Best Regeneration Story 2 (Updated)

[Green Lantern]

Since there has been two regeneration stories since the last poll plus I've seen more as well as those two, I thought it would be a suitable time to do a new poll, plus moods have changed and so on.

So what's your favourite regeneration story? I would have to say since getting the DVD to it for Christmas and falling in love with it, I'd have to say The Caves of Androzani as it's just so great! I could see where Vengeance on Varos got quite a bit of its inspiration from. Also, big up for The Planet of Spiders, Logopolis, The Night of the Doctor, The Parting of Ways and The End of Time with them all being outstanding regenerations.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Once again - Time and the Rani is Seventh's first story. The regeneration only happens in the prologue, thus the story is a post-regeneration story.

Why with this insistance?

 

[Green Lantern]

Once again - Time and the Rani is Seventh's first story. The regeneration only happens in the prologue, thus the story is a post-regeneration story.

Why with this insistance?

To be honest, I hesitated putting that and The Enemy Within for those reasons and face it, I highly doubt anyone would vote for Rani anyway, so if the mods want to do what's best, go ahead.

 

[tomalak301]

Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways

It was my first regeneration story and still my favorite, even though Night of the Doctor now comes awfully close.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

"The End of Time" -- Tennant into Smith.

 

[Green Lantern]

Just for the hell of it, let's do the old ranking thing. :P

Here's mine (minus Time and the Rani and the 96 film plus I've not seen Tenth Planet yet):

#1: The Caves of Androzani (5-6)
Only recently seen this, but fallen in love with it. It reminds me so much of Vengeance on Varos and I love that even more! Sharaz Jek is one of my favourite monsters of the classic era now, he's so creepy! This serial like Vengeance on Varos is surprisingly dark and adult for doctor who let alone classic who, a theme which I love and wish Moffat fucking used. Good story and all! The regeneration scene I feel is more from the doctors perspective than other regenerations and you can sort of eel his nausea if that makes sense.
#2: The End of Time (10-11)
Quite a bit of nostalgic emotions for me as this was the first regeneration when it was the current doctor leaving. I mean I was aware of the show when Eccleston was in It, but I only started to get into the show a few months after he left, so that wasn't a live regeneration like this was. Plus the regeneration scene was great and to be honest, I liked it on its own merits. I don't get the hate this story receives.
#3: Logopollis (4-5)
This was pretty much my default regeneration story for me growing up, used to watch this ALL the time! I loved the story, was fast pace for a classic story which is a reason I love it. Fun, great Master, great serial in general.
#4: Bad Wolf/The Parting of Ways (9-10)
Just always liked it. Plus Eccleston and Daleks, they go so well! Was a darker series of the show which I adore. Good fun, good regeneration!
#5: Planet of the Spiders (3-4)
Were some scenes I got a bit bored in and I think was a bit drawn out, but over all good fun. Plus it contained one of the only scenes in classic who that can make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! The scene where the doctor shows signs of fear in the cave or something and the queen spider torments him. Plus the pre regeneration scene was priceless quality! The actual regeneration scene however was crap, but you can't have everything.
#6: The Night of the Doctor (8-War)
After years and years and years and years and years and years and years of wanting to see McGann return to the role, my wishes were finally granted. A shame it was only 7 minutes long, but what a fantastic seven minutes they were! If this was a full length episode, it'd definitely be higher but as it stands, is at this level. The pre regeneration scene is so great. The costume is great. McGann is great. Everything is great!
#7: The War games (2-3)
Ok, here's where the positive reviews end. The War Games is okay, but not overall that good. Ten episodes is too fucking long, if it was just four episodes it would have worked better. Even six or so would have been too much. Plus the story is just average. The final scene with the doctor vanishing into the distance is nice and sinister.
#8: The Time of the Doctor (11-12)
Okay and here's the only one to get and absolutely awful review. This was a waste of fucking time, a waste of a regeneration story. Modern effects, 21st century, state of the art technology and this looses against what people would call "cranky silly old things". This story is a prime example which shows us that technology and special effects don't make things good, a cracking story and good acting makes things good. This is if I'm honest a pathetic excuse for a doctor who story let alone a regeneration story. Too many silly little cameos from monsters. I hope Moffat is never again put in charge of a regeneration story after this. A shame after he did so well with Night of the Doctor and stories such as the Eleventh Hour, Day of the Doctor, The Impossible Astronaut/Day o the Moon and the Angels Take Manhattan. Maybe he deserves another chance, but this time Moff maybe think of a more interesting cause of death than old age.

 

[diankra]

If you can, make it vote-for-three. Or just give Androzani the prize and let us vote for second place. Which I'll now do... Caves is best, but I'll vote for... tell you later!

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Once again - Time and the Rani is Seventh's first story. The regeneration only happens in the prologue, thus the story is a post-regeneration story.

Why with this insistance?

To be honest, I hesitated putting that and The Enemy Within for those reasons and face it, I highly doubt anyone would vote for Rani anyway, so if the mods want to do what's best, go ahead.

Well, The Enemy Within can actually count, because it is BOTH Seven's last and Eight's first. Its unique in that position.

Time and the Rani though, is simply Seven's post-regeneration story. Simple as that.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Anyway, here's my ranking. I include The Day of the Doctor, because it showed War's regeneration to Nine, and Stolen Earth/Journey's End, because it showed the Meta-Crisis regeneration, which Time of the Doctor stated that it counts. And, I haven't seen The Tenth Planet and Planet of the Spiders. So...

Fifth: Caves of Androzani (just perfect - only wish the cave monster was convcingly done)
Eighth: Night of the Doctor (a short on steroids! perfect exit for the Eighth)
War: The Day of the Doctor (a really, really great story - but the Ninth is sorely missed, and McGann should've been in the War Doctor's place)
Second: War Games (a couple of episodes too long in the middle, but still very good)
Nine: Bad Wolf (a great story, let down by the game show bits - but not by much)
Tenth (first one, that created Meta-Crisis): Stolen Earth (a fantastic finale for series 4, with the Meta Crisis aspect of it being the only real turn-off - but it works still)
Eleven: Time of the Doctor (a little rushed, some annoying revisions over-simplification of facts, but still well-done)
Tenth: End of Time (a bloated mess, saved only by Tennant, Cribbins and the amazing last 30 minutes)
Fourth: Logopolis (good plotting, weak characterization)
Seventh: The Enemy Within (a mess - thank goodness for McCoy and, especially, McGann, for making the least bit watchable)

So yeah, only don't really like the TV Movie, with Logopolis and End of Time being really, really weak. But they have their merits - Tom Baker at his most serious for a while, and Tennant at the peak of his powers as the Doctor, respectively. The rest are all top-notch, in their own ways.

 

[Green Lantern]

I love the Enemy Within.

 

[Tom]

Day of the Doctor is a regeneration story for Hurt's doctor, he finds a solution to end the Timewar then regenerates, it deserves to be in there as much as the 7 minute Night of the Doctor does.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Yeah, but on the other hand, the story is how the Doctor changed the event, so I can understand the hesitance. But personally I consider it - its stilll part of it.

And if one consider Night and Day of the Doctor as the same feature, with the former serving as the latter's prologue, that makes the John Hurt Doctor uniquely a Doctor that regenerated twice in a story.

And for good measure, lets show the real regeneration of War-to-Nine:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO3veBHQ7aQ[/YT]

 

[Green Lantern]

Yeah I didn't include it as it just didn't seem right. Plus it's so good too.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/top-11-regeneration-stories-57565.htm

 

[MacLeod]

In one context, "The Stolen Earth" is a regeneration story as a regeneration was used up.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways for me.