The Fight to Save 'Dexter's Prequel Isn’t Just About the Show Anymore

When Dexter ended with its divisive finale in 2013, it appeared that was the nail in the serial killer’s coffin. Over a decade later, nevertheless, Showtime primarily grew to become the Dexter community as spin-offs got here out of the woodwork. Dexter: Authentic Sin was a nostalgic stab at the fan base in a collection that confirmed a younger Dexter (Patrick Gibson) becoming a member of Miami Metro and uncovering his potential as a killer of serial killers. Regardless of the marketable IP, Dexter: Authentic Sin was abruptly cancelled although the community had promised one other season. After Season 1, Showtime had greenlit the collection just for the plug to be pulled months later.

Authentic Sin had been an opportunity to strike at the coronary heart of what made the flagship collection so profitable, and it pulled out all the stops. The collection solid well-known stars of the ‘90s, together with Patrick Dempsey and Sarah Michelle Gellar in vital roles. This couldn’t save the collection, nevertheless, making a wave of frustration from followers and even leading to an aggressive fan petition.

‘Dexter: Authentic Sin’ Is One other Disappointment In the World of Streaming

Picture through Paramount+

Tv now exists in a world completely different than 2006, when Dexter first premiered. At the time, it was widespread that when a collection reached a season order and gained fan fervor, it was comparatively protected. Dexter lasted eight seasons, and whether or not or not these had been all well-regarded isn’t the difficulty. Followers at this time dangle on with the pores and skin of their enamel, hoping that their favourite exhibits will survive like this gritty crime collection as soon as did. For followers of Dexter: Authentic Sin, it appeared that each one was assured. Showtime greenlighting the collection for one more season was extra dependable affirmation than anybody might have. This idea was squashed in an almost unprecedented transfer when Showtime reversed its choice and cancelled Dexter: Authentic Sin for good.

Evidently even when a whole pre-established fan base is following a collection, security isn’t assured. Established fanbases are the bedrock that latest media have been based mostly on. It’s the motive why there was such an inflow of IPs. Disney has doubled down on comedian e book variations by reviving Daredevil and persevering with on the Robert Downey Jr. practice. Netflix is infamous for cancelling collection that aren’t fast phenomena on a streaming scale.

Dexter appeared like a loophole in the system, one thing followers wouldn’t have to fear about. This proved not to be the case, so it wasn’t lengthy till a petition went into circulation. Fan petitions have had diversified success in the previous, and at this level, these petitions have achieved 1000’s of signatures. This new push from followers might go both approach, but it surely goes to present how tv exhibits don’t seem to be for followers anymore, however to fulfill enterprise metrics.

The Cancellation of Authentic Sin Is a Missed Alternative

Dexter: Authentic Sin was a well-known story, however one which followers had been trying ahead to. The cancellation was not only a slight on the love followers had for the collection, however the story itself. It was a pleasure for followers to discover new characters and revisit outdated ones. Christian Slater taking up the function of Harry Morgan from the iconic James Remar was an adjustment, however one which the collection took in stride.

Followers noticed the origins of characters like Bautista and Masuka, however the finest was but to come. Maybe one among the extra disappointing facets of the authentic run of Dexter was eliminating characters too quickly. Sergeant Doakes (Erik King) was an outstanding character who sadly perished by the finish of Season 2. Whereas his investigation into Dexter might solely go on so lengthy earlier than his demise, it was unhappy to see him go.

This might have been rectified in Authentic Sin by exhibiting the germination of Doakes’ hatred of Dexter. The character had at all times been an intriguing outlier in the pantheon of characters. Dexter’s human masks was so good that his personal sister and lots of co-workers couldn’t see past it. Doakes, nevertheless, was the one who knew there was one thing off about Dexter Morgan.

Dexter himself makes point out of this at the starting of the authentic collection that in a police station filled with cops, Doakes is the just one who can see his true face. There isn’t a nice realization about why that is, however Authentic Sin might have elaborated on the fascinating dynamic between the two of them. Doakes’ brash character was an ideal distinction to Dexter’s persona of the easy-going and well mannered blood spatter analyst. The detective’s backstory was additionally wealthy, and diving deeper into the character when his life was lower brief on the authentic collection might have made the collection extra fashionable. Every part that followers had been ready for was lower brief, which feels much more disrespectful due to the standing of the following collection, Dexter: Resurrection.

Michael C. Corridor has returned as the titular serial killer after surviving demise but once more. That is the third time the actor has portrayed the character in a brand new collection, following the restricted collection, New Blood. At the finish of the brief season, Dexter was seemingly killed by his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). This was retconned utterly in Resurrection as Dexter hightails it to New York.

Since Corridor has returned to the saddle, it appears that evidently Showtime was slicing the fats with its Dexter content material. With the true actor returning to the function of Dexter Morgan, there could be no want for a half-hearted prequel with out the star energy of the authentic collection. It didn’t matter how seamlessly Patrick Gibson melted into the pores and skin of Dexter or the attention-grabbing new methods the prequel handled the origins of the character. Showtime’s choice was a knife to the coronary heart for followers in every single place.

Whereas many are completely happy to see Corridor return to his well-known function, it’s a chilly consolation. Followers ought to have the opportunity to rely on the integrity of a community to stick to its guarantees, particularly for a collection as long-running as Dexter. If Corridor’s return to Dexter Morgan has confirmed something, it’s that these followers will tune in to see any iteration of the story. Authentic Sin had so many extra miles to go, and because it stands now, that has been lower brief. There’s at all times the risk {that a} petition might flip issues round, however at the moment, the solely consolation viewers have is one season of Dexter’s origins.

Dexter: Authentic Sin

Launch Date

December 15, 2024

Community

Paramount+ with Showtime

Administrators

Michael Lehmann

Writers

Alexandra Franklin, Tanner Bean, Marc Muszynski, Safura Fadavi