WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Resurrection season 1, episode 5!A crucial flashback scene inDexter: Resurrectionepisode 5 reveals the sequel is abandoning an iconic tradition from the original series.Flashbacks have always played a key role in Dexter’s story, whether it be memories ofHarry teaching young Dexter the Code, memories of his early kills, or traumatic memories of his family. Often, they’d focus onDexter’s titular characteras a toddler, child, teenager, and 20-year-old.
So far,Dexter: Resurrectionhas included flashbacks to both his young childhood and adolescence. For instance,Resurrectionepisode 5 sees Dexter recall how Deb stopped him from killing a sexual predator at a party, with the corresponding“flashback” scene pulling footage directly fromDexter: Original Sin. By usingPatrick Gibson’s Dexter Morgan,Resurrectionnow abandons a classic Michael C. HallDexterflashback trick.
Resurrection Doesn’t Need To Use Michael C. Hall To Play 20-Year-Old Dexter Anymore
Back in the firstDexterTV show, the creative team had a hilarious strategy for its flashbacks to Dexter as a 20-year-old. Rather than cast a 20-year-old actor who looked like Michael C. Hall, as it did with even younger versions of the character, theoriginal series would simply put Michael C. Hall in a wig and make him act 20 years younger.
The idea thatDextertook care of his young adult flashbacks by slapping a floppy-haired wig ended upbecoming somewhat of a running gag for the original series. As such, the question remained of whetherDexter: Resurrectionwould continue that comical tradition with its new flashbacks.
However,Resurrectionepisode 5 using scenes fromDexter: Original Sinseason 1 in lieu of new flashbacks for that point in his life answers that question. SinceDexter: Original Sinseason 2is already on the way, andResurrectionis also intended as a multiseason series, itcan be expected that more footage of Patrick Gibson will be usedwhenever Michael C. Hall’s Dexter refers to events fromOriginal Sin’s timeline.
Dexter: Resurrection Could Still Occasionally Use The Iconic OG Flashback Strategy
Hall Could Still Appear In Flashbacks To More Recent Points In Dexter’s Life
There is still a way forDexter: Resurrectionto pay homage to the original show’s Michael C. Hall flashbacks, however. While Patrick Gibson’sOriginal Sinscenes serve as flashbacks to Dexter’s early serial killing days, Hall could still don a different wig and wardrobe for flashbacks that are closer toDexterseason 1’s timeline. That strategy was even used more recently forDexter: New Blood’s clown flashbacksequence.
Additionally,Resurrectioncould use Michael C. Hall for flashbacks to the missing 10-year periodbetweenDexter’s original series finaleandNew Blood’s premiere. We know very little about Dexter’s life during that time, and flashbacks with Hall would be a great way to explore this absent era from theDexterfranchise’s coverage. Especially as Dexter attempts to bond with Harrison more inDexter: Resurrection, flashbacks to that decade could help further contextualize his story.
