EW chatted exclusively with the original Dexter cast member who reprised his role Sunday in the special event series.
Do not read unless you have seen the fifth episode ofDexter: New Bloodon Showtime.
Look who came for a visit?
Seacia Pavao/SHOWTIME
In Sunday’s episode ofDexter: New Blood,David Zayasreprised his role as Sgt.
Angel Batista in a scene involving Chief of Police Angela Bishop (Julia Jones).
“It brought back amazing memories,” he tells us.
“It was so much fun to be back.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY When did you get the call to do appear in the event series?
DAVID ZAYASI believe that had started when I got a call from [showrunner] Clyde Phillips.
I said, ‘of course, great.
When do you want me to be there?’
Is it fair to say that you were giddy?
I’m always giddy whenever I get a job!
So wait, this appearance at the hotel where you were giving a speech.
Is that the only time we will see Batista?
You’re going to have to wait and see!
So when we see Batista, he’s still obviously working in Miami?
He’s a captain now because he’s had so many years of experience.
He didn’t waste any time flirting with Angela.
That’s what I loved about what Clyde wrote.
Batista always goes goo-goo for pretty girls without knowing their intentions.
He’s had a history of doing that.
I wouldn’t say he’s a good judge of picking somebody who might be maybe right for him.
He just gets infatuated.
He’s genuinely looking for a connection with women.
Let’s go back to the season 8 finale.
How did you feel about the way they said goodbye to your character?
There are always mixed feelings, right?
I felt it might’ve been a little underwhelming.
You always want to do more and you always want to be involved more.
It’s almost like it was left like that on purpose so wecouldcome back.
And in the finale, Batista sees Dexter commit something but he just lets it go.
I’m talking about when Dextertakes the pen and stabs the guyin the neck.
I tried to negotiate to myself, “why he would let it go?”
And then I realized that if it was someone close to me that I respected and loved …
I think it could go either way.
So when you heard Showtime was bringingDexterback, did you think “I knew it?”
So when I heard about this, I was very surprised.
So I would say yes.
Did Angel wear the fedora since day one?
Yes, from day one.
In the beginning, I wasn’t a cop.
The whole hat thing was a combination of many things.
I liked the look because it was in Miami and I’m Puerto Rican.
I have a lot of uncles with hats just like that.
Very stylized I wanted to put that into this character.
Dexter: New Bloodairs Sundays on Showtime.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
