Resurrection Was Just Sealed After Repeating Tragic Mistake By OG Characters

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Resurrection season 1, episode 4.Unfortunately, I think Angel Batista (David Zayas) may have just sealed his fate in Dexter: Resurrection by repeating the same mistakes that got Doakes (Erik King) and Maria (Luna Lauren Velez) killed. Of the returning Dexter characters in Resurrection, Angel Batista is easily the most prominent. Batista is almost universally beloved, and his inclusion in Resurrection was a very welcome addition.

From “la pasión” to his long history with Dexter (Michael C. Hall), Batista is a tremendous character. He’s also investigating Dexter as the Bay Harbor Butcher in Resurrection, which adds a great layer of dramatic tension to the sequel show. That’s why it’s so devastating that Resurrection episode 4 may have set the groundwork for Batista to meet his untimely end.

Batista Trying To Hunt Dexter Without Telling Anyone Else His Suspicion Is A Fatal Mistake

By Not Telling Anyone About His Suspicions, Batista Has Made It Even Easier For Dexter To Cover Up His Crimes By Killing Him

Even though Batista is investigating Dexter and believes he’s the Bay Harbor Butcher in Resurrection, he didn’t tell Quinn or Masuka about his suspicions. That’s the same mistake both Maria LaGuerta and James Doakes made: not telling anybody that they were investigating Dexter. Maria secretly told Angel, but it wasn’t nearly public enough to keep her alive.

The problem with trying to investigate Dexter alone is that it makes it very easy to cover up any suspicions. When Doakes and Maria died – neither by Dexter’s hand, interestingly – their investigations died with them. Maria and Angel both picked up Doakes’ original investigation years later, but that was only because new evidence came to light: a blood slide in Maria’s case and testimony from Angela Bishop in Angel’s.

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By not telling anybody who matters that he’s hunting Dexter, Batista is leaving himself vulnerable to having the investigation closed by his death. He did tell Claudette and the NYPD, but they don’t have the same personal attachment to hunt Dexter down if Batista winds up dead. Dexter or Harrison could get most of the heat they’re feeling off them by simply killing Batista.

Would Dexter: Resurrection Really Kill Off Batista?

Batista Is A Beloved Original Character, But Resurrection May Be Willing To Make Some Big Changes

It’s clear that Batista’s decision not to tell anyone in Miami about his investigation into Dexter is putting him in danger, but it’s not clear how much danger he’s actually in. It doesn’t really seem like Dexter: Resurrection would dare to kill Angel: he’s far too beloved. Angel’s hypothetical death may be the most emotionally devastating since Deb’s, and certainly since Maria’s in Dexter season 7.

Killing Angel, presumably in the finale of Resurrection season 1, could easily make it even more divisive than the ending of Dexter and the ending of New Blood. Aside from Dexter himself, Batista is probably the most universally loved character in the entire franchise; killing him would not be a popular decision. Resurrection and its writers are almost certainly cognizant of that.

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Still, Batista’s death isn’t completely off the table. Resurrection could use Batista’s death as a way to close out the old chapter of Dexter’s life and focus entirely on his life in New York. Killing Batista is also essentially the only way to get him off Dexter’s trail: even if he can’t prove Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher, he’s not just going to let this go.

If I had to guess, though, I would say that Resurrection is going to keep Batista alive. If anything, having him stick around as a recurring antagonist would make future seasons of Dexter: Resurrection better. Batista could essentially become the new Doakes, a hard-nosed detective who’s constantly breathing down Dexter’s neck and adding tension to the show just waiting for him to slip up.