Dexter: Resurrection season 2 just fell short of season 1 on Rotten Tomatoes
Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 has landed, but its Rotten Tomatoes score is already trailing Season 1’s.
Right, Dexter: Resurrection is back for Season 2, and if you were hoping for another round of rave reviews like last time, well, brace yourself. Early reaction suggests things aren’t quite hitting the same high notes.
Let’s get straight to the point: over on Rotten Tomatoes, the new season’s only managed a score of 86% from seven critics so far. Compare that with Season 1’s 95% (based on a much meatier 63 reviews) and it feels like a bit of a comedown. That said, the door’s still open for the numbers to shift as more reviews roll in post-release.
Season 2 currently holds an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, nearly ten points below the first season’s 95% mark.
What’s new in Season 2?
This time around, Dexter Morgan’s not just chasing his own demons. The new series throws in Brian Cox as the notorious New York Ripper and Dan Stevens as yet another colourful psychopath, the Five Borough Killer. So there’s no shortage of adversaries. Dexter’s also forced to grapple with getting older (because apparently, serial killers have midlife crises too), and his son Harrison hasn’t given up the family tradition of brooding over dark justice. Michael C. Hall’s back as Dexter, Uma Thurman turns up again as Charley, and Jack Alcott returns as Harrison.
What do the critics reckon?
If you’re after consensus, you won’t find it here. Some critics have been reasonably pleased, others are clearly feeling a twinge of déjà vu or even fatigue. ScreenRant’s Sean Morrison is probably the most enthusiastic, claiming the new episodes are 'devilishly delightful'. From the other camp, San Francisco Chronicle’s Bob Strauss thinks the latest batch of murders feel pretty routine, and reckons the show is flirting a bit with self-parody.
Collider critic Tania Hussain writes: 'There are some growing pains, but the series finds its footing fast, and though Dexter might be getting older, there’s still plenty of life left in his Dark Passenger.'
Matt Fowler at IGN seems to think there’s at least potential for something fresh if the show takes Dexter’s midlife reckoning in a genuinely new direction. For now, though, the verdict is a mixed bag, and it’ll be interesting to see where the audience lands once the whole season is out.
- Season 2 of Dexter: Resurrection premieres 30 October 2026 on Paramount+ Premium.
- Michael C. Hall, Uma Thurman, Jack Alcott all return to the cast.
- New baddies: Brian Cox (New York Ripper), Dan Stevens (Five Borough Killer).