Dexter’s Major Morgan Family Retcon Transforms Original Series 18 Years After Premiere

WARNING: This article contains significant SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin Season 1, Episode 1. It also includes mentions of suicide.

Showtime’s new prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, introduces a pivotal retcon regarding the Morgan family dynamics, adding depth to the longstanding relationship between Harry and Dexter that was established in the original series. Set in 1991, this prequel presents a 20-year-old Dexter Morgan on the brink of launching his career in forensics at the Miami Metro Police Department. With Harry still alive and young Deb as a teenager, the series unveils hidden family secrets that remained absent from the original 2006 broadcast.

In the first episode of Original Sin, both Harry and Dexter confront the harsh reality: Dexter can no longer suppress his innate urge for bloodshed. As Harry reflects on his shortcomings as a father, the narrative flashes back to a time before he adopted Dexter and before Deb’s birth. This flashback becomes crucial, as it unveils a tragic new chapter about the Morgan family, centered around the character Junior, whose heartbreaking fate profoundly influences Harry’s choices regarding Dexter and his moral framework.

A Surprising Revelation: Harry’s Other Son

The Tragic Death of Junior Morgan

Dexter and Harry Morgan at Miami Metro Police Station

In a shocking twist, Dexter: Original Sin‘s premiere reveals the existence of Junior, Dexter and Deb’s older brother, who tragically died as a child. The narrative revisits a poignant moment in the fall of 1972 or early 1973, just before Harry adopted Dexter. During a football game, young Harry calls out for Junior, who suddenly falls silent while playing in the backyard.

When Harry rushes outside, he discovers Junior, aged about five or six, submerged in the family’s swimming pool. Christian Slater’s portrayal of Harry Morgan captures the desperation as he attempts to save his son, ultimately calling for help when all efforts fail. The gut-wrenching flashback concludes with Harry’s wife, Doris, arriving home to the devastating sight of their son’s lifeless body being taken away, a moment marked by grief and loss.

Returning Original Characters in Dexter: Original Sin
Character	Dexter Actor	Original Sin Actor
Dexter Morgan	Michael C. Hall	Patrick Gibson
Debra Morgan	Jennifer Carpenter	Molly Brown
Harry Morgan	James Remar	Christian Slater
Angel Baptist	David Zayas	James Martinez
Vince Masuka	C. S. Lee	Alex Shimizu
Maria LaGuerta	Lauren Velez	Christina Milian

This revelation raises important questions: did Dexter and Deb ever know about Junior? Since Junior passed away a year before Dexter was adopted and prior to Deb’s birth, it’s plausible that Harry and Doris’s overwhelming grief led them to never mention their deceased son again. Harry’s guilt over Junior’s death must have played a significant role in how he raised Dexter.

A Tragic Motivation: Why Harry Adopted Dexter

Seeking Redemption Through Dexter

In the original series, viewers learn that Dexter was adopted by Detective Harry Morgan when he was just three years old, after being discovered in a pool of his mother’s blood. Laura Moser had been brutally murdered by drug lord Hector Estrada, who was enraged to find that she had been sharing secrets with the police—specifically with Harry, who was also her lover.

Harry’s decision to adopt Dexter stemmed from profound guilt; he felt responsible for Laura’s death as her informant and chose to rescue her younger son while neglecting the older son, Brian. This complex history set the stage for Harry’s motivation behind adopting Dexter, intertwined with the sentiment of needing to protect him.

With the tragic backdrop of Junior’s death, Harry’s adoption of Dexter now symbolizes a deeper quest for redemption. By raising Dexter, Harry sought to right the wrongs of the past and provide a safer upbringing, hoping to prevent a similar fate as Junior’s. Harry was determined to save Dexter from the same kind of darkness that overpowered Brian.

The Impact of Junior’s Death on Harry’s Final Acts

The Overbearing Weight of Guilt

Michael C. Hall as Dexter and James Remar as Harry Morgan

One of the most heartbreaking twists in the original Dexter series is the grim truth surrounding Harry Morgan’s death, initially framed as a heart disease-related passing. It is eventually revealed that Harry died by suicide, overwhelmed by guilt after witnessing Dexter commit murder for the first time.

This tragic end is layered with additional sorrow when considering Junior’s fate; Harry was burdened by the belief that he had failed both of his sons. Not only did he lose Junior to drowning, but he also felt responsible for transforming Dexter into what he deemed a ‘monster’ through the guidance he provided.

In the wake of Junior’s death, Harry’s internal strife culminated in his tragic end, showcasing his continuous struggle with guilt. His decision to end his own life seemed to be an escape from the pain of both failures—of Junior and of Dexter—ultimately haunting both characters even beyond the timeline of Dexter: Original Sin.

Catch new episodes of Dexter: Original Sin every Friday on Paramount+ with Showtime.

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