Summary
One element that has made theDexterfranchise so compelling to viewers is how it takes a deep dive into the darkest corners of its killers' psyches, and, at times, even their souls. However, the new spinoff series about the infamous, chilling Trinity Killer – Arthur Mitchell – may take this concept to a whole new level.
One of the directions showrunners could take the newDexterspinoff is to peel back the layers of Mitchell, revealing the impact his traumatic past truly had on him and how it transformed him into one of the most brutal, sadistic serial murders in the original series, one that’s stuck in our nightmares ever since he made his first appearance in the show’s fourth season.
And in taking this path, they could – intentionally or not – turn this horrifying villain into a sympathetic character.
During the fourth season ofDexter, we find out that, like the title character, Arthur Mitchell was born in blood. The Trinity Killer witnessed the deaths of his sister, mother, and father, all of whom met their ends in horrifying ways. It’s these events that Mitchell takes and transforms into the twisted rituals he performs during his murders as an adult.
Writers might decide to focus on Mitchell’s past, showing how he started as an impressionable, vulnerable child who was far from a monster, but merely a victim of a series of tragic events that left him traumatized. Taking a narrative path like this would provide Mitchell with context that allows viewers to be more forgiving,tracing Trinity’s evil to emotional pain.
When it comes right down to it, people are complicated. Complex. Our experiences as children, combined with the individuals we are surrounded by, play the most significant role in shaping who we will become as adults. Things are never just black and white.
TheDexterSpinoff Could Show The Duality Of A Family Man Living A Lie
A lot is going on inDexterseason 4 that makes the Trinity Killer one of the most disturbing villains in television history, but none have as much impact as how he managed to perfectly mask his killings by appearing to be an average suburban family man. However, as good as he was at the charade in the original series, a spinoff could highlight his struggles with maintaining a facade as a husband, father, and even a church attendee.
The show could provide us with aglimpse of Mitchell unravelingin those early days, making mistakes that almost cause him to blow his cover, showing audiences that he’s trapped in his own psychological prison, constantly having to watch every move he makes, every word he speaks, especially when he’s with his family.
Having a family and taking care of your loved ones is a challenging task for anyone, let alone someone who is attempting to hide such a sick secret to avoid being exposed as a monster. As stated previously, people are complex, especially children who need someone to guide them as they grow and mature. How Mitchell was able to convincingly become that person for his loved ones would be fascinating to explore.
The Absence of Dexter As Moral Anchor Or Judge Could Take The Franchise Into New Territory
In the original series, Dexter himself serves as the lens through which the audience judges the actions and psychological state of Arthur Mitchell. Which means their perspective is colored by that of the show’s lead character, rather than being given background objectively so that they can fairly assess the Trinity Killer and his motivations.
InDexter, we come to see Mitchellas a villain who must be stopped, a predator preying on the innocent, including the members of his own family. Though that is more passive since he’s not physically harming them, but psychologically doing so through hiding his true identity from them.
A show that is seen through the eyes of Arthur Mitchell means that specific moral framing is tossed out the window. Audiences will now see the world through the eyes of the Trinity Killer, with no outside hero to reinforce for viewers that his actions are evil. That’s a massive shift in tone.
With no internal monologue from Dexter calling Mitchell a monster, viewers are free to make up their minds about him. They will be free to empathize, rationalize, or simply understand how he became the villain he is when audiences were first exposed to him in the fourth season of the original show. And from that freedom could come a blurring of the lines concerning morality.
Transforming the Trinity Killerinto a sympathetic character is walking a thin line between deep psychological storytelling and disturbing moral discomfort. And that’s what makes the idea so intriguing. By taking a deep dive into Mitchell’s traumatic past, internal conflict, and fractured humanity, the upcoming spinoff has an opportunity to plunge theDextermythology deeper into uncharted waters, while simultaneously forcing fans to consider a disturbing truth: even monsters bleed.
