Warning: Spoilers ahead forDoctor Whoseason 14, episode 4, “73 Yards.”
Summary
Doctor Whohas tweaked several parts of the show’s formula during the Disney era, with “73 Yards” doubling down on a recent change to the title sequence. It may seem like a small alternation, but makingany kind of change to the iconicDoctor Whoopening titles is often considered very carefully, as evidenced by the rarity of the occurrence. The change in question does not concern the overhauls that take place between eras, but rather the temporary updates that have been applied to the title during Russell T Davies' second stint asDoctor Whoshowrunner.
Doctor Who’s Disney erabegan when David Tennant returned for a trio of special episodes for the show’s 60th anniversary. As such, the first installment to introduce the current version of the opening titles came in “The Star Beast.” Since then, there have been two notable, separate changes to sequences that have introduced members of theDoctor Whoseason 14 cast. However, they’ve been made easier to spot due to falling just two episodes apart.
25 Greatest Doctor Who Stories Of All Time, Ranked
Doctor Who has been a fixture on TV screens for 60 years, meaning there are plenty of stories to choose from when picking out the Time Lord’s best.
“73 Yards” Is The 2nd Doctor Who Season 14 Episode To Change The Title Sequence
Doctor Who season 14, episode 4, “73 Yards” has no title sequence
The first episode ofDoctor Whoseason 14 to toy with the title sequence came in “The Devil’s Chord,” whenMaestro’s performance blended with the show’s theme songin episode 2. However,“73 Yards” takes things one step further by completely omitting the show’s recognizable opening credits. Of course, all the episode’s key figures, such as its stars and writers, are still credited on-screen. The biggest difference is thatDoctor Who’s flashy delivery method of said information is absent.
Instead of being gradually introduced to the episode’s premise before the start of the first act, “73 Yards” plunges its audience into the story right away.
The result of the decision makes “73 Yards” feel more like a short filmthan an installment of an episodic sci-fi adventure show. Instead of being gradually introduced to the episode’s premise before the start of the first act, “73 Yards” plunges its audience into the story right away. As a result, the change is more disruptive to the more recognizable structure of aDoctor Whoepisode than the alteration made to the title sequence in “Devil’s Chord.”
Doctor Who’s Altered Title Sequences Fit Season 14’s Fourth Wall-Breaking Approach
Russell T Davies hasn’t been afraid of acknowledging the audience in Doctor Who season 14
Doctor Whoseason 14 has broken the fourth wall several timesalready, with Maestro joining in with the theme music in “The Devil’s Chord” serving as a prime example of this group of occurrences. While it’s not quite as strong an example, it could also be thatthe lack of an opening title sequence in “73 Yards” also fits the description of a fourth wall break. It’s clearly a conscious decision that’s been made for creative reasons, and it reflects the episode’s theme of reality being inexplicably altered.
The “fourth wall” is the conceptual barrier between a production’s performers and its audience. If a character is said to have broken the fourth wall, it means they’ve made some form of acknowledgment of the production being fictional.
It’s possible, if not likely, thatDoctor Who’s fourth wall breaks aren’t over yet. Along with characters speaking directly with the audience, there have been several other instances that suggest that certainDoctor Whofigures are acutely aware they’re in a work of fiction.ThisDeadpool-like approach is new ground forDoctor Who, so there’s no telling where it will go and how much it will inform the narrative going forward. The title sequence changes may be coming thick and fast, or the alterations may become even more prevalent within the main show.
The Doctor Who Title Sequence Wouldn’t Have Fit The Tone Of “73 Yards”
The Doctor saving the day isn’t a part of this particular story
“73 Yards” has a unique tone in the extensive catalog ofDoctor Whoepisodes. Instead of a thrilling chase across the universe, the Doctor-lite story is set entirely on Earth with the narrative populated by mysterious figures who are never fully elaborated upon. So,“73 Yards” isn’t the sci-fi adventure for whichDoctor Whohas become known, and while it’s certainly more at home among the new fantasy elements introduced of late, it also doesn’t quite fit into that category either. Therefore, including the vibrant, excitingDoctor Whotitle sequence would create expectations that “73 Yards” wouldn’t live up to.
Doctor Who Season 14, Episode 4 Ending & Ruby’s Timeline Explained
Doctor Who season 14, episode 4, “73 Yards,” toys with time in the show’s signature style, but it takes a new approach to the temporal manipulations.
There’s no denying that “73 Yards” is thoroughly compelling,but the energeticDoctor Whotitle sequence plants the seed of the Doctor rushing to the rescue. Seeing as the Doctor never experiences most of the events of the episode, it would be inaccurate to foreshadow any heroics on his behalf. Instead, Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday leads the story as she slowly comes up with a solution to her immediate and ultimate problems over the course of several decades. As far asDoctor Whogoes, “73 Yards” is incredibly grounded, so the flashiness of the title sequence would have been misplaced.
“Space Babies” & “The Devil’s Chord”
“Empire of Death”
Doctor Who
Cast
Doctor Who: Released on June 06, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
