WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 4!As young Dexter finally begins to implement the Code of Harry,Dexter: Original Sinrevives a major aspect of the main series that was largely absent fromNew Blood. ThoughDexter’s original series endedin 2013, the show has received a massive resurgence in popularity throughout the 2020s, leading to a limited revival in 2021, a prequel in 2024, a sequel slated for a 2025 release, and another prequel in development aboutDexter’s Trinity Killer. Whileeach new show sees notable departures fromDexter’s original formula, some, likeOriginal Sin, are more intent on recapturing the main series’ successful recipe.
ThoughDexter: New BloodandOriginal Singenerally had similar starting points, as Dexter killed for the first time in a decade inNew Bloodwhile killing for the first time ever inOriginal Sin, they took different approaches to episodic storytelling. InNew Blood, Dexter was hiding his history as a serial killer, while still seeking a life of “normalcy” and trying to suppress his Dark Passenger. Meanwhile, inDexter: Original Sin’s timeline,Dexter is just beginning to establish his methods as the eventual Bay Harbor Butcher, allowing for the prequel to more closely mirror the original show’s formula.
Dexter: Original Sin Brings Back The Episodic Killers & Hunts From The Original Show
Dexter Targets Multiple Killers Throughout Original Sin Season 1
One of the most intriguing aspects of the original show was seeing Dexter’s method of hunting down his victims, donning his iconic outfit and gloves, and seeing him show or discuss their victims before killing them. While Dexter didn’t target a new victim every episode, mostseasons ofDexter, which had 12 episodes each, featured him hunting down new victims in several outings.He didn’t always end up killing his targets, but he consistently had multiple victims across various episodesin addition to the main “big bad” at the end of the season.
Dexter Confirms A Brutal Brand-New Kill 11 Years After The Original Show’s Ending
The Dexter prequel series Dexter: Original Sin reveals a brand new Dexter kill that expands on the lore of the original show in episodes 2 & 3.
However, since Dexter was living in the small, isolated town of Iron Lake, New York and was still working hard to suppress his Dark Passenger,the episodic kills ofDexterwere largely absent fromNew Blood. Rather, Dexter snapped and killed Matt Caldwell, tracked down and killed Jasper Hodge like he did in the old days, killed Elric Kane and Logan to find Harrison and escape jail, and killed Kurt Caldwell after finding out he wasNew Blood’s Runaway Killer. In reality, only two of those kills showcased Dexter as the hunter seen throughout the original show.
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Hit by vehicle when fleeing from Dexter (status unknown)
SinceDexter: Original Sinhighlights how Dexter became the experienced serial killer seen at the start of the main series, the prequel also gets to bring back episodic kills. Like with the main series,Dexter doesn’t kill a new victim each episode, but still frequently hunts down potential victims while the bigger villain’s presence lurksand gradually builds in the background. ByDexter: Original Sinseason 1, episode 4, Dexter has already hunted down three killers: Nurse Mary (who he kills), Tony Ferrer (who he kills), and Mad-Dog, who is hit by a vehicle after escaping Dexter’s plastic-wrap restraints.
Dexter: New Blood Avoiding Episodic Killers Still Makes Sense
Iron Lake’s Small Population Wouldn’t Yield Many Killers
While it’s exciting to revive the original show’s recipe of episodic killers for20-year-old Dexter Morganto track down inOriginal Sinafter being absent fromNew Blood, it largely made sense that the sequel series didn’t include this element. For one,Dexter didn’t have many available killers to track down.New Bloodreiterates time and again how small of a town Iron Lake is, which is part of why it’s so shocking that serial killer Kurt Caldwell was able to kill for decades uncaught right under the police department’s noses.
Dexter being able to find numerous killers who evaded justice in Miami each year is far more believable than finding several killers to track down in Iron Lake.
If Iron Lake had any more active serial killers than Kurt, there would be some major questions not only about the efficiency of the town’s police department, but also about why the small population yields so many murders. Meanwhile,Dexter: Original SinandDexter’s main series have the titular killer hunting in Miami, Florida, one of the most populated cities in America with relatively high crime rates in both shows’ timelines. Dexter being able to find numerous killers who evaded justice in Miami each year is far more believable than finding several killers to track down in Iron Lake.
Dexter: Resurrection Needs To Maintain Original Sin’s Episodic Kill Return
Can Dexter Return To Vigilante Killing After His Identity As The Bay Harbor Butcher Was Exposed?
AfterOriginal Sin, the momentum of the franchise’s revival grows withDexter: Resurrection’s releasein summer 2025, which brings back Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan.Original Sin’s series premiere revealed that Dexter miraculously survived being shot by Harrison inNew Blood’s ending, withResurrectionfollowing up on the titular character’s life after being revived by doctors. Though the plot of Resurrection is still under wraps, Dexter finally being exposed as the Bay Harbor Butcher inNew Bloodsuggests that he’ll either be on the run from the authorities or working to free himself from prison in the upcoming sequel.
So far, Michael C. Hall is the only returning actor confirmed forDexter: Resurrection’s cast.
Even if Dexter goes into hiding duringResurrection, he’ll likely still continue to track down potential victims who fit the Code of Harry that he learned prior toDexter: Original Sin. There’s noDexterif he’s not acting as a vigilante killer, buthe now knows to avoid small-town living and repeating his methods as the Bay Harbor Butcher. It’s possible thatDexter: Resurrectionwill put him in a highly populated city where he could blend in with the masses while killing, or see him travel from place-to-place while taking out a new killer in each location.
Dexter: Original Sin
Cast
Dexter: Original Sin explores Dexter Morgan’s early years in 1991 Miami as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. Guided by his father, Harry, Dexter crafts a moral code and navigates a forensics internship at Miami Metro Police, all while controlling his darker impulses.
Dexter
Dexter is a television series following Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for Miami Metro Police who secretly leads a dual life as a vigilante serial killer. Released in 2006, the show focuses on Dexter’s internal conflict as he hunts down criminals who elude justice within the legal system.
