Aimee Garcia will return as Jamie Batista for the eighth season of Dexter as Dexter’s babysitter, and Angel’s younger sister.

Aimee Garcia has confirmed that she will be returning for the eighth season of Dexter.

Aimee Garcia appears to have been a hit with Dexter‘s producers after compelling performances as Jamie, Dexter’s babysitter. Garcia first starred way back in season 6, when she really did become a part-time mother for Dexter’s only child, Harrison.

Since then, Garcia has been involved in some significant sub plots within the world of Dexter, going from the girlfriend of Louis Greene, who attempted to murder Dexter, to becoming Quinn’s new acquaintance. Garcia certainly has the pedigree to hold her own.

There’s definitely more substance on the way for Garcia, as Jamie is slowly moving into the more elite group of characters. We last saw Jamie in the closing episodes of season 7, with her older brother Angel deciding whether to leave Miami Metro, for a more reserved way of life, running his own restaurant. This is a storyline we expect to be cleared up within the eighth season.

With Garcia back for her third season though, this does ask us questions about the nature of her’s and Harrison’s relationship. Harrison is coming into pre-school age, and with this in mind, is Dexter going to allow a part-time nanny to become the motherly figure in Harrison’s life?

We can assume that this will be a plot line within season eight, but whether Hannah McKay interrupts Jamie’s relationship with Harrison is a whole other debate. Thus, if Hannah does assume that role, this will not make Jamie completely redundant. Her new onscreen romance in Quinn may be her main objective, after Quinn appearing to lose Nadia in the closing stages of season 7.

We’ll have to wait and see what is around the corner in season 8 for Garcia, but what do you think of her return to season 8? Is Jamie a character desperately needed? Or, is Jamie there to keep Harrison preoccupied whilst Dexter settles down?

Tune in to the eighth season of Dexter over on Showtime, airing June 30.