Poll: Is Matt Smith the 11th or 12th Doctor
- Thread starter wamdue
- Start date
Here's an idea:
We don't have a clue how regeneration works, or why there's reputedly 'only 13' allowed. What if a Time Lord lives one full life, and then starts regenerating younger? Each new face is a tad younger than the last when it started. Nothing we've seen of regeneration actually contradicts that. Some of the Doctor's new faces have looked similar in age to their predecessor, but nothing necessitates that it can't be 'a little younger'. 13 is the cut-off not because energy is all used up, but because the Time Lord (or Lady) has regenerated his way back to puberty and can't go any younger. 9 looked a little older because he was battle weary from the Time War.
On that basis 10b is clearly exactly the same age as 10a, so nothing is used up. Therefore, even if it were a regeneration, it doesn't count for the 13. And we have some 'goof up' resulting in 12 or 13 suddenly being a lot older and resetting the 'dial' for another set of regenerations.
We don't have a clue how regeneration works, or why there's reputedly 'only 13' allowed. What if a Time Lord lives one full life, and then starts regenerating younger? Each new face is a tad younger than the last when it started. Nothing we've seen of regeneration actually contradicts that. Some of the Doctor's new faces have looked similar in age to their predecessor, but nothing necessitates that it can't be 'a little younger'. 13 is the cut-off not because energy is all used up, but because the Time Lord (or Lady) has regenerated his way back to puberty and can't go any younger. 9 looked a little older because he was battle weary from the Time War.
On that basis 10b is clearly exactly the same age as 10a, so nothing is used up. Therefore, even if it were a regeneration, it doesn't count for the 13. And we have some 'goof up' resulting in 12 or 13 suddenly being a lot older and resetting the 'dial' for another set of regenerations.
11th.
And about Smith being too young: I have always kind of wished to see a Doctor start out as a young man and see him slowly grow old over the years, with an actor willing to basically devote his entire career to playing the part. Perhaps there is a chance here that will happen this time? I haven't read up on this Matt Smith to know him, but he seems like an unknown to me. Hopefully he will be good and fall in love with playing the role and not ever want to give it up.
As to the Doctor's regenerations: It would be interesting dramatically to see when and if he ever gets to what he believes is his last regeneration. With the ability to regenerate, the Doctor acts as if he has a safety net. How will his last personality deal with the idea that it is his last? Lots of good drama to be had there.
Then of course he should die and regenerate. He sits up and and looks at his hands and himself and says "I wasn't expecting that!" And from then on you have a Doctor never really knowing if he will regenerate when he dies. And of course he will as long as the ratings are good.
That's how I'd answer the regeneration question. I know the fans would say it breaks that 12 regeneration rule. There goes the Doctor breaking the rules again...
And about Smith being too young: I have always kind of wished to see a Doctor start out as a young man and see him slowly grow old over the years, with an actor willing to basically devote his entire career to playing the part. Perhaps there is a chance here that will happen this time? I haven't read up on this Matt Smith to know him, but he seems like an unknown to me. Hopefully he will be good and fall in love with playing the role and not ever want to give it up.
As to the Doctor's regenerations: It would be interesting dramatically to see when and if he ever gets to what he believes is his last regeneration. With the ability to regenerate, the Doctor acts as if he has a safety net. How will his last personality deal with the idea that it is his last? Lots of good drama to be had there.
Then of course he should die and regenerate. He sits up and and looks at his hands and himself and says "I wasn't expecting that!" And from then on you have a Doctor never really knowing if he will regenerate when he dies. And of course he will as long as the ratings are good.
That's how I'd answer the regeneration question. I know the fans would say it breaks that 12 regeneration rule. There goes the Doctor breaking the rules again...
^ Sounds like a great way of dealing with it, because it doesn't ignore the issue, but the ultimate result is that it doesn't really matter. I hope when they come to the "last" regeneration they handle it in a similar way. 
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
QFT.
[long pregnant pause]
...
"This goes to 11."
...
"This goes to 11."
11th.
I can't believe we actually are having a poll about this nonsense.
I can't believe I actually voted in said poll.
He's #11.
I can't believe I actually voted in said poll.
He's #11.
I can't believe there's actually been 3 votes for #12.
Can we sticky this thread, thus killing off almost all possible future discussion of it?
This poll is defective anyway. There's no option for "I like to vote in polls."
^ Sounds like a great way of dealing with it, because it doesn't ignore the issue, but the ultimate result is that it doesn't really matter. I hope when they come to the "last" regeneration they handle it in a similar way.
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
Considering the Time Lords gave the Master a whole new set of regenerations so that he could fight in the Time War, I suspect that the so-called limit is going to be one of those things that is quietly ignored by the new series.
Matt Smith is 11, by the way.
Not that it matters a whit.
I doubt it, and I doubt Gallifrey and the Time War will be Time-locked forever, either.^ Sounds like a great way of dealing with it, because it doesn't ignore the issue, but the ultimate result is that it doesn't really matter. I hope when they come to the "last" regeneration they handle it in a similar way.
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
Considering the Time Lords gave the Master a whole new set of regenerations so that he could fight in the Time War, I suspect that the so-called limit is going to be one of those things that is quietly ignored by the new series.
Matt Smith is 11, by the way.
Not that it matters a whit.
^ Sounds like a great way of dealing with it, because it doesn't ignore the issue, but the ultimate result is that it doesn't really matter. I hope when they come to the "last" regeneration they handle it in a similar way.
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
Considering the Time Lords gave the Master a whole new set of regenerations so that he could fight in the Time War, I suspect that the so-called limit is going to be one of those things that is quietly ignored by the new series.
Matt Smith is 11, by the way.
Not that it matters a whit.
Why Moffat is just as fond of the Time Lords and Gallifrey as RTD was so I don't think anything's going to change in that regard.
The Time War is not locked anymore, Dalek Cann by some fluke unlocked it, of course he went mad, but if he didnt leave it unlocked, it proves it can be unlocked.I doubt it, and I doubt Gallifrey and the Time War will be Time-locked forever, either.^ Sounds like a great way of dealing with it, because it doesn't ignore the issue, but the ultimate result is that it doesn't really matter. I hope when they come to the "last" regeneration they handle it in a similar way.
The 12 regeneration "rule" was put there by writers. It can be smashed apart by writers just as easily. Isn't it generally accepted that it's a rule imposed by Time Lord society anyway? With no Time Lords left, whose to say he can't just regenerate forever?
Considering the Time Lords gave the Master a whole new set of regenerations so that he could fight in the Time War, I suspect that the so-called limit is going to be one of those things that is quietly ignored by the new series.
Matt Smith is 11, by the way.
Not that it matters a whit.
Whether the limit is ignored when the time comes will depend on who the producers are at that point. If it's a classic series nerd like Moffat or RTD, it'll probably be worked into the show because they can't stand to avoid it and it has dramatic potential anyway. If it's someone who isn't an old-school fan, it's more likely to be quietly passed by.
