It’s either black or white, right? You either love’em or hate’em. Fast forward through them or spend years humming their songs, long after the show was cancelled. The opening credits to a television show can be something amazing, don’t you think? If they are good, they not only present you with the characters, actor’s names, writing credits, director and whoever. They can also set the mood for the show and tell you in less than a minute, what the heck it is you are going to see.
There are trends, of course (as in everything else). Some years ago, they decided it’d be cool to have like, 3 second opening credits. Remember Lost?
Yeap. That was it. Only 15 seconds and you were sitting on the edge of your chair with your hairs standing on end. It worked. Now they are doing it with Glee. It kinda works too, but it doesn’t have the same impact.
There were several trends, actually: a long time ago, the Opening Credits were just a list of the actors, while the winked back at you from the screen. Then we had the end of the 80′s and the 90′s, when every Title Sequence looked like it was produced by MTV. All had great songs that were drilled into your brain, while you saw a videoclip montage from the show (Dawson’s Creek, Friends, Party of Five, Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed). And then, we have the artsy ones.
Some opening credits are memorable and stick with you for different reasons. For example, Gossip Girl: Where has she been, Serena? And who am I? That’s one secret I’ll never tell. You know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl. You just read that in your head in Kristen Bell’s voice, didn’t you?
Wanna know 2 Opening Credits from my childhood that stuck with me through the years?
Like I was saying, a show’s opening credits can either add to the excitement of the show or just be something annoying that steals time away from your favorite TV series. Anyway, here are the Best Opening Sequences (according to me, because they are the one I don’t skip).
In no particular order:
HOUSE MD
Love the song by Massive Attack. Love the artwork and the scenery they chose to include. It goes really well with the theme and mood of the show. Though I would have popped a couple of Vicodin pills somewhere along the 32 seconds it lasts.
TRUE BLOOD
Though this show jumped the shark some seasons ago and I’m soooooooooooo over it, the Opening Credits are perfect. They totally set the mood for whatever it is you are going to see: creepy, weird, kinda pervy, with some violence, sexy, dark, something to do with religion and discrimination. It sets the place. It tells you who the actors are. It’s perfect. The only 2 things missing? 1/ Eric and 2/ Bill saying “Soooooooookehhhhh” so intensely, that it looks like he’s head is gonna explode.
THE X-FILES
My brother was a huge fan and made me watch the show (so glad he did). If you didn’t figure out what the show was about just by watching this sequence, you are an idiot. These Opening Credits creeped me out (they still do). And the music became a classic. Now, whenever someone mentions something weird, they hum the song. Just iconic.
GAME OF THRONES
OMG!!! I just can’t even… This show is massive, is awesome, and it has an Opening Title Sequence to die for. The music is incredible. If you tell me you don’t hum it whenever you hear it, you are lying. What’s interesting is that no episode’s credits are alike. They change every intro according the places they’ll show in each episode. Coolness! The way the camera zooms in and out, while you watch every city take form is beautiful. And the metal rings round the sun, with the House Sigils is amazing.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
Bazinga!!! Could this be any more perfect???
THE TUDORS
Perfect music. Apart from the short scenes from episodes, I loved the things they had the actors / characters do. It was an excellent match for the whole show.
DOWNTON ABBEY
Another example of perfect music. Its so posh! It represents the world of “upstairs” and “downstairs” without even showing you one single character. And it’s a beautiful tour of the house.
DEAD LIKE ME
I loved this show. And the Opening Credits told you just how much fun the show was, in an ironic sort of twisted way.
NEW AMSTERDAM
Loved this show, though it was cancelled pretty quick. I liked Nikolaj Coster-Waldau even before he looked like Prince Charming while playing Jamie Lannister.
HEROES
Kinda spooky. Don’t know if it is an eye or an eclipse.
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
Hated the series, but the opening credits were awesome. Loved all the references to works of art.
THE WALKING DEAD
A show about zombies who doesn’t include a single zombie in it’s opening sequence. Standing ovation. It soooooo puts you in the mood of the show, doesn’t it?
BEDLAM
Creepy, right? It was perfect for the show. The sets from the Mad House are soooo scary.
Any other Opening Credits you love?
Game Of Thrones intro is excellent. I have it as my wake up tone… You’re right (as usual) with True Blood and Big Bang Theory (I still try to sing it completelly… but my pronunciation is not sooo good).
And, from my childhood, as Elisa, I remember the A-Team and Get Smarth… that one was great!
Uh! The A-team and Get Smart!!! Those were so good!!!
I have a soft spot for Angel’s opening credits. I love that song by Darling Violetta and I still look for it. I want it on my phone, damnit!! And I looooooooove The Tudor’s ones.