Well, it’s the least-bad spinoff so far

On television, as in life, two things can be true. Dexter: ResurrectionFor example, is all that is wrong with the entertainment industry today. Like Showtime’s third Attempt to relaunch its formerly large drama, the series in a row embodies the preference opposed to the risk of modern Hollywood for intellectual property exhausted in a creative way on original ideas. At the same time, on the basis of the four episodes made available for examination, Dexter: Resurrection is a slightly pleasant surprise. Although it would be better for television as a whole if the show did not exist, it seems that the executive producer Clyde Phillips and the star of Michael C. Hall can simply be released one more observable season for their charismatic killer killer.

It is doubtful that many viewers come for the first time on this revitalized property with ResurrectionBut just in case, the show opens on a two -minute and a half minute summary in the last series in a row, Dexter: New blood. It ended with Dexter (Hall) probably died from a ball to the chest – after urging his teenage son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), to shoot him. But the following prequel series, Dexter: Original sinrevealed that Dexter is not dead. (Remember when the stories were allowed to finish? Me either.) Whatever, Resurrection Find Dexter living but languid in a coma in a New York hospital in the northern state and haunted by some of its most notable victims during its twilight sleep.

Once awake, Dexter is still not out of danger: his old friend and colleague of Miami Metro PD, Angel Batista (David Zayas), arrives and strongly indicates that he knows that Dexter is, in fact, the butcher of Bay Harbor. Meanwhile, Harrison – who fled to New York and now works in a high -end hotel in Manhattan – crosses with an unpleasant guest / series, Ryan Foster (Bryan Lillis). When Mr. Foster’s body appears to be dismembered in a landfill in the city, the police turned on Harrison – then Dexter heads for the Big Apple to dodge Batista’s questions and keep an eye on his son from afar.

Jason took Manhattan, so maybe it is logical that Dexter would eventually go to New York. Resurrection Was shot down on site, and the show takes problems to place dexter in notable city monuments, including Times Square, Central Park and Lincoln Center. Move the action to (another) new location helps Resurrection Feel a little fresher, but even with its first filled with a plot, the first three episodes of the program walk in a familiar and predictable territory. Dexter tracks down his next victim (Marc Menchaca) – A killer who targets carpooling drivers – while his father Harry (James notes) the request to be careful, and aggravated restlessness is trying to escape the suspicions of the police.

The problem is aggravated the dialogue and the fragile characterizations, which are both sometimes almost hilarious. “I don’t waste a perfectly good roof because of you!” Grunts promote the rapist before his death. The detective Claudette Wallace (Kadia Saraf), half of the duo trying to solve the murder of Foster, is an unbearable genius of painting by painting which, as his partner explains (Dominic Fumusa): “Sees things in a way that we do not do.” Frame.

Dexter has never been a particularly subtle spectacle, of course, but there is generally a level of self -awareness in your excess. Here, it looks like Phillips and his writers only save their efforts for episode 4, when the season takes place seriously – gracked a joyfully macabre development in Dexter’s social life, and a delicious herd of guest stars. We meet Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), a fanboy of venture capital / serial killer who organizes regular dinners for murderous inclined, including the tattoo collector (Neil Patrick Harris, overcoming the burden of a terrible wig); A murderer of a ponytail thief nicknamed “Rapunzel” (Eric Stonesreet, gives off the heat of the Midwest); the Gemini killer (David Dastmalchian); And Mia (Krysten Ritter), a sommelier who performs sexual predators, winning the name “Lady Vengeance” of the press.

Having funded by an invitation from Prater’s steel assistant, Charley (Uma Thurman, sporting an asymmetrical bob and a disgusted scabies), Dexter infiltrate the group in search of bad guys to bring to his killing table. Instead, he finds something else. “I said things this evening that I have never been able to express aloud before,” admits Dexter to Prater at the end of the night. “I didn’t know that was something I needed.” It is a fascinating dilemma for our anti-hero, and the one we have never seen him face in the history of almost 20 years of the franchise: should Dexter give up the “code” of his killer and embrace to be part of a community?

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It is established that PRATER will organize more events for his guests thirsty for blood during the rest of the 10 episodes season, and the prospect of spending more time with these characters – and the actors, who have clearly have fun – is intrigued to make me look. Dinklage is particularly fun as a dizzy and distinguished Prater, while Ritter balances ironic disdaining with a flirtatious charm like Mia. Hall is, as always, entertaining as a dexter, delivering the signature mixture of his impassive humor character and a serious facade. Although there are a few lead nods at the advanced age of Dexter – “How did you do old?” He deplores Harry – Hall himself seems to be energized by the torsion of the Prater.

In the first, Dexter tries to explain to Batista why he simulated his death and moved to the north of New York: “I needed a new start.” Well, the third time is charm – and I hope the last one. Grade: C +

Dexter: Resurrection First Friday, July 11 on Paramount + with Showtime.