Dexter: Original Sin very quickly made it clear that what we thought we knew about Dexter Morgan wasn’t all that true. It turns out that there was a son before Dexter.
The premiere episode made it clear that some of the canon that we already knew would be changed. In a way, this change isn’t too detrimental for Dexter’s story. It is important to allow us to understand Harry Morgan’s attitude throughout the series.
What changed in Dexter’s story in Dexter: Original Sin?
In the first episode, we learned that Harry and Doris had another son. They had a biological son, Junior, who died by drowning when he was young. Harry had been drinking and forgot all about his son, only to find him when it was too late.
This was devastating for the two parents. It certainly led to Harry’s change in personality, and he clearly just wants to keep future children safe. He can’t bear to live with the loss of another child.
In the original series, though, Dexter never mentioned a child before him. It’s not going to change too much in the canon, though. It makes sense for Dexter not to mention a deceased older brother considering he had no connection to that sibling.
The change in Dexter: Original Sin connects to Harry’s story
Many people likely question what made Harry become the father that he is. Why would he create this code with Dexter, and why would he allow for murder to happen? None of that made sense without the backstory of the death of a child.
Harry wants to do everything he can to protect Dexter. He is focused on keeping his son alive, and having Dexter caught as he gives in to his serial killer ways is going to lead to Harry losing another son. This sort of death is going to haunt Harry forever, and it certainly creates a realistic motivation for everything that he does moving forward.
Dexter: Original Sin airs Fridays on Paramount+.
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