Dexter: Resurrection – Episode 4 Recap: "Call Me Read"

Revising last week’s speculation, yes, Dexter did pick up the invitation. He’s now occupying space in the fake Dark Passenger’s home, even going so far as to remove his thumbprint to attend the so-called “dinner party for serial killers.” Harry tries to talk sense into him, but Dexter insists he’s prepared for whatever lies ahead.

Dexter assumes the identity of the killer he previously eliminated. Apparently, given this group's mystique and careful movement around the city, they prove that common sense is not quite common. Because despite supposedly tracking him, they don’t recognize that he’s not who he says he is. Mask off, he enters a lavish home. The host, played by Peter Dinklage, is a serial killer fanatic who idolizes what they do. Dexter is unsettled but curious.

Charlie, the recruiter (played by Uma Thurman), remains mostly silent and mysterious, trailing behind them. As the host shows Dexter around, he leads him into a dungeon-like cellar, a serial killer museum filled with macabre artifacts, including John Wayne Gacy memorabilia and even Dexter’s original calling cards. Dexter ironically thinks to himself that the man is off his rocker, but he humors him.

One by one, the other “guests” arrive. Mia, played by Krysten Ritter, is known as “Lady Vengeance” for targeting predators. Kyle (Eric Stonestreet), also known as Rapunzel, arrives next, followed by Lowell (Neil Patrick Harris), a tattoo collector. It is strange how the host vicariously lives murder scenarios at these parties by having the members show and tell. Lowell's show and tell was him stalking someone he recently tattooed. Looks like that earned him an invitation to Dexter's table.

Meanwhile, Batista is still on the hunt. He tracks down the new owner of the truck, who says he bought it from Harrison. Batista later finds Harrison at the hotel. When Harrison tells him Dexter is dead, Batista doesn’t correct him, he uses the moment to dig for more information. After learning about the murder of a hotel guest, Batista tells Harrison that some of Dexter's victims did nothing wrong but were still his victims. Those victims include his mother. Harrison is visibly upset but does not crack. Before he makes his exit, Batista gives Harrison a speech warning him not to follow in Dexter’s footsteps.

Harry voices concern that Dexter isn’t there to hunt this group, but rather, that he might be starting to feel a sense of belonging. That could cloud his judgment. Each of them violates the Code and should be on his table. Mia intrigues Dexter, she’s a vigilante like him, potential romance, if she doesn’t end up on his table. Lowell, however, isn’t so lucky.

As for Harrison, he’s unraveling. He visits Elsa looking for comfort, but things get awkward when he tries to kiss her. He bolts, still spiraling. Haunted by the ticking of the rapist’s watch and Batista’s words, he finally decides to turn himself in. He calls, gets voicemail, then goes to the precinct. Just as he’s about to step forward and confess, Dexter grabs his shoulder. Harrison turns, stunned. Cut to black.

Review – What Is the Point?

This episode started off slow but picked up in the final fifteen minutes. Still, something’s missing: the thrill of the hunt. The puzzle. The crime that needs solving. The chase that kept Dexter sharp and viewers engaged.

I understand he can’t return to Miami Metro, but why not NYPD? His record is clean. No charges. No convictions. It’s a missed opportunity not to embed him in the system again, giving us that delicious tension between killer and cop.

Instead, we get a “secret society of serial killers” hosted by a twisted billionaire. It’s giving… nothing. Maybe they’re trying to give Dexter a new social circle, a mirror for his dark side, a pool of victims. But it does not feel needed. It actually stalled most of the episode.

Once again, Harrison is the heart of the episode. He doesn’t get a ton of screen time, but Batista lays some heavy truths on him, including the bombshell that Dexter is the reason his mother died. That, paired with his own guilt and lurking dark passenger highlights the duality between father and son. Harrison's downward spiral is compelling and raw.

Final verdict: 6/10. Harrison carried. The rest? Still waiting for it to land.

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