Dexter's Shifting Identity In "Dexter: New Blood" and "Dexter: Resurrection" Via Sandwich Choices
Tuna, The Jim Lindsay Sandwich
A sandwich as far from a cubano as possible, representing Jim Lindsay's attempt to distance himself from Dexter Morgan as much as possible by following a careful routine.
There are reports that this sandwich dulls the serial killer's senses, so he is no longer able to recognize dark passengers in others (which would be a doorway to temptation).
Perhaps the tuna sandwich also dulls the mind and body in other ways, leading an experienced serial killer to leave a blood trial all the way back to his cabin like an amateur. 🤔
Jim Lindsay consumes this sandwich every day at lunch as part of his carefully-followed dark-passenger-dulling routine. A single day's deviation from tuna sandwich lunchtime-consumption—a single deviation from the routine—results in disaster: Jim snaps and kills someone the morning after being unable to get a tuna sandwich because the bar and grill was unexpectedly closed for lunch.
Pastrami On Rye, The Between-Identities Sandwich
A sandwich that neither Jim Lindsay nor Dexter Morgan would choose. The sandwich of a man trapped between two identities and desires, unable to bring himself to return to the tuna sandwich and the self-imposed exile, abstinence, and (he has come to find) failure it represents, but not yet ready to return to the sandwich that defines his true self—the cubano.
Crucially, Jim/Dex chooses this in-between sandwich in an episode called "Too Many Tuna Sandwiches", representing his rejection of Jim Lindsay and the dark-passenger-dulling properties of tuna, while various scenes also show his refusal to reclaim the identity of Dexter Morgan:
He is found out to be Dexter Morgan by Angela, and asks her to keep his secret saying he couldn't be Dexter Morgan anymore, because Dexter Morgan is cursed.
He attends therapy with Harrison, where he is once again asked to discuss/confront his old life, but can't bring himself to do it.
The Dexter Morgan identity is something he is terrified to reclaim, but the Jim Lindsay identity also fails to provide the safety he once thought it did—for himself, and and more importantly, his son. Jim fails to provide proper emotional support to Harrison, and also fails to notice a real world threat to Harrison (Kurt).
This man now trapped between two identities rejects tuna, but does not accept the cubano either. He chooses a sandwich that is neither fish nor pork, but beef. The pastrami on rye is the sandwich of indecision, confusion, fear, and rejection—a rejection of ones old life and new life.
The Cubano, the Dexter Morgan Sandwich
At the start of Dexter: Resurrection, various ghosts urge the in-between-identities-man to return to his true identity as Dexter Morgan and protect his son. Angel Batista arrives, telling him that Dexter Morgan has been legally resurrected, and gives him a cubano.
One of Dexter Morgan's Pilot-episode-defined-traits is his love for cuban sandwiches. By accepting and enjoying the cuban sandwich, he is fully embracing his true identity as Dexter Morgan once again.
Cuban sandwiches—like tuna once did—become a routine.
But not the dark-passenger-dulling tuna routine!!!!
The dark-passenger-feeding cuban sandwich routine!!!
The sandwich that reminds him of Miami and his Florida man roots—his serial killing roots—a sandwich representing indulgence and what brings one true joy. The sandwich that defines him.
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