‘Dexter: Original Sin’: All the Easter Eggs in the Serial Killer Prequel

by

As a longtime fan of Dexter, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia while watching the premiere of Dexter: Original Sin. The series does an excellent job of capturing the essence of its predecessor, yet manages to breathe new life into the characters we know and love.

[This story contains spoilers from the Dexter: Original Sin premiere.]

Tonight’s the first night.

Three years following the end of “Dexter: New Blood,” Showtime’s beloved serial killer character is making a return in “Dexter: Original Sin.” The prequel series introduces Patrick Gibson as a younger Dexter, with Michael C. Hall offering both narration and an unexpected on-screen comeback. Set during Dexter’s early days working with Miami Metro, “Original Sin” features a wealth of returning characters, familiar themes, and numerous Easter eggs for fans who enjoyed the original series.

In conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Dexter franchise veteran and showrunner of Original Sin, Clyde Phillips, discussed the prequel series. He mentioned they had a rich history of lore spanning nine seasons from which to draw inspiration. Essentially, he hinted that if viewers enjoy discovering hidden references, this show will be like an exciting Easter egg hunt. They would script and film episodes, and team members would occasionally suggest intriguing Easter eggs, prompting them to quickly incorporate these ideas into the production for fans to delight in.

During the entirety of the season, we’ll track down and highlight all the hidden references to “Dexter” within “Original Sin”. We’ll update our findings as each new episode is released.

Spoilers ahead through season one, episode one, “And in the Beginning…”

Dexter… lives?

To set the stage clearly from the get-go, let’s clarify a misconception that might have arisen if you only saw the initial run of Dexter and skipped Dexter: New Blood. Contrary to any thoughts that Dexter may be living as a lumberjack somewhere, he is indeed not. The serial killer made a comeback for a sequel a few years ago, and in the finale of Dexter: New Blood, Dexter – hold onto your seats – meets his end. Yes, you read that right! He was fatally shot by his own son Harrison in the series finale. So, if you’ve been puzzled about why Dex was lying injured in the back of a car, still showing signs of life? Well, everyone who watched Dexter: New Blood was just as baffled. But fear not! More answers are promised when Dexter: Resurrection premieres this summer, with Michael C. Hall reprising his role as Dexter Morgan. (This is according to Phillips’ explanation in THR.)

Dexter Rides

After getting the most exciting part out of the way, let’s dive in. Interestingly enough, the initial scenes of both ‘Dexter’ and ‘Original Sin’ have a common thread: Miami Metro’s top blood spatter analyst is traveling in a car. Although there are significant variations – the original Dexter exuded self-assuredness as he drove through the night pursuing his prey, while the ‘Original Sin’ Dexter had been shot in the chest and miraculously survived. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that!

Introducing Dexter Morgan

The lingering amazement over Dexter’s miraculous resurrection swiftly yields to a strong wave of nostalgia. Although the opening credits of “Original Sin” aren’t an exact duplicate of the original series’ famous intro, they come incredibly close – from the bloody breakfast to the enigmatic smile at the end. By adapting Dexter’s regular morning ritual for his successor, Gibson, the production acquires a worn-in quality while making it clear that we’re in for something fresh and different.

A Shaggy Hair Story

Surprised by young Dexter’s appearance with long hair in the series? This style is consistent with the original show, where they often used an aged-down Hall, portrayed by wearing a wig to make him look like a teenager. While it suits Gibson better, we’re fortunate that this phase doesn’t last too long in the storyline.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Regarding the characters in the show, let’s discuss one who is making a comeback: Vince Masuka, the forensic expert with a questionable past, played by Alex Shimizu this season. Interestingly, he now sports a full head of hair unlike before. I can’t help but wonder if we might get an episode that delves into Masuka’s baldness history, or perhaps even his journey to regrowth?

City of Angel

In the world of familiar faces, Angel Batista reappears once more, and so does his distinctive hat! James Martinez portrays a youthful rendition of the classic series’ detective, sporting his trademark style – a pristine hat and an abundance of tropical shirts. This season, it might be worth focusing on Angel’s narrative, as in the current storyline, David Zayas’ character has discovered Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher. When Resurrection kicks into gear, there will undoubtedly be fireworks!

Evil Urges

In the initial episode, the entire Morgan family gathers for dinner, and Molly Brown convincingly portrays Deb as played by Jennifer Carpenter. Meanwhile, Christian Slater delivers a compelling performance as Detective Harry Morgan, embodying his own character effectively. This scene skillfully manages to make viewers forget about Deb’s past affection for Dexter for a while, while subtly hinting that at the start of this series, Detective Morgan is already aware of Dexter’s dark side.

Goodnight, Nurse

The debut of “Original Sin” delves into Dexter’s first murder, an event that has been previously dramatized. In fact, we witnessed Dexter’s initial killing back in the first season of the original series, in an episode titled “Popping Cherry.” This time around, Nurse Mary’s death is further explored, and it seems to function as a catalyst for the events that unfold throughout the rest of “Original Sin”.

Rough Start

Following the nurse’s murder, Dexter shows signs of carelessness in his actions. For instance, he discards her body in a marsh, exposing it to alligators. Additionally, he keeps the nurse’s earrings as souvenirs. The upcoming season will explore the reasons behind these poor decisions and how they will eventually result in Dexter using Bay Harbor as a graveyard, not to mention his habit of gathering blood samples as tokens.

You Spin Me Right Round

The inaugural episode of Original Sin concludes with Dexter Morgan, now a new forensics intern at Miami Metro, rotating repeatedly in his lab chair – a signature move reminiscent of the opening scenes from the initial Dexter series.

This story originally posted on Dec. 15 and will be updated after each episode.

***

Every Friday, catch the latest episodes of “Dexter: Original Sin” streaming live on Paramount+. Or, for those who prefer linear broadcasting, tune in Sunday nights at 10 p.m. to watch it unfold. For a comprehensive look into the return of Dexter, check out THR’s detailed feature on “Original Sin.

Read More

2024-12-16 08:25