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| “ | Son, there are people out there who do very bad things. Terrible people. And the police can't catch them all. | „ |
| ~ Harry Morgan to his son. |
Harrison "Harry" Morgan is the overarching protagonist of the Dexter franchise.
He serves as the adoptive father of the show's main character, Dexter Morgan, and his sister, Debra Morgan. A retired and highly respected Miami Metro Police Department detective, Harry was also a close friend of Lieutenant Tom Matthews. He taught his son to control his inherent violent urges by following an ethical framework through which he would only target other killers. Dexter frequently interacts with a posthumous hallucination of Harry, who continues to serve as his moral guide and strategic advisor in the series, despite often being disregarded.
He was portrayed by James Remar in Dexter and Christian Slater in Dexter: Original Sin, the latter who also voiced Mr. Robot and Edward Alderson in Mr. Robot, Ushari in The Lion Guard and Jason Dean in Heathers.
History[]
Harry Morgan is a renowned police officer, who was married to a woman named Doris Morgan, with whom he had a son named Harry Morgan, Jr.. One day, Harry and his son were at home, while Doris was out, possibly working. Harry was in the living room watching the game while Harry Jr. was alone in the pool. Harry calls his son, and the latter does not respond, which leaves Harry worried. He immediately goes to look for the boy and finds him lifeless in the pool. Harry tries to revive him, without success. Leaving Harry and his wife, Doris, very saddened by the loss of their son. Years after this event, Harry and Doris conceive their second child, this time a girl, whom they named Debra.
During a crime scene, Harry discovered Dexter as a young boy (then Dexter Moser), covered in blood inside a shipping container after witnessing the brutal chainsaw murder of his biological mother, Laura Moser (whom was also Harry's illicit lover and confidential informant), by a group of drug dealers acting on behalf of Hector Estrada. Along with his wife Doris, Harry adopted Dexter, committed to helping him overcome his traumatic past while feeling responsible for the circumstances surrounding his mother's death, though he left behind Dexter's older brother Brian Moser under the assumption that he had been corrupted beyond repair.
Recognizing Dexter's potential for extreme violence (shown through his frequent killing of small animals) and sociopathic traits, and instead of going through conventional treatment, Harry, alongside neuropsychiatrist Evelyn Vogel, developed a unique moral framework referred to as "The Code," "Harry's Code" or the "Code of Harry" to direct Dexter's destructive impulses in a more "positive" direction. The code's primary principles were to avoid detection and to target only those who deserved death: specifically, murderers who had escaped legal punishment. Through this approach, Harry effectively transformed Dexter into a vigilante serial killer.
Harry comprehensively trained Dexter in police procedures, firearms (notably through hunting practice), and his specific ethical guidelines. He taught Dexter strategies to appear normal, control his emotions, and successfully integrate into society while managing his violent tendencies. He made him fear the prospect of getting caught, and at one point took a teenage Dexter inside a prison to show him the execution of an inmate first-hand. He is also known to have encouraged Dexter to kill two specific individuals: Nurse Mary, to stop her from killing him and additional patients through overdose, and Juan Ryness, whom Harry was frustrated with after he got away with killing Julie Piotrowski. Although Harry died by suicide (framed as a heart failure) after witnessing Dexter's dismember the body of Ryness, coming to regret what he did do his son, his psychological impact persists throughout the series and in Dexter's mind.
Personality[]
Harry is generally a pragmatic and logical individual who prioritizes outcomes for his children and what he perceives as the "greater good," even if achieving this requires skirting moral or legal boundaries. He is mainly a problem-solver, he approaches Dexter's condition as a challenge to be managed rather than a purely ethical issue, exemplified by his creation of "The Code" - a framework designed to direct Dexter's violent impulses while minimizing harm to innocent people and protecting his son. He harbors deep protective instincts for both Dexter and Debra considering his efforts to shield Dexter from societal consequences after discovering his disturbing condition, and also doing his best to make sure Debra never finds out.
However, Harry's methods can be considered abusive, ruthless, and controlling. He consistently reinforces the notion that Dexter is fundamentally a monster, insisting that his only viable path is to suppress and redirect his urges while concealing his true nature, and he does so without ever trying proper therapy. Throughout Dexter's childhood, he prevents genuine connections from forming between Dexter and others, mainly Debra, fearing potential relationship destruction and risk, which simultaneously results in emotional neglect of Debra while maintaining an almost singular focus on Dexter. This heavy-handed approach towards Dexter and insistence that nothing can be done about his alleged sociopathy is implied throughout the series to have suppressed Dexter's genuine capacity for love and care, as he eventually shows attachment towards numerous individuals. While Dexter grows up viewing his father as a wise and infallible figure, it becomes clear to him over time that his parenting was motivated primarily by fear and a desire for control.
Despite his highly questionable approach, Harry does maintain a sense of honor and ethical standards. He emphatically instructs Dexter not to harm innocent people and experiences genuine remorse about his guidance, particularly after witnessing Dexter's brutal dismemberment of a body. He reflects on the humanity of victims, such as explaining to Dr. Vogel that no one deserves to be in pieces, even killers. He also expresses discomfort with taking life, even when professionally necessary, such as when he reflects on the time when he had to shoot a man on the job. The internal guilt surrounding his methods of raising Dexter ultimately becomes so overwhelming that it contributes to his suicide.
Nevertheless, Harry often compromises his own principles. In Dexter's hallucinations, while not him in the flesh, he still emphasizes that avoiding detection takes precedence over protecting innocents. He also demonstrates a genuine appreciation for vigilante justice, showing a legitimate desire to punish killers who have escaped legal consequences, transcending the goal of simply protecting his son.
External Links[]
- Harry Morgan on the Heroes Wiki
- Harry Morgan on the Dexter Wiki
- Harry Morgan on the Wikipedia
