Warning: Spoilers ahead for the finales ofDexterseason 8 andDexter: New Blood.
Summary
Dexter: New Bloodhad the ending I’d been waiting eight years for when it came out, so I hope the upcoming sequel leaves the most important part untouched.New Blood’s endingcouldn’t have happened the first time around, so I’ve accepted the fact that theend of the originalDexterserieshad to be so divisive so Michael C Hall’s character could have a more fitting end to his story almost a decade later. However,the unexpected news of another continuation of the saga at SDCC 2024 excited mewhile also making me a little apprehensive for one specific reason.
Running for eight seasons between 2006 and 2013,the originalDextershow still stands out as one of the best shows of its era. Its biggest weakness was the quality of how the series drew to a close, but that was rectified in theDexter: New Blood10-episode miniseries. I remember being incredibly relieved when I found out Hall was coming back to reprise the role and get a second chance at ending his character’s tale. Despite nailing it on the second try, the franchise seemingly has more plans in place for the iconic antihero.
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Dexter’s death needs to stay permanent in the upcoming sequel show
While I’m thrilled Hall’s Dexter is returning, I hope the sequel show’s subtitle is something of a misnomer. If Dexter turns out to have survived being shot by Harrison inDexter: New Bloodepisode 10, “Sins of the Father,” it’ll undo the ending I waited so long for.The bullet appeared to hit Dexter straight in the heart, and the amount of blood pooling on the snow beneath him makes it difficult to believe he would have survived such an injury. So, if he is essentially resurrected as the title suggests, it’ll feel like very cheap writing.
As a fan of the character as well as what is rapidly becoming a sprawling franchise, I’m stuck between wanting more from Dexter Morgan and leaving key events from the story.
It may seem counterintuitive to have a show’s title character be dead, butI can’t think of another way Michael C Hall could return without undoingNew Blood’s ending. As a fan of the character as well as what is rapidly becoming a sprawling franchise, I’m stuck between wanting more from Dexter Morgan and leaving key events from the story untouched. It’s a difficult balance that I think the writers ofDexter: Resurrectionneed to find.
It Took 8 Years For Dexter To Finally Get The Right Ending
Dexter: New Blood got a chance not many franchises are afforded
I try not to get too worked up by bad endings, so the end ofDexterseason 8 didn’t anger me as much as it could have done. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t think it could have been much better. To me,the only real choices for the ending of Dexter’s story were him being caught or dying. Somehow, the original show found a way to add a lukewarm third option into the mix that didn’t satisfy anyone. It was boring, and way too safe. I fail to believe that coming back to makeDexter: New Bloodeight years later was ever part of the master plan, but I’m glad it happened.
Dexterwas arguably very fortunate to have the opportunity to correct its mistakeand include a better ending for Hall’s character while also adding more elements to the story - such as meeting his grown-up son. To spend eight years with such an underwhelming finale only to have it rectified out of the blue is an opportunity that fans of many other shows would surely clamor for. IfResurrectionundoes all that hard work, then I’ll view it as a massive waste of a more suitable ending - unless it somehow makes sense.
Michael C Hall is also confirmed to be providing narration duties forDexter: Original Sin, which begins in December 2024.
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Michael C Hall’s character could follow in the footsteps of his late sister
To address the supposedly dead elephant in the room,Resurrectioncould reveal Dexter survived the end ofNew Blood. I hope not, but the possibility is certainly there. Hopefully, there is a much more reasonable possibility to explain how Michael C Hall could play Dexter again. At least, he could be playing a version of Dexter, even if not his original persona. It all comes down to how Jennifer Carpenter came back as Deb inNew Blood. Dex’s sister dies at the end of the original show, but she returns inNew Bloodas a figment of her brother’s imagination.
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Only Dexter could see or hear “Deb”, serving as a sort of conscience. With Harrison escaping at the end ofNew Blood,Hall could play Dexter in a role similar to that of Deb- as an apparition who can only be perceived by his son, even if Dexter isn’t actually there at all. The alternative is that Hall will only provide voiceover duties, as he is set to do inDexter: Original Sin, while Harrison navigates his future. Personally, I hope the Deb framework fromDexter: New Bloodis reused for Hall’s comeback, as it makes the most sense.
Dexter: New Blood
Cast
Set a decade after his disappearance, Dexter: New Blood follows Dexter Morgan living under a new identity in Iron Lake, New York. Despite his attempts to embrace a peaceful life, unforeseen events in the tight-knit community reignite his Dark Passenger, challenging his efforts to leave his past behind.
