[Note: This article includes spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection.]  

“Dexter Morgan. Precisely who I need to be. Exactly who you desire me to be.”

Dexter: Resurrection showrunner Clyde Phillips finished the initial season by nodding to longtime fans who have followed Dexter’s journey for nearly twenty years, wrapping up a narrative that truly went back to its origins. Dexter Morgan’s legacy has been restored. Gone are his days as a secluded lumberjack or as a man bleeding out in the snow, as depicted in the bleak New Blood finale. Even the spin-off Dexter Babies has been shelved. Here he is, the one and only Dexter Morgan, just as you’ve hoped: aboard a boat, cunningly grinning, having defeated his foes, disposing of their remains in the ocean. And it seems this series could easily continue for another decade. Beware, New York.

Few believed that Resurrection would be successful. Not only have the spin-offs been underwhelming, but the final seasons of the original Showtime series also lacked the critical acclaim that peaked in its fourth season. So what was the secret behind this surprisingly brilliant thriller’s success? Writers Clyde Phillips, Scott Buck, and Kirsa Rein, among others, returned to the fundamental elements: stellar guest stars, a sense of justice, and thrilling plot twists, all while reintroducing familiar characters and themes that initially defined the series.

Since its inception, Dexter has explored themes of duality. In its very first season, it portrayed Dexter choosing a path different from his sociopathic brother Brian, the Ice Truck Killer. Brian’s ghostly appearance in the season finale isn’t just a callback to Dexter’s potential past but also a stark reminder of the series revisiting its roots.

Dexter: Resurrection consistently employs the concept of pairs, from David Dastmalchian’s Gemini Killer to Dexter’s alter ego, Red, a.k.a. the Dark Passenger. This season is full of reflections, particularly in a storyline that echoes the initial conflict between Dexter and his brother. Peter Dinklage’s character, Leon Prater, shaped by the trauma of losing a parent, embodies a different kind of death dealer who has turned his obsession with violence into a business. Dexter’s decision to kill Leon comes as Leon fails to comprehend a moral framework linked to murder. This season underscores how pivotal Dexter’s father was in his development, steering him away from becoming like his brother Brian or Leon.

This mirroring extends to the final scenes with Harrison, which revise the ending of New Blood rather than the series’ start. Once again, Harrison is faced with the choice to shoot his father but instead chooses to save him, finally realizing that his father’s moral compass does not align with the monsters he eliminates. The writers not only pull Dexter out of his lumberjack persona; they also redeem Harrison, allowing the son to save the father he once believed he had lost. Even the apparition of Dexter’s father acknowledges this new dynamic with his final words being the very uncharacteristic, “Get that fucker.”

With Harry and Harrison on his side, Dexter appears rejuvenated, ready to embrace his true self once more. Can Dexter Morgan be a normal dad? It’s unlikely, but this duality has been a show staple from the start: the man who is both a father and a killer, a cop and a suspect. Most of his troubles throughout the series have stemmed from his attempts to either suppress the Dark Passenger or let his personal issues interfere with his life as Dexter. But perhaps he has finally turned a corner by defeating someone whose childhood trauma obliterated their moral compass.

Ultimately, Leon Prater meets his end while his name is chanted at a gala above, surrounded by his own ruthless trophies. Yes, the scene with Harrison and the syringe is somewhat awkward, but it’s a minor flaw in a season that has been remarkably self-aware, even in its choice of music. The DJ playing “Born To Be Alive” at the event right after Prater is killed—just as Dexter has been “resurrected”—is one of many clever touches. The use of “Stayin’ Alive” throughout the season also carries multiple layers, especially considering its connection to NYC and Saturday Night Fever.

The season’s best music choice, however, might have been easily missed. The smooth, jazzy tune playing as Dexter disposes of Leon’s remains overboard is “Cristo Redentor” by Donald Byrd. Inspired by Byrd’s visit to Brazil, the song’s title translates to “Christ The Redeemer,” referencing the ultimate story of resurrection.

Dexter Morgan has risen once more.