20 TV shows with iconic opening scenes

The opening scene of The Righteous Gemstones is pure perfection. It sets the tone for the series and shows exactly who the Gemstones are. Plus, it’s comedy gold. A mass baptism in a wave pool that gets derailed by a giant wave? Hysterical. 

It’s rare for the most iconic scene in a TV show to be its opening scene, but such is the case for a show as rare as Breaking Bad. Seeing what Walter White was about to be getting himself into made every viewer absolutely have to know more. 

Better Call Saul is a masterclass in opening a spinoff. The series reintroduced audiences to a familiar character while orienting them with where Saul Goodman landed post-Breaking Bad, though the show serves mostly as a prequel. The series' opening scene worked so well that it became the show’s go-to for opening each of its subsequent seasons. 

The premise of Dexter is intriguing, but what kept audiences captivated for so many seasons was the psyche of the titular character. The opening scene of the famed series does a fantastic job of introducing Dexter and making audiences want to know more about the serial killer who only kills other serial killers. 

The opening scene of The Newsroom got a lot of people talking, despite only featuring a few people talking. It centered around a monologue arguing that the United States isn’t the best country in the world, and while not everyone agreed with the message, viewers couldn’t deny it was captivating.

The opening scene of The Walking Dead tells viewers everything they need to know if they want to keep watching the series: it’s going to be dramatic and it’s going to be violent. Anyone who’s uncomfortable watching Rick Grimes take down a child zombie should seek alternative entertainment. 

The opening scene of Severance is so good. Not only is it beautifully shot, it also sets up the show while hinting at many of its central themes. The writing is fantastic and the performances are spectacular. 

Orphan Black is a wild and excellent show with a wild and excellent opening scene. The main character watches her doppleganger die, which is an incredibly unexpected and unsettling way to begin a series. And it was all made even better with Tatiana Maslany’s performance. 

The Game of Thrones opening scene was exciting for longtime fans of the books and newcomers alike. It introduces viewers to the story's major players and families and is instantly captivating. It’d be hard not to keep watching after. 

There’s a lot of pressure on an opening scene, and sometimes that can lead producers to over-doing it. But that was not the case with Mad Men. The period drama’s opening scene expertly established tone and setting, and it made sure to focus on its enigmatic main character: Mr. Don Draper.

The Sopranos was damn near perfect from beginning to end. To start, we see Tony Soprano visiting a psychiatrist, which is not something anyone would expect a crime boss to do. Audiences instantly had empathy for Tony, which made him someone to root for despite all his indiscretions.  

Starting a TV show with something as horrific as the aftermath of a plane crash is enough to get viewers interested, but Lost didn’t just show sadness and horror in its opening scene. It got viewers hooked by also showing confusion and mystery. 

Viewers knew they were in for something unique from the very first minute of Six Feet Under. The opening scene features a mock advertisement for a hearse before cutting to Nathaniel Fisher driving a hearse of his own just moments before his death. 

Much of Twin Peaks centers around what happened to Laura Palmer, and that’s precisely where the series starts. The opening scene shows her body being recovered, preparing viewers for an intriguing mystery that’ll keep giving them more and more questions. 

One great way to start a TV series is by subtly introducing viewers to the central theme. It’s also a very difficult way to start a show, but The Wire did it well with its opening scene that features Jimmy McNulty speaking to an eyewitness to a crime he’s investigating, just as he would do many times throughout the rest of the series. 

It’s always exciting when a series starts with some mystery, and there are few things more mysterious than a man waking up in a town with no other people. This is what made the opening scene of The Twilight Zone so good and memorable. 

It was easy to root against Frank Underwood from the start. While no audience member enjoyed watching him kill a dog, the brilliance of the scene can’t be denied. Even behind closed doors, he’s a ruthless character. 

Fleabag is another classic example of immediately setting the tone for a show. But what sets this particular opening scene apart is the edgy writing, rife with quick jokes, as well as humor that takes a little longer to pay off, but is absolutely worth the wait. 

Westworld is another great example of a subtle introduction into the show’s tone, one that viewers might need a rewatch to completely clock. Not only that, it’s beautifully shot, and the setting is stunning. 

Some opening scenes are startling, and such is the case in The Leftovers. However, this opening scene is startling in a good way. It thrusts viewers into the plot while also establishing expectations for the series.