As a longtime fan of the original Dexter series, I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying the return to Bay Harbor and the world of Dexter Morgan. The new show, Original Sin, has managed to strike a delicate balance between staying true to the source material while also infusing it with freshness and humor.
When I sat down to watch Dexter: Original Sin, the series that most popped into my mind – aside from the original Dexter on Showtime, which ran from 2006 to 2013 – was none other than Muppet Babies. In this fresh prequel, we meet younger versions of our beloved characters, with Patrick Gibson stepping into the shoes of Dexter Morgan himself, a medical school graduate grappling with his inner Dark Passenger. Christian Slater brings his charm to life as Harry, Dexter’s well-meaning and still alive father, while Molly Brown takes on the role of Debra, a foul-mouthed high-schooler. Even our old friends from Miami Metro Police Department get a youthful makeover, with James Martinez portraying Angel Batista and Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka. Although we can’t rewind time to 2006 – or even 1991, the era of Original Sin – close your eyes and let your imagination run free, and you might just find yourself transported back to those days.
In terms of questionable spin-offs, the Dexter series seems relatively innocuous thus far, making it tolerable despite Showtime’s apparent eagerness to milk the franchise. With a new installment, Dexter: Resurrection, set to debut next year, this era of endless intellectual properties offers at least some entertainment value compared to numerous other recent cash-grabs. However, before we delve into the enjoyable aspects, it’s important to address the rewriting of the 2022 finale of Dexter: New Blood, where our beloved serial killer, Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall), was supposedly killed by his adult son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). But is this truly the end? The new series, Dexter: Original Sin, starts with grown-up Dexter miraculously surviving and receiving treatment for his wounds, allowing for a framing device to explain revisiting the ’90s. As Hall’s familiar voiceover tells us, “It’s true what they say – your life flashes before your eyes.
The scene shifts to a creative reinterpretation of the initial Dexter credits, featuring Gibson as the protagonist instead. Here, we encounter young Dexter at the brink of his medical school graduation, a fact that his peers have already labeled him as an emotionless oddity. As he’s asked to smile for his graduation photo, his mind drifts to something that brings him joy – the chilling tale of Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho (a character named Patrick Bateman will later be used by Dexter). The narration in these scenes, provided by Hall and presumably from a future where he’s gravely injured, maintains its whimsical tone as it did in the original series. Whether it’s meant to be intentionally humorous is unclear, but when he refers to a body as “heartless like the Tin Man, and maybe…like me,” it seems reasonable to assume that some intentional camp is at play here.
The Morgan residence seems as tranquil as possible given its challenging conditions (a father working excessively, a son exhibiting psychopathic behavior). Harry is striving hard to prevent Dexter from causing harm, though Dexter admits that dissecting corpses and going on hunting trips aren’t sufficient in controlling his impulses. Much of this background information was presented through flashbacks in the original series, but Gibson and Slater effectively maintain the father-son dynamic, with Gibson often mimicking Michael C. Hall’s performance. Fortunately, we avoid the poorly made wigs that were characteristic of the original series during the flashbacks. Debra is a character harder to empathize with, which has been consistent throughout this franchise. Brown delivers her best effort, but she mostly uses cursing and complaining in the series premiere. Her main struggle in this installment is her desire for a normal teenage life being hindered by her peculiar brother. For instance, Harry agrees to let her attend a college party if she brings Dexter along.
During this time, Harry has worries beyond just his suspected serial killer at home. In 1991 Miami, there’s an ongoing serial killer who breaks into homes and murders entire families. The series introduces new characters like Harry’s partner and best friend, Bobby Watt (Reno Wilson), and stern police captain Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey). Dempsey has shown his talent for over-the-top performances in recent roles, such as those in Ridley Scott’s “Ferrari” or Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving,” and his flair for dramatic acting in “Original Sin” adds depth to this show. It’s interesting that he gets lines like, “I’m not a proud mom, guys; I am one angry menopausal woman.” (It’s the ’90s!) We also encounter Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Tanya Martin, whom Masuka calls “the head of forensics.” Since she will likely have to form a close bond with Dexter and since Sarah Michelle Gellar is listed as a “special guest star,” I worry she might not survive for long in this series.
At a university gathering, Dexter and Debra encounter Deb’s closest friend, Sofia (Raquel Justice). The event is filled with intoxicated and boisterous youth, among them a fraternity member named Andy who exudes unpleasant energy towards Debra. Dexter finds the entire scene distasteful, and it’s not hard to see why he feels that way. It seems Harry had an unconventional idea of what would be beneficial for him, but it’s challenging to envision how he could have fit in here, even without his homicidal inclinations. Fortunately, Dexter is present, as he steps in to protect Debra when Andy attempts to sexually assault her in an upper room. Dexter vented his aggressive instincts by brutally attacking Andy, but nearly crossed a line when he spotted a knife nearby. Thankfully, Debra intervenes before things escalate further, and after scolding him for spoiling the evening, she appreciates that he rescued her from a dangerous predicament.
During their upcoming hunting expedition, Dexter shares with Harry that he nearly destroyed everything by almost killing Andy. Harry emphasizes that after committing such an act, it can’t be reversed – however, before he could fully convey this message, he suffers a sudden heart attack. Dexter carries his father in his arms, and the show Original Sin skillfully employs melodrama at this moment. This scene marks our transition from prequel to remake: The events of Harry’s hospitalization and Dexter’s first kill were depicted in “Popping Cherry,” the third episode of Dexter. Consequently, we are familiar with these events. Yet, after watching “And in the Beginning …” and revisiting the now 18-year-old “Popping Cherry,” I was struck by the creative decisions made by Original Sin, shedding light on the new tone that the revamped version of Dexter is adopting.
In the hospital, it appears that Harry is making progress following his heart attack. However, things take a turn for the unexpected as his condition starts deteriorating mysteriously. No one seems to understand why Harry isn’t getting better, but Dexter notices some peculiar signs, such as Nurse Mary cutting out death announcements from the newspaper. He swiftly deduces that she is a deadly serial killer, targeting patients – or, in her mind, alleviating their suffering. This plotline closely follows the original series, although Dexter takes a more active role in this adaptation, independently uncovering what Mary is administering to Harry (potassium nitrate) and discussing the situation with his father. Additionally, Harry becomes aware of the Dark Passenger within Nurse Mary, giving Dexter the green light to halt her murderous spree before she strikes again.
In this reimagined scene from the original “Dexter”, Dexter surprises Nurse Mary in her home and binds her to his initial murder setup. Both iterations of the scene contain humor, but “Original Sin” takes it a step further. As Dexter reminisces, he says, “You never forget your first time, and mine was with an older woman.” The song “Nothin’ But a Good Time” begins to play as we switch between Dexter’s bungling attempts at the act and Debra playing volleyball. The thudding of Mary’s heartbeat transforms into the cheering crowd at the high school. As Deb scores, the announcer shouts “It’s Morgan for the kill!”, and we return to Dexter stabbing the nurse. I appreciate any adaptation of “Dexter”, old or new, that maintains a serial killer who only kills other serial killers as a somewhat absurd premise. The less seriously we perceive it, the more enjoyable it becomes.
Clearly, Debra feels distressed when Dexter fails to attend her game, but her gloom swiftly dissipates upon learning that Harry can return from the hospital. Harry queries Dexter about any potential witnesses to a murder and how he handled Nurse Mary’s remains (old buddy, Alligator Alley). Satisfied with Dexter’s responses, Harry nonetheless breaks down in tears once Dex is gone. Fans of the original series will remember that Harry bears the burden of his son’s actions until he eventually reaches a breaking point. For now, at least, he can monitor things closely. Dexter’s casual observation of a connection between two crime-scene photos at a job fair impresses Masuka enough to recommend him to the boss. Martin extends an offer for a paid internship in forensics – although Harry disapproves of Dexter joining Miami Metro, Dexter is excited to embark on this new chapter in his life.
Blood-Spatter Analysis
As a die-hard Dexter fan (and honestly, anyone who stuck with it until the lumberjack finale deserves some sort of reimbursement), I’m thrilled to be diving back into this captivating world and sharing my thoughts on the new season here. For those not quite up-to-date with the original series, I promise to tread lightly when it comes to potential spoilers regarding Dexter’s early ’90s storyline that unfolded in the original run. Let’s dive in!
Regarding Dexter’s early murders, there’s a lot of established lore. Revisiting Nurse Mary was enjoyable for me, but I prefer the series to continue with some revisions if they manage to keep the storyline unexpected.
Thus far, the music selections are spot-on, and in addition to “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” we’re grooving to the 1990 hit “Ice Ice Baby.” It’s pleasing to see how Original Sin is being authentically portrayed as a period piece.
It’s an interesting touch that Dexter conceals serial killer mementos within grubby periodicals. Later on, the Bay Harbor Butcher acknowledges the Night Stalker and BTK, pondering whether he too will be known by a chilling moniker of his own.
It seems we’re in store for nested flashbacks, even delving into incidents where Dexter wasn’t involved. In this instance, we discover that Harry had a biological son named Harry Jr., who tragically drowned in the pool while Harry was engrossed in a football game.
In a casual manner, Dexter is consuming a whole Butterfinger candy bar during his hospital wait, which is surprisingly unsettling compared to other actions displayed in this particular episode.
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2024-12-14 04:54