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Feature
TV's Most Inspired Title Sequences
The small screen’s finest introductions

Over the last few years, TV shows have suddenly dropped the boring montage titles that used to predominate – you know, the ones with a shot of all the characters interspersed, perhaps, with a few landscapes to set the scene – and become one of the most innovative areas in entertainment. Some serve as microcosms of the shows they represent; others appear to go off on a tangent; still more create their own little world of comedy, adventure or horror. Here, we’ve gathered together 25 of the finest out there. Watch them and marvel – and in a few cases, shudder in terror...

WORDS HELEN O'HARA
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Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace

“Humble fabulist” Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness) precedes each episode of the short but perfectly-formed Darkplace with a reading from one of his execrable books, which alone would make this worthy of inclusion. But the title itself is an inspired pastiche of an ‘80s montage opening, showing each of the characters in awkwardly posed or simply ridiculous snippets. Holness’ Marenghi humbly plays “Dr Rick Dagless” himself, and the “author, dreamweaver, plus actor” never drops character for a moment, reveling in his own self-importance as he runs in the least convincing slo-mo ever. See it for the hair flicks. See it for the dodgy explosions. See it for Richard Ayoade’s Dean Learner furiously tricycling in front of a back projection.

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Your Comments

21 How about this one ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6k0ZfE4Gr4 More

Posted by Dropje on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 11:43

22
The walking dead intro is quite good, sets the tone perfectly More

Posted by 7eke on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 09:41

23
for Game of thrones that is More

Posted by 7eke on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 09:38

24 Phew
I thought it was just me who was sad enough to be glued to the screen for every single episode's intro. More

Posted by 7eke on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 09:38

25
Good list - but Doctor Who is a notable omission. I also agree with Futurama and Lost. I'd also like to throw out Friends More

Posted by Killjoy_Gee on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 08:29

26 The Walking Dead
I agree Christofurr, Nip Tuck would have been a good addition, but what about The Walking Dead!?... There is so much urgency in that title sequence, you feel anxious by the end. More

Posted by londondillon on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 02:42

27
Sorry. Two words.... DOCTOR WHO!!!???? More

Posted by tom 19392 on Wednesday May 2, 2012, 01:33

28
Game Of Thrones title sequence is absolutely incredible, the best on the list imo. More

Posted by Coyleone on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 23:20

29
Still haven't watched Rome. I've been meaning to for ages, but other things keep getting in the way. More

Posted by Whistler on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 22:40

30
& GAME OF THRONES More

Posted by indysid on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 19:19

31
ROME, Battlestar Galactica (2004), LOST, Six Feet Under. More

Posted by indysid on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 19:19

32
Twin Peaks, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Lost (I know it's about 5 seconds long, but it still encapsulates the show quite well), The X-Files, Pushing Daisies, Futurama, Breaking Bad.... More

Posted by Killian Mc Partland on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 19:03

33
Community should be on here. Not because the standard intro is impressive and catchy, but because the western, D&D, and Law and Order renditions of it are amazing. Also, Family Guy over Simpsons. I get it, Simpsons has been on for a hundred years. But Family Guy also uses orchestras for many of their musical pieces, and the intro is better than even Elfman's number. More

Posted by nKutzler on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 18:09

34
If you are an edgy/acclaimed American series from the last five years and you aren't on this list then your title's must be shit. More

Posted by enemysprout on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 18:01

35
growing up I always thought the Malcolm In The Middle intro was awesome because of all the b-movie&anime clips :) More

Posted by Enid Coleslaw on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 15:24

36
What about "Big Love" and "Nip Tuck"? They should be on the list! More

Posted by JORGEFC15 on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 14:51

37 Great List
Excellent list. Only a couple I can think of that perhaps could have made the cut: Firefly, Oz, Community, Lie to Me, House, The IT Crowd, Big Bang Theory possibly Deadwood too. More

Posted by dansolo96 on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 13:58

38
Shocked you didn't include The Prisoner, and dissapointed Farscape didn't make the cut. More

Posted by Fizzsnap_X on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 13:55

39 What about.......
Pillars of the Earth More

Posted by macguffin on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 13:35

40 Great Feature
You covered all the ones I initially thought of, as well as classics I'd forgotten (Darkplace). Also did well to disconnect the title sequences from the show... Many shows I love but their title sequences leave a little to be desired. For example, Homeland - great jazz theme but does it really need to be 78 seconds long!? But then again the opposite can be true, as is the case with The Walking Dead - if only the show was as atmospheric and gripping as the titles. More

Posted by tommypocket on Tuesday May 1, 2012, 12:26

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