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| Dexter: Resurrection Season 2 – Does Dexter Finally Kill Rapunzel? |
Yes, Dexter Morgan finally kills Al Walker, better known as Rapunzel, in the season 2 premiere of Dexter: Resurrection. However, their long-awaited confrontation is far from the straightforward execution Dexter had planned. What begins as another carefully arranged hunt quickly turns into a dangerous fight for survival, leaving Dexter with an unexpected change of attitude towards his own activities.
In the season 1 finale, Al Walker narrowly escaped Dexter's attention thanks to some conveniently timed travel plans. Behind his friendly personality and apparent devotion to family life, Al was hiding a rather unpleasant secret. He was a serial killer who targeted victims and kept their ponytails as trophies, earning him the nickname Rapunzel among law enforcement. Dexter had already encountered him through Prater's exclusive gathering of serial killers, but their first meeting never resulted in the outcome he wanted. Three years later, however, circumstances finally give Dexter another opportunity.
Dexter Sets His Sights on Al Walker Again
The season 2 premiere, titled 'Risky Business', opens with Dexter continuing his search for the dangerous individuals connected to Prater's files. Over the past three years, he has managed to track down and eliminate two serial killers from the collection. So, when news emerges that Rapunzel has apparently returned to his old habits in Pennsylvania, Dexter immediately sees an opportunity to settle unfinished business.
This time, he has no intention of allowing Al to disappear again. After learning that another victim has been discovered in a Pennsylvania state park, Dexter prepares for an overnight road trip. His decision is particularly interesting because he has already made a commitment to attend Harrison's graduation ceremony. Apparently, balancing fatherhood with an increasingly complicated collection of murder investigations is still not one of Dexter's strongest skills.
The timing could hardly be worse. Dexter needs to travel across state lines, locate Al, arrange the encounter and complete his plans before returning for his son's important day. It is an unnecessarily ambitious schedule, even by his standards. Nevertheless, he remains confident that the operation will be relatively simple.
Once in Pennsylvania, Dexter discovers that Al is staying at the state park with his family. Rather than approaching him directly, he uses his old fabricated identity, Red, to reconnect with the killer. Al recognises his former acquaintance and remains somewhat suspicious, but eventually agrees to meet him at an abandoned auto body shop.
For Dexter, this appears to be the perfect opportunity. He has managed to get his target away from his family and into a location where he can control the situation. Unfortunately, Al is not quite as trusting as Dexter would like to believe.
Dexter's Plan Goes Wrong When Al Recognises His Tricks
Before their scheduled meeting, Dexter sneaks into Al's recreational vehicle to search for evidence of his crimes. He eventually discovers the trophies he has been looking for: the ponytails taken from Al's victims. Their discovery gives Dexter the confirmation he needs and allows him to move forward with his plan.
He then prepares the abandoned auto body shop as the location for the confrontation. By this point, however, his carefully organised schedule has already started falling apart. Dexter misses Harrison's graduation, although his son handles the disappointment more calmly than expected.
It is another reminder that Dexter's personal priorities and murderous activities rarely fit together particularly well. He might be trying to maintain the image of a supportive father, but travelling overnight to confront another serial killer is hardly an ideal way to demonstrate parental commitment.
When Al finally arrives at the body shop, Dexter continues pretending to be his old friend Red. Yet the atmosphere quickly changes when it becomes clear that Al already knows something is wrong.
Rapunzel has discovered that someone stole his trophies from the RV, and he has correctly worked out that Dexter is responsible. In other words, Al has not walked into the meeting expecting a friendly reunion and a pleasant conversation about old times. He knows exactly what might happen, and he is prepared to defend himself.
The confrontation soon becomes physical, catching Dexter off guard. Instead of maintaining control of the situation, he finds himself fighting for his life against an opponent who is considerably more prepared than he anticipated.
Al manages to overpower him on several occasions, eventually getting close to choking him to death. For a moment, Dexter appears to have made a serious mistake by underestimating his target. Fortunately, he manages to reach a nearby chain and wraps it around Al's neck.
Using the connected remote mechanism, Dexter raises the chain and lifts Al off the ground. The move leaves the killer suspended and struggling until he eventually dies from the pressure around his neck.
Yes, Dexter kills Rapunzel, bringing Al Walker's story to an end. However, the aftermath of the confrontation is arguably more interesting than the actual fight.
Why Does Dexter Leave Al Walker's Body Behind?
Ordinarily, Dexter follows a familiar routine after completing an execution. He cleans the scene, removes the body and makes every effort to prevent the authorities from discovering what happened. His carefully maintained methods have helped him avoid unwanted attention for years.
This time, though, he does something completely different.
Rather than disposing of Al's body and cleaning up the evidence, Dexter leaves the entire scene untouched. The abandoned auto body shop becomes a crime scene waiting to be discovered, with the remains of Rapunzel providing the authorities with an opportunity to identify the killer.
Dexter initially explains that he wants the police to find Al and establish his identity. From that perspective, leaving the evidence behind seems like a deliberate decision to ensure that the authorities finally connect the killer to his crimes.
However, there is another explanation that becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. Dexter later admits to himself that his decision might have been motivated by a desire for attention. He appears to be developing an interest in having his actions recognised rather than simply completing his personal mission and disappearing into the background.
That is a significant development for someone who has spent most of his life trying to remain invisible. Dexter has always presented himself as someone with a strict personal code, targeting dangerous killers while keeping his own activities hidden. Yet his latest behaviour suggests that the satisfaction of eliminating criminals might no longer be enough.
There is now a possibility that he wants other people to know what he has accomplished. And considering his history, seeking recognition is probably not the safest new hobby he could have chosen.
Our Opinion: Dexter's Victory Comes With an Interesting Warning
Dexter killing Rapunzel is a satisfying conclusion to a storyline that has been waiting for its moment since season 1. Al Walker was introduced as a dangerous but elusive figure, and bringing him back gives the premiere a clear objective. The confrontation also works because Dexter does not simply walk into the room and win. He makes mistakes, underestimates his opponent and comes dangerously close to becoming another victim. That makes the eventual victory considerably more entertaining.
However, the most interesting detail is what happens afterwards. Leaving Al's body behind suggests that Dexter's motivations could be changing in ways that are more complicated than simply hunting other killers. His apparent interest in recognition creates an intriguing question about how far he might go to satisfy his growing ego. Meanwhile, missing Harrison's graduation adds another uncomfortable reminder that his double life continues to affect his family. It is an entertaining start, but Dexter might be creating bigger problems than he realises.
Ultimately, Al Walker's time as Rapunzel ends with Dexter's victory, but the circumstances surrounding the killing leave plenty of room for further complications. Dexter has eliminated another dangerous individual, yet his decision to abandon his usual methods could attract exactly the kind of attention he has spent years avoiding.
His growing desire for recognition also raises questions about whether his personal code is beginning to change. What do you think? Was leaving Al's body behind a clever way to expose another killer, or is Dexter becoming too confident in his own reputation? Share your thoughts on the season 2 premiere and whether this new direction could create trouble for him.