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Leitmotif/Live-Action TV: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
* In ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'', whenever a shaman (mainly Naboo) turns his back on someone their leitmotif plays.
* On ''[[Clarissa Explains It All]]'', whenever Clarissa's friend Sam put his ladder up to her window, he would be introduced by a drawn-out guitar "twang."
* The new ''[[
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2PTqhAP6K8 "The Doctor's Theme"], also known as "The Bad Wolf Theme", used as the character's "mystery theme" and later joined by the heroic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=844_IkhcP-g "The Doctor Forever"]. The original theme finally got its heroic moment at the climaxes of {{spoiler|''Forest of the Dead'' and ''The End of Time, Part Two''.}} It also makes a cameo in a couple of ''[[
** Themes for the companions: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFIiYYRehlQ "Rose's Theme"], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REwOudgPQTI "Martha's Theme"] (which crossed shows, appearing with her on ''[[
** Several Dalek themes, generally including choirs: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ7vO7QGSxg "The Daleks"] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q4ouXTD-eA "The Dark and Endless Dalek Night"] in particular.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C918zOdSOgs The Cybermen], first appearing in 2006, was a Leitmotif for the Cybus Industries (and later, Mondas) Cybermen, with a particularly epic version in "The Next Doctor", and still being used as of "Closing Time".
*** The 1960s Cybermen had a tense drumming arrangement, with some otherwordly music thrown in.
*** The 1980s Cybermen had their own distinctive plodding march - originally written for ''Earthshock''.
** "UNIT", beefed up for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uvAKFDutjY "UNIT Rocks"] in Series Four (and joined by a B-theme in "Planet of the Dead"), also appearing in ''[[
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eqnml1VO7s Torchwood Theme], used in series 2, and as the theme tune for ''[[
** Then there's the Master theme, consisting of a four-note drumbeat. He also has a three-note motif the composer admits musically states "The Ma-ster!" for moments of notable eeeevil.
*** The Delgado Master has his own evil theme music of creepy awesome. It gets repeated so often it becomes a fanfare announcing his arrival before you even see him on screen.
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** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtzD5-TdxQ River Song's theme] is [[Anachronic Order|partly backmasked]].
** The same music plays over Adric's departure as does over his introduction the season prior.
* Most of the ''[[
* In ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' you usually heard the [[Theme Tune]] ''Falling'' whenever a situation or character demonstrated or expressed sincere love, in whatever ordinary, strange or abstract form it manifested itself.
* In ''[[Top Gear]]'', a variation on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdhz5DeQEX0 the theme] from ''[[For a Few Dollars More]]'' was a [[Recurring Riff]] until it was used extensively in the destruct test of the Toyota Hilux pickup. When the truck proved to be [[Made of Iron]], the theme was associated entirely with the Toyota Hilux, in its honor.
* ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'' used these frequently.
* [[Bear McCreary]], the composer of the re-imagined [[Battlestar Galactica
** Number Six: this theme appears in virtually every scene where Virtual Six appears to Gaius Baltar, and is played on the gamelan.
** The Adamas: their Celtic-inspired theme is often played on a uilleann pipe. Commonly known as 'Wander My Friends.'
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** Boomer/Athena/Hera: A gamelan theme that's probably among the most commonly heard on the show.
** Religious ceremony: the "Two Funeral" theme from season 1, also the US season 1 theme, is heard at a lot of funerals.
* Every ''[[Power Rangers]]'' [[Big Bad]] (and at least one [[The Dragon|Dragon]]) is recognizable by music, with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-msdkUCQNo Lord Zedd's] being the most well-known (Rita even used it instead of her own when she appeared in front of Rito and Goldar in ''[[Power Rangers
** ''Power Rangers'' [[Reunion Show|Reunion Shows]] will bring back the theme song for each series that returns. The 15th anniversary episode "Once A Ranger" (part of ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive]]'') makes it a little absurd, however: Rangers from five teams (''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers|Mighty Morphin]]'', ''[[Power Rangers Ninja Storm|Ninja Storm]]'', ''[[Power Rangers Dino Thunder|Dino Thunder]]'', ''[[Power Rangers SPD|SPD]]'', and ''[[Power Rangers Mystic Force|Mystic Force]]'') appear and we get to hear all five of their respective season theme songs<ref>Except ''Mighty Morphin'''s, due to legal issues - it's believed that the producers wouldn't have spent money for the right to use it after all they spent bringing the actors</ref> in each of the three battles in which they participate. The big final battle throws in the ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive|Operation Overdrive]]'' theme as well, since the battle is the Operation Overdrive team's collective [[He's Back]] moment following their earlier [[De
** Although, the most recognizable music from ''[[Power Rangers]]'' after the main theme has to be [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwup4ItqyNQ Bulk and Skull's theme], which is kind of silly and complimented with gag noises. Possibly due to the fact that the pair remain the longest-running recurring characters of the series.
** The Mighty Morphin Green Ranger also had his own theme, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdIW4iLpGM "Go Green Ranger Go!"]<ref> ''GO GO GO, GREEN RANGER GO GO!''</ref>. Similarly, the Mighty Morphin White Ranger ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZOP63Sqwz4 "White Ranger Tiger Power"]), the Zeo Gold Ranger ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP8g0gUoOH0 "Go Gold Ranger"]), and ''[[Power Rangers Lost Galaxy|Lost Galaxy]]'''s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V25aG4JbYk Magna Defender] also received their own themes.
* ''[[
** The fight music was used in ''The Cable Guy'' in a clever [[Shout
** Also used on ''[[Futurama]]'', in an episode more or less directly parodying the Original Series' ''Amok Time'' - when Fry hears the iconic fight music, he knows he's ''really'' in trouble.
** ''The Motion Picture'' had a distinctive theme for Decker and Ilia, named "Ilia's Theme" on the soundtrack; and introduced a Klingon theme that would make appearences in later movies and TV shows.
** ''[[Star Trek II:
** Composers seem to love putting their own personal stamp on Mr. Spock, who has had three different leitmotifs to his name, all of which are very different from each other, though they all have a certain wistfulness to them...
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CsNZqeXU_4 His TOS leitmotif], by Gerald Fried. This is the one with the lone bass guitar, though it was often played by the string section as well.
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* In ''[[Smallville]]'', everytime some dramatic something hints at Clark's future as Superman, a few bars of the theme music from ''Superman: The Motion Picture'' can be heard.
* The syndicated series ''The Adventures of Superboy'' had themes for just about every character and many other elements of the show, including: Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Metallo, Smallville, kryptonite, and the Bureau For Extra-Normal Matters (Clark's workplace in season 3 and 4). Even minor villains that appeared only in one or two episodes got their own themes.
* Bridget, from ''[[
** A little [[Lampshade Hanging]] went on as well, since Bridget would ask if anyone else could hear the guitar.
* Numerous ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' characters have leitmotifs.
** Claude's theme involves wind and voices to create the feeling of a ghost-like presence in reference to his [[Invisibility]].
** Sylar's involves marimbas and bassoons with staccato to re-create the sound of clocks ticking in reference to the character's ability to see how things work. Brilliantly subverted(!) when {{spoiler|Sylar gains shapeshifting powers}}. You see Mr. Bennet walking down the hallway while Sylar's theme plays; he looks incredibly smug, which he really shouldn't be, given that {{spoiler|Sylar has successfully used his new ability to completely discredit Bennet and nearly destroy his marriage}}. So, obviously, you conclude that {{spoiler|this must be Sylar shapeshifted into Bennet}}, right? Wrong! Makes the [[Batman Gambit]] actually working that much more believable, if you- with all your [[Genre Savvy]]- have just fallen for it from beyond the [[Fourth Wall]].
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** Mohinder Suresh's theme is the piano composition that plays at the end of some episodes.
* ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' is crawling with them. Emerson's and Oscar's are the most obvious, while the Ned And Chuck music is sufficiently prevalent to double as the show's [[Theme Tune]]. And in the episode [...]... {{spoiler|Ned and Chuck's bed scene wasn't accompanied by the usual music, which was the most immediate clue that it was actually a [[Dream Sequence]]. Of course, Chuck pulling her skin off to reveal Olive underneath was also a bit of a giveaway.}}
* Lester's Theme in ''[[
* ''[[Supernatural]]'' has "Dean's Family Dedication Theme", a slightly mournful tune played when that love for his Dad and brother gets a ''little'' too obsessive.
** There's also a much rockier "Brothers' Theme", played during the lighter brotherly moments and distorted a little when the relationship is being strained.
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** And don't forget the plunky little theme that plays whenever Xander and Willow have an illicit "moment."
* ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' has "Sam and Jack's Theme" and the "Goa'uld Theme" among others.
* Used frequently in ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'', but ''especially'' with Gob. It's to the point that he, in-character, ''must'' consider Europe's "The Final Countdown" to be his own personal theme song.
** There's even a specific seven-note stab of music used every time Oscar suggests that he's Buster's father.
* Every character on ''[[
** Possibly the most famous is "Locke'd Out Again," the emotional theme of John Locke. Considered by many (especially during the ending of "Deus Ex Machina") to be one of the show's [[Crowning Music of Awesome]] moments.
*** Locke's hunter theme from season 4 also qualifies. It also takes an epic turn for the creepy in {{spoiler|season 6 when Locke is the Man in Black}}
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** Oh: that's an actual named piece of music? It's been the end-title theme for all three seasons, and was almost never heard during an episode the first two -- which of course meant that you * never* heard it until you got the DVD set, since TV networks hate paying performance royalties on end-themes.
* ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine]]'': Every single engine has/had their own separate leitmotif for their adventures. Thomas's was a variation on the main theme, Duck's was very lyrical, [[Bonnie Scotland|Donald and Douglas's]] theme featured bagpipes, etc.
* ''[[Skins]]'' never usually bothered, but Cook will eternally be associated with "[[Motorhead
** Sophia of all people got one too; the (deilberately) extraordinarily creepy [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEFbuXuShOE "Organum" by Max Richter], which plays when Emily goes to her house and when they find her [[Stalker Shrine|shrine to Naomi]].
* Whenever Dennis Duffy shows up on ''[[
** Liz Lemon definitely has her own, varied instrumental versions of the "Who's That?" song from the Pilot episode.
* In ''[[Glee]]'', both times April Rhodes is introduced in her episodes, a version of Heart Of Glass is playing in the background.
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* In the second season of ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', the melody of the fictional ballad "The Rains of Castamere" is used as the leitmotif of House Lannister. It's used a few times in-universe (Tyrion Lannister whistles it several times and the Lannister soldiers sing it as a drinking song before a battle), and played over the end credits of the second-to-last episode of the season, but it also features to the soundtrack during pivotal scenes featuring the Lannisters.
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