Dexter Resurrection Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Charley’s Deal and a Better Hour

Dexter: Resurrection season 2, episode 2, “Fallen”, is a better hour than the premiere. It streamed on Paramount+ on November 6, 2026. Dexter gets a deal he did not ask for, Harrison starts work in Homicide, and the Five Borough Killer shows up on a rooftop. We liked it more than episode 1, and we hope every episode from here gets more interesting.

Spoiler warning: this review covers the whole of season 2, episode 2.

Dexter Resurrection season 2, episode 2: what happens

Reviewers agree on the main beats of “Fallen”:

• Charley offers Dexter a deal. Uma Thurman’s Charley, Leon Prater’s former head of security, tells Dexter she regrets her part in Prater’s club. She wants to help him find and stop the killers still out there. Her offer comes with a private townhouse with a soundproofed room downstairs, which is nearly perfect for him.
• Harry weighs in. James Remar’s Harry, Dexter’s late father, appears as his conscience and nudges him toward the offer. Dexter agrees, and the first target is the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger.
• Harrison starts in Homicide. It is his first day, and his training officer turns out to be the woman he spent the night with, who is also the captain’s daughter. It is awkward, and it keeps him close to the detectives chasing the Five Borough Killer.
• Joey Quinn knocks. Quinn has moved from Miami Metro to private investigation and is looking into the survivors of Prater’s network. He wants Dexter’s help, and Dexter agrees to give it. It feels like a ruse, and Dexter appears willing to play along for now.
• Dexter meets the New York Ripper. Brian Cox’s Don Framt is arrogant about the police being nowhere near an arrest. Dexter wants him, but Harrison asks his father to leave Framt to Wallace and the police, and Dexter agrees for now.
• The ending. The Five Borough Killer has promised a kill on Broadway. While Dexter and Charley talk through their plan, a body drops from a roof. Dexter spots the killer up there and vows to deal with him.

What the critics say

The reviews are mixed but not harsh. But Why Tho gave the episode 6 out of 10, praising several strong sequences but calling it an hour that needs to pick a lane, with too many storylines pulling in different directions. Other reviewers were warmer: ShowSnob enjoyed the episode and all its storylines, and We’ve Got Backissues called it a thoughtful, well-paced hour.

Our take: better than episode 1

I liked this one, and I liked it more than the premiere. Our episode 1 review gave the opener an 8 out of 10 but called it a slow start. Episode 2 moves, and it finally gives Dexter something to do beyond the midlife crisis: a deal, a base and a first target.

The Charley partnership is what gives the season a spine. A Dexter with an ally who wants him to hunt is a different show from the lone killer, and I am curious to see how long it stays friendly. I also hope every episode from here gets more interesting, because the Five Borough Killer on the rooftop is exactly the kind of ending that should pull you into the next one.

The weak spot, according to the critics, is that the episode juggles a lot. Harrison, Quinn, the Ripper and the Five Borough Killer all get time, and not all of it lands equally. We would rather have a busy episode that goes somewhere than a slow one that sets the table.

What episode 3 needs to answer

• How does Dexter deal with the Five Borough Killer, who is now close enough to see him?
• What is Quinn really after, and does he get close to the Bay Harbor Butcher?
• Can Dexter keep his promise to Harrison and stay away from the Ripper?
• How does the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger get lured to New York, and does the first kill under Charley’s deal go to plan?

Episode 3 streams on Friday, November 13, on the Paramount+ Premium plan in the US. The season has 10 episodes, with the finale on January 1, 2027.

More Dexter: our episode 1 review and our list of Halloween horror shows.

Is Dexter getting better for you, or are you still waiting for the season to find its feet? Tell us in the comments.

Sources: But Why Tho, ShowSnob, We’ve Got Backissues. Featured image and trailer: Paramount+, from the official Dexter: Resurrection season 2 trailer on the Paramount Plus YouTube channel. Dexter: Resurrection is a Paramount+ series; all rights belong to Paramount and Showtime.