Doctor Who: 10 Dos And Don'ts Of Episode Writing

9. Set Up A Strong Opening/Pre-credit Sequence

One clear advantage of the 2005 reboot over the original 1963 run has been the introduction of pre-credit sequences. This device allows for a strong scene to introduce the episode and pre-emptively gain the audience€™s interest. Hearing Rose Tyler tell us that we were about to hear how she died in €˜The Army of Ghosts€™ really got our attention, especially as we knew she wasn€™t long for the Whoniverse. Also, Mr Moffat€™s recent trick of weaving nearly all previous Time Lords into the opening of €˜The Name of the Doctor€™ was a huge treat for longstanding fans, and undoubtedly gave us all one of the most intriguing openings in recent Who history. How an episode begins often has a bearing on its longstanding popularity.