Dexter Original Sin Hits Paramount+: Is It a Must-See for Fans of the Original Series?

Showtime and Paramount+ have released the first episode of Dexter: Original Sin, a prequel to the original series. The story centers on young Dexter, who has just joined the Miami police force and has killed a man for the first time.

Ten episodes promise to show how the maniac learns to curb his dark nature and hone his killing skills.

What Is Dexter: Original Sin About?

Young Dexter can't come to terms with his inner Dark Passenger – a thirst for blood and murder – which is why his adoptive father Harry, a homicide detective, is having a hard time.

From his police and hunting experience, Harry taught Dexter the techniques of waiting for a victim, spilling blood, and covering his tracks, and in practice, he calmed and restrained his son's dangerous instincts. And now Dexter is telling his father how he almost stabbed a man. As a result, Harry suffers a heart attack, but the worst is yet to come.

A maniacal nurse is operating in the hospital, injecting patients with lethal doses of potassium nitrate. Harry, confined to his hospital bed, finally finds a possible compromise with his stepson's Dark Passenger and gives Dexter his blessing for the first murder.

At This Point, the Existence of Original Sin Seems Meaningless

The original series was so full of flashbacks to Dexter's past that there was no real need for a prequel. We knew about Dexter's relationship with Harry and his traumatic experience of losing his mother – memories, the same thoughts, were repeated regularly throughout the show, leaving no questions unanswered.

The exposition of Original Sin so far is nothing but confirmation of meaninglessness – no ideas, no fresh perspective, no strong dialogue. The director of the first episode, Michael Lehmann, does not hit the authenticity of 1990s television, showing a synthetic reality.

The introduction to the life of 20-year-old Dexter is superficial: an autopsy during a university internship, family dinners, the perfect first murder. And not a single event arouses emotions in the character or challenges him.

Patrick Gibson is a find for casting directors, but the actor only starts to feel the character's gut and is cautious, as if afraid of not living up to expectations. As a result, Dexter's recognizable traits – antisociality, awkwardness, lack of empathy – seem exaggerated and superficial.

Original Sin Still Has Time to Pick Up Speed

And yet, the show is not without charm, it has a pleasant lightness and potential for development. Maybe Original Sin will soon find the right pace and mood, show an intriguing case and new sides to the characters.

After Dexter, there was a crazy number of maniacs on streaming, so it is important to give him a chance to tell his story in a new way – better, not worse.