The world of Dexter has never shied away from shocking deaths. However, the latest twist in ‘Dexter: Resurrection’ might be its boldest move yet. Episode 9, “Touched by an Ángel,” delivered a gut punch no fan was prepared for.
It showcased the on-screen death of Detective Angel Batista, one of the few surviving legacy characters from the original series. Played by David Zayas since the pilot episode in 2006, Batista has been one of the most enduring and beloved figures in the franchise. So, his brutal death at the hands of Leon Prater, an obsessive Dexter-obsessed villain, was particularly devastating.
“It Gave My Character A Button”: David Zayas Speaks On Angel’s Death
After being kidnapped by Prater, Batista found himself in an impossible position: a pawn in someone else’s twisted game. When Dexter refused to kill his old friend, Prater pulled the trigger himself, leaving Angel to spend his dying breath cursing the man he once trusted. His last words were bitter: “F**k you, Dexter Morgan.” In an interview with Variety, David Zayas admitted he initially struggled with Angel’s exit.
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“To be honest, the first time I read the script, I said, ‘I don’t know if I want to say this,’” Zayas recalled. “But then I realized this has to be it. It’s not necessarily just about you. It’s about progressing the story of Dexter: Resurrection and what comes next for Dexter.” That realization shifted his perspective. Zayas explained that Batista’s last words gave the character’s arc the finality many actors can only dream of.
“It really gave my character a button at the end of his life that I think works. After I said that, that part of me that questioned it now hoped they wouldn’t change it, because it’s a great way to throw a wrench into that story.” For Zayas, Angel Batista wasn’t just another role. Over nearly 20 years, he became part of the DNA of the franchise. “Not every actor is lucky enough to get such meat on the bones of a character that they could really sink their teeth into,” he reflected.
He called Batista “the best job I’ve ever had.” His death marks the end of an era, but also the start of something new. By removing yet another person who knew Dexter’s true identity, ‘Resurrection’ is clearing the field and heightening the stakes. Prater’s ruthless actions have now established him as a truly dangerous villain. He is someone capable of breaking the rules of legacy character protection.
Why ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Was Cancelled
Angel’s shocking death isn’t the only major development in the Dexter universe this week. Variety previously confirmed that Paramount has canceled ‘Dexter: Original Sin‘, the prequel series exploring a younger Dexter. This comes after a confusing renewal announcement earlier this year, which has now been walked back. Despite wrapping its first season in February 2025, ‘Original Sin’ never moved forward with production plans for a second.
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Instead, Paramount’s focus is firmly on ‘Dexter: Resurrection’. Sources reveal that a writers’ room for season 2 is already in the works, even before the first season’s finale airs on September 5. With Michael C. Hall once again front and center, the revival has been a massive success. So, the decision to double down on ‘Resurrection’ rather than ‘Original Sin’ seems practical.
Bold storytelling, like Batista’s shocking demise, suggests that Resurrection is being positioned as the flagship of the franchise’s future. And it makes sense. After all, the original Dexter finale in 2013 left a sour taste in fans’ mouths, widely regarded as one of the most disappointing endings in TV history. ‘New Blood’ in 2021 attempted to course-correct, but even that was divisive. Now, with ‘Resurrection’, it feels like the franchise is finally willing to take risks again.
