America’s favorite serial killer is back. After 8 years and some change after the series finale of “Dexter”, Golden Globe award winner Michael C. Hall returns as the Dark Passenger. Suffice to say, its near-universal disdain tarnished many viewers’ hopes for a satisfying conclusion.
Given a second chance at redemption and the welcoming return of Clyde Phillips who served as show runner for the first 4 seasons of the original series, fans have been eager to see what the former blood spatter analyst has been up to since.
When we last saw the eponymous title character dubbed the Bay Harbor Butcher, Dexter Morgan had taken refuge far away from Miami into the eye of Hurricane Laura. Soon after, he was last seen in an undisclosed location with a disheveled look and living as a lumberjack.
New Blood takes place in medias res of his new life with him sporting a more cleaner look. The bright yellow hues in the old series are now replaced with dark greys and blues to detach viewers from the vibrant look and feel of the old show.
Now living far from the tropics in the fictional town of Iron Lake, New York, Morgan now lives under the pseudonym Jim Lindsay(a tip of the hat to the author of the books that both series are based on, Jeff Lindsay).
He now works as an amiable shopkeeper at Fred’s Fish & Game, a local bait and tackle shop and- ever the type to skate on thin ice- is currently dating the female, Native American police chief of the town, Angela Bishop(Julia Jones) who’s self-assured, by the books, and bears a striking resemblance to his late sister Debra.
Speaking of, Debra is the first of many familiar names and faces who reappear throughout the 10 episode run of New Blood, and they are well worth the wait.
The one that kicks off the show appears at the tail end of the first episode- Harrison Morgan(Jack Alcott). The last we saw of him was in Dexter’s series finale entitled Remember the Monsters? in which he and Hannah McKay(Yvonne Strahovski) had moved to Argentina to live a new life.
Now on the cusp of adulthood, he tracks down Dexter to his cabin for answers. The remaining 9 episodes set forward an enthralling, respectful continuation of the series with enough gore, grit, and well-placed humor. Fans will have to decide for themselves if this miniseries will make up for the lack of a certain foul-mouthed police sergeant who’s been enshrined in meme culture.
-Michael Omoruan