Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Business and Pleasure

It isn’t very often that a prequel series stands up to the original. Fortunately for us, Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Episode 8, “Business and Pleasure,” further proves that this prequel is at the top of its game.

From furthering the bond between Dexter and Deb that we’ve known and loved for years to detailing the final moments of Laura Moser’s life with her boys to the struggle that Harry must go through before his untimely death, this series knows its source material and utilizes it well.

One of the standout moments during this episode, in particular, comes at the end when Dexter exclaims, “I wasn’t projecting darkness. I was witnessing it.” All because it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this younger version is very quickly evolving into the man we’ve already met.

Sibling Bonds Parallel One Another

One of the things Dexter Morgan has always struggled with, once he discovered that he once had an older brother, is reconciling that they didn’t have a normal bond. He compares what he has with Deb almost constantly once he discovers Brian Moser exists.

The great thing about Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Episode 8, “Business and Pleasure,” is the attention to detail the writers put when doing parallel scenes of Dexter and Deb presently with Dexter and Brian in flashback.

Despite Dexter being extremely socially awkward, Deb can always count on him to have her back, and he can rely on her for the same. But, if you look closely at the flashback scenes, Dexter simply exists in the same life as Brian. There isn’t a connection between them.

During “Business and Pleasure,” we witness one of the first times Dexter abandons his work to focus on Deb instead. Sure, he kicks himself later, but you never hear him say that he regrets it.

Dexter knows that through everything, he’s nothing if he doesn’t have the love and support of his sister. Transversely, he doesn’t even remember that he once had a brother because of how little their bond influenced his life.

It makes sense that Brian Moser becomes who he is because, pitted up against Deb, you can clearly see he just wants the love and attention he’s lacking. Deb is all strong willed and stubborn until the chips are down, then she’s open and honest about feeling as if she is a ghost.

Prior to this series, I’m not sure I would have ever said Deb and Brian are two sides of the same coin, especially considering they date later down the road as a means for Brian to get Dexter’s attention.

Harry’s Troubles Are Only Starting

One of the major strengths of Dexter: Original Sin is the cleverly used and placed flashback scenes depicting not only the bond with Harry and Laura in the last year of her life but also Harry and Bobby. There is something so soothing and comforting knowing that Harry and Bobby have had each other’s backs all these years.

Bobby doesn’t exist in the future timeline, so it’s evident that he either won’t make it or moves away. After the events of “Business and Pleasure,” my money is on the former. Which isn’t going to be easy on Harry Morgan.

And honestly, the man is having the roughest week of his life, currently. Between Dexter accusing his friend Captain Spencer of kidnapping a murder, investigating a serial case with La Guerta only to be reminded of the past thanks to a file labeled B. Moser, Deb running off with some guy, and Bobby getting shot in the neck, Harry’s luck is run out.

All Harry wants is to serve Miami through the police force and love his children, keeping them as safe as possible. Unfortunately, ever since his heart attack, those two objectives have only become harder and harder for him to manage.

It’s starting to shape up that maybe Harry’s future suicide isn’t just because of Dexter, as we’ve always assumed, but a combination of a mess of everything else. It isn’t easy to feel like you aren’t at fault when one close friend gets hurt, possibly killed, and the other turns into a man with a dark passenger of his own.

As stated before, what Dexter: Original Sin does very well is well-timed flashbacks that fit with the overall vibe of the episode. However, the show is also very adept at dropping little details and clues to capture the hearts of OG fans. Never once do either of these feel like fan service, which makes them all the better.

Since Dexter put two and two together, telling La Guerta, Tanya, and his father that he thought these seemingly unrelated crimes were the work of a serial killer, I’ve suspected it was the work of Brian.

After all, OG fans know that Dexter and Brian both reach the pinnacle of their killing success around the same time, so it would make sense that they were probably growing and learning at the same time as well.

What Is Captain Aaron Spencer’s Deal?

One of the biggest reveals has been that all along, Patrick Dempsey’s character, Captain Spencer, is responsible for the kidnapping of his own son. After Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Episode 7, “The Big Bad Body Problem,” I speculated that perhaps he simply copied the details of Jimmy Powell’s kidnapping and murder.

However, this episode puts that to rest because there are too many details that only the viewer has been privy to that Captain Spencer has been revealed as doing with his son. Therefore, he had to have kidnapped and murdered the other boy, too.

What isn’t very clear, even after everything we see happen, is Captain Spencer’s motivations. Sure, he could just have a dark passenger like Dexter, but why kids? Why his own kid, for that matter?

Either way, if the cartel house is anything to go on, Captain Spencer is a ticking time bomb, just ready to explode beyond repair. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Much like during Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Episode 6, “The Joy of Killing,” the writers give us subtle nods to Brian Moser, The Ice Truck Killer, which is genius. This time around, it is found in Brian painting his mother’s nails the day she is kidnapped. Each nail is a different color, much like he would do with his victims.
• Dexter has now realized the benefits of throwing dead bodies into the ocean. Thank you, Deb’s diamond bracelet.
• I really hope that Nicky Spencer gets found before his father can kill him.
• On that note, I need Bobby to survive, even though it doesn’t look like he will. His character has slowly grown on me.

 

 

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Dexter: Original Sin airs Fridays on Paramount+ with Showtime and Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.

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