall's homicidal vigilante ever faced is Arthur Mitchell (John Lithgow), a.k.a. The Trinity Killer, especially for his final kill. Dexter manages to take out the sadistic murderer, but not soon enough to prevent him from killing his wife, Rita (Julie Benz), whom he finds in a blood-filled bathtub with his infant son, Harrison, sitting on the floor nearby.

Dana Lewis Is A Murderer (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden appeared on multiple episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Dana Lewis, an FBI agent who strikes up a strong bond with Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay). However, their friendship would come to an end when Lewis is arrested for murdering a woman her ex-boyfriend cheated on her with.

The Yellow King’s Identity (True Detective)

The first season of HBO's hit, anthological mystery drama, True Detective, follows Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) as they investigate the murders of a killer known only as The Yellow King. Ultimately, the criminal is revealed to be Errol Childress (Glenn Fleshler), who is the nephew of one of the case's prime suspects, Reverend Tuttle.

Opie Sacrifices Himself (Sons Of Anarchy)

One of the most heartbreaking moments from Sons of Anarchy comes when the imprisoned Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam), Chibs Telford (Tommy Flanagan), Tig Trager (Kim Coates), and Opie Winston (Ryan Hurst) are forced to decide which of them will face four other inmates in a brawl to the death so that Jax and Chibs can be released as part of an agreement with Damon Pope (Harold Perrineau). Opie volunteers himself and, after uttering his final words, "I got this," bids his brothers farewell before suffering a brutal end.

Cooper Is Replaced With An Evil Clone (Twin Peaks)

While all David Lynch movies are known for raising many perplexing questions, the original CBS run of the filmmaker's hit TV series, Twin Peaks, especially left audiences with a lot to ponder in the Season 2 finale, which reveals that Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle McLachlan) has not returned from The Black Lodge, but has been replaced with a demented doppelgänger. More than two decades later, fans were finally treated to a continuation of the story with Showtime's 2017 revival.

The Reaper Is George Foyet (Criminal Minds)

One of the most notorious criminals that the Criminal Minds cast ever took on was an elusive killer known as "The Reaper," whose only surviving victim was a man named George Foyet (C. Thomas Howell). However, the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit comes to discover that Foyet is The Reaper after all.

Beaver Assaulted Veronica (Veronica Mars)

The season 2 finale of Veronica Mars solves the long-gestating mystery behind the young, titular amateur investigator's (Kristen Bell) traumatic assault. The perpetrator is revealed to be Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas (Kyle Gallner), who is himself a victim of assault, which has led him to become a violent person, causing even more destruction than what Veronica had suffered.

Elliott Has Been In Prison The Entire Time (Mr. Robot)

Creator Sam Esmail's USA drama Mr. Robot is the kind of series that always keeps you guessing, thanks to central character Elliott Alderson (Rami Malek) being an unreliable narrator. In fact, the seventh episode of its second season reveals that the hacker's entire life up to that point has been a delusion, and he has really been serving a jail sentence during this time.

President Logan Is Corrupt (24)

Corruption in the White House is a horrifying concept, which Fox's 24 boldly touched on with one of its most shocking twists. At the end of the 16th episode of Season 5, President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) is seen having a phone conversation with Christopher Henderson (Peter Weller) that reveals he was behind the deaths of David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) and Michelle Dessler (Reiko Aylesworth).

Helen Is Killed (Ozark)

Few Netflix original TV shows have been as subversive as Ozark, which concluded its third season in an intense way. While it seemed that Marty Byrd (Jason Bateman) was doomed to suffer a grisly fate at the hands of Omar Navarro (Felix Solis), the cartel leader instead orders Nelson (Nelson Bonilla) to take out his lawyer, Helen Pierce (Janet McTeer), who attempted to frame Marty as an FBI informant.

Hank Realizes Heisenberg's True Identity (Breaking Bad)

The first half of Breaking Bad's fifth and final season came to a jaw-dropping end when DEA agent Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) arrived at a startling, long-awaited conclusion. He is sitting on Walt's toilet when he grabs a copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, signed to "W.W." by Gale Boetticher (David Costabile). This clues him in to the fact that the drug manufacturer he has been trying to find for more than a year has been his brother-in-law the whole time.

Ryan Killed Erin (Mare Of Easttown)

Near the end of the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown, it appears that Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny) was murdered by her older cousin and lover, John Ross (Joe Tippett), but the truth is much darker. John's 13-year-old son, Ryan (Cameron Mann), learned of the affair and set out to intimidate her into backing out of the romance, but it ended up resulting in a fatal end for the young woman.

Cody Hoyt Dies (Big Sky)

It was heavily implied in the marketing for creator David E. Kelley's ABC drama Big Sky that Ryan Phillippe would be the star of the mystery thriller. Thus, seeing his character, a private investigator named Cody Hoyt, fatally shot by crooked Highway Patrol officer Rick Legarski (John Carroll Lynch) at the end of the pilot episode certainly caught viewers off guard.

Amma Killed Ann And Natalie (Sharp Objects)

In HBO's limited series adaptation of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects, Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) comes to suspect that her abusive mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson), was responsible for the murders of Ann Nash (Kaegan Baron) and Natalie Keene (Jessica Treksa). However, in the final scene, it is revealed that Camille's younger half-sister, Amma (Eliza Scanlen), killed the young women and even used their teeth as cobblestones for her dollhouse's patio.

Hilde Is Imogene's Mother (Death And Other Details)

For years, the hero of Hulu's clever whodunnit Death and Other Details, Imogene Scott (Violett Beane), has been haunted by the murder of her mother, Kira, which the renowned Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) was never able to solve. However, while investigating a mysterious death on a private cruise, Imogene discovers that Kira actually faked her death all those years ago and has been hiding in plain sight on the ship, disguised as Interpol agent Hilde Eriksen (Linda Emond).

Boyd Crowder Escapes Prison (Justified: City Primeval)

Walton Goggins denied multiple times that he was involved with Justified: City Primeval, the 2023 miniseries revival of the hit FX crime thriller starring Timothy Olyphant as old-school U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. However, he turned out to be full of it, as a post-credit scene shows his character, Boyd Crowder, escaping prison.

Chloe Is A Godly Blessing (Lucifer)

The pairing of the Devil incarnate, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), with Det. Chloe Decker (Lauren German), as investigative partners, as well as lovers, would prove to be a match made in Heaven... literally. It is revealed in Season 2 of Lucifer that Chloe was created by God with the purpose of being the police consultant's perfect mate.

Sydney Wakes Up Two Years In The Future (Alias)

The second season of ABC's hit espionage drama Alias ends with a real gut-punch of a twist. Sidney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) wakes up in Hong Kong with no memory of how she wound up there and eventually discovers that she has been missing for the past two years. This leads her on a journey to piece together what happened to her during all that time.

Kima Greggs Is Shot (The Wire)

Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) was initially conceived as a smaller role on The Wire before creator David Simon was convinced by HBO executive Carolyn Strauss to keep her around longer. In other words, the shocking moment from the end of the first season's 10th episode, in which she is shot during a bust gone wrong, almost sealed the character's fate.

Peter Is From Another Dimension (Fringe)

In the second season of Fringe, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) survives a deadly shockwave that leads him to realize that he was born in an alternate universe and was forcibly brought into this dimension by his father, Walter (John Noble). The twist completely recontextualizes the character's place in the show and brings to light the impact that his cross-dimensional transfer has on the world.

Paige Stays In America (The Americans)

In the series finale of The Americans, Paige Jennings (Holly Taylor) is seen exiting a train headed for the Soviet Union. This means that she has chosen to stay in the States, her true home, and that her undercover Soviet spy parents, Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), will never see her again.

Georgia Trotman Is Thrown Out A Five-Story Window (Line Of Duty)

It seemed as if Detective Constable Georgia Trotman (Jessica Raine) was destined to be an important part of the second season (or, series, as they say in the U.K.) of the BBC's Line of Duty. However, the character's first episode also proved to be her last, in which corrupt DC Jeremy Cole (Henry Pettigrew) sends her plummeting to her death outside a hospital window.

Nina Myers Killed Teri Bauer (24)

By the end of the first season of 24, one of Jack Bauer's (Kiefer Sutherland) most trusted allies is not only revealed to be a mole, but the one who murdered his wife, Teri (Leslie Hope).

Many actors have said that a villain is one of the most fun types of roles that you can play. Unfortunately, not every actor knows how to be menacing, or at least just not in a way that matches the tone or intent of their given story. The following are some of the most notable examples of movies and TV shows that might have benefited from searching a bit harder for the right person to play the enemy.

Lex Luthor (Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice)

There are few superhero movies as polarizing as 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but one thing most audiences agree about director Zack Snyder's crossover epic is that it misses the mark with Lex Luthor. It seems Academy Award nominee Jessie Eisenberg, who blamed himself for his role's poor reception, is trying more to be a clone of Heath Ledger's Joker without the makeup than portray a fitting take on Superman's archnemesis with his manic, almost childish, performance.

Walter Padick (The Dark Tower)

Some fans of Stephen King's acclaimed book series, The Dark Tower, have said that Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey might have been a better fit to portray the heroic gunslinger, Roland, allowing Idris Elba to shine stronger as the demonic sorcerer Walter Padick instead. Of course, the casting is one of the least pivotal reasons why this 2017 adaptation from director Nikolaj Arcel received such horrid backlash.

Eddie Brock (Spider-Man 3)

On an episode of MovieFone’s Unscripted, Topher Grace admitted that he felt he was an unlikely choice to star in 2007's Spider-Man 3 as Eddie Brock, also known as Venom, given the character looks more like... well, Tom Hardy. What convinced him to take the part was director Sam Raimi's idea of depicting the photojournalist, who becomes attached to a symbiotic alien, as, essentially, Peter Parker's evil twin. With all due respect to the man behind the Evil Dead movies and to the former That '70s Show cast member, that might not have been the best call.

Gellert Grindelwald (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald)

While his presence alone is distracting enough, fans and critics alike thought Johnny Depp was too cartoonishly over-the-top as the villainous title role of the Harry Potter movie prequel, 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The performance especially pales in comparison to Mads Mikkelsen, who succeeded the Oscar nominee in the part for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore to greater acclaim.

Jafar (Aladdin)

I am not saying that no one else could play Jafar better than how Jonathan Freeman voiced the ruthless tyrant in the original 1992 classic Disney animated movie, Aladdin. However, I do believe that Marwan Kenzari is simply too reserved, too earnest, and not having enough fun with this iconic, dastardly role in Guy Ritchie's live-action remake from 2019.

Mr. Freeze (Batman & Robin)

I must admit, I actually think Arnold Schwarzenegger's shamelessly over-the-top performance and incessantly punny dialogue as the "coldhearted" Gotham criminal, Mr. Freeze, almost makes the reviled Batman & Robin worth watching. However, I would also agree that the 1997 DC flick offers a poor representation of the tragic character, especially after Batman: The Animated Series handled him to such wonderful acclaim a few years before.

Javert (Les Misérables)

With 2012's Les Misérables, director Tom Hooper did not just adapt Victor Hugo's novel, but the acclaimed, operatic stage musical it inspired. Perhaps if it had been a more traditionally dramatized version of the story instead, the Academy Award-winning non-singer Russell Crowe's casting as Inspector Javert would have been perfect.

Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)

This may be a hot take, but I believe 2008's otherwise terrific premiere installment of the Marvel Movies in order suffers from a third act that does not quite live up to its promises, and I think Obadiah Stane is to blame. As a longtime fan of Jeff Bridges, I hate to admit that the Academy Award winner's performance in Iron Man is not menacing or memorable enough to make an enduring impression or match Robert Downey Jr.'s fun, nuanced, and tone-setting performance as Tony Stark

Balem Abrasax (Jupiter Ascending)

There are many reasons why Lana and Lily Wachowski's 2015 sci-fi epic Jupiter Ascending ended up being a critical and commercial failure, and many critics cite Eddie Redmayne as a key reason. Even the Oscar winner himself agreed, while filming a video for GQ, that his over-the-top performance as Balem Abrasax, consisting of a gravelly whisper often interrupted by irritating screams, was "pretty bad."

Norman Bates (Psycho)

Gus Van Sant's 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's classic film, Psycho, sees Vince Vaughn succeed Anthony Perkins in the role of disturbed motel manager Norman Bates. The actor was already an unlikely choice to play a murderer then, fresh off his hilarious performance in Swingers, and seems even more unlikely today after his many other iconic comedic roles.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

For many, Jared Leto's Joker in Suicide Squad is the go-to example of a badly cast villain, but having seen his more subdued take on the Clown Prince of Crime in Zack Snyder's Justice League, I disagree that the Oscar winner was the wrong choice. I will agree that his performance in David Ayer's 2016 DC supervillain crossover is a misfire, but I also feel that this particular iteration of Batman's archnemesis fails mostly because of how the disparagingly rushed screenplay depicts him.

Dracula (Blade: Trinity)

I will say that I give credit to writer and director David S. Goyer for attempting to try something different when incorporating the most powerful vampire of all into the third installment of the Wesley Snipes-led Marvel movie franchise. However, Dominic Purcell just does not fit the bill as Dracula, aesthetically or otherwise, contributing substantially to the unremarkable legacy of Blade: Trinity.

Thomas Gabriel (Live Free Or Die Hard)

I remember hearing movie critic Richard Roeper, on an episode of Ebert & Roeper, say he would have rather seen Maggie Q, who plays a henchperson, take over the main villain role in Bruce Willis' fourth adventure as John McClane instead of Timothy Olyphant. As much as I enjoy the actor in almost everything he does, I cannot help but agree that he might have been a better henchperson than the mustache-twirling lead cyberterrorist in 2007's Live Free or Die Hard.

Ares (Wonder Woman)

I realize that casting David Thewlis as the God of War, disguised as the speaker for the peace Sir Patrick Morgan, was meant to be a misdirect, and I respect the intent. However, most people agree that the final act reveal was one of the weakest parts of 2017's Wonder Woman, which is otherwise considered one of the better installments of the DC Extended Universe.

Griffin (The Watcher)

In defense of Keanu Reeves, the actor told The Guardian he was tricked into starring in 2000's The Watcher, which he never found interesting, after a "friend" forged his signature onto a casting agreement and, since he had no evidence to prove it, he decided it would be easier to go through with it than getting sued. This explains his phoned-in performance in the panned serial killer drama as a menacing murderer, whom star James Spader probably would have handled much better instead of playing the hero.

Lex Luthor (Supergirl)

Forgive me, but I just find it so difficult to see Jon Cryer outside of his longtime role as Alan Harper on Two and a Half Men. Even with the shaved scalp and beard drastically altering his appearance, the Pretty in Pink actor is simply not very believable as the ruthless Lex Luthor on Supergirl and other installments of the Arrowverse.

Two-Face (Batman Forever)

Harvey "Two-Face" Dent may be an unstable psychopath, but he is not the cackling maniac that Tommy Lee Jones portrayed him as, as if he were trying to one-up Jim Carrey's scenery-chewing energy as The Riddler. It really makes you wonder why the otherwise brilliant Academy Award winner told the comedian that he "could not sanction [his] buffoonery" when he ultimately gives the more buffoonish performance in 1995's Batman Forever anyway.

Carlton "Riot" Drake (Venom)

Riz Ahmed is typically sensational in just about everything he does, from his Emmy-winning performance in The Night Of to his Oscar-nominated turn in Sound of Metal. However, he gives one of his most boring performances in 2018's Venom as Carlton Drake, a scientist who obsessively and insidiously leads a study of extraterrestrial symbiotes.

The White Death (Bullet Train)

Michael Shannon has played some fantastic antagonistic roles in the past, such as in Premium Rush and 99 Homes, and even in the otherwise polarizing Man of Steel. However, his attempt at playing an Eastern European criminal known as "The White Death" is almost too silly, even for a consciously silly action flick like Bullet Train.

Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire)

Perhaps it is a controversial choice to choose one of the great Marlon Brando's most praised performances as a miscast villain. However, the Tennessee Williams-penned play that inspired 1951's A Streetcar Named Desire is really about Blanche (Vivien Leigh), and you could argue that casting Stella's (Kim Hunter) abusive husband with one of Hollywood's most handsome and charismatic actors shifts the focus in the wrong direction.

Poppy Adams (Kingsman: The Golden Circle)

I would not say that Julianne Moore is necessarily bad in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the 2017 sequel to Matthew Vaughn's hit comedic spy thriller. However, there is something about seeing her gleefully chewing the scenery as the unusually charming, but psychopathic, cartel leader, Poppy Adams, that still feels a bit off.

Rodney Alcala (Woman Of The Hour)

Star and director Anna Kendrick's Woman of the Hour is based on the true story of Rodney Alcala, a convicted serial killer whose charming personality and classic good looks earned him a win on The Dating Game. However, Daniel Zovatto not only looks barely anything like the guy, but also does not quite pull off the same charm when trying to court Cheryl Bradshaw (Kendrick) in the game show scenes. He is quite terrifying in depictions of his murder spree, though.

Blackheart (Ghost Rider)

Wes Bentley plays a strong, antagonistic force in the Yellowstone cast as Jamie Dutton, so I suppose the secret is casting him in more grounded, vindictive roles. However, he is not quite the right match for powerful, supernatural entities like Blackheart, whom he plays in 2007's Nicolas Cage-led Marvel movie, Ghost Rider.

Travis Marshall (Dexter)

In theory, Colin Hanks is a perfect choice for the big bad of Dexter's sixth season, Travis Marshall – a seemingly mild-mannered man driven to murder by religious fanatic, Prof. James Gellar (played by Edward James Olmos). However, the moment he realizes Gellar is a figment of his imagination and embraces his dark side is the moment the otherwise affable actor's performance as a sinister killer becomes a tragic misfire.

Miranda Tate/Talia Al Ghul (The Dark Knight Rises)

Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard is not a bad choice to play Miranda Tate, who is really Ra's Al Ghul's vengeful daughter, Talia, in disguise, in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. Unfortunately, the French actor's performance in the polarizing finale to Christopher Nolan's trilogy of Batman films will forever be overshadowed by her hilariously inept death scene.

Adrian (Oldboy)

The world never needed Spike Lee's remake of Oldboy in the first place. However, the usually impressive Sharlto Copley makes an especially convincing case for its needlessness with a performance that paints his villainous role as more of a whiney brat than a vengeful sadist.

Gabriel (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning)

In a series that has only ever had one enduringly memorable villain (Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian in Mission: Impossible III), the rest seem as scary as they come when compared to the egregious, mustache-twirling nature of Esai Morales' role, who gives an even more ridiculous performance in 2025's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning.

Dr. Norman Spencer (What Lies Beneath)

Following a career defined by heroic characters like Star Wars' Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and President James Marshall in Air Force One, it is just really hard to picture Harrison Ford as a murderer. You could argue that the actor's reputation makes the chilling reveal in What Lies Beneath even more shocking, but others have argued it just comes off as unbelievable.

Raymond Blossom (Playing God)

Based on his Academy Award-winning role in Ordinary People, Timothy Hutton is an undeniably fantastic actor, but his role as Raymond Blossom in 1997's Playing God is not his best work. He plays the ruthless counterfeiter a little too cheesily to match the tone of this crime thriller starring David Duchovny as a disgraced surgeon hired on Blossom's payroll.

Col. Tom Parker (Elvis)

There may be a heightened sense of reality in 2022's Elvis, Baz Luhrmann's biopic of the legendary musician. However, Tom Hanks' prosthetic makeup and faux European accent as Elvis Presley's manager, Col. Tom Parker, is too inauthentic and silly to be taken seriously.

Abigail Williams (The Crucible)

With all due respect to the otherwise talented Winona Ryder, her casting in 1996's The Crucible as a young woman who corrupts her entire village with lies about witchcraft is just not very believable, from her subpar accent to her lack of chemistry with Daniel Day-Lewis as a married man she shares an affair with.

Dr. Newton "Newt" Geiszler (Pacific Rim Uprising)

Charlie Day starred in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim in the obligatory role you see in all kinds of sci-fi/disaster flicks: the plucky comic relief who is never taken seriously despite having all the right answers. For 2018's Pacific Rim Uprising, Dr. Newton "Newt" Geiszler is brought back as the villain, which is already a tough sell before his motivation (being corrupted by an alien he has had a romantic relationship with) descends the sequel into unforgivable levels of cheesiness.

Here I was, thinking the casting directors behind the upcoming spinoff Dexter: Resurrection had already gone the furthest they possibly could to get me ecstatic about the upcoming spinoff. And here they go again, reminding me how silly such assumptions can be. Because somehow, the sequel series’ star-studded lineup has become even more magnificent with the addition of two all-time great franchise vets.

No, I’m definitely not talking about Colin Hanks’ uncomfortable AF cult member Travis — though I suppose that casting announcement is all but imminent — but rather the award-winning duo of Jimmy Smits and recent Oscar telecast highlight John Lithgow. Let’s take a closer look!

Jimmy Smits Will Return As Miguel Prado

One of the best character actors to ever grace the halls of Miami Metro, Jimmy Smits gave Michael C. Hall's forensics expert a run for his blood-speckled money back in Season 3, where he was introduced as ADA Miguel Prado, the brother of a man Dexter killed without fully knowing of his guilt. As fans will no doubt remember, Miguel quickly gains Dexter's trust and becomes a temporary partner in vigilantism.

Of course, Miguel's greed and impulsive actions quickly made their partnership untenable for someone who likes his secrecy, and his deal with The Skinner ultimately seals his fate. Dexter lethally thwarts his attempts to kill LaGuerta, and Miguel is later (falsely) identified as a victim of the Skinner.

No details from Deadline about how Miguel Prado will resurface, but one has to think that it'll be via dreamstate or some hallucination that Dexter has, possibly while still in the hospital.

It'll be the first time that Smits officially returns to the Dexter-verse, though eagle-eyed fans have seen Miguel Prado in more recent times. The character popped up for a quick scene in Dexter: Original Sin to meet with LaGuerta, and fans like myself are hoping that future seasons explore what he was like as an up-and-coming attorney.

John Lithgow's Trinity Killer Is Back Again, Sort Of

Having recently been tapped to take on the iconic role of Dumbledore for the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, on top of a winning horror turn in The Rule of Jenny Pen, John Lithgow is officially making his latest return to the Dexter-verse as arguably the franchise's most captivating antagonist, the Trinity Killer. (Hey, I love the Ice Truck Killer as much as anyone, but Lithgow's chops are too pronounced.)

While it seemingly wasn't fully confirmed until now, Lithgow did address his killer reprisal previously, which coincided with news of David Dastmalchian joining the Dexter: Resurrection cast. It doesn't sound like we'll be seeing a ton of Arthur Miller when he pops up again somewhere within Dexter's harrowing memory banks. Here's how the actor put it when speaking with Variety at the time:

I'm not sure I can make much sense of that statement. So Trinity Killer is a phantom who goads the hospital-bound Dexter as he slowly returns to form after seemingly being killed in Dexter: New Blood's finale? I suppose that tracks in a "life flashes before your eyes" kind of way. And I guess it makes sense that Dexter would see Arthur again in the newest series after he'd previously made a spinoff return to haunt young Harrison's memories of his mother Rita's death.

Still no word on Jennifer Carpenter's return, which I have an interesting idea for, but there are likely still a couple more months of filming to go!

We'll all find out what these returning characters are up to when Dexter: Resurrection arrives on Showtime (and Paramount+) later in the 2025 TV schedule.

Plenty of upcoming 2025 TV shows can show off having great casts, but which franchise can boast two star-studded lineups across two different timelines centering on the same titular character? That tricky distinction is best exemplified by Showtime’s Dexter series, which concluded its prequel series Original Sin in a theory-sparking way in February, just a few months before the impending spinoff Dexter: Resurrection premieres. The latter started filming in January, and there’s been no end to the exciting cast reveals.

While major details are still somewhat scarce, we know that Resurrection will center on the killer-killing vigilante at some point after he was killed off in New Blood and then brought back to life in Original Sin’s premiere. And we also know that this may well be the most impressive ensemble cast yet to join Michael C. Hall in the world, although it’s technically impossible to beat Original Sin’s mirror images of the O.G. cast.

Check out all the big names who have signed on for the new spinoff since it was first announced, starting with new recruits and ending with the few known returning stars. (Note that while Jennifer Carpenter addressed her potential to return, she currently isn’t within this lineup.)

Eric Stonestreet - "Al"

• The Modern Family and Santa Clauses vet is reportedly set to appear in four episodes.
• He'll portray a midwesterner named Al who is believed to be one of the serial killers that the namesake vigilante will be tracking down.

Krysten Ritter - "Mia"

• Jessica Jones vet Krysten Ritter joins Dexter: Resurrection in a guest-star capacity as a character named Mia Lapierre, who is rumored to be a well-respected sommelier that may
• It's unknown how many episodes "Mia" will be featured in, but she's also believed to be a potential serial killer who catches Dexter's eye.

Neil Patrick Harris - "Lowell"

• Following the cancellation of his comedy Uncoupled, whose second season was initially picked up by Showtime before the 2023 strikes messed those plans up, Neil Patrick Harris is indeed teaming up with Showtime for this guest-starring spot on Dexter: Resurrection.
• Harris will be portraying a character named Lowell, and little else is known about the role, though set photos revealed the actor will be rocking a rather different hairstyle in the horror-thriller.

Steve Schirripa - "Vinny"

• Sopranos and Blue Bloods vet Steve Schirripa doesn't factor into a ton of TV horror, but he'll be making his mark on the Dexter-verse in a recurring capacity.
• Schirripa will portray a character named Vinny, who will apparently be a greed-mongering landlord of a less than reputable living establishment.

David Dastmalchian - "Gareth"

• Late Night with the Devil and Oppenheimer vet David Dastmalchian is no stranger to horror and genre projects, so it's no surprise he's joining this franchise in a guest-starring capacity.
• Unfortunately, beyond the "guest star" distinction and the lone character moniker "Gareth," nothing else is known about what to expect from Dastmalchian's character.

• Fans have waited ages to see Game of Thrones alum Peter Dinklage's debut as Toxic Avenger, but we'll have to settle for his next TV role as a series regular in Dexter: Resurrection.
• Dinklage will star as a billionaire venture capitalist named Leon Prater, whose publicly philanthropic nature is buttressed by darker interests and urgest.

Uma Thurman - "Charley"

• The first additional cast member to be announced for Dexter: Resurrection alongside Michael C. Hall, esteemed Hollywood icon Uma Thurman landed what is arguably her biggest TV role yet as a series regular within this universe.
• Thurman will portray a polished and dependable character named Charley, who serves as the Head of Security for Peter Dinklage's billionaire Leon Prater, after having previously taken on a variety of upper-level security positions.

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine - "Blessing Kamara"

• The Lincoln Lawyer vet Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is set as the series regular named Blessing Kamara, a driver for a rideshare company. He's an extremely positive guy who is dedicated to both his family and his local community, which will either be a good thing or a bad thing for Dexter.

Kadia Saraf - “Claudette Wallace"

• Kadia Saraf, who has portrayed Attorney Anya Avital in both Law & Order: SVU and Organized Crime, will play NYPD Detective Claudette Wallace, who has a reputation for being rigidly methodical and sharp as a tack.

Dominic Fumusa - "Melvin Oliva"

• Best known for Nurse Jackie and Godfather of Harlem, Dominic Fumusa is joining Dexter: Resurrection as fellow NYPD Detective Melvin Olivia, who seems to be the only investigator who totally understands his partner Claudette.

Emilia Suárez - "Elsa Rivera"

• Musician and Up Here co-star Emilia Suárez is set to play the confident and outgoing Elsa Rivera, a workplace buddy of Harrison Morgan's at the Empire Hotel.

Returning Stars From The Dexter-Verse

• Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
• James Remar as Dexter's late father Harry Morgan
• Jack Alcott as Dexter's son Harrison Morgan
• David Zayas as Angel Batista
• David Madigoff as Iron Lake PD's Teddy Reed (from Dexter: New Blood)

Dexter: Resurrection is currently in production, which kicked off in January, and the eventual goal is for the spinoff to debut on Showtime and Paramount+ with Showtime in Summer 2025.

Dexter: Original Sin concluded its bonkers first season, and while we know the sequel series will resume with Resurrection, we're still in the dark on whether the prequel show will itself return for another season at Showtime. The horror-drama's viewership stats sound promising for a second season, and if the renewal does get confirmed, I think we HAVE to see a young James Doakes.

Classic Dexter fans no doubt remember Doakes like a muthafucka from the early seasons, even though it was long enough ago that forgetting wouldn't be so unforgivable. For those who may be struggling to remember Erik King's character outside of his colorful language, here's why he's on my shortlist for the character Dexter: Original Sin needs to bring back if Season 2 is happening.

What Bringing In James Doakes Would Add To Dexter: Original Sin

Dexter Morgan already had some close calls in Dexter: Original Sin, thanks to his relative inexperience in being a serial killer. While Dexter's rookie behavior is a great touch, it further pushes the narrative of just how incompetent Miami Metro is. While I do suspect there is someone at the department who knows Dexter's dark secret, we need someone who is a little more suspicious, or at least putting some pressure on him as he's inexplicably missing for huge chunks of time.

James Doakes is that person who, by Dexter's own admission in the original series, was always creeped out by the main character. He doesn't find Dexter's ability to describe crime scenes as endearing, and he gets weird vibes from him regularly. In short, Dexter's masking of his darker desires doesn't work on Doakes, which makes him the perfect person to add to the mix in Season 2.

Plus, let's remember that Erik King's authority figure was killed off in Season 2 of the original series. He was one of my favorite characters at the time, but was only around for such a short time in the grand scheme of things. As such, bringing Doakes into Original Sin would give us bonus time with the infectious character, even if we know he'll meet an unfortunate end down the road.

What Dexter: Original Sin Can Do To Improve Doakes' Story

One element of James Doakes' story that wasn't an attention magnet during the OG era was his close relationship with Maria LaGuerta. She's currently partnered up with Harry, but we do know she'll eventually partner up with Doakes, which is where their relationship supposedly blossomed. I wanna see that blossoming.

Dexter: Original Sin could show us where Doakes' suspicions about Dexter Morgan began. We already know that LaGuerta has her eyes on Harry after watching him deliberately bury her leads on Brian Moser, thus preventing her from uncovering the link between the NHI killer and Dexter. Will LaGuerta eventually tell Doakes about that, giving him a reason to question the forensic expert's motivations?

It certainly would better explain why Doakes never liked Dexter, as well as why he eventually figured out his coworker was a serial killer. In the original series, I never was satisfied with the simple explanation that Doakes had the gut instinct that something was off about Morgan, especially since so many other people at Miami Metro should have had those same instincts. There has to be more to the story, and I'd love to see Dexter: Original Sin further legitimize the original storyline for me.

Bringing In James Doakes Would Also Make For A Fun Interaction Between Him And Another Character He Never Met

Speaking of, Maria LaGuerta slid in a reference to another Dexter character in Original Sin that viewers might've missed. Miguel Prado was name-checked by the young detective, who met with him after she investigated a scene with Harry. It had me wondering if there was ever a time when Prado and James Doakes crossed paths?

While he was relatively low on CinemaBlend's Dexter villain ranking, Prado's shadiness as a prosecutor would had to have set off alarm bells for Doakes if they happened to meet, right? Sure, the schmoozer wasn't killing people yet during that earlier stage in his life, but it would be a great easter egg to watch Doakes (or others) becoming just as uneasy about the future Season 3 villain as Dexter makes certain characters feel.

It also doesn't seem like a scene that Dexter: Original Sin would need to force to happen. LaGuerta knows Prado well, and Doakes eventually will become her partner. It seems natural that he may tag along with her at some point when she's asking his advice about a case or some other errand that she's running.

How Would Harry And Doakes Interact?

I'm also intrigued by the idea of James Doakes meeting Harry Morgan, Dexter's adoptive father and the mastermind behind "The Code." While Dexter is the serial killer, I think Original Sin has shown that Harry has his own share of shadiness by protecting Brian Moser and training his son to be a killer rather than getting him into therapy at an early age.

And yet, it seems as though Harry had a glowing reputation around Miami Metro, to the point that both of his children were readily accepted into the department once they completed their training. I can't help but wonder how Doakes felt about Harry Morgan, and if he had the same vibes around him that he did his son. There's a part of me that wants the answer to be yes, though I think Harry is much better at hiding his true self than his son.

This is why bringing in James Doakes for Dexter: Original Sin Season 2 would be a great idea, though we still need the series to get a renewal first. Now would be a great time to rewatch the season with a Paramount+ subscription to help push that renewal across the goal line faster, but who can ever see for sure?

The best part about streaming Dexter: Original Sin is that all the other Dexter shows are available on the platform, as well. It feels like the series is on the cusp of a major revival, so it may not be a bad time to revisit the original series if it's been a long time since readers have done so.

Spoilers for anyone who isn’t caught up with the current goings-on in the Dexter franchise, which is available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

Showtime’s Dexter-verse has given a signature tweak to a classic idiom by proving you can teach an old dog old tricks in new and unexpected ways. The Original Sin prequel nearly broke my brain by re-introducing arguably Dexter’s best villain, Brian Moser, to 2025 television, which followed New Blood’s finale seemingly killing Michael C. Hall’s character off after bringing Jennifer Carpenter back as the angel counterpart to Dexter’s Dark Passenger. It’s been a lot.

More is on the way in the form of Dexter: Resurrection, the next chapter of the saga that was surprisingly set up by Original Sin’s premiere. While we know of a trio of returning stars — David Zayas, James Remar, and Jack Alcott — fans are no doubt curious to learn whether or not Carpenter has plans on reuniting with her former TV fam after her current journey with the Dutton clan on Taylor Sheridan’s 1923. When asked by People about reprising Debra Morgan, the actress said:

Such a response may sound disappointing upon first glance, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a downer. I have a fun idea for how Jennifer Carpenter could return in a way that would presumably be more meaningful than seeing more of Dexter's subconscious personified as Debra.

Jennifer Carpenter Should Play Dexter: Resurrection's Antagonist

I think we can all agree that creator Clyde Phillips is totally down with giving viewers as many big jolts as possible, especially when it comes to seeing familiar faces returning. (Or in the case of Original Sin, non-familiar faces that look exactly like the previous cast.) And with Brian Moser's return throwing all expectations into the wind, why not bring Jennifer Carpenter back as a fully breathing character that has nothing to do with Debra Morgan?

Rather than continuing to explore Dexter's widlly complicated relationship with his dead sibling, I would love to see Carpenter and Michael C. Hall develop a dynamic that's different from anything we've seen before, even during those wild complications. We've seen Dexter at odds with both loved ones and strangers before, but what about a stranger that looks exactly like a loved one?

Really, though, I wouldn't even want the show to address the idea that Debra would resemble any new characters that Carpenter might play. I"m fine with all the other meta nods, but for this hypothetical situation, I just want to see Carpenter playing Debra's complete opposite, and to see how that might thwart the killer-killing vigilante.

Unfortunately, we'll likely be waiting a while to hear any updates about Dexter: Resurrection until filming is nearing completion, so fans will have to check out Jennifer Carpenter on 1923, which drops new episodes every Sunday on Paramount+.

There is nothing that makes one’s heart melt quite like a person declaring their desire to spend the rest of their lives with another. This does not just go for real life but also for fictional marriage proposal on both the big and screen alike. The following are some of the most unique and romantic examples we have ever seen.

Maggie Proposes To Ike (Runaway Bride)

In one of Julia Roberts’ best romantic comedy movies, 1999’s Runaway Bride, her character, Maggie Carpenter, spends the entirety of the movie struggling with her ability to commit and her tendency to leave her grooms at the altar. That is until she meets columnist Ike Graham (Richard Gere) and shows how far she has come from the moment she fell for him by popping the question herself.

Patrick Proposes To David (Schitt's Creek)

Schitt's Creek is one of the most heartwarming and simply best sitcoms of all time and a key reason is the romance between David Rose (co-creator Dan Levy) and Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid). Their relationship hits its adorable peak when Patrick takes David to his favorite spot to make the "easiest decision" of his life and presents him with a set of four engagement rings to match the four rings he usually wears on his right hand.

Jamie Proposes To Aurelia (Love Actually)

Easily one of the more uplifting storylines from 2003's Love Actually is that of cuckolded writer Jamie (Colin Firth), who falls for Portuguese housekeeper Aurélia (Lúcia Moniz) while spending the holiday at his French cottage. After they part ways, he learns her language (and almost gets all the words right) to ask her to marry him in front of a full crowd at the restaurant where she works.

Dexter Proposes To Rita (Dexter)

After his girlfriend, Rita Bennett (Julie Benz) becomes unexpectedly pregnant with their son, Dexter Morgan (Michael. C Hall) finds the courage (and the right words, which he borrows from another murderer) to make the ultimate commitment to her despite his commitment to slaughtering Miami's worst. Unfortunately, their marriage came to a tragic end in the fourth and, arguably, the best season of Dexter when, in one of TV's most shocking cliffhangers, he discovers his wife has been killed by The Trinity Killer.

Robbie Proposes To Julia (The Wedding Singer)

In just about Adam Sandler's best romantic-comedy movie, 1998's The Wedding Singer, Robbie (Sandler) ultimately stops Julia's (Drew Barrymore) impending nuptials to the wrong guy with an impromptu serenade on a plane with help from first-class passengers, including Billy Idol as himself, and the airline staff. He never says "Will you marry me?" but the next scene is their wedding so we can assume they were essentially engaged at this moment.

Schmidt Proposes To Cece (New Girl)

In the pilot episode of New Girl, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) was forced to donate a $5 bill to the Douchebag Jar after proclaiming he would marry Cece (Hannah Simone) the day he met her. He would then present that exact bill to her when he finally popped the question after several frustrating seasons of back-and-forth dating and flirting.

Ian Proposes To Toula (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

The big question that leads to the eponymous main event from My Big Fat Greek Wedding is, actually, one of cinema's more simple marriage proposals, occurring spontaneously while Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos) and Ian Miller (John Corbett) are lying together in bed. Still, it is a memorable scene from the 2002 hit and a memorable moment for the romantic-comedy movie genre in general for how well it depicts the couple's mutual passion.

Jim Proposes To Pam (The Office)

The two-part Season 5 premiere of The Office marks a pivotal moment in Jim and Pam's relationship timeline, as Pam (Jenna Fischer) has been taking art classes in New York. When Jim (John Krasinski) requests to meet her halfway (but actually "not halfway," based on Pam's math) at a gas station in the pouring rain, he surprises her with the question she (and viewers) have been waiting for.

Andrew Proposes To Margaret (The Proposal)

In 2009's The Proposal, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) initially blackmails her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), into marrying her so the Canadian-born editor can avoid deportation. However, after she catches genuine feelings and cancels their fake wedding, he realizes his true feelings and makes a genuine proposal to her.

Chandler Proposes To Monica (Friends)

One of the most famous tearjerker moments from Chandler and Monica's relationship timeline on Friends almost begins in disaster after a surprise run-in with Monica's (Courtney Cox) ex, Richard (Tom Selleck), on the night Chandler (Matthew Perry) planned to propose. This convinces him to feign disinterest in marriage to savor the surprise, but that only seems to make things worse until he turns out to be the surprised one, showing up at their apartment to find Monica surrounded by candles. When she tearfully can not finish her own attempt to pop the question, Chandler finishes the act.

Harry Proposes To Sally (When Harry Met Sally)

Harry's (Billy Crystal) climactic confession to Sally (Meg Ryan) at the end of 1989's When Harry Met Sally during a New Year's Eve party is not exactly a marriage proposal per se. However, it is an admission that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her (and wants the rest of his life to start "as soon as possible") and in one of the most beautifully constructed speeches in cinematic history.

Jake Proposes To Amy (Brooklyn Nine-NIne)

Arguably the best episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine sees the precinct participating in their fifth annual Halloween heist, which Det. Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) believes she has won when she finds the championship belt in the evidence locker. However, her boyfriend, Det. Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), advises her to take a better look at the inscription on the belt, which reads, "Amy Santiago, will you marry me?"

Landon Proposes To Jamie (A Walk to Remember)

A memorable Nicolas Sparks adaptation that predates The Notebook is 2002's A Walk to Remember, in which troubled teen Landon Carter (Shane West) unexpectedly falls for shy Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore). After discovering that she has leukemia, he decides to propose to her under the night sky as a comet passes by so that he can marry her before she succumbs to her illness.

Niles Proposes To Daphne (Frasier)

On Frasier, Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) attempts to plan the perfect marriage proposal to Daphne (Jane Leeves), complete with a string quartet, kid actors dressed as angels, and a dinner prepared by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. However, when Daphne arrives at the apartment with the flu, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) must help his brother covertly escort the performers out. It is then that Niles decides it is still the perfect time to pop the question.

Johnny Proposes To June (Walk The Line)

Director James Mangold's 2005 music biopic, Walk the Line, sees Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) make two attempts to propose to June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). After his first go at it on a tour bus has unfavorable results, The Man in Black tries again by interrupting a public musical duet and tells her that he cannot finish the song until he gets an answer. She tells him, yes.

Ben Proposes To Leslie (Parks And Recreation)

In the fifth season of Parks and Recreation, the future seems uncertain for Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) because the latter might be forced to move to Florida for work. Instead, at the end of the episode, "Halloween Surprise," he unexpectedly shows up to propose to the politician, who interrupts him a couple of times to better remember how perfect everything in her life is at that moment.

Wade Proposes To Vanessa (Deadpool)

The way Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) pops the question to Vanessa Carlysle (Morena Baccarin) is perfectly on brand for 2016's hilarious superhero movie, Deadpool. The future Merc with a Mouth's engagement ring of choice (which is revealed to have been hidden between his butt cheeks) is a Ring Pop.

Blaine Proposes To Kurt (Glee)

For the moment when Blaine (Darren Criss) popped the question to Kurt (Chris Colfer) on Glee, the show depicted the moment the only way it could have. Kurt's friends from McKinley help perfect the proposal by participating in a rendition of The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love."

Nick Proposes To Rachel (Crazy Rich Asians)

Admittedly, the scene from Crazy Rich Asians in which Nick Young (Henry Golding) asks Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) to marry him is a bit cliché-ridden, especially since it takes on an airplane. However, considering the ups and downs the couple had faced in director Jon M. Chu's hit 2018 adaptation of Kevin Kwan's novel, they deserved an old-fashioned storybook climax.

Mike Proposes To Rachel (Suits)

Before her marriage to Prince Harry captured the world's hearts, Meghan Markle, as Rachel Zane, shared a captivating onscreen romance with fellow Suits cast member Patrick J. Adams as Michael Ross. The lawyer first lists off all the reasons why he loves the paralegal-turned-attorney before presenting her with his grandmother's ring at the moment he asks for her hand in marriage.

Jim Proposes To Katherine (Hidden Figures)

The astonishing true story depicted in 2016's Hidden Figures is complemented by an astonishing marriage proposal by military officer Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali) to mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson). He begins by cooking her and her family a special dinner before surprising her with a ring and an admission that he called his mother the day after he met Katherine to tell her that she was the one he would marry.

Barney Proposes To Robin (How I Met Your Mother)

The two-part Season 8 mid-season finale of How I Met Your Mother reveals that nearly everything we have seen Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) do that season has been part of an elaborate ruse from his famed Playbook. However, the ultimate goal of the play is not to get his off-and-on lover Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) into bed but to finally reignite their relationship and get her to make the ultimate commitment with him, which she tearfully accepts on the rooftop of the World Wide News building.

Edward Proposes To Sandra (Big Fish)

In director Tim Burton's 2003 fantasy Big Fish, Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) experiences love at first sight with Sandra Templeton (Alison Lohman) and, despite her having a fiancée, proceeds to ask this woman he barely knows to marry him multiple times. She finally breaks off her current engagement after Edward picks thousands of daffodils, her favorite flowers, and gathers them in an unbelievable assortment outside her house.

Brian Proposes To Charlie (Shrinking)

In the acclaimed Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, Brian (Michael Urie) creates an elaborate plan to ask his longtime boyfriend, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), to marry him, which includes singing a song with help on piano from Jimmy (Jason Segel), who ruins it by drunkenly regurgitating. A frustrated Brian then admits his intentions to Charlie, who, before Brian can even compose himself to officially ask the question, readily accepts.

Mr. Darcy Proposes To Elizabeth (Pride And Prejudice)

Director Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice features one of the most romantic movie quotes of all time. Despite his once rivalrous relationship with Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley), Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfayden) tells her, "You have bewitched me body and soul," during one of the multiple times he asks for her hand in marriage.

Ben Proposes To Miranda (Grey's Anatomy)

One of the most romantic moments from Grey's Anatomy begins in the middle of an operation when Ben Warren (Jason Winston George) expresses his disappointment that he and Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) were unable to work on the daily crossword. In the OR, Miranda pettily begins completing the puzzle herself and comes to discover that the answer to the clue, “My question to you,” is, "Will you marry me?" and that the entire crossword was crafted by Ben.

Ronny Proposes To Loretta (Moonstruck)

In 1987's Moonstruck, Loretta Castorini (Cher) becomes engaged to Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) but unexpectedly falls into an affair with his brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Everything works out, however, when Johnny calls off the engagement for his mother's sake and, seconds later, Ronny borrows the ring to ask for Loretta's hand in marriage.

Glenn Proposes To Maggie (The Walking Dead)

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland overrun with reanimated corpses, The Walking Dead is not quite what one would call a romantic show but does give audiences a romance to root for between Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) and Maggie Green (Lauren Cohan). The former pizza deliverer would make his relationship with her official by presenting her with a ring he pulled off a walker's finger.

Andrew Proposes To Melanie (Sweet Home Alabama)

Andrew Hennings (Patrick Dempsey) is, ultimately, not the man we are supposed to root for Melanie Carmichael (Reese Witherspoon) to end up with in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama. However, the way he pops the question by walking her into a room full of various engagement rings for her to choose from is a dream scenario.

Toby Proposes To Kate (This Is Us)

Toby Damon (Chris Sullivan) pays a good amount of money to make his unique way of proposing to Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz) a reality on This is Us. He unzips multiple hoodies that each read a different section of the phrase, "Will you marry me?"

Jeremy Proposes to Kristen (Think Like A Man)

In Think Like a Man, commitmentphobe Jeremy Kern (Jerry Ferrara) is so overwhelmed with emotion when popping the question to Kristen (Gabrielle Union) that he accidentally says, "I want to be your wife, and I want to be your husband," before quickly correcting himself. It is easily one of the sweetest moments from the 2012 adaptation of Steve Harvey's self-help book.

Ross Proposes To Emily (Friends)

While Ross Gellar's (David Schwimmer) marriage to Emily (Helen Baxendale) proved to be ill-fated, his spur-of-the-moment decision to ask her to marry him right before she is supposed to leave for London is still one of the sweetest moments from Friends.

From Downton Abbey to the Red Keep to 742 Evergreen Terrace, there are so many cool houses I'd love to explore from television shows. Some have even gotten quite famous for their use on these shows. Obviously I understand these are mostly sets on a soundstage with an exterior of a completely different house, but let's take a moment to use our imagination and talk about how fun and cool these houses I've always wanted to explore would be.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Of course with have to include Uncle Phil and Aunt Bev's house on The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Most of the show pretty much takes place in two rooms, the kitchen and the living room, with other scenes in various bedrooms and occasionally other spots. There must be so much more to see!

The Addams Family

Who doesn't want to explore a house like that of the Addams family? It's creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky! It's got a dismembered hand running around, a cousin covered in hair, and an uncle who can light up a light bulb in his mouth! This is the kind of house I want to learn a whole lot more about!

Friends

Much has been made about the apartments on Friends and how unrealistic they are. Sure, that may be true, but that doesn't mean they aren't cool, especially where Monica and Rachel live. As someone who lived in a shoebox in the East Village for years, this is the kind of place I'd love to explore and dream about how I could have been living... in a fever dream.

Full House

The Painted Ladies in San Francisco are some of the most iconic houses in the entire United States Of America. For that reason alone it's worth it to explore the Tanner home on Full House. I might not have a chance to explore one otherwise (not that would in this fictional scenario anyway!)

Succession

Let's be honest, I can't stand the Roy family and it makes it hard for me to love the show Succession, because I need someone to root for and there is no one on this show worthy of that. Except maybe the houses and locations, those all look amazing. So that's decides it, I'm rooting for fictional houses.

Game Of Thrones

I've included the Red Keep here from Game of Thrones, but really it's a stand-in for basically every castle, keep, and ancestral home on the show. They all look really cool and I love old European castles, so an architectural tour of Westeros is right in my wheelhouse. Winterfell, Dragonstone, the Eyrie, Sunspear... they are all amazing. Even the ruins of Harrenhal would be awesome to hang out in for a bit.

Gossip Girl

I lived a very different life in my shoebox in the East Village when I lived in New York than the families in Gossip Girl lived. Frankly, every location looks incredible in its own way and I want to see them all and the well-dressed people who live in them.

Frasier

Frasier Crane doesn't live in the most extravagant condo in TV history, but it still seems like a really cool place. Seattle is a beautiful city and the view they had would make a quick tour very worthwhile. Plus, who doesn't want to have a good sit in Martin's chair?

Diff'rent Strokes

The 1980s was filled with over-the-top residences, and the Drummonds apartment in Diff'rent Strokes is close to the top of the list. We really only got to see a little bit of the two-story New York apartment, as almost every scene was in the living room, kitchen, or Willis and Arnold's bedroom. I want to see more! There must be a cozy study in there somewhere with a fireplace filled with many old books and rich mahogany!

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is one of the few fictional houses on this list that one can actually spend some time in. The house, which is known as Highclere Castle in real life, is open for tours to the public, and not only can you explore the grounds, but many of the rooms from the show as well. I've not done it yet, but I'd love to do the tour at some point.

Silver Spoons

As a kid of the '80s, the Stratton's mansion on Silver Spoons is close to the top of my list of houses I wished I lived in. There was a train running through the living room, multiple arcade games, and a racing car bed! It's everything I ever wanted and more. Plus, we never got to see much other than a couple of rooms, there has to be so much to explore!

Dynasty

The 1980s were a time when incredibly rich families stirred up melodrama among themselves on shows like Dynasty. Set in Denver, the show's family, the Carringtons, lived in an amazing home. The exteriors of the home were actually a palatial home in Pasadena called Arden Villa.

Modern Family

Jay and Gloria Prichett's house on Modern Family fits the name of the show well. It's...well... modern and it's the kind of house I like to stalk on Zillow. It's not the most over-the-top, or biggest (nor the smallest, for sure), but it seems like a really awesome, realistic house that would be perfect for a week-long AirBnB rental.

Mork & Mindy

This is one of those homes on TV that actually seems like a place I could actually afford and live in. It's a simple house in Boulder, CO, where the show is set and while the prices all over Colorado for real estate are kind of insane, it's still a very cool looking, sensible house. Mork (Robin Williams) is the only thing that isn't sensible about it.

The Munsters

There are few houses in TV history as iconic as the Munster's mansion from The Munsters. Though I'm not a big fan of horror movies, even I can appreciate all the Easter eggs and tributes to old monster movies that must be hidden all over the house. It's the kind of place that is a museum of the weird as much as it is a home.

The Brady Bunch

I love Mid-Century Modern architecture, especially houses. There is no better example of a cool Mid-Century Modern house in TV history than the house designed by Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. It's also one of the rare shows where we basically see every room in the house in almost every episode. The one part we never see is where Alice lives, so that's something new to explore.

The Golden Girls

I'm a total sucker for those weird Florida gated communities like the one in The Golden Girls and for that reason, I'd love to check the house shared by the four retired roommates in the classic NBC sitcom. It's not the most extravagant, nor the most interesting, but it's still the kind of realistic house I love.

The Sopranos

This is a little bit of an outlier because really, the house in The Sopranos is everything I kinda hate in a house. It's pretty much a standard suburban McMansion, so that means my exploration would really be to make fun of it. I get that it's not a great idea to criticize Carmela's decorating or Tony's house in general, but it's a risk I'd be willing to take.

Mad Men

Don Draper's apartment in Mad Men looks amazing. It's not the biggest home on this list, but it's so perfectly set in its time, it would be amazing to spend a few hours in listening to some jazz and smoking cigarettes.

Dallas

Southfork Ranch is a real place. It's a popular spot in Dallas to hold weddings and other events. That means that exploring the house, which is home to the Ewing clan in Dallas is possible, but I'd want to go back in time and see it as it was when the Ewings lived there (on the show anyway). There would be so much to see across all of the property.

The Simpsons

There are few addresses as famous as 742 Evergreen Terrace. It's not the grandest house on this list, obviously, but still, it's just so iconic. I can just see myself having a Duff on the back patio while Homer relaxes in his hammock, or lying on the floor with Lisa and Bart watching the latest episode of Itchy & Scratchy. Maybe even helping Marge in the kitchen cooking pork chops for dinner.

Dexter

Okay, I'll admit, this one is the most depraved choice on this list. Checking out Dexter's apartment from Dexter is sure to be disturbing and morbid, so it's the kind of place where it's good to keep in mind this is all fictional! Demented and sad, but fictional!

Seinfeld

Jerry's apartment on Seinfeld is probably the smallest home on this list. It's really just the kitchen and living room open-plan space (that doesn't actually make sense) and Jerry's bedroom, but there is always some cool stuff in the background, like Superman memorabilia and cereal boxes. Those are worth exploring, right? Maybe not, but Kramer may have the hot tub open in his apartment.

Charmed

Like a few others on this lit, visiting nd exploring the house on Charmed is less about the house - though it does look stunning - and more about learning about what is really going with these three witches. It has to be fascinating to see how they live when they aren't fighting demons and the like.

The Nanny

I'll admit I'm pretty fascinated by huge New York City apartments. It's just so different from how most people live in the city. The opulence and ease of living in multi-story dwellings in the city must be amazing, and the home on The Nanny certainly fits the bill like others on this list.

Desperate Housewives

This entry isn't about one house, it's about all the house and the neighborhood that makes up Wisteria Lane on Desperate Housewives. There isn't anything particularly special about any one house, but wow what a subdivision to live in! My suburban street was nothing like this... or maybe it was and I was just ignorant of it. Probably not.

The Crown

There are a lot of palaces and castles in Netflix's The Crown and all of them are real places, though none of the show was actually filmed in them, of course. Of all the castles and palaces that Queen Elizabeth is seen in on the show, the coolest and most interesting has to be Balmoral, her castle in Scotland where she ultimately died in real life. That's the castle and grounds I want to explore.

Billions

Even by TV show standards, Bobby Axelrod (Damien Lewis) on Showtime's Billions has a ridiculous beach house in the Hamptons. I mean, it looks like a country club clubhouse or a hotel, it's insane. It feels like you could spend a month there and never hang out in the same room twice.

Ozark

I've been to the Lake of the Ozarks a bunch of times in my life and while it's a super fun place, you don't really think of it as having interesting houses. On the show Ozark, the Byrdes definitely live in one that you wouldn't ever expect to see there, and it's based on a real place there. It's exactly the kind of house I love. It's also one of the few places that is actually based on a real thing at Lake of the Ozarks, as the show was primarily shot in Georgia.

Beverly Hills, 90210

As someone who grew up watching Beverly Hills, 90210 every week, this is definitely a very personal choice. I just always thought the house was really nice looking and I'd love to spend some time hanging out with the Walshes.

Arrested Development

Yes, it's only a model house, and yes, it's basically cheap construction of plywood and chewing gum, but still, the house in Arrested Development would be a wild place to hang out for a while. You could look for George in the attic, or count the number of blue handprints on the wall... there's just so much. I wouldn't mess around with the cornballer though.

Falcon Crest

One of the wildest wealthy fictional families on TV in the '80s was the Channing/Gioberti clan on Falcon Crest. It's a show that no one talks about anymore, but the house, set in a fictionalized version of Napa Valley is amazing and really, we should be talking about it as the star of the show, though Jane Wyman is pretty fantastic on the show too.

It's wild to think about it, but the Dexter franchise has been with us nearly two decades, since the original series debuted back in 2006. While the Dexter finale was controversial, two more shows have followed: the sequel New Blood and the new prequel Original Sin (both of which are streaming with a Paramount+ subscription with Showtime). While the first season has come and gone, I'm not over the spot-on impressions of the original Dexter cast.

Dexter: Original Sin's Season 1 finale was thrilling, with a number of narrative threads reaching a conclusion throughout its runtime. While we wait for news about Season 2, I have to discuss just how excellent this new cast was at doing impressions of the OGs, while also making their roles their own. Case in point: actor Patrick Gibson, who expertly matches the vocal cadence of Michael C. Hall's title character. It's almost musical in the way Hall's voice is replicated, but Gibson's performance also doesn't feel like its bogged down from this impression. Add in Hall's narration and it certainly feels like they're one, united vision for the title character.

But aside from its leading man, the supporting cast of Dexter: Original Sin is similarly understanding the assignment. James Martinez's take on fan favorite character Angel Bautista is one serious standout that consistently impresses me. He perfectly captures David Zayas' physical and vocal choices for the Bautista, and it really does feel like he's a younger version of the original actor.

Much like the original Dexter series, forensic analyst Vince Masuka is a relatively tertiary character in Original Sin. But actor Alex Shimizu doesn't phone it in at all, and perfectly delivers the character's wild signature laugh a number of times during the first season.

I've also got to give actress/ pop star Christina Milian her flowers for playing Maria LaGuerta with similar authenticity. Just like the rest of the actors listed above, she's able to expertly recreate the vocal cadence and speaking pattern of her predecessor Lauren Vélez. At times, I could literally close my eyes and not tell which of the actresses I was listening to. And since Dexter: Original Sin is set within Miami Metro, the combination of these excellent performances and return to that set piece helps to really immerse fans back into the beloved franchise.

The Dexter franchise hit some bumps in the road thanks to its original series finale, as well as killing him off in Resurrection. But Original Sin feels like a return to form, and I am fully invested in the prequel and actively awaiting updates about the show's future on Showtime. While we wait, all three of the Dexter shows are currently streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched Dexter: Original Sin's finale on Showtime or with a Paramount+ subscription.

Dexter: Original Sin recently concluded Season 1, and while we await news on whether or not Season 2 is happening, I have to talk about a potentially wild theory I have that possibly conflicts with what we know from the original series. Here's the thing: after watching young Dexter's interactions with Sarah Kinsey's Camilla, I have the sneaking suspicion that she is clued into the fact that he's a serial killer, even if she doesnt' know it yet.

After the Dexter prequel surprisingly brought in Brian Moser and even featured a showdown between him and Harry, I suspect Camilla has good reason to stay silent concerning anything she learns about her work colleagues, which could be why she's kept the secret about Dexter's double life for such a long time. Here's my thinking, as well as how it may step on the toes of the original show if she IS in the loop about the "Dark Passenger."

Why I Think Camilla Might Suspect Dexter Is A Killer In Dexter: Original Sin

Since the original series, we've known that Camilla and Harry were great friends, but Dexter: Original Sin has shown how deep that friendship runs. The file clerk did her friend a solid in removing any reference to the Shipping Yard Murders at Miami Metro so that anyone digging up information on Brian Moser would miss out on learning he's Dexter's biological brother.

We also know that Camilla is close enough with the Morgans that she allows Dexter to use her boat whenever he wants, even if in the dead of night. I would wager she already knew what viewers didn't: that Brian briefly lived with the Morgan family before being sent back to foster care over trying to smother baby Debra. How could she not suspect something wrong with Harry's adopted son that he'd want to hide from the public?

Camilla is being set up with all the evidence she needs to believe that Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, and I have to wonder where Dexter: Original Sin would go with that in future episodes. More importantly, how could such a twist be pulled off without changing or damaging the Dexter and Camilla relationship we've already seen in the original Dexter?

The Theory Could Be Valid, But Would It Conflict With What We Know From The Original Series?

Dexter fans may remember the lead character confronted Camilla when he discovered that she destroyed the case files on his mother's murder at Harry's request. She later told him what she remembered from the files, and that it was Harry's best intention to protect his son. The two moved on from the event, and she continued to hand him files on cases he was interested in. And while she questioned his need for them, she never dug in very hard.

The next major storyline between Dexter and Camilla was when she was moved into hospice care for lung cancer and in a lot of pain. In a moment of desperation, she begged Dexter to end her life, as she was Catholic, and killing herself would mean eternal damnation. Dexter was hesitant at first, as it broke his code, but ultimately euthanized his friend with a drugged piece of key lime pie.

While I initially thought Camilla finding out Dexter was a killer long before her death would be a problem, I do have to wonder why she requested he kill her in the first place. That's a wild ask of anyone, especially knowing that most logical people would outright refuse at the mere thought. While she didn't indicate she knew so at the time, is it possible Camilla, in her moment of pain, let loose a long-held secret?

Camilla suspecting Dexter is a serial killer in Dexter: Original Sin would open up a whole can of worms and lead to questions such as why she didn't take action ahead of time. The problem is, she seemed like an upstanding person beyond destroying those case files, so why wouldn't she turn Dexter in or confide in someone if she knew what he was capable of?

As imperfect of a serial killer as young Dexter is, I can't imagine he got all the blood off of her boat. Perhaps her suspicions start when she notices blood there, and we have another avenue for the prequel to tell us a story we didn't previously know about. This is only a theory, again, and perhaps not the most entirely solid one, but the idea of it does intrigue me.

Stream Dexter: Original Sin right now with a Paramount+ account. The prequel met this Dexter fan's high expectations, so I hope it returns for more episodes.

For every heartfelt, sweeping, inspirational storybook romance story, you can find plenty of violent and traumatizing nightmare couplings, too. In both fiction and reality alike, too many innocent victims wanting nothing more than to receive a person's love and support end up suffering a life of abuse and neglect from the person they, unfortunately, chose to spend it with. The following are some of the most essential examples of movie and TV characters you should never get into a relationship with.

Caledon Hockley (Titanic)

Some might call Rose (Kate Winslet) a bad girlfriend, let alone the worst character from the movie Titanic for some of her own childish behaviors and, especially, her affair with Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). However, nothing she does in James Cameron's Best Picture Oscar winner justifies the way her arrogant, elitist, industrialist fiancé, Cal Hockley (Billy Zane), treats her, ranging from his possessive dominance to his nearly murderous reaction to Rose's relationship with Jack.

Sarah Marshall (Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

In the uproarious, 2008 romantic-comedy movie favorite, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Peter Bretter (writer Jason Segel) fails to realize how little support his eponymous girlfriend (played by Kristen Bell) shows him until after she dumps him for rock star Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), whom we discover she was cheating with. The cop TV show actor may even be a worse ex-girlfriend from how she enviously sabotages Peter's newfound happiness with Rachel (Mila Kunis) by making a move on him when they accidentally book a vacation on the same Hawaiian island.

Ross Gellar (Friends)

For every reason a Friends fan may have had to root for Ross Gellar (David Schwimmer) and Rachel Green's (Jennifer Aniston) on-and-off romance, there are even more reasons why Ross is just the worst. He reveals himself to be extremely possessive when Rachel meets a handsome coworker at Bloomingdale's, refuses to take responsibility for cheating on her ("We were on a break" is still no excuse), and even continues to obsess over her while in relationships with other women.

Rose Armitage (Get Out)

In 2017, Get Out introduced one of modern cinema's scariest female horror movie villains in the form of Rose Armitage (Allison Williams), whose relationship with Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) was a ruse to coerce him into falling prey to her family's racist procedure that would cause him to lose control of his body to a white host. He was only one of several Black people she pulled this horrific con on, as we discover in Jordan Peele's terrifying, Oscar-winning directorial debut.

Billy Loomis (Scream)

While easily one of the most iconic examples of the classic slasher movie trope of the killer boyfriend, Skeet Ulrich's Billy Loomis is an undeserving partner even before the big reveal in 1996's Scream. He constantly pressures Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) into having relations, flirts with other women behind her back, and even belittles her for not fully recovering from her mother's murder only a year afterward.

Melissa (The Hangover)

Rachael Harris' character in 2009's The Hangover belittles and manipulates Stu (Ed Harris) to the point that he becomes helplessly defensive of her controlling nature and, even worse, her adultery. Luckily, after meeting and marrying an exotic dancer named Jade (Heather Graham) in a stupor during Doug's disastrous Las Vegas bachelor party, he gains the courage to stand up to Melissa and call her out as a "bad person all the way through to [her] core."

Michael Kelso (That '70s Show)

To be fair, Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis) is certainly not without her shortcomings, showing extreme evidence of vanity and narcissism especially in the earlier seasons of That '70s Show. However, she ultimately deserved better than her on-and-off boyfriend, Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher, who went on to marry Kunis in real life), who shares those same toxic traits in addition to being a helplessly absent-minded serial womanizer.

Judith Fessbeggler (Saving Silverman)

Dr. Judith Fessbeggler (Amanda Peet) is a psychiatrist in great need of psychotherapy, as evidenced by the way she treats Darren (Jason Biggs), the title character of the 2001 comedy, Saving Silverman. She ruthlessly controls everything in his life, from his wardrobe to the music he listens to, even forcing him to receive cosmetic surgery on his behind, which prompts his lifelong friends, Wayne (Steve Zahn) and J.D. (Jack Black), to stop their impending nuptials.

Martin Burney (Sleeping With The Enemy)

In director Joseph Ruben's 1991 adaptation of Nancy Price's novel, Sleeping with the Enemy, a constant pattern of abuse from her husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin), leads Laura Burney (Academy Award winner Julia Roberts) to fake her death and escape the marriage. Unfortunately, after donning a new identity and settling down in Iowa, where she strikes up a romance with a local named Ben (Kevin Anderson), she discovers that Martin has managed to track her down, not willing to let her go.

Amy Dunne (Gone Girl)

Early on in Gone Girl, director David Fincher's 2014 adaptation of Gillian Flynn's bestselling mystery, it seems obvious to suspect the adulterous and emotionally distant Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) of foul play when his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), suddenly goes missing. The truth is, however, that the woman left on her own accord and strategically planted evidence to incriminate her husband, which is in no way a healthy method for dealing with marital woes.

Jack Torrance (The Shining)

In Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining, Jack (Jack Nicholson) and Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) do not seem to have a particularly perfect marriage before they become caretakers at the Overlook Hotel. Things grow infinitely worse when the malevolent spirits of the Colorado resort drive Jack to become a vicious, deranged monster.

Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Some Gilmore Girls fans believe that the show was ruined by the "will they, won't they" dynamic between Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) and Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia), and not just because it killed her relationship with Dean (Jared Padalecki). The ill-fated romance was merely the first of many selfish mistakes that Rory would make against her significant others that would ultimately cause some fans of the dramedy to completely turn on the character.

Christian (Midsommar)

Ari Aster told Birth.Movies.Death that he wanted to make his sophomore feature, 2019's Midsommar, a break-up movie based on a previous relationship of his, which makes a lot of sense when you consider the volatility of the relationship at the center of the folk horror story. You almost cannot help but feel happy for Dani (Florence Pugh) as she watches the selfish, emotionally stunted, and gaslighting Christian (Jack Reynor) burn to death before her very eyes at the end of the shocking A24 horror movie classic.

Ginger McKenna (Casino)

Sharon Stone's character from the 1995 Martin Scorsese movie, Casino, has just about all the most essential criteria for an unfavorable wife, from her hustling schemes, her greedy motivations, and her adulterous habits. Of course, in addition to being a bad spouse, Ginger is an even worse mother, having tied her daughter to a bed so she could have a night out clubbing on her own.

David McCall (Fear)

While there are quite a few romance movies that try to discredit the fatherly character's disapproval of his daughter's suitor, 1996's Fear is the movie that would teach audiences dad might know what he is talking about. Steven Walker (William Peterson) is the first to suspect that something is off about his daughter, Nicole's (Reese Witherspoon), new boyfriend, David (Mark Wahlberg) and, boy, do his instincts prove correct when he leaves a bloody trail that culminates in a terrifying attack on Nicole's family all for the sake of having her to himself.

Jan Levinson (The Office)

One of the best episodes of NBC's The Office, "Dinner Party," offers an inside look at the torrid relationship between Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin), who invite their Dunder Mifflin coworkers into their condo for a memorable night. The couple's heated dispute over Michael's multiple vasectomies, Jan's obsession with her assistant (an aspiring musician), and more discords ultimately get the cops involved.

Nate Cooper (The Devil Wears Prada)

A good partner supports their significant other's professional career – a concept lost on Nate Cooper (Adrian Grenier) from 2006's The Devil Wears Prada. Grenier would even agree, in a 2021 oral history by Entertainment Weekly, that his character was a "fragile, wounded boy" who was not as grown-up as Andy (Anne Hathaway) and, thus, selfishly criticized her career decisions. Not to mention, reacting to her getting hired at a fashion magazine by asking if it was a phone interview is unforgivably rude.

Asami Yamazaki (Audition)

The premise of Takashi Miike's acclaimed Japanese horror movie, 1999's Audition – in which a widower holds a fake movie casting session to find a new wife – seems to paint Ryo Ishibashi's character as the villain. However, one might agree that his actions, which did come from a place of sincerity, are not worthy of the sadistic, demented punishment that his new lover, Asami (Eihi Shiina), performs on him.

Josh (Companion)

Including Jack Quaid's character from the 2025 sci-fi movie, Companion, might be a bit of a stretch, considering Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is not really Josh's girlfriend but a highly advanced machine he purchased – er, rented. Discovering this helps her realize that the man she thought she loved is a pathetic, selfish, controlling, and violent loser, making this friendly robot the hero of the story.

Lisa (The Room)

In 2003's The Room, Lisa (Juliette Danielle) decides, completely out of the blue, that she no longer loves her "future husband," Johnny (writer, producer, and director Tommy Wiseau), and engages in an affair with his best friend, Mark (Greg Sestero), which ultimately drives Johnny to take his own life. Regardless of the cult favorite's reputation for its thoroughly nonsensical storyline, if there is one earnest analysis we can make about this awesomely cheesy movie, it is that Lisa was wrong to tear Johnny apart like that.

Nate Jacobs (Euphoria)

One of the strongest aspects of HBO's acclaimed coming-of-age drama, Euphoria, is the grounded ways it depicts certain archetypes that are commonly found in the modern high school environment. For instance, Nate Jacobs (Jacob Elordi) – the former boyfriend of Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) and Cassie Howard (Sydney Sweeney) – is, practically, the teenage poster child for toxic masculinity and internalized homophobia.

Lila West (Dexter)

Sometimes it is crazy to think that one of the worst major villains on Dexter was, at one time, a love interest of Michael C. Hall's titular homicidal vigilante. When his relationship with Rita hits a rough patch in Season 2, Dexter indulges in a relationship with his rehab sponsor, Lila West (Jaime Murray), who proves to be a worse sociopath than he is.

Alex Le Domas (Ready Or Not)

In 2019's Ready or Not, instant classic horror movie final girl Grace (Samara Weaving) discovers she is the target of her in-laws' deadly game of Hide-and-Seek, which her husband, Alex Le Domas (Mark O'Brien), initially tries to help her escape. However, when she rejects him as a result of the trauma his murderous, Satanic family caused (and which he failed to properly warn her about before tying the knot), he betrays her and submits to the ritual to sacrifice her which, thankfully, gloriously backfires on them.

Stacey (American History X)

Derek Vinyard's (Edward Fulong) relationship with his girlfriend, Stacey (Fairuza Balk), in 1998's American History X, seemed to be at its best before his three-year stint in prison when they both were on the same page about white supremacy. After he returns and tries to convince her to leave the neo-Nazi movement with him, she thinks he is nuts to abandon that kind of life, which is an automatic dealbreaker. Good on him.

Jeffrey Fecalman (Family Guy)

In a rare dramatic moment from Family Guy, the animated series addressed the topic of domestic abuse by introducing Quagmire's (creator Seth MacFarlane) sister, Brenda (Kaitlin Olson), and her vile, deadbeat boyfriend, Jeff (Ralph Garman). After suffering to see her submit to Jeff's verbally and physically cruel treatment, Quagmire conspires with Peter (MacFarlane) and Joe (Patrick Warburton) to actually murder him.

Mrs. Griffith (Easy A)

Not only does high school guidance counselor Mrs. Griffith (Friends cast member Lisa Kudrow) cheat on her dear husband and coworker (played by Thomas Haden Church) but she does so with a student. This makes her one of the least likable characters in 2010's Easy A by a landslide.

Jason "J.D." Dean (Heathers)

In 1988's darkly comic high school movie favorite, Heathers, Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) falls for J.D. (Christian Slater). Of course, their relationship is ruined when she discovers he is a homicidal sociopath.

Meredith Blake (The Parent Trap)

In the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, Elaine Hendrix plays the elitist, materialistic, and, ultimately, evil potential stepmother to Lindsay Lohan's dual roles as estranged twin sisters, Annie and Hallie, who torture her with a series of increasingly brutal pranks. This drives Meredith to force Nick (Dennis Quaid) to choose between her or the siblings and, much to his credit, he promptly ends the relationship by choosing his daughters.

Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)

There is a case to be made that Ed Westwick's Chuck Bass was one of the more charming characters in the Gossip Girl cast. Of course, this was a façade to downplay his unbelievably toxic and misogynistic behavior, especially at the expense of his girlfriend-turned-wife, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester).

Jenny “G-Girl” Johnson (My Super Ex-Girlfriend)

In almost any other case, finding out that your significant other is a superhero would be pretty cool. However, in the case of Matt Saunders (Luke Wilson) from director Ivan Reitman's My Super Ex-Girlfriend, it's a nightmare because Jenny Johnson (Uma Thurman), who fights crime as G-Girl, is a needy, jealous, manipulative woman who uses her powers as revenge on Matt after he dumps her.

Adrian Griffin (The Invisible Man)

Writer and director Leigh Whannell brilliantly reimagined H.G. Wells' seminal story, The Invisible Man, into something of a sci-fi version of Sleeping with the Enemy with his 2020 hit. It follows Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) who, after escaping her marriage to abusive optics engineer Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), becomes convinced that he has found a way to continue stalking her and controlling her every move without being seen.

Lori (Total Recall)

Imagine finding out everything you thought you knew about your life was a lie, including your marriage. That is what happens to Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in the 1992 sci-fi thriller, Total Recall, who eventually shoots and kills the secret agent he thought was his wife, Lori (Sharon Stone), before quipping, "Consider that a divorce."

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 finale "Blood Drive." Stream it with a Paramount+ subscription and read at your own risk!

Dexter: Original Sin pulled one of the most ambitious reveals of any show currently airing on the 2025 TV schedule after making the original series' Season 1 villain Brian Moser a big part of the story. Introducing Dexter's biological brother, whom he was completely clueless about until decades later, was a bold move, and we had questions about how the prequel would pull it off. We received our answer and even saw Brian and Harry meet in the Season 1 finale, and I was shocked by the outcome.

After revealing that Brian temporarily lived with the Morgan family until he tried to kill a then-baby Debra, Dexter: Original Sin finally brought Harry face-to-face with the boy that he ended up having sent away to protect his family. Here's how it went down, and why I'm still shocked at how it played out.

Harry Discovered Brian At A Crime Scene, And Pleaded With Him To Leave Dexter Alone

Brian hasn't been content with just the small easter egg highlighting the "Ice Truck Killer" and injected himself into Dexter: Original Sin in a big way as the mysterious NHI killer. Harry did his best to try and cover Brian's tracks once he caught on to who he was, knowing that it would ultimately lead to Dexter and potentially expose his tendencies as a serial killer. So, when he spotted Brian scoping out his latest crime scene as Miami Metro combed it, he had to confront him.

Harry confronted Brian on a rooftop, and the two had it out about their shared grievances with each other. Brian was upset that Harry was responsible for his traumatic years in the foster care system and keeping him from his brother. Harry told Brian that if he loved Dexter, he would leave him be, and spare him from the trauma and dark path he'd gone down.

Brian knocked Harry unconscious, and when the Detective awoke, the NHI killer was gone. The only thing left was a note written in blood that said, "You're right," indicating that Harry got through to Brian. Say what you want about Harry's methods for training Dexter, the man is good at manipulating serial killers.

Why Brian's Decision Not To Kill Harry Shocked Me

Setting aside the fact that if you watched Dexter you know Harry died of a heart attack, how shocking was it that Brian spared Harry's life? I was shocked, especially after learning that all of the NHI killings were people linked to his mistreatment in the foster care system after being sent away by the Morgans. In my mind, he'd love to settle the score and take out the person responsible for separating him from his brother in the first place, and he had the perfect opportunity to do so when he knocked Harry unconscious.

Let's not forget that Brian was one of the most awful serial killers in Dexter. He's not one to show mercy, and killing is nothing to him. Even if he agreed that it was best to leave his brother be, it's hard to imagine Brian wouldn't punish Harry somehow. Perhaps it was the soft spot he had for his brother and how it would impact him that led the killer to spare Harry. Maybe the writing team realized they couldn't make things more dramatic than him knocking him out. Whatever the case, it was still a shocking moment, and I'm glad we got to see it.

That's a wrap on Dexter: Original Sin Season 1, which is available to stream on Paramount+. While we know Resurrection will continue the story of older Dexter Morgan, we're still waiting on news for Season 2 of the prequel. I'm crossing my fingers and toes for another season, especially with how good Season 1 was.