The hit Showtime series Dexter returns after a long absence with a new season, titled New Blood — leading some to wonder if viewers need to have watched the original run to enjoy the revival. Dexter: New Blood is being described as a miniseries that continues the protagonist's story ten years after the events of Dexter's controversial series finale. So can newcomers enjoy New Blood too?
Originally running from October 2006 until its finale aired in September, 2013, Dexter was a cultural phenomenon. The series followed a serial killer leading a double life: by day, Dexter Morgan was a forensic scientist for the Miami Metro Police Department, but at night, he was stalking his own prey and committing murders to satisfy his sociopathic urges. His prey of choice? The very criminals who escaped from the justice system.
Although Dexter was a huge ratings hit for Showtime, and is still largely considered one of the premium network's best original series ever, there are no doubt those who "missed the boat" the first time around. Given that New Blood is a Dexter revival, it does continue the titular character's story, alluding to events from the original series; however, the Showtime miniseries also does a great job of subtly providing necessary exposition. Those who haven't watched the show since it last aired, perhaps dropped off viewing part-way through the series, or maybe even never watched Dexter, can still enjoy New Blood.
Because Dexter: New Blood is set ten years after viewers last saw the character, there is a lot of exposition that needs to be established regardless, which provides an opportunity to catch new viewers up to speed too. Like in the original run, the titular character gets a voice-over narration revealing his thoughts; this inner dialogue provides context for the significance that concepts and characters have on the story. What's more, audiences don't need to be familiar with Dexter to be drawn into the story in New Blood: Actor Michael C. Hall is as captivating as ever, and the writing in the revival is sharp enough to engross viewers based on its own merit alone.
New Blood rides the line between providing fan service to those who remember the original run and also offering enough context that new viewers won't feel lost. There are a couple of Easter eggs in the premiere that are fun call-backs to the previous seasons, but none of these are integral to understanding the plot (or enjoying the episode). It's a smart move that honors the original series while avoiding alienating new viewers. While it remains to be seen if Dexter: New Blood can fix the hated series finale, it can at least draw in some new fans who have never watched before.
Dexter: New Blood airs Sundays on Showtime, starting November 7, 2021.
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