Nick Henderson's theory explores a potential connection between the two shows.
With the first teaser trailer for Dexter Original Sin out in the wild and the premiere date (December 13th) locked in by Paramount + / Showtime, we can finally start to analyze and speculate with some degree of confidence. One thing that we have been trying to fully understand since the momentous Comic-Con panel back in July is exactly how Michael C. Hall’s inner-voice would co-mingle with the younger cast and truly fit into the bigger picture. While everything I am about to talk about is unconfirmed, the first teaser trailer gives us our first glimpse of this element and has given a lot of weight to one exciting theory that we have been toying with for months; That Original Sin and Resurrection, despite being bookends to the Dexter timeline, are directly connected. Let’s put our tin-foil hats on and dive in.
The following is pure speculation on my part but I feel confident enough in the theory that I would advise you to proceed with caution if you wish to go in completely blind (to both Original Sin and Resurrection) or if you wish to avoid spoilers from Dexter New Blood.
The Theory
Since Showtime unveiled Dexter Resurrection in July and confirmed that filming is starting almost as soon as Original Sin is wrapping production, the gears of speculation started to turn. As happy as I am by the announcement, I couldn’t help but wonder why they were suddenly moving so quickly. Could it be an eagerness to move beyond the controversial ending of New Blood? Could it be scheduling logistics for Michael C. Hall who is currently touring with his band (Princess Goes…)? OR could it be something more deeply ingrained in the creative process all together?
In today’s spectacular teaser trailer, we hear Michael C. Hall talking about his upbringing as if he is recounting the events to someone else. While this may just be for the sake of the trailer, I can’t help but wonder if this is the framing device for the entire prequel series. Presumably when Dexter Resurrection picks up next year, Dexter, having miraculously survived his injuries at the hands of his son, will be in police custody for his crimes. If all of that proves to be true, I imagine the creative possibilities at the creative’s fingertips would be invigorating and hard to resist. They had a unique opportunity to connect these two parts of the timeline in a really interesting way.
At this point, I would find it highly unlikely that Batista and Angela are not among the first casting announcements (for Resurrection) that we are sure to get in the coming months. With these two characters finally together and able to collaborate on their theories, it stands to reason that Dexter’s double life is finally going to come into the light. In this case, Original Sin could quite literally be Dexter, in the present day, recounting the specifics of his youth to Batista and Angela during their interrogation.
The Evidence
So what evidence do we have to support this theory? Truth be told, not a ton. Right now, it’s mostly the framing of the teaser trailer and how it uses Michael’s voice. Everything else, to me anyways, just makes a ton of sense when you start to think about it.
The choice to use Michael C. Hall in Original Sin at all was announced in almost the same breath as the announcement of the existence of Resurrection. Showtime understands the importance of Michael C. Hall to the franchise and obviously wants to pivot toward a more satisfying conclusion for the series (though we already know that Resurrection might go on to be multiple seasons so the true ending might be a few years off). What better way to ensure that the new, younger actors are accepted by the fanbase than to give them a tangible connection to Michael C. Hall in the present day story; a continuation that fans have been begging for since the finale of New Blood was met with disappointment by many.
It also starts to make a ton of sense when I start to think about the potential for how this reveal might be executed. If I were a betting man, I would postulate that this nugget of information becomes clear in the final moments of Original Sin and ends with the bombshell revelation that Dexter is alive and in custody in the present day. I’m picturing a slow camera pull from black that ends with Michael C. Hall staring into the camera before it starts to turn and reveals that he is sitting directly across from Batista in an interrogation room. To me, it sounds like the perfect setup for the sequel series and an incredible opportunity to welcome new fans, build hype, and promote Resurrection in a really meaningful way.
Lastly, there’s the production schedule itself. The instinct from the studio and the network would typically be to spread things out a bit for the sake of maximizing longevity and relevance. With Resurrection gearing up to start filming less than a month into the airing of Original Sin and a premiere date set tentatively 6 months later, it sounds like they might be speeding this process up to capitalize on that potential connection.
Of course, with this level of speculation, it’s obvious that anything could still happen and I might be totally off base but the possibilities are exciting. My only concern might be that this connection, if true, might mean that Original Sin really is destined to be little more than a limited series. In other words, if this connection exists, Original Sin might not move forward with a 2nd season once that connection is established and Resurrection’s story arc, whatever it may be, has kicked off. Of course, there are always ways. If Original Sin proves to be a huge success, I doubt they would let it go down in history as little more than a delivery device or setup for a big twist.
In fact, Clyde Phillips has already stated that Original Sin will hopefully prove to be a perfect entry point to the series for new fans. If my theory proves true, I can see a season ending with a huge flash-forward might serve as an enticing carrot for new fans to watch the original series to fill in the blanks.
Whatever the case may be, Original Sin premieres in approximately 3 months and there is bound to be plenty of opportunity to analyze and theorize before the truth is revealed. That is what makes this show so fun to follow in the first place. Let us know what you think below and stay tuned in the coming months! It’s going to be killer.