MovieChat Forums > Dexter (2006) Discussion > Opening Sequence

Opening Sequence

posted 7 years ago by dm1499
10 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else notice the opening sequence showing Dexter's morning routine parallels his kill routine? It is taking one, subliminally, through his kills.....

First, he prepares for the kill (preparing for the day, showering, shaving).

Next, he wraps the victim in plastic and then starts slicing them up (the meat wrapped in plastic, which he slices open).

He keeps cutting them up and blood splatters around room (cuts up the egg and then hot sauce splatters across plate).

Then he starts cutting up the body (cutting up the grapefruit).

Finally, he bounds up the body parts (Flossing, tying shoe laces).

[–] garciaruben223 7 years ago

Holy crap, I never noticed that until you mentioned it. I see it as a therapeutic method of controlling his urges and fulfilling the void of not having a worthless scum on his table.

[–] tornado2449 7 years ago

I certainly saw a parallel to the show's theme with the beginning.

I think I saw it more as the different ways to kill people though. Because the shoe laces I interpreted as strangling and then the shirt over his face is almost like suffocation.

[–] mgreen9715 7 years ago

I think you might be looking into it a little bit too much.

[–] ginger-51 7 years ago

Hmm. I see it more as how even the most ordinary activities of your day can take on a strange quality if you are forcing yourself to try to seem normal when you are doing them. How an outsider could look at the everyday activities of shaving, making breakfast, tying ones shoes, and see something totally different from what we "insiders" see. That's why every action looks so sinister.

But I tend not to try to find metaphors in a show/movie I'm enjoying. I'm just along for the ride!

[–] mgreen9715 7 years ago

Finding metaphors and deeper meanings for scenes and actions of characters makes the ride that much better, though.

But I agree that despite the fact that those are every day activities for the average person they looked insidious because it was a serial killer going through the motions.

[–] ginger-51 7 years ago

yeah, I am not knocking anyone who chooses to look for metaphors and deeper meanings in any show or movie; it's just not what I tend to do, at least on first viewing. I just meant that my contribution to the discussion may not be as "deep" as other people's because I'm watching the show for the first time now and tend to just allow myself to enjoy the ride the first time around. After that, I may go back and re-watch looking for deeper meaning, if the series really affected me. Not sure if I'll do that with this one; I ADORE Hall ever since Six Feet Under, but I'm not a big fan of the actress who plays Deb, and I'm not currently in love with the other co-stars. But they might grow on me; I'm still in season 2.

[–] ADBruns 7 years ago

Nice. I never thought about it that in-depth. But it isn't surprising. I remember one of the showrunners once said something to the effect of the title sequence tells you everything you need to know about the character.

[–] spookyrat1 7 years ago

I think this sort of thread has been on the boards on and off for years. 🐭

[–] Iain (32) 7 years ago

You should be aware of this site, as it has all the pertinent information regarding the opening sequence:
Dexter Opening Sequence

It's the definitive site for the opening sequence.

BTW, Dexter Morgan is a psychopath; not a sociopath as indicated on that site. Jordan Chase from series 5 is a good example of a sociopath.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

Duh