Resurrection’ Theory Might Reveal New York Ripper Identity

Blessing (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) has been, well, a blessing in Dexter’s (Michael C. Hall) life in Dexter: Resurrection. He moves quickly from friendly rideshare driver to legitimate friend. As the show progresses, Blessing grows closer to Dexter, confiding in him about his life and his past. This blows back on Dexter when he accidentally reveals details about Blessing’s past to his daughter Joy (Reese Antoinette), which Blessing sees as a betrayal. It’s the first time fans see Blessing with anything but a smile or hopeful attitude. The reveal of the darkness he once harbored has fans wondering if the character could be central to the show’s biggest twist of all.

Is Blessing the New York Ripper?

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While investigating Ryan’s (Bryan Lillis) death, Claudette (Kadia Saraf) speaks frequently about the New York Ripper. He’s a serial killer who has evaded her and her predecessors for decades, causing Claudette to become obsessed with identifying and capturing him. His identity is likely someone fans have seen already, or else bringing the mysterious character so heavily into the story wouldn’t make much sense.

Some people have theorized that Gareth (David Dastmalchian) might be the New York Ripper as well as the Gemini Killer. With the reveal that he was a twin, it makes sense that one or both of the brothers could have been responsible for those vicious kills with a different signature as well. Others believe it could be Leon (Peter Dinklage), but Blessing being the killer would be an ultimate shocking twist.

Given his status as a family man with an infectiously positive attitude, it would make Blessing more skilled at hiding in plain sight than Dexter. He almost seems too perfect, overly nice, giving, and caring for his mother, Prudence (Sharon Hope). Even her death seems suspect: might she have felt like she was on death’s door and wanted to confess her son’s secret, causing him to kill her? It seems like a ludicrous theory, but there are clues to suggest that Blessing might be much darker than he seems to be.

Blessing Has a Dark Past

Blessing kneeling down talking to his mother as Dexter looks on in Dexter: Resurrection

While Blessing has lived in New York City with his mother since he was 13 years old, his past was anything but rosy. Growing up in Sierra Leone, he reveals to Dexter in Episode 6, following his mother’s death, that he was forced into becoming a soldier for the Revolutionary United Front in the civil war when he was just a child. He had killed people, and he looks back at that time in his life with regret and severe trauma. But maybe he couldn’t leave that darkness behind.

One slight issue with the theory is that it’s suspected that the New York Ripper started killing in the ’70s and ’80s, which is when Blessing was still a child. With that said, it’s not entirely impossible for him to have worked with someone else and then carried on their work. The New York Ripper has been quiet of late, and Blessing’s job as a rideshare car driver and his reignited focus on family might be what is keeping him from suppressing his urges.

The disclosure about his past to Dexter, as well as Blessing’s disappointment when he learns that Dexter told his daughter about it, suggests he has something to hide. His closeness with his mother also mirrors that of Dexter with his own father, Harry (James Remar). Is it possible that Prudence knew all along and tried to devise some type of code for Blessing, like Harry did, or at least cover up his crimes?

Are the Cats His Trophies?

Dexter in a suit holding a large cat ornament as Blessing's family members look on in Dexter: Resurrection.

One strange item that keeps appearing on the show has fans wondering: the cat ornament. While paying respect to Prudence following her death, the family allows everyone there to take one cat statue from her collection to remember her by. Dexter chooses a rather large one, and it features prominently in his apartment.

I can’t help but wonder if perhaps there’s evidence hidden inside that cat tracing back to Blessing as being the New York Ripper, like his own trophies. Should Dexter ever open the cat, he could discover harrowing secrets inside. Perhaps all the cat ornaments contain some type of trophy. The episode was, after all, called “Cats and Mouse,” which could be a red herring or could suggest something more. It’s also possible that Dexter eventually decides to use the cat himself to hide his blood slides.

Whether the New York Ripper is Leon, Gemini, Blessing, or someone else entirely, chances are high that Dexter will discover his identity by the end of the season. When it comes to Blessing, while so many fans initially viewed him as a Brother Sam (Mos Def) like character, a reformed man who found God and tried to show Dexter the light, the reveal of his dark past suggests that Blessing could be the biggest surprise of the season. I’m on the fence as to whether I want this crazy theory to come true or for Blessing to be exactly who he has appeared to be: a genuine friend and confidante for a vigilante killer who is blissfully unaware of what his tenant is up to in the middle of the night.

Stream Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount+ with Showtime.