Dexter opening scene: Theory of shapes

The plughole could represent the ordinary while the blood drop represents a more alien aspect.

The various shapes used in the opening credits scene of the Dexter series can tell us a lot about the series. The shapes themselves tell us a story and could symbolise many things, for example, the circles could represent the wholeness or perfect order in which Dexter lives his life. Circles are seen as symbols representing a full connection without any point or corners; hence it could be showing how he is satisfied with his decision. Completing his change from certified a law enforcer during the day to a serial-killing vigilante at night.



The first thing we see when the opening credits roll is a mosquito sucking blood from Dexter's arm.


He swats the mosquito with his hand and leaves behind a circle of blood.

This could serve as an indication that Dexter has begun his day-the fact that the mosquito leaves behind a blood pool could symbolise that blood is the first thing Dexter sees when wakes up. (Followed by evil smile).


This close-up on his hands and neck show his wrinkles on his fingers- which ever-so-slightly seem to resemble cut up\sliced meat.


This is actually sliced meat that Dexter cooks...the only thing that makes this stand out from the image above is the fact that this is pink in colour
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One might notice that Dexter has cut his meat into a square shape- the square is quite well cut and hence we could take the idea that Dexter is a perfectionist.


There is no actual shape here and that is a reason why many audience members could possibly take another important message from here that is- the victims could end up being cut up and made shapeless.
 
Here, even something as harmless as dental floss has been made to look like a sinister tool of death.This is due to the shape that it takes on as it closely resembles wires used for strangling.


The same has been done to his shoelaces (resembling rope and a strangling act).



In this image, the shape of Dexter's face has been made to appear as someone who is being suffocated.

The various shapes that are shown in the opening sequence have played a major role in our understanding of what kind of a show Dexter is.  Either through very clear examples such as the 'suffocation face' shape toward the ending or some more complex ones such as the 'egg slicing'.