Overview
- The premiere of Dexter: Original Sin featured excessive use of the iconic Masuka laugh, which undermined its intended impact.
- Masuka’s laugh appeared hastily within the episode, lacking necessary context and narrative development.
- Frequent repetition of the laugh risks diminishing the depth of Masuka’s character and his origin story.
Dexter: Original Sin presents a fresh take on beloved characters from the original series, showcasing younger iterations of their personalities. Among them is the notorious forensic expert Vince Masuka, originally delivered by C. S. Lee, now portrayed by Alex Shimizu in this prequel. With Masuka’s comeback, fans are reintroduced to the origins of his infamous laugh, which makes a prominent return.
While dedicated fans of the franchise cherish Masuka’s laugh, its inclusion felt premature in the first episode of Original Sin. This iconic cue would have been more effective if strategically saved for later in the series. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that Alex Shimizu captures the essence of the laugh, confirming his suitability for the role.
A Missed Opportunity in Masuka’s First Laugh
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Dexter: Original Sin |
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Cast |
Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, Joe Pantoliano, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Raquel Justice, with the voice of Michael C. Hall |
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Creator |
Clyde Phillips |
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Directed By |
Michael Lehmann |
In the first episode of Dexter: Original Sin, Vince Masuka stands out prominently among the Miami Metro cast. With only brief appearances from Angel Batista and no sign of Maria LaGuerta, the spotlight is firmly on Masuka. In this prequel, he is established as an integral part of Tanya Martin’s forensic team at Miami Metro in the 1990s. Dexter encounters Masuka during a job fair, where he represents Miami Metro, and their first interaction is marked by Masuka’s characteristic laugh amidst gruesome crime scene photographs.
Masuka’s raunchy humor is swiftly introduced, yet the initial laughter feels out of place. Traditionally, Masuka’s laugh in the original series was elicited through crass comments, but here it comes off as awkwardly inserted without any comedic context.
Overuse of Masuka’s Laugh in the Premiere
Masuka’s second laugh occurs soon after Dexter’s first kill. Miami Metro Homicide arrives at the Morgan residence, bringing food to celebrate Harry Morgan’s recovery from a health issue. During this scene, while Tanya Martin offers Dexter an internship, Masuka disrupts the moment by offering a laugh that feels entirely unprompted and lacks contextual justification, borderlining on fan service.
Masuka makes his final appearance of the episode in the Miami Metro offices. As Dexter embarks on his new journey, Masuka humorously critiques his tardiness, punctuating the moment with yet another instance of the laugh. This repetitive use of Masuka’s laugh—three times in one episode—occurs without the accompanying raunchy jokes that characterized its original context, rendering it ineffective and somewhat forced.
If each episode continues this trend, it could lead to viewer fatigue and disinterest in Masuka’s character. This outcome would be unfortunate, as Alex Shimizu successfully embodies the nuances of Masuka, making him a worthy successor to C. S. Lee’s portrayal in the original series. Fans deserve a layered representation of Masuka, free from repetitive jokes that could overshadow a meaningful exploration of his character’s backstory.
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