TV Series intros or title sequences set the mood and often provides sneak peeks about what the show has to offer. Generally the television title sequence will badge the show with a typographic logo, more importantly it will also display the key elements or highlights from earlier episodes. Music is just as important to set the tone and assist with the overall mood.

We made a list of the most intriguing series intros that captured our attention. This was a tricky task and I’m sure we may have missed one or two, let us know. Let’s have a look at GeekShizzle’s Top 30 Most Intriguing TV Series Intros.

intriguing-series-intros

Image courtesy of FX: Which series intro is this picture from?

 

1. American Horror Story – Murder House

American Horror Story: Murder House revolves around the Harmons, a family of three who moved from Boston to Los Angeles as a means to reconcile past anguish. The all-star cast features Dylan McDermott as Ben Harmon, a psychiatrist; Connie Britton as Vivien Harmon, Ben’s wife; Taissa Farmiga as Violet, the Harmon’s teenage daughter; Jessica Lange in her first-ever regular series TV role as Constance, the Harmon’s neighbour; Evan Peters plays Tate Langdon, one of Ben’s patients; and Denis O’Hare as Larry Harvey. Guest stars for the series include Frances Conroy as the Harmon’s housekeeper; Alexandra Breckenridge as the Harmon’s housekeeper; and Jamie Brewer as Constance’s daughter.

 

2. American Horror Story 2 – Asylum

Set in 1964, American Horror Story: Asylum takes viewers into a Church-run haven for the criminally insane, ruled with an iron fist by Sister Jude (Jessica Lange), a nun with a troubled past. This grisly tale begins in present day when Leo and Teresa, the unsuspecting newlyweds, choose to spend their honeymoon within the safe haven of a now abandoned asylum. Expect the unexpected as “Asylum” brings all your worst nightmares to life.

 

3. Game of Thrones

Winters can last a lifetime and the struggle for the Iron Throne leads to bloody battles. It stretches from the South where heat breeds plots, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage Eastern lands; all the way to the frozen North where an 700-foot wall of ice protects the Kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and Queens, Knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men…all will play ‘The Game of Thrones’. The kingdom is in turmoil. Rival families spin webs of political & sexual intrigue to gain control. Murder, conspiracy, betrayal – anything goes in the battle to gain control of the Iron Throne. In this game, you win or you die.

 

4. Dexter

The irony of our favourite serial killer Dexter Morgan is that can’t stand the sight of blood, which makes his job as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami PD a little tricky. But it means that he’s very tidy when it comes to his hobby: murder. After all, even though Dexter only ever kills bad people, he doesn’t want to draw attention to it. Knives, body bags, plastic wraps, suspense, murder and lies. We love Dexter!

 

5. True Blood

Thanks to a Japanese scientist’s invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures coming out of the coffin. Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. Cursed with the ability to listen in on people’s thoughts, she’s also open-minded about the integration of vampires – particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill’s arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

 

6. Vikings

Farmer, family man and rebel Ragnar Lothbrok is determined to sail west to discover new lands and riches despite an intimidating warning from his village’s tyrannical leader, Lord Haraldson, who makes it clear in no uncertain terms that doing so could result in severe consequences. Deceit, politics and axe wielding Vikings! Ragnar Lodbrok is one of the best-known Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of France and England.

 

7. The Walking Dead Season 3

Based on a graphic novel by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, the drama follows Rick Grimes, a sheriffs deputy played by British actor Andrew Lincoln (This Life), who wakes from a coma only to find that the country has been overrun by zombies. He joins his best friend, wife, son and some survivors as they try to find their way in a post apocalyptic nightmare filled with flesh hungry zombies.

 

8. Carnivàle

During the Great Depression, an Oklahoma farm boy and a charismatic minister learn that they are key players in a proxy war being fought between Heaven and Hell. Who can ever forget the pilot episode when 18-year-old Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) is taken in by a travelling carnival and begins to display mysterious powers, only to find that a preacher begins to have a similar experience. Carnivàle’s first episode set a new audience record for an HBO original series in 2003.

 

9. Sarah Conner Chronicles

Facing relentless Terminators that will stop at nothing until John, the future leader of the resistance, is eliminated, Sarah Connor stops running and starts fighting back against fate and the machines that are out for her son.

 

10. United States of Tara

Written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, United States of Tara stars Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine) as a wife and mother suffering from dissociative identity disorder. She tries to lead a normal life with her husband Max and teenage children Kate and Marshall while suffering from multiple personalities.

 

11. Chuck

Chuck Bartowski, ace computer geek at Buy More, is not in his right mind. That’s a good thing. Ever since he unwittingly downloaded stolen government secrets into his brain, action, excitement and a cool secret agent girlfriend have entered his life. It’s a bad thing, too, because now Chuck is in danger 24/7. Executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C.) and McG (Charlie’s Angels) merge techno-gadgetry, martial-arts smack-downs, narrow escapes, and gorgeous spies in short shorts into this action comedy about an “everyday guy” for the new millennium.

 

12. The IT Crowd

From the creators of Father Ted and The Office, The IT Crowd is a popular British sitcom that sees three IT geeks relegated to a dingy basement, Moss, Jen and Roy are their company’s last line of technological defense; they are the IT crowd.

 

13. NBC’s Community

The series opens with Jeff, a lawyer whose qualifications are deemed void by the bar is forced to attend a local community college with a diverse and all-embracing staff. The show stars Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Gillian Jacobs. The group, as an entity, is fairly self-centered, only interacting in passing with other members of the student body, and even then mostly because of competitions, arguments, or feuds. The series uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television clichés and tropes.

 

14. Bored to death

Numbed after his girlfriend leaves, writer Jonathan Ames places an ad offering his (unlicensed) services as a private investigator. He relentlessly tries to find his way in life and love with surprising ourcomes. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis.

 

15. Dilbert

With his signature turned-up tie, round glasses and buzz cut, Dilbert is already a pop culture phenomenon, providing an irreverent reference point for workers everywhere. Developed and produced by Emmy Award-winning writer/producer Larry Charles (“Seinfeld,” “Mad About You”), Dilbert, the series, follows the “every man” as he copes with daily life at The Company.

 

16. The Big Bang Theory

Johnny Galecki (ROSEANNE) and Jim Parsons (JUDGING AMY) star as two socially inept scientists who, while accustomed to probing the secrets of the universe, are totally unprepared for the greatest mystery of all: women. Plenty of hijinks are in store for the two roommates as they get a crash course in the ways of the opposite sex. Probably one of the funniest series ever made, The Big Bang Theory is stuff geek heaven is made of.

 

17. Mad Men

In 1960 New York City — the high-powered and glamorous “Golden Age” of advertising– Don Draper, the biggest ad man in the business, struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels.

 

18. House

Part E.R. and part C.S.I., House is a medical mystery television show that’s appealing due to its creative camerawork, interesting characters, and twisting plotlines. Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is a brilliant medical professional, but often alienates his patients and co-workers because of his abrasive manner and bitterness. In each episode House is faced with a person exhibiting a number of unusual symptoms, and along with his team of dedicated doctors and nurses, must discover what strange illness is afflicting the patient…before it’s too late!

 

19. Rome

Jointly produced by HBO and the BBC, “Rome” takes viewers back to 52 BC for a chance to relive the reign of Julius Caesar. The series revolves around the lives of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who win favour with Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) by defeating a mutinous plot from the devious Pompey Magnus (Kenneth Cranham). This affords the two men a gateway into the lives of Rome’s ruling classes, and so the series unfolds, with intricately woven plots showing the rise and fall of Rome’s most influential leaders in history.

 

20. Nip-tuck

Set in the flashy world of South Beach, Miami, where looking good is a full-time profession. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) are plastic surgeons. Sean is married to Julia (Joely Richardson) and has a conscience when it comes to his job, while Christian is willing to lie to get a woman into bed and onto the surgery table. Although they’ve been partners for years, their opposing ethical stances, as well as Christian’s desire for Julia, keep the dramatic tension bristling.

 

21. Flight of the Conchords

This HBO series follows the misadventures of struggling folk act Flight of the Conchords (real-life comedy partners Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie). Hoping to extend their fanbase beyond one obsessed groupie, the guys move to New York’s East Village, where it soon becomes apparent that America’s not ready for their unique brand of music.

 

22. The Simpsons

“The Simpsons”, televisions’ most loved dysfunctional family is probably the most recognized and well known animated series of all time.

 

23. Luther

Starring Idris Elba (The Wire) Luther is a deeply thrilling crime series, crackling with energy, distinctive characters and snappy, clever dialogue. On a moral crusade, too often with only his convictions for company, John Luther is a deeply troubled man, a philosophical cop possessed by the insoluble problem of evil and justice in a Godless world.

 

24. Blue Mountain state

The College TV comedy follows the exploits of three college freshmen. Arriving at football-crazy Blue Mountain State, freshmen Alex (Darin Brooks), Sammy (Chris Romano) and Craig (Sam Jones III) quickly have to adapt to a life of girls, lessons, constant humiliation, and wall-to-wall partying.

 

25. Entourage

The HBO series Entourage offers a satirical inside look at the world of show business within a faux “documentary” format. Entourage chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie actor, and his childhood friends from New York, as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Hollywood. The show is loosely based on Executive Producer Mark Wahlberg’s experiences as an up-and-coming movie star.

 

26. Shameless

An alcoholic man lives in a perpetual stupor while his six children with whom he lives cope as best they can. Fiona, Lip, Carl, Liam, Ian, and Debbie are the sons and daughters of loveable waster Frank Gallagher, and he even found the time to sire another two kids with his lover, Sheila. The mother of the family disappeared years ago, so responsibility falls on the shoulders of the oldest sister, Fiona, who has to cope with innumerable problems as the family members go through all-too familiar growing pains.

 

27. Six feet Under

Alan Ball’s brilliantly original and darkly humorous HBO series about the members of a dynamic Los Angeles family that operates the Fisher and Sons Funeral Home. One would think that a series about a family that owns a mortuary would be morbid and dull; however there are unexpected moments that stir laughter. Six feet Under allows you to take a step back and appreciation the gift of life, we so often take for granted.

 

28. Weeds

After her husband’s unexpected death and subsequent financial woes, suburban mom Nancy Botwin (Parker) embraces a new profession: the neighbourhood pot dealer. As it seems like everyone secretly wants what she’s selling, Nancy is faced with keeping her family life in check and her enterprise a secret. Things are never that simple even though we sometimes thing we can achieve the impossible even in the most dodgiest of situations.

 

29. Boardwalk Empire

From Terence Winter (Emmy-winning writer on HBO’s The Sopranos) and Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese, “Boardwalk Empire” is set in Atlantic City in 1920 at the dawn of Prohibition. The series chronicles the life and times of Enoch Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the city treasurer whose double role as politician and bootlegger makes him the city’s undisputed “King” at a time when illegal alcohol has opened up highly lucrative opportunities for rumrunners and distributors. In a city defined by notorious backroom politics and vicious power struggles, Nucky must contend with ambitious underlings, relentless Feds, rival gangsters — including Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone — and his own appetite for women, profits, and power.

 

30. Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers is based on the real-life experiences of American paratroopers who fought in Europe during the Second World War. From their training in Camp Toccoa, Georgia, through their landing in Normandy as part of the D-Day offensive, their participation in the Battle of the Bulge, and all the way up to the final surrender of the German forces, the series follows the adventures of Easy Company, a unit noted for its skill and bravery, but which also suffered a high number of casualties in its journey across Europe.