DEXTER: Original Sin

DEXTER: Original Sin (2025)

Written by: Clyde Phillips
Starring: : Patrick Gibson, Aaron Jennings, Alex Shimizu, Brittany Allen, Christian Slater, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Michael C Hall, Molly Brown, Patrick Dempsey, Raquel Justice, Reno Wilson, Sarah Michelle Gellar

Better Call Dexter….

Its a prequel that all Dexter fans did not ask for, but by the time they reach the finale, the majority will surely be glad they have got as thanks to one of the most creative casting decisions of modern times, Original Sin is at times can only be described as “peak” DEXTER and that is a huge compliment after the forever lasting memory of that Lumberjack moment.

As a starting point, we go down the Saul Goodman route by offering a taster of what actually happens after the finale of New Blood, a show set many, many years after this tale. If you remember, the last time we saw Dexter Morgan he was dead, shot by Harrison, his own son in yet another finale that once more did not appease the huge fan-base, despite a very good season which saw Clancy Brown’s Kurt become yet another memorable “big bad” in a growing list of worthy serial killers to match the wits and skills of our favourite blood splatter analyst.

With a small spoiler, which because DEXTER has become one of the most watched TV Shows in the world and has exploded into new popularity, its basically hard to avoid, Dexter did not die after all – hey the cold snow probably saved him -he is rushed to the local hospital, his resurrection set be complete, but before we get to the upcoming series ten which is due in June, Dexter’s life flashes before his very eyes and we witness it, thanks to a ten episode run of what occurred in the 90’s, fifteen years before season one.

And you know what? It works! Thanks to attention in detail of the casting process. You actually believe that Patrick Gibson is the younger Michael C Hall, that James Martinez is the Batista we all grew to love and that laugh can only be associated with Alex Shimizu’s Vince. Add the always ambitious LaGuerta this time played by Christina Milian and a brilliant Christian Slater now playing Harry Morgan from the never to be forgotten James Remar – don’t worry. he’ll be back – the cast is so inch perfect that you’ll even feel sorry for Molly Brown’s Debra.

Now, there is nothing wrong with Brown who matches Jennifer Carpenter’s mannerisms to a tee and deserves all the plaudits, but fitting to the character, she does feel left in the shadows as the plot starts to build. Debra was always a love/hate character for fans at the very beginning, but as the series grew, so did our respect and as the selfishness of her brother affected her life more and more, to the point that she is probably the ultimate victim of Dexter’s actions which now becomes a deep and unforgiving development on a rewatch.

Here and quite rightly she feels like an outsider.  We get a budding romance that is the beginning of a long run of dating disasters and a constant struggle to fit into the closeness of secrecy between her father and brother who of course in this era are developing the infamous “Harry Code” that is such a pivotal plot vice of the show.

As for Christian Slater’s Harry, he adds a much deeper layer to a character often seen as just a ghostly figure to Dexter.  The backstory we thought we didn’t need, actually works as we witness a shocking family tragedy that adds more reasons as to why Harry was so loyal to his adopted son and oddly, we get a flashback in the middle of this flashback as we dive deeper into his relationship with Laura Moser (played now by Brittany Allen) whose fate with the police officer leads to the dreaded cargo container at that shipping yard. Even though we know where the story ends, its one of the most intriguing aspects of this prequel as we get to see what kind of mother Laura was and I doubt very much if I see such a horrific scene in 2025 that we get when Laura meets her fate with her two young boys watching on.

Original Sin though does not start great. Its quite brilliant that the returning Clyde Phillips as showrunner – he left after the conclusion of Season Four – keeps the established intro and music, which makes long time fans feel as if they are actually back in the world of Miami Metro, but the very first episode is a bit of a struggle as it basically retells the story we saw in Season One episode three’s Popping Cherry, in which we witness the first kill of Dexter, that not only brings a tiresome pointless feel to this whole idea, but also bends with the established continuity that may infuriate fans with a long memory.

Its only when we arrive towards the end of the third episode that the show begins to hit its stride. A new “big bad” in town kidnapping kids, Dexter stalking his next prey, the show starts to feel like the glory days and its all held together by Gibson’s uncanny work as the young serial killer, who you truly believe could actually be a younger Michael C Hall, who also returns to narrate at times. Put simple, Hall is so synonymous with the role that this will only work if Gibson pulls it off and the fact he does, with even the little things, like the puff of frustration at his sister, just makes it all feel so natural and with the likes of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey also joining the ranks, you’ll appreciate the attempt at the quality put in to make sure they don’t ruin the much loved franchise.

By the time the series reaches its frantic conclusion, with added bonuses of easter eggs for fans of old filtered through out, you are most likely to be fully immersed in the carnage and blood. The reveal of this seasons baddie may not come at too much of a surprise, but there is one huge unexpected switch in the plot that will delight many and I’ll honestly say, episode 8 is when it truly felt like I was watching DEXTER at its very best, a huge compliment considering where the latter seasons reached a very low point at times.

Original Sin does not quite match the quality of say Psycho’s magnificent BATES MOTEL, but it does more than enough to suggest it could do, but one thing is for certain, that when the iconic theme tune of Dexter plays out at the final credits, not only will you be eagerly excited for the return to the “now” timeline in June, but also hope for another trip to the 90s in the very near future or should that be past?

The future – and past – is bright, the future – and past is very much Dexter Morgan’s….