Analysis of "Dexter" opening sequence

What is "Dexter"?

The popular American TV series "Dexter" was a serial drama airing 84 times across 8 series. It's main protagonist was Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter analyst, with murderous tendencies. What preserves his role as a protagonist, I might add, was the selection of his victims, being criminals who have escaped justice. The series was set in Miami.

The following is an analysis of the opening credits, shown in the beginning of each episode of "Dexter". 

Waking up, Dexter notices a mosquito on his arm, and promptly swats the insect with his hand.  His nonchalance seems disturbing, in a sense, as the way in which he dispatches of the mosquito is quite aggressive. The scene then cuts and returns to him reviewing his reflection in the mirror of his bathroom. With the positioning of the camera, we can see two obscure images of Dexter; one of his shoulders and the back of his head, and the other his reflection staring back. This subtly refers to a duel personality within Dexter, as the mirror image can reflect an alternate version of himself and/or an internal conflict within his mind.

The scene goes on to show an extreme close up of Dexter’s skin as he applies shaving gel.





At first glance, the viewer may be confused as to which area of his body the camera has zoomed in on, creating a sense of unease. Cutting himself while shaving, a considerable amount camera focus is present on the droplet of blood rolling down his neck, indicating a subtle and underlying theme of blood that may be present in the drama. This, coupled with the extreme close up shot of Dexter holding a shaving blade to his throat, has strong connotations of murder and pays homage to the character of "Sweeney Todd".


Moving into the Kitchen, one of the first and most noticeable props used in the scene is a slab of meat. The meat itself is pink in colour and, when viewed briefly with a close-up camera shot, it is unclear what or who this meat used to belong to. In a sense, and at first glance, the meat when cut looks very much like human skin, repulsing some viewers instantly yet drawing them in once again when it becomes clear that it is being cooked for breakfast; the hope being that this breakfast is not a cannibals choice of morning cuisine, remaining a mystery throughout the opening sequence.

The lighting throughout the previous and following scenes can be described as meticulously managed; areas surrounding entrances for light rays are awash with darker colours such as greys and deep browns and dirty tan.  A dark red background is also used when Dexter begins to cut and prepare a blood orange, which in itself is an unusual fruit yet highly appropriate for the increasingly apparent theme of cutting through skin and blood. Overall, the close proximity of darker colours against lighter shades helps in creating and strengthening the intense contrast of these colours, with light rays on appearance cutting through darker areas.

After finishing his morning breakfast, and rather ominously so, he heads back into the bathroom to floss his teeth.