As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of TV binge-watching under my belt, I must say that the casting for Dexter: Original Sin is nothing short of genius. Having grown up with Michael C. Hall’s Dexter on Showtime, it was a delight to see his younger counterpart resurrected in the opening scene. However, what truly captivated me were the portrayals of Batista and Masuka by James Martinez and Jami O’Brien respectively.
[This story contains spoilers from Dexter and Dexter: New Blood.]
When Dexter: Original Sin viewers see the fedora and hear the giggle, they know who’s coming.
Over eight thrilling seasons of the original ‘Dexter’ on Showtime, viewers grew accustomed to the key figures in Miami Metro Homicide, the unit where Dexter Morgan, portrayed by Michael C. Hall, was a member. Among these characters were Detective Angel Batista, played skillfully by David Zayas, and Vince Masuka, the talented forensics expert, brought to life by C.S. Lee.
Jumping into the thrilling world of “Dexter: Original Sin,” now streaming on Paramount+, I found myself stepping into the shoes of a younger Dexter (played by Patrick Gibson), delving deep into the 90s to uncover how this enigmatic character transformed from a blood splatter analyst in broad daylight, to a chilling nighttime serial killer that first captivated us back in 2006.
Shimizu hadn’t previously known about Dexter, but when the part was offered to him, he confesses that he spent a weekend marathoning the original series and gathered hundreds of clips featuring Lee as Masuka, both on the show and in interviews. After this, he chose to reach out.
As I shared some digital moments with C.S. Lee, casually chatting and partying a bit, he’s proven to be incredibly supportive and down-to-earth, enriching my comprehension of the character Masuka even more, as I recount to The Hollywood Reporter.
Shimizu was in Miami when he says he first got a response from Lee.
Shimizu stated, ‘He suggested we hit the town and party! So off we went to Intercrew in Koreatown, where he offered me some fantastic insights on the character. Primarily, he emphasized that beneath all his eccentricities, absurd actions, and humorous antics, Masuka’s main goal is to forge connections and make friends.’ Lee documented our night out on social media, and Shimizu continued, ‘I’ve always felt that Masuka, in essence, is a good person. He might appear laid-back, but he’s exceptionally skilled at his job.’
He went on saying, “Moreover, C.S. wasn’t just helpful with understanding the character, but also shared insights about life as an actor in Hollywood, specifically as an Asian American actor. On top of that, he showed genuine concern for my success, something he didn’t need to do. As a result, I found his assistance invaluable and express my deepest gratitude.
Shimizu underscores the scarcity of securing a part similar to Masuka. “He’s incredibly out-there,” he remarks. “He’s daring and zany, yet he has an immense heart. He’s like an unconventional Asian slacker character, which is seldom encountered in Hollywood. I simply adored it.
Instead of Martinez claiming that he didn’t privately message Zayas, it’s important to note that they were already acquainted since they were both part of the theater scene in New York.
Martinez shared with THR, “His stage performances have always captivated me. I felt like I knew something about him already, and there were many similarities between him and Batista. As we interacted and got to know each other better, I truly understood Angel’s essence – that was the crucial aspect for me.
He, too, received key advice on how to play Batista for Original Sin.
Martinez stated, “He expressed that Angel lacks even a hint of cynicism within him, which I found to be a powerful and inspiring quality. This is something I could strongly relate to and build upon.” Essentially, Angel possesses an incredibly positive outlook on life, work, and love, and he always acts from the heart. It was crucial to portray his appearance accurately; however, truly understanding and depicting him went beyond just physical attributes. Meeting him allowed me to gain insight into his true character, which helped me achieve that goal.
Showrunner Clyde Phillips, who was once in charge of “Dexter” and is now working on “Original Sin,” expressed his desire for multiple seasons of the latter to air concurrently with the upcoming “Dexter: Resurrection.” In this new series, Michael Hall will reprise his role as Dexter Morgan in present-day. Since “Original Sin” revived Dexter at the start, viewers now have a clearer picture of where the “Resurrection” series might continue from.
Phillips explained to THR that you might think of ‘Resurrection’ as the sequel or continuation of ‘New Blood’, almost speaking figuratively.
In the show “New Blood”, the contemporary character of Batista, portrayed by Zayas, made an appearance. His latest scene left off at a pivotal point where he started to comprehend the true nature of Dexter and suspicions were raised about his old colleague and friend potentially being the Bay Harbor Butcher – a serial killer infamous in the series. Interestingly, both Batista and Dexter were present during the murder of Batista’s wife, Detective Maria LaGuerta, which was committed by Deb Morgan, Dexter’s sister (played by Jennifer Carpenter).
Martinez is apprehensive at the thought of watching his future counterpart reconcile that truth.
Through ‘Resurrection’, I can’t help but feel the sorrow that Angel will experience, the shock of betrayal. It moves me to tears because I know David and I can visualize him performing the revelation of Dexter’s true identity, ‘wow, this person is not who I thought they were.’ He always leads with his heart, so the pain he’ll endure, I’m definitely going to watch.
Although Masuka wasn’t present in “New Blood”, he managed to make a subtle appearance in the final episode through an Easter egg. An email popped up in Batista’s inbox from Masuka, informing him of Masuka’s marriage and extending an invitation to his bachelor party.
Shimizu expresses his wish for C.S. to return for ‘Resurrection’. He suggests that if the production requires someone with extensive knowledge of Dexter from his days working in forensics, Masuka would be the ideal candidate.
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On Fridays, you can catch the latest episodes of Dexter: Original Sin streaming on Paramount+. Additionally, the series will have its linear broadcast every Sunday evening at 10 p.m., as reported by THR in their comprehensive article on the show’s comeback.
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2024-12-23 18:57