‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Just Made a Big Change From the Original Show

by

Quick Links

  • Why ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Went This Route
  • ‘Dexter’ Had a Few Troubling Child Scenes

As a long-time fan of Dexter, I must say that the recent depiction of Jimmy’s gruesome death in Dexter: Original Sin was indeed a hard pill to swallow. Being a mother myself, the thought of a child being subjected to such heinous acts is more than just unsettling; it’s heart-wrenching. However, I must admit that it served its purpose in reinforcing the moral ambiguity that surrounds Dexter and his actions.

In my opinion, the creators of this series are masters at pushing boundaries while maintaining a delicate balance between horror and intrigue. They skillfully weave together a narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, all while making us question our own moral compasses. The graphic portrayal of Jimmy’s death is no exception to this artful blend of suspense and introspection.

Now, let me lighten things up with a little joke: I mean, come on! Dexter killing child killers? It’s like watching a vegan butcher shop only sell meat from animals that were raised humanely! But hey, as long as they’re not serving up any cute and cuddly puppies, I guess we’re all good here! Stream Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+ with Showtime to see the dark side of justice unfold.

In a fresh take on the original series, “Dexter: Original Sin” has lived up to its predecessor’s reputation. As a prequel, this show delves into the backstory of our protagonist, Dexter Morgan, portrayed by Michael C. Hall in the initial installment and Patrick Gibson as his younger counterpart (with Hall lending his voice for narration). The series follows a familiar format of a police procedural, where different cases are introduced in each episode, some spanning multiple episodes.

One significant plotline revolves around the abduction of a well-known judge’s ten-year-old child. As the investigation proceeds, the recent fourth installment took a shockingly grim turn that few other episodes have reached.

What Happens With Jimmy in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?

I’m Brayden Gleave, a 10-year-old boy who finds myself in an unsettling situation when I’m initially pushed into a dimly lit, secured room. Dressed in my school uniform and with a hint of affluence, I encounter a mysterious figure, always concealing his face behind a white mask. At our first encounter, he presents me with a meal box containing cheese, crackers, and fruit.

In the future event, when the boy raises his hand expecting food, he’s suddenly pulled, emitting a cry of pain. Time passes, and the authorities receive a tiny, severed digit that is presumed to be from the young boy. The narrative unfolds as the police strive to locate Jimmy, perplexed about why he was taken initially. There was neither a ransom demand nor any threatening messages or emails sent. The only explanation they can infer is that it’s related to the cartel. It’s plausible that the judge had been involved in a case where one of the cartel members was imprisoned or a rival released, and this act may have been their way of retaliation.

In the fourth episode, titled “Fender Bender,” the heartbreaking conclusion to the child’s story unfolds in the most tragic manner. Two carefree rollerbladers stumble upon a lifeless boy dangling from a bridge overpass. Upon closer inspection, it’s evident that he has passed away. When the police arrive on the scene, an officer is seen carrying Jimmy’s limp body down from the bridge and placing him on the ground for examination. A conspicuous hand with a missing finger and a lifeless face are visible to all. Later, images of the deceased boy and his face are pinned up at the police station as they deliberate over the case and attempt to solve the mystery surrounding his death.

In other series, as well as Dexter, there have been instances of child victims. In the premiere episode of Dexter: Original Sin, Harry (Christian Slater) appears at a grisly crime scene where an entire family, including two young children, has been brutally murdered. Their bloodied bodies are shown alongside their parents.

Generally speaking, children’s experiences on screen are not usually as graphic or distressing as what Jimmy went through in Episode 4. Although some scenes might be filmed off-camera or using camera tricks, they do not depict violence in such an explicit way as shown with Jimmy, hanging from the overpass. The disturbing imagery of Jimmy’s injury, inflicted by a perpetrator who used garden shears to amputate his finger and a cigarette lighter adapter to cauterize it, was more than enough to shock viewers. Even without these additional details being shown, they still have the power to turn stomachs. The sight of Jimmy’s body hanging from a bridge, followed by an autopsy photo, makes for a very jarring experience overall.

Why ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Went This Route

As a long-time fan of dark, morally ambiguous television shows, I can certainly understand why “Dexter: Original Sin” chose to depict a dead child so graphically. The character of Dexter, both the show and the man, has always been a fascinating study in antiheroes. His ability to hunt down some of the most vile individuals on Earth – rapists, child killers, and other monsters – is what made him so appealing to audiences. However, I must admit that this graphic depiction of a dead child tested my tolerance for such violence, even within the context of a series that has never shied away from dark subject matter.

In my personal experience, I’ve found that shows and stories that push boundaries in terms of content can be incredibly powerful, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about humanity. Yet, there is a delicate balance between pushing those boundaries and crossing the line into gratuitous violence or exploitation. In the case of “Dexter: Original Sin,” I believe they managed to stay on the right side of that line by using the graphic imagery as a powerful emotional tool, rather than for shock value alone.

Ultimately, my feelings about this particular scene are mixed. While it was difficult to watch, it also served to underscore the stakes and consequences of Dexter’s actions in a way that few other scenes could have. As a fan of the show, I appreciate the writers’ willingness to take risks and explore darker themes, even if those risks make me uncomfortable at times.

To underscore Dexter’s emotional response, it was essential to reveal Jimmy’s lifeless form. Although he was captivated by the boy, his fascination wasn’t rooted in his usual attraction to deceased bodies. Instead, the sight of this innocent child’s demise enraged him, a feeling that contrasts sharply with what fans expect from psychopathic killers. A key characteristic of psychopathy is a lack of empathy.

In a deliberate move to emphasize Harry’s Code’s power, Dexter might have intentionally created confusion. This was done to demonstrate that Dexter felt compelled to act virtuously because of the code. Fans often noticed this trait in Dexter throughout the original series, and this instance underscores how Original Sin links back to the initial series. Later on, Dexter consoles Aaron Spencer’s son, who is distressed by his parents’ quarrels. This could suggest that Dexter possesses genuine goodness, or it could mean he empathizes with this boy’s trauma and wishes for healthier coping mechanisms similar to the one the boy has.

Viewers are enraged by the sight of the boy’s body to such an extent that they almost seem ready to cheer for Dexter in his pursuit of the perpetrator, envisioning them as his next target. This is exactly what Jeff Lindsay, author of the books upon which the original series is based, intended when developing this character. Contrary to some speculations, Dexter is not modeled after a real person, but rather a creation of Lindsay’s born out of a striking revelation and brilliant idea.

Lindsay aimed to explore human nature and our internal struggles when faced with news about the death or injury of a truly reprehensible individual. Particularly abhorrent individuals include those who harm kids, as they occupy the highest tier on the scale of wrongdoing. In a YouTube conversation hosted by Orion Publishing Group, Lindsay expressed that he wanted the story to contain a code of conduct that most people could accept, to some degree… since he was brutally killing children, naturally, he deserved to face consequences.

In the original series and its prequel, crafting particularly despicable characters served to make Dexter appear more sympathetic. This rationale explains not only his selection of victims and motives, but also why Harry supported him, despite feeling uneasy and conflicted about it.

As a longtime fan of psychological thrillers and crime dramas, I have seen my fair share of morally gray characters like Dexter Morgan. However, witnessing Jimmy hanging from that bridge was a chilling reminder of the depths some people can sink to. Despite Dexter’s reputation as a ruthless serial killer, there is a glimmer of morality within him, a moral compass that guides his Dark Passenger towards justice in its own twisted way.

Seeing Jimmy’s lifeless body served as a stark reminder of the line that should never be crossed, even for someone like Dexter. Harming or killing children is the ultimate transgression, and it aligns perfectly with Dexter’s need to kill only those who truly deserve it, according to his father Harry’s Code. In my opinion, there are few things more deserving of death than a child killer, and watching Jimmy meet his end brought home that point for both the audience and Dexter himself.

As someone with a deep appreciation for character development and complex storytelling, I can appreciate how this scene serves to further humanize Dexter while also reinforcing his inner struggle between good and evil. It’s a testament to the show’s ability to balance the dark and light aspects of its protagonist in a way that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.

‘Dexter’ Had a Few Troubling Child Scenes

In the series Dexter, while there weren’t many instances where child victims were actually shown, there are two particularly vivid scenes that stick with viewers. One of these is a flashback to the death of Dexter’s biological mother, Laura Moser, portrayed by Brittany Allen in Original Sin and Sage Kirkpatrick in the original series. In this scene, we see Harry (played by James Remar) arrive at the gruesome crime scene after Laura has been brutally murdered with a chainsaw. Her body was cut into pieces, leaving her two children, Brian and Dexter, sitting and crying in a pool of blood – an image that is extremely disturbing.

At this point, Harry seizes Dexter and makes up his mind to take him under his wing permanently. According to the narrative, he opted against adopting Brian due to a sense of unease from past encounters with the older boy, feeling that there was something dark and malevolent lurking within him.

In the dismal finale of Season 4 on Dexter, what transpired mirrored a previous scene. After successfully capturing and executing serial killer Arthur Mitchell, also known as The Trinity Killer (played by John Lithgow), Dexter had an uneasy feeling that Mitchell was concealing something. Upon returning home, he discovered his wife Rita (Julie Benz) deceased, her body lying slumped over the bathtub, a fatal throat wound. In the same position as Dexter himself once was with his mother, was their son, Harrison, submerged in her blood.

Regarding Dexter: Original Sin, the Jimmy scene was distressing to behold. Though viewers are aware it’s fictional, watching violent content on TV shows can still be unsettling for even the toughest viewers. Seeing a tormented and deceased child, especially in such a heinous manner? That’s particularly troubling.

Displaying such grisly details in Dexter: Original Sin, including autopsy photos, was a daring decision. However, it was an essential one to drive home the message that even though Dexter is a killer, he’s not the type of killer we usually condemn. He relentlessly pursues the worst killers, reinforcing our complex affection for this character. Catch Dexter: Original Sin on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Read More

2025-01-02 01:02