As a pilot, it needed to accomplish a lot in just one hour: Sell established fans on the new cast, introduce new fans to the character, stay true to the story which was first told back in 2006, and justify its own existence by hinting at untold truths that were never revealed in the original series. On top of that, it needed to establish an important link to the end of ‘Dexter: New Blood’ to keep some of the fandom on the hook for the duration. The result is an impressive episode that feels nostalgic and fresh, but maybe a little rushed.
“A Heartbeat… I’ll Take It”
Episode one wastes no time getting down to brass tacks. In the opening moments, the first voice we hear is Michael C. Hall’s iconic narration as an emergency vehicle rushes him to the hospital after being shot by his son at the end of New Blood. As he clings to life, he speaks to the fact that despite causing an enormous amount of death in his life, he has never come close to experiencing it for himself. Moments later, we see doctors successfully resuscitate him in the emergency room; Officially setting the stage for future stories involving “America’s favorite serial killer.”
I have spoken in the past about my own reservations regarding the decision to retcon Dexter’s demise but I would be lying if I said that seeing it happen on screen didn’t fill me with relief and excitement. The fact of the matter is that the character is fascinating and Michael’s performance throughout the series is electric. Audiences clearly want more and as long as the creative minds behind the show’s best stories are at the helm - and as long as Michael is willing and able to return to the role - I am more than happy to continue supporting the show for a few extra seasons.
“That’s what makes you Special”
Of course, the opening bombshell revelation is merely a pitstop on the way to the meat and potatoes of Original Sin. As he stabilizes, his life flashes before his eyes and we are transported back in time where we witness his birth to Laura Moser and then come face-to-face with a 20 year old, Pre-Med Dexter Morgan. It’s a delightful introduction to Patrick Gibson who embodies the role with grace. It also serves to remind us of just how peculiar Dexter was in his youth and how that probably didn’t sit very well with his peers.
Dexter stands awkwardly above a corpse as he prepares to perform his first autopsy in front of his med school classmates. To say that his eagerness is off-putting or that his insights into the experience feel a bit too intimate would be an understatement. As his classmates tease him, Dexter cuts into the cadavers chest which he is disappointed to find has already been completely drained of blood. His Professor asks him “Is something wrong?” to which Michael C. Hall’s inner voice quips “Yeah… no blood” - a subtle but important hint at one major difference between this series and its predecessors.
Despite the new face behind the character, Michael C. Hall's narration remains intact but the perspective has shifted. His presence now feels more like that of a storyteller than that of an actual character who is present in the moment. I had my concerns about this decision since it was revealed back at Comic-Con but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it works. Patrick’s performance gels really well with Michael’s narration and I suspect that over time, it will go a long way towards blending this prequel series with its counterparts. I look forward to seeing how the writers choose to utilize this shift over the course of the season as it will undoubtedly lead to some memorable moments.
Over the course of the episode, a lot of effort is spent sort of resetting the character for the sake of new and old audiences alike. In a lot of ways, it gets back to its roots by returning to a certain brand of dark comedy that felt most prevalent during the first few seasons of the show (1 - 4 specifically). Dexter thinks about reading ‘American Psycho’ (published in March of 1991) when asked to smile during his graduation photoshoot, he keeps newspaper clippings about serial killers in a Penthouse magazine under his bed, and he looks wildly uncomfortable when he escorts Deb to a college frat party. It is all in the interest of painting Dexter as an extremely awkward and inexperienced young psychopath.
“So it was Always about Family… What a Concept”
It may be Dexter’s story but perhaps more than ever, the concept of “family” feels like the central theme of the show. On one hand, we are getting to see a lot more of the Morgan family unit - with Harry and Deb both alive and living under the same roof - and on the other, Harry’s life prior to adopting Dexter is finally under the microscope. In this first episode alone, we get a huge revelation that will most certainly start to paint Harry’s motivations in a brand new light.
Harry’s guilt over the neglect that led to the death of his first-born son, Junior, almost immediately changes everything we think we know about the character. I can already picture the rift that will start to grow between him and Doris as the circumstances of this tragedy start to steer him towards Dexter; Not to mention explaining why he is so committed to compromising his values for the sake of his adopted son later in life.
At another point in the episode, while chaperoning Deb at a wild frat party at the behest of his father (and the dismay of his sister), Dexter comes within seconds of committing a very public murder while protecting his sister. Gibson’s performance really shines in this scene as he seamlessly switches between socially awkward outcast and vengeful brother.
As is tradition, it’s his sister who pulls him back from the brink, once again proving that even as the story plunges into darkness, its family that keeps Dexter anchored and safe. These opposing themes of relentless violence and familial roots have always been at the heart of this series and I am happy to report that they remain as effective as ever in Original Sin.
At the same time, the “Miami Metro familia” is also starting to come together. The introductions (and re-introductions) to the characters on the other side of the coin are brief but they effectively hint at their dynamics on and off the job. It doesn’t hurt that they have demonstrated some rather stellar casting for these roles. The younger iterations of Batista and Masuka are well realized and the new faces that round out the team seem like they will be fun to watch as they inevitably circle Dexter’s secret life.
Even the murder of Dexter’s first victim - which is lovingly recreated in this episode - is justified because of how close she came to destroying his family unit. The deed itself is even juxtaposed against Deb’s Volleyball game which Dexter has blown off to commit the murder; The first in a long line of unspoken betrayals that his sister will unwittingly tolerate for the rest of her life. This theme of family has never felt quite this concentrated in the show and I have no doubt that it will only become more pronounced as the season continues.
“You Never Forget your First Time; Mine was with an Older Woman”
As expected, the centerpiece of the pilot episode is the iconic kill of Nurse Mary - the “Angel of Death” who Dexter discovers is quietly killing Harry in the hospital after he suffers a heart attack. It’s a story all Dexter fans are familiar with but it is also an unavoidable component of Dexter’s origin that they simply couldn’t bypass in a show like this. While the flashback from the original series is covered in a matter of minutes, Original Sin gives the story a little extra time to breathe and weaves it cleverly into the larger narrative; Further bolstering the theme of family throughout the episode.
And herein lies the potential in revisiting Dexter’s youth as part of a whole new series. It is an exciting opportunity to connect a lot of dots and provide some welcome context to the original series. Harry’s health scare is not only elaborated upon for the first time, it seems like it may be linked to the stresses caused by trying to help Dexter contend with his murderous impulses.
Furthermore, the story now features a small recontextualization which makes a huge difference: The kill is no longer Harry’s idea. Instead, Dexter manipulates Harry into approving the kill. It’s a subtle change but one that I think feels appropriate. In the original series, Dexter felt a bit like an unreliable narrator; Contorting minor details to suit his world view and appeal to the audience. In Original Sin, given the unique narrative framing, the story now feels more honest.
When the moment finally comes, we are treated to a (mostly) faithful recreation of the iconic kill scene from the original. Mary comes home to find her living room is covered from floor-to-ceiling in plastic sheeting and she is attacked by a very eager - but very inexperienced - young Dexter who eventually overpowers her. This scene had a lot riding on it. Michael C Hall’s performances during kill scenes were integral to the series popularity and this was our first opportunity to see if Patrick Gibson would rise to the occasion. He did.
The new dialogue featured here provides insight into the character and gives Patrick a chance to really make the scene his own. Keen-eyed fans will notice that some of the minute details have changed but the core of the scene and the canon of the show remains intact. Patrick does an admirable job of matching Michael’s mannerisms but he also ends up adding a layer of passion to the scene that didn’t exist before. Dexter is clearly reeling from the fact that someone would try to rob him of yet another parent; Particularly one that helped make his way of life possible in the first place.
“It Felt… Right”
From the original series, we know that Dexter was somewhat oblivious to the decline of his father’s mental health after he started killing but this marked the first time we get to see it from Harry’s perspective. When they finally discuss the act, it becomes clear that he is conflicted about unleashing his son on the world. It’s a wound that we already know never heals but we are finally going to see what that journey actually looked like for Harry; And maybe finally learn some truths that the Dexter of old intentionally omitted.
“Welcome to the First Day of the Rest of your Life”
The episode draws to a close in the most nostalgic way possible as Dexter is ushered into his first day as an intern at Miami Metro. It’s revealed that Harry originally opposed Dexter’s decision to take the offer but is resigned to let it happen to support his son. The elevator doors open onto a wildly nostalgic 90’s version of the Miami Metro bullpen and Pat Irwin’s melancholic musical stylings blend beautifully with the whimsical score that Daniel Licht introduced in 2006. Masuka guides Dexter to his work station for the first time ever where he takes his chair for its maiden spin.
It’s a wonderfully poignant way to end the episode because it feels like coming home in a lot of ways but it also signals to us that we don’t really know where we go from here. It was a jam packed episode that covered a lot of important ground and while the show will continue to weave in and out of familiar flashbacks from the original series, the grander story that we are going to witness is brand new. It was a necessary journey but for all intents and purposes, the real fun is sure to begin this week with episode two.
My Score:
Next Week: “Kid in a Candy Store”