Hi all! 

Today I am reviewing the first and only season of Dexter Original Sin. I am a HUGE fan of Dexter. Typically, a prequel can be perceived as redundant, due to viewers already knowing the end result. However, in this case, there was a lot to learn. I really do feel the creators put a whole lot of love and care into this spin-off. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s pretty damn close. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

Spoilers Ahead! 

1.) The Timeline 

Original Sin takes place in the 90’s, when young Dexter Morgan first starts out in Miami Metro as a blood-spatter analyst. Socially, he struggles to fit in, with a deep, dark yearning for murder, separating him from the average person. In the premiere episode, Dexter takes his very first, not-so-innocent life and likens it to losing one’s virginity – an exciting and pleasurable experience. However, his killing skills are sloppy at best. It is here that we see the progression of one honing their craft, with no detail wasted. There is something so satisfying about witnessing our protagonist learning through trial and error the most efficient ways to trap, kill and dispose of a body. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was Dexter Morgan. Knowing he survives the original series does not take away from the tension and dread. This truly was the best era of Dexter to have focused on. It shows us that the Michael C. Hall version wasn’t born a natural, he had to work at it first. 

2.) The Flashbacks 

Original Sin is very generous to its fans. It not only gives us insight into Dexter as a young adult, but also his dark childhood. Every episode contains multiple flashbacks from Harry Morgan’s perspective, when he began working with Laura Moser (Dexter’s biological mother), in order to take down the cartel. It is an unexpected storyline I am so thankful the creators decided to explore. The biggest takeaway from these flashbacks, is that Harry’s selfishness ruined multiple lives. He was responsible for the death of his first son, the death of Laura and inadvertently, Brian Moser’s trajectory toward a life of gratuitous violence. We are meant to dislike Harry, because ultimately, he is the most flawed character of them all. This neglect continues to bleed into the current timeline, where we see him ignore a young Debra Morgan, plus covering up evidence of Brian’s murders, in order to protect Dexter. It’s important to recognise that all roads start and end with Harry. 

3.) The Cast 

This show isn’t just well-casted, it’s eerily well-casted. The way the younger versions resemble the current versions so perfectly, is freaky. I don’t know how they managed to nail the essence of Batista, or Vince Masuka’s creepy laugh or even Laguerta’s stiff, controlled speech. They also introduced new, big names to increase viewership, such as Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patrick Dempsey. The biggest success however is Patrick Gibson, who plays Dexter Morgan. It’s not the look so much as the mannerisms. I didn’t, for one second, not buy his performance. There were moments where he made the exact same facial expressions as Michael C. Hall. Those Dexter-isms stopped me in my tracks. You can tell Patrick truly respected the source material. He took the time to embody Dexter fully and completely. It was uncanny and one of the many reasons why this prequel was such a success. If you cannot connect with past versions of already beloved characters, the whole thing falls apart. 

4.) Brian Moser

One of the biggest surprises of Original Sin was its depth and exploration of Brian Moser’s character. At first, it felt like the show was simply nodding to his existence, but by the end, Brian became a central figure, with a backstory so rich and layered, it had the ability to change one’s entire perspective of him. The prequel does not condone his brutality; rather it shows there is more to his story. Brian had true darkness within him since childhood, but he was also never given a real chance to change. He was neglected, mistreated and torn away from the one person he loved the most – his brother. He was never given the opportunity or the nurturing, to turn things around. Despite the majority of viewers believing Brian was a lost cause from the beginning, we can never truly know. Watch Original Sin and notice how it alters your view of the infamous Ice Truck Killer from Season 1. That’s how you do a prequel! 

5.) The Intro 

It may seem trivial but the Original Sin intro perfectly mirrors the one from the main series. Nothing beats hearing the initial sounds of the opening credits. It sets the tone for what is to come. But in case that doesn’t convince you, compare both down below. You’ll notice in the very first shot, Patrick Gibson misses when swatting the mosquito. This symbolises his amateur status when it comes to killing. In the regular intro, Dexter squashes the pesky bug with ease; the killer now confident and fully formed. They couldn’t have nailed it any better if they tried. The nod at the end, the visceral breakfast-making montage, the t-shirt pulled over the head etc. It’s impeccable. 

6.) The Fan Service 

Last, but certainly not least, I have to acknowledge the fan-service provided in this prequel. There are many Easter Eggs and nods to the original series if you are a.) paying attention and b.) have been on this journey from the beginning, as I have. The more obvious ones are a cameo from a younger Miguel Prado, parallels to the Bay Harbour Butcher (when one of Dexter’s victims is discovered in the swamp by the police), the colourful nails on Laura Moser, “tonight’s the night” being uttered several times, a brief appearance from the same ice-truck van Rudy uses in Season 1 and so much more. There are also homages to classic horror films such as Nightmare on Elm Street, American Psycho (when Dexter uses Patrick Bateman as an alias) and IT. The latin music, the oppressive heat of Miami, the theme song etc, makes you feel as though you never left this intoxicating world to begin with. Original Sin is the best example of (as the younger generation put it) ‘being so back‘. 

Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know if you’ve seen Original Sin. 

Peace & Love xoxo