After the success ofDexter: New Blood, Showtime is in talks to continue the series with Harrison Morgan, along with a couple of prequel shows, one involving a younger Dexter Morgan titledDexter: Originsand another spin-off series involving the Trinity Killer.
While it appears that Michael C. Hall is no longer in the picture, another season ofNew Bloodand the prequel shows are a good idea because they will expand on Dexter’s universe and provide more background info on other essential characters. There are several benefits in creating newDextershows, but there are also some challenges when living up to the original series.
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Season 2 of Dexter: New Blood Can Expand Harrison’s Story
During the controversial series (or season) finale ofNew Blood, Dexter Morgan was shot and killed off by his son, Harrison, ending the run of one of TV’s greatest anti-heroes. Dexter came to terms with his death after realizing that Harrison is not a serial killer like him and that he is preventing his son from having a normal life. Harrison drives away from Iron Lake, leaving behind his father and the girl he fell in love with, along with an uncertain future on the road ahead.
New Bloodwas originally intended to be a limited series to conclude Dexter’s story, butcontinuing the show with Harrison as the new protagonistis a worthy story to tell because he is a young man who is also going through trauma due to emotional experiences and personal losses. The second season can look back on Harrison’s time with Hannah, and also serve as a new beginning for him, such as establishing more relationships, going to a different environment, and running into new enemies (depending on the circumstances).
While Harrison is free from his father’s burdens, he will miss Dexter because they were just starting to get along, and Dex did teach Harrison some life lessons involving how to protect one’s self and to follow daily routines. However,a second season ofNew Bloodwill question how Harrison will move forward without his father(at least physically, but maybe Dexter will be his son’s conscience the way Harry and Debra were his). As Harrison has shown, he is a strong man who can fight and defend himself, but will his dark tendencies continue to haunt him, or will he be more in control and remain a good and better person than his father around others?
Dexter: Origins Can Expand On Familiar Characters
The originalDexterseries contained a lot of memorable characters, including Rita, Debra, Harry, and the ruthless killers Dexter defeated. This prequel can focus more on a younger Dexter and how he became a killer due to what he learned from his dad Harry, establishing more of their close relationship. Since Dexter’s mother was never depicted on screen, she can become a primary character, revealing how close she was to her son (before she was murdered bya serial killer).
There could also be revelations involving how Dexter and Rita met and fell in love, as well as how Dex’s parents got together. There’s also the history surrounding Harry’s career as a police officer, and how Debra followed in her father’s footsteps to be a cop. The show can also provide insight into how the Miami Metro Police Department came together and depict younger versions of Batista, LaGuerta, and Doakes (especially when Doakes started disliking Dexter so much).
The Trinity Killer Spin-Off Could Be More Intense Than Dexter
John Lithgow’s masterful portrayal of the Trinity Killer in the fourth season ofDexteris arguably consideredthe most memorable villain of the showwho immensely challenged the title character to great heights. A prequel involving this villain would be intriguing in order to reveal how Arthur Mitchell became so cold and calculating around others, and what led to him becoming a serial killer.
Reminiscent of Dexter, Arthur is capable of sneaking up on his victims and spying on them. He can also conceal his identity as a killer and establish himself as a nice guy in public. Arthur also has a reputation of being a school teacher and a family man, although he is abusive to his wife and children at home (most likely because Arthur’s father was an alcoholic who molested him when he was a child after losing his mother due to suicide). This spin-off series can explore the Trinity Killer’s troubled past in order to understand his dark history of murder.
Why Each Show Could Negatively Impact The Previous Shows' Legacies
While each of these shows offer great concepts and possibilities, they may tarnish the legacies of the original shows if they are not done well. Spectators may believe that any sequel, prequel, or spin-off could just be cash grabs in an attempt to retread what madeDexterandNew Bloodwork. There’s also the question of casting since it’ll be a challenge to replace Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow with actors to take on younger versions of Dexter and the Trinity Killer, respectively.
Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan), Julie Benz (Rita), James Remar (Harry Morgan), and Erik King (James Doakes) would also be tough to replace for their roles if their characters return. There are also questions surrounding whether Jack Alcott’s Harrison Morgan can carry the torch in a new season ofNew Blood. However, these spin-off plans are also proof that theDexteruniverse is still as popular as ever since the original show aired back in 2006, and afterDexter: New Bloodbecame the most-watched series in Showtime history. Now thatShowtime is planning to merge with Paramount+as one major streaming service, newDextershows may be the key to its future success.
