Paramount Global has reported a strong start for Dexter: Original Sin, with the premiere drawing 2.1 million global viewers across Paramount+ and Showtime within its first three days. According to Deadline, the company also stated it was Showtime’s most-streamed premiere to date, though it did not break down how many viewers came specifically from streaming.
According to Deadline, the series premiered on December 13, with its first episode launching on Paramount+ ahead of its Sunday cable debut on Showtime. This hybrid release strategy will continue, with two new episodes streaming each Friday before airing on cable later. The reported figures account for viewership from Friday through Sunday.
Deadline reports Paramount appears pleased with the numbers, it’s difficult to determine just how significant this success is since the company rarely shares detailed metrics. Still, the results seem promising for Showtime. For comparison, the Season 2 premiere of Yellowjackets followed a similar release model and attracted nearly 2 million cross-platform viewers during its opening weekend. However, Dexter: Original Sin doesn’t seem to be among Paramount+’s top-performing titles overall, which may explain the emphasis on its Showtime-specific milestone.
According to Deadline, more insight into the show’s performance is expected next month when Nielsen releases its streaming data. Despite Paramount Global’s ongoing contractual dispute with Nielsen, the ratings company continues to include Paramount+ titles in its weekly streaming reports.
Set in 1991 Miami, the 10-episode series dives into the early years of Dexter Morgan, played by Patrick Gibson (The OA, Shadow and Bone), as he evolves from student to calculated vigilante. Struggling to control his growing bloodlust, Dexter begins following a moral code instilled by his adoptive father, Harry, played by Christian Slater (True Romance). The code directs him to eliminate society’s most dangerous individuals while avoiding detection, a challenge made even harder by his forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.
The ensemble cast features Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy) as Captain Aaron Spencer, Molly Brown (Evil, Billions) as Debra Morgan, James Martinez (Love Victor, One Day at Time) as Angel Batista, Christina Milian (The Oath, Step Up: High Water) as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu (The Blacklist, The Terror) as Vince Masuka, Reno Wilson (Mike & Molly, Good Girls) as Bobby Watt and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) in a guest role as Tanya Martin. Amanda Brooks (Aquarius) also appears in a recurring role as Captain Spencer’s ex-wife.
The series is executive produced by Clyde Phillips (Parker Lewis Can’t Lose), Scott Reynolds (Dexter: New Blood, Jessica Jones), Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under), Mary Leah Sutton (Tell Me a Story), Tony Hernandez (Broad City, Russian Doll) and Lilly Burns (Search Party, Emily in Paris), with Michael Lehmann (The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window) serving as directing executive producer.
With a fresh take on Dexter’s origin story and an encouraging start, Dexter: Original Sin seems well-positioned to resonate with both longtime fans and new audiences.