Doctor Who: The PERFECT Regeneration Theory You Need To Know

Every Doctor Who regeneration is literally life-changing. But is there more to them than meets the eye? Let's chat about an amazing theory that might just make you view regeneration in a completely different glowy orange light!
For more awesome content, check out: whatculture.co...
Follow us on Instagram: / whoculture
Catch us on Twitter: / whoculture
#DoctorWho #Regeneration #Theory

[@mikenelson7055]

Regeneration is like a dream. When you go to sleep you can’t pick what you’ll dream about but our dreams are often influenced by real life events. So if ur thinking a lot about a certain someone when your awake it’s more likely that your sub conscious will be thinking about them as well and they will likely pop up in dreams.

[@omgitgiovanni]

That’s a good way of seeing it

[@allenbarry7949]

I legit had a dream n woke up then went back to sleep dreaming bout the same thing 🧍🏻

[@therealpbristow]

Excellent analogy! =:o}

[@AstralLaVista]

Speak for yourself, as a lucid dreamer I can choose what I do in my dreams

[@allenbarry7949]

@@AstralLaVista speak for myself what are twelve you are not special you can achieve this by meditation or just realize you are in a dream like huh it ain’t hard to tell what real and what’s not

[@Enigmanaut]

I love the variance between 10 and 11. The Tenth Doctor was cool. Effortlessly so. He swaggered about and did the geek chic look, and just was *cool*. After he regenerates, 11 still thinks he's cool. He tries to do what 10 used to do, and just couldn't pull it off. Like at all. It's funny watching him try and fail, and just be kind of loveable and goofy instead.

[@DonnaLang42rockglobally]

11 was definitely "adorkable" and loveably goofy, and he also had a bit of a dark streak which emerged when someone he cared about was in danger.

[@cmwinchell]

But Bowties are still cool. Well to be fair I've always loved the look of bowties, so I thought they were cool before 11, but still.

[@jonkeathegamer]

@@cmwinchell Agreed. 11 only validated what I always thought.

[@aqdrobert]

The Atraxi: We find this Doctor adorable and goofy. He told us to basically, run. Good advice.

[@sunnywaslost_7490]

One thing I’ve seen said is the 9th doctor took Clara’s accent from when he was the war doctor. They both have that northern accent

[@gerryandersonisbest]

I had a similar theory about 12 regenerating into 13. 12 gets his memories of Clara back, then almost immediately afterwards turns into a woman with a northern accent - similar to what Ellie was saying about Amy making 12 turn out Scottish.

[@Aynshtaynn]

I love this theory. There's no way writers and showrunners could think that far ahead unless they own their personal TARDIS, but it turns the coincidence into a part of Whoniverse in a brilliant way.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

Lots of planets have a north

[@onyourleft4194]

There's a character in the audios named Lucie Miller who has both a northern accent and regularly says "fantastic!" She's an Eighth Doctor companion, one of his best friends, and one of the few of his companions to actively condemn him for being cruel. He called her "one of the noblest beings in the universe" and named her when he died in The Night of the Doctor. (SPOILERS REGARDING LUCIE BELOW) Lucie's death was also one of the main turning points regarding the Eighth Doctor's morality (which led to him becoming the War Doctor) and the way he acted regarding the Time War (and wars in general).

[@Rhaenarys]

Wouldnt Rose have made more sense though, since he technically spent more time with her, and was the ONLY one to see her?

[@grahamcann1761]

I have a theory that River Song recognizes The Doctor in the Library, because she met the Fourteenth Doctor first. As always thank you so very much for the video. (And Mr. Davies, make it so, please. Either as a cameo, side-story, or short. PLEASE.)

[@golden_gloo]

I've also seen people say the that the redemption of Missy and 12 still having that hope that there's a good Time Lady out there in the back of his mind influence his 13th incarnation.

[@LisaBeta-42]

Seeing a Time Lord change from male to female with Missy - and the Master seeing the same thing with the Doctor (I was hoping for the eyebrows 13th private Master told her), they learned from each other, to try this other option - also: It was the tear from revived Bill Potts that triggered 12th's regeneration process (glowing started from there) and both water-girls must have liquified his body to get him back into his TARDIS. Halting this process for a whole Christmas episode, he remembered Clara again, before deciding to give over to a new body - and THEN the Flux happened, hurting more than half of the Universe, just to go after the Doctor (not "how much harm will one more life do - except to me"). And the clothing must have changed (a bit) from 12th to 13th - or more than just his ring might have fallen to the floor. She - hitting a single button, made the TARDIS crash and trying to shake her out (maybe she released the time-lock the Meta-Crisis-Doctor had operated to safe the TARDIS from certain destruction in the Daleks' Crucible - time from destruction-mode carries on and shakes the TARDIS up badly. Had to settle down as "Ghost Monument" for centuries on a clifftop by the sea, to regenerate herself - just like 14th fancied, she might do, if left to her own devices).

[@Snorlax-cuddles]

'So the 11th doctor had two companions' Rory 'I waited 2000 years to no be counted?'

[@danthemeegs8751]

JUSTICE FOR RORY

[@ALinkttF]

Thank you for mentioning!

[@marionbaggins]

12 Looks like Old Rory with Amy's Scottishness!!!

[@adamhenry7043]

Rory wasn't the Doctor's companion. He was more like Amy's carry-on luggage that kept getting lost and finding its way back.

[@elijahlarson6703]

Honestly i think because he knows rory lived 4 2 thousand years he's sorta treated like a jack, because they really didn't need help on understanding what he sorta goes through so instead of companion there more like a regular friend because a companion needs the doctor jack and rory didn't really need him​@adamhenry7043

[@conwarlock3537]

The Tardis I think also has some influence on regeneration, like when 10's face came back just before he met Donna, similar to how the Tardis often takes the Doctor to where they are needed instead of where they want to go.

[@MinimalistTheatre333]

Something about Three is that dresses like a gentleman. This fits with his man of action, James Bond style character, but it works when you consider the 'time' part of being a 'Time Lord' was taken from him, so he focused on the 'lord' part.

[@donei132]

6:49 I personally think he took a bit of Amy, yes, but he also changed for Clara. He allowed the facade to lower. Not only did he become Scottish, but he became older too. Clara kept coming back during the Siege of Trenzalore and each time she saw him, he was older. He definitely realised he could trust her that last time.

[@shockwave7513]

I can fit it into the 7-8 regeneration. 7, when we see him at the beginning of the movie, has no companion, and we don't know how long he's been alone for. When he regenerates into 8, he's a blank slate. He doesn't know who he is, why he's there, or what happened to him. It has to slowly come back to him over the course of events.

[@BlueB33dle]

4:42 that very hissyfit is why I think Smith was the perfect follow-up to Tennant. 10's ego death renders him as such a child in his final moments, and 11 was just that childish energy bubbling up from under the surface until it burst!

[@midge0087]

Something that can be added to this is that 11 was also with Clara who just saw him age up into a space Grandpa, So Capaldi.

[@pinwill]

I feel like 12 changing into 13 was to do with Missy and how the Doctor felt pride in her growth as a character during a female regeneration

[@nycbutterfly52]

Also, she had to redeem a female regeneration (because he didn't know that Missy did stand with him in the end).

[@peterratter6603]

If you've not read it (though you likely have), may I suggest The Missy Chronicles, an anthology of stories about the Master's fabulous femme-fatale side, published in 2018. There's one story in there that tantalises a meeting between Missy and 13.

[@pinwill]

@@peterratter6603 I have not! Will have to check it out!

[@Sk8rToon]

Also Clara casually said he might return to Gallifrey as a queen not a king. The seed was planted for a while.

[@Malgarroth]

Came here to say this

[@JunoJ0911]

I definitely think 11 became older to Avert young companions falling for him, Scottish to honor amy, and colder and more awkward to preserve his hearts

[@codemdrim]

absolutely believe this theory, especially in regards to 9 & 10. it kind of falls apart for 11 tho, as he was basically trying to clean the slate. i do like 13 however, maybe becoming more "fun" and scatterbrain high energy because of Bill!

[@greenrangerx]

I freaking loved Bill and hated how dirty the did her.

[@mikekeane6140]

It is strongly implied ( especially in the bbc books) that timelords can choose. Unfortunately, the dr tends to regenerate during a crisis, so does not get to choose what he looks like.

[@greenrangerx]

It's been clearly shown that they can choose. The Second Doctor was given a choice but he was stalling and being picky so the council made the choice for him. Romana straight up cycled through bodies and tried them on like clothes before choosing the look like Princess Astra. The Master when regenerating from Professor Yana choose to look young and dashing because The Doctor was younger as well. As you said The Doctor unusually regenerates during a crisis or heads directly into one, he probably takes a form the would be most suitable for the situation at hand but is influenced by other factors such as his companions.

[@CharlesMarino-je5yt]

In the Doctor Who game, getting to choose the form of your next regeneration was a special ability you could select. Also, of course, Romana 1 chose the form of Princess Astra for Romana 2.

[@andrewgrabauskas]

Classic Who, specifically with Romana did, iirc, indicate that Timelords can normally choose their faces (and NuWho has also indicated this when Mels regenerated into River- the line where she was focusing on a dress size) but that the Doctor is just bad at it- though of course other instances of NuWho showing other Timelords regenerate have also indicated randomness But this seems like a solid theory to me.

[@jerwheel]

What I remember from Romana is that if you trigger the regeneration early, you can choose your face. However, if it triggers because you are dying, you don't really have the time/focus to make that choice.

[@gayzell850]

@@jerwheel When Romana regenerated, she tried out several faces before settling on one. The Doctor was amazed that it could be done and Romana replied that "he should have stayed in school longer". Romana was proud of her several degrees from Timelord University and she had mocked him when they first met that he had barely managed to graduate. and I remember when the Eleventh Doctor met the Curator, the Curator made a remark that in the future the Doctor would revisit some of the Doctor's favorite faces.

[@greenrangerx]

I pointed out in another comment that Romana cycled through a bunch of different looks before choosing the form of Princess Astra.

[@samfowler2073]

It does open the door for a future evil incarnate of the Doctor, not dark like 12, but a Doctor out and out corrupted by picking the wrong companions(s) to travel with. Could be a fun way to loop in the Valeyard.

[@WhoCulture]

That’s a great idea - let’s see how a rotten companion could affect the Doctor’s next regeneration!

[@dvdvnr]

@@WhoCulture Possibly, this has already happened as Vislor Turlough was "employed" by the Black Guardian to kill the 5th Doctor, although Turlough never carries out his instructions. Upon the 5th's regeneration into the 6th Doctor, the Doctor tries to kill Peri!

[@AzureRadio]

I would love to see it but it'd never happen. Closest we got was Harkness imprint on 10, we could really see the parallels

[@keithlehwald]

Eight’s regeneration into War is an interesting spin on this theory. By Night of the Doctor, he’s travelling alone and kind of adrift. He then attempts to save someone and is actively rejected in a way that has rarely happened before or since, all because he’s a Time Lord and blamed for the war. His decision to become a lone warrior might come from a belief that no one will even want to be his companion again, and implicitly knowing that he cannot even be the Doctor without one. (After all, the next time he went without a companion for too long, we got the Time Lord Victorious.)

[@qwart22]

I personally think that people can choose their regenerations, the doctor has full on regenerated into other peoples faces multiple times (6th doctor taking on a different timelords face, 12 taking on that Pompeii guys face and even 14 taking on 10’s face. I believe river also chose some cosmetic things in let’s kill Hitler) however the doctor doesn’t like choosing his face since he is always running

[@_andrewvia]

You always do that Mona Lisa smile at the end. Thank you, though, Ellie. It's always pleasant to hear your voice.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

You do realise that smiling Mona Lisa was the one they used to replace the stolen one in City of Death. Before that episode aired, Mona Lisa wasn't smiling.

[@_andrewvia]

@@geoffroi-le-Hook I think the Who franchise should hire Ellie as one of the recurring characters. Go Ellie!

[@pjbrown7520]

Definitely think there's a lot of truth in this. As well as the ones you mentioned, 12 to 13 was heavily influenced by the loss of both Missy - a female incarnation of a usually male Time Lord - and Bill Potts, a strong and brave woman who loved women (which possibly also affected 13's feelings for Yaz). 1 to 2 was more or less just a rejuvenation because his companions were younger and he no longer needed the authority of a 'grandfather'; 2 to 3 was forced, so probably no obvious psychological influence there; 3 to 4 was younger to match Sarah Jane and to renew his wanderlust; 4 to 5 was younger still as he was surrounded by young people (and the choice of cricket outfit was probably due to him subconsciously thinking 'team').

[@cuppapablo]

I've always theorized this exact theory, how the relationships the Doctor has with his companions and what happens affects the incoming regeneration. Rose helped soften and heal 9. Ten's romance with Rose, the unrequited love from Martha made 11 a bit more goofy, childlike and uninterested in romantic entanglements. The loss of the Ponds made 12 not only Scottish, but more serious as he blamed himself for it. 12 turning into a female, that is because of Missy.

[@lucasamson3109]

Another great video I really enjoy watching these keep up the great work. Also really cool and interesting theory I saw similar versions of this online but this one puts it in perspective and I like the idea of the doctor’s companions having an impact on the doctor’s regenerations.

[@eschnabel.4665]

To extend your premise, Adam, Turlough, and Missy all rubbing off on the Doctor may have helped lead to the Valyard. Perhaps even the worst parts of Glitz and handsome Jack?

[@ProfArmitage218]

The novelization of "Destiny of the Daleks" established that Time Lords can learn to control their regeneration through training, the physical aspect at least. When the episode originally aired, some fans were upset that a serious and responsible Time Lord like Romana was shown wasting a half dozen regenerations for simple vanity. The novelization stated that her training enabled her to pause and resume a single regeneration multiple times, getting all her new faces from a single regeneration before finally settling on a copy of Princess Astra's face.

[@kamenwaticlients]

And as always poor Martha is forgotten/ignored. I like the theory it hold more then many other theories.

[@Tim.Stotelmeyer]

12 had 4 female companions: Clara, Bill, Missy, and River, die because of him. Regenerating into a female could have been a way to honor them.

[@damianoakes2592]

Not only female companions, but sapphic companions (Bill is a lesbian, Clara and River are bi), and 13 has a romance with Yaz

[@krimzonknight]

When 8 regenerates into War, he's just barely survived a major crash where someone refused to allow him to save her, purely because of the war his people were perpetrating. And the War Doctor that came out of it, he was exactly a Doctor who could not only end the war, but bring himself to FIGHT in it, abandoning everything he stood for so that No More innocents would be lost.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

except for all those young Gallifreyans.

[@onyourleft4194]

not just someone, but the person he died for was a former companion of his whose timeline was entirely rewritten to make it so she never travelled with him

[@therealpbristow]

@@onyourleft4194 ??? .... Where does that come from? I mean, it makes sense as an idea, but I've not seen it/heard it anywhere before.

[@onyourleft4194]

@@therealpbristow Cass Fermazzi (the woman 8 died for) travelled with the 8th Doctor in the Big Finish audios Meanwhile, Elsewhere; Vespertine; & Previously, Next Time. Her timeline was rewritten in the last one. (Fun fact: 13 was also the one to give Cass her bandolier - the same one the War Doctor takes after Regenerating.) (also all of this info is found in the expanded universe, but you can read a summary on the tardis wiki. i have a special interest in dr who so i know way too much abt it lmao)

[@therealpbristow]

@@onyourleft4194 Thanks. I lost track of all the Big Finish stuff about 16-17 years ago, thanks to a sudden (unintended!) career switch, so I'm only familiar with their first decade... Yes, they've been going that long! =:o}

[@JulietAzhazha]

What a wonderful theory! There is a saying in my language that sounds (approximately) in English like, "The more time you hang out with a person, the more you become like them." So, yeah...

[@Eselta_]

The cicada screeches over Matt Smiths slightly gormless and blank face made me laugh so much I got chest pains now... That's exactly the noise his brain would be playing at that exact moment.

[@markpettis2896]

I never thought about your theory before it brings an interesting and believable element into the doctors re-generation plus I see a little of 15’s new personality in the 14th Dr.

[@Commanderpioneer]

Did you know that Clara’s favourite book was written by Amy pond and Amy’s favourite book featured the panostra gang so this is technically 1 big time loop

[@joonamato]

I don't remember this book with the Paternoster gang!

[@Sk8rToon]

This has been my head cannon since River said, “I’m focusing on a dress size” before regenerating. Clearly your thoughts during the process influence who you become, either in obvious or subtle ways. I was so glad to see it come up again during JeJe’s rewatch on Twitter.

[@qwart22]

Yeah, I feel like you can pretty much choose how you look after regeneration, I mean 10 full on regenerated back to the same face, I just think the doctor doesn’t do it often since he wants to run as much as he can and letting his regeneration just work on its own is his way of expressing that

[@MrCarrera28]

I have no idea if this is correct, but I love the amount of imagination and thought that went into coming up with this idea!!

[@cmwinchell]

1 into 2 - Makes sense 2 into 3 - Makes sense 3 into 4 - The Doctor started having some feelings for Sara Jane, but wanted to avoid them, so we got a mix. A Doctor who was both human enough to show emotion while being alien enough to (mostly) separate his emotion when needed. 4 into 5 - After the fall a more durable and athletic body? 5 into 6 - We previous companions tell him he has to live and the Master tell him to die (in a kind of quasi dream state). And with sacrificing his life he became a Doctor who chose to do what had to be done and to hell with what anyone else thinks. 6 into 7 - He was a bit too serious. He still does what has to be done, but he's a bit more carefree for the most part. 7 into 8 - I got nothing. That regeneration was creepy as all hell to watch though. 8 into War - He finally accepted that he has no choice but to fight in the Time War. War into 9 - His memory of trying to save Gallifrey was fading because of how muddled the timeline was with 1-13 crossing their personal timestream in a major way. So he remembers the fighting. He realizes his body is old. So 9 isn't just the doctor who carries all of the hatred and anger, 9 is also coping with a form of PTSD.

[@Carpedog2206]

That was REALLY good. Maybe the best analysis you’ve done but why leave out 15?

[@onyourleft4194]

i think because 15's run isn't finished. every other doctor has had all of their (TV) story arcs completed, so it's easier to say something for sure. if they talked about 15, it could very easily be disproven in the christmas special or in the next season

[@Carpedog2206]

@@onyourleft4194 I don’t know, they’ve discussed aspects of 15’s personality in other videos and they don’t seem averse to making predictions. Going into the bigeneration thing in this light would be very interesting.

[@onyourleft4194]

@@Carpedog2206 ah i didn't know about that. that was my best guess, so idk why they didn't talk abt 15

[@lordofthereels6790]

While the general rule of Americans not playing The Doctor should still stand I contend that Michelle Pfeiffer would be very stellar and varied as any/every major Time Lord from Rassilon to Missy to Omega I feel she could bring whatever power/intensity/intrigue/wit that any time lord role could need.

[@sagieaesir13]

One thing I love about this theory is I recently rewatched 9's era, and when he says all of those things to Adam about him making a stupid decision by downloading all of the knowledge of the universe into his mind, it really goes to show that he, especially the 9th doctor, fresh from war, would want nothing to do with someone like Adam. I think that's one of the kindest things the Doctor has ever done for themselves.

[@TheNoteblockLizard]

I'm wondering if this theory can be applied to The Master's reincarnations too.

[@Donnagata1409]

Does the Master travel with companions?

[@shockfoxy921]

"The eleventh doctor had 2 companions" Rory crying in the corner

[@doorofnight87]

That. . .actually really works well. I hadn't really thought about it like that, but that really does make a ton of sense.

[@Jenifer_R_]

Ncuti's Doctor is comfortable with his emotions and doesn't bottle them up. Donna was driving home how 10/14 needed therapy.

[@swampy1584]

What a brilliant theory love this vid Ellie

[@VJacquette]

In terms of just the appearance part of regeneration (face/body): 1. The time lords chose the face/body for 3 after 2 rejected several choices. 2. When Romana regenerated, she tried on several faces/bodies before settling on the one she stuck with -- which was one based on someone she'd known.

[@stuff2227]

In classic Doctor Who during the 4th doctor, Romana regenerated and kept switching forms. She even chose to be and stay as an exact likeness of Princess Astra. The Master took on the appearance of Nyssa's father. Timelords can definitely choose their appearance.

[@SplotchTheCatThing]

I've had a similar theory about the later years of the classic series -- particularly how if you look at regeneration as a chance for the Doctor to get a do-over on the previous incarnation's flaws, Doctors Five, Six, and Seven can all seen as a kind of wildly swinging overcorrecting pendulum, that's set in motion by the sheer overpowering force of Four's personality :) First of all you've got Five, overcorrecting from Four's alien-ness into someone extremely human and approachable at the cost of losing many of the traits that had allowed his previous self to actually try and save people. That pendulum swings back all the other way to Six, taking on the face of a previous captor, and becoming so brash and unreasonable that he tends to make people resent him, making him often just as ineffective as Five in a different way. And then after that, you get Seven whose personality starts to regain a little more balance, but who also gets ruthlessly committed to winning against evil at almost any cost. --- Also think that Yaz definitely influenced Fourteen's personality, because in becoming more willing to share his inner thoughts and feelings, and being more open to advice from his friends, he kinda becomes the person that Yaz had wished Thirteen could be. And, you know, taking on one more... I think Twelve is the Doctor when he's finally able to face the trauma of actually fighting in the time war without getting caught up in self-blame, thanks to Eleven giving it a better ending. He's introspective, he dislikes soldiers at first because they remind him of people who died for him on the battlefield, but he also took on a face of a person he saved to remind him that being unable to save everyone doesn't mean he can't try to save someone. He declares in his first story that it's time for him to face those years that were not good, but he also starts off in denial, to the point of suffering from a lot of psychological projection, because he's finally been allowed to start processing all his pent-up grief.

[@TheWesterlyWarlock]

Five had the cowardly and self-centered Turlough which may have influenced his Sixth incarnation's avoidance behaviors (edit: also guilt over Adric's death). Then Six had Mel, the computer scientist, leading to Seven who was a master logician. Ace could have influenced the more carefree and human Eight, and then we have circumstances. I think it honestly fits for most of the regenerations! This is such a good theory!

[@hollymatton474]

Great video, found this really interesting! Thanks Ellie and Who Culture! 😊😊

[@_andrewvia]

Cassanova (over) - the author Terry Pratchett had, in his DiscWorld novels, a character: a dwarf (short person) named Cassanunda (under) who carried a stepladder around with him for those moments when he would work his charm on a lady.

[@HLR4th]

I love this theory. IRL, it’s the writers/show needs, but the meta-in world view is so much satisfying!

[@DonnaLang42rockglobally]

I think I can work the "imprinting" theory and the "subconcious face adoption" theory to at least three of the Doctors. The Fourth Doctor, for example, could have "pre-imprinted" on Sarah Jane due to their strong friendship; their accents are similar imho and they both have compatable senses of humor. Then there's the Fifth Doctor - rather younger looking than his previous self (reflective of his younger companions perhaps since Nyssa and Adric were basically teenagers), and the face he subconciously chose imho looked a lot like a younger version of Chancelor Goth and that was probably the Doctor's way to try to maintain his gravatas. The Sixth Doctor of course looked exactly like Maxil and had some of his arrogance and fire (which i've always enjoyed),and along with that a sense of defiance against (as Sixie himself might have said) "Machivellian miscreants". He chose that face to remind himself to be nobody's doormat and stand up for his rights as well as the rights of his companions and anyone else who he chose to give his protection.

[@pre-debutera6941]

They also all have a similar accent to whoever they thought about last

[@Mohammedamine9.]

The transition from 7 and 8 is the most interesting to me

[@Anonsloth26]

I love the canonical sheer amount of life saving things within a Time Lord’s physiology. Missy really sums it up when she says “I’m gonna need eight snipers!” And I don’t remember where each shot was supposed to be, but it was an insane amount.

[@WadeTripp]

Part of Mawdryn Undead talked about being around other humans helps according to the Brigader. Also, in "Destiny of the Daleks" with Romana and her being able to regenerate as some Timelords are able to do and have more control over it. (but not the doctor tries to avoid this) and shooting the General in Hell Bent.

[@jmcateer0]

This was always my head cannon. 9 was dealing with trauma so became the happy guy with a note of edgy in the 10th to please Rose. The reality altering fights and loss of 10 made 11 the over confident fighter that Amy would look up to. The loss of Amy and Rory made 12 the grumpy Scott out of frustration. The reflection of the 12th with Clara, Missy and Bill made 13 realize the importance of family.

[@StevenHouse1980]

I like the idea that regeneration is is partly biased in favour of the local genetic samples. Resulting in every regeneration drifting in interesting ways based on resent genetic proximity. Given that idea the timelord city being so isolationist turning them all stuffy(a kin to partly inbreeding with each regeneration) and then war crazy after Lela started to live with them before the Time War.😮

[@nickietadgell8835]

Great theory!❤❤

[@13thwho]

I always felt that the regeneration from 3 into 4 produced a more youthful look because the process had been given a little “push” by the Doctor’s former Time Lord mentor, K’anpo Rimpoche.

[@stijnvantongerloo9122]

It's a beautiful tapestry of doctor regenerations, thank you 🙂

[@adam3comp]

That's awesome, I feel like maybe one of the most direct iterations of this was Night of the Doctor with 8. He meets a potential new companion who rejects him because of the war, and so he becomes the War Doctor in an effort to end the war.

[@hopefulaardvark]

I have actually heard this theory before. I think it’s pretty solid 😁

[@leecarroll4622]

This theory works with the classic Doctors too. 2 was more relaxed and humorous than 1. 3 was more establishment after being put on trial. 4 was more of a wanderer after being tied to UNIT on Earth. 5 kept himself less egotistical and questioned his decisions. 6 became more confident and 7 kept his confidence quiet and was more strategic.

[@kathycook3024]

I've thought about the Amy/Scottish influence, too. I've also thought that the 11th Doctor had such a childlike personality because he imprinted on little Amy, when she was the first face his face saw.

[@Nerdboy1701]

I love this theory!! It works for me.

[@fabiofarrooficial]

I love this theory! I love it so much that it's the basis of my fanfic.

[@irishhi8333]

Decided to go backward thru seasons/series of 12th - 9th doctors a while back and I swear the Dr and Amy had a conversation on what the doctor's regeneration where she straight up described the next doctor.

[@Zedxclon]

I've always thought it was the circumstances of each death that leads to the next personality - but I like this theory. I think the companions and people in their life is a part of it too. - The First Doctor became the Second as the conclusion of his character arc that saw him starting out as a fairly amoral schemer who later grew to become a genuine hero who became warmer and friendlier along the way as a result of his time with humans. He reached a natural end to his life and regeneration helped him with the process. - The Second Doctor became the Third because the Time Lords forced the regeneration after his trial. The Third then works for UNIT - something the previous two probably wouldn't do, especially the First. Perhaps the Time Lords made him slightly more respectful of authority - The Third became the Fourth perhaps because the next regeneration erased the respect for authority that the Time Lords put into him. He is much less happy to work for UNIT after that. Maybe the change was also driven by a desire to travel with Sarah more. - The Fourth's regeneration into the Fifth sees him go from a practically untouchable, larger-than-life figure who seemed to be able to do anything with a grin on his face, to a much more wary and vulnerable person - is this because the Fourth Doctor's hubris finally got the better of him, so the regeneration made him more cautious to protect him - The Fifth became a lot more abrasive when he became the Sixth, especially towards Peri. Maybe not a conscious choice, but a pure survival instinct - the last Doctor died for Peri, so the next one then seems to push her away. - The Sixth Doctor died in a seemingly unforeseen attack on the TARDIS, which perhaps then fed into the more calculating approach of the Seventh Doctor. If he can see, control, and understand everything, maybe he won't be killed by unexpected means? Too bad that happened anyway. - Then the Seventh becomes the Eighth, perhaps because despite all the scheming and manipulating, he still wasn't able to protect himself from a random, meaningless death - he had alienated friends and done morally ambiguous things, all for naught. So the Eighth Doctor then adopts a more compassionate, emotional, and human approach to life I think it all fits together as a continuously unfolding story quite well :)

[@andrescarnederes2295]

I wish somehow Amy had met 12. In fact, there's many companions that I wish met 12. Peter Capaldi was my Doctor

[@arthemis1039]

Maybe he did. Maybe the Doctor visit old companions with new faces off screen, I am sure Big Finish has done stuff with this

[@andrescarnederes2295]

Pcap hasn't done big finish yet but fingers crossed he does eventually 😊​@@arthemis1039

[@jakemasterson6057]

WOW - this is awesome and well researched.

[@asaloth]

In the classic series Ramana went through several looks before we got the one that traveled with the 4th

[@trevorwooten9485]

Exactly. Not only did she seem to have control of her look, but she purposely based on a person that they'd recently met. Also, one of the Doctors once said that they have some measure of control over a regeneration for the first few hours. Though I never saw it mentioned again.

[@_Jem_]

And the master has said he can control his regeneration.

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

​@@_Jem_The first regeneration I saw was when the master assumed the body of Tremas of Trakken. The actor who played Tremas went on to play the Master (4th-7th Doctors).

[@darrengamer8189]

The Master's Trakken regeneration wasn't a normal regeneration though - I think he actually took over someone else's body rather than renewing his own.

[@_Jem_]

@@darrengamer8189 That's true the Master stole the body so it wasn't a regeneration, Just like in the Come back Movie so he has stolen a body twice. It wasn't until New Who the Master said he can control his regeneration, But we have never seen a regeneration of the Master.

[@MinistryOfGeeks]

I love how you guys fish Reddit for video content - not a critisism, it's nice seeing you take theories and running with them, and adding to them.

[@d0ctorwho_edits]

My favourite nuwho regeneration theory is based on accent, the last person 9 saw before regeneration was rose who was a southern English girl, causing 10 to be southern (although a different type of southern accent), ten wasn't speaking to anyone before regeneration and so kept a similar accent, and as 11 regenerated he was talking to Amy, who was Scottish, and so 12 was Scottish, before 12 regenerated he saw Clara, who was northern, then 13 was northern, 13 regenerated alone, once again but instead of keeping her accent, she reverted back to the accent from the last time she regenerated alone, a more southern accent. I cant quite fit this theory for 14-15 but I'm trying to find a way

[@CharlesMarino-je5yt]

This is a great theory, perhaps a "fantastic" one. If the theory is correct, the Doctor's regenerations would have something to do with his great *empathy* for everyone and everything around him. Including characters that the Doctor only meets once, such as Maxil. (The Sixth Doctor looked just like him.)

[@susannariera]

I've always thought that 12th was older because Clara had a crush on 11th. She even needed a call from the past to accept 12th, even when she knew about regeneration more than any other companion before! As soon as The Doctor became older, she got a boyfriend.

[@brainlock72]

I’ve had a long running theory that each new Doctor represents something the previous Doctor lacked or an area he needed to grow in. I think I solidified it when Moffat described Matt as having the face an old man would create of a young man, or something like that.

[@JonathanH71]

I remember in the 4th Doctor Story Destiny of the Daleks, Romana regenerated several times trying to find a body that suited her. She only picked the body we know because they had arrived at their destination. So I had the impression that some Time Lords can choose the look or at least right as it happens and didn’t cut into the limited amount that they had. Which would also explain how the Master was able to maintain the same face during the Davidson and McCoy era

[@finnstewart4747]

I always saw the 5th Doctor's arc as being a man born into the universe full of hope, only to be beaten down by a universe full of suffering, with his regeneration into the crass 6th Doctor being influenced by the more kind-hearted Doctor's tarnished hope.

[@Donnagata1409]

Don't you dare call my darling 6. crass!

[@veggiet2009]

I really like this theory, I think #13 came out of his desire to change, to be better, he became someone radically different. Mechanically I believe that regeneration works a bit like dreaming, that these are subconscious figures that rise to the surface. And that while dreams may be influenced by what went on that day, you never know which bits will stick, or your dreams may not have anything to do with the events of the day

[@douglasschultz2922]

LOVE IT!! Great theory, but explain the 4th doctor?

[@Reprodestruxion]

Oh I don’t know, uou take thd good with thd bad

[@tracyroweauthor]

10s darkness started showing itself in The Runaway Bride when Donna had to stop him when he killed the Rachnoss children.

[@randalfgrey]

I think it's pretty easy to draw a line from Bill's hopefulness, positivity and tenacity to 12 regenerating into 13.

[@robsquared2]

Feels like the face they choose is just subconscious since as someone said when Capaldi came in with Clara and said he can be himself with her and not have to be a young face.

[@jeremykermott537]

It certainly fits with the observation that "you are the average of the five people you spent the most time with." (from Jim Rohn, author) Except if this Doctor Who theory is correct, it's an even more literal meaning of that observation. I posit that the Doctor's regenerations also adapt to become whatever is needed for their time. (Just chalk it up to "timey-wimey stuff.) In other words, I think that the Doctor's regenerations are as much (or more) proactive, as they are reactive. ... It's a time travel show with a unique set of rules, which also evolve over time. I wouldn't say that they get rewritten, but more that they are found to be more rich and complex and nuanced, just like our understanding of humanity and the nature of the universe have.

[@lordpistonia]

I really really like this!

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

And then there was the sixth Doctor, walking around with Commander Maxil's face and some of his demeanor. Colin Baker apparently suggested that Maxil be the one who brought him before the High Council in "The Mysterious Planet."

[@MarkGM1985]

I really like this theory, it fit almost perfectly with a lot of the doctor's iterations.

[@Mohammedamine9.]

It kinda confirmed in extended media that the personality of each incarnation is based on the experience of the previous one People say that regeneration is the cause of drastic changes in the doctor personality , but i don't think regeneration is the only thing responsible While regeneration causes the small changes, the big ones happened due to his character development For example 2's personality is the result of 1's character arc from a grumpy and selfish old man to a heroic and caring grandpa, 2 got wronged by his people and his companions got taken away from him and got exiled, tha this caused the drastic change to 3's more serious personality that hates authority 6 encountered his evil future self the valyard, that made him so afraid that he was ready to do anything to stop the valyard , also he deep down wanted to be more in control to prevent more deaths than traveling with no plan , this created the 7th doctor who was ready to do anything never matters how twisted and cruel to stop evil 7 realized that his ways are wrong, that he losing his humanity and becoming a villain , he can't trust anyone's life in his hands anymore, that why he was traveling alone, he knew that deep down that he wanted to regenerate into someone more soft and soon he will die, but before he did it he speed runed some evil across time and space before regenerating into 8 8 in his late life lost so much that he became a broken man, and when the war came he had no choice but becoming a worrier Flash forward to nuwho, 9's personality is the result of the trauma of the time war even though he tried to move on, this continued with him to 10, but he was started to heal, as we saw with 11, then trenzalor came and gived us series 8 unlikable 12, but we all saw the character development with him, 13 personality is the result of the doctor totally moving on from the time war and 15's personality is the result of 14 going through therapy

[@waltturner1970]

I can also see this going from Matt Smith to Peter, Peter's dr dropped all pretense of saving the day because he accidently ended up in the situation and started purposely picking fights, going after the fights instead of planning on a "trip" and ending up in the situations

[@waltturner1970]

During matt smiths dr (starting with tenants ending time lord victorious) more and more people started calling him out on his "God complex" .or all this comes from me just finishing that episode..... one or the other lol

[@operationgoldfish8331]

There's a problem with this in the classic series, when Romana literally tries on several bodies before her regeneration. I don't know if this was a special skill she had, but there is a suggestion that there is usually some choice involved. Perhaps the Doctor's tendency to regenerate through trauma is atypical and screws this up.

[@dragonmaster613]

It is interesting that Rose saw Ten's face long before meeting 9th and (as pointed out) 10 saw 12's from a previous adventure.

[@jonodate]

I've honestly had this theory for years. Every single regeneration can be tied in some part to the previous regeneration's companions both on and off screen. For instance 6th Doctor's companion Evelyn Smythe was a great influence into why he was a great deal calmer by the time he meets Mel. But again the reason for the 7th doctors great deal of manipulation has in part a lot was due to the complicated circumstance in which he met Mel in the first place, having met her before he was even supposed to meet her. (It's a whole thing...)

[@k.goldwingler]

YES! i think about this topic A LOT!

[@thegarnetto6790]

12 onto 13 hd 2 pretty big influences. first was missy and her improvments ("is the future going to be all girl?""we can only hope")and bills "last words" to 12 in the doctor falls "you know how I'm usually all about women and, and kind of people my own age" that was her making a request, and lo and behold, the doctors regeneration fulfilled it

[@mattmahoney8659]

I agree. Madam Vastea also stressed to Clara that the face he puts on are for his companions.

[@mjvdg4194]

The very easy one is that 14 into 15 was a clear sign they had finally been able to compartmentalise a lot of the heavy baggage from the last few incarnations

[@STRYDERMANN]

This would help explain why the Doctor jumps at the chance to get certain people to tag along, but seemingly shuts down adding others. He's slightly afraid of them being put in the regen lottery. Maybe it has something to do with being in the Tardis at somepoint

[@alexfletcher5192]

It's interesting that we start this theory with the 21st century series. I often think that old Sixie, for instance, is a direct response to Peter Davison's Doctor being relentlessly pushed around and on the back foot for three years. That was great drama, but if you're going to have an alternative, you will probably end up with a genius narcissist who usually wins.

[@ugolomb]

I'm still waiting to understand why the 6th Doctor adopted the face of Commander Maxil, of all people...

[@therealpbristow]

My take on this: Five felt like he'd failed repeatedly to save people by being too much of a pushover. But he has mixed feelings about the idea of "toughening up"; Doesn't want to lose his compassion, or focus on protecting people. He realises he needs to be more pro-active against certain enemies, but doesn't want to become the one who "starts the fight". He remembers Maxil: an example of a tough guy held in check by authority, by the fact that he had a job to do... But who's a bit too single-minded and overzealous... Maybe just a *bit* of that toughness, that air of authority, but tempered with more compassion...? But his thoughts are muddled and clouded by the Spectrox poisoning, and he's battling some serious self-doubt, and besides he never did have the knack of properly control over his regenerations... The image of Maxil comes through in exactly the ways he *didn't* intend: The face, the smugness, and the hard-to-control aggression.

[@jackdowd4746]

My personal theory is that Time Lords cannot control the appearance of their next incarnation organically (although they can use artificial machines to alter the process such as in the case of the Second Doctor or if you count the expanded media as cannon, looms) but they can nudge their subconscious in a general direction. The Eighth Doctor decided, in his final moments to embrace the mantle of Solider and turned into the battle harden War Doctor. The War Doctor, believing he had destroyed Gallifrey and ended the Time War, turned into the PTSD ridden Ninth Doctor who was tougher and less cuddly (for lack of a better word) than previous classic incarnations. The Ninth Doctor, finally embracing his love for Rose in The Parting of the Ways, felt younger and in love and due to this the Tenth Doctor was a younger more romantic man. The Tenth Doctor famous said ‘I don’t wanna go’ which would explain why the Eleventh Doctor is very similar to the Tenth Doctor. The Eleventh’s Doctor regeneration into Twelve is particularly interesting in many ways. First of all, Eleven spent more than half of his life defending the town of Christmas and, when Clara was finally reunited with him, discovered he looked and certainly felt like an old man. This partly explains when the Twelfth Doctor is among the older incarnation. Between his regeneration of Eleven to Twelve The Doctor rang Clara from the TARDIS. During this conversation she confirmed that the Twelfth Doctor was ‘old’ and ‘grey’ thus creating a self fulfilling prophecy. Finally, inspired by Amy Pond whom the Eleventh Doctor had a particular bond with, the Twelfth Doctor adopted a Scottish accent. The Twelfth Doctor, despite initially refusing to regenerate, was inspired my Missy’s male to female regeneration and decided to aim for that himself. The Thirteenth’s Doctor character does seem to come from the Twelfth’s Doctor departing speech which was essentially live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment. Thirteenth’s regeneration back into the face of ten has been explained in show as the Doctor wanting to settle down with a ‘family’ or ‘fam’ to do rehab in the wrong order.