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A '''cold opening''' (or '''pre-title sequence''') was the scene of a story that appeared prior to the [[title sequence]].
A '''cold opening''' (or '''pre-title sequence''') was the scene of a story that appeared prior to the [[title sequence]].


The "cold opening" was a permanent installment of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' from the [[2005]] episode ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'' (it was not featured for the previous 2005 story ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'') onwards. The show briefly departed from it during the 50th Anniversary story ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' and later during [[2018]]'s [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|Series 11]] (of which the opening story ''[[The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)|The Woman Who Fell to Earth]]'' and the [[New Year's Special|Special]] ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'' had no title sequence at all). It was featured again in [[2020]] story ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'' onwards.
With some exceptions, pre-title sequences were not featured in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' in its original run from 1963 to 1989. The cold opening became a permanent installment of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' from the 2005 episode ''[[The End of the World (TV story)|The End of the World]]'' onwards. Pre-title sequences were completely abandoned for [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|series 11]] but were reintroduced for [[Series 12 (Doctor Who)|series 12]], starting with ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]''


A sequence somewhat similar to a "cold opening" was featured in [[1983]] 20th Anniversary story ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' (archive footage was shown).
''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] and [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]] (with the exception of ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]'') featured a sequence similar to a "cold opening".


''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' [[Series 1 (Torchwood)|Series 1]] and [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|Series 2]] (with the exception of ''[[Everything Changes (TV story)|Everything Changes]]'') featured a sequence similar to a "cold opening".
== Exceptions ==
In the classic series, just four stories featured a pre-title sequence. 1982's ''[[Castrovalva (TV story)|Castrovalva]]'', the debut story of [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], was the first. The twentieth anniversary special, 1983's ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' was the second. These two stories were followed by 1987's ''[[Time and the Rani (TV story)|Time and the Rani]]'', the debut of [[Sylvester McCoy]] as the [[Seventh Doctor]], and 1988's ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]''. The [[Doctor Who (TV story)|1996 TV Movie]] and an animated reconstruction of 1966's ''[[The Power of the Daleks (TV story)|The Power of the Daleks]]'' also featured cold openings.
 
In the 2005 version of the programme, the majority of exceptions were series premieres. ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'', ''[[Smith and Jones (TV story)|Smith and Jones]]'' and ''[[Partners in Crime (TV story)|Partners in Crime]]'' which were the series premieres of [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)|series 1]], [[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|3]] and [[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|4]] respectively all did not feature cold openings. The fiftieth anniversary story ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'' also abanonned the format.

Revision as of 13:14, 2 January 2020

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A cold opening (or pre-title sequence) was the scene of a story that appeared prior to the title sequence.

With some exceptions, pre-title sequences were not featured in Doctor Who in its original run from 1963 to 1989. The cold opening became a permanent installment of Doctor Who from the 2005 episode The End of the World onwards. Pre-title sequences were completely abandoned for series 11 but were reintroduced for series 12, starting with Spyfall

Torchwood Series 1 and Series 2 (with the exception of Everything Changes) featured a sequence similar to a "cold opening".

Exceptions

In the classic series, just four stories featured a pre-title sequence. 1982's Castrovalva, the debut story of Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, was the first. The twentieth anniversary special, 1983's The Five Doctors was the second. These two stories were followed by 1987's Time and the Rani, the debut of Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, and 1988's Remembrance of the Daleks. The 1996 TV Movie and an animated reconstruction of 1966's The Power of the Daleks also featured cold openings.

In the 2005 version of the programme, the majority of exceptions were series premieres. Rose, Smith and Jones and Partners in Crime which were the series premieres of series 1, 3 and 4 respectively all did not feature cold openings. The fiftieth anniversary story The Day of the Doctor also abanonned the format.