The next article comprises SPOILERS for Dexter, Dexter: New Blood and the primary episode of Dexter: Unique Sin, which not too long ago premiered on the 2024 TV schedule. When you nonetheless have to catch up, stream it with a Paramount+ subscription with Showtime.
Relating to the story of Dexter‘s titular character, there have been bits and items that we’ve acquired over time concerning his previous, however one character who at all times felt like an enigma – or, fairly, a ghost – was Dexter’s father, Harry. Nevertheless, Dexter: Unique Sin offers us an opportunity to get additional into the thoughts of the person who made the killer, and once I spoke about his backstory to creator Clyde Phillips, his rationalization made me need to rewatch the unique sequence once more.
Whereas James Remar performed Harry in Dexter, one of many finest exhibits on Showtime, Christian Slater took over as Harry for the prequel, and we’re already getting extra backstory on who Harry is as an individual. Once I spoke with Phillips about diving deep into Harry’s backstory within the prequel, the showrunner commented that, at its core, Dexter is a “household present,” so the prequel offers alternatives to dive deeper into that side, together with the principle character’s father:
Dexter, if you wish to put it in numerous classes, one of many classes is it is a father-son present. And it is a household present. And it is humorous, and half the present takes place of their home, not on the kill desk.
Phillips factors out a selected scene within the first episode, the place we see that Harry misplaced a baby in his earlier years because of negligence. Moments like that actually gave Phillips and his group a very good “kick within the butt” so as higher to grasp Harry. in addition to Dexter’s household life, extra this time round. This occurs as we study how Dexter realized find out how to kill folks, turned a blood splatter analyst and extra. Philips continued:
That swimming pool scene is absolutely cathartic and simply releases storytelling and motivation and understanding of the character. And it actually gave us a very good kick within the butt to get occurring understanding who Harry is, and what his relationship is together with his colleagues and what his relationship is, extra importantly, together with his youngsters.
I by no means actually considered Dexter as a household present, however how Phillips describes it makes me need to rewatch it as an entire. I do know some folks aren’t followers of the unique Dexter ending—and a few aren’t followers of the explosive finale of Dexter: New Blood both.
Nevertheless, for me, studying extra about Harry’s life, and what makes him him on Dexter: Unique Sin, has opened up my eyes much more to who he’s, in addition to what his affect is on Dexter as an entire has been nice. Within the unique sequence, it nearly felt like Dexter was guided a lot by Harry and his ethical code. Now we get to see it unfold in real-time in his earlier years.
With this info in thoughts – and the way way more I am certain we will be taught because the sequence progresses – I feel it is perhaps time for a Dexter rewatch. Or perhaps you need to watch Dexter: Unique Sin and simply benefit from the prequel goodness. Both means, you will have a brand new understanding of Harry this time round. Possibly you will find yourself considering Dexter is a household present simply as a lot as Phillips does.