Dexter – Original Sin Review: A Nostalgia Operation Without Much to Say

Dexter – Original Sin Review: Dexter‘s world expands with Dexter – Original Sin, a prequel set in Miami in the ’90s, which promises to explore the years of formation of the most iconic serial killer on TV. With Patrick Gibson in the role of the young Dexter and the narrative voice of Michael C. Hall, expectations were high for a story that could deepen the original mythology. However, despite the presence of known faces and the continuous nostalgic reference to the “mother series”, the show struggles to justify its existence beyond simple “content” for loyal fans. Consisting of ten episodes of single-stage output every Friday, the spin-off Dexter – Original Sin is set in 1991, fifteen years earlier than the events shown in the original series Dexter, when the future serial killer begins his internship as a laboratory technician at the Miami Police Department.

First, the original series pulled along with the last seasons shouting revenge (with an ending hated by practically all fans). Then, the surprise sequel (despite the alleged death of the main character) Dexter: New Blood which, taken in hand by the creator Clyde Phillips, was able to give the closure that had been missing from the series eight years earlier (from 2013 to 2021), recording dizzying numbers. This time the protagonist perished for real and in the only way possible, at the hands of his newfound son, Harrison. Not happy with this success, Paramount and Showtime thought well to order not one, but two further series set in the same narrative universe, convincing Michael C. Hall to return to play the role of the protagonist in two different ways. We will see one in 2025, it will be an additional sequel, and it will be titled Dexter: Resurrection (the title already suggests the starting point), while the other has come streaming on Paramount+ with a weekly appointment and acts as a prequel to the story we all know: Dexter – Original Sin.

Dexter – Original Sin Review: The Story Plot

Dexter – Original Sin starts where New Blood ends. It takes very little, and we go back in time: Miami, the year 1991. Dexter is a university student. His bloody impulses can no longer be ignored, and he must learn to channel his inner darkness, the dark passenger. Adoptive father Harry Morgan (played by a graceful Christian Slater) tries in every way to stem Dexter‘s blood thirst and prevent it from killing people. In the end – or better, at the beginning – is forced by events to give way. Hence a code: killing people who deserve to be eliminated from society without entering the law enforcement radar. But one day young Dexter starts a forensic internship at the Miami Police Department.

Just like he will say in voiceover the same Michael C. Hall, what brings the character back to reality is the family nucleus who is the only one who makes him fear death instead of chasing it, smelling it, and having a desire for it. The difficult task is up to the two co-protagonists Christian Slater and Molly Brown, with the mission of bringing two young Harry and Debra (who had the faces of James Remar and Jennifer Carpenter) on stage, succeeding above all for his paternal warmth and bold blossoming of her. Their relationship will be what will save Dex from oblivion as we know, while the adoptive father tries to inculcate the Harry code to give vent to their murderous drives with the method, of not being discovered and above all punishing only those who deserve it, after a painstaking verification. Create an alienating effect in the first episode of Dexter – Original Sin assists the first murder of Dexter which was chosen as the starting point for this early path, set in Miami in 1991 (including a questionable haircut). Maybe we would have preferred to witness the birth of code and how Harry came to that conclusion for his son after saving him from the blood and death of the biological mother.

Dexter – Original Sin Review and Analysis

Let’s start immediately with the positive: the prequel lets itself be looked at thanks to a prominent cast. Patrick Gibson takes on the role of an antisocial Dexter, Molly Brown, one of a rebel and teen Debra. And then they are Sarah Michelle Gellar in great dusting – and in a perfect role for her – and a good Patrick Dempsey who sometimes seems to have come out directly from Lethal Weapon. But the soul of the party, if we mean so, is Christian Slater. His tormented Harry Morgan eats the prequel scene and keeps the narrative going. The centrality of his two sins – you will understand seeing – becomes fundamental. Well, very well indeed. Do we venture? But yes: he is the real protagonist of the series.

Given that only one episode is little to give a global judgment, and this review will naturally be updated again at the end of the season, first impressions of Dexter – Original Sin are very positive. Compared to the bitter taste left in the fandom among the last seasons of the mother series Dexter, its ending and subsequent sequel New Blood unfortunately did not know how to do justice to the iconic character played by Michael C. Hall, Original Sin seems to offer some sort of reboot. Not just on the plot level starting from the origins of Dexter, but also on the level of the script which was in some ways the Achilles heel of the last shows. Despite the presence of a new cast, which initially could make it difficult for the viewer to switch between “the old and the new Dexter“, you immediately notice the attention to detail in wanting to make young versions of the characters, perfect copies of their predecessors. The choice of certain actors is certainly appreciable as regards the similarities on an aesthetic level.

But it also presents a clear procedural commitment about the type of language, the movements of the body, the facial expressions, and all those details that characterized the original cast of Dexter for years, like Masuka’s unmistakable laughter. Another point in favor of Original Sin is given by its connection with the other shows of the franchise, certainly not obvious and in some ways unexpected. As a prequel, Original Sin was presented as content directly attributable to the mother series Dexter. However, in his first episode, Original Sin offers a brief overview linked at the end of the previous spin-off New Blood in this way, it connects also to the next series out in 2025, Dexter: Resurrection, as well as sequels of New Blood. A quick premise that is pending the new show, gives some answers to the public after the cliffhanger occurred previously. In narrative terms, Original Sin deepens not only Dexter‘s past but also that of the people around him, especially his father Harry, and his sister Debra. During the mother series, the torment experienced by Harry in his life is shown on several occasions, torn between protecting his son at all costs and having to accept his murderous side.

Original Sin digs even further back, focusing on the real reasons why Harry preferred to teach Dexter a moral code in order not to lose it, thus ending up losing the moral compass that finally led him to death when the weight to bear became too heavy. In conclusion, the new series Dexter – Original Sin at first glance a valid product is presented to relaunch the franchise, heal some mistakes from the past, and propose a different part of the story on Dexter, showing that the character still has a lot to tell. The new cast allows you to relive the emotions and entertainment of the mother series through a more youthful version, albeit set in the past, skillfully combining the two different contexts that deal with the same theme. To better protect the public once again into the world of Dexter Morgan, the original voice of Dexter himself which accompanies the episodes reconfirms to be an added value.

Let’s start immediately with the positive: the prequel lets itself be looked at thanks to a prominent cast. Patrick Gibson takes on the role of an antisocial Dexter, Molly Brown one of a rebel and teen Debra. And then they are Sarah Michelle Gellar in great dusting – and in a perfect role for her – and a good Patrick Dempsey who sometimes seems to have come out directly from Lethal Weapon. But the soul of the party, if we mean so, is Christian Slater. His tormented Harry Morgan eats the prequel scene and keeps the narrative going. The centrality of his two sins – you will understand seeing – becomes fundamental. Well, very well indeed. Do we venture? But yes: he is the real protagonist of the series.

In addition, the musical choice is excellent, as are the stage clothes. Room movements work sometimes, but the wow effect for fans of Dexter‘s first hour is assured: the young version characters work very well (on the hands of Vince Masuka). To this must be added other goodies. I list some of them from the first episode. Let’s start the scene of Dexter‘s first murder, editing with Debra’s volleyball game and some remarkable lines of dialogue (“and it’s Morgan, for the kill”) if you listen in the original language. Or the historical acronym of Dexter, redone for the occasion. Another joke in the scene for the photo of the yearbook: Dexter‘s happy thought is Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho.

Let’s end with the negative. Original Sin has problems. Let’s get the bigger one out of the way: the original series already has many, but many flashbacks. And these more or less conflict with the ‘official’ prequel. To this we also add the problem of all the consequences: we know where we will go, so what counts is the quality of the trip and not the destination. So, the script: Dexter‘s first murder went down to the first episode. Do we have anything else to talk about now? In addition, there are CGI let’s say sparse, too many changes of rhythm and above all of tone, an all too youthful montage that ends up sacrificing heavy and fundamental moments, and a photograph that in some moments is so saturated as to look like CSI Miami. In short, Original Sin: well, but not very well. A way to enter Dexter‘s world? Perhaps the classic entrance is better, so the wow effect of a young LaGuerta is safe.

Clyde Phillips knows well the mythology of this narrative universe, having been the original creator who took inspiration from the novel The Left Hand of God by Jeff Lindsay. Such a success that the latter also continued on paper with one continuity difference. Phillips’ hand is seen and felt as it happened in Dexter: New Blood: if there, however, the location changed creating a visual-narrative contrast, here is a continuous winking to the gestures and details chosen to characterize the story, starting from the iconic acronym resumed slavishly, however, transforming it into something choral. As well as the photography, it is sunny and humid, and the direction that insists on the close-ups makes the protagonist’s continuous clash and tension towards those around him since he cannot feel empathy and must learn to (Sourav) live in a world that cannot understand it. At least not all the way.

Dexter – Original Sin Review: The Last Words

Dexter – Original Sin in his debut episode leaves favorable impressions, as a spin-off he seems to want to remedy some mistakes of the past and start again with a new verve and a return to dawn. The apt choice of the cast, a supporting soundtrack, and the “old” Dexter present as a narrating voice offers an exciting premiere that seems to presage a continuation on the same level. Dexter – Original Sin is a deeply pimp prequel series, made in the image and likeness of the original one, which continually winks (perhaps a little too much) to fans of the first hour in the acronym, in the visual style, in the characterization of the characters, in the development of the weave and in presenting this younger version of all the most loved characters. Clyde Phillips knows this well and sees himself, including involving Michael C. Hall also as a producer. A valid series that, however, does not go beyond the task it had set itself, and perhaps it is also right. Including the open doors and the hook to the other incoming series of the franchise, which we don’t know how happy fans will be.

Cast: Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, Patrick Dempsey, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu

Directed By: Marcos Siega

Streaming Platform: Paramount+

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3/5 (three stars)

Dexter - Original Sin Review: A Nostalgia Operation Without Much to Say - Filmyhype

Director: Marcos Siega

Date Created: 2024-12-13 13:29

Editor's Rating:
3

Pros

• Convincing cast
• Screenplay with a return to basics
• Soundtrack worthy of note
• Solid cast: Patrick Gibson and Christian Slater offer convincing interpretations.
• Return of beloved characters: the youth versions of Batista and Masuka are well made.
• Atmosphere 90s: nostalgic and engaging setting and soundtrack.

Cons

• A single episode is little to give a global judgment
• Metabolizing new faces instead of the original characters may take longer for some viewers
• Predictable plot: little news compared to the original series.
• Accelerated development: the transformation of Dexter into a killer is too rapid.
• Weak secondary characters: some roles, such as that of Patrick Dempsey, are not very incisive.
• Dependence on nostalgia: too much reliance on quotes and references to involve the public.