Everyone Is Having Fun in The Perfect Couple Opening Credits, Damn It!

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for dissecting the nuances of TV shows, I must confess that the opening credits of The Perfect Couple left me scratching my head. Initially, I found myself pondering if this was another gripping drama or a light-hearted melodrama like its Big Little Lies counterpart. However, it wasn’t until the dance sequence that I realized we were in for a unique ride.


The trouble with any new Netflix show is it can be hard to know what you’re signing up for. Take The Perfect Couple. It stars Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber. It’s got murder. It’s about a wealthy family. But what kind of Nicole Kidman show is this? Is this “Actually, this is serious,” like Expats, or is it a Big Little Lies melodrama? Maybe it’s more of a Nine Perfect Strangers prime-time-soap feel?

One method to figure this out could be by scrutinizing the introductory credits, since a TV series’ opening credit sequence establishes its mood. For instance, in the case of “The Perfect Couple,” the opening credits may suggest that someone suffered a head injury or took a hallucinogen, or perhaps is an exasperated choreographer who somehow landed the job for this Netflix show and brought their own equipment, or simply wanted to add some fun!

To set the stage: In the debut of “The Perfect Couple,” titled “Happy Wedding Eve,” we find ourselves on a picturesque Nantucket beach, where whales leap from the tranquil ocean. A luxurious tent outside an imposing coastal mansion is filled with Kidman (Greer Garrison Winbury) warmly welcoming her three sons. Guests at the rehearsal dinner toast with Champagne and share significant or ominous remarks such as “Maid of honor, at your service!” and “I adore this woman to the extreme – you get that? To the extreme.” As the scene shifts, we see police tape and evidence markers on the beach. A voice echoes, “There won’t be a wedding today; someone has died.” Another voice adds, “They’re wealthy beyond belief – child-sex-ring-on-a-private-island rich, ‘I’m bored – let’s go buy a monkey’ rich, able to commit a crime and escape unpunished.”

To put it another way, this murder mystery series promises to be an enjoyable experience! We’ll all have a great time trying to solve the case together! Unlike some heavy or serious shows, this one is quite entertaining! But if no one catches on that it’s supposed to be fun, perhaps the lively opening-credits dance sequence will make it clear!

In the rhythm of Meghan Trainor’s “Criminals” (lyric: “Imprison me since I’ve been naughty / And I acknowledge I’ll repeat my actions”), a drone captures the entire cast, neatly arranged on the sandy beach, facing the same wedding rehearsal tent. They are dressed in their rehearsal dinner attire and have discarded their footwear. The scene showcases a synchronized dance routine involving poses such as “hands raised high above your head,” “clap followed by a sideways slide,” and “rotate to the side while pointing towards the sky.”

Meghann Fahy and Dakota Fanning seem genuinely amused or convincingly acting like they’re having a blast, while the rest of the participants are giving it their all, trying to appear thrilled with the idea and comfortable performing this group dance number that sets the tone for a murder mystery series on Nantucket. Take Irina Dubova, who portrays Fahy’s maid, for example. She’s a team player through and through, following directions even if she might have reservations about this project. She’s here to do her job, and she does it well

Everyone Is Having Fun in The Perfect Couple Opening Credits, Damn It!

In another way of saying it: Kidman’s acting style is ethereal detachment. She’s clearly the main focus, yet she appears detached, radiating a peaceful and Zen-like tranquility that conveys complete self-assurance while also hinting at an inner retreat. Is she fully immersed in her character, Greer Garrison Winbury, a wealthy novelist dealing with a crumbling marriage? Or could it be that she’s on a quest similar to Thanos, aiming to secure leading maternal roles across multiple streaming platforms — once accomplished, she might elevate herself to a higher level of existence?

Everyone Is Having Fun in The Perfect Couple Opening Credits, Damn It!

Beyond Schreiber, one might think that such an intense facial expression during a beach dance sequence for a crime show’s opening credits is effortless. On the contrary, it requires immense focus and concentration. This individual is a seasoned professional, determined to deliver nothing short of perfection. Whether you appreciate it or not, this is the embodiment of peak performance

Everyone Is Having Fun in The Perfect Couple Opening Credits, Damn It!

In a similar vein to “The Perfect Couple,” the captivating Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” doesn’t exactly blaze new trails. Instead, it employs a dance sequence in its opening credits, much like “The Perfect Couple.” However, in this case, the dance serves as a powerful and triumphant manifestation of unbridled joy, acting as a metafictional device that provides respite from the often painful narratives that define the characters. As the actors gaze directly into the camera, positioned within a transitional space that straddles both reality and fiction, they forge a connection with the audience, offering a shared understanding and moment of relief

In essence, “The Perfect Couple” engages in an intriguing duality when you ponder it. It’s both the act of taking life… yet it’s also a dance between existence and nonexistence. The show is as light and breezy as a summer read on the beach, inviting viewers to unwind. And if anyone can confirm that, it’s Liev Schreiber

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2024-09-05 23:13