Dexter: Original Sin Episode 4 Review - Dexter's First Fatal Mistake Brings With It A Heart-Stopping Cliffhanger Twist

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dexter: Original Sin episode 4.

Dexter: Original Sin's episode 4, "Fender Bender," shows Dexter making his first fatal error, resulting in the biggest cliffhanger ending in the prequel series. After a divisive Dexter: Original Sin premiere and a tremendously vintage double-episode release just in time for Christmas, the fourth of ten Dexter: Original episodes continues to make impressive and entertaining strides for the series. With his first two kills under his belt, Dexter takes aim at an ex-hitman named Mad-Dog.

Episode 4 also leans into Debra's season-long narrative as one of the popular volleyball jocks at her high school. While her conflicts are much more common and less violent than the secrets her brother and father, Harry Morgan, keep hidden, Debra's attempts at scoring drugs to impress her friends and snub the mean girl feel like classic high school stunts pulled straight out of The Breakfast Club and Clueless.

Dexter: Original Sin explores the origins of Dexter Morgan as he transitions from student to serial killer in 1991 Miami. Guided by his father, Dexter channels his dark urges through a moral code while starting a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department. Where to Watch stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available *Availability in US Release Date December 15, 2024 Network Paramount+ with Showtime Cast Sarah Michelle Gellar Christian Slater , Patrick Gibson , Molly Brown , Christina Milian , Alex Shimizu , Reno Wilson , James Martinez , Patrick Dempsey , Michael C. Hall Character(s) Harry Morgan , Dexter Morgan , Debra Morgan , Maria LaGuerta , Vince Masuka , Bobby Watt , Angel Batista , Aaron Spencer , The Inner Voice of Dexter (voice) , CSI Chief Tanya Martin

Additionally, the continued flashback narrative of "how Harry met Laura" remains intriguing and is nicely interwoven with Harry's cigarette-lighting and peanut butter sandwich-making match cuts. Brittany Allen's Laura helps put a face to the myth of her tragic character while explaining more of Harry's role in her eventual death, which has yet to occur in the Original Sin flashbacks.

An Eager Dexter Makes His First Rookie Mistake As The Main Killer Looms In The Background

Original Sin Has Found A Nostalgic & Refreshing Tone Rooted In The Merits Of The Original Series

Image via Paramount+

Original Sin episode 4 extends the great momentum of episode 3 after Dexter takes out his second killer, Tony Ferrer. The series has really started to feel like a "season 0" of the celebrated original, which is evidenced further by Dexter's dynamic with his third target, an ex-hitman named Mad Dog (played by legendary actor Joe Pantoliano of Memento and The Sopranos acclaim).

While it would have been interesting to watch Dexter pick Mad Dog's brain (in a figurative sense), the shocking twist of him apparently getting killed makes a far more intriguing premise for Dexter.

Just like with Ferrer, Dexter uses his newly acquired Miami Metro PD resources and performs a bit of B&E to prove his suspect guilty. Before he can get started, however, he needs Harry's firm approval. Mad Dog doesn't get a lot of screen time before he meets a grisly demise, getting trampled by a car after running away from Dexter during his pre-kill ritual.

While it would have been interesting to watch Dexter pick Mad Dog's brain (in a figurative sense), the shocking twist of him getting killed makes a far more intriguing premise for Dexter. His first two kills have been relatively smooth sailing compared to this catastrophe in the making. Young Dexter may even need to reach out to Harry for help covering his Mad Dog tracks given his age, inexperience, and the fact that the franchise actually has a resourceful, in-the-flesh Harry for the first time ever.

Episode 4 Finds Original Sin's Support Cast Coming Into Their Own

Harry Is Gradually Becoming The Series' Most Compelling Character

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As much as Original Sin is obviously a Dexter origin story, it is also the first franchise deep dive into Harry Morgan's backstory as a Miami Metro homicide detective and the struggling father of a serial killer in disguise. All things considered, Harry seems to be keeping himself together just fine four episodes in but certain realities of Dexter's "urges" are clearly bothering him beneath the surface. Slater's expert portrayal of Harry as an earnest man who is quietly bursting at the seams makes him just as riveting to watch as Dexter.

Related Dexter Review: An Addictive & Masterful Thriller Series That Flatlines In Its Later Seasons The Dexter original series had the potential to be an all-time great series but fumbled in its latter half, which arguably should not have been made.

Based on Dexter lore, there's a strong chance that certain newcomers in Original Sin won't be around for long, particularly Harry, who dies by suicide covered up as heart failure. This prior knowledge actually makes Slater's performance all the more gripping as the little cracks that emerge are sharply tuned hints that are instrumental to his eventual tragic end. Meanwhile, Debra gets to enjoy being a reckless teenager and doing what she does best – stressing Harry out – which could be setting up her upcoming decision to join Miami Metro like him and her brother.

Christina Millian's drop-dead solo introduction as Maria LaGuerta in Original Sin episode 3 was more than well deserved. She is an instant scene-stealer and arguably gives the best rendition of any returning original cast member.

At this point, Batista and Masuka are mostly one-note and somewhat restricted by their tropes. It seems like Phillips and the Original Sin writers are treading lightly around these characters for now and handing more of the spotlight over to the sensational Gibson, who looks and sounds more and more like Hall's Dexter by the minute.

On the other hand, Christina Millian's drop-dead solo introduction as Maria LaGuerta in Original Sin episode 3 was more than well deserved. She is an instant scene-stealer and arguably gives the best rendition of any returning original cast member.

Episode highlights include Dexter's makeshift homicide reenactment using ketchup and "Tanya's melons" for LaGuerta, as well as Harry giving kid Dexter an important life lesson about death in a flashback scene. Patrick Dempsey's Captain Aaron Spencer stirs the pot when his wife comes into Miami Metro to berate him about being a father, which Dexter certainly takes note of. This could be something to keep in mind as the hunt for the killer of Judge Powell's son continues.