Ranking Doctor Who #11: Regeneration Scenes

[@barry1369]

The second doctor’s is the best ever. The brutality of it. The fact he wasn’t actually dying is just so dark.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

"I don't want to go" only made me cry when Hartnell said it in Adventure in Space and Time.

[@marionbaggins]

Dude, That scene with William Hartnell, made me cry my eyes out...

[@lapelcelery42]

Both times David Tennant says it make me weep, but more out of embarrassment than anything else.

[@AgherDeadpan]

I like that before the 3rd Doctor regenerates he thinks of Earth as home which is a nice bit of character development from how he hated being stuck on earth at the beginning of his tenure.

[@jamiestevens3074]

IMO, the best one is ecclestone. He doesn’t do some cringe overlong speech, he faces it like a champ. He’s nervous but not scared, he’s supportive to rose in the moment and his last words are fantastic. :)

[@Comicking-hm8yh]

Top three for sure

[@empressfrozentoes5285]

"last words are fantastic" well, they were

[@DCSMedia]

Love how you put the images on the TARDIS Screen

[@No1ShalkaFan]

I'm unsure if it was said on screen but I think the War Doctor regenerated due to his age a bit like 1 and 11

[@matthewgleason7495]

I would have ranked Pertwee's higher just because he's really giving his all and it feels like a death but not in some over stated or bombastic way "A tear. Sarah Jane?"... always gets me. Also I like the effect. Sure it's essentially what they did for Hartnell to Troughton but it was worth revisiting in color.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

I am not a huge fan of 10's regeneration. A regeneration episode is meant to herald a new beginning for the show, excite viewers for what's to come with the new doctor, and just make them feel comfortable and at ease with what's going to happen. Unfortunately, instead, The End of Time wastes most of it's energy on making you feel sad that 10 and RTD are leaving in the first place. 10's farewell tour would have been more appropriate for a series finale overall, but we all know it's going to end happily with him regenerating into Matt Smith. Why make the audience feel sad and inevitably alienate them from Moffat and Smith rather than making them excited for a new era?

[@moomin2439]

I’m so glad 5’s regeneration is 2nd place as that’s my favourite one. I like to believe that 6’s arrogant and brash personality is a result of the Doctor’s desire to minimise death around him as much as possible - something 5, with his gentle and more human personality, couldn’t do (Adric, Resurrection of the Daleks, etc.). Plus the scene itself is so haunting! I love it!

[@bananasaregood8655]

I love the regeneration scene from spiders, i dislike the simple fade over effect with no glowing lights or anything, but the no music, and acting make it my fave classic who regen scene. And for modern its 9th doctor for all the same reasons u said

[@HDx03]

Matt smith is my favourite doctor and I love his regeneration the most. I found it really emotional and how he did his dialogue and the music just still makes me emotional. I love the line "I will not forget one line of this, not one day I swear. I will always remember when the doctor was me."

[@The-Fishkeeper]

Your top two are the same as mine. Matt Smith was my favourite Doctor at the time (possibly still is, definitely top 3), so I can not even begin to describe how emotional that was for me, and while I didn't like Time of the Doctor so much as a whole, I thought that scene was just so perfect and really did him justice in a way that much of 2013's Doctor Who episodes sadly just hadn't. I will never forget how I felt after that regeneration, it's a level of emotion that I've never experienced before over a fictional character and and likely never will again. I felt like I was literally grieving for a few days after.

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

I kind of miss how in the classic series the atmosphere of the stories made it clear that the Doctor wasn’t going to make it out of this one and the regenerations just happened. I feel like in the new series they build them up way too much. My favourite regeneration is Davison to Baker, just perfection.

[@LiveHedgehog]

I don't like that the NuWho regenerations are all the same either. I feel like the implication with Eccleston's was that the face morph is the proper regeneration, and the energy is just his body expelling the time vortex energy.

[@dommoore6180]

yeah that was the implication. Sadly whilst series 1 of the reboot was pretty good, and there are definitely episodes after it that are good, the modern show overall stopped being 'Doctor Who' entirely very quickly in Tennant's run and started being a fundamentally different show that just happens to take some surface level elements from the original. I don't think Doctor Who will ever be back to resembling what it was in the classic era because most people see it as the soapy show about the demi-god heartthrob now. Which should never have been allowed to happen but hey, that's what happens when you get RTD to reboot it before handing it off to Moffat who didn't even like most the classic show and who is far more concerned with his image and career than he ever was about making Doctor Who...

[@rebelbelle1388]

I LOVE how McGann was brought back, given a short, and that BBC made his Big Finish adventures canon. I'm still thrilled they did that and it was almost ten years ago now!

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Boo! Pertwee's should be higher, "a tear Sarah Jane." As much as Eccleston is my favourite Doctor, I think it has to go to McGann. Him already being dead is perfect for the Dr who lived in the shadow of death and if you've been following his audio stuff (not sure how the novels link in with this) it feels like the perfect end for his journey. It's dramatic, poetic and him asking if it will hurt and when told yes saying "good" gives me chills.

[@lapelcelery42]

Pertwee's one is the only one that feels like someone dying (Sylvester maybe, but that's a rather more violent way to go. Pertwee feels like losing a relative on their deathbed.), and it has my favourite part of any regeneration. When the Third Doctor first shows up in Spearhead From Space, he's quite prepared to leave Earth under threat from the Autons when he steals the key from the Brigadier, because he can't bear the thought of being trapped on one planet in one time. When he falls out of the Tardis at the end of Planet of the Spiders, he tells Sarah "The Tardis brought me home", and he really does die at home surrounded by a new family. The only thing that drags it down is the lacklustre VFX shot of the regeneration itself, and the idea that K'anpo needed to help him along.

[@karenhall4645]

My mother doesn't remember David Tennant's name but she remembers his last words.

[@candoentertainment9118]

The Timelords murdered the 2nd Doctor. Davison was my Doctor, I almost missed his regeneration when it aired on my local PBS station in 84. Wish somehow Colin could come back as his other character Commander Maxil and film a proper regeneration.

[@benji274]

The Second Doctor’s regeneration is even more impressive when you consider that Pertwee hadn’t even been cast when they filmed it.

[@AgherDeadpan]

I don't think "I don't want to go" is meant in a selfish way, I like to think of it from the perspective that the Tenth Doctor is the Doctor that loses and has tremendous guilt, sure he may save the day but he loses Rose, Martha leaves him and then he has to say goodbye to Donna and he cant save River or Adelaide Brooke. Heck Davros even reminds him of all the people that have died (at least in NuWho) because of him in some way and when Gallifrey returns (and is sent back to ultimately be destroyed) he is reminded that it's gone. He is the Doctor that really never gets what he wants, he has nothing and no one and finally, he loses himself (this version at least) when he regenerates. Contrast that with how he was at the start of his tenure, he had a small family in Rose, Jackie and Mickey, met Sarah Jane again and was happy for a time. Perhaps the issue with the line for a lot of people is in the delivery perhaps if he had smiled after in a reassuring manner along the lines of "I don't really want to go, but I know I have too and regardless I've had fun being this version of me". Also 'The Reward' is nice regardless of how long it is, it may seem a little over indulgent but it was wrapping up the RTD era, the entire cast and production team were leaving and it seemed very unlikely that Moffat would ever touch on anything from this era of the show (except from the time war) ever again.

[@caleb7551]

I mean, yeah but...those things that he "lost"...he can still have them even if he changes

[@AgherDeadpan]

​@@caleb7551 Yes and No when The Doctor regenerates he's a new man with different likes and dislikes, personality traits, etc. He could have some of those aforementioned things even after he's regenerated but at that point, he might not feel the same way about things or people and they may come to not like his new incarnation. For example, the 3rd Doctor is pretty content staying on earth, even when he gets his Tardis fully working, even before he regenerates he refers to Earth and Unit HQ as his home. However when he's in his 4th incarnation he wants to leave immediately, one of the first things he tries to do is get in the Tardis and fly away and with each subsequent visit to Unit HQ and Earth to save the day he leaves, no sticking around or hanging out in his Unit Lab having off and on banter with the Brigadier, those days are gone forever. The Doctor says things like, "I don't age. I regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and you die. Imagine watching that happen to someone you..."

[@caleb7551]

@@AgherDeadpan that is true. However, is there any need to have a big hissy fit? The other Doctors still and families. Hell, Amy and Rory were the companions for three and a half series, with River for quite a bit of that, and his regeneration was all about accepting change.

[@AgherDeadpan]

@@caleb7551 I would say that the other Doctors didn't have the number of close friends that Ten had, all of them had companions that came and went pretty quickly and even then that was pre-time war so he's not lost everything and everyone yet. Also Eleven is who the character becomes, not who the Doctor is at that present time, Eleven has his own character arc and it makes sense by the time of his next regeneration to accept that change as he's further developed as a character he would have changed in the time he was that incarnation, thus having a differing opinion and outlook on life.

[@zachselley8679]

Just one thing in defense of the "I don't wanna go" line for David Tennant is: He only spent 6 years as this incarnation, and his last one only lasted maybe a year. He would probably be thinking about how much he wouldn't go into his final incarnation.

[@bigboymedia453]

In my eyes, in time of the doctor when he gives that speech 11 was ready to change but held on so he could properly say bye to Clara which is why there is no big effects just a quick change as all the explosive energy is gone

[@dommoore6180]

I wish the audience all literally looked like Clara...

[@EmpireEmployeeRick]

Now that would be nice

[@LaytonMathieson]

Where would you put the Tenth Doctor's regeneration into himself in The Stolen Earth/Journey's End?

[@lapelcelery42]

Squarely in shit.

[@barry1369]

Worst: War Doctor 6th Doctor 3rd Doctor 11th Doctor (looks like he just sneezed and sneezed so much it morphed his face into an old Scotsman) 7th Doctor 10th doctor 4th Doctor 12th Doctor 1st Doctor 9th Doctor 5th Doctor Best 2nd Doctor

[@Asw_2004]

Can you rank the modern Dalek stories? Also great video

[@bananasaregood8655]

Does any1 think that for the blu ray release of series 1 they should hav tweeked the 9th doctor’s regeneration, by changing the sound effect to the normal sound u hear instead of what they used, and mayby hav some regen energy glowing around his neck as he’s says ‘you know wat? So was i’ so u can see the regen about to happen?

[@TomW-nh8jc]

To get capaldi’s regeneration properly, you have to watch the 2 part season ender and the whole of twice upon a time.

[@talonschultz5277]

FINALLY! Some love for the regeneration from 7-8! That is a regeneration scene I just really enjoy

[@lothahn8332]

The only thing I don't like about Eleven's regeneration is the fact that the change happens off screen. This video by Andrew Thomas shows what I think is a better version of the regeneration effect with the change happening in one take rather than off camera. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYPIemOsiKp_gsU

[@akshaytrayner1960]

You should list to doctor who the last adventure from big finish is great and gives Collin doctors closure

[@Austin84221]

My favorite regeneration will be when Jodie regenerates. The details do not matter, just that someone else takes the role of the Doctor. My current favorite is Patrick Troughton. He did call the Time Lords for help, and probably knew the risk. He didn't die and did not consent to the regeneration (my my opinion).

[@Comicking-hm8yh]

Wonder if we could maybe see Chibnal regenerate?

[@Real_Dystopian]

@@Comicking-hm8yh hah, that’ll be the day

[@joshuajoshua2732]

The War Doctors regeneration was caused by old age because he says seconds before he changes that his body was wearing abit thin much like The First and Eleventh Doctors. The Tenth Doctors regeneration I found to be really over the top and self loathing like a big sook I agree that from Eccleston to Capaldi's regenerations they kind of have been the same which is why I'm hoping if or when Jodie eventually regenerates I hope they'll try something different like maybe regenerate outside the TARDIS and not blow it up collapsing to the floor and do different special effects to it. That's what I loved about the Classic Who regenerations was they were always done differently.

[@30somethingmanchild]

Love your ranking videos mate 👍 (I've been binge watching them over last few days)

[@allenrhys844]

This is all irrelevant as the entire history of the show has been tossed into the burning dumpster in 'The Timeless Children'. Regenerations are not special - this being has been through thousands of them. Heck, there are probably thousands of him at any given point and time, so let's raise a glass to Chris Chibnall, the man who utterly destroyed Dr. Who.

[@jadenbryant9283]

I mean you can ignore it

[@lfkpics3884]

That’s weird I also took a while when I was younger to tell the difference between hartnell and troughtons faces

[@mattpearson6947]

Great video wingy keep up the great work and I hope you are doing well. Video suggestion: Could you possibly do each of the doctor's best season or if your feeling up to it, ranking every classic doctor who season as I know you have done one for the new series.

[@liamroberts1458]

Actually, the War Doctor regenerated because he was old, basically (same reason as One and Eleven). He spent, at the very least, 800 years fighting in the Time War. Nice of you to mention Only Fools and Horses, by the way. It's timeless tv in my opinion. Proper belly laugh family comedy, and also very human, and that's probably why people loved it, and why it endured for so long (What was it, 22 years? Give or take?)

[@finnwille9477]

I think it would have been great if when Tom regenerated he had a small conversation with the watcher the watcher wouldn’t say anything but Tom would just say a few lines to his future self then regenerate

[@bigmac2345]

Eccleston regeneration is the best his speech to rose is excellent

[@owenwildish331]

I sort of have an idea for a regeneration scene, the problem is no one (including the audience, though they might suspect) supposed to know that that the Doctor had regenerated near the beginning of the story, with an imposter (a remote-controlled flesh Ganger) running around as the previous Doctor while the new Doctor is rendered temporarily mute and has to prove who they are to everyone, with only his newest companion, (a friendly Metabelis3 Spider) who they've just met, as support... Anyways after the big reveal and the new Doctor's confirmation as to their identity (at least to the audience and the companion they've been travelling with), we get a flashback to the actual regeneration kind of like a blend of the 2nd & 5th Doctor's regenerations with a bit of 9th's but it's an unexpected regeneration for the Doctor and its seen as a trippy full POV from the Doctor, as they're regenerating...

[@badwolf8787]

I'm glad you called out 10's regeneration, his final episode soured me on him a little bit, it just seemed such a weirdly bitter note to leave on, it almost felt like RTD sabotaging the new era before it had even begun, especially with how he played 10's regeneration off as some sort of Shakespearean tragedy. Give Moffat all the shit in the world, but the one thing he got pitch perfect was the regenerations. I felt like there should've been more effort from both Moffat & Davies to ensure a smooth transition from one era to the next, instead it felt like Davies basically saying "fuck it, not my problem anymore" & torches everything on the way out. Don't get me wrong I'm looking forward to his new era, but yeah since the news I'm more cautiously optimistic like you. Because the 10th doctor never comes to terms with the change it doesn't allow the audience to either.

[@billthewhovian]

I've not thought too much about how I would rank the regeneration scene itself without the build up (Not the story but the part or parts of the story or stories that allude to the upcoming regeneration.) or the new Doctor's post regenerative trauma for example I would want to go on about the 6th Doctor's trauma including strangling Peri.

[@obiwankenobi5845]

Calling it next will be ranking the times the doctor tried on his new outfit

[@elizeyt]

‘mostly in height’ oop-

[@kkay000]

Feels bad that the 10th doctor only lived for about 5 years ( could've been 4 or a number around there ) .

[@TediousMilkshake]

I saw that a doctor was being called the ‘tenth Doctor’ and the ‘ninth Doctor’, so I looked up the first Doctor, and I was shocked as hell. That’s when I first learned about regeneration!

[@rushmore4423]

Who did the Second Doctor Regenerate into and Who did Third Doctor Jon Pertwee Regenerate from

[@ghostface_tardis]

What about rank almost companions from classic and new who?

[@andrewhayden9545]

Mine are: 13) Time and The Rani (6-7) 12) The War Games (2-3) 11) Night of The Doctor (8-War) 10) Day of the Doctor (War-9) 9) Planet of the Spiders (3-4) 8) Time of The Doctor (11-12) 7) The Tenth Planet (1-2) 6) the TV Movie (7-8) 5) Parting of The Ways (9-10) 4) Caves of Androzani (5-6) 3) Logopolis (4-5) 2) Twice Upon a Time (12-13) 1) The End of Time (10-11)

[@slumdogjay]

Agree with Ten into Eleven. My least favourite is 6 into 7. My favourite is 1 into 2. So ahead of its time and still looks great today. Although, I am with you on Smith into Capaldi. Smith nails it perfectly. I was a big fan of his Doctor.

[@scix8794]

Imo 6-7 7-8 3-4 War-9 1-2 4-5 8-9 2-3 12-13 9-10 10-11 5-6 11-12

[@TheMarioAdams]

Great video Wingy. Are you watching Wandavision currently?

[@MovieMagic515]

So good!!

[@roguebritgravy1]

Sixth doctor death theories Suicide. Exercise bike mishap resulting in a concussion with the console. Deadly timelord beams by the Rani. Since it was the 1980's ... cocaine overdose

[@zakjaggs9761]

I was 3 when Eccleston regenerated. Did not accept it well

[@mattpearson6947]

My list: 13. 6th doctor 12. 7th doctor 11. 12th doctor 10. 10th doctor 9. 4th doctor 8. 2nd doctor 7. 1st doctor 6. War doctor 5. 8th doctor 4. 9th doctor 3. 11th doctor 2. 5th doctor 1. 3rd doctor

[@Attempt62]

Must say I also didn't realise Hartnell had changed to a new face- and I watched it at age 19 as my first regeneration. So. Yeah.

[@roguebritgravy1]

Idk I'm at a mix between 12 and 9 regenerating. Not too emotional. Not to boisterous. Not too subtle.

[@custardtimelord5502]

I actually kind of like the 3rd doctors regeneration. The fact that he actually dies and has to be given the push, whilst yeah I see what you mean it's a bit wierd I also think it's kind of full circle, with his teacher being the one to show him how to live life being the one to bring him back to life (and make him even more full of life in the form of tom baker 😄). Also "while theres life theres-" is great and is actually a call back to the daemons I believe, just as his teacher is a callback to the time monster.

[@tech10k14]

Further to the 5th regenerating into the 6th I'd like to add how also the painful lingering sickness of Peter pulling at the viewers' emotions was instantly wiped away by the sharp arrogance of Colin's first lines, shortly to be added to by his comments about the previous incarnation 'Not being me at all!' and having a 'feckless charm'... as though everything that made the fifth who he was, was frankly embarrassing. A great contrast.

[@Ben-vf5gk]

Unpopular opinion: while I love Androzani the regeneration scene itself doesn't impress me that much. The sequence of seeing all 5 hallucinating his companions was just kinda weird cause he didn't really like most of them, him getting stuck on Adric as well just made me go "oh yeah, him, the guy you forgot about 5 minutes after he died?" It's decent but the emotional high point of that episode is definitely the part 3 cliffhanger.

[@caleb7551]

How rude!

[@yorkshiremackem1433]

The reason why I think the War Doctor regenerated was because he was warn out due to the Time war.

[@thescamfinder640]

David Tennant Had Multiple Takes but picked that version of the line is cause Depression exist

[@Chiggins_]

The worst part of 4's regen is Nyssa's "HE was the Doctor all the time!" It's such a grass is green, water is wet line, so unnecessary

[@ayeofreach]

"Will it hurt" ....... puns

[@fadikhoory5350]

Tennant's last scene when he's in the Tardis could have easily been in Waters of Mars. Imagine if Troughton said "I don't want to go" in the War Games- his bloody body was destroyed by his kind. The callbacks of the companions and the villains in Logopolis reminded me of the end of time 2. Capaldi's speech was wasted.

[@jadenbryant9283]

I mean two was being forced into regeneration

[@daveshaw2342]

Davidson to baker is my fav . Thought colin Baker was the most underated doctor.

[@thomasstevens2746]

I really enjoy time and the Rani

[@timshuker1302]

My first regeneration was Pertwee to Baker. I hated it. And I flat out disliked Tom who replaced MY Doctor, who I’d been watching since 1970 when I was 6. I was never very comfortable with Tom because Pertwee was my standard and I have always felt as a result that the Doctor was basically an Edwardian Gentleman Genius Scientist. That’s how I felt when I was 6 and I still do. That’s why my favourite Doctors are Pertwee, McGann, Davison and Smith. But like you my favourite Regeneration scene is Smith to Capaldi. Makes me emotional in the same places as you and for the same reasons. Second would be Davison to Baker. Third McGann to Hurt, fourth McCoy to McGann. A shame Bakers was so bad...that’s my bottom one, but, like you I do understand the reasons...and trust me the Big Finish story is epic. You’ll love it. Great review again...🥰

[@SpringtrapLover2010]

I agree with Tennant to Smith. It's not sad it's just funny and boring. It was only good when Smith popped up on the screen.

[@danielbridger7113]

the second doctor is my favorite doctor and i am so glad at the story and circumstances they gave him for his regeneration. being forced to change by the time lords as punishment for interferences, but then hes got me laughing as he denies each face to chose from! im glad u didnt include that STUPID david to david regeneration in the stolen earth because that messed up the regeneration numbers in a completely unnecessary way

[@BenSmith-od8fc]

Well we all know the show died with whittaker so the worst is that one.. the best I thought was troughton though Matt smith was a good one also very different! It shouldn't always be a long sparks shooting epic thing it should be quick as to surprise you.

[@michaelhodges241]

What bothers me about the 4th to 5th regeneration is when Nyssa, Adric and Teegan watch the doctor fall but they all move their heads out of time with each other like theure watching 3 different people fall.

[@TheAlfsterino]

The next regeneration is going to be the best.

[@jamiestevens3074]

I would’ve loved to have had Christopher come in after johns regeneration and just have a one minute scene of him feeling dizzy and all that. :/

[@harold5337]

Patrick's always makes me cry.

[@gaiar.d.rosendahl8300]

The thumbnail looks like a mushroom in a suit! lol xD

[@mastercreative6752]

Yay, we have the same number 1 😂

[@nozhki-busha]

The best one will be Jodi because it means she is finally gone!

[@heechoonyeo4762]

I think the war doctor regenerated due to old age, could just be me though

[@IronSalamander8]

It took me awhile to catch up on new Who, and when I first watched Tenant, I saw why people liked him so much, but his last stories and that regeneration scene really shot him down my list. The self-indulgence and crying was awful. I'm and old fart (51) so my first regeneration was Tom Baker into Peter Davison on PBS back in the 80s, and it was very weird to see!

[@the5thdoctor]

My favourite regeneration scene is I don't want to go. Makes me nearly cry every time seeing my favourite doctor go. The way it was built up was so emotional It was the first time that modern who touched on the doctor not wanting to change because he has done it so many times. He hates changing he just wants to remain who he is which is explored even more with the 12th doctor.

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

Pertwee to Baker Baker to Davison Hartnell to Troughton Davison to Baker

[@TripleJumpYTP]

I think that the 12th doctor's regeneration was a bit overdone

[@The12thDoctor]

Mine was best

[@mattevans4377]

Hold up: You are annoyed that Peter Capaldi/12 monologued? You do realise that was his entire 'thing' right? Also, I think it was extremely important from a meta standpoint, trying to tell the next cast and crew to not mess things up. Shame they didn't listen.....

[@tomgarb6302]

I hate the end of time, I think it might be the worst doctor story ever 4 me

[@thetasigma5270]

Did you just say you haven't watched Series 12?!

[@WingyMedia]

Yep

[@thetasigma5270]

@@WingyMedia why?

[@WingyMedia]

@@thetasigma5270 I've stopped watching the show, been falling out of love with modern Who for years now

[@thetasigma5270]

@@WingyMedia Surely it’s worth giving it a go at some point, you might like it?

[@WingyMedia]

@@thetasigma5270 I'd been telling myself that for years but, all I'll end up doing is hate watching which isn't what I want to do. I'm not a fan of this current era at all based on what I've seen and I know about the Timeless Child thing which I loathe too. I'd rather just leave it tbh and stick with mostly classic Who

[@tardistime6857]

Poor Colin

[@nickbutterworth6001]

Have you considered doing a video featuring the regerenations of characters like the Master or Romania?

[@darkytaco4713]

Didn't you say that the 12th doctor regeneration was your least favorite scene in dr who?

[@jadenbryant9283]

Well that was 4 years ago

[@lucasheap]

My ranking Best Peter Capaldi's Every other one Worst

[@NPS2204]

My favourite is 10th to 11th or 11th to 12th.

[@BenSmith-od8fc]

Oh and dude far too many adverts in your content

[@hcarter550]

I love Capaldi but I hated the speech in his generation it ruined it for me