Almost 20 Years Later, Dexter Makes Harry Morgan To Blame For Season 1's Biggest Tragedies & Villain Twist

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 8.After 19 years, Dexter: Original Sin just made Harry Morgan (Christian Slater) partially responsible for all the tragedy and horror of Dexter season 1. One of the most prominent returning Dexter characters in the cast of Original Sin is Harry Morgan, Dexter's (Patrick Gibson) adoptive father and a detective at Miami Metro. Harry has been the focal point of most of Original Sin season 1, as the Dexter prequel show dove into his affair with Dexter's biological mother, his work with the police, and the way he handled Dexter as he started killing.

Harry has also always been a major focal point for Dexter's most philosophical questions. The concept of nature versus nurture has always been a prominent one in Dexter, and many viewers have wondered if Dexter was always going to be a killer, or if Harry made him into one by training him. Original Sin episode 8, however, made those questions much murkier, and they added a new layer of guilt to Harry's conscience. In fact, Original Sin just proved that Harry was at least partially to blame for the Ice Truck Killer in Dexter season 1.

Harry Hiding That Brian Moser Is The NHI Killer Makes Him Partially Responsible For The Ice Truck Killer's Crimes

Harry Could Have Put Brian Moser In Prison 15 Years Before He Became The Ice Truck Killer

Custom image by Sean Morrison

In Dexter: Original Sin episode 8, Harry and Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian) were investigating the death of Paul Petrie. While combing through Petrie's patient files, Harry figures out that Brian Moser was the NHI Killer Dexter had identified, but he didn't expose him. Instead, Harry stole Brian's file from the Tampa police department, effectively ensuring Brian wouldn't be arrested for killing three innocent people. Harry had a chance to stop Brian's murders 15 years before he became the Ice Truck Killer, but he didn't, so he's at least partially responsible for all the crimes Brian committed in Dexter season 1.

If Harry had simply not taken Brian's file, either Maria or the Tampa police would eventually have been able to link Brian to Petrie's death and the NHI killings. Brian had a direct connection to both Petrie, who was his therapist, and Raul Martinez, who was his attending nurse at the psychiatric hospital and the first victim Miami Metro found. With four separate murders under his belt, Brian would have gone to prison for years, potentially even getting the death penalty. The Ice Truck Killer killed at least 19 people as an adult, and all of them would still be alive if not for Harry.

Why Harry Hides His Discovery About Brian Moser From LaGuerta

Harry Wanted To Protect Himself & Dexter, But He Probably Also Felt Guilty For Brian

A decision as deadly as the one Harry made to keep Brian from being arrested must have had a good justification, and Harry likely had several reasons to hide Brian's file from Maria. At the most base level, Harry was trying to protect Dexter from learning about his past, and protect himself from having his secrets exposed. Harry always wanted to keep Dexter from knowing the truth about Laura's death and the trauma he experienced at a young age, and he also wanted to keep Dexter from learning about the affair he had with Laura and how forcing her to be a criminal informant led to her murder.

As much as protecting Brian was about protecting Dexter and Harry himself, it also had at least something to do with Brian. Harry might not have loved Laura as much as he loved Doris, but he certainly had feelings for her, and they had a year-long romantic relationship that led to him growing closer to Brian and Dexter, too. Harry probably feels at least partially responsible for Brian becoming a serial killer, as he didn't adopt him, and hid Brian's file out of a feeling of guilt. Harry failed to protect Brian by not adopting him, but he chose to do something to protect him years later.

Is Harry To Blame For Both Moser Brothers Becoming Serial Killers?

Harry Could Have Turned Brian Into A Vigilante, But Brian Also Had Psychopathic Tendencies Before Laura's Death

If Harry really did feel guilty for Brian, it raises the question whether he personally turned both Moser brothers into serial killers. There's always been debate about whether Dexter was destined to become a serial killer or if Harry could have helped him live a normal life by seeking professional help instead of giving him the Code of Harry. Now, it seems like Harry might have been able to keep Brian from becoming a serial killer, too. If Brian had grown up in the loving Morgan household instead of a psychiatric hospital, he would never have killed his therapist and attending nurse as he did in Original Sin.

It's impossible to say for certain, however, if Harry really is to blame for Brian becoming the Ice Truck Killer. As Original Sin episode 4 already proved, Brian had psychopathic tendencies - like pulling the tails off lizards and stabbing one of Laura's attackers - well before his mother died. There's a very strong case to support the idea that Brian Moser was born a psychopath, and that he would have become a serial killer regardless of what kind of upbringing he received. However, if Harry had adopted him in Dexter: Original Sin, Brian may have become a vigilante like Dexter instead of someone who butchered innocent sex workers.

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Dexter: Original Sin

TV-MA

Crime

Drama

Mystery

6/10

248

9.4/10

Release Date

December 15, 2024

Network

Paramount+ with Showtime

Directors

Michael Lehmann

Writers

Alexandra Franklin, Tanner Bean, Marc Muszynski, Safura Fadavi

Cast

See All

• 
  Patrick Gibson

  Dexter Morgan
• 
  Christian Slater

  Harry Morgan

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