Why Dr. Evelyn Vogel Was Absent in Dexter: Original Sin’s First Season

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Summary

  • Showrunner explains why Dr. Evelyn Vogel was left out of Original Sin’s first season.
  • Likely chance for Vogel to be retconned or appear in future seasons of the Dexter origin story.
  • It’s probable Original Sin won’t involve Vogel in Dexter’s backstory due to established history.

The gripping first season of “Dexter: Original Sin” concluded with a dramatic flair last month, leaving viewers eager to find out if Paramount+ and Showtime will renew it for a second season. In the series, we delved into the origin story of Dexter, uncovering details about his past such as his mother’s death (Laura Moser) and the beginning of his killing career. Interestingly, Dr. Evelyn Vogel, who played a crucial role in creating Harry’s code, was noticeably absent from the series. However, executive producer Clyde Phillips has revealed reasons behind this absence.

In the final season of the original “Dexter” series, Dr. Evelyn Vogel, portrayed by Charlotte Rampling, met a gruesome end at the hands of her son, Oliver Saxon (also known as The Brain Surgeon). Prior to this, Vogel had revealed to Dexter that she collaborated with his adoptive father, Harry Morgan, in an attempt to find a means for Dexter to control his instincts. This suggests a possible history between her character and Dexter’s that could be delved into further in the storyline of “Original Sin.

Clyde Phillips Had A Very Simple Answer For Why Dr. Evelyn Vogel Didn’t Appear in Original Sin

Dexter: Original Sin Season 1
Starring Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, Joe Pantoliano, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Roby Attal and the voice of Michael C. Hall.
Created by Clyde Phillips
Directed By Michael Lehmann

In a conversation with ComicBook.com, Clyde Phillips openly discussed his reasons for not including Dr. Evelyn Vogel in the initial plans for the first season of “Dexter: Original Sin.” This choice seems logical and doesn’t contradict or alter anything that transpired in the original “Dexter” series.

In our writing process for a thriller, it’s crucial to have a clear ending in mind. This ending serves as our destination, much like a map with a marked endpoint. We then work backwards, adding scenes along the way, each one representing an episode as we move towards the final scene. Additionally, there are certain scenes that we want to include but their placement within the story isn’t decided yet. These scenes, which we refer to as NPO (No Particular Order), often find their place later in the production process. To clarify, Dr. Vogel is not currently on my creative radar, so I don’t have him in mind during our initial planning stages.

It’s possible that a concept about the character Vogel may have been suggested during brainstorming sessions among the writers, but it didn’t end up being used. However, from Clyde Phillips’ comments, it seems he might not be particularly fond of Vogel, which could explain why she wasn’t part of Original Sin. Given that Phillips departed after the fourth season (focusing on the Trinity Killer) and had no hand in creating the character Vogel for the final season, this could suggest his lack of enthusiasm for her role.

Original Sin Might Choose To Retcon The Vogel Character Or Introduce Her In A Future Season

In the Dexter-verse, some fans feel that the introduction of Dr. Evelyn Vogel weakened the dramatic impact of Harry Morgan creating Dexter’s code, as it suggested a possible influence on Harry’s idea before it became a secret between father and son. It seems likely that in the upcoming season, Original Sin, her role in Dexter’s backstory might be minimized or even omitted entirely. However, there is still a chance she could reappear in future seasons if Original Sin gets renewed, possibly as a character who helps Harry manage Dexter’s urges in the 1970s flashbacks, or as a figure from Harry’s past in the main timeline of the 1990s. If she were to appear in the main timeline, it would be important to keep their meeting for a later time, since they didn’t cross paths until much later on in the story.

In Dexter’s early years in Original Sin, there are numerous untold stories, but at this point, exploring Dr. Evelyn Vogel’s character takes a back seat to more urgent matters. Clyde Phillips has a firm grasp of the dynamic between Dexter and Harry, as well as their process of developing the code together. Adding Vogel could potentially disrupt that delicate balance, making it a situation where two minds are better off working alone.

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2025-02-22 23:28