Dexter: Original Sin Reveals Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Character Is Responsible For Deb’s Best Original Series Arc

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dexter: Original Sin episode 9.

Sarah Michelle Gellar's character in Dexter: Original Sin is revealed to be responsible for Debra Morgan's career choice at Miami Metro Homicide. Dexter: Original Sin episode 9 brings Deb into the Miami Metro fold as a senior in high school, meeting several characters like Gellar's Tanya Martin, Dexter's forensics boss, for the first time. Deb is a talented volleyball player who has a rare opportunity to play Division I at Florida State University, even after punching her teammate Tiffany (Victoria Martzloff) in the face.

Tanya is a down-to-earth forensics specialist with a "cool mom" vibe at Miami Metro. While she has mostly been on the outskirts of the main narratives in Dexter: Original Sin season 1, she ends up inspiring Deb during their very first conversation in episode 9. Deb also meets the not-so-encouraging Maria LaGuerta, who would have a long-running workplace feud with Deb during the original Dexter series. Still, Deb's conversation with Tanya made an impression that would change her life forever.

Tanya Martin Helped Convince Deb To Become A Cop In Dexter: Original Sin (& She Rose Higher Than Other Morgans)

Tanya Planted The Seed For Deb To Join Miami Metro In Original Sin Episode 9

In Dexter: Original Sin episode 9, Deb tells Tanya that she didn't want to become a cop because it's more of a "male Morgan" thing. In response, Tanya says she would be good at it and they need more "kickass" women on the team. These words of encouragement seemed to have planted the seed for Deb's career at Miami Metro. Deb does eventually join the force and ultimately gets higher on the ladder than any male Morgan had before her. She became Lieutenant but probably could have been Captain after Batista if she didn't die.

Previously in Dexter: Original Sin, Deb used to chalk up Dexter and Harry's relationship and cop conversations as "guy talk". As shown throughout the first season, Deb is far more focused on partying, dating, and other trivial things that concern high school teenagers.

After Deb's conversation with Tanya, she may have to choose between an FSU volleyball scholarship or entering the Miami Metro fold.

Tanya is the first person in Deb's life who helped her separate the idea of being a cop from her father and brother. After Deb's conversation with Tanya, she may have to choose between an FSU volleyball scholarship or entering the Miami Metro fold.

Tanya Influencing Deb's Career Deepens The Mystery About Her Future Before Dexter

Her Disappearance From The Franchise Will Have To Be Explained In Future Episodes

Dexter (Patrick Gibson) curiously watches the horse race broadcast together with Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 Ep 5

Even though Dexter: Original Sin reveals that Tanya helped inspire Deb to become a cop, she's not mentioned once in the original Dexter show. This new detail makes what happens to her even more curious, considering how integral of a character she is as Dexter's first boss and mentor.

With Aaron Spencer presumably on his way out in the Dexter: Original Sin season 1 finale, Gellar may take on a bigger season 2 role in Dempsey's absence. It would be shocking if Tanya turned out to be a killer like Spencer, making the reason for her departure from the Dexter universe one of the franchise's biggest mysteries. Tanya may become a mentor for both Dexter and Deb in Dexter: Original Sin season 2.

Dexter: Original Sin Season 2 Needs To Include More Deb & Tanya Scenes

Tanya Could Be Deb's Much-Needed Role Model & Best Workplace Friend

While it's yet to be confirmed whether Sarah Michelle Gellar will return for Dexter: Original Sin season 2 – or if she'll survive the season 1 finale – her dynamic with Deb in one scene already shows signs of a great workplace relationship at Miami Metro. Both characters carry a similar levity and fun-seeking quality about them despite being also no-nonsense in certain situations. The pairing of Deb and Tanya at Miami Metro would be a great way to expand both their characters in season 2, even though they would technically be working in different areas within the homicide department.

With most of the focus on Dexter's first kills with Harry as his mentor in Dexter: Original Sin, Tanya could be a great source of inspiration for Deb to not only join Miami Metro but to also progress under her leadership. Deb isn't nearly as interested in the forensics side of things at Miami Metro, which is both Tanya's and Dexter's specialty, but Tanya could potentially still be a general support system for Deb during her early training days in Original Sin season 2.

Since Deb continues to mourn the death of her mother, Doris, she needs a maternal figure to guide her through life more than any Morgan character.

Since Deb continues to mourn the death of her mother, Doris, she needs a maternal figure to guide her through life more than any Morgan character. Even if Deb and Tanya's areas of expertise don't overlap at Miami Metro, the two could become great friends and develop their own shared subplot in Dexter: Original Sin season 2. This would give Gellar's role more of an immediate purpose in the prequel series since she arguably was underutilized throughout season 1.

Dexter: Original Sin Should Avoid Making Sarah Michelle Gellar's Character A Villain

After Aaron Spencer's Twist, The Prequel Series Should Keep Tanya As A Positive Influence

After so many great scenes with Tanya and Dexter, and now Deb, it would be better to leave Tanya as a positive influence in their lives rather than make her a villain in future episodes of Dexter: Original Sin. Both Deb and Dexter have already encountered so many negative, unstable, and violent people in their lives, including people who they trusted who turned out to be terrible. Because of this, it would be a relief to have someone like Tanya just be a constantly positive person for them.

If Harry returns in Dexter: Original Sin season 2, there's even the possibility that he and Tanya could form a closer bond through Deb and Dexter.

If Harry returns in Dexter: Original Sin season 2, there's even the possibility that he and Tanya could form a closer bond through Deb and Dexter. It appears that Tanya will get closer to Dexter and Deb throughout season 2 but hopefully not too close to the point where she discovers Dexter's Dark Passenger. It would be incredibly tragic if somehow Tanya becomes a victim of Dexter's vigilante pursuits, similar to Rita's horrific fate at the hands of the Trinity Killer in Dexter season 4. Of all the Dexter: Original Sin characters, Tanya's personality is the most similar to Rita's.

The Dexter: Original Sin season 1 finale releases on Paramount+ at 12:01 AM ET on Friday, February 14.

With the surprising reveal that Aaron Spencer is an apparent child killer and kidnapper in Dexter: Original Sin season 1, it would be borderline preposterous if another new Miami Metro character turned out to be a killer as well. Tanya is genuinely great and the least likely to "break bad" in the prequel series, so hopefully Dexter: Original Sin won't force a Tanya twist that would undermine her character. Tanya should shine a bright light on Dexter and Deb in Dexter: Original Sin season 2 before her eventual exit from the Dexter universe.

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