SPOILER ALERT This interview reveals major storylines from the finale of Showtime’s New Blood.
Clyde Phillips spoke with Michael C. Hall to discuss his plans for Dexter Morgan’s role in the future. New Blood: Dexter, he already knew the serial killer’s life would end.
Hall joined without hesitation.
Showtime viewers will enjoy the popular series. Dexter, which ran eight seasons from 2006-2013, rejoined the former Miami Metro blood spatter analyst —now known by the alias Jim Lindsay—and have enthusiastically tuned in to watch his final adventure unfold. Even though his tragic passing has brought an end to his story, the beloved franchise could continue to grow with the support of Harrison Morgan (Jack Alcott).
Phillips spoke to Deadline about whether Dexter was left with only death, the status and possibility of a continuation, as well as what happens after the show’s end to Chief Angela Bishop, (Julia Jones).
DEADLINE:Was Dexter supposed to die at the end? Neue BloodOr did you have other ideas or suggestions?
CLYDE PHILLIPS: Yes. It was inevitable. It is disservice for the audience to see him repeatedly get caught and then get out at a different time. And I think there’s a certain truth in this storytelling, in authenticity in the storytelling.
It was almost two and a quarter years ago, in July 2019, when I first met Michael. I shared my ideas with him. After receiving a call from Gary Levine, Showtime president, I met Michael. He told me that they were interested to revisit this. Michael gave me a big hug and told me, “I’m in.”He knew exactly how it would end.
DEADLINE: What does it feel like to be in your 20s? Neue Blood completed Dexter’s story?
PHILLIPS: What happens to a series that has a second finale? My answer is no. With the bad taste that the original finale left in everybody’s mouth, we had this rare opportunity to redeem the show and to give the audience the respect it deserves, the authenticity it deserves, and the gratitude for sticking with us. The numbers have been exploding for Showtime, I think we’re their No. 1 asset. I’m so humbled by that.
DEADLINE: Knowing how strongly fans feel about this series, there will be some who will hate the finality that Dexter’s death will bring. What are your thoughts?
PHILLIPS: Well, it’s interesting. It’s no secret that I am a frequent lurker on social media. Perhaps I am too busy? [laughs]ButEverybody has a different opinion. Some people feel that the finale of Season 8 is great. Some people said it’s the worst thing they’ve ever seen. Some people have guessed exactly what’s going to happen. Some people think that Harrison isn’t really Harrison and that the person we see killed the real Harrison. Some believe Harrison killed Hannah [Yvonne Strahovski]. There’s got to be a panoply of opinions. So I just can’t take it personally. We’re ready for anything.
DEADLINE: In the finale, Dexter is shot by Harrison and he is bleeding out, but the viewer doesn’t see he’s definitely dead. Do you think Harrison can confirm that there is no doubt?
PHILLIPS: Three words to describe Dexter: He is dead. I wouldn’t do that to the audience. It would be dishonest. This is, without a doubt, the end of Dexter. Dexter is gone.
DEADLINE:Harrison shared parts his life in Neue Blood but there’s still so much we don’t know about him. Are you interested in continuing the story?
PHILLIPS: This show is an asset, as I said. When people start bingeing this after the finale, I’m confident the numbers will continue to go up. It’s up to Showtime to make the call to me if they want more. If they ask me if I’d like to make a continuation of this, I would say yes. I have lots of things going on. But I would be willing to drop everything and say yes.
DEADLINE:What would a continuation look?
PHILLIPS: Harrison is a complex character. He has the seeds of a dark passenger in him. He’s capable. Look at that takedown of Dexter in the end, what’s in Harrison is that he has to kill this man.
Harrison also brings a different perspective on vigilantism than Dexter, which was quite surprising for Dexter. Harrison brings a youthful, optimistic innocence that makes him and his dad seem like Robin and Batman. Think of every time we take out one of these bad guys how many lives we’re saving, that this bad person is not going to kill. Dexter didn’t think of that. Dexter only took out bad guys because it was his code.
DEADLINE:Harrison helps Dexter see that he is the evil he wants to eradicate from the world. How can that help Dexter accept the consequences of his actions?
PHILLIPS: Yes. He helps him to see that he is a criminal. Harrison yells at Dexter. “Open your eyes and see what you’ve done.”He is able to recall all the innocent victims he caused to die, such as Doakes (Erik King), Deb(Jennifer Carpenter), and LaGuerta (“Luna Lauren Velez”). People who, if Dexter wasn’t who he was, would still be alive. He’s talking to an addict, basically.
Harrison could’ve done a number of things. Dexter would either be shot in the front, or the back.
Dexter’s words are: “I’ve never felt real love until now,” that’s a huge breakthrough. Remember his second season comment to Deb that if he could love, he would choose her. He is now capable of love. He is now his step-sister. It’s a real awakening for him. Harrison is granted permission and told where to shoot him. With his dying breath after he’s shot he says, “You did good.” It’s absolution for what Harrison’s done.
DEADLINE: Deb is correct.
PHILLIPS: Yes. I originally wrote that scene to show Dexter taking his hand from Deb. Jennifer mentioned that Jennifer was assisting us with the shooting. “What if I pull my hand away and release him?” That’s what we ended up using. It was far more powerful.
DEADLINE: What can you tease about Angela and Harrison’s lives after the episode ends?
PHILLIPS: With Harrison, we don’t know. Angela calls in an officer-involved shooter. She’s going to say that she had to take out Dexter because there’s lots of evidence he murdered Logan (Alano Miller) and because Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher. And Dexter probably killed Matt (Steve M. Robertson), though she’s not sure she can prove that.
I think Angela’s decision to let Harrison go was born of the horror that she had just witnessed. Her whole life was a missing persons board. Now all these women are gone. She needed humanity and maybe for maternal instinct to take over for justice—just this one moment of grace.
We know that the FBI and CSI and all of these people are coming to town and she’s going to have to deal with all of that. She’s going to have to talk about Dexter and she’s gonna have to talk about Logan. She’s probably going to lie and say she had to kill Dexter in self-defense.
Let’s not forget, this was her lover. She trusted this guy and she could’ve been another victim.
New Blood: Dexter is available to stream in its entirety via Showtime’s app now.