The Sopranos
There is just something in the opening of The Soprano's that is just so perfect it is hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. Firstly the theme song by Alabama 3 is fantastic, it encompasses the character of Tony Soprano so well ("one in a million cause you got that shotgun shine") then there is the his journey from the well known New York to the gritter New Jersey, a journey which represents his ties to the New York families as well as introducing us to some of the landmarks we come to know and love during the series and also in a way. His face covered in swirls of cigar smoke, this man is somebody and you want to find out who. Simple but oh so very effective.
True Blood
"I wanna do real bad things to you." Never has a song been so apt to the show it is introducing. Alan Ball's Southern Gothic drama introduced us to a world where vampires has come out of the coffin and into mainstream society, but it didn't mean they had to behave. The only hint of the supernatural element of the show in the titles is in the church sign which states 'God Hates Fangs', which the rest looks at the real underbelly of the South - who is to say one is not as bad as the other? The images of life and death and everything in-between are beautifully linked and the focus on the colour red speaks to the darker tones of the show.
Six Feet Under
Another Alan Ball show that this time focuses on those left behind after a loved one is gone (with no option to come back as a vampire!) The focus on the process of what happens after you have gone is off-set by an almost cheery theme song which isn't somber in the least, which fits so well with the show itself, although the focus is on death (after all the family run a funeral parlor and the opening scene is how that week's client met their end), there was also a focus on life which was offset with absurdest, subversive comedy. This is a title sequence most shows would be proud to call their own.
Dexter
I love the opening to Dexter, the music is almost cheery, catchy, but the actions of Dexter are dark and subversive just like his character. The opening credits really are just showing the morning ritual of the every man, wake-up, shave, breakfast etc. but each ritual just confirms the blood lust of the character, the drop of drop of blood while shaving, the almost blood orange in the juicer, the tightness of the laces while he ties up his shoes, they are all beautiful in their own way and just hint to the darkness that lies inside of Dexter.
The Simpsons
The theme, the chalkboard detention, Maggie on the conveyor belt, Homer and Marge driving, Lisa's Sax solo, Bart's skateboarding, the couch gag - everything in this opening works and the fact not much about it has changed in 25 years is testament to how brilliant it is.
The X-Files
There is just something in the opening of The Soprano's that is just so perfect it is hard to pinpoint exactly what it is. Firstly the theme song by Alabama 3 is fantastic, it encompasses the character of Tony Soprano so well ("one in a million cause you got that shotgun shine") then there is the his journey from the well known New York to the gritter New Jersey, a journey which represents his ties to the New York families as well as introducing us to some of the landmarks we come to know and love during the series and also in a way. His face covered in swirls of cigar smoke, this man is somebody and you want to find out who. Simple but oh so very effective.
True Blood
"I wanna do real bad things to you." Never has a song been so apt to the show it is introducing. Alan Ball's Southern Gothic drama introduced us to a world where vampires has come out of the coffin and into mainstream society, but it didn't mean they had to behave. The only hint of the supernatural element of the show in the titles is in the church sign which states 'God Hates Fangs', which the rest looks at the real underbelly of the South - who is to say one is not as bad as the other? The images of life and death and everything in-between are beautifully linked and the focus on the colour red speaks to the darker tones of the show.
Six Feet Under
Another Alan Ball show that this time focuses on those left behind after a loved one is gone (with no option to come back as a vampire!) The focus on the process of what happens after you have gone is off-set by an almost cheery theme song which isn't somber in the least, which fits so well with the show itself, although the focus is on death (after all the family run a funeral parlor and the opening scene is how that week's client met their end), there was also a focus on life which was offset with absurdest, subversive comedy. This is a title sequence most shows would be proud to call their own.
Dexter
I love the opening to Dexter, the music is almost cheery, catchy, but the actions of Dexter are dark and subversive just like his character. The opening credits really are just showing the morning ritual of the every man, wake-up, shave, breakfast etc. but each ritual just confirms the blood lust of the character, the drop of drop of blood while shaving, the almost blood orange in the juicer, the tightness of the laces while he ties up his shoes, they are all beautiful in their own way and just hint to the darkness that lies inside of Dexter.
The Simpsons
The theme, the chalkboard detention, Maggie on the conveyor belt, Homer and Marge driving, Lisa's Sax solo, Bart's skateboarding, the couch gag - everything in this opening works and the fact not much about it has changed in 25 years is testament to how brilliant it is.
The X-Files
This is a great example of how to simply and effectively do an opening title sequence. The spooky, supernatural music draws you in. There are flashes of odd occurrences, alien shapes, hints of government conspiracies and an introduction to our leads which is simply done via their FBI ID's. The titles inform us the view that the truth is out there, so we better watch and find out what it is.
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks has to be one of the most deceptive openings of any show. The imagery is that of small town America, the industry that powers it, the beauty that lies within in, the population that fits nicely on the welcome sign, but that opening theme just hints of something off, although you can't quite put your finger on it, it is beautifully dark, subversive and Gothic in its own way and serves the show it introduces well.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
If you are of a certain age like myself then you will be able to knock this lyrics out without any problem - but apart from being a really great catchy theme the opening of the Fresh Prince was really, really clever. For the loyal viewer it was a chance to rap along with Will Smith, which for anybody tuning in for the first time it gave a nice neat compact overview of the premise of the series. It is also widely funny.
True Detective
Make no bones about it, True Detective is a dark, dark show and the opening credits do not take away from that. The gritty, hazy image of Louisiana, the multi-projection over the main characters, the representation of sex and fire, all aided by Handsome Family's Far from Any Road does not in any way give you any sense of security. It perfectly offsets the main themes of the show and is one of the finest new credit sequences in recent years.
Desperate Housewives
The springy Danny Elfman theme suits this comedy drama down to the ground. The opening credits of the artistic interpretations of women through time is fun and very to the point. It screams Americana but is just touch in cheek enough to get away with it.
The Outer Limits
"Do not attempt to adjust the picture." the intro to The Outer Limits is etched into my memory, you were about to be shown something you couldn't imagine, a story that was supernaturally charged, that came from the deepest, sometimes darkest part of your mind. Borrowing heavily form its older brother The Twilight Zone, the imagery and voice-over used was fantastically bizarre and the music had a great, not quite creepy but strong build-up. You wanted to see what was going to happen next and really from the opening you had absolutely no idea what you were letting yourself in for!
American Horror Story
These is something completely unsettling about this opening credits. They seem to encompass everything that could possible freak you out when watching a run of the mill horror movie and you expect something to jump out at you constantly. You just see glimpses of things that could be sinister but all these glimpses do is unnerve you. Add to that the creepy as anything music which stays with you well after the credits are done and you are already on tenterhooks by the time the episode properly starts.
The Wire
What a theme song this is, Way Down in the Hole by Tom Waites, it is just so perfect for this show about the rotten, dirty criminal underbelly of Baltimore and those who try their best to battle against it. The opening credits split between scenes of the good and the bad with shots of Baltimore Harbor to tie it together, it is a classy opening to a classy show.
Mad Men
The style, the colour, the whole entire James Bond feel of this opening sequence just fills my heart with joy. Throw into that the symbolism of the lack of control and the nod to the upcoming subsequent downfall if its leading character, Don Draper himself would be proud of this.
Game of Thrones
A stylish opening which shows that sometimes simplicity is the best option when you have a show that is widely complicated. The map of the world is stunning with the effects used to show the different clans are top notch and the theme music is spectacular with the Celtic beat acting like a call to arms.
Sex and the City
New York has never looked so good and as it is the fifth star of the series why shouldn't it. I love how the opening sequence of the show introduces us to our guide and narrator through the series, Carrie, by showing that not everything is going to go her way, after all she gets splashed by a bus which is advertising her column on relationships and sex - if ever there was a visual representation of what was to come in a series that's it right there.
Mad Men
The style, the colour, the whole entire James Bond feel of this opening sequence just fills my heart with joy. Throw into that the symbolism of the lack of control and the nod to the upcoming subsequent downfall if its leading character, Don Draper himself would be proud of this.
Game of Thrones
A stylish opening which shows that sometimes simplicity is the best option when you have a show that is widely complicated. The map of the world is stunning with the effects used to show the different clans are top notch and the theme music is spectacular with the Celtic beat acting like a call to arms.
Sex and the City
New York has never looked so good and as it is the fifth star of the series why shouldn't it. I love how the opening sequence of the show introduces us to our guide and narrator through the series, Carrie, by showing that not everything is going to go her way, after all she gets splashed by a bus which is advertising her column on relationships and sex - if ever there was a visual representation of what was to come in a series that's it right there.
And those that had just the greatest themes...
The Addams Family
The A-Team
Battlestar Galactica
Baywatch
Beverly Hills, 90210
The Brady Bunch
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cheers
Clarissa Explains It All
The Cosby Show
Dawson's Creek
Doctor Who
Friends
The Golden Girls
Hawaii Five-0
Highlander
Knight Rider
Magnum P.I.
M*A*S*H
Miami Vice
Mission Impossible
Murder She Wrote
The Muppet Show
The Odd Couple
The A-Team
Battlestar Galactica
Baywatch
Beverly Hills, 90210
The Brady Bunch
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cheers
Clarissa Explains It All
The Cosby Show
Dawson's Creek
Doctor Who
Friends
The Golden Girls
Hawaii Five-0
Highlander
Knight Rider
M*A*S*H
Miami Vice
Mission Impossible
Murder She Wrote
The Muppet Show
The Odd Couple
Party of Five
Sesame Street
Star Trek
Step by Step
The Twilight Zone
Wonder Woman
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