I was a big fan of the original run of Dexter. Even when the series ran off the rails those last few seasons, I was still tuning in. There was really no way they were going to top John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer.
But like a lot of people, I didn’t care for that ending of season eight which was the series finale for almost a decade. For what it’s worth, I felt like Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) should repent for his sins. And his sister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), should’ve never found out his secret until the very end. I also think Debra should’ve been the one to take Dexter especially after Hall cheated on Carpenter during their brief (and strong) celebrity marriage. I haven’t watched Dexter: New Blood yet but Dexter: Original Sin squeezes all you probably need to know in a set-up of the first episode.
Set in the Miami area in 1991, the series follows a younger Dexter (wonderfully played by Patrick Gibson) as he begins to work forensic with the Miami Metro Police Department. Gibson, an Irish-born actor, could very easily pass for Hall’s son. And rather than trying to imitate Hall, he shows us Dexter in his youth as somewhat of a social outcast. For those saying he doesn’t seem like the latter Dexter we know, what do people expect? You’re not the same person at 20 you are at 35.
In the early 1990s, there were no true-crime buffs. Being a nerd or geek focused on something like criminology and forensics wasn’t too popular as you had to fit with the clique. So, someone who might see themselves as modern-day Sherlock Holmes was often ridiculed by those around them. Now, everyone gets into true-crime with all the podcasts, TV shows and books being released at an amazing rate. Gibson who is in his late 20s has a young boyish look to him as he’s about to graduate from the University of Miami.
And Gibson is able to handle the role splendidly as he enters into a department of professionals who see him just as some kid. Christian Slater takes over the role of Dexter’s father, Harry Morgan, from James Remar who played the character in the original series. He does manage to add some depth to the role that Remar, known for playing unsavory characters, was good at. But when you considering Remar was playing mostly a figment of Dexter’s imagination form how he remembered his father, Slater is able to recreate him in his own way.
Unfortunately, the most unlikeable character on the show is Debra (Molly Brown), Dexter’s younger sister. Carpenter was able to bring some originality to the role of a young woman detective who is still treated as someone invading a man’s profession. Here, Debra is 17-18 but Brown is 31 and playing the role like she’s making fun of teenagers. She’s obnoxious, arrogant and acts like a spoiled brat every time something doesn’t go her way. I also doubt Harry would’ve allowed his teenage daughter to act this way. Many fathers wouldn’t.
She’s the worst thing about this series that is flawed in many, many ways. It feels like show creator Clyde Phillips had a perfect idea but it should’ve been a TV movie that is painfully stretched to 10 episodes. Patrick Dempsey plays Capt. Aaron Spencer, head of the homicide division as the department deals with a murderer who’s kidnapping and killing children. I don’t want to give much away but given Dempsey’s status, you can probably draw your own conclusions.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is credited as a special guest star as Tanya Martin, the chief of forensics. However, her role is typical of special guest stars. She walks on for a scene says some dialogue then walks off for a scene. It just seems like another big name who was cast to get people to tune in. The role isn’t totally flat. Gellar adds some charm to what basically should be a role for a character actor.
There’s also flashbacks to the 1970s as Harry, working in narcotics, gets too involved with Dexter’s biological mother, Laura Moser (Brittany Allen), who becomes an informant. The flashbacks don’t really work because it’s hard to buy Slater as someone who should be in his early 30s. Yet, the problem with prequels is you know there’s not much risk to characters as you already know what their fates are going to be.
Allen who I hated, hated, hated in the awful movie What Keeps You Alive at least makes us care about her character, even though she has a horrible fate awaiting her. I would’ve rather the series focused more on Harry and Laura than Debra’s constant whining because Dexter doesn’t come to her volleyball game and she deals with all the mean girls at her school. You can tell why Harry would be more accepting of Dexter’s need to kill. In many ways, he feels guilty he put Laura in this situation and both Dexter and his brother, Brian, could’ve been spared the horrors they witnessed.
That being said, this show has a lot of promise for improvements as it’s been reportedly renewed for a second season. You can see how Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian) had to deal with the “Boys’ Club” at the police department and was viewed as an outsider, a stigmata that stayed with her as she rose through the ranks being the captain in the original series. Unfortunately, Vince Masuka, forensic member, played perfectly by C.S. Lee, comes off here as just another sex-crazed Asian stereotype in his performance by Alex Shimizu.
It feels too much like they tried to throw too many of the characters from the original series into this but can’t give them much to do.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 