Dexter: New Blood premiere ending explained: What happens to Harrison?

It’s a great time again to be a Dexter fan! After eight years of the Showtime series being off the air, the most complex fictional serial killer is back on our screens for a revival. Michael C. Hall reprises his iconic role in Dexter: New Blood, which just debuted its first episode on Nov. 7.

UPDATE 11/7/2021: The premiere of Dexter: New Blood was scheduled for a Sunday night debut, however Showtime surprised fans by releasing the episode to stream at midnight, according to their Twitter account. It’s now available online and on the Showtime apps. If you’re planning to catch the premiere with live TV, it will still air on Showtime at 9:00 p.m.

Original story below.

Alongside Hall, Dexter alum Jennifer Carpenter returns to her role of Debra Morgan, who memorably was shot and killed in the season 8 finale. Another late character, Arthur Mitchell (John Lithgow), will be appearing in the new miniseries as well, though we haven’t seen him just yet.

The premiere of New Blood shows us what Dexter has been up to after leaving Miami and becoming a lumberjack in Oregon in the final moments of the season 8 finale. Now he goes by Jim Lindsay and lives in a small New York town.

Dexter’s got this new identity down pat, but a few curveballs do come his way in the first episode that could very well expose him.

Spoilers ahead for Dexter: New Blood episode 1.

What happens in the Dexter: New Blood premiere?

We learn that Dexter’s new life involves him dating a police officer named Angela (Julia Jones) and working at a local hunting shop. He seems pretty happy laying low in this small town, however everything changes when his son Harrison shows up. That’s right — Harrison is part of Dexter: New Blood!

Dexter realizes someone is following him, only to eventually discover it’s a teenage boy. Harrison asks if he’s Dexter Morgan, revealing he’s his son. Taken aback, Dexter initially denies knowing who Harrison is looking for and sends him on his way.

Fortunately, that is not the last time we see Harrison, as Dexter goes to find him at the end of the episode.

The first episode follows up Dexter killing Matt Caldwell, a terrible guy from Wall Street who Dexter discovered was responsible for five deaths, with him reuniting with Harrison. We’re not sure if Dexter’s “dark passenger” coming out had anything to do with his decision to make amends with his son, but he did the right thing going to find him.

Dexter finds Harrison at the bus station waiting to leave town, and he convinces him to come back to his house to stay with him. Dexter has a lot of explaining and apologizing to do, so it’ll be interesting to see how his relationship with his son progresses this season.

We’re not sure how far Dexter’s invitation for Harrison to stay with him will extend, but we’re sure to find out soon.

Dexter: New Blood premieres new episodes every Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. on Showtime.