In 2013, Dexter ended with a final episode that was universally panned by fans and critics alike, but now that Showtime has greenlit a 10-episode revival, the serial killer drama has a chance to redeem itself and answer fans’ most pressing questions. The revival will take place almost 10 years after the events of Dexter season 8, and although the showrunners are promising a fresh start, they don’t plan on erasing the events of the last season. So, it’s likely that any loose ends in the ending will be tied up and answered.
The season 8 finale had Dexter almost fleeing the country with his girlfriend Hannah and his son Harrison, but coming back once he learned that his sister Debra was in a comma. In a twist that left fans frustrated, Dexter decided to kill himself by taking his boat into a hurricane along with Debra’s body. However, the final moments of the episode reveal Dexter didn’t die, instead he is living as a lumberjack in an isolated cabin. Many fans speculated that those last scenes were a dream, or at least, they hoped it was a dream.
The final episode of season 8 might’ve confirmed Dexter’s fate, but it left other questions open for speculation. With Dexter out of Miami and away from everyone and everything he knew, the revival could go for a completely new cast of characters, but they could also make Dexter face the consequences of his actions or at least give fans a glimpse of what happened to the original cast, those who survived the last season at least. Here are the main questions the revival can answer during its 10-episode run.
Is Dexter Still Killing People?
Much of the original show was about Dexter’s internal conflict over his Dark Passenger and Harry’s Code. Although at multiple points in the series he thought he was in control of his urges and directing it toward other serial killers and criminals, it’s up in the air if he could stop himself without needing to keep up appearances of a normal life. Was he able to suppress his urges all these years between the Dexter series finale and the revival? This is especially interesting because, again and again, it was Dexter’s family and the appearance of a normal life that gave him the motivation to fight back the Dark Passenger. Without Debra, Rita, his son, and his life as a forensic expert, was he able to hold back and not kill innocents? Or has he started a new collection of blood swaps and given up on the Code?
Where Are Hannah and Harrison?
At the end of Dexter season 8, Hannah takes Harrison to Argentina after escaping Jacob Elway and the authorities. While she and Dexter were in a relationship, her last scene shows her crying over the news of his boat accident, hinting that she isn’t aware that he’s still alive. Since she took Dexter’s son with her, it’s likely that she’ll play some part in the revival or at least be mentioned. It’s possible we’ll learn what happened to Harrison and Hannah during the last ten years. Did she manage to avoid American authorities all this time? Hannah, like Dexter, has no qualms about killing, although she does in self-defense. She might’ve killed more people to ensure she was safe. And what about Harrison? Has he grown thinking his father was dead? It’s possible Dexter found a way to contact Hannah and let her know he was alive, but, since by the end he believed they were better off without him, it’s also likely that he wanted a fresh start for them.
Did Anyone Else Find Out That Dexter Is A Serial Killer?
Dexter’s serial killer persona, the Bay Harbor Butcher, was well-known by season 8, but he managed to keep his identity a secret until the very end. However, there were a considerable amount of people who ended up figuring out his true nature. In fact, thanks to James Doakes and Maria LaGuerta, there’s already a trail of evidence that could lead others toward him. Two people could’ve potentially gone back and looked at everything suspicious surrounding LaGuerta and Doakes’ deaths, eventually connecting it all back to Dexter.
One of those people is Joey Quinn, Debra’s ex-love interest. Quinn already suspected Dexter before, and with Debra’s body missing and the murder of Oliver Saxon, he might find himself questioning things once again. Quinn was also devasted by Debra’s death, giving him the motive to find out the truth. Another possibility is Jacob Elway, the private investigator who was hot on Hannah’s trail. If he didn’t give up on finding her, he might’ve decided to look up more information on Dexter.
What Happened To Batista And The Others?
Although Dexter had a hard time connecting with other people, he nevertheless built himself a nice life in Miami, over the course of Dexter's eight seasons, working as a forensic expert for the Miami police. And those who worked with him, although unaware of his true nature, they believed to be Dexter’s friends. They were an important part of the show, but the last episode didn’t show us what happened to Angel Batista, Vince, and Quinn.
Were they able to make sense of the events they witnessed, such as Dexter killing Oliver Saxon in front of them? How did they deal with Debra’s and Dexter’s deaths? The revival could explore the fallout of the finale, or it could simply show us that they moved on, finding a way to deal with the loss of their friends. If the new episodes bring them back, it would be interesting if they discover the truth about Dexter and we get to see the consequences of that reveal.
What Happened To Dexter’s Kids?
As a child, Dexter witnessed his mother’s brutal murder, and the show often wonders if that was the reason he became a serial killer. The question between nurture and nature was an important part of the original show. Unfortunately for Harrison, he was present when the Trinity Killer murdered his mother, Rita. Ten years later, did that turn him into his father, always needing to kill? And what about Astor and Cody? What happened to Dexter’s adoptive children? The revival could explore how being raised by Dexter influenced their lives and personalities, especially since Cody and Astor would be young adults by the time of the revival.
Whatever path the Dexter revival takes, there’s still a lot to explore. The Dexter character is certainly unique, and this is a chance for the showrunners to fix their past mistakes and give him a proper sendoff that fans will enjoy.