So the Regeneration limit jumps from 12 to 507...? SJA SPOILERS

[EJA]

I think the 13 lives thing should be abandoned, even if Eleven is exaggerating with the 500+ figure. I like the idea that all Time Lords' regenerative cycles were boosted in the Time War. Problem solved.

 

[Robert D. Robot]

The 13 lives thing is bizarre in its own right. Why would there be a limit at all? I could see resurrections being a part of the Time Lords life cycle, but then I would assume that different Time Lords would have a different amount of resurrections possible. Some Time Lords have awesome genes and keep themselves healthy and are able to regenerate more times than the fat and lazy Time Lords who eat fried food all day. I dunno, 13 regenerations for every Time Lord seems silly.

However, since this does seem to be something that fans care about, it shouldn't just be waved over. The issue should be addressed. The 13th Doctor should behave as if he knows this is his last chance. It would certainly make for an interesting variation of the character. Perhaps he will be extra cautious so as to keep himself safe. Perhaps he will be rebellious and live like nothing matters anymore. Who knows?

If and when they do decide to give him more regenerations, though, they should be vague about them. Don't attach a number to them, and don't make him immortal. Simply make it clear that one day he will die and he will not be able to bring himself back.

Yes, I think it would be interesting to have the 13th Doctor's character to be such that he is mindful of (but not obsessed with) the fact that this is his last form of existence......
and then to be GREATLY surprised, following his "final" dire incident, when he regenerates into 14!
"I should not be!!!....." he exclaims, looking at his new shaking hands in disbelief.

... And DO NOT have a definite onscreen explanation at that point (or perhaps ever!)- Leave it as a question that the Doctor ponders, but for which he does not have an answer. This would also leave it vague as to whether this was a one time deal, or if he somehow has gained an additional 5 or 12 or 507 regenerations. It would create mystery and maintain some tension about whether there are even more regenerations in the cards for him.

A few postings earlier Saul's Eye addressed the concept of this possibly not being the Doctor's first set of regenerations (which I believe is taken up in some of the novels, not to mention the debate regarding the scene in "Brain of Morbius"). What if not dying at the end of regeneration 13 leads to the Doctor to begin to question (even if it is not explored very deeply, only hinted at in some very tantalizing, slivers of clues he comes upon over time) that he somehow has existed in some incarnation(s) before Hartnell's Doctor? I think it would be neat to crack open this door....

... I know the Doctor had a childhood on Gallifrey and this child grew into Hartnell's Doctor .... but could a Time Lord regenerate into a child or infant? Could this type of unusual (unheard of?) regeneration result in loss of all memories of earlier regenerations and result in "our" Doctor as an infant?

Maybe the Ood know and drop a hint. Maybe the Face of Boe's older brother Moe teases him on the subject. (no, perhaps not these ideas....).

 

[Cutter John]

We'll we're getting close to the point where the regen limit is going to have to be addressed.

The - No problem man. I get the same way when it comes to politics online. I've been forcing myself to steer clear of thst sort of thing just to keep my stress levels down.

 

[The]

The - No problem man. I get the same way when it comes to politics online. I've been forcing myself to steer clear of thst sort of thing just to keep my stress levels down.

Heh. Understood.

 

[captcalhoun]

there was a theory put forward in DWM that there's a difference between 'regeneration' and 'renewal'.

One to Two was 'renewal'.

Four to Five and onwards was 'regeneration'.

how many times can a Time Lord 'renew' themselves, without actually 'regenerating'?


this is of course semantic hairsplitting of the highest order since 'regeneration' and 'renewal' are practically synonomous.

 

[Starkers]

Well renewal might suggest change after a natural death at the end of a long life, whereas regeneration is in response to some kind of violence or accident. Really though you're right its semantic differences.

Where does that leave 2 to 3?

 

[Cutter John]

there was a theory put forward in DWM that there's a difference between 'regeneration' and 'renewal'.

One to Two was 'renewal'.

Four to Five and onwards was 'regeneration'.

how many times can a Time Lord 'renew' themselves, without actually 'regenerating'?


this is of course semantic hairsplitting of the highest order since 'regeneration' and 'renewal' are practically synonomous.

I remember that theory from way back in the 80's.

My only real problem is it wouldn't account for the personality changes.

 

[Jax]

The Doctor was lying because RTD is a rubbish writer. If you make the Doctor immortal, then you ruin him.

He was obviouly joking something that you need to learn...get a sense of humor and stop being so uptight about anything RTD does.

 

[Guartho]

"I should not be!!!....." he exclaims, looking at his new shaking hands in disbelief.

... And DO NOT have a definite onscreen explanation at that point (or perhaps ever!)- Leave it as a question that the Doctor ponders, but for which he does not have an answer.

This sets up an amusing line for 14 as he's dieing.

"Don't worry. My people can regenerate after death, up to 12 times."

"Really. How many times have you regenerated before?"

"13."

*'splosion of light*

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The 13 lives thing is bizarre in its own right. Why would there be a limit at all?

I would expect a Time Lord body to only be able to handle a certain amount of regenerations before burning itself out.

I also maintain that in "The Five Doctors", the Time Lords were lying to the Master when they claimed to be able to give him a new cycle of regenerations.

t
this is of course semantic hairsplitting of the highest order since 'regeneration' and 'renewal' are practically synonomous.

Also the Sixth Doctor once referred to regeneration AS renewal.

 

[The]

"I should not be!!!....." he exclaims, looking at his new shaking hands in disbelief.

... And DO NOT have a definite onscreen explanation at that point (or perhaps ever!)- Leave it as a question that the Doctor ponders, but for which he does not have an answer.

This sets up an amusing line for 14 as he's dieing.

"Don't worry. My people can regenerate after death, up to 12 times."

"Really. How many times have you regenerated before?"

"13."

*'splosion of light*

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ What's so funny?

 

[The]

I think it's a cool, funny moment is all. I can literally hear the cadence and rhythym of dialogue in the scene Gore-tho described. That's pitch-perfect Doctor.

 

[Sci]

I think it's a cool, funny moment is all. I can literally hear the cadence and rhythym of dialogue in the scene Gore-tho described. That's pitch-perfect Doctor.

I completely agree. I'd love it if that were to be how the issue was handled.

 

[PorthosShadow]

Here is my interpretation regarding the number of 507. I think the number of regenerations is still 13 but 507 refers to the maximum number of faces he can have. I seem to rememeber Romana changeing her appearence several times before settling on a body. So yeah I think the 13 regenerations are safe but maybe now we can assume there are only 507 possible results with any of said regenerations.

 

[The Wormhole]

I would expect a Time Lord body to only be able to handle a certain amount of regenerations before burning itself out.

I also maintain that in "The Five Doctors", the Time Lords were lying to the Master when they claimed to be able to give him a new cycle of regenerations.

Well, they did give the Master a new cycle of regenerations when the resurrected him to fight the Time War, otherwise his regeneration in Utopia wouldn't have been possible.

 

[Bones2]

The Doctor was lying because RTD is a rubbish writer. If you make the Doctor immortal, then you ruin him.

He was obviouly joking something that you need to learn...get a sense of humor and stop being so uptight about anything RTD does.

Oh you. You do amuse me. Does a little alarm go off in your house when I make any criticism of new Who so you can jump to it and respond with a quick ad hominem?

 

[Gepard]

Yes. In fact, all of our posting habits revolve around yours. We work in these big call centers, like one of those ITT Tech ads, and we take shifts disagreeing with you. Curses for finding us out!

 

[Bones2]

Yes. In fact, all of our posting habits revolve around yours. We work in these big call centers, like one of those ITT Tech ads, and we take shifts disagreeing with you. Curses for finding us out!

I wasn't talking to you

 

[Sketcher]

Rule one, the Doctor lies - River Song