After more than a decade of silence, a ghost from Dexter Morgan‘s blood-soaked past is returning, and fans couldn’t be more intrigued. Erik King is officially reprising his iconic role as James Doakes in ‘Dexter: Resurrection.’
Although he’s not returning to life in the literal sense, his presence as a hallucination promises to shake Dexter to his core. Executive producer Clyde Phillips recently confirmed that Doakes will be part of the new series as a spectral figure. He will join other dead characters such as the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) and Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits).
Justice For James Doakes Is Long Overdue
James Doakes, the no-nonsense detective from Miami Metro, was perhaps one of the few people who truly saw through Dexter’s charming facade during the early seasons of the original series. Their cat-and-mouse tension was electric, and it all came to a head when Dexter, in one of his darkest moves, framed Doakes as the Bay Harbor Butcher. The fallout led to Doakes’ death and his reputation being irreparably tarnished.
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Now, more than 13 years after his character’s death, Doakes is returning as a hallucination to haunt Dexter, who is still grappling with the consequences of his long string of murders. The very idea of Doakes reappearing in Dexter’s mind is poetic justice. It suggests that even though Dexter has physically escaped justice time and time again, his conscience may finally be catching up with him. For longtime fans, this development is deeply satisfying.
Doakes’ return as a hallucination may not bring him back in the flesh, but it holds the potential to fix one of Dexter’s biggest injustices. For many viewers, the treatment of James Doakes was one of the original show’s worst moral missteps. A dedicated and heroic detective, Doakes was ultimately punished for doing his job. The idea that he died with the world believing he was a serial killer has never sat right with fans.
But ‘Dexter: Resurrection‘ could finally bring closure. With Angela Bishop having exposed Dexter as the real Bay Harbor Butcher in ‘New Blood’, the groundwork has been laid for Doakes to be publicly exonerated. If the truth about Dexter goes public (as seems likely, especially with characters like Batista returning) Doakes’ name could finally be cleared.
How ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Can Fully Explore James Doakes’ Journey
As we all know, Dexter’s hallucinations aren’t just storytelling gimmicks; they’re manifestations of his internal reckoning. To see Doakes again is to see Dexter come face-to-face with one of his most cold-blooded betrayals. Beyond ‘Resurrection’, Doakes’ reappearance may signal exciting developments for ‘Dexter: Original Sin’.
In case you missed it: ‘Dexter’: Real Serial Killer Inspirations And Dark Truth Behind The Story
The prequel series dives into Dexter’s early life and has already begun laying the foundation for key relationships. Yet, James Doakes has been noticeably absent, until now. So, bringing Erik King back in ‘Resurrection‘ gives the character renewed relevance. In fact, it makes perfect narrative sense. ‘Original Sin’, which explores Dexter’s formative years within Miami Metro, could also explore a younger Doakes.
Reintroducing him in ‘Resurrection‘ reminds audiences of his importance. Additionally, it also gives ‘Original Sin’ the green light to further explore this pivotal relationship. James Doakes has long stood as a symbol of justice and integrity in the Dexter universe, even if his ending was unjust. So, his return in Resurrection marks a crucial moment of reckoning.
