TV's Riskiest New Crime Thriller Is Perfect From Start To Finish
1 week ago
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Updated
Apr 29, 2026, 9:15 PM EDT
Shealyn Scott is a Self-Publishing Senior Writer at Screen Rant. She has been writing for the site since 2024, focused on network, reality, streaming, and classic television.
A creative writer, journalist, and lover of the written word in all its forms, Shealyn enjoys deconstructing scenes from her favorite shows, using context clues and historical precedent to predict major plot points (which, due to her successful track record, has sparked rumors of clairvoyance).
As an award-winning student journalist, Shealyn spent her college years advocating for the humanities while studying English Literature. Her love of storytelling propelled her to expand her degree with minors in Writing and History, believing life to be a mere collection of stories that can be framed in as many ways as a movie scene.
As a Senior member of the TV Team, Shealyn treats the series she covers like books, analyzing every line, camera angle, and lighting choice. Thankfully, her personal mission statement lines up perfectly with Screen Rant: every creative work deserves just as much thought from the viewer as it received from its creator.
Paramount+ has one of the best crime thrillers of the decade thus far, but it ironically hails from an extremely controversial franchise. Throughout television history, there have been countless iconic crime shows that rose to prominence as pop culture staples, ranging from prestige dramas like The Sopranos to long-running institutions like Law & Order. Each decade has its own shortlist of memorable titles, but when it comes to the 2000s, few crime thrillers were nearly as impactful as Dexter.
Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Is A Masterpiece Throughout All 10 Episodes
The Revival Had Big Shoes To Fill, But It Succeeded With Flying Colors
Simply put, Dexter: Resurrection season 1 is sheer perfection. All 10 episodes are phenomenal, appealing both to longtime Dexter fans and those who simply love the genre. From the start, the aptly-named series "resurrects" Dexter Morgan with a bang, setting up the rest of the tremendous season with care. Admittedly, the slow pace may have dragged at certain points, but it's undeniably a good omen when the very first installment is the weakest link of the series. Even at its so-called worst, though, the first episode of Dexter: Resurrection is still a fantastic introduction to the franchise's new era.
As soon as the thriller truly kicks off, however, it never slows down. Between pitting the central antihero up against Dexter: Resurrection's new serial killers— some played by all-star actors who steal every scene— to diving into the muddy waters of his relationship with Harrison (Jack Alcott), the spinoff captures something entirely unique. At once, Dexter: Resurrection captures the thrilling cat-and-mouse feel of the original series while imbuing the overarching narrative with captivating emotional depth.
Furthermore, unlike prior titles in the franchise, Dexter: Resurrection manages to keep its momentum building all the way to the climactic final episode. From dangerous murderers on the loose to shocking character-driven pivots, there are enough twists and turns to keep the viewer firmly on the edge of their seat. Plus, while the season finale tied up most storylines with a bow, masterful world-building and a cheeky fourth-wall break have perfectly set the stage for Dexter: Resurrection season 2.
Dexter: Resurrection Proves Anyone Who Gave Up On Dexter Wrong
The Newest Installment Has Already Broken The Franchise's Worst Trend
There was a time when Dexter was irrefutably the biggest crime thriller on air, but its infamous fall-off led many viewers to lose faith in the franchise at large. After eight long seasons, the original series ended with a semi-scorched earth; most of the show's most prominent characters were either dead or far away from Miami, Florida. Rather than commit to Dexter ending the cycle once and for all, sadly, the once lauded drama instead gave its main character the "lumberjack" ending, also known as one of the worst TV finales ever released.
Every Series In The Dexter Franchise
Title
Years
Dexter
2006–2013
Dexter: New Blood
2021–2022
Dexter: Original Sin
2024–2025
Dexter: Resurrection
2025–Present
The first sequel series, Dexter: New Blood, tried to right the franchise's past wrongs with its own bold finale, but ostensibly killing off the main character proved to be even more controversial than the original ending. Following a double-dose of disappointment, countless people understandably gave up on the franchise. The infuriating back-to-back finales earned Dexter a tremendous amount of bad blood from critics and the audience alike, making Dexter: Resurrection a major gamble.
Thankfully, that risk paid off in dividends based on the satisfying ending of Dexter: Resurrection season 1. What could have easily been another disappointing spinoff— and, perhaps, the final nail in the franchise's coffin— instead felt like a breath of fresh air. The new installment's breakout first entry may even be the best Dexter story the world has seen since the original first aired almost 20 years ago.
The best new crime thriller series of 2025 remains the ultimate weekend binge, even though finishing it in just one sitting is a challenging feat.
Yet, Dexter: Resurrection didn't just prove that Dexter Morgan could still pack a punch. The refreshing spinoff showed the numerous naysayers that the franchise was still capable of top-tier, prestige television— a much-needed departure from the days of Dexter's later seasons and the entirety of New Blood. Hopefully, season 2 will only get better from here and capitalize on Dexter's (literal) new lease on life.
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