Dexter: Original Sin

I wasn't sure what to expect going in but ended up being pleasantly surprised how much it felt like I was watching the old Dexter series. In the first series, Dexter would often recall a period from his past and in this latest series it's like going back to those scenes, but expanded. Another thing, as dark and sad as the original series was, it was full of dark humour as well. This latest series is even more so. I hope the whole series is as good as the first episode.

The acting is spot on. I almost lost it when I saw a young Bautista, HA! And oh my god, don't get me starter on Deb! And last, a great portrayal of a young Dexter.

Dexter is easily one of my favorite tv shows of all-time and one of the few shows I can watch all the way through several times over without getting bored. It's hard for me to put into words how much I loved the original show. The only thing that's not good about it is the ending. Even though the ending was pretty bad but that still doesn't take away from how good the show is overall. So with that said I was really looking forward to Dexter: Original Sin and it did not disappoint. Patrick Gibson who plays a young Dexter Morgan absolutely kills it, as does the rest of the cast. This is a must watch for any fan of Dexter.

I was very leery as most modern remakes or prequel/sequels today are just sooo bad. I was presently surprised though. It started from the shows intro, they did a very good job of casting with the actor playing the young Dexter could pass as an actually son. Actually all of the characters are cast pretty well with the exception of the "Deb" character, she is pretty terrible. The actress they cast doesn't resemble her and can not deliver a line correctly. They wrote her dialog well, just the actress does not deliver it with the right attitude or timing. This is a minor distraction though as overall it's worth a couple more episode to see if they blow it or not.

Dexter: Original Sin takes a bold gamble, revisiting Dexter Morgan's formative years and offering a fresh perspective on his dark passenger. While some prequels stumble under the weight of established canon, Original Sin largely succeeds, enriching the Dexter mythology while delivering a compelling standalone story.

One of the series' greatest strengths is its casting. Patrick Gibson, though initially a questionable choice, grows into the role of young Dexter, capturing the character's signature blend of social awkwardness and chillingly calculated violence. Molly Brown shines as Deb, imbuing the younger version of the character with a fiery spirit and vulnerability that resonates deeply. The supporting cast, including Alex Shimizu as Masuka and James Martinez as Batista, also deliver strong performances, effectively capturing the essence of their original counterparts. Christian Slater, however, feels somewhat miscast as Harry, struggling to fully embody the character's internal conflicts.

The series cleverly weaves in familiar elements from the original Dexter, including iconic music cues and visual motifs, while also exploring new territory. The storyline involving Harry's deceased son adds a layer of complexity to Dexter's origin story, though it occasionally veers into melodramatic territory. The central mystery surrounding Dexter's present-day predicament in Iron Lake provides a compelling throughline, keeping the tension high throughout the season.

Original Sin isn't without its flaws. The pacing can be uneven, with some episodes feeling rushed while others drag. The over-reliance on licensed music occasionally clashes with the show's darker themes. And while the CGI is generally improved from the first episode, some scenes still suffer from noticeable visual effects issues.

Despite these shortcomings, Dexter: Original Sin is a worthwhile addition to the Dexter universe. It's a darkly entertaining exploration of Dexter's past, offering a fresh perspective on his transformation into the Bay Harbor Butcher. While it may not entirely satisfy all fans, particularly those disappointed by New Blood, Original Sin delivers enough compelling moments, strong performances, and intriguing twists to keep viewers engaged until the bloody end.

I went into this with pretty low expectations and mostly just excited for Resurrection. The beginning of the first episode was cringey with the edits and the CGI cop car, and I thought "oh boy, this is going to flop". By the end of the first episode, I was eating crow, as the actors embodied their characters perfectly and the story showed immense promise.

While we know much of the backstory already, the first episode held a couple of surprises that add to the depth of some of the characters we've grown to know and love, and adds some background into the decisions made by those characters. Only one episode in and I'm hooked already!