WARNING! This article contains minor SPOILERS for Dexter: Resurrection season 1, episodes 1 & 2!Almost two decades into the franchise,Dexter: Resurrectionis the first time that a major franchise staple will be absent. With Dexter being “reborn” after miraculouslysurvivingNew Blood’s ending, the latestsequel series looks quite a bit different from past spinoffs. Not only has the location shifted to New York City, butResurrectionalso takes on an even darker tone, with plenty of fresh faces and killers ushering in a brand-newDexterera.
That said, much more than inNew Blood,Dexter: Resurrection’s castbrings back a substantial number of original characters, including some that died long via the titular killer’s hallucinations. However, there are still some belovedDexteractorswho surprisingly aren’t back forResurrection, despite having appeared in every other outing so far. That includes one of the franchise’s most important characters, whose absence is difficult to ignore.
Dexter: Resurrection Is The Franchise’s First TV Show Without Debra Morgan
Jennifer Carpenter Doesn’t Reprise Her Role In Resurrection
The fourth TV show in theDexterfranchise is thefirst outing without Debra Morgan as a main character. Though Jennifer Carpenter’s character Deb died inDexter’s divisive original finale, with Dexter pulling the plug on her life support after complications from a gunshot wound left her brain-dead, the beloved character still returned in the franchise’s subsequent two outings.
Jennifer Carpenter’s Debra appeared as Dexter’s hallucinated voice of reason throughoutNew Blood, taking over from James Remar’s Harry Morgan in the original series. Played by Molly Brown, Deb then returned as a teenager in thecast of characters for the prequelDexter: Original Sin, which chronicles the Morgan family’s experiences in the early 1990s amid Dexter’s early days as a serial killer.
Dexter: Original Sin
Molly Brown
In each series so far, Deb has been a major character with close ties to Dexter Morgan’s story, regardless of whether they’re young adults still living together, working together at Miami Metro, or one is constantly hallucinating conversations with the other out of guilt. As such,theDexterfranchise has never truly known a life without Deb untilResurrection.
Of course, Deb isn’t gone from the franchise for good, as Molly Brown will return as her teenage counterpart inDexter: Original Sinseason 2. However, it still doesn’t feel the same seeing Michael C. Hall on-screen as Dexter without Jennifer Carpenter’s hilarious, foul-mouthed Deb beside him.
It was back in February 2025 thatCarpenter confirmed her absence fromDexter: Resurrection, explaining that she wished the project well butfelt her time in the franchise was over:
“I am pretty focused where I am, and I feel like I’ve completed that box. I’m proud of it. I hope that they’re having a wonderful time.”
WhileJennifer Carpenter’s role in1923season 2gave her a great new law-related character, her absence is still deeply felt inDexter: Resurrection. However, withJames Remar returning as Dexter’s dark passenger inResurrection, there wouldn’t be enough space for both dead Morgan family members to share that major role in the new series.
Deb’s Absence Leaves A Big Gap In The Show’s Tone & Dynamic
Deb’s Signature Humor & Relationship With Dexter Can’t Be Replicated
Deb was central to some ofDexter’s darkest original moments, especially in later seasons after she confessed her love for Dexter,killed Maria LaGuerta, and went down a difficult path with drugs and alcohol in season 8. However, she was alsoan unparalleled source of comic relief throughoutDexter,New Blood, andOriginal Sin, as her sarcasm, dark humor, and expletive-filled lines shifted the tone from Harry and Dexter’s more serious dispositions.
Without Deb,Dexter: Resurrectionfeels much darker in tone.
Deb’s signature humor and unique presence leave a noticeable hole inDexter: Resurrection, andthe new series doesn’t have a beloved figure to replace her. Dexter has always had great moments of dark humor, but his tone is very different from Deb.
Furthermore,Deb is an important figure in keeping Dexter groundedand proving his capacity for love and empathy, with their distinctive dynamic being inimitable. Dexter still hasJack Alcott’s Harrisonto emphasize his ability to love and protect others, but their dynamic is far more distant, strained, and guilt-ridden than his relationship was with Deb. Without Deb,Dexter: Resurrectionfeels much darker in tone.
Dexter Morgan himself also feels even more isolated and lonely without Deb. Although Dexter was still isolated inNew Blood, his hallucinations ofDeb simultaneously gave him a voice of reason, a sister, and a friendto have as a constant companion. With Harry, it’s different. His interactions with Dexter are rarely light-hearted or tinged with humor, and he’s still a father and teacher rather than a confidante.
Deb Still Plays An Important Role In Dexter’s Resurrection Story
Deb’s Death Continues To Weigh On His Conscience
While Deb doesn’t appear inDexter: Resurrection, she’s still a big influence on his return to life and journey reuniting with Harrison. When he’s coming out of his coma,Miguel shows him the graves of innocent people whose deaths he caused or felt responsible for, including Deb. Dexter often reflects on how his actions have killed the people he loves the most in this world, and Deb is perhaps the biggest example.
With a new lease on life, Dexter is taking more risks than before, but he isn’t forgetting the end result of his mistakes.Deb’s death is a source of guilt that he’ll eternally carry with him, and is a fate he’ll work as hard as possible to prevent for Harrison. Not to mention,returning character Angel Batistais on his trail and will be intent on getting justice for Deb, LaGuerta, Doakes, and others inDexter: Resurrection.
