Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Dexter: New Blood’ On Showtime, The Return of Michael C. Hall’s Vigilante Serial Killer

When Showtime hit Dexter concluded in 2013, fans were less than thrilled with the finale. While it started strong, the Michael C. Hall serial killer drama declined in quality in its final installments, but the series is back and out for (new) blood. Dexter: New Blood, now streaming on Showtime, picks things up with the titular murderer about 10 years after our last gruesome encounter. Can this revival redeem the uneven series? 

DEXTER: NEW BLOOD: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Boots crunch through the snow at a running pace.

The Gist: Dexter Morgan — sorry, now “Jim Lindsay” (Michael C. Hall) — has turned his life around. No longer the Miami-dwelling vigilante killer we all know and love, Dexter has relocated to the quaint fictional town of Iron Lake, New York, where he works at an outdoor goods store. It’s been nearly 10 years since he’s killed someone, and for the most part, he seems to be doing fine. He’s in a relationship with the police chief, Angela Bishop (Julia Jones), who takes him out line dancing, and try as he might, he just can’t bring himself to shoot the white buck he chases through the snow every morning. Jim/Dexter is incredibly well-liked in his community, social and friendly, and with the exception of a few glimpses of blood unsettling him, he does just fine.

Visions of his late sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) keep him company and act as his moral compass, aiding in keeping the Dark Passenger at bay. When Dexter’s son Harrison (Jack Alcott) – now a teenager – pays him a visit, he pretends not to know him, afraid that letting him in will open him up to harm. Dexter seems to be keeping it together, but when rich kid Matt Caldwell (Steve M. Robertson) gets under his skin (after many an attempt, I might add), the Dark Passenger threatens to destroy everything he’s built in Iron Lake.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The obvious comparison here is Dexter, though this revival may also remind you a little bit of Hannibal, The Killing, Prodigal Son, Mr. Robot, and The Following.

Our Take: When a series finale is as bad as Dexter‘s was, it’s hard to imagine that series ever getting the chance to redeem itself. Against many odds, Dexter: New Blood is willing to take on this challenge, and it surprisingly rises to the occasion. With the help of original showrunner Clyde Phillips, Dexter: New Blood attempts to right the wrongs of its predecessor, continuing Dexter’s story in a way that feels equal parts fresh and familiar. This new setting and cast of characters still fit into the world we’ve come to know, a world that has shifted since Dexter left his old life behind. Even if you haven’t seen the original series, you may still get a kick out of New Blood — it’s pretty compelling stuff, regardless of context.

Thanks to Michael C. Hall’s masterful ability to slip back into his most famous role, this new iteration gets under your skin quickly. It’s so much fun to watch him in such a dramatically different environment — snow must be a hard pill to swallow after living in Miami for so long — and experience the little pieces of Dexter pop up in “Jim”. It’s some truly stellar work on Hall’s part, a perfect example of why so many of us were willing to stay aboard the sinking ship that was Dexter all those years ago. There is no Dexter without Hall, no captivating drama without that glint in his eye and the twitch of his mouth. Dexter: New Blood may not erase the past, but it allows us the chance to witness a master play his greatest role one more time – and that’s more than enough reason to watch.

Sex and Skin: There’s some fully-clothed sex in a cop car, and a quick glimpse of some sleazy sex at a party.

Parting Shot: A trail of blood marks the snow around Dexter’s cabin.

Sleeper Star: Her character may only exist as a figment of Dexter’s imagination, but Jennifer Carpenter’s Deb is as captivating as ever. Carpenter essentially acts as the Good Angel opposite Dexter’s Dark Passenger, pushing him towards the light and reminding him what happens when he embraces the murderous side of himself. While having a dead character return as a spirit/hallucination can be a risky choice (see: Bloodline Season 2), Dexter: New Blood makes it work and gives the wildly talented Carpenter some good stuff. Her performance on its own is something moving and special, but add in her enduring chemistry with Hall, and you’ve got magic.

Most Pilot-y Line: This goes to encouragement from Dexter’s hallucinated sister after he has a nightmare, when she says “you’re a changed man – almost 10 years without a kill.”

Our Call: STREAM IT. Dexter: New Blood may not right all the wrongs of the original series, but it’s a compelling step in the right direction, armed with standout performances from Hall and Carpenter. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a casual viewer, Dexter: New Blood is likely to intrigue and surprise you.

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.

Stream Dexter: New Blood on Showtime