The next regeneration

[Whofan]

So far all the regenerations-including the Master's-in the new series have been in the TARDIS and have used pretty much the same effect-a burst of energy. Also everybody's been on their feet (Although the Master seemed unconscious for a minute when he became Simm).

But should Moffat try something new for the next one? Have the Doctor flat on his back like every classic series regeneration? Perhaps a more sophisticated 'morphing' effect?

Also how about a regeneration outside the TARDIS? That could make it more tense, since the TARDIS apparentally eases the process along (Although there was the Zero room concept in Castrovalva) Then again, he's only really not regenerated in the TARDIS three times...

 

[The]

Wouldn't that be four?

Troughton to Pertwee (Gallifrey)
Pertwee to Baker (UNIT lab floor)
Baker to Davison (under the Pharos dish)
McCoy to McGann (in morgue)

 

[Bones2]

My big problem with the new show regenerations is that they've all been standing up. Kind of ruins the idea it's a death. As for where it is, it just depends on the story. The perfect place for Tennant to regenerate was on that floor after letting Wilf out. Instead we got the embarrassment of a whole tour through the RTD era. We didn't need him to say "I don't want to go"; that was quite evident in the fact he didn't fuck off 20 minutes earlier. So far as the next one goes, who's to say Moffat'll be in charge? I like to think Smith'll stick around for a long time.

 

[Starkers]

Well the regen effect throughout the classic series varied greatly (some better than others) whereas NuWho (sorry EMH) it's all been a bit samey!

Would be nice to have something a little different next time...I just hope the next time is some way off yet...

 

[ITL]

Doctor gets thrown out of a plane/spaceship after being mortally wounded in an exiting and thrilling confrontation of some sort.
Regenerates in mid air.
Lands on his head.
Ouch. Fatally ouch.
Regenerates again.
Climbs out of newly formed Doctor-shaped crater.
Asks puzzled passer-by for a Nice Hot Cup Of Tea.
Falls over.
The end.

 

[UssGlenn]

A reasonably funny joke, but it wouldn't work since any injuries sustained just after the regeneration would be repaired like how he grew a new hand.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm now inclined to believe that--under ideal conditions--a Time Lord probably does regenerate on his feet. It's just been that in the past, the Doctor's regenerations were either the result of some trauma or chaotic event in which he was already lying down as they occurred, IMO. In the case of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, both had a little bit of time to prepare themselves before they died. Previous Doctors didn't have that luxury. IIRC, the First Doctor collapsed due to exhaustion, and the Third Doctor used what little time he had left to save the world and then collapsed afterward...

While we don't know about the Eighth Doctor's regeneration, it was sort of unique that we had two consecutive Doctors go out in similar fashions in the same place.

Personally, I kind of doubt the Eleventh Doctor will die in the TARDIS too, but it would be the ideal place for a homeless Time Lord to regenerate, IMO (provided it wasn't crashing at the same time).

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Well the regen effect throughout the classic series varied greatly (some better than others) whereas NuWho (sorry EMH) it's all been a bit samey!

As you should be!

Would be nice to have something a little different next time...I just hope the next time is some way off yet...

I definitely want something different because there's always been a variety of effects. I also have to agree with Bones that The Doctor shouldn't be standing up while regenerating.

 

[David cgc]

I'm now inclined to believe that--under ideal conditions--a Time Lord probably does regenerate on his feet. It's just been that in the past, the Doctor's regenerations were either the result of some trauma or chaotic event in which he was already lying down as they occurred, IMO. In the case of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, both had a little bit of time to prepare themselves before they died. Previous Doctors didn't have that luxury. IIRC, the First Doctor collapsed due to exhaustion, and the Third Doctor used what little time he had left to save the world and then collapsed afterward...

The weird part is that after Ten was shot in "The Stolen Earth," he was lying on the ground and forced himself to his feet. And then he assumed the position. Jacobi did the same thing, and it really irritated me both times. I much preferred the way it was in "Parting" and "End of Time" when the actor (and the visual effects team) played it as a sudden jolt with the regeneration energy shooting out as their arms fly up.

 

[Shatnertage]

I liked that it was different every time in the Classic series. It made it a little less predictable, and a little more "what's going on here" to watch. Though in the days before DVD sets a big chunk of the audience had only a faint memory of the last regeneration, most likely.

The "once more before I go" tour that Ten did, though, got on my nerves a bit, and was pretty cheesy.

And I think that little glowy-breath thing from the newly-regenerated doc is really, super, cheesy. I'm fine with never seeing that again.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm now inclined to believe that--under ideal conditions--a Time Lord probably does regenerate on his feet. It's just been that in the past, the Doctor's regenerations were either the result of some trauma or chaotic event in which he was already lying down as they occurred, IMO. In the case of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, both had a little bit of time to prepare themselves before they died. Previous Doctors didn't have that luxury. IIRC, the First Doctor collapsed due to exhaustion, and the Third Doctor used what little time he had left to save the world and then collapsed afterward...

The weird part is that after Ten was shot in "The Stolen Earth," he was lying on the ground and forced himself to his feet. And then he assumed the position. Jacobi did the same thing, and it really irritated me both times.

I think in both instances we were dealing with Time Lords who felt a regeneration was possibly beginning and still had enough strength left to get into position. Who knows--maybe the First, Third, and Fifth Doctors might have done the same thing had they not used up all their strength and collapsed instead?

I much preferred the way it was in "Parting" and "End of Time" when the actor (and the visual effects team) played it as a sudden jolt with the regeneration energy shooting out as their arms fly up.

I actually thought it was a bit too jolting in "Parting of the Ways," but I liked how it was done in "End of Time," when we saw the Tenth Doctor's face and hands begin to glow first.

The more I think about it, the more I like there being a consistency in the regeneration process--at least as far as the visual effect is concerned. But the Tenth Doctor's regeneration was rather messy--for lack of a better term--and had unfortunate consequences for the TARDIS. Maybe his act of fighting it off for a final walkabout caused a build-up of regeneration energy that detonated like a bomb once it was finally released...

 

[The]

Maybe his act of fighting it off for a final walkabout caused a build-up of regeneration energy that detonated like a bomb once it was finally released...

I think that's the accepted theory about that, other than in real life Moffat asked RTD to set it up that way. Otherwise, Ten and Rose would have had a much worse time "hopping for their lives" when Nine became Ten...

 

[captcalhoun]

Rusty said, when discussing the Master's regen, that they did it the same way as Nine's, so that the kiddies know what's going on and that - basically - this was the way they would do them all now.

 

[Samurai8472]

I think Moffat will write the eleventh doctor's regeneration in a less pretentious way. By the end of "The end of time part 2" it became Rusty and Tennant's giant farewell tour.

For eleven. I think he'll go out with his head held high and not crying.

In fact the way eleven talked to little Amy before stepping into the crack near the end of "The Big bang" is a good example of how to graciously exit.

I think eleven will visit Amy when she's 15(and Caitlin is 15 aswell) I would be a better scene than Ten talking to Rose.

 

[23skidoo]

I would be a better scene than Ten talking to Rose.

Actually, I thought that scene was fantastic and the best part of Ten's regeneration because it (along with the rest of the "farewell tour") reminded us that the Doctor can travel in time, so there was no reason why he couldn't go and visit Rose before he died. It was handled perfectly and I'm sure Moffat will come out with something just as brilliant.

Crying? Maybe not. Angry? That's my prediction. I sense a great anger within Eleven - maybe not as intense as Nine, but it's there. I think when Eleven bites it, it'll be more along the lines of Ten's temper tantrum after hearing Wilf's 4 Knocks.

Alex

 

[Starkers]

Ten/Rose in The End of Time was quite lovely, probably one of the best scenes those two ever played together, and it reminded me why I used to really like Rose back in S1.

 

[Starkers]

Ten/Rose in The End of Time was quite lovely, probably one of the best scenes those two ever played together, and it reminded me why I used to really like Rose back in S1.

 

[Bones2]

Cor blimey, you alright mate? 'Ad a bit too much to drink, 'av yer?

Yeah, beautiful. Though I probably had trouble buying into it because Ten's regeneration was the most excruciating thing since the end of Return of the King.

 

[The]

I think, as The Big Bang showed us, the Eleventh Doctor will go out as a self-sacrificing hero (flying the Pandorica into the temporal explosion) or as a mature, rational, brave hero (The Doctor choosing to step into the Cracks to save the universe). Either way, I doubt he will 'rage against the dying of the light' like Ten did. It was perfect for Ten, as egomaniac is an apt character description for that incarnation. But, Eleven in an adult, and I doubt he will throw a tantrum. He's too optimistic for that...

 

[The]

Cor blimey, you alright mate? 'Ad a bit too much to drink, 'av yer?

Yeah, beautiful.

Personally, I don't think it would have been that bad if Ten had went from radiation poisoning to the Rose scene. As a desperate gamble to see what he loves one last time. If they could have skipped over the Donna part (okay, maybe keep the Lottery Ticket scene, cause that was awesome), Wilf, Donna's mother, Martha, Mickey, Jack, Sarah, and Luke, and just went from sacrifice to the final moments with Rose and the stagger back to the TARDIS, then I think it would have had a far more profound impact than the drawn-out mess we ended up with.

Though I probably had trouble buying into it because Ten's regeneration was the most excruciating thing since the end of Return of the King.

I thought the same thing in RotK...