As a seasoned movie buff who’s seen more shows than I can count the channels on my old VCR, I must say that “Dexter: Original Sin” feels like a case of déjà vu all over again. It’s as if the creators took a time machine, went back to 1991, and filmed an exact replica of the first season, complete with the same characters, plotlines, and even the same music.
It appears that the “Dexter” franchise may not have a way forward, as the sequel series “New Blood,” which aired eight years after the original series finale in 2013, ended with Michael C. Hall’s character Dexter being fatally shot (or so it seems; more on that later). This development, at first glance, seems to be the end of the line for one of the iconic leads of the antihero era, a role Hall had been playing for 15 years by then. Although another follow-up, “Resurrection,” passed the torch to Dexter’s son Harrison (Jack Alcott), if the network Showtime wanted to continue milking this bloodstained cloth, there seemed to be no direction left but backward.
Remarkably, the prequel “Dexter: Original Sin” attempts to reconcile two perspectives. Set in 1991, the series stars Patrick Gibson as a 20-year-old Dexter who graduates from the University of Miami and begins his career at the local police department as an intern. Created by the original “Dexter” showrunner Clyde Phillips, this new season not only takes us back to the past but also contradicts the apparent ending of “New Blood.” Here, Dexter is shown to have survived, and the events of “Original Sin” are presented as memories he ponders while lying on the operating table. Before introducing Gibson, the camera focuses in such a way that the “Emergency Room” sign reads “Emerge.
The immediate, insurmountable problem with “Original Sin” is that the same superfans who form its target audience are already familiar with its major events, because “Dexter” itself was chock-full of flashbacks. Christian Slater may be new to the part of Detective Harry Morgan, but it’s long-established “Dexter” lore that Harry helped his adoptive son channel his “Dark Passenger” to more (debatably) constructive ends by targeting other killers. Even the identity of his first victim, a nurse who preyed on her patients, is locked into the canon. There aren’t many gaps left in Dexter’s early life for “Original Sin” to fill in.
As a film enthusiast, I found “Original Sin” intriguing in its deliberate choice to revisit familiar patterns instead of introducing fresh ones. Characters like Batista (James Martinez) and Masuka (Alex Shimizu), much like their original series counterparts, make their entrance, complete with distinctive attire: Batista, a charming fellow donning a fedora, and Masuka, the sleazy charmer he’s always been. Both are already ensconced at Miami Metro. Detective Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian), although given a backstory as a newly appointed detective critical of the homicide department’s focus on privileged white victims, still bears resemblance to her future self. Gibson sports a preposterous surfer wig throughout most of the premiere; by the end, he’s sporting Hall’s signature hairstyle, and his internal dialogue seems eerily similar to that of his predecessor. (Although Hall himself appears in the opening scene, he confines his presence to providing narration throughout the episode.)
At 20 years old, Dexter might still be considered a novice, but he’s already perfected his method of trapping and disposing of his victims by wrapping them and their surroundings in plastic. His sister Deb (played by Molly Brown) is a typical rebellious teenager, and “Original Sin” feels somewhat familiar as it delves into the dark humor of a dysfunctional family dealing with some lethal secrets following the death of their mother in 1991. The series seems to revisit old tropes, even incorporating popular ’90s songs like “Ice Ice Baby” into its soundtrack. However, the narrative could’ve spent more time establishing Dexter’s character; instead, it quickly moves him from satisfying his violent urges to securing a job within 45 minutes.
The series ‘Original Sin’ introduces fresh details through Harry, whose vibrant 1970s timeline stands out. However, this timeline resembles the flashbacks from ‘Dexter’, highlighting the need for more development in the ’90s setting. Characters like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey, who join the cast of ‘Original Sin’, seem to embody nostalgia rather than bring freshness. The hair and makeup departments are having fun with their portrayals! Unfortunately, ‘Original Sin’ fails to breathe new life into an Intellectual Property that has reached voting age. Instead, it reflects the greedy reminiscence that is eating away at our culture from within, similar to a termite infestation. All that remains is a hollow shell waiting for the next Miami storm to blow it away.
Beginning today, you can stream the debut episode of “Dexter: Original Sin” on Paramount+. On December 15th at 10:00 PM Eastern Time, it will also premiere on Showtime. Following episodes will be released every Friday for streaming, with Sunday airings to follow.
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2024-12-14 04:46