‘Dexter: Resurrection’ Episode 4 Recap & Review: A Killer Dinner Party

This article contains spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection Episode 4

The first few episodes of Dexter: Resurrection featured several familiar faces returning from the dead, much like a greatest hits of the original series (excluding Harry, who is still present, offering his advice from beyond the grave). That, combined with a couple of other storylines, made for quite a busy story. Still, that’s nothing compared to what Dexter: Resurrection Episode 4, “Call Me Red,” gets into. The new possible connections with a group of like-minded people have given Dexter (Michael C. Hall) even more to think about, and the viewer even more to keep track of as the series progresses.

Dexter takes on the identity of Red, the pretend Dark Passenger killer he dispatched last episode, with extra satisfaction, I might add. He decides to accept the invitation Red received, curious about meeting some friendly faces, much to the disapproval of Harry. He is driven to a very fancy building by Charley (Uma Thurman), where he meets the host of the evening, Leon Prater (a very creepy Peter Dinklage). As it turns out, Leon is a huge fan of serial killers and walks Dexter/Red through his greatest hits of collectibles from serial killers past, including some from killers Dexter had taken care of himself (the blood slides were a very nice touch).

From there, it’s on to a meet and greet with the attendees of the dinner party, and what an interesting collection it is. Mia Lapierre (Krysten Ritter), Lowell (Neil Patrick Harris), Al (Eric Stonestreet), and Gareth (David Dastmalchian) are all serial killers, each with their own particular way of doing things. It isn’t long before Dexter finds himself feeling a real sense of belonging. He still recognizes his purpose to be there, killing these people, but he is still fascinated and intrigued by the realization that he is not alone in the serial killer universe. In fact, he and Mia hit it off, agree to meet the next day, while one other member makes it to the top of Dexter’s kill list.

RELATED: ‘With a Vengeance’ Book Review: A High-Speed Ode to Alfred Hitchcock & Agatha Christie

Meanwhile, Harrison (Jack Alcott) continues to spiral, on edge and not being able to cope with what he’s done or the pressure he’s feeling from the police. This was something Dexter excelled at, understanding how to shift blame and create alibis, a skill Harrison is still learning. Angel (David Zayas) continues to put pressure on Harrison and eventually turns to Detective Wallace (Kadia Saraf) and Detective Oliva (Dominic Fumusa) in a meeting that is sure to raise some eyebrows and open some eyes. Angel isn’t going to give up on this, and it’s clear Harrison is just beginning to understand that, putting more pressure on him than ever. 

Back at the serial killer love-in, Dexter/Red arranges a meeting to pick Lowell’s brain in an effort to better understand how he can plan to kill him. Trouble is, Lowell has changed his timeline, which forces Dexter to do the same, ambushing Lowell before he can incapacitate his next victim. Lowell awakes on the table, resigned to his fate, but dies with a surprised look on his face when Dexter reveals he is not Red but, in fact, the Bay Harbour Butcher. It is a great scene, and allows Dexter to once again begin his slide collection of blood as he starts down his newest killing path. 

Harrison, however, can’t deal with the stress anymore. After phoning Det. Wallace, who doesn’t answer, Harrison heads towards the police station, only to be stopped by Dexter at the last minute. I was curious how Dexter was going to reveal himself to Harrison, and I guess all the stalking paid off. He, at least for the time being, has stopped his son from going to prison. Did Dexter do it out of love or self-preservation, or maybe a little bit of both? That would make sense, as that is one of the many demons he fights on a daily basis.

RELATED: Ben Barnes & Joe Freeman Discuss Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ (Exclusive)

A strong episode that introduced the second half of this overall arcing story, and the possibilities here are intriguing. An excellent cast has come aboard to take on the roles of killers, yet none of the characters, at least for now, realize that they are being hunted. The back and forth between Hall and Remar, as Dexter and Harry, is still fun, with dark humor throughout the odd father-son dynamic.

The show has created quite a fun and interesting atmosphere between the storylines, giving the viewers a lot to chew on. For now, it is working great, with a solid balance all around. Time will tell if there is too much going on.

Dexter: Resurrection Episode 4 is now available for streaming and on demand for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan. The remaining episodes will premiere weekly, every Friday.