Dexter: Original Sin Revises Key Detail About Dexter Morgan’s Serial Killer Keepsakes

**WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 1!** The act of trophy-taking has been integral to Dexter Morgan’s character throughout the original series. However, Dexter: Original Sin redefines the timeline and nature of his trophy collection, presenting fascinating new details. In the earlier seasons of Dexter, the protagonist, who serves as a blood spatter analyst at Miami Metro PD, maintained a collection of blood slides. For each victim, he would extract a drop of blood from their cheek, which he stored in a hidden box behind his air conditioning unit.

When Dexter first appeared on screen, he had already been on a killing spree for 15 years, during which time he established his signature methods. In contrast, the younger version of Dexter in Dexter: Original Sin is just beginning his journey, with his initial, chaotic kill occurring in the series premiere. This early instance of killing showcases significant deviations from his later practices as the Bay Harbor Butcher. Additionally, it introduces plot points that challenge the established narrative from the previous series, particularly regarding his first trophy taken from Nurse Mary.

Old Myths Debunked: Dexter Kept Trophies Even Before Blood Slides

Myth vs. Reality: Dexter’s Trophy Collection Timeline

According to the established narrative in the original series, Dexter only began keeping trophies later in his career, specifically starting with blood slides after he killed Alex Timmons. Although he had already claimed numerous victims, Season 1, Episode 1 of Dexter: Original Sin reveals a twist: Dexter kept a memento from his first kill—Nurse Mary’s gold earrings.

After framing James Doakes as the Bay Harbor Butcher in the second season, Dexter’s original collection of blood slides ultimately became crucial evidence against him.

In the original series, it was implied that Dexter’s trophy-taking began exclusively with blood slides. The surprising revelation of him taking Nurse Mary’s earrings complicates his character’s history. Given that his collection of blood slides is highly valued by him and presents significant risk of exposure, it seems unlikely Dexter would have gathered mementos from pre-blood slide victims without retaining them.

The Evolution of Dexter’s Trophies: Blood Slides Come Years Later

The Origin of Blood Slides: A Glimpse into Dexter’s Past

Nurse Mary (Tanya Clarke) tied up in plastic in Dexter: Original Sin

In the original series, Dexter’s first trophy, the blood slide, is revealed in Season 1, Episode 6, where it’s mentioned that the very first slide belonged to Alex Timmons. This storyline is further explored in Showtime’s web series, Dexter: Early Cuts, where it’s shown that Dexter was prompted to keep blood slides after he cut Alex’s cheek. The narration by Michael C. Hall confirms that this blood slide constitutes Dexter’s inaugural trophy.

As detailed in Early Cuts, Dexter killed Alex Timmons in October 2003, marking three years before the original series’ pilot and twelve years after the timeline of Dexter: Original Sin, which starts in 1991. This means there is a span of more than a decade during which Dexter perpetrated his crimes without the practice of taking blood slides as collectibles. Although Dexter: Original Sin’s revelation about Nurse Mary’s earrings alters the established lore, it leaves room for speculation that he might cease trophy taking for years following the incident.

Catch new episodes of Dexter: Original Sin, releasing on Fridays via Paramount+ with Showtime.

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