New Revival Of 6-Part Crime Series Is Following In Dexter’s Footsteps

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Few British crime dramas have had the impact or staying power of Line of Duty. The popular BBC series revolutionized the genre with its intense interview scenes and complex plots. After a five-year break, Line of Duty is coming back for a seventh season, but it faces challenges in regaining the loyalty of its audience.

Created by Jed Mercurio, Line of Duty centers around AC-12, a police unit dedicated to rooting out corruption within the force. The show was very popular from 2012 to 2021, though the ending of season six disappointed many viewers. However, season 7 is planned as a fresh start, aiming to address those criticisms while still maintaining the core elements that made the show successful.

This is a good step, but it’s a tactic we’ve seen before in crime shows, particularly with HBO’s Dexter. Dexter has tried to revamp its story after disappointing endings – actually, twice. The way Dexter handled those revivals could be really helpful for the BBC’s Line of Duty, which lost some steam after the way season 6 ended, showing how to regain viewers’ trust and excitement.

Line Of Duty & Dexter Both Returned Soon After Disappointing Finales

Two Crime Giants Hit Reset After Finales That Frustrated Fans

Though Line of Duty and Dexter are very different crime dramas, they followed surprisingly similar paths. Both shows were huge hits, sparked intense fan speculation, and kept viewers on the edge of their seats. However, both series faltered noticeably near the end, leading their networks to essentially reboot them rather than allow disappointing finales to be their lasting impression.

The sixth season finale of Line of Duty was expected to finally reveal the identity of H, the mysterious figure pulling the strings behind the show’s biggest crimes. However, the reveal fell flat. Exposing the seemingly inept Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) as H felt intentionally underwhelming, and years of complex storylines ended with a twist that lacked impact and dramatic tension.

The confusing ending of Line of Duty weakened the powerful message about police corruption the show had carefully created. AC-12’s fight against wrongdoing felt less significant as a result. After building up so much anticipation to reveal the truth about ‘H’ and expose years of corruption, the finale didn’t deliver a satisfying conclusion. Instead, the story ended with a sense of compromise and left viewers wanting a more decisive and emotionally resonant resolution.

The show’s return for a seventh season is largely due to the feeling of dissatisfaction many viewers had with the last finale. This new installment of Line of Duty is being presented as a fresh start, allowing the series to explore new paths, adjust its overall feel, and develop its overarching mystery in a more satisfying way. It’s not about ignoring what happened before, but rather reigniting the excitement and delivering the resolution that fans felt was missing in season six.

Nearly ten years ago, the show Dexter dealt with a similar backlash. The original series finale, “Remember the Monsters?”, had Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) give up his old life, pretend to die, and go into hiding as a lumberjack. Many viewers found this ending disappointing and felt it didn’t offer a proper conclusion to such a complicated story.

Showtime brought back the popular series Dexter with Dexter: New Blood, setting the story in a new, snowy location and promising a final ending. While the initial episodes were exciting and reminded viewers of the original show’s suspense, the finale proved controversial. Many felt the ending was too quick and that characters acted in ways that didn’t feel natural or believable.

While the return of Dexter had exciting potential, the new season struggled to both honor the original series and move the story forward in a compelling way. Key conflicts felt less psychologically complex than before, and many fans were disappointed with how Dexter: New Blood concluded, seeing it as another unsuccessful attempt to revive the show.

In 2025, Dexter: Resurrection arrived, building on the lessons learned from Dexter: New Blood. This new installment prioritized well-developed characters, the impact of moral choices, and sustained suspense. The result was a more focused continuation that both fans and critics praised for capturing the essence of the original Dexter series, demonstrating that a franchise can bounce back with thoughtful reinvention.

The recent revival of Dexter wasn’t just a fix for past mistakes; it proved the show could still connect with viewers. With a new season on the way, Dexter: New Blood showed that even a poorly received finale doesn’t have to ruin a show’s reputation. By carefully adjusting its approach, maintaining a consistent tone, and honoring the characters’ journeys, it brought audiences back – and that’s exactly what Line of Duty needs to do with its seventh season.

What Line Of Duty Can Learn From Dexter’s Post-Finale Return(s)

A Comeback Blueprint That Shows What To Fix And What To Avoid

Everyone is excited about the new season of Line of Duty, but simply having anticipation isn’t enough to make it good. After the controversial ending of season six, the show needs a fresh start, both in terms of its plot and how it makes viewers feel. It needs to recapture the qualities that originally made Line of Duty a global success.

The show Dexter provides a great example of how to handle a TV series revival. The first attempt to bring it back after the finale didn’t go well, showing how easily things can go wrong. However, the second revival proved that careful planning and fresh ideas can successfully revitalize a franchise. Looking at both attempts gives us a clear guide to what to avoid and what to do right when bringing back a beloved show.

While Dexter: New Blood initially attracted viewers with its familiar characters and themes, it ultimately showed that simply revisiting the past isn’t enough to create a truly compelling story. The plot moved too quickly towards a conclusion before fully developing its characters or their reasons for acting, making key decisions feel forced and shocking rather than natural. Though it attempted to rewrite the ending of the original Dexter, it didn’t offer a satisfying conclusion on its own.

The success of Line of Duty depends on staying true to its core strengths. The show excels at detailed police procedure and intense psychological drama, and the new season needs to maintain that. Any big revelations must feel justified by solid evidence, skillful questioning, and realistic consequences. If the plot feels rushed or the villains aren’t well-developed, the new season risks repeating the problems viewers had with season 6 instead of fixing them.

Unlike its predecessor, Dexter: Resurrection worked well because it took a more deliberate pace and avoided the issues of New Blood. Like Line of Duty should, it focused on developing characters’ inner lives, building suspense gradually, and ensuring the story’s themes felt connected. The consequences of Dexter’s actions had weight, conflicts unfolded naturally, and the events of the finale felt earned. This careful approach not only brought the show back to its roots but also allowed it to evolve.

Line of Duty can learn from the later seasons of Dexter that maintaining a consistent tone is crucial. Dexter: Resurrection successfully continued the dark and morally complex themes of the original series, unlike New Blood, which softened those elements. Similarly, Line of Duty excels when it directly addresses corruption and combines realistic police procedure with intense suspense. As the show tries to improve upon season 6, it’s important that it doesn’t lose this core strength.

The next season of Line of Duty should learn from both Dexter: Resurrection and Dexter: New Blood. It needs to allow investigations to unfold naturally and re-establish what’s at stake within the police system. The emotional impact of the story needs to be as strong as the complicated police procedures. Simply altering the ending of season six won’t be enough; the new season needs to feel worthwhile on its own.

Bringing back a popular TV show always comes with a lot of pressure. Fans want to see the show grow and change, but they also want it to stay true to what they loved about it in the first place – and still be fun to watch. By looking at what worked and didn’t work with the recent Dexter revival, Line of Duty has a unique chance to overcome past criticisms and create a final season that lives up to its former glory.

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2026-03-23 15:40