Tonight’s the night. It has been a long eight years since we last heard Dexter Morgan say those three fabled words. While the sunny heat of Miami has been replaced with the frozen wasteland of New York, there’s no mistaking the darkly humorous and sinister underbelly that made Dexter such a beloved show. With a return of Michael C. Hall and original showrunner Clyde Phillips, Dexter: New Blood‘s pilot “Cold Snap” is the icy return that fans have waited for.

A decade after Dexter Morgan faked his own death and moved to Iron Lake, New York, he’s become a model citizen both inside and out. He has assumed the name Jim Lindsay, and hasn’t killed anyone since living in Miami. He seems to have it all. He’s dating the town sheriff, is respected by his boss, and somehow he has earned the respect of local teenagers. Yet when his son Harrison returns, it triggers a chain of events as Dexter finds himself once again with his Dark Passenger urging him to kill.

When I heard that Dexter would be having a miniseries revival, I was both excited and concerned. Dexter was one of my favorite shows in its original run, and to this day I think the hyperbole about the quality of its final season is overblown (though season 8 is still bad). Cold Snap may as well be called “Cold Open” instead, as Dexter: New Blood opens with what is basically a clean slate.

Many of the trademarks of Dexter such as Hall’s snarky narration have been replaced with a much more subdued, less tongue-in-cheek style. Assuming Cold Snap is a general indication of where things will go, this is both a blessing and just a small curse. Much like Dexter, by “Cold Snap“‘s ending, it’s a slow, careful burn before we’re reunited with the serial killer we’ve grown to love.

It’s evident why Michael C. Hall was finally willing to return for Dexter: New Blood after all this time. While Dexter himself has grown more cheery and amicable than he was in Dexter, Hall gets to show off his acting chops as he makes the transition just short of seamless (in a good way). There are small ticks where Jim Lindsay disappears and Dexter Morgan returns, where Hall’s performance allows the cracks of Dexter’s old personality to flare up in moments.

The ensemble surrounding Hall gets their moments to shine in “Cold Snap“ although it’s difficult to tell who’s going to stand out from the get-go. Jack Alcott as Dexter’s teenage son Harrison Morgan is only seen in brief moments, but the two scenes he truly appears in show great promise for the father-son dynamic that the episode implies will be a driving factor. Julia Jones also makes for a great addition as the local sheriff and Dexter’s partner Angela Bishop, and it’ll be interesting to see how her character develops. Jennifer Carpenter’s return is an intriguing decision, although admittedly she doesn’t possess the same gravitas that James Remar did as the Dark Passenger.

One thing worth noting that “Cold Snap” establishes for Dexter: New Blood is that it’s a much more grounded show. While this may only end up being because it’s a slow return, Dexter: New Blood has swapped the dark humor of Dexter in favor of a quieter approach. Much of the focus in “Cold Snap” is on introducing Iron Lake and its townspeople, so I can’t fault it on that front. In terms of establishing information, the tone of the series, and the cast, “Cold Snap” is an effective pilot for the revival.

Where the revival greatly sets itself apart is with the location. Much like how Dexter essentially made Miami its own character, Dexter: New Blood makes full usage of the location change. Marcos Siega directs “Cold Snap” and will direct the next five episodes, and what’s shown is promising. The town of Iron Lake (although fictional) feels fully lived in for those familiar with the small-town atmosphere. The crunch of snow and the sloshing of melting ice provide a real sense of environment to Dexter: New Blood. “Cold Snap” is as much an introduction to Iron Lake as it is a reintroduction to Dexter Morgan.

All things said and done, “Cold Snap” is a good pilot that does the legwork necessary to escape the shadow of Dexter. It feels different enough to warrant the revival, but thanks to the teleplay by Clyde Phillips and the performance of Hall it retains the core of Dexter. As the drama unfolds and the consequences of “Cold Snap” are revealed, how the rest of Dexter: New Blood pans out will be interesting to see. More than anything, I am absolutely hooked on Dexter again, which is exactly what the premiere needed to accomplish.

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7.9

Score

7.9/10

Pros

• A brand new style that warrants the revival
• Solid hook for a pilot
• Retains the necessities like Hall's excellent performance
• A new cast of interesting characters with room to explore

Cons

• Tonally very different from "Dexter"
• Bit of a slow burn
• It's a revival pilot, so it has all the burdens of a reintroduction to a beloved character