Dexter has returned to the world as a rideshare driver, but his rating are… Abysmal. He must first battle some inner demons, and then face a literal representation of his “Dark Passenger.” Dexter after his 10-week medically induced coma. Now, he steps up his campaign against Ronald Schmidt, aka “Red,” out to remove what he considers an imposter. Dexter’s craft and Dexter himself as an imperfect but dangerous animal make you want to take a ride. He prepares himself to meet Red in a specially designed kill room. On a personal level, Dexter continues to suffer from the pain of being estranged from his son, Harrison. Looking for relief, he turns to acupuncture for relief. Dexter takes the stage, poised for a showstopping faceoff. He provocatively spits on his Dark Passenger’s grave, and then loudly matures a thirst for revenge, and a thirst for blood.
Dexter's Calculated Pursuit
Dexter’s methodical approach to hunting Red might not have been so clear without the long planning process. He starts by running a deep dive background check on Ronald Schmidt, finding everything he needs to dot the i’s to go forward with the case. Dexter quickly acquires etorphine from an online veterinary prescription service. To get past his target’s defenses, his weapon of choice is the most powerful tranquilizer known to man. This somewhat cold-blooded premeditation stresses Dexter’s ever-present dependence on his rituals, even after a long dormancy.
Dexter’s confidence in manipulating the situation is palpable. He skillfully repurposes Red’s apartment into a kill room, designing it specifically to suit his dark purpose. This act demonstrates Dexter's transformation in his renewed commitment to his dark calling and shows his focus and dedication to his sinister goals. The radical transformation of the apartment also signals Dexter’s ultimate wish for mastery and control to prevail. It cements his standing as chief executive of the predator scoreboard in this murderous contest.
Dexter’s pursuit of Red has seemed particularly cut and dried. This sense of ease undercuts the real story behind the curtain—who Red really is, and what tough work is to come. Is Red really the Dark Passenger Dexter hopes him to be, or is Dexter walking into a trap?
Confronting the Imposter
That final confrontation between Dexter and Red is a particularly loaded moment, infused with tension and fate. Dexter’s move to reassure his safety by concealing a flap of body armor beneath his turtleneck. This smart measure is a testament to his experience and understanding of the threats that he contends with. Dexter’s cleverness drives home how ready he is for a more fatal confrontation, emphasizing his deeply thought out plan of keeping himself and others safe from harm.
As Dexter injects Red with a needle, he delivers a chilling promise:
"Kill you soon, Red." - Dexter
This legislative statement highlights Dexter’s fierce determination to destroy what he views as a threat to his survival. Dexter’s darker side, injecting Red is Dexter’s attempt to keep his dark passenger in check. Those impulses are given almost a corporeal effect in the figure of Red.
In one blissfully cathartic moment of brutal reckoning, Dexter finally plunges his knife into Red, killing the imposter and putting an end the other’s trail of terror. This act represents Dexter’s complete repudiation of the impostor Dark Passenger, a definitive portrait of his triumph over pernicious impulses. Dexter's actions are driven by a desire to reclaim his identity and restore balance to his life, even if it means resorting to violence.
Reflections and Consequences
Dexter’s dogged pursuit of Red is marked by its own internal anxieties and external entanglements. In the retrospective, Costner laments the time he lost and the impact it had on his son, Harrison.
"I pushed him too hard to be like me, but in the end, I wasn’t even being true to myself." - Dexter
Dexter is growing in self-awareness. Through this journey he comes to learn that his darkest impulses can be dangerous, that he’s got to keep it real and true. Dexter's recognition of his flaws suggests a potential path towards redemption, as he grapples with the consequences of his choices.
Dexter’s path to self-discovery adds another layer of complexity with his physical and emotional pain. He finds post-coma pain relief through acupuncture, this holistic approach providing a smart juxtaposition to his bloody wrath. This contrast serves to externalize the conflict within Dexter between his desire to heal and his dependence on a self-destructive outlet.
Ultimately, Dexter's confrontation with Red leads him to a profound realization about his identity and his place in the world.
"I’m Dexter, and there’s only room in this world for one Dark Passenger." - Dexter
This declaration signifies Dexter's acceptance of his true nature, both the darkness and the light, and his determination to control his destiny. Dexter confidently claims his new identity, representing a turning point in his emotional healing journey. He emotionally and physically accepts his multifaceted, ugly adult self, and readies himself to face the repercussions of his behavior.
