Dexter origin story avoids fall into cliche through original interpretation

Stabbing clean through the ridicule of incompetency to provide an impactful ending, the producers of Original Sin formed the blueprints on their kill table, one that’ll finally execute a lasting conclusion for the 18-year-old Dexter series. The menacing tone of Dexter, juxtaposed with the vibrant antics of Original Sin, offers a change of pace for any range of audience to enjoy. Contrasting those elements and opening new perspectives in a prequel isn’t uncommon, as audiences have witnessed numerous mediums of advancing a character in contemporary media such as Better Call Saul, Young Sheldon, and The Penguin. The prequel remains consistent with its ratings, ebbing and flowing around an eight-star rating on IMDb, which positively encourages further spin-offs and fan engagement. Original Sin’s success delivers a propitious chance at redeeming the two unfortunately unsuccessful endings of the original series, instead diverging the impasse towards one of opportunity.

The paramount aspect of the prequel’s success arises from the tuned storytelling for new viewers in this generation. Director Clyde Phillips opts for realism over the moments of absurdity seen within the original. Original Sin delves into the unexplored escapades of the Batman-esque serial killer as viewers are now able to ruminate on the backgrounds of the majority of characters in their youth, all narrated by titular actor Michael C. Hall. Hall’s convincing and charming appearance as the serial killer that hunts those deserving justice should absolutely be difficult to replicate, as he is exactly what made his character comparable to that of James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad). The show’s immediate success and raging feedback on TikTok fired all pistons through Phillip’s development on Dexter: Resurrection, the sequel to the concurrent plot, and even a vaguely discussed series solely based on the infamous Trinity Killer from Season 4 of Dexter. 

Patrick Gibson’s (The OA) brazen portrayal of the young Dexter took the entire fanbase by surprise, as doubts of an uncharted actor holding a piece of the conclusion of one of TV’s most memorable characters were proven false. His performance when capturing the essence of Dexter’s ASPD and quirkiness, especially when in the middle of a kill, is commendable and worthy of the legacy left by Hall. The once derisive speculations on the casting have been almost entirely inverted, notably paired alongside Gibson’s by the emotionally provoking characters of Harry Morgan (Christian Slater, Mr. Robot) and Debra Morgan (Molly Brown, Senior Year). The casting array for original characters upholds and exceeds the expectations of fans, as depicted in the north of 10,000 positive IMDb reviews, especially making note of Gibson’s dedication to mimic and respect Hall’s two-decade-long work with Dexter. 

Phillips seems intent on setting up the shifting paradigm for the grand gestalt of the conclusion, as his decision to truly build the storyline of Original Sin seems vital for the success of Resurrection to come. Accepting and acknowledging the new era of viewers has been a triumphant victory for Phillips, as he leverages it to illustrating the cruelty and gruesome nature of the work, allowing the series to hopefully reach its potential. An obvious commitment to honoring the characteristics of their counterparts in Dexter radiates from Sin, and the future of the spin-offs under Phillip’s directing could finally provide a worthy conclusion for one of TV’s best antihero stories. 

Grade: A-

Dexter: Original Sin captures all the bloody drama of the source material, but does with its own vibrant and fresh storytelling, a method that resurrects the show to new audiences and spin-off experiences.

by Luis Fonseca

Published February 3rd, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue IV