Dexter Morgan’s return has yielded plenty to discuss, but most interesting of all is the return of his Dark Passenger. In the premiere of "Dexter: Original Sin," Dexter grapples with his past, re-emerging urges, and the looming threat of exposure, all while trying to build a new life. The episode sends the audience almost immediately into Dexter’s new world. As he artfully navigates between his carefully crafted life and the haunting spectres of his past, and the ever present temptation of his serial killer nature.
A Shadowed Past
The trailer starts with a look back at Dexter’s history. It is an equally jarring reminder of all the traumatic circumstances that brought him here. We have to remember that Dexter stole Debra’s body from the Hughes hospital and staged his own death way back in 2013. This act provided him the means to avoid accountability for what he had done and get a fresh start.
The ghosts of his past come rushing back when an anonymous letter arrives. It’s the same quote from Angela Bishop, his former police chief and mistress. Angela had shouldered the blame for shooting Dexter so that he could escape, and in doing so had lost him forever. Her sudden reentry into his life puts all of this into question and shakes up his perfectly ordered world.
Dexter’s internal struggle is highly visible as he comes to terms with his Dark Passenger, the physical embodiment of his homicidal urges. His father, Harry, appears as a colorful ghost of his psyche. In his appeal, he encourages him to subdue his passions and avoid the folly of yesteryear.
A Descent into Darkness
Dexter’s efforts to repress his Dark Passenger are rendered ineffective when he catches Ryan in the act of assaulting Shauna. He is motivated by a need to protect the innocent and by a desire to express his pent-up rage, but most importantly, he intervenes. This begins a series of events that culminates in his return down a path he’s chosen before.
Dexter finally succumbs to his urges and kills Ryan. He then dismembers the body into nine pieces and disposes of them in black garbage bags. The act is a haunting echo of his former self, and it stirs the long fallen darkness back to life.
"My son, I could cry. Actually, I can’t cry. Damn it." - Dexter (in voice-over)
Dexter dumps Ryan’s body while jamming to The Strokes’ “Bad Decisions.” The selection of music creates an eerie juxtaposition, especially when one considers the depraved essence of his actions. The music creates a menacing atmosphere for the very bloody business. It heightens the surreal disconnect between Dexter’s polite facade and his violent, secret life.
Echoes of the Past
After disposing of the, er, body, Dexter steals a dead man’s car and drives off into the sunset. Though he thinks he has completely erased his trail, fate has other plans. Dexter's physical therapist casually mentions a body found in New York that had been chopped up into nine pieces and stuffed in garbage bags. This shocking news sends Dexter into a panic because he realizes that this is his own M.O.
Now rattled, Dexter diverts attention by calling the clinic, calling in as Detective Joey Quinn. He hopes to throw off any potential investigation, but his efforts may be in vain.
A little desktop research leads him to find that Ryan was actually a serial sexual predator who had been regularly acquitted of assault. This selected information gives Dexter the intellectual and emotional justification for his actions, feeding into his justification that he is purging the world of evil.
Confronting Ghosts
Dexter’s history comes back to haunt him when Doakes shows up, unannounced. This one-time co-worker and rival reintroduces long-dormant frictions into the mix. Doakes’s presence instantly tethers us to those sweet, sweet nostalgia dollars with his trademark, “surprise, motherfucker." He does not let anyone forget the people he still sees, or the lives he has bettered.
Dexter has given to him a vintage photo of Angela with her friend Iris, one of the victims of serial killer Kurt Caldwell. This find links Dexter to a wider story, implying that his previous actions continue to have impact years later.
Harry pushes Dexter to try to reach his son, Harrison. He cautions that if not stopped, Harrison will turn into the Ice Truck Killer, Brian Moser. Dexter eventually begins to realize the effect his behavior is having on his son. Second, he’s concerned about the prospect that his dark legacy will continue.
