Dexter: Original Sin's Kidnapping Twist & Identity Reveal Addressed By Patrick Gibson: "I Did Not See It Coming"

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 10!Dexter: Original Sin revealed that Captain Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey) was behind Nicky's kidnapping, which took actor Patrick Gibson by surprise. Original Sin serves as a prequel to the beloved Michael C. Hall-led series, following a young Dexter Morgan as he transitions into a serial killer with a vengeance. The cast of Original Sinincludes Gibson in the titular role alongside Dempsey, Christian Slater, James Martinez, and Christina Milian.

During an interview with TVLine, Gibson reacted to the revelation that Captain Spencer kidnapped his own son, describing it as an unexpected development. Gibson went on to explain that he, like Dexter, did not initially suspect Spencer, particularly as he had his own suspicions of it being other characters in the show, which led to it feeling like "a pretty big betrayal" for the titular character: Check out Gibson's comments below:

Patrick Gibson:Honestly, I did not see it coming. I had my suspicions on other people. On the page and just knowing who was going to play him, I fully was not expecting it and was in complete shock. And that was good, because I think, for the most part, Dexter’s also in the woods with that. He doesn’t suspect it. It’s right under his nose. It’s also a pretty big betrayal. [Spencer] is somebody who Dexter’s grown up with, and I think Dexter’s always had the feeling that he can sense the Dark Passenger in other people pretty quickly.
Like with Nurse Mary, he picks up on it instinctively. Something about Spencer, which I think also speaks to Spencer’s character probably, is that he’s maybe somebody who was corrupted in his morality rather than born with this Dark Passenger, but I think that’s a big lesson for Dexter as well. So yeah, I was shocked. I’m really curious how people respond to it. My mom guessed it was somebody else, and it’s been hard to keep quiet when I know who I had strapped to the table.

What This Means For Dexter: Original Sin

Aaron Spencer's Kidnapping Could Be A Direct Influence On Dexter's Later Behaviors

In Dexter: Original Sin episode 7, Nicky stabbed Aaron, causing him to bandage the injury, which the titular protagonist connected the dots to when he found the murderer's blood on the box that contained Nicky's finger, and then saw the bandage on Aaron's arm. Because of this, Spencer’s true role in the kidnapping could have a direct effect on Dexter’s Dark Passenger. Unlike other characters Dexter encounters, Spencer does not initially appear to share the same instincts, which raises questions about whether his actions stem from inherent tendencies or external corruption.

Moreover, Spencer’s involvement also affects Dexter’s development, particularly in how he perceives trust and manipulation. Dexter established the titular character as someone highly attuned to recognizing killers, but the prequel show presents a scenario where his instincts fail. By placing such a deception within Dexter’s formative years, this misjudgment could inform his later caution and methodical approach to identifying threats, especially as Dexter: Original Sin moves toward a potential season 2.

Our Take On Dexter: Original Sin's Twist

The Show's Twist Was Shocking, Gibson Agrees

Patrick Gibson smiling wickedly in Dexter: Original Sin

Deciding to position Captain Spencer as Nicky's kidnapper was shocking for Original Sin's ending, and Gibson's comments reinforce the idea that the younger protagonist is not yet the methodical figure seen in the original show. By presenting an unexpected betrayal in Dexter’s early life, the show challenges both his instincts and the audience’s assumptions. If Dexter: Original Sin continues making calculated narrative choices like this, it could justify its place within the franchise.

Source: TVLine