Episode 3 ‘Backseat Driver’ Review

This article contains spoilers for Dexter: Resurrection: Episode 3 – ‘Backseat Driver’

The first two episodes of Dexter: Resurrection were warmly received by fans, with this spinoff series proving to be both refreshing and familiar at the same time. After finding the identity of the Dark Passenger in the previous episode, ‘Backseat Driver’ saw Dexter Morgan on the hunt, which added a level of intensity that will set this one apart.

Meanwhile, tension continues to rise for Harrison Morgan in an episode that felt gripping and fast-flowing from start to finish. It carries on the strong start that Dexter: Resurrection has made, progressing the plot nicely.

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Dexter’s Search For The Dark Passenger continues

Audiences Get To See Dexter’s Kill Table For The First Time

The third episode of Dexter: Resurrection saw Dexter search for the man using his name, continuing in a manner that blended the typical awkward Dexter humor with his talent for tracking down his prey. Dexter is shown as a ride-share driver, with his ratings being low, and having him in that environment provides some humor to balance out his hunt for his next target. Blessing Kamara attempts to help him with that, with his character proving to be one of the show’s true good guys so far. He encourages Dexter to show a photo of his son to gain sympathy, but he’s more interested in the metal that he uses to fix a hole.

‘Backseat Driver’ also harkens back to the original series as Dexter is shown hunting down the Dark Passenger, just as he used to do with his victims in the past. This episode brings that classic feeling that fans are sure to love, but once again, Dexter: Resurrection adds popular music in the background, which helps give it a fresher feel. All of that culminates in the Dark Passenger ending up in the back of his car, leading to a genuine moment of tension as he experiences what the newest serial killer in town is capable of. Dexter gets trapped with Red setting up to kill Dexter in the way that has previously been shown, by sawing off the head. However, Dexter has the upper hand, wearing a metal plate around his neck so he doesn’t get hurt by the wire, which allows him to inject the Dark Passenger in classic fashion.

It leads to audiences getting their first taste of a classic Dexter scene, with his victim on his table. Dexter rolls back the years and goes through the classic build-up to dispatch his victim, letting him know “there’s only room in this world for one Dark Passenger” in the process. It might have taken three episodes to get to, but fans have finally seen Dexter doing what he does best, with America’s favorite serial killer proving he’s not lost his touch just yet.

The Walls Are closing In On Harrison Morgan

Harrison Morgan Makes A Major Confession

The other major storyline that is taking place so far in Dexter: Resurrection is focused on Harrison Morgan, after he murdered a guest at the Empire Hotel. While he cleaned up the kill perfectly, this week saw the pressure begin to mount on Dexter’s son as the New York City Police Department questioned him. It created one of the most intense moments of the episode, and proved that this season isn’t going to slow down with its approach, which is one of the reasons it has been so convincing. Harrison opts to lie about what he does at the end of the night on his infamous kill, as he pretends he went to a bar.

Meanwhile, Detectives Wallace and Olivia follow the exact footsteps that Harrison took, as audiences are shown flashbacks to how Harrison disposed of the body, set to the song “Staying Alive,” which felt appropriate. Harrison gets a glimpse at them in action when it suddenly dawns on him that they’re closing in on his tail. The second interview then sees the police break down exactly what happened in painstaking and gruesome detail. They show some sympathy for the way Harrison acted, offering him a way out, which leads to him making a serious confession. However, it’s not the one people are expecting. Instead, he retracts his lie about going to a bar, revealing his homelessness, and that he stays at the hotel, using Elsa as his alibi at the moment.

Dexter Learns About A Unique Dinner Party For Serial Killers

Dexter: Resurrection’s ‘Backseat Driver’ Sets Things Up Nicely

‘Backseat Driver’ also pushed things forward to the next episode, which is likely to see many of the other serial killers teased in the original trailer make themselves known. That’s because Dexter learns of the invite and the money that had been left for the Dark Passenger, whom he killed. Dexter finds the money and the invite to a unique dinner party specifically for serial killers, and he manages to rescue his finger before it’s too late, so that he can access it. While there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding this storyline, the slow tease is something that’s paying off for the show.

Dexter: Resurrection hasn’t held back on surprise cameos so far, and that continued this week as Joey Quinn and Vince Masuka returned to the series as Angel Batista reveals he’s retiring. While they question what he’ll do next, Batista makes it clear he has personal things to take care of, as he hints at there being one thing he cannot let go of, which is his desire to uncover the truth about Dexter. It’s another gripping storyline that is running through this series, which features three key plots that all link back to Dexter in some way, ensuring each episode of Dexter: Resurrection moves between them and remains fast-paced.

Dexter: Resurrection

Release Date

July 13, 2025

Network

Showtime

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  Michael C. Hall

  Dexter Morgan

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  Jack Alcott

  Harrison Morgan