10 Greatest Cold Opens In Doctor Who

10. Danny's Demise - Dark Water

It's not often that a member of the main cast is killed off before the opening titles, not just in Doctor Who, but in television full stop. Perhaps that's why the unceremonious offing of Danny Pink just moments into Dark Water works so well. The audience feel as blindsided by his sudden death as Clara does, making it one hell of a gut-punch.

There is zero indication that Danny's time has come, with the car coming very much out of nowhere (much like it would happen in real life), and it is made all the more heartbreaking by the fact that Clara was, for the first time, being honest with him about her trips with the Doctor. The following moments are beautifully acted and shot, as the world carries on turning around Clara whilst she is rooted in the spot he died.

A memorial springs up in front of her, accompanied by a voice over of Coal Hill's headteacher announcing Danny's death to the pupils. These scenes really help this death feel more permanent (and to be fair, for once it actually is, after some brief shenanigans).

Clara's demeanor changes entirely in the final scene of this cold open, in which she speaks to her granny and phones the Doctor. She tells the former that Danny's death was 'boring' which feels like a very believable response for her character, and whilst its clear to the audience that she is about to betray the Doctor, we do not know the severity of what is about to happen or if there will be lasting repercussions.

It's worth noting that at this point, viewers did not know if Jenna Coleman would be returning for the Christmas special or series 9, meaning that those watching when it first aired could absolutely buy this betrayal as being the end of Twelve and Clara's relationship.

All in all, this was a lot of meaty content to include in the opening scenes, but it set up a finale that really broke the mold in terms of formula.