dexter original sin-yellowstone

SUMMARY

  • The existence of Dexter: Original Sin has been questioned by many fans of the original series.
  • It would seem that originally, the plan for the series was supposed to be very different.
  • Interestingly enough, Yellowstone is the reason why a sequel was turned into a prequel.

Dexter: Original Sin is certainly drawing mixed feelings from fans of the franchise. Even though the series is getting a lot of acclaim and recognition for its quality, many believe it simply should not exist. Considering the Dexter franchise has already told quite a comprehensive story, one cannot help but wonder if there is a need for more additions.

Paramount+ with ShowtimePatrick Gibson and Christian Slater in Dexter: Original Sin | Credits: Paramount+ with Showtime

With Dexter: Resurrection having already been confirmed to continue the story of Dexter’s son, many have questioned the need for a prequel series about a character that fans already know so much about. With some believing it to be an attempt at milking the character, it would seem that this wasn’t the original plan.

The creator of the franchise, Clyde Phillips, revealed the original plan for the spin-off was very different, and it was Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone that indirectly changed it completely.

Dexter: Original Sin was originally not supposed to happen

Dexter has been on the air for almost two decades. Audiences have seen the several layers of the character and seen him in all kinds of situations. With how long his story has gone on, one would assume that the network would finally lay it to rest after his death in Dexter: New Blood.

ShowtimeDexter | Credit: Showtime

However, Dexter: Original Sin is the perfect example of when one can simply never leave well enough alone. Although the series showcases a completely unseen point in his story, one cannot help but question its existence after all that audiences have seen from the character. Originally, the approach to the spin-off series was going to be completely different.

He dies in the end...I wrote the finale — he died at the end of that show. And then it was the most watched episode in the history of Showtime.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Clyde Phillips revealed that he thought the franchise would end after Michael C. Hall’s character died. However, after the finale of New Blood ended up exceeding the expectations of the network by becoming Showtime’s most-watched episode ever, they decided to get as much as they could from the character.

New BloodDexter: New Blood | Credit: Showtime

With this, he started to write a new series that was meant to be a sequel to Dexter’s story. However, things changed when Taylor Sheridan’s award-winning series, Yellowstone, started to explore its own past.

Yellowstone changed the story of Dexter’s spin-off completely

Isabel May and Dawn Olivieri as Beth and Claire Dutton in 1883 [Credit Paramount Network]A still from the Yellowstone prequel – 1883 | Credit: Paramount Network

Clyde Phillips revealed that he had written out a 10-episode story for the sequel spin-off series of Dexter. However, as soon as Chris McCarthy joined the crew of the series, things completely changed surrounding the story. Since he had worked with Yellowstone and its prequel shows, 1883 and 1923, he was not interested in making a sequel.

We wrote all 10 episodes of the sequel, and then Chris McCarthy from MTV Entertainment and Paramount came on board and said, ‘I’m not in the sequel business, I’m in the prequel business, because he had done Yellowstone [prequels] 1883 and 1923. So Chris said, ‘Can you come up with a prequel in two weeks?

He wanted to make another prequel series and asked the production to follow his vision. Since Yellowstone had been extremely successful and its spin-offs had only added to this, the decision was approved, and Phillips was left having to rewrite the entire series in the span of two weeks.

Patrick Gibson as Dexter MorganPatrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin | Showtime

Although the series hasn’t fully been released yet, the four episodes that have come out have left viewers quite impressed. While there is no denying that the show is getting critical acclaim, many wonder if it is finally time to move on to other stories than the one of Dexter Morgan.

Dexter: Original Sin is available for streaming on Paramount+.

DexterDexter: New BloodYellowstone

Written by Ananya Godboley

Articles Published: 1819

A poet and art enthusiast, Ananya Godboley is a striving academic who is pursuing a career in Criminal Psychology, currently doing an undergrad degree in Psychology. Passionate about History, Philosophy and Literature, she loves to learn about new and interesting subjects. A writer for FandomWire with over 1700 published articles, she adores all things superhero and Taylor Swift.