Dexter: Original Sin

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.

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 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.

I need to start off this review by saying how much I absolutely loved Dexter. I loved it so much that I've watched it all the way through several times and was never bored. Then came Dexter: New Blood in 2021 and even though it wasn't as good as the original I still enjoyed it. The ending to both of those shows were awful, especially Dexter: New Blood. Now comes Dexter: Original Sin with the origin story of a young Dexter Morgan and how he became everyone's favorite serial killer. It also brings back the younger version of most of the original characters too. I don't know how they keep doing it but none of the Dexter shows disappoint. All 3 are a fun watch. I hope to see this Dexter series go for several more seasons.

I'm a big-time Dexter fan, through and through. Dexter (seasons 1-8) is the only series I rewatch all the time.

Like Harry (according to Dexter), change is not easy for me.

So when Dexter: New Blood came out, at first the change of scenery, the cold, the absence of some beloved cast members and the lack of humour and latin music were a huge disappointment to me. However, after watching it as a standalone show (with no comparisons to the original), it grew on me.

Now, with this new show, of course we're not used to the new faces in the cast. We all remember the young Dexter, Deb and Harry to look different, even Laura Moser.

However, I think it may be unfair to judge the casting as we're not in the shoes of the casting directors and producers. I believe they had to consider many aspects besides just similar looks.

Yes, we all wish that Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, James Remar and the rest of the original cast could magically play the younger versions of their own characters, but time only goes one way. (Bonus: I really like Christian Slater. He's awesome as always!)

So far, after watching the first episode twice, I like it. I think everyone did a pretty decent job filling in those big Dexter shoes.

I cannot deny, actually, the fact that I'm now even more excited to watch Dexter: Resurrection after getting a glimpse of Dexter being revived in the emergency room.

In short, I think this show is cool and will probably grow on me even more with time.

If you're a Dexter fan, go in with no specific expectations or judgment. I believe you'll enjoy it!