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It finally happened, a face-to-face inDexter: Original Sinthat fans hadn’t even considered could or would occur after watching the original seriesDexter. But the second a young adult version of Brian Moser (Roby Attal) appeared inDexter: Original Sin, fans knew there would be more to his story. The older brother of Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson, narration by Michael C. Hall) seemingly had a Dark Passenger long before the shipping yard container incident. That trauma drew out the worst in him, however. Unlike Dexter, who appeared to have become broken only after the tragic event (despite having repressed the memory),Brian was already showing signs of psychopathy as a young child. And Harry (Christian Slater) knew it.
Spoilers for the Season 1 finale of Dexter: Original Sin.
That’s why when Harry and Brian’s paths started to converge 17 years after Laura Moser’s (Brittany Allen) death, fans had a feeling the two might eventually meet. They did, and it was a monumental event for both men.
Dexter: Original Sin
How Do Harry and Brian Meet in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?
After discovering that Brian was a patient of one of the victims in a string of recent murders, then checking his file and seeing a photo of another,Harry puts two-and-two together and figures out that Brian is the killer. He at first believes that Brian is conducting random killings so he can show up at the crime scenes and stalk his brother. But Harry only had one half of that equation right.
While Harry is visiting his partner Bobby (Reno Wilson) in the hospital, Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian),one of the returning characters fromDexter,tells him they need him on the scene of a gruesome murder that was just discovered. A woman’s body was found dismembered on a rooftop, cut up by a chainsaw. That very news brings up traumatic memories for Harry. He’s sure this is Brian’s doing.
‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Just Recreated a 19-Year-Old Scene From the Original Series
Fans knew the moment was coming, but the shipping yard massacre scene in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ takes it to new levels.
When he sees the name of the victim, it confirms his theory. She was Barb (Kathleen Rose Perkins), the social worker who dealt with the adoption of the boys and obliged the Morgans when they called her back in to take Brian away. Leaving the scene to check the perimeter (really just to get some air), Harry looks up and sees Brian peering down from the roof of a nearby building. He races to the building and confronts Brian about his actions, pleading with him to leave Dexter alone.The conversation and meeting is as heart-wrenching as it is terrifying.
Filling in Brian’s Gaps in the ‘Dexter’ Franchise
First, it’s important to know what Brian’s life was like from the moment he was driven away in that car, asking why his brother Dexter wasn’t coming with them. These tales are told prior to Brian’s face-to-face with Harry. Brian went from one foster family or group home to another, each one ending in him being sent back to the system because they couldn’t handle him. He was typically treated badly by another child in the family, usually retaliating in a violent way as a result.
Not surprisingly, Brian was eventually taken by Barb toa mental institutionwhere he was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and various other mental health issues and psychopathic traits. There, he spent his formative years. He found the one person he thought cared about him in a nurse named Raul, the only constant in his life. But then Brian learned Raul was stealing his medication and selling it, hence why Raul became another one of his victims.
‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Suggests That Dexter Wasn’t Solely Responsible for Harry’s Death
Fans of ‘Dexter’ know how and why his father Harry died. But ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ shows just how much he was dealing with.
Once discharged,Brian set out on a warpath to take down those who wronged him, including his psychiatrist, who urged him not to talk to Dexter because it would be a trigger for him. Those first victims Harry couldn’t connect to Brian? They were kids he was fostered with that he tracked down and killed because they were “not nice to him.”
Brian’s subconscious motivation for the murders, based on his actions inDexteras the Ice Truck Killer (Christian Camargo), was likely to lure Dexter to crime scenes where he could keep an eye on his little brother.Why Brian never approached Dexter outright is unknown, especially after killing the psychiatrist because he told him not to do so.
Although Briandidapproach Dexter once, in one ofthe first episodesof the series. Right after getting the internship at Miami Metro P.D., Dexter is sitting alone at a restaurant when a young man approaches and asks if the seat is taken. Dexter says yes and points to Masuka (Alex Shimizu), Angel (James Martinez), and Bobby, who are grabbing food at the counter. The man nods and walks away, and Dexter smiles at the revelation of actually having “friends.” While it seems like an insignificant moment, die-hard fans noticed even back then that Attal bears a striking resemblance to Camargo.
What Happens Between Harry and Brian in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’?
Understandably, Brian expresses his anger at Harry for not only ripping his brother away from him but also rubbing in his face how he slept with their mother, used her as an informant, and left her to die at the hands of the cartel, her sons forced to watch. Harry tries to reason with Brian, telling him that two things can be true at once: Brian can rightfully hate Harry for what he did but also respect that it was the right thing todo for Dexter. Harry outright tells Brian that Dexter can be saved, but he can not. He did what he felt was best for Dexter, even if that meant hurting Brian in the process.
Harry pulls out his handcuffs, telling Brian that he’s going to take him in. But Brian isn’t interested. He declares that if Harry wants to take him down, Harry needs to “finish what he started” when he threw him away the first time. Brian approaches closer as Harry tremors with the weight of the situation on his shoulders. So much guilt clearly rushes to the surface. He can’t help but see Brian as the six-year-old boy he was, going back to that time and the role he played in the situation that led to Laura’s murder.
Do You Really Need To Watch ‘Dexter’ Before ‘Original Sin’?
‘Dexter: Original Sin’ is a prequel series to ‘Dexter’, which ended more than a decade ago. Is it really necessary to go back and watch the original?
As Harry hesitates to pull the trigger, Brian grabs the gun and knocks Harry out with it. When Harry later wakes up, he is handcuffed to the roof.He unlocks himself and sees words written on the door. “You’re right.” It’s a crucial moment because Harry feels immense guilt at what Brian has becomewithout his mother, arguably fueled by the horrendous event he experienced. However, he also feels a sense of relief, somewhat absolved by Brian’s parting note.
Later, Harry gets an even greater weight off his shoulders when Dexter admits that he killed Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) but also saved Nicky (London Thatcher) in the process, resuscitating the young boy to save his life. Harry did make the right decision.Dexter was redeemable, or at least trainable, one of the core facets thatconnectsDexter: Original SintoDexter.
However, the image of Brian staring into a restaurant as Harry, Debra (Molly Brown), and Dexter dance happily, along with the knowledge of how Harry’s life ends, makes this cathartic release even more devastating. ShouldDexter: Original Sinbe renewed for a second season, chances are this emotional meeting isn’t the first and only time Harry came face-to-face with Brian, the real Morgan monster, before his death.StreamDexter: Original SinonParamount+.
