Has Franchise Fatigue Ruined Dexter’s Legacy?

Despite having one of the worst series finales in TV history, Dexter is still widely regarded as one of the best shows of the last 20 years. 

Michael C. Hall’s compelling performance as the titular serial killer drew acclaim, and the series broke new ground for Showtime at a time when the premium cable network needed hit series that were big around the globe. 

The TV market was different in 2006 when the series premiered.

Thanks to the current trend of turning any moderately successful property into a franchise, what was once a diamond in the rough has been milked dry. At least two more shows are still coming. 

Dexter: New Blood was a fantastic opportunity to write the wrongs of Dexter’s 2013 series finale, but it was marred by having an equally divisive family in the form of Dexter’s son, Harrison, seemingly finishing him off for good. 

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As Dexter: Original Sin has already revealed, Dexter survived the attempt on his life and is destined to kill again when he takes center stage in the present-day sequel, Dexter: Resurrection. 

Of course, there are so many questions up in the air about whether this fourth entry in the franchise will have a story to tell because, let’s face it, there isn’t much left to tell at this stage. 

Dexter: New Blood Wasn’t Necessary

Dexter: New Blood featured a weatherbeaten iteration of the serial killer, one that struggled to come to terms with the decisions he made that led to him going on the run at the end of Dexter Season 8. 

Now that so much time has passed, Paramount+, Showtime, and series producers believe that diehard fans will be waiting with bated breath for more. 

However, given the ho-hum response to Dexter: Original Sin so far, it’s hard to believe there is much interest in any of the future series in the franchise. 

That’s not to say Dexter: Original Sin has been ignored by viewers because Paramount+ with Showtime has been talking about how well it’s performing.

It wouldn’t be the first show that didn’t get a great response but went on to overperform in the ratings. 

That said, Dexter: Original Sin has some saving grace because it features many fan-favorite characters long before they lost their lives in the original series. 

It’s a stretch to say that there are many stories to mine here because we spent so much time in Dexter’s past before. His upbringing haunted him to the point that he had to confront it years later, or he would have lost himself completely. 

For now, Dexter: Original Sin is a passable entry because it’s set in the past, but I firmly believe that this franchise has nothing left to say about the present-day storylines. 

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Dexter: Resurrection is Destined for Disappointment

The recent casting announcement for Dexter: Resurrection that David Zayas, Jack Alcott, and James Remar have copped series regular roles didn’t give me the fuzzies either. 

Harrison isn’t the worst character the franchise has featured, but after Dexter: New Blood, what else can he do in this franchise? At one point, I balked at the idea of Alcot leading a Dexter: New Blood follow-up about him living in a Dexter-free world. 

That show would have been a more plausible direction for the franchise now that Dexter is alive. 

We also have a second prequel series with John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer taking center stage. 

John was a revelation as the serial killer during his incomparable turn on Dexter, but this strikes me as something that may have been worthwhile over ten years ago while the whole world was talking about the show. 

I may be proven wrong later this year, but for now, the Dexter franchise has been worked to the bone and is poised to continue to lose relevance as Paramount+ with Showtime throws everything at the wall to see what sticks. 

What are your thoughts, Dexter Fanatics?

Do you think there’s any way the franchise can remain a hit for much longer? 

Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Let us know if you’ve been enjoying Dexter: Original Sin and whether Dexter: Resurrection will be on your watch list.

Watch Dexter: Original Sin Online

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Source: TV Fanatic