I seriously thought that there were going to be only two “show-and-tell” acts this week, but I was quite surprised when Dexter: Resurrection episode 7’s ending introduced a third one, which was the most interesting of them all. And ironically, this third one wasn’t narrated by the person who committed those crimes, but by a third person, that is, Det. Claudette Wallace. I guess you’ve already got your hint.
Spoiler Alert
Since the beginning of the show, the identity of the New York Ripper has been a hot topic among fans, and episode 7 finally gave us some hints suggesting that this serial killer could be none other than the eccentric billionaire, Leon Prater, who has a thing for serial killers. First of all, the reason I believe Prater is the New York Ripper is because of the position of the wound on all his victims’ bodies. As seen in the photographs, all these people were ripped open from the abdomen with a sharp weapon. The show has already introduced the Ripper’s preferred weapon, which is a manhole hook, the one we saw in Prater’s trophy room in episode 4. Normally, if a person of average height were to attack someone with a manhole hook (considering its length), then they would either rip off their neck, chest, or upper abdomen, but all of the Ripper’s victims had cuts on the lower abdomen. You see, it’s quite an uncomfortable strike if the killer is in a standing position. Well, they could rip off someone’s lower abdomen if their victim was drugged, lying down, or knocked unconscious. But if they weren’t, that is, if they were running away from the attacker, then under normal circumstances, only a person of short stature could strike in such a way, and we already know that Prater’s an achondroplastic. I am not really pushing this theory, but trust me, that short “show-and-tell” by Det. Claudette dropped way too many hints that all point towards Prater. Furthermore, we still don’t know how Prater got the Ripper’s hook for his collection. Did the Ripper give it to him after he took an early retirement from serial killing, or was it a gift from someone else? Whatever the case might be, Prater felt really proud when he showed that trophy to Dex, as if he was speaking about his own personal accomplishments.
In episode 7, Prater told Dex that he had been obsessed with the details of murders since he was a boy. His parents died in a hit-and-run, and he just wanted to confront the driver, Cooper Morris, to understand what made him smash his truck into his parents’ car and kill them on the spot. Prater said that knowing what Morris was thinking when he killed his parents gave Prater the power to face the cruel world. But Prater’s obsession didn’t end with Morris. After his parents’ killer, Prater started visiting other serial killers in prison, and as he grew up, he started conducting these serial killer meet-ups, giving money to these murderers to do “show-and-tell,” that is, share the details of their most heinous crimes, which in a way satisfied Prater’s troubled mind. At the end of this conversation, Prater told Dex that the truth is never boring. One never really knows what kind of spark it could bring out in someone. Was he talking about his interaction with Morris, especially the one where he told Prater that he had killed before, and was in fact a serial killer? Did Morris’ truth inspire Prater to become the infamous Ripper?
Cut to Det. Claudette’s “show-and-tell” on the Ripper, and here one can spot something eerily similar. Claudette told the students attending the guest lecture that even though the Ripper had stopped killing years ago, for reasons unknown, he still continues to contact the victims’ family members to torment them with the “details” of how he killed their loved ones. You see, Prater has been displaying a similar psychopathic behavior (in a way). By revisiting the details of his kills (and others’) he was trying to relive those violent moments so he could continue experiencing the thrill of the hunt even though he wasn’t exactly killing people anymore. And I think Dex has already made the connections. He’s too smart to miss such details, no matter how intricate. And I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next episode we find out that Prater knows Dex’s secret too. Maybe he became aware of his real identity the moment Dex stepped into his mansion, because it takes a serial killer to know another.
If I am already theorizing so much, then I think it would be safe to assume that Prater stopped killing because of his newfound socio-economic status and popularity. It’s what Det. Claudette pointed out: the Ripper’s cruelty is calculated, not careless. Prater couldn’t afford to taint his image in society, and therefore found other ways to satisfy his urges. However, if you still think Prater’s the obvious answer, then the next best option we have is Blessing Kamara, who likely stopped hunting down his victims after his mother silenced his demons and showed him a way to experience such ecstasy without spilling blood. Though I am not very convinced of Blessing being the Ripper. It’s quite forced; you cannot have all the characters harboring some dark secret, because that will only make the show monotonous and unrealistic. So, that’s my two cents on Prater, but do share what you think about the Ripper’s true identity in the comments below.
One of the most interesting questions here is, does Charley, Prater’s right-hand, know the truth about her employer? I mean, the show, at various intervals, had pointed out that Charley’s not exactly a fan of Prater’s fascination with serial killers or their trophies. Maybe for her, it’s all just the obsession of a bored wealthy man, but what if she finds out there’s more to this hobby than meets the eye? How is she going to react to such a revelation?
Coming to episode 7’s ending, Angel Batista made it clear to his old pal, Dex, that he was not going to get off his back anytime soon. He wouldn’t stop following him until he had revealed to the world that the real Bay Harbor Butcher was still active, and he was none other than Dexter Morgan. During the concluding moments of the episode, Batista left his AirPods in Dex’s UrCar to track down Dex and all the places he had visited. Well, it’s possible that Dex will lead Batista to Prater’s wrap-up party. As soon as the guests returned from the retreat, Prater told Dex that they usually break a final meal together before going their separate ways, and I believe that’s where Dex is going to go in the next episode, and Batista will follow, only to wonder how Dex knows this venture capitalist billionaire.
Oh sorry, I totally forgot. Before the members of this serial killer group go back to their usual lives, Dex has to find a way to terminate Al, who he believes is the only guy left to kill. But maybe the shocking revelation in episode 8 will be that there’s one more killer in the group, who is, drum roll, Prater himself. And so you know whom Dex is going to hunt next after Al is dealt with.
