Previously few years, the Showtime crime drama Dexter has gone from a single sequence to a franchise. There was the restricted sequence sequel Dexter: New Blood in 2021, adopted by the prequel sequence Dexter: Authentic Sin, which premiered its first season in December 2024, after which the newest, one other sequel sequence, Dexter: Resurrection.
Regardless of receiving rave evaluations, nonetheless, and a supposed fast renewal discover, Dexter: Authentic Sin has been canceled by Paramount. As a die-hard fan, I’m not proud of the choice.
‘Dexter: Authentic Sin’ Tied Superbly Into the Authentic
Dexter: Authentic Sin did a beautiful job of tying into the unique sequence with a brand new forged of characters enjoying youthful variations of all the important thing characters from Dexter. Christian Slater performed Dexter’s father, Harry Morgan, a task initially portrayed by James Remar as a hallucination in the primary sequence. Remar reprises the position in Dexter: Resurrection. Patrick Gibson splendidly captured the essence of Michael C. Corridor’s Dexter, with Corridor persevering with to offer the inside monologue within the prequel. The remainder of the forged was top-notch as nicely.
Regardless of preliminary information that the present had been renewed for a second season a month and a half after Season 1 ended, Dexter: Authentic Sin was formally canceled in August 2025. Sources inform Selection that the present was truly by no means formally renewed. As a substitute, it was placed on hiatus. There was no schedule in place to renew filming for a second season.
The choice could also be associated to the shift in management following Paramount’s merger with Skydance. The intention, it seems, is to give attention to Dexter: Resurrection as an alternative, which has been well-received and is wrapping up its first season on September 5, 2025. A author’s room is supposedly opening for Season 2, in accordance with Selection, although there was no official announcement from Paramount+ that Dexter: Resurrection has certainly been given a inexperienced mild. This hinges on, in accordance with Deadline, “price range approvals.” However some experiences recommend the present might need been prematurely renewed for 2 extra seasons, not only one.
That’s all nicely and good, and nice information for Dexter superfans like me. However there was actually room for each exhibits to co-exist, telling tales regarding the identical character at totally different occasions in his life. Dexter: Authentic Sin garnered respectable evaluations for its first season, securing a 70% Rotten Tomatoes critics rating and 78% viewers rating. By comparability, Dexter: Resurrection has a strong 94% Rotten Tomatoes critics rating and 86% viewers rating. It’s actually the higher, extra well-received of the 2 exhibits. However each performed distinctive roles within the total canon of the story.
Deadline alludes to the likelihood that writers being shifted to Dexter: Resurrection contributed to the cancellation. In placing all their efforts into that present, retaining Dexter: Authentic Sin going with the identical degree of high quality may not have been attainable. Whereas it may have saved the franchise related between seasons of Dexter: Resurrection, the writers couldn’t be stretched skinny attempting to craft compelling tales for each sequence.
There Was Extra Story to Inform in ‘Dexter: Authentic Sin’
Nonetheless, the origin story of the vigilante killer and the way it explored the connection along with his father, in addition to the dynamic along with his sister Debra (Molly Brown in Authentic Sin, Jennifer Carpenter in Dexter), supplied a glimpse right into a life Dexter solely ever spoke about. The tales of all the opposite characters as they honed their careers in regulation enforcement have been compelling as nicely, the actors completely nailing the roles, from the appears to be like to the mannerisms and personalities.
Most significantly, nonetheless, there was a lot extra story left to inform. Followers totally anticipated the sequence to finish, every time that may be, with the tragic dying of Harry. This by no means occurred. They anticipated to study extra about what occurred to Brian after he toyed with the thought of approaching Dexter and revealing his id. Understanding what he was as much as and the way Harry navigated his presence may add one other dimension to the story.
Followers additionally hoped to see youthful variations of characters like Captain Tom Matthews (Geoff Pierson), Sergeant James Doakes (Erik King), and even Particular Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine). Positive, Dexter: Authentic Sin has already crammed in some vital gaps and recreated occasions fantastically that have been solely ever seen in brief flashbacks in Dexter. However at the least another season would have been good.
Followers Aren’t Comfortable After the ‘Dexter: Authentic Sin’ Cancellation
There are prequel sequence that don’t serve a story nicely, and ones that do. Dexter: Authentic Sin had the prospect to serve as a spin-off for Dexter, simply as Higher Name Saul did for Breaking Unhealthy. Snuffing this torch out so quickly is prone to garner a passionate fan response because the information spreads. Thus far, nonetheless, many are OK with the cancellation, so long as Dexter: Resurrection continues. There’s one thing about Corridor on display that merely can’t be replicated, nearly as good as Gibson was within the position.
Nonetheless, some followers have certainly expressed their disappointment. In a Reddit thread following the unlucky information, a Redditor says they “loved it for what it was” and have been “hoping [for] extra younger Dexter making errors and studying.” Head-Baler9832 says they have been hoping to see a younger Debra in uniform, Brian’s transformation into the Ice Truck Killer, and Doakes’ early days and suspicions of Dexter.
Some consider Dexter: Authentic Sin was merely a automobile to convey Corridor and the character again in a roundabout way after Dexter: New Blood’s tragic ending. However when the character was actually resurrected, Dexter: Authentic Sin wasn’t wanted anymore. Goatjugsoup believes that the present had a becoming finish. “It accomplished its story arc. Whereas there was room for it to proceed, it didn’t go away any gaping cliffhangers on the desk.”
That doesn’t make the information any simpler to swallow for followers like me, who noticed a lot potential for Dexter: Authentic Sin to dive deeper into the story for another season, culminating within the second when Harry determined his solely choice was to die by suicide. Alas, that second can be left to the flashbacks.
All mentioned, there was discuss of one other prequel spin-off sequence centered round John Lithgow’s Arthur Mitchell character, also referred to as Trinity Killer. It’s unclear if that concept has been scrapped or if it’s nonetheless within the works. In response to Deadline, since Chris McCarthy, former Paramount International co-CEO, was one of many largest supporters of prequels, the Trinity prequel may not occur in any respect. Both means, Dexter’s origin story remains to be the one that basically hits dwelling for followers. And we’re unhappy to see it go. Stream Dexter: Authentic Sin on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Dexter: Authentic Sin
- Launch Date
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December 15, 2024
- Community
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Paramount+ with Showtime
- Administrators
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Michael Lehmann