Dexter returned in late-2021 with a new mini-series entitled New Blood, and now fans of the show can bring your favourite Dark Defender home in a stylish new Steelbook. The Steelbook showcases Dexter Morgan front and center, which is how each season released their promotional posters. This time we have an older Dexter with snow sprinkling around him, a sweater, and the show’s title showcased in an icy – and slightly bloody – front that captures the show’s new locale. The winter setting is such a great contrast to the show’s usual warmer vibes when it was set in Miami. It really helps set the show apart, and while plenty is the same, it’s clear that something is different this time out. Overall, the front of the Steelbook is worth the purchase a lone, as it just looks flawless.
On the back we’ve got an overhead view of a cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by snow-covered woods, and along the driveway leading to the house there’s a long smear of blood. Now, this shot isn’t from a location in the show, as Dexter’s cabin looks different, and while it’s surrounded by woods, it’s also a bit more open in the immediate area. This is more a symbolic shot of Dexter’s isolation, and how Dark Passenger has continued to follow him despite his attempts to subdue it. I do like the idea of the back, but also wouldn’t have minded an overhead shot of Dexter’s actual home in the show. Again though, it works for the idea it’s trying to get across, and is a nice bonus over what could’ve simply been a dark, snowy back of the case done to match the front.
Inside we’ve got Dexter…as a lumberjack. It’s entirely possible that this is a joke to play off of where we last left Dexter, and if so, kudos to the design team. If not, it does simply show how Dexter has chosen to live when we first meet back up with him at the start of the season. It’s a great shot, and one that doesn’t spoil anything for those who have yet to watch, but also works even for those who have. There are a number of scenes that could’ve been used, but aside from Dexter running with his rifle, I do think this is the smartest route to go for an overall vibe of where Dexter is at. Plus, the fact that it works as a friendly jab on season eight’s finale is a nice touch, even if unintentional.
As a whole, this is a beautiful Steelbook for fans of the show, and if you were thinking about picking up New Blood to go with the box set of Dexter you already own, there’s no better way to own it than with this sharp looking case.
I was a huge fan of Dexter during its original 8-season run, which ended back in 2013. I revisited the series recently, and while it probably could have ended a couple of seasons sooner I do believe that it only has one truly rough season (I’m looking at you season six!) Unfortunately, while the show had plenty to love about it, it’s often remembered and ridiculed for its series finale, which many joke saw Dexter go off to become a lumberjack. That wasn’t exactly how it was supposed to be taken, but regardless, it just wasn’t a satisfying way to end such a high profile show in the eyes of many.
That’s something that’s followed Michael C. Hall around ever since, as he’s said that fans constantly stop him and ask when he’ll be returning as Dexter. Well, last year they finally got their answer as Dexter’s original showrunner, Clyde Phillips, returned alongside Hall and Jennifer Carpenter to bring us Dexter: New Blood. This mini-series is 10 episodes long and was made to give audiences – and Dexter – the send-off they deserved. So did they succeed?
Set 10 years after the original ending, Dexter: New Blood doesn’t look to reboot or change any of the previous show. Dexter is indeed still living in isolation (well, somewhat, but more on that shortly) and Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) went off to Argentina with Dexter’s son Harrison, and Deb (Carpenter) is sadly still dead and buried at sea. This is a smart move, as it’d do no good to try and go back and rewrite history, as even with some uneven seasons, the original run is still solid and beloved. Instead, Phillips and company take what they were given and do their best with it.
Dexter now lives in the fictional town of Iron Lake, New York. It’s a small, welcoming town and the exact type of place Dexter – or should I say, Jim Lindsay, which is the new identity he’s living under – can stay off the radar and try to avoid the urges that got him, and those he loved, into trouble a decade earlier. He’s no longer living in total isolation however, as he’s in a relationship with the police chief of Iron Lake, Angela Bishop (Julia Jones.) Dext—Jim, also pushes himself every morning to go running, with a hunting rifle, in a routine of sorts that seem to help keep his Dark Passenger at bay.
Things take a turn for Dexter when his son Harrison (Jack Alcott) shows up unannounced searching for him. It turns out that Hannah died of cancer only three years after Dexter faked his own death, which left Harrison completely alone in the world. I did love this touch, as it almost makes it feel like had Dexter just gone with Hannah instead of thinking he was doing the right thing by banishing himself to a wintry nowhere that both he and Harrison would’ve been better off. Instead, Harrison shows up and it throws Dexter’s entire world and routine out of whack.
If you skipped over New Blood when it initially aired because you still feel scorned by how the original series ended, then I do recommend you pick up the Blu-ray and give the mini-series a shot. I’m not going to delve into details much more than I already have, as it’s best to enjoy it as you go. What I will say without giving any spoilers is that Dexter: New Blood absolutely nails the finale.
If you’re worried you may get hit with Lumberjack Dexter 2.0, fear not, as Phillips and those involved in the story make sure to give fans the ending they deserve. That’s not to say that the entire season is perfect, as it does have some of the usual faults that Dexter suffered from in prior seasons. The sheer amount of coincidences that happen over the course of the show may be a bit too much for some, but I personally just looked past them.
A few bits of information being passed around that are absolutely crucial to the story moving forward are delivered in fairly unnatural conversation, or serendipitous meetings that it’s almost funny at times. It’s honestly something you come to expect from Dexter after revisiting the series, so maybe that helps in being able to not dwell on it. This sort of thing happens every season, but this time it just stands out more because it’s not just information slipping about the season’s “big bad” that tips off Miami Metro like we saw happen time and time again. The stakes are higher this time out, and so getting some characters from A to B requires certain information to be attained in ways that may seem a bit forced, but it’s understandable given how much is trying to be done within these 10 episodes.
Getting to see Hall back in the voice-over saddle and deliver some of his best work as Dexter to date was simply magnificent. While I didn’t personally hate the original finale (I get what they were trying to do, but do agree that they missed the landing,) I did hope that he’d return to the part one day and to see him do so at top form was a joy. Carpenter returning to take on the role of Dexter’s conscience (much like Harry did in the original) was also fantastic, and she absolutely crushes the scenes she’s in. Alcott as Harrison is superbly cast, and the entire supporting cast is also top tier. Everyone involved has purpose, and there’s no throwaway subplots like we’d seen a number of times in the show before.
Like any season of Dexter, New Blood has high points and low points, but the good news is that the pros heavily outweigh the cons. The final three or four episodes really kick things into gear, and the last episode is arguably the best in the show’s history. Hall and the rest of the cast and crew clearly want the fans to be happy by the time they finish with this one, and I can assure you that they succeeded.
Blu-ray Video and Audio Review
Dexter: New Blood looks wonderful in 1080p, and it has such a different feel from the original series both with the locale change, and the dropping of the show’s theme song. Everything feels darker this time around, both thematically and visually, but the visual side of it is cooler tone and hues over actual darkness. The night shots actually look great, with rich blacks, and characters popping nicely. It also helps that the outdoor scenes take place during the winter, so we’ve got bright whites during the day, and a nice amount of light coming off the snow covered ground at night as well.
The audio is also top notch, with a Dolby True HD 5.1 delivery. The dialogue is clean and clear throughout, as is the score and sound effects, which all work harmoniously together. This Blu-ray delivery of New Blood will make a great addition to your collection for those who already own the previous seasons, as the show has never looked or sounded better.
Special Features:
Why Now? – Our first featurette sees Hall, Carpenter and Phillips all talk about what to expect from New Blood, and why now was the right time to revisit the character after all these years.
Dissecting Dexter: New Blood: Deb is Back – We get a great look into Dexter and Deb from the perspective of those who know them best – Hall and Carpenter. We get to hear about them returning to their roles, what it was like, and more about the show itself.
Dissecting Dexter: New Blood: The Kill Room – Here we get a nice, little behind-the-scenes look at Dexter’s kill room. He definitely shows off his rust early on with his makeshift kill room this time out!
All Out on the Table – This feature is one to watch after you finish the series, as it sees the cast and crew talk about the season as a whole, the various arcs their characters go through over the course of the season, some looks behind-the-scenes, as well as a deeper dive into the show’s final episode. Again, don’t watch this until you’ve finished – though that should be pretty obvious when it comes to special features most of the time.
Paramount Pictures Presents Dexter New Blood. Created for Television by: Clyde Phillips. Starring: Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Julia Jones, Jennifer Carpenter, Johnny Sequoyah, Alano Miller, David Magidoff, Clancy Brown. Running time: 526 minutes. Rating: 14A. Blu-ray Steelbook Released: March 22, 2022.
