Reasons Harry Morgan Chose Not to Adopt Dexter’s Brother Brian Moser

Attention readers: This article includes significant SPOILERS for both Dexter: Original Sin episode 4 and the first season of Dexter.

Diving Deeper into Dexter’s Origins in Dexter: Original Sin

In the latest installment of Dexter: Original Sin, viewers receive additional insight into Harry Morgan’s (portrayed by Christian Slater) motivations for adopting Dexter following the tragic death of Laura Moser (Brittany Allen). However, the series still leaves the question unanswered as to why Harry chose not to adopt Brian Moser as well. This prequel cleverly intertwines its timeline with key flashbacks from Dexter’s childhood, allowing for a more profound exploration of his emergence as a serial killer, especially during the period before Laura’s death.

Fans of the original Dexter series are already familiar with the pivotal events surrounding Laura’s death at the hands of Hector Estrada, a menacing drug lord. In a harrowing experience, both Dexter and Brian were confined in a shipping container alongside their mother’s corpse for several days, a trauma that is often cited as the catalyst for the development of Dexter’s “dark passenger”—his compulsion to kill. Despite this shared trauma, when Harry discovered the boys, he opted only to adopt Dexter.

Harry’s Perception of Brian’s Trauma

Harry’s Belief in Dexter’s Resilience

Harry’s rationale for not adopting Brian stemmed from his belief that Brian was too emotionally scarred to heal from their mother’s death. Dexter was still a toddler during the traumatic event, supposedly making it easier for him to repress the traumatic memories. In contrast, Brian, being somewhat older, carried the heavy burden of these memories and accompanying trauma with him.

Given this perspective, Harry felt that placing Brian in a mental health facility would be the most appropriate course of action in an attempt to address and treat the psychological scars left by their mother’s murder, rather than adopting him.

Moreover, Harry’s decision was likely influenced by his own tragic past. The first episode of Original Sin reveals that Harry lost a son named Junior Morgan, who drowned while under Harry’s care. This experience may have framed Harry’s approach to parenting Dexter, possibly seeing him as a surrogate for Junior. Consequently, it’s conceivable that Harry’s choice to have Brian institutionalized stemmed from a belief that he did not resemble Junior closely enough to warrant Harry’s attention.

Examining the Consequences of Harry’s Choices

Could Harry Have Helped Brian?

The ramifications of Harry’s choice to adopt only Dexter rather than both brothers evoke considerable debate. On one hand, Brian displayed early warning signs of violent behavior, including animal cruelty, which could have suggested a predisposition toward becoming a murderer. Following Laura’s death, these behaviors intensified, leading Brian to ultimately embrace his identity as the Ice Truck Killer. In this context, Harry’s choice to refrain from adopting Brian may have been justified to protect his family from potential violence.

However, there’s an alternative viewpoint. Brian’s experiences in a mental institution likely contributed to his long-term anger and resentment. In season 1 of Dexter, Brian famously addressed this sentiment:

“You were three, a little bird with a broken wing. [Harry] wanted to make you all better. But me, I could see it in his eyes. All they saw was a fucked up kid. They all did, so they locked me up.”

This reflection underscores a critical question: Would Brian have turned to a life of crime if raised in a nurturing household? Had he been given the love and guidance from Harry and Doris, he might not have devolved into the murderer he became. Had Harry employed his Code of Harry for both sons, he could have possibly influenced Brian’s choices and kept him from the fate of slaying multiple victims.

The theme of nature versus nurture resonates throughout the Dexter narrative, with Brian’s journey illustrating this debate poignantly. Ultimately, the potential outcomes of Harry’s decision remain speculative, and we may never fully understand what Brian Moser could have become under different circumstances.

For a more detailed overview, check out the original source of this article.

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