How 'Dexter' Prequel Paves The Way For Michael C. Hall's Return
Dexter is back — in more ways than one.
The franchise's new prequel series Dexter: Original Sin premiered on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, December 13. It follows the 20-year-old version of Michael C. Hall's vigilante — played in this iteration by Patrick Gibson — before he became The Bay Harbor Butcher, just after he graduates college and joins the team at Miami Metro.
Though it introduced a new cast portraying younger versions of original fan favorite characters, Dexter: Original Sin also paved the way for another planned spinoff series, Dexter: Resurrection.
Spoilers ahead for both Dexter: Original Sin and Dexter: New Blood.
Fans of Dexter know that the titular anti-hero seemingly met his maker at the hands of his own son, Harrison (played by Jack Alcott) in the finale of the 2021 Showtime limited series, Dexter: New Blood.
Dexter seemed ready for his end in the finale, as he encouraged his son to shoot him, even showing him where and telling him it was the "only way out." The change of heart came after Dexter was confronted with breaking the "Code of Harry" — rules his late cop father gave him to only hunt other killers who have somehow evaded the justice system — by murdering an innocent to secure his own escape.
However, the premiere of the prequel offers an alternate ending for the blood spatter analyst turned wilderness gear store clerk. It begins with sirens wailing amid the familiar score of the show, as a shot and bleeding Dexter is rushed to the hospital.
He's described as having "penetrating thoracic trauma by gunshot" and "catastrophic blood loss" as machines beep and the experts rush not to lose him. "I've experienced death so many times, but never my own," says Hall in a classic Dexter voiceover as doctors are seen using a defibrillator to revive the character.
Second time's the charm with the defibrillator, and doctors find a heartbeat. The camera then pulls back from the operating room to outside of the hospital, where the letters "n," "c," and "y" in the emergency room sign go out to reveal the word "Emerge."
"It really is like they say. Your life flashes before your eyes," Dexter's voiceover says, paving the way for this new series to focus on his youth. At the same time, it also opens the door for Hall to return as more than just the voice of Dexter's inner thoughts in Dexter: Resurrection.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their excitement over the prequel series, as well as its connection to the original hit.
"The only things I disliked about #DexterOriginalSin is having to wait a week for the next episode and Patrick Dempseys moustache," one fan posted.
Another X user gushed, "I am OBSESSED with dexter: original sin. i'm not usually a fan of remakes, prequels or sequels when it comes to an old classic show but im happy they did it with this one. young crazy killer dex, we are so back. #DexterOriginalSin."
"The way I gasped at the start of #DexterOriginalSin... 🤯😱 " a third fan posted, adding, "this ep was EVERYTHING."
Two new episodes of Dexter: Original Sin air Friday, December 20, with the rest airing one per week on Fridays on Paramount+ and Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime. Dexter: Resurrection is set to debut in summer 2025.
This was originally published on Newsweek.
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