Dexter Resurrection Just Killed Off A Major Character And Fans Are Losing It

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers from tonight’s episode of Dexter: Resurrection, titled “Touched By An Ángel.”

The Dexter franchise has never been shy about killing off beloved characters. Fans still remember the show ending Dexter: New Blood with the death of Michael C. Hall’s antihero — only to bring him back for Resurrection. But tonight’s episode delivered another gut punch: longtime fan favorite Angel Batista (David Zayas) is dead.

How it happened

In Resurrection, Batista has spent the season determined to clear the name of James Doakes, the Miami detective who was framed years earlier as the Bay Harbor Butcher. Convinced that his old friend Dexter Morgan was the real killer, Batista came out of retirement, reconnected with Joey Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Vince Masuka (C.S. Lee), and even pressed Dexter’s son Harrison for answers.

Batista’s obsession led him into the orbit of billionaire Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), who has become disturbingly enamored with Dexter. In tonight’s episode, Prater strapped Batista to a gurney, hoping to watch Dexter kill him. Dexter refused, freeing one of Batista’s restraints instead.

“We were partners once; maybe we can be partners again,” Dexter said in voiceover as he cut him loose.

But Batista wasn’t interested in reconciliation. Furious, he attacked Dexter. “This is for Doakes and for Maria. Your bullshit has to stop,” he told him, trying to strangle his old partner. The fight ended when Prater shot Batista five times. Mortally wounded, Batista confronted Dexter with the truth one last time: “Dexter Morgan, fuck you.” Moments later, he died.

Zayas speaks on Batista’s death

David Zayas, who played Batista across the original series, New Blood, and Resurrection, told Deadline he knew the character’s fate from the beginning.

“When they called me, they said, ‘We’re thinking of bringing Dexter back in a resurrection,’ and then explained the storyline of the season. My first thought was, ‘Wow, that’s great TV,’ and it is. It’s great for the story, but it’s also bittersweet in that you want to continue telling this story. But you know, having a 20-year run is not so bad.”

Zayas admitted he wasn’t sure at first about Batista’s parting line. “When I first read it, I wasn’t sure if those should be Batista’s final words. But when I thought about it, I realized those are the exact words that he should say at that moment. I’m glad that he didn’t let Dexter off the hook. I’m glad that this will be on Dexter’s mind forever.”

Reflecting on the role, he added, “I’m very proud of this character. This is the best job I’ve ever had as an actor, because I was able to develop this character from A to Z. I’m very grateful for that opportunity.”

Fans react in real time

The death immediately set off heated reactions online. On Reddit, some fans refused to accept it. One user wrote, “I don’t believe Angel is dead yet, he had to have worn a vest or something.” Another replied bluntly: “bro it’s over.”

Others were more resigned.

“If we know anything about this show, any death scene before the end of a episode can always have a twist. Or he’s just dead,” one commenter posted.

With only one episode left in Dexter: Resurrection’s first season, Dexter now faces Leon Prater without his old friend — and without the chance for redemption that Batista represented. Season finale is scheduled for the next week, Sept. 5th.