“Dexter: Original Sin” Review: A Nostalgic Look Back at the Origins of a Killer
It seemed like the end of the road for “Dexter” as a franchise when the sequel series “New Blood” concluded with the apparent death of the titular character, played by Michael C. Hall. However, the prequel series “Dexter: Original Sin” takes us back to 1991, when a young Dexter, portrayed by Patrick Gibson, begins his journey into darkness as a paid intern at the local police department. Created by original showrunner Clyde Phillips, this new series not only explores Dexter’s early years but also challenges the finality of his fate in “New Blood.” As it turns out, Dexter survived and the events of “Original Sin” are framed as memories he reflects on while on the operating table.
One of the challenges facing “Original Sin” is the fact that fans of the original series are already familiar with many of the major events in Dexter’s life, thanks to flashbacks in the original show. Despite this, the series attempts to fill in the gaps and provide a new perspective on Dexter’s early years. However, it struggles to offer anything truly groundbreaking, instead opting for repetition and nostalgia. Characters like Batista, Masuka, and LaGuerta are introduced in familiar roles, with little deviation from their future selves. Even Dexter’s first kill and his relationship with his adoptive father, Harry Morgan, feel like rehashes of what we already know.
While “Original Sin” does offer some new information through Harry’s timeline in the 1970s, it ultimately feels like a pale imitation of the original series’ flashbacks. The addition of familiar faces like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey only serves to heighten the sense of nostalgia rather than bring anything fresh to the table. The series struggles to find its own identity within the established “Dexter” universe, relying heavily on callbacks and references to the original show.
Despite its shortcomings, “Dexter: Original Sin” may still appeal to fans of the original series looking for a trip down memory lane. The first episode is now streaming on Paramount+ and will premiere on Showtime on Dec. 15th. Whether this prequel series can capture the same magic as its predecessor remains to be seen, but for now, it offers a nostalgic look back at the origins of one of TV’s most iconic antiheroes.
