by Austen Terry, Contributing Writer
Studios seem to have only one goal in mind now and it’s to bleed beloved IPs dry, and Showtime is taking that stance with Dexter. In 2022 Dexter: New Blood was the first revival of the show, and now they’re bringing Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel, into the mix. As well, they are building Dexter: Resurrection, a revival of the original series. Michael C. Hall will never escape the titular role that has made him a household name. New Blood didn’t fix the problems left by the lackluster finale of the original series, with the pandemic causing it not to have a bigger sendoff. So now fans are given a prequel where Hall returns as narrator, but all new actors take on iconic roles of Dexter, Harry, Deb, and other favorites.
The show starts where the revival ended, and we have Hall’s Dexter revisiting his life and his first kill. We are introduced to 20-year-old intern Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson), who is still trying to learn how to fit in and deal with his Dark Passenger. Along for the ride as always are Debra Morgan (Molly Brown) and Harry Morgan (Christian Slater), who help Dexter in their own ways. Dexter’s new friends and colleagues, Detective Angel Batista (James Martinez), Vince Masuka (Alex Shimizu), and Detective Maria LaGuerta (Christina Millian), help him fit in at work, and unknowingly control his Dark Passenger. Hall’s narration helps bridge this gap as we see Dexter learn several of his trademark quirks that make the character a lovable serial killer.
Prequels require good actors to fill the shoes of the returning beloved characters. Well let me tell you, casting directors John Papsidera and Kim Winther need one hell of a raise and a huge bonus. Sometimes you get lucky with prequels, and maybe one or two actors are perfect, but not every returning character is perfectly portrayed as they are here. Gibson nails every aspect of Dexter, and is an excellent addition. Finally seeing a young Dexter that’s not Hall in a bad wig is great. Brown and Slater fill the shoes left by Jennifer Carpenter and James Remar brilliantly. The same goes for Martinez, Shimizu, and Millian, who not only portray their characters well, but even have the right looks. All this helps a fan of the original series feel like they are home back in Miami Metro Homicide.
Series creator Clyde Phillips had a slight misstep with Dexter: New Blood, but he corrected that within the first episode as we are taken back to Dexter’s first kill: Harry’s nurse. That’s not a spoiler, since we saw it in the original series, but it’s beautifully recreated here, and if you watch the the two scenes side by side, it’s clear how well Gibson picked up on Hall’s mannerisms. Having this kill take place early lets us know this show isn’t drawing things out; we are diving head-first into the thick of things and seeing how Dexter is born. Phillips and his team were able to bring the best out of their actors. This show is not an empty shell of the past — it can be its own thing as well.
Chemistry is always key, and Gibson and Brown pick up the relationship of Dexter and Deb perfectly. Gibson and Slater also work well, showing the stress Harry goes through in helping Dexter be safe and able to do what he does. Everyone’s chemistry is on point. In particular, I enjoyed the arc of LaGuerta being new to homicide and experiencing what Deb did in the original series.
The season’s story is compelling, because it’s not just a typical case-of-the-week show. Dexter can move and do what he does, but there has to be a bigger villain out there. The show starting this villain’s arc the way it does sets him up to be worse than Dexter could ever be. Even Dexter shows his human side because of the things the villain does — I hope we get more.
This season establishes it’s about 10 to 15 years prior to the original series, and we could easily get a solid four or five seasons of a good show here. I just hope Showtime gives us more, and doesn’t drag their feet like other studios do.
Rating: Loved It
Dexter: Original Sin is currently streaming on Paramount+
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