Dexter: New Blood Episode 1 review: Everyone’s favourite serial killer returns for one last hurrah

The revival of one of television’s most popular shows is something no one asked for but could end up being one that the disastrous final season warranted.

Dexter: New Blood

Story:

Nearly a decade after its original run the standalone limited series continues Dexter Morgan’s story, who is living under a new alias James ‘Jim’ Lindsey. During his exile in Canada, as Jim, he has managed to suppress his ‘dark passenger’ and is leading a normal life.

Review:

Michael C Hall effortlessly steps right back into his most iconic role as the Bay Harbor Butcher aka Dexter Morgan. His performance throughout the episode was as if he had never been away. There is definitely a sense of familiarity in the narrative even though the setting of the show has been shifted from the bustling and sunny city of Miami to the quiet winter in a small town in New York. This has completely overhauled the show’s aesthetic but Hall’s portrayal of the character and some of the identical routines which the character follows establishes a sense of the aforementioned familiarity.

However, the most conspicuous change is the fact that Dexter in his new persona as Jim has become comfortable in his new avatar as a friendly member of the small town, and appears to have completely discarded his killer instincts. It is interesting to note that Debra Morgan has replaced Harry Morgan as Dexter’s inner voice — ‘the light passenger’, the antithesis to Dexter’s ‘dark passenger’. It is an indicator that ‘The Code of Harry’ on how to live by being a serial killer may have been abandoned in favour of Debra’s ideals on how to lead a normal life.

As one would imagine, the normal life Dexter has successfully been able to cultivate in this new surrounding comes crashing down. A series of events created by unruly visitors from out of town puts Dexter in a situation where he is forced to choose between resurrecting his former self or being passive in his new avatar. The writers have carefully constructed the character of Jim Lindsey as someone who is genuinely empathetic about other living beings. This compels the audience to appreciate the character on a different level.

The return of showrunner Clyde Phillips who oversaw the first four seasons of the original series appears to have returned the quality of the show back to its glory days. But the creators have resisted the temptation to add gore and violence for the shock and awe of Dexter’s grand return. The episode has also not offered much clarity on the primary antagonist of the series. This is simply due to the fact that writers chose the first episode to flesh out the characters and the setting.

Verdict:

The first episode of the limited series is a well-executed introduction to Dexter’s new life. The showrunners have given this popular series a fresh outlook whilst keeping its core elements intact. Dexter New Blood could possibly give closure to the fans after its highly controversial original finale in 2013.

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