By Patrick Nagy
Wow! Here we are. The year is now 2022 and am I’m actually writing about Dexter? Dexter the serial killer of baddies and other serial killers?! That Dexter??? You heard that right! Showtime, original show runner Clyde Phillips, and star Michael C. Hall decided to give it one more go and right the wrongs of the last season that aired back in 2013.
Let’s be honest (in my honest opinion), the show “Jumped the shark” after season 4. So they decided to give it another try, and jump back into the world of Dexter (based off a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay) and leave us all with a little better taste in our mouths.
We start out with where the original series left us. Dexter has moved to a remote town under an assumed name “Jim Lindsay” which I assume is a nod to the original author. Long gone are the tropical beaches of Miami, instead we find our protagonist deep in the woods working at a sporting goods and supply store. The interesting plot move is he is now dating the town Chief of Police, Angela Bishop played by Julia Jones. I guess Dexter just can’t stay away from his police upbringing. A kind of “keep your enemies closer” type of thing, maybe. Yep, Dexter has the perfect alias and the perfect new life…and he would’ve gotten away with it too if not for that snooping kid.
Kid you ask? That’s right! Dexter’s past catches up to him when his long lost son Harrison (Jack Alcott) tracks him down.
Angela Bishop (played by Julia Jones) and Jim Lindsay (aka Dexter Morgan - played by Michael C. Hall) in Dexter: New Blood
This instantly throws Dexter into a world of confusion as he wants to reconnect with Harrison. He feels regret over abandoning him, but it also brings the return of his “Dark Passenger”. We also see Dexter’s imaginary moral compass (in the form of his late adopted father Harry) has been replaced by his now late sister Deb. Jennifer Carpenter reprises the role she brought to life from the original, only this time she’s in Dexter’s head. She knows what he is, knows what he’s done and that he want’s to do again. Carpenter seems to relish this role screaming in Hall’s ear at close range (her ex-husband in real life).
Deb Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) in Dexter: New Blood
Soon after Harrison shows up Dexter wastes no time in finding a potential baddy to quench his dark desire. The local rich kid bully, Matt Caldwell (Steve M. Robertson) has a questionable past accident and very little care for the rules or laws. Dexter reluctantly sells Matt a rifle from the store and forces him wait the federally required three days despite Matt’s protest. Later that week, Dexter delivers the weapon to Matt’s house where a disgruntled friend let slip that Matt may have gotten away with murder in said accident thanks to his father’s money and influence. In light of this confession, coupled with Matt illegally shooting a rare white deer on native land (right when Dexter was about to pet it!)…Well. That’s all Jim, I mean Dexter needed to bring back the iconic kill room and dispose of the body via his fire pit. Later he moves the body parts to a local incinerator when the search ends up on his front door.
This brings us to our true baddy of the mini series, Matt’s father: Kurt Caldwell. Kurt is masterfully played by the legendary Clancy Brown. Kurt has it all for a big fish in a small town. Money, influence, and some dark secrets of his own. Kurt believes Dexter has something to do with Matt’s disappearance and he makes sure he’s a thorn in his side throughout the series.
Kurt Caldwell (played by Clancy Brown) in Dexter: New Blood
Another outside character interfering with Dexter’s quiet hidden life is true crime blogger Molly Park played by Jamie Chung. Her podcast “Merry, F*cking, Kill” explores serial killers. She even had episodes on the Trinity Killer and the Bay Harbor Butcher! She comes to town trying to break the case on a string of missing women in the area over the past twenty or so years.
Podcaster Molly Park (played by Jamie Chung) in Dexter: New Blood
All of these factors interfere with Jim (aka Dexter) trying to reconnect with Harrison who also appears to have his own “Dark Passenger”. Harrison meanwhile is dealing with his sense of abandonment, memories of his mother’s brutal murder, the first time feeling accepted by classmates and his wrestling coach / police deputy Logan (Alano Miller), and finding love in his new girlfriend Audrey (Johnny Sequoyah). Audrey by the way is the adopted daughter Chief of Police Angela whom is dating Dexter…it’s a lot.
Jim/Dexter (Michael C. Hall) bonding with Harrison (played by Jack Alcott) in Dexter: New Blood
If you’re a fan of the original series I think you’ll really like this one. It has all the elements of the original series and a few call backs including an appearance of the Trinity himself. (John Lithgow). I myself really enjoyed it. Not to talk badly about the final four seasons, but the creators got what I think they finally set out to do, give the fans a little closure.
The full season of Dexter: New Blood is streaming now on Showtime.