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 audiences 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 wasnt long for the Whoniverse. Also, Mr Moffats 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.