This post is dedicated to the often forgotten element that creates the authenticity of a show! The opening sequence!! Below are a list of my personal FAVORITE opening sequences!
1. MAD MEN
This sequence is full of symbolism and definitely illustrate the whole show! Men falling over women, booze and more women? haha! And ofcourse, the infamous cigarettes! Composer: RJD2 (‘A Beautiful Mine’ instrumental)
2. Game of Thrones
EPIC! need I say more? I can’t get the music score out of my head for days when I first heard it! The opening sequence also shows us a clear map of the realm! Composer: Ramin Djawadi
3. The Newsroom
You’ll definitely get the feel of the whole ‘news broadcast’ theme of the show! There’s just something about the music that’ll stick with you! Composer: Thomas Newman
4. SKINS (UK)
Who doesn’t love them some SKINS! I can’t get enough of this show! Every series have different theme songs for their opening sequences although they always based it on the original score. I can’t decide on my ultimate favorite, so I’m just gonna say I love them all! Although I have to say Series 5 and 6 have the most different and upbeat theme song! Composer: Fat Segal
5. True Blood
I guess it’s safe to say all HBO shows have their own unique opening sequences! True Blood’s opening sequence is just spot on creepy! And the line, “I wanna do bad things with you… ” Oh my my.. Composer: Jace Everett (‘Bad Things’)
Aaron Sorkin + TV = Best Show Ever …. ??? Is that the case of the new and highly anticipated HBO show, The Newsroom? First things first, watch the trailer below
The Newsroom. Creator: Aaron Sorkin. Starring: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr, Allison Pill, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, Thomas Sadoski, Sam Waterston
And watch this first 8 minutes of the 1 hour show that got me HOOKED!
Aaron Sorkin has done it again. If anyone wasn’t familiar with his name yet, he is the man who wrote the screenplay of Moneyball and The Social Network. And the monologue in the pilot episode of The Newsroom has proven that Aaron Sorkin is indeed brilliant! As I have stated in my own introduction in this blog, I do not like politics. And The Newsroom is, well, pretty much about the news and what makes the news? Politics! Both the politics in the news and in the newsroom.
So why do I watch the entire 10 episodes of the first season of The Newsroom?Well.. It is simply because, I am a sucker for ‘behind-the-scenes’. And this show is pretty much about the making of the news. And it questions a lot about the integrity of the news broadcast in this world today. Do they report the news in an unbiased way OR do they report the news according to the political standpoint of the producers? Do they report every single issues that should be raised OR do they report the news that will increase the ratings?
The show has gotten to me so much that by the end of every episodes, I went on Wikipedia and search about the republicans, the democrats, the Tea Party and all of the political issues the show discusses. And guess what? It turns out, I’m not the only one who does it! Dev Patel (starred in Slumdog Millionare), who plays the IT guy in the show, told LA Times, “I’m not intelligent enough for the show. That’s how I learn American Politics. Wikipedia. Every night.” And we can’t blame him. The show is filled with very long and detailed and fast paced dialogues that it’s sometimes hard to digest. But fortunately for us, the actors in the show are magnificent!
So, now that I’ve mentioned the genius writing from Aaron Sorkin and writers, the heavy politics and the impressive actors, anything else for you to know? Yes. two words: RELATIONSHIPS DRAMA.
And to be honest, I am not a fan about it. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I found the relationship in the show too over the top. The portrayal of women are overly dramatic it’s painful to watch! Sometimes it gets too soap opera-ish. And because of the stretched timeline in the show, it’s hard to develop these relationships and it gets to the point where it seem quite unrealistic and frustrating. And also, I feel that the show focus so much on Will and he is portrayed like the God of News.
So to sum it up,
PROS: Aaron Sorkin and his brilliance, the actors, politics and the opening score. CONS: Over the top dialogues, soapy relationships, the portrayal of women, too much focus on Will McAvoy. Watch or Pass : WATCH if you’re into politics and interested on how the news is made. PASS if you do not like long dialogues and looking forward to fairytale romance kinda show.
watch read & listen 