‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Boss on That First Kill, and Why the Prequel Series Reveals Dexter Is [SPOILER] After ‘New Blood’

As a longtime fan of Dexter, I was both excited and apprehensive when I heard they were revisiting the character’s past. However, after watching “Original Sin,” I must say that it has surpassed my expectations.

⚠️ Caution: This discussion reveals plot details from the first episode of “Dexter: Original Sin,” currently available on Paramount+.

“Things were a little messy in the beginning…”

18 years ago, during the first season of Showtime’s serial killer series “Dexter”, audiences witnessed how Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall) described his initial murder. To put it gently, this defining moment for the morally complex murderer was shown in Episode 3, where a disheveled Dexter had difficulty controlling but ultimately ended the life of a nurse who was attempting to poison his hospitalized father.

Yet, there was more to it than met the eye. The initial broadcast of the prequel series “Dexter: Original Sin” showed the scene anew, but this time from a fresh angle. In this new installment, Michael C. Hall, who portrayed Dexter for eight seasons and the 2019 continuation “Dexter: New Blood”, hands over the spotlight to Patrick Gibson. He steps into the role of a young Dexter, just 20 years old, who has graduated from medical school and begins his career with the Miami Metro Police Department as a forensic intern.

In this story, the young character Dexter, whose thoughts are spoken by Hall, struggles to control his urge to kill and manages to resist it under his adoptive father Harry’s (Christian Slater) guidance. However, when Harry suffers a heart attack triggered by Dexter’s confession of attempting to kill a frat boy who assaulted Deb (Molly Brown), he gives Dexter permission to kill. While in the hospital, Dexter suspects that Nurse Mary is causing Harry’s deteriorating health and ultimately receives instructions from his father to eliminate her.

This situation often results in the recurring image of Mary entering her plastic-covered living room, where an energetic Dexter jumps on her and ultimately immobilizes her at his typical table. Here, she protests that she merely aimed to alleviate her victims’ suffering, only for Dexter to retaliate with a fatal stab wound. Over time, this is how things unfolded. However, showrunner Clyde Phillips, who held the same position during Seasons 1-4 of the initial series and “New Blood,” explains to EbMaster that understanding young Dexter’s mental state was crucial in adding depth to a scene that builds on what viewers previously knew.

Phillips notes that our comprehension of Dexter’s character, particularly his relationship with his father and his compulsion to kill, deepens beyond Season 1. He emphasizes the importance of exploring Dexter’s internal struggles, such as the fraternity fight, which represent temptations he must overcome. Moreover, we should witness how this urge proves overwhelming for him.

Phillips discussed with EbMaster the concept of familiarizing himself with a younger Dexter following so many years, an idea he found difficult to dismiss, as well as brainstorming a fresh approach to depict that initial kill scene. Moreover, he pondered over why the prequel series, “New Blood,” initiates by resolving the cliffhanger from the sequel series.

Right out of the gate, viewers get answers to the ending of “New Blood.” Dexter actually survived what was seemingly a fatal gunshot from his son Harrison (Jack Alcott). Did you always see this as a continuation of that series?

In essence, this new show isn’t a continuation of “New Blood,” it stands on its own. The initial scenes, an idea proposed by Chris McCarthy, are designed to confirm that Dexter Morgan is still alive. This allows us to incorporate Michael C. Hall’s narration and offer viewers some optimism as we commence filming “Dexter: Resurrection” in January, which indeed follows the storyline of “New Blood.

Very intentionally in those first few moments though, the show plunges right into Dexter’s psyche while they are trying to save his life. As much as the original show tried to put you in Dexter’s mind, this really seems like we are living in one of Dexter’s flashbacks.

In this narrative, we find Dexter reflecting on his past, delving into his origin tale. As the series “Original Sin” progresses, it transitions from an origin story to a growth tale. Notably, in future installments, we film scenes set in two distinct timelines – one is 1991, where Dexter is 20 years old; and another is 1973, the year when Harry first encountered Dexter’s mother Laura. It’s a thrilling ride because each time we switch between these eras, it feels refreshing.

With the return of Dexter in “New Blood,” and with “Resurrection” coming soon, this world has been more sprawling. Was it an enlightening exercise to reacquaint yourself with what made Dexter who he is as you start looking toward his future?

It’s been an enjoyable experience! I was involved in the original “Dexter” series, and now I get to revisit it from multiple perspectives, such as a family perspective and a father-son one. The first episode shows Harry’s baby drowning, which offers insight into his actions throughout the series. We delve into the complex and loving relationship between Dexter and Deb. Furthermore, in the premiere’s finale, we see Dexter returning to work at Miami Metro.

For our TV series, we filmed some scenes in California, then recreated an identical Miami Metro set in Studio City on a soundstage. Amazingly, my colleague managed to find the original blueprints for this set, which were surprisingly still on paper. Nowadays, everything is digital, but he found them! As a result, the set is an exact replica. It was quite a sight when Michael visited the set and saw it. We felt like we had traveled through time while time itself remained frozen.

The premiere debuts the younger iterations of Batista (James Martinez) and Masuka (Alex Shimizu), who are dressed and act almost identical to their counterparts from the original series. It’s uncanny, as if they hadn’t changed in 15 years. Why bring back these characters in this way?

In our casting process, we consistently aimed for top-notch actors. Remarkably, I managed to secure all my preferred picks – a rarity in itself. For instance, James Martinez, who portrays Batista, initially sported a substantial beard, but after a haircut and the addition of a hat, he effortlessly transformed into the character. Similarly, Alex Shimizu, our Masuka, possesses a resemblance to C.S. Lee, making him an ideal choice. His comedic timing also improved significantly after practicing his laugh with C.S. himself. Patrick Gibson, whom we affectionately call Paddy, was our initial selection for Dexter. He spent extensive time with Michael C. Hall, studying and refining his gestures to a point where they resemble Michael’s, yet without us claiming they are identical as he needs to develop the role further.

Not only do we have Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar on board, but it’s a real score! When I shared this with my daughter, she excitedly said, “Dad, now even my generation will tune in to this show!” That’s exactly what we aim for. We’re already blessed with a dedicated fan base that we value greatly. However, our goal is to expand this audience as much as possible, both younger and older. This collection of ’90s TV stars resonates perfectly with us.

Speaking of the diehard fans that know Dexter’s mythology so well, they will know that his father Harry is not long for this world. He has a heart attack in the premiere, and he recovers. But canonically, he dies pretty soon after Dexter joins Miami Metro. How are you going to play with expectations to keep even those fans guessing?

We’ve had numerous discussions with Christian regarding this topic. Once you watch the entire series, which consists of 10 episodes, you’ll realize that the story unfolds within a span of two to three weeks. As for Harry, we aim to keep him around for quite some time, just like Christian. This pattern was also applied in “New Blood.” The events took place from right before Christmas up until shortly after Christmas.

A huge touchstone of Dexter’s story was always his first kill, but you already did it in the original series. How did you approach it again for this episode?

It was an interesting thing. We sat with white boards in the writers’ room, and we talked and talked about everything. The way we realized we needed to look at it was from a different point of view from the first season. Part of it was that we understand Dexter more than we did in Season 1 of the original show, and we understand his relationship with his father and his unstoppable urge to kill. We needed to stay in his head and see him face temptations like the fight at the fraternity. We need to see how the urge is too big. And also, this nurse is killing his father and that just ain’t going to happen.

In the original series, that moment is merely a flashback. But “Original Sin” gives you the context of everything around that kill.

Visually and viscerally.

What struck you most about redoing Dexter’s first kill nearly 20 years later?

In this series, there’s a comedic element that stood out for me, where I envisioned Deb playing volleyball and Dexter performing his first kill simultaneously. This scene signifies their failure to support each other, as they were not present in the other’s moment of need. I also aimed to incorporate humor by having Deb spike the ball at the same instant Dexter stabs the nurse, with the announcer exclaiming, “And it’s Morgan for the kill!” – a phrase that resonated with me. In our writers’ room, we often say, “If you can imagine it, you can create it.” We wrote this scene on the board and it remained memorable. This moment serves as the pivotal scene, requiring careful setup and payoff to make it impactful.

With everything that is to come this season, was it easier or harder than you expected to find who Dexter was as a young man?

A simpler term isn’t appropriate here. It wasn’t a breeze, but rather a complex task given our dedicated fan base. We hold the title as Showtime’s most successful series ever. This devoted following demands respect from us. Instead of writing for them or at them, we prefer to write with them, which makes my role more intricate yet captivating. Our talented team of writers grasped the essence of this show. We are developing multiple relationships within the narrative: Harry and Dexter, Harry and Deb, Deb and Dexter. These connections infuse humanity into our production.

Audiences might pick up on a lighter, kookier tone to “Original Sin” versus the original series. Was that intentional as you follow a younger, messier Dexter?

In the early ’90s, Miami was a vibrant yet turbulent city, known for its intense heat and tragic notoriety as America’s murder capital. However, it also had an electrifying music scene that produced hits like George Michael’s “Freedom” and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.” We immersed ourselves in this unique blend of chaos and creativity that Miami offered during that time.

What does the evolution of Dexter look like over this first season of “Original Sin?”

In the beginning of “Dexter,” our character was already well-established. However, now that Dexter is out in the real world instead of medical school, he must adapt and learn how to fit in while also managing new experiences like dating and avoiding conflicts. His methods for killing and disposing of bodies will also need adjustment as relying on Alligator Alley can no longer be his go-to solution, which may create difficulties for him later in the series. The relationships with his father and sister are particularly dynamic, and we’ll see Dexter entering into romantic relationships for the first time.

So this is the Dexter people know and love, only at the mercy of his hormones and his unrefined urges –– all of which are just things you deal with in your 20s. 

It’s intriguing that you bring that up, as when he errs, it’s not like, “Oh dear, I mistakenly kissed a girl who didn’t reciprocate my feelings.” Instead, for him, it’s more like, “Oh dear, did I botch up what I just did with this act of taking a life?” The consequences are severe in his case. Few 20-year-olds will face the challenges that Dexter is about to encounter.

This interview has been edited and condensed. 

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2024-12-14 03:47