A television series I have been watching over several weeks now is the show Dexter. Something that I always look out for when beginning a new tv show is the opening title sequence. Just as I had discussed in my first reflective post about how a bad choice of music can make or break an entire movie, the same thought applies here for a TV shows title sequence. What I find most interesting is how such programmes come to the decision of picking the shots and soundtrack needed to present their title and key cast members. These sequences are therefore created to engage the audience into the shows world, set the overall tone and hint at what the series will be about. With this in mind, I tend to question why did the creators choose these specific shots, what do they mean, how do they connect with the overall narrative of the show and are they in fact deliberate or just randomly placed to set the tone and atmosphere.
I have chosen to focus on the Dexter opening title sequence as I find that each shot has been intentionally chosen and conveys meaning that contributes to our understanding of Dexter. The show is based upon the life of Dexter Morgan, who is a lead forensic blood spatter analyst by day, and a vigilante serial killer in his spare time. The sequence is based upon the characters morning routine ritual with some underlying hidden messages in between. The process and the choice of shots already establishes and reveals a lot about the show and the character. It allows us to get a glimpse into his world by witnessing his morning routine and also see the world through his eyes. The close-up montage shots of cutting, flossing and shaving, are all recurring actions that signifies elements of stabbing, strangling and cutting. These are beautifully shot clips that shows us Dexter’s ability to focus on the little things, and hint to us viewers that he has a dark side.
More so, the first time watching this show I was confused about the choice of music, given the genre is a crime thriller and is based upon a vigilante serial killer. I was expecting a more dark and sinister tune, but surprisingly it is a very light and joyful tune. I also believe that this was deliberately chosen to contribute to the idea of having Dexter perform such normal things violently. For example, cutting into a blood orange is shown in an extreme close-up, placing emphasis on the knife cutting through a skin-like texture. The shot of him hitting the mosquito signifies his drive to kill, and the close-up of him shaving his neck are all signifiers gradually revealing his drive to kill and affinity for blood.
Furthermore, this is a great way to think of how being deliberate with choice of shot construction allows for films to have a greater meaning and effect toward the viewers.