Resurrection’s big retcon could turn fans against the franchise

It is a busy time for the Dexter Showrunner Clyde Phillips announced the return of Michael C. Hall in Dexter: Resurrectionand production of the prequel series is in full swing. Dexter: Original Sin, He is part of both. The merger of Paramount with Showtime has led to an interest in expanding the Dexter universe, and this seems to have sparked the biggest retcon in the series’ historywith the revelation that Dexter survived the events of Dexter – New Bloodalthough Clyde Phillips had previously confirmed his death.

Dexter – New Blood was Showtime’s biggest ratings success, and this led to discussions about a Harrison spin-off series, but these plans were scrapped, and a prequel series, Dexter: Original Sinwas announced instead. Phillips and his team of writers began working on an idea of ​​how Dexter’s story could be continued New bloodAnd Dexter: Resurrection was confirmed by him and Michael C. Hall at the San Diego Comic Con 2024.

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The ending of Dexter: New Blood was retroactively changed, but the sequel series could fix the problems fans have with both finales

Dexter And Dexter – New BloodThe two finales of were not convincing in the eyes of many fans. However, it was very unexpected when showrunner Clyde Phillips announced that New blood would not really be the end, because Michael C. Hall will be in the upcoming Dexter Sequel series.

Fans wondered how this was possible after Dexter died from a gunshot wound to the chest inflicted by his teenage son Harrison. There was no ambiguity in this ending, and Clyde Phillips even confirmed Dexter’s fate in an interview with Deadline after the release of Dexter – New Bloodlast episode in 2022:

One of two things is possible here: Clyde Phillips suddenly changed his mind about killing Dexter and was so keen to give fans the ending they deserved that he begged Paramount and Showtime to let him make a sequel series to correct all the mistakes of the two finales. Or, when he discovered what a smash hit Dexter – New Blood Paramount and Showtime recognized the potential to make more money with the Dexter universe and hired Clyde Phillips and his team of writers to start thinking about ways to bring about the end of Dexter – New Bloodand keep Dexter alive.

Although he claimed Dexter was dead and it would be dishonest to tell the audience otherwise, Clyde Phillips did just that to the audience and he is now preparing to start working on Dexter: Resurrectionwith a planned release date in summer 2025. However, there is not only bad news, because Dexter’s return could actually fix the issues fans had with both finales and end the series on a better note that could ultimately satisfy the loyal fanbase.

Dexter: Resurrection has to be great, otherwise it risks losing fans due to the retcon of Dexter’s death.

If Clyde Phillips and the rest of the Dexter: Resurrection Writer’s Room has developed a great concept and the sequel series is praised as the best Dexter series ever, fans will forgive Clyde Phillips for lying to them about Dexter’s fate. If Dexter: Resurrection If it is implemented poorly, there is a risk of losing fans forever.

If Dexter: Resurrection leads to a third consecutive “ending” that the vast majority of fans hate, it could mean the end for the entire franchise. Despite the end of Dexter – New Blood Although it was a big disappointment for many fans, it was at least a definitive end to Dexter’s story, unlike the original Dexter series in 2013.

Michael C. Hall spoke in more detail about his return to Dexter: Resurrectionin an interview with Variety, where he confirmed that the spin-off sequel will not be a miniseries, which could be a cause for concern. It seems that this new version of Dexter could continue for several seasons, with no end in sight. The whole point of Dexter – New Blood was supposed to finally end a show that was on its last legs after eight long seasons.

Clyde Phillips was not responsible for the divisive ending of the original Dexter series, as he had given up his role as showrunner after the much-acclaimed fourth season in 2009. In fact, he had an alternate ending that was Dexter: Resurrectionwhich was significantly better than what fans got in 2013. But that ending has been around for many years now, and it wouldn’t be surprising enough for fans if it were used. Phillips and his team have to come up with something different in Dexter: Resurrection that satisfies the majority of fans. It is not like Dexter – New Blood was one of those TV shows that had the perfect ending and kept going, which means that it has potential for Dexter: Resurrectionis that continuity is ultimately a good thing.

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