It appears that the “Dexter” franchise may struggle to progress. In the closing moments of the sequel series “New Blood,” which came out eight years after the original series ended in 2013, Michael C. Hall’s character, a serial killer, was shot dead. (Or at least it seemed that way — more on this shortly.) This event ostensibly signified the conclusion for one of the key figures of the antihero genre, a role Hall has embodied for 15 years by that point. While a subsequent follow-up, “Resurrection,” intends to shift focus to Dexter’s son Harrison (Jack Alcott), if Showtime aims to continue extracting value from this narrative, the only viable path is to revisit the past.

Exploring the Prequel

Surprisingly, the prequel “Dexter: Original Sin” attempts to balance both the past and present. This 10-episode season — with no advance screeners available for critics — takes us back to 1991, showcasing a 20-year-old Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he graduates from the University of Miami and starts as an intern at the local police department. Created by the original “Dexter” showrunner Clyde Phillips, the series also contradicts the apparent finality of “New Blood.” It turns out that Dexter survived, and the happenings of “Original Sin” are framed as memories he reflects upon while on the operating table. Before introducing Gibson, the camera zooms in so that the “Emergency Room” sign reads “Emerge.”

Familiarity Breeds Discontent

The primary challenge with “Original Sin” is that its core audience, the dedicated superfans, are already well-acquainted with its significant events, as “Dexter” itself was rich in flashbacks. Although Christian Slater steps into the role of Detective Harry Morgan, the established “Dexter” backstory indicates that Harry guided his adoptive son in channeling his “Dark Passenger” towards (arguably) more constructive ends by targeting other killers. Even the identity of Dexter’s first victim, a nurse who exploited her patients, is firmly embedded in the series’ lore. There are few unexplored areas in Dexter’s early life for “Original Sin” to elaborate on.

Embracing Repetition

“Original Sin” chooses to lean into repetition, prioritizing it over creativity. Dexter’s colleagues, Batista (James Martinez) and Masuka (Alex Shimizu), are introduced in a manner identical to their initial appearances in the original series, complete with their distinctive outfits: Batista is the outgoing character in a fedora, while Masuka is portrayed as a sleazy individual, both already working at Miami Metro. Although Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian) receives a backstory as a new detective critical of the homicide department’s disproportionate focus on wealthy, white victims, she is not drastically different from the character she will evolve into in 15 years. Gibson spends a significant portion of the premiere wearing a comically unrealistic surfer wig; by the end, he adopts Hall’s iconic haircut, and his internal dialogue echoes that of his predecessor. (Hall makes a brief return for the opening scene but primarily provides narration throughout.)

Old Patterns and New Faces

At just 20 years old, Dexter already has his modus operandi for wrapping victims and their surroundings in plastic — both to restrain them and facilitate cleanup — down to a science. His sister Deb (Molly Brown) is depicted as a typical bratty teenager, and “Original Sin” carries a tinge of novelty as a twisted family sitcom about a mourning family harboring dark secrets. (In 1991, Deb and Dexter’s mother has recently passed away.) Dexter’s inaugural kill, triggered by the nurse poisoning Harry while he’s hospitalized, is interspersed with scenes from Deb’s high school volleyball game. However, there isn’t enough fresh content to overshadow the impression that “Original Sin” is merely replaying familiar hits, right down to its 1990s soundtrack featuring tracks like “Ice Ice Baby.” The series could have taken more time to develop Dexter’s character; instead, he satisfies his bloodlust and secures a job within just 45 minutes.

Nostalgia and Lack of Innovation

“Original Sin” provides some new insights through Harry, who is given a vibrant timeline set in the 1970s. However, this narrative device merely echoes the flashbacks from “Dexter” and highlights how much the brief ‘90s timeline requires elaboration. The “fresh” faces in the “Original Sin” cast are nostalgic references themselves: Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Dexter’s new boss, while Patrick Dempsey portrays the mustachioed, helmet-haired police chief. (At least the hair and makeup teams seem to enjoy themselves!) “Original Sin” fails to breathe new life into a property that has now been around long enough to vote. Instead, it represents the profit-driven nostalgia that is slowly eroding culture from within, leaving behind a hollow framework susceptible to being swept away by the next storm in Miami.

Availability

The first episode of “Dexter: Original Sin” is currently streaming on Paramount+ and is set to premiere on Showtime on Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET, with subsequent episodes available for streaming on Fridays and airing on Sundays.

Person

Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Christian Slater, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Christina Milian, Molly Brown, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Patrick Dempsey

Company Names

Showtime, Paramount+

Titles

Dexter, New Blood, Resurrection, Dexter: Original Sin, Emergency Room, Ice Ice Baby

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