"Dexter" Reboot Scores 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. What Are Audiences and Critics Praising It For?

Dexter Morgan, the polite forensic expert by day and cold-blooded executioner by night, is back. And he's not just back, but with a perfect 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes — a score the franchise never achieved even in its heyday.

What the Show is About

"Dexter: Resurrection" isn't a remake or simple continuation — it's an attempt to start fresh. Michael C. Hall (Dexter) is back in action, and Clyde Phillips, the producer behind the first and best seasons, finally gets his chance to bring his character to the ending he always envisioned.

Or almost bring him there — because despite the finale of "New Blood" (2021), Dexter is alive. He's been patched up and gone underground. New city, new faces, same old thirst for justice.

Actor Michael C. Hall stands in a black jacket looking to the side in red light — Scenes from "Dexter: Resurrection"

The plot kicks off where we didn't expect: weeks after Harrison's gunshot. Dexter regains consciousness, Harrison vanishes, and Miami suddenly resurfaces through Captain Batista, who's picked up the trail. Dexter races to New York — to find his son, clean up his past, and naturally, deal with a new killer. This time, the maniac is hunting taxi passengers.

Critics and Audience Response

But let's get back to the reaction. Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and reviews — it's a rare moment when film critics actually agree. Critics are writing about "emotional depth" and "plot density that was missing in New Blood." Viewers add: this is the Dexter we rooted for until season eight, plus something new — more mature, more self-reflective.

Actor Peter Dinklage with a short haircut and in white clothing, actress Uma Thurman in a green blazer — Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman in "Dexter: Resurrection"

Peter Dinklage — the new villain, charismatic and terrifyingly charming. Uma Thurman — his mysterious accomplice. The cast also features Neil Patrick Harris, Krysten Ritter, and even John Lithgow reprising his role as the "Trinity Killer." These appearances don't feel like cameos for the sake of cameos — more like smart fan service. Even Sergeant Doakes returns — as the voice of conscience, hallucination, memory? We'll find out this season (it premiered July 11).

Why You Should Watch

Important note: the series works as a standalone project too. For new viewers, Dexter isn't cult status anymore — he's mythology. And "Resurrection" gives you a chance to meet him fresh, without needing to rewatch eight seasons of the original. Everything important gets explained, subtext is clear, and the central theme — fatherhood, guilt, and the darkness you can pass down — hooks you from episode one.

Yes, it's still a story about a serial killer. But this time it's much closer to Greek tragedy than a thriller about a maniac's daily routine. There's less blood — but more questions. Who are you without your darkness? How do you become a father when you've been an executioner your whole life? And can someone like Dexter truly change? Critic Ben Rosenstock from TV Guide calls the reboot "the most compelling series in the franchise since the early seasons." We at zoomboola.com would add that the project has also become a reminder. A reminder that good stories don't die. They just wait for their moment. And that moment has arrived for Dexter.