Dexter: New Blood’s Pilot Features Amazing Callback to Season 1 Detail Retconned 2 Years Ago

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 1! The debut of Showtime’s latest prequel, Dexter: Original Sin, features a notable pop culture reference that serves as a clever nod to a pivotal detail from season 1 regarding the Bay Harbor Butcher. This connection is especially intriguing given that the preceding sequel, Dexter: New Blood, controversially retconned some aspects of Dexter Morgan’s backstory. Through the lens of both new and returning characters, Dexter: Original Sin reveals further insights into Dexter Morgan’s early forays into serial killing, highlighting the sources of inspiration for key elements of his notorious modus operandi.

In the inaugural episode of Dexter: Original Sin, we find Dexter at a pivotal moment, graduating from college and grappling with the realization that he can no longer contain his Dark Passenger. During a graduation photo session, he’s instructed to think of something that brings him joy to capture a genuine smile. Interestingly, he envisions the 1991 horror novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, which narrates the chilling exploits of the fictional investment banker and serial killer, Patrick Bateman. This reference not only aligns with the timeline of Original Sin, which commences in 1991, but also serves as a meaningful foreshadowing of Dexter’s future endeavors.

Foreshadowing Dexter’s Use of Patrick Bateman’s Name

Dexter’s Alias: Patrick Bateman in the Original Series

This isn’t the first instance of Dexter Morgan’s admiration for Patrick Bateman. In the original Dexter series, he adopted the name Patrick Bateman as an alias to procure M99, a powerful tranquilizer. In season 1, episode 6, titled “Return to Sender,” Dexter elaborates on the necessity of creating a false identity as a fictional physician to obtain this restricted substance legally. Due to the stringent regulations surrounding M99, he cunningly registered himself as “Patrick Bateman, M.D.”

M99 became a staple in Dexter’s intricate killing methodology throughout the original eight seasons. His modus operandi typically involved putting on protective gear, using gloves, incapacitating victims with M99 injections, then meticulously preparing them on a dissection table wrapped in plastic, before inflicting fatal injuries with a knife. This highlights Dexter’s continual need for access to substantial quantities of M99 to execute his killings for years.

Interestingly, in Dexter: New Blood, he takes on the alias “Jim Lindsay,”marking a significant evolution in his character.

Retcon in Dexter: New Blood

The return of the Patrick Bateman reference in Dexter: Original Sin contrasts with significant changes established in Dexter: New Blood, which redefined Dexter’s choice of tranquilizer entirely. Rather than using M99, New Blood depicted Dexter employing ketamine to subdue his victims, suggesting a decisive shift in narrative. This development implies that Dexter had consistently relied on ketamine—not M99—for his incapacitations.

The ramifications of this retcon create uncertainty regarding the consistency of other details, including the use of the Patrick Bateman alias for M99 procurement. While it remains feasible that the alias could have been used for ketamine purchases, this introduces potential continuity challenges across all iterations of Dexter’s story. Given that Dexter’s identity as the Bay Harbor Butcher was unveiled in New Blood, the anticipated series Dexter: Resurrection might provide crucial clarity concerning the canonical relevance of the Patrick Bateman alias.

The Choice Ahead for Dexter: Original Sin

Key Decision: M99 or Ketamine?

Patrick Gibson smiling wickedly in Dexter: Original Sin

In light of the divisive reaction to the M99 retcon in Dexter: New Blood, Dexter: Original Sin faces a critical decision: either revert to the original’s narrative involving M99 or solidify the ketamine convention as canonical. Currently, Dexter has yet to establish a definite drug of choice for his victims, having only claimed one victim, Nurse Mary. With his evolving understanding of his techniques, future episodes will need to decisively choose either M99 or ketamine to align with the prequel’s narrative trajectory.

New episodes of Dexter: Original Sin are available every Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime.

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