The long-awaited Dexter: Resurrection has introduced fans to a lineup of intriguing new characters, including Lady Vengeance, played by acclaimed actress Krysten Ritter. Known for her iconic turn as Jessica Jones, Ritter is diving into darker territory with this role — and she’s loving every second of it.
Lady Vengeance is no ordinary criminal. She’s confident, mysterious, and dangerously unpredictable — traits that Ritter says make her a perfect match, personally and professionally, for Dexter Morgan, played once again by Michael C. Hall.
“My character takes an interest in Dexter right away. There’s a natural chemistry and attraction there, and she wants to know more. She’s a loner. She’s a femme fatale,” Ritter explained in a recent interview. “She is very confident, but she’s also psychotic, deranged, and playful. She’s part of this serial killer group because she likes the money — and because it intrigues her.”
A Chilling Dinner Party Concept
One of the most fascinating elements of the new season is its central storyline — a series of macabre dinner gatherings hosted by Leon Prater, a billionaire philanthropist played by Peter Dinklage.
Prater secretly collects true-crime artifacts and invites notorious killers into his lavish New York apartment for private dinners. Among the invited guests are Lady Vengeance, Al/Rapunzel (Eric Stonestreet), Garreth/The Gemini Killer (David Dastmalchian), Lowell/The Tattoo Collector (Neil Patrick Harris), and Dexter himself — posing as another killer known as the Dark Passenger.
Uma Thurman portrays Charley, Prater’s right-hand woman, ensuring these dangerous meetings run smoothly… or at least as smoothly as possible when the guest list is full of murderers.
Colorful (and Deadly) Characters
Eric Stonestreet describes his character, Al/Rapunzel, as “a fun-loving Midwestern guy” and father of three, with another child on the way. He imagines Al as a traveling salesman who sells something mundane, but once a year heads to New York for this deadly dinner event.
“He gets to pick up souvenirs for the family, make some extra money, and enjoy the camaraderie,” Stonestreet said. “I think he sees these other killers as weirdos, but in a way, that’s part of the fun for him.”
David Dastmalchian’s Garreth, meanwhile, is a killer with a disturbing signature — he murders people in pairs and then “poses them together” in eerie tableaus.
“I imagine Garreth as part Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye and part Patrick Bateman from American Psycho,” Dastmalchian said.
A Support Group… for Serial Killers
While Prater’s dinners are meant to be a form of twisted entertainment for the host, they also function as a strange kind of support group for the killers themselves.
“It’s like a sacred space where they can truly be themselves,” Dastmalchian explained. “You wouldn’t talk about this stuff at work or around family, but here, they can drop the mask.”
For Dastmalchian, watching his fellow actors — who are also friends — dive into these characters was a highlight. He also noted how thrilling it was to see Dexter out of his native Miami and operating in a completely new environment.
“It felt like a much darker, higher-stakes version of the game Clue,” he said.
A Franchise With a Legacy
The Dexter franchise began in 2006 and has expanded to include multiple seasons, a prequel, and now this sequel. The prequel featured Patrick Gibson as a younger Dexter, still bound by his vow to only kill those who deserve it.
Stonestreet admits he’s been a fan of the series from the very beginning and still can’t quite believe he’s acting alongside Hall — not to mention sharing scenes with Uma Thurman.
“There’s just no other way to say it — it’s awesome,” Stonestreet said. “As actors, we’re also fans, so to suddenly be across from Uma Thurman is surreal.”
Improvisation on Set
While Dexter: Resurrection leans heavily into its dark tone, there’s also room for moments of levity. Ritter praised Stonestreet for bringing improvisational magic to the set.
“Eric is the king of improv,” she said. “Even off-camera, he brings so much to the experience. It created levity and camaraderie in those intense group scenes.”
Stonestreet said the freedom to improvise only worked because his co-stars were open to it.
“If I didn’t feel comfortable adding jokes, it wouldn’t be fun,” he explained. “Michael told me after seeing a cut that every single one of my improvisations made it in.”
Dastmalchian noted that Stonestreet’s improvisations weren’t all humorous.
“One of the great things in comedy is setting people up and then throwing them off balance,” he said. “I saw Eric do something genuinely creepy in the moment, and it was terrifying.”
The Balance of Humor and Horror
The combination of witty improv and chilling performances keeps Dexter: Resurrection from becoming too heavy. It’s a delicate balance that allows the audience to breathe between intense moments — and makes the unsettling scenes hit even harder.
The chemistry between cast members is evident both on-screen and behind the scenes. This camaraderie not only makes the viewing experience more engaging but also enhances the authenticity of their interactions.
Where to Watch
Dexter: Resurrection is currently airing on Showtime and is also available to stream on Paramount+. Fans of the original series will appreciate the mix of old and new faces, as well as the shift in setting and tone.
With Ritter’s femme fatale energy, Stonestreet’s improv brilliance, Dastmalchian’s eerie charisma, and Hall’s return as the morally complex Dexter, this chapter promises a fresh yet faithful continuation of the franchise’s legacy.