WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 9!As Deb’s short-lived relationship with Gio comes to an end inDexter: Original Sin, her conversation with Harry about dating sadly foreshadows her tragic romance from the main series. ThroughoutDexter: Original Sinseason 1, teenageDeb has been in a worrying romance with the mysterious Gio Martino, an older guy in his mid-20swho she met at a club. He was already a shady figure, but the two finally broke up inOriginal Sinseason 1, episode 8 after Deb found out aboutGio’s illegal smuggling, with Dexter then revealing that Gio also has a fiancée.
After the breakup, Harry confronts Deb inOriginal Sinseason 1, episode 9and simply tells her he’s happy she’s safe. However,Harry does try to put his foot down so she’ll stay away from men like Gio, stating, “No more dating older guys, ever. You understand?”With Deb smiling since her dad isn’t mad and is actually paying attention to her, she jokingly responds, “The heart wants what the heart wants, but I’ll do my best.” However, Gio certainly isn’t the last “older guy” Deb dates in her life, with her biggest age-gap relationship ending in a devastating tragedy.
Harry & Deb’s Conversation About Dating Older Men Foreshadows Her Romance With Frank Lundy
Deb Doesn’t Stop Dating Older Guys After Gio
Of the “older guys” who Deb goes on to date inDexter,the most notable is Special Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine). Introduced inDexterseason 2 to help Miami Metro, Frank Lundy was an FBI agent who was well known for being able to solve seemingly unsolvable criminal cases, particularly those involving serial killers. Therefore, when Lundy arrived to lead the task force to investigate the Bay Harbor Butcher, he was Dexter Morgan’s worst nightmare.
Eventually, Deb and Lundy’s friendship led to a romantic relationship, though he was over 20 years older than her.
However, whileDexter tried to keep Lundy off his trailthroughout the investigation, the FBI agent formed a close bond with Deb. Eventually,Deb and Lundy’s friendship led to a romantic relationship, though he was over 20 years older than her. Deb decided to keep their relationship a secret throughout the investigation to maintain her privacy and avoid accusations like that from Dexter, who somewhat jokingly accused her of trying to “sleep her way to the top.” Their relationship was ultimately exposed, but soon ended when Lundy left Miami after the Bay Harbor Butcher case was closed.
Lundy would, of course, return two seasons later, when he believed thatDexter’s elusive Trinity Killer had returned. While Lundy had retired from the FBI, he still wanted to take down the Trinity Killer, which led him to rekindle his romance with Deb. However, the night after they sleep togetherinDexterseason 4, Deb and Lundy are both shot by the Trinity Killer’s daughter. While Deb survives the shooting,Lundy tragically diesfrom his wounds, leaving Deb devastated and traumatized by his fate.
Sadly,Deb having bad boyfriendslike Gio was a common occurrence for her character in the main series, whether it be armed robbers like Andrew Briggs or secret serial killers like Rudy Cooper. Her romantic struggles were often a frustration throughout the show, and the idea that Deb confessed to being in love with Dexter in season 7 certainly didn’t make them any better. However, whileFrank Lundy wasn’t necessarily an ideal match for Deband the context of their romance indicated it would never work, he was actually a good, respectful guy who treated her better than the others.
Dexter: Original Sinhas already featured a subtle callback to the Trinity Killer, which could set up a reference to Frank Lundy.
If he were still alive, it’s highly unlikely that Harry Morgan would have approved of Deb dating Lundy due to their age gap – especially after his warning post-Gio. Still, ifDeb really loved Lundy and he truly loved and treated her well, then Harry likely would have come around to accepting it, just like Dexter did. Ultimately, it was Lundy and Miami Metro’s own Joey Quinn who wereDeb’s best boyfriends inDexter’s main series.
Original Sin Season 1, Episode 9 Foreshadows A Tragedy With Another One Of Deb’s Future Boyfriends
Brian Moser Tried To Kill Deb Long Before He Dated Her As “Rudy Cooper”
While he has the biggest age gap with Deb, Lundy isn’t the only “older guy” who she dates where the romance ends in blood and death. InDexterseason 1, Deb’s romantic interest is Rudy Cooper, who turns out to actually be the Ice Truck Killer, akaDexter’s biological brother Brian Moser. As it turns out, Deb and Brian had met long before he went by the alias Rudy Cooper, asDexter: Original Sinseason 1, episode 9’s flashbacks reveal thatHarry and Doris briefly fostered Brian after Laura’s death.
However, Harry and Doris decided they couldn’t raise Brian in their house after he tried to kill baby Deb. When Deb was crying in her crib, young Brian grabbed a pillow and tried to smother her to death – until Doris Morgan stopped him.Dexter: Original Sin’s flashback wouldn’t be the only time that Brian tried to kill Deb, as he later kidnapped her, tried to get Dexter to murder her after revealing his true identity, andtried to kill Deb again before Dexter stopped him in season 1.
