WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 1!Paramount+’sDexter: Original Sinfills in some major gaps about Dexter Morgan’s early days as a serial killer, which includes clarifying details about the origins of his job with Miami Metro. Throughout theoriginalDextershow’s eight seasons, Dexter was a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department by day and a vigilante serial killer by night, having been taught by his adoptive detective father, Harry Morgan, to follow a killing code that fulfills his blood-seeking urges. However, itwasn’t clear whether Harry had been behind the decision for Dexter to get a job at Miami Metro.
While depicting his last few days as a college student in 1991, the pilot episode ofDexter: Original Sinalso dives into Dexter’s very first kill and the first steps of his career. By this point, Harry had alreadytaught Dexter the Code of Harry, but was still trying to find ways to suppress his Dark Passenger through hunting trips and certain medical and scientific careers. However, Harry’s first career choice for Dexter doesn’t work out, withthe premiere ending as Harry and a killing-experienced Dexter walk into Miami Metro’s station for his first day as an intern.
Dexter: Original Sin Reveals Harry Morgan Wasn’t Involved In Dexter Getting A Job At Miami Metro
Dexter Was Hired After Analyzing Blood Spatter Images At A Career Fair
In the original show, the timeline of events indicated that Dexter began working at Miami Metro after Harry Morgan had already died. InDexterseason 1, episode 2, the titular serial killer gave expert testimony for a case and revealed that he had worked in Miami Metro’s forensics department for “almost twelve years.” That was in 2006, so twelve years prior would have meant Dexter began his career there around 1994–1995. Meanwhile, Harry Morgan dies around 1992, so the original show didn’t give any indication that the two had worked together.
The original show reveals that Harry Morgan tragically dies by suicide approximately one year after his heart attack inDexter: Original Sin’s pilot.
Still, since Dexter began working there soon after, it was assumed that Harry either advised him to have a career there and work from the inside, or perhaps convinced the department to hire Dexter before he died. Throughout the original show, it wasnever really made clear whether Dexter working at Miami Metro was a calculated strategy crafted by Harry and Dexterto keep him from getting caught. However, sinceDexter: Original Sin’s timelinemoves up his origins at Miami Metro to 1991, the prequel finally reveals how that decision came about. And, surprisingly, it had nothing to do with Harry’s input.
Dexter: Original Sin’s Story Was Already Shown On-Screen In A Forgotten Prequel From 16 Years Ago
Dexter: Original Sin will show Dexter’s earliest kills, but another show already depicted some of them years before the prequel series releases.
Dexter: Original Sinreveals thatDexter Morgan was offered a position as an intern at Miami Metro by the forensics department head, Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar). At a career fair on Dexter’s college campus, ayounger version ofDexter’s original characterVince Masuka was at a booth with crime scene photos, which Dexter analyzed and noted discrepancies between the blood spatters. After this led to a break in the case, Tanya showed up at the Morgan house and offered Dexter an internship, with no urging from Harry. Rather, Harry was nervous about Dexter working there.
Harry Originally Wanted Dexter To Become A Surgeon
Harry Thought Dexter Cutting Into Bodies Would Suppress His Dark Passenger
As it turns out, Harry had a completely different plan for Dexter’s career, which involved way fewer crime scenes and a larger distance from the police department.Dexter: Original Sinreveals that Harry and Dexter originally planned for him to become a surgeon. The original show explained thatDexter went to medical school and was at the top of his class, but hadn’t revealed why his intended career path was to be a surgeon.
It was blood that would satisfy Dexter’s Dark Passenger, and being a surgeon wouldn’t take care of this need.
BeforeDexter: Original Sin,Harry and Dexter believed that becoming a surgeon might satisfy Dex’s urge to cut into bodies, avoiding the need for him to actually kill. However, when Dexter first cut into a cadaver at medical school, he realized a big problem with this plan: there was no blood. It was blood that would satisfyDexter’s Dark Passenger, and being a surgeon wouldn’t take care of this need. Harry still had hope that this would work out, but Dexter decided otherwise, and instead realized that analyzing blood spatter was a much closer substitute to killing day-to-day.
Why Harry Doesn’t Think Dexter Working At Miami Metro Is A Good Idea In Original Sin
Dexter Just Started Killing Right Before Getting His New Job
Dexter: Original Sinseason 1, episode 1 ends with a disapproving Harry and Dexter entering the police station for work. When they walk out of the elevator,Harry tells his son, “I don’t approve of you doing this, Dex,”referring to his new internship. In response, Dexter says that Harry had always told him to be “part of something,” so he was just following his advice. Though Dexter managed to avoid being caught as the Bay Harbor Butcher for 31 years untilDexter: New Blood’s ending, Harry had some understandable reservations about working in a police department.
Dexter had only just begun killing, and, at that point inDexter: Original Sin, Harry hadno idea whether the Code would actually work to prevent him getting caught. Additionally, Harry didn’t know how well he could help suppress Dexter’s homicidal urges after he finally made his first kill. There was still so much unknown about whether Dexter’s serial killing could be kept contained and secret, so having him work in a place surrounded by detectives every day would be a major risk. If Dexter slipped up at work, the entire Morgan family would be put in jeopardy.
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.
