Summary
Dexter: Resurrectionwill begin filming in January 2025, and is due to air on Paramount + with Showtime next summer. The sequel series will see the return of Michael C. Hall as the titular serial killer with a code, but no other casting announcements have been made yet. Jennifer Carpenter is the only other cast member to appear in every episode ofDexterandDexter: New Blood. Carpenter’s character,Debra Morgan, died at the end of the original series in 2013, but she returned as Dexter’s ghost in 2021’s limited series, but it might finally be time to move on from this characterinDexter: Resurrection.
Debra Morgan will probably return in some capacity inDexter: Resurrection, but the sequel doesn’t need her to feature to be a success.Her return asDexter’s ghostinDexter: New Bloodwas a nice change from Harry Morgan, who appeared as Dexter’s subconscious apparition in the original series. However,Dexter: Resurrectionneeds to move in a different direction now.
Debra Morgan Was A Great Character But Her Story Is Finished Now And She Shouldn’t Return in Dexter: Resurrection
Jennifer Carpenter played Debra Morgan in all 96 episodes ofDexterbetween 2006-2013, and also appeared in all 10 episodes ofDexter: New Bloodas a ghostly version of Debra who was haunting Dexter from the grave.Dexter: Resurrectionnow has the opportunity to finally let this great character rest in peace, or it risks tainting her great legacy.
Debra had a remarkable story arc in the originalDexterseries, as she progressed from rookie cop to detective, and peaked when she became Lieutenant in the later seasons of the show. Things started to spiral out of control when the career she worked so hard for was compromised after she discovered her brother, Dexter, was a serial killer at the end of season 6. Debra chose to go against her obligations to serve the law, and covered up Dexter’s crimes.
Debra’s life went from bad to worse in the penultimate season, when she was faced with an impossible choice of killing her brother or Maria LaGuerta, who had discovered the truth about Dexter. She chose to save Dexter, and ended her career at Miami Metro Homicide. Her tragic arc came to an end in the final season when she was shot and killed by Oliver Saxon/Daniel Vogel (a.k.a. The Brain Surgeon).Many fans were outraged by her death, but in the Dexter-verse, there is always the possibility of coming back, and she did just that in 2021’sDexter: New Blood, playing Debra as a very aggressive figment of Dexter’s imagination.
Debra’s ghost was a great addition toDexter: New Bloodand it provided some important background to the guilt Dexter felt over his sister’s death, and a final goodbye to the character with the completion of her arc.Dexter: Original Sinmight link up with the sequel series,andalsoexplore Debra Morgan’s early years and that’ll add some context to the character, but she has nothing further to add to Dexter’s future story.
Debra Morgan Will Probably Return As Dexter’s Ghost Or In Flashbacks in Dexter: Resurrection
Debra Morgan is arguably the second most important character in the Dexter-verse after the serial killer himself, and it’s possible that original showrunner, Clyde Phillips wouldn’t have opted to kill her off in season 8 if he was in charge. Phillips left after season 4 of the original series, but he returned to helmDexter: New Bloodand he brought Jennifer Carpenter back as the ghostly Debra.Phillips will also be the showrunner ofDexter: Resurrectionand there’s a good chance the character of Debra will also be back.Michael C. Hallalso didn’t rule out Carpenter returning as Debra in the sequel series, during a recentinterview with Variety:
Never say never. This world has a sort of magical element, so I wouldn’t definitively say no to any proposition. There’s a whole cast of characters that populate his wider world and have the potential to re-emerge.
Of course, Debra Morgan’s return is possible alongsideother characters from the original series, despite her death. It wouldn’t be going against the legacy of the show if she did return, as dead characters have always populated the Dexter-verse. However,when a dead character does return, it’s always for a reason and there are no reasons left for Debra to return.Yes, she could play Dexter’s ghost again inDexter: Resurrection, but her last appearance inDexter: New Bloodfelt like a final goodbye between Dexter and Debra.
It’s possibleDexter: Resurrectionwill feature flashbacks of Debra to convey an important piece of information.However,Dexter’s prequel showwill have more than enough of Debra’s backstory to keep fans happy, and this could inform the events ofDexter: Resurrection, without Jennifer Carpenter reprising her role as Debra Morgan.
