THE SFX FACTOR: Greatest TV Title Sequences Round 11

The SFX Factor ROUND 11

THE TOP FIVE IS HERE!

YOU CAN ONLY VOTE FOR TWO THIS TIME

Blimey, the voting was incredibly close this time, and introducing The X-Files into the mix at the eleventh hour may have sealed the fate on the show that was, when it first aired, often compared to The X-Files . Because the two shows eliminated after round 10 are:

Fringe

Thunderbirds

So, we have five left. As it would seem silly to let you vote for three of them – that would be over half the field – this time, then, y ou can only vote for your two favourites .

Be back here tomorrow, when two shows will be eliminated… and then with three left, we head into the final round!

Doctor Who

Loads of our Facebook followers suggested Doctor Who for this SFX Factor , but the problem is, the show has had so many different versions over the years. Should we put them all up for the vote? Or lump them all in as one? In the end the expert panel decided to choose its own favourite – the second Pertwee opening title sequence – as a representative.

We love this one because the slit-can* time tunnel is so immediately iconic, and the haunting theme tune was arguably blessed with its best arrangement at this point. Tom Baker has a similar title for six series of his seven-series run, but this one just wins out for us because of the Doctor-shaped time tunnel effect.

* The same FX technique Stanley Kubrick used to create the star gate in 2001: A Space Odyssey .

True Blood

One of the longest title sequences on offer in this list. Good thing too, because you wouldn't want to cut off the theme song – “Bad Thing" by Jace Everett – too soon. The images are basically everything the Louisiana tourist board wouldn’t put in a video.

Red Dwarf

Specifically you’re voting for the opening title to the first two series here, before it stated using the more traditional clips approach. The version here is actually from the Remastered DVDs, but we didn’t think you’d mind it looking its best.

Game Of Thrones

Simply wonderful, and a refreshing divergence from the kind of clichéd sword’n’sorcery imagery we usually get with fantasy shows (see the Camelot titles, which are very classy looking, but exactly what you’d expect from this genre). They also brilliantly emphasise the sheer scope of the show, and new locations are added as they’re introduced into the show.

The X-Files

Spookiest theme ever. Though in the early days, this title sequence did leave us a tad confused, as we thought every episode was called, “The Truth Is Out There”.

Dave Golder
Freelance Writer

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.