Dexter: Original Sin Episode 1 Review

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dexter: Original Sin episode 1.

Dexter: Original Sin‘s premiere, “And in the Beginning…”, covers several expected narrative beats from the original series but hasn’t yet established a natural balance between its old characters and new faces. A surprising opening scene picks up where New Blood left off as a wounded Dexter is rushed to the hospital in Angela Bishop’s police cruiser. Dexter is resuscitated in the emergency room – setting up the 2025 sequel series Dexter: Resurrection – and sees his life flash before his eyes. Michael C. Hall’s oddly soothing voiceover narration and the original’s classic theme song set a reaffirming yet emulative tone.

A Dexter prequel series has always been a risk following the disappointing original series ending and the divisive New Blood – one that its first episode has yet to pay off. Patrick Gibson leads the cast of Dexter: Original Sin as the friendly neighborhood serial killer Dexter Morgan, who is anxious for his first kill after graduating from college and entering the workforce as a Miami Metro forensics intern.

Fans of Dexter know his origin story well since it was covered quite extensively throughout the original’s eight-season run. Given this, the primary function of Original Sin episode 1 should not have been so much of a copy-and-paste recap but rather a new spin on a winning formula.

Original Sin Ties In Classic Dexter Elements Without Offering Much Compelling Insight

There Isn’t Much New Or Intriguing Dexter Backstory In The First Episode

The episode spends much of its time introducing characters with familiar names and younger faces. Vince Masuka is the same semi-charming deviant. Debra Morgan is the same unfiltered and defiant younger sister who drags Dexter to his own college party, which is a nice twist on the eventual too-close-for-comfort relationship between the siblings. An underutilized Angel Batista and a completely absent Maria LaGuerta are overshadowed by new heavy-hitting police characters played by Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar. Christian Slater offers a more compassionate Harry Morgan, replacing James Remar’s grave and stoic concern.

The most obvious plot point – Dexter’s first kill – is introduced and over within a few crammed scenes. While it’s an essential part of Dexter’s origin story that’s impossible to ignore, the whole Nurse Mary ordeal is rushed and unsatisfying. Her character is rather cartoonish, smiling devilishly as she hugs a mourning family member of the elderly patient she killed. Despite her underdevelopment, the series doesn’t pick up momentum until she’s introduced. The first 15 minutes are initially worrisome, with a distracting use of a soundtrack that sounds like a malfunctioning jukebox full of early ’90s hits.

Original Sin has a few intriguing insights about Dexter’s childhood. For one, he was a Wrestlemania fan, which might be a loose reference to Harrison’s wrestling in New Blood. His greatest role model was Ted Bundy; he saved Deb from being assaulted at a college party; he was recruited by the Miami Metro Forensics Department; and he was a top student in his pre-med program.

This information provides helpful context to the series but isn’t necessarily revelatory to Dexter’s lore. The biggest backstory reveal, however, has to do with Harry, who seemingly had another son who tragically drowned in a swimming pool while Harry drank beers and watched a football game on TV.

Patrick Gibson’s Budding Dexter & Michael C. Hall’s Narration Should Be A Killer Combo

Original Sin Has A Winning Combo With Its Old & New Dexters

The biggest relief of the Dexter: Original Sin premiere is that Patrick Gibson proves he can certainly handle the reins of the monumental character. Paired with Michael C. Hall’s sardonic and reflective voiceover, Original Sin has a winning combo with its old and new Dexters. Getting Nurse Mary out of the way early may turn out to be a great move for the series, even at the risk of creating a spotty premiere episode. It will allow Gibson and Hall to explore more uncharted territory as Dexter forms a professional relationship with his new boss, CSI Chief Tanya Martin.

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The best thing that can happen after a messy premiere is for Original Sin to lean into what made the original series a classic. Dexter will have to get some more blood on his hands starting with episode 2, “Kid in a Candy Store,” which, judging by its title, sounds promising. Dexter’s lore and Harry’s code will have to be expanded on with greater emphasis and innovation. A new season-length villain has to be established for Original Sin to truly start feeling like another authentic season of Dexter.

A two-episode premiere of Dexter: Original Sin might have been the way to go for Paramount. With nine episodes left, it’s too early to tell how the prequel will turn out but what is clear is that the series is at a crucial crossroads even after one episode. Some moments work really well with the nimble dance between Gibson’s spot-on Dexter mannerisms and Hall’s classic dry Dexter humor. If Dexter: Original Sin gives us more of this killer Gibson-Hall combo, it could easily salvage its stumbling start.

New episodes of Dexter: Original Sin release every Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Pros

• Gibson & Hall are a promising & killer Dexter combo
• Seasoned actors playing new characters make strong impressions
• Getting Nurse Mary out of the way opens a world of possibilities

Cons

• Original Sin has yet to find a balance between old & new Dexter elements
• Original Sin needs to offer more insights into Dexter?s backstory & lore