You can’t kill Dexter Morgan. No, critically. Remember how necessary his dying was to the tip of 2021’s Dexter: New Blood? How the entire collection actually led as much as that emotional second? Well, the very first thing that the prequel Dexter: Original Sin does is to decrease all of that emotional weight by resurrecting present-day Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall). That’s proper: Dexter survived being shot by his son, as he’s seen being rushed by snow-covered cop automotive to a hospital, the place he’s shocked again to life. As he lays in a hospital mattress, he narrates how you actually do see your life flash earlier than your eyes once you’re near dying, main us into what is going to apparently be a flashback present, though one wonders if we’ll additionally get a little bit of present Morgan timeline every so often à la Better Call Saul. Call this one Don’t Call Dexter.
Of course, whereas that prologue is prone to get probably the most consideration, the premiere of Dexter: Original Sin is all about introducing youthful variations of characters we already know and (largely) love. One of the fascinating issues about Original Sin is that we already know a fantastic deal about Dexter Morgan from the unique collection, together with how his father Harry formed his management over his “Dark Passenger” and the way the homicide of his mom formed his private demons. So seeing all of it performed out typically feels a bit like watching a neighborhood theater model of a play you already know by coronary heart. It additionally doesn’t assist in any respect that a number of of the foremost gamers appear miscast or poorly directed at finest. It’s laborious to guage casting/efficiency on one episode alone, however there may be notable purpose for concern after one hour.
Part of the issue is that Patrick Gibson is entering into the sneakers of one of the crucial memorable characters of the Prestige TV period. Michael C. Hall’s efficiency as Dexter Morgan is really phenomenal, nailing the layers of a person who believes in justice whereas additionally being an delinquent serial killer. Patrick Gibson simply doesn’t have it but. He performs a younger Dexter as extra of a socially awkward clean. Where Hall had depth of sociopathology behind his eyes and sly smile, Gibson extra usually looks like he’s doing apathy. There’s an enormous distinction.
To be truthful, Gibson is a sufferer of plotting right here, as creator Clyde Phillips and his group of writers use the premiere to just about simply get Dexter’s first kill and hiring by the Miami P.D. checked off the “Prequel List.” Who was Dexter’s first sufferer? An “angel of mercy,” a nurse who was treating his father when Dex found she was additionally killing sufferers. When he learns {that a} post-heart-attack Harry (Christian Slater) is the subsequent on Nurse Ratched’s listing, he lastly has an outlet for his Dark Passenger, even getting approval from dad first to do the deed.
Harry’s coronary heart situation—delivered to its potential deadliness when he realizes that Dexter’s homicidal urges received’t be glad by searching anymore—is the connective tissue that actually brings Dexter into the world of policing. Of course, Harry works for the division, however Dexter’s investigation and the help of Harry’s colleagues result in a paid internship provide for younger Morgan, and it means we get to satisfy extra Dexter Babies characters! Alex Shimizu performs a younger Vince Masuka and James Martinez takes on a thirtysomething Angel Batista. (Christina Milian will painting a younger Maria LaGuerta.) The premiere additionally introduces a number of new gamers on the Miami PD, together with a detective named Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) and his superior Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Seeing Slater, Dempsey, and Gellar present as much as examine a home-invasion murder scene looks like catnip for followers of ‘90s popular culture.
The sense that that is at the very least partially a nostalgia minefield is amplified in “And In The Beginning…” by a number of the weirdest needle drops of the yr. If a viewer had been to ever overlook that this present is about within the early ‘90s, the music supervisor is there to remind them, usually beneath the oddest situations. George Michael’s still-banging “Freedom” is one factor, however “Ice Ice Baby” whereas cops in SWAT gear are going to arrest a suspect within the house invasion murders and Poison’s “Nothing But A Good Time” for 30 seconds whereas Dexter kills his first sufferer are selections.
Of course, there’s one other main character on the earth of Dexter that has to play a job right here, however neither the writers nor Molly Brown appear to know what to do with Debra Morgan, at the very least not within the premiere. She’s sassy in a fashion that looks like an echo of Jennifer Carpenter’s portrayal, but it surely has a shallow register, partially as a result of Brown appears miscast however extra as a result of her involvement right here looks like fan service greater than character-driven writing. It’s additionally one other case whereby we all know nicely what Carpenter delivered to this function, and simply because the premiere doesn’t shut the deal that Gibson will flip into Hall in fifteen years, neither does it persuade anybody that Brown will grow to be Carpenter. Of course, it doesn’t assist to have the shadow of what they did with these characters relating to borderline incestuous attraction both. Still ew. Forever ew.
To be truthful to this awkward premiere, the ultimate scene of “And In The Beginning…” looks like the actual begin to Dexter: Original Sin. Dexter Morgan arrives to his first day on the job at Miami PD, prepared to assist clear up instances in a manner that satisfies his vengeful internal psychopath. And Gibson involves life on this scene a bit, as if he’s lastly turning into the Dexter we all know after saving each his father and sister, taking a assassin off the streets, and discovering the job of his desires.
Should what’s mainly a prologue to a prequel have been extra memorable? Undeniably. In a number of episodes, most individuals received’t even bear in mind Dexter’s first kill when it ought to have been actually formative to the legacy of this character. And that’s what is going to make or break this present: whether or not the writers wish to simply verify off “prequel present” packing containers or truly dig into what makes Dexter Morgan tick. Do they wish to do what everybody expects them to do and take no dangers, which is how this episode performs out, or might they take what we all know and love about Dexter Morgan and go someplace…authentic?
Stray observations
- • The credit! One must look no additional than the replication of the unique credit with a brand new performer to understand how content material this present is to echo as a substitute of redefine. However, it’s nonetheless a jolt to listen to that theme music and even to see Gibson enjoying out lots of the similar Dexter strikes from the Showtime traditional.
- • There’s an necessary flashback to Harry dropping a baby by drowning and his spouse Doris returning to seek out the horrific scene of her child being taken away by the coroner. It’s a defining second in Harry’s life and one thing that one hopes can be used for dramatic resonance. He couldn’t save that boy. Can he save Dexter?
- • Of course, everyone knows key issues about Dexter’s background, together with how his mom was murdered and the way Harry discovered him on the bloody scene. Will we study extra about Laura (Dexter’s organic mom who was certainly one of Harry’s informants)? Will we see Brian, Dexter’s organic brother? What about Dr. Vogel, who helped Harry form younger Dexter’s “code”?
- • We additionally know one thing that feels important to this season: Harry Morgan died when Dexter Morgan was 20, the age he’s on this episode. Don’t get too connected to Christian Slater. Although after this premiere, he could also be joyful to leap to a greater present sooner moderately than later.
