movies/tv What will happen when the Doctor runs out of lives?

[CornBreadGang 514]

Either way when that last episode with the 13th doctor comes it is going to be a global holiday. My prediction is that everything will stop and all the people in the world will go home from work and/or school to watch that last episode of Doctor Who.

I can see the headline already:

"Doctor Who series finale airs, many rebel against end of franchise!"

I'm hoping that Doctor Who makes it to 100 years at least, so I can say: "I liked that show 50 years ago!"

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

I'm going with the idea that the 13 lives limit isn't a biological restriction, but rather than a law enforced by the Time Lords. Maybe after 13, you run the risk of going mad with each regeneration, like the Master did.

Edited October 8, 2013 by CITRUS KING46

[CornBreadGang 514]

I'm going with the idea that the 13 lives limit isn't a biological restriction, but rather than a law enforced by the Time Lords. Maybe after 13, you run the risk of going mad with each regeneration, like the Master did.

Now this is a good concept! Hopefully Moffat will consider this as a good reason. And I'll say it again for no reason whatsoever:

DARN YOU, MOFFAT!

[Fhaolan 4,484]

Okay, here's what we 'know':

 

In the original series, the first known regeneration was specifically said to be a function of the TARDIS, without which it would not have succeeded (as said in Power of the Daleks). The fifth, sixth, ninth, and tenth known regenerations also took place in the TARDIS.

 

The second regeneration was forced upon the Doctor by the Time Lords themselves. It was not a natural regeneration. (War Games)

 

The third and fourth regenerations were natural regeneration, but required the assistance of an external force, a fellow Time Lord and a projection of a future regeneration. (Planet of the Spiders and Logopolis respectively)

 

The seventh regeneration had no assistance nor was in the TARDIS. However, it was the FOX movie where a lot of strange things out of continuity seemed to occur. While it is 'canon', I think we can take what was seen as being interpretive rather than factual.

 

The eighth regeneration took place off screen.

 

In the episode set of the Brain of Morbius heavily implied that Hartnell was not actually the *first* doctor. This concept was also implied throughout McCoy's run as the seventh doctor.

 

The Valeyard was a 'potential' Doctor that the Time Lords managed to pull together through some temporal jiggery-pokery.

 

In the episode set of The Deadly Assassin, the Master manages to exist after his regeneration set 'runs out', and he believes he knows a way to exceed the limit. This is also the episode set where the limit of 13 lives (12 regenerations) is set. This limit is referenced several times throughout the remains of the classic series.

 

In the episode set of The Keeper of Traken, the Master finds a way to exceed the limit, but it requires possessing other beings.

 

In the anniversary special of The Five Doctors the Master is offered a new 'cycle' of regenerations by the Time Lords. In this episode the Time Lord known as Rassilon was revealed to be functionally immortal, and legends told of how he was capable of passing on this immortality to those worthy. This was a trap, but whether or not Rassilon was actually immortal was left unanswered.

 

In the new series episode The Sound of Drums, the Master *has* been granted a new cycle of regenerations by the Time Lords.

 

In the episode The Name of the Doctor, John Hurt is introduced as an unknown Doctor. It is heavily implied that he occurred between Paul McGann and Christopher Ecclestone, but we will hopefully find out in the 50th Anniversary Special.

 

So add this together and the answer is:

 

I dunno. 

 

It's very likely that the regeneration ability is not something that a Time Lord can normally do on their own, requiring some outside assistance (such as a TARDIS, a fellow Time Lord to loan some energy, or in one case pre-storing energy into a construct.)  This would indicate that the hard limit of 12 regenerations may be a point after which regeneration requires a serious kickstart of some kind beyond what even the TARDIS can pump out. The Master seemed to think that direct access to the Eye of Harmony would have that kind of power.

 

This may not even be the Doctor's first time around the mulberry bush, as it were. Perhaps these previous lives were not 'The Doctor', but they may have been the same person...   

[CornBreadGang 514]

Okay, here's what we 'know':

 

In the original series, the first known regeneration was specifically said to be a function of the TARDIS, without which it would not have succeeded (as said in Power of the Daleks). The fifth, sixth, ninth, and tenth known regenerations also took place in the TARDIS.

 

The second regeneration was forced upon the Doctor by the Time Lords themselves. It was not a natural regeneration. (War Games)

 

The third and fourth regenerations were natural regeneration, but required the assistance of an external force, a fellow Time Lord and a projection of a future regeneration. (Planet of the Spiders and Logopolis respectively)

 

The seventh regeneration had no assistance nor was in the TARDIS. However, it was the FOX movie where a lot of strange things out of continuity seemed to occur. While it is 'canon', I think we can take what was seen as being interpretive rather than factual.

 

The eighth regeneration took place off screen.

 

In the episode set of the Brain of Morbius heavily implied that Hartnell was not actually the *first* doctor. This concept was also implied throughout McCoy's run as the seventh doctor.

 

The Valeyard was a 'potential' Doctor that the Time Lords managed to pull together through some temporal jiggery-pokery.

 

In the episode set of The Deadly Assassin, the Master manages to exist after his regeneration set 'runs out', and he believes he knows a way to exceed the limit. This is also the episode set where the limit of 13 lives (12 regenerations) is set. This limit is referenced several times throughout the remains of the classic series.

 

In the episode set of The Keeper of Traken, the Master finds a way to exceed the limit, but it requires possessing other beings.

 

In the anniversary special of The Five Doctors the Master is offered a new 'cycle' of regenerations by the Time Lords. In this episode the Time Lord known as Rassilon was revealed to be functionally immortal, and legends told of how he was capable of passing on this immortality to those worthy. This was a trap, but whether or not Rassilon was actually immortal was left unanswered.

 

In the new series episode The Sound of Drums, the Master *has* been granted a new cycle of regenerations by the Time Lords.

 

In the episode The Name of the Doctor, John Hurt is introduced as an unknown Doctor. It is heavily implied that he occurred between Paul McGann and Christopher Ecclestone, but we will hopefully find out in the 50th Anniversary Special.

 

So add this together and the answer is:

 

I dunno. 

 

It's very likely that the regeneration ability is not something that a Time Lord can normally do on their own, requiring some outside assistance (such as a TARDIS, a fellow Time Lord to loan some energy, or in one case pre-storing energy into a construct.)  This would indicate that the hard limit of 12 regenerations may be a point after which regeneration requires a serious kickstart of some kind beyond what even the TARDIS can pump out. The Master seemed to think that direct access to the Eye of Harmony would have that kind of power.

 

This may not even be the Doctor's first time around the mulberry bush, as it were. Perhaps these previous lives were not 'The Doctor', but they may have been the same person...

 

My Celestia, this is brilliant. I'm not entirely sure if this is all true, but darn, man, you must really have done your homework.

[Malinter 3,064]

I just thought of something. Maybe we're looking at the wrong thing. what if pushing 13 renerations kills the TARDIS? its a living thing and has (sort of) died before. I don't think the doctor would let it die.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

My Celestia, this is brilliant. I'm not entirely sure if this is all true, but darn, man, you must really have done your homework.

Heh. @@CITRUS KING46[/b] knows the way I work. I'm a font of useless information.

 

In this case, it helps that relative to the average Brony, I'm *old*. I've been watching Doctor Who since it started to be broadcast in Ontario, Canada in 1976 with Pertwee as the Doctor. I've read all the novelizations, and seen the episodes prior to that, both the existing ones and the reconstructions.

 

And I'm on edge to find out end of this week, which episodes they have found in storage in Africa.

I just thought of something. Maybe we're looking at the wrong thing. what if pushing 13 renerations kills the TARDIS? its a living thing and has (sort of) died before. I don't think the doctor would let it die.

That's... interesting actually. I'm going to have to think that one through.

 

She was involved in at least one Master regeneration, and Romana in the classic series. But I can almost see how that would work...

[CornBreadGang 514]

I just thought of something. Maybe we're looking at the wrong thing. what if pushing 13 renerations kills the TARDIS? its a living thing and has (sort of) died before. I don't think the doctor would let it die.

 

This is good thinking, definitely something to ponder.

 

Heh. @@CITRUS KING46[/b] knows the way I work. I'm a font of useless information.In this case, it helps that relative to the average Brony, I'm *old*. I've been watching Doctor Who since it started to be broadcast in Ontario, Canada in 1976 with Pertwee as the Doctor. I've read all the novelizations, and seen the episodes prior to that, both the existing ones and the reconstructions.And I'm on edge to find out end of this week, which episodes they have found in storage in Africa. That's... interesting actually. I'm going to have to think that one through.She was involved in at least one Master regeneration, and Romana in the classic series. But I can almost see how that would work...

Wait... They found episodes in Africa?! Wow, I'm anxious to see these, as well.

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

 

 

This would indicate that the hard limit of 12 regenerations may be a point after which regeneration requires a serious kickstart of some kind beyond what even the TARDIS can pump out. The Master seemed to think that direct access to the Eye of Harmony would have that kind of power.

 

Never considered that. Would explain why the regenerations are getting more explosive and violent as time goes on.

 

The last regeneration blew up the TARDIS. What the heck is Eleven's regeneration gonna do?

[CornBreadGang 514]

Never considered that. Would explain why the regenerations are getting more explosive and violent as time goes on.

 

The last regeneration blew up the TARDIS. What the heck is Eleven's regeneration gonna do?

For me, I'm half expecting Matt to take out something at least the size of a small town, hopefully far away from London, so he doesn't kill everyone in saving himself. :/ Edited October 8, 2013 by super2379

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

 

 

For me, I'm half expecting Matt to take out something at least the size of a small town, hopefully far away from London, so he doesn't kill everyone in saving himself. :/

 

Suddenly that Time Turner comic on DeviantArt where he uses his regeneration energy to wipe out the Cybermen armada doesn't seem so far from the show. That'd be a first.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

Wait... They found episodes in Africa?! Wow, I'm anxious to see these, as well.

There's been a rumor running around for the last little while about a large chunk of early episodes being found in storage in a TV station in Sierra Leone or Ethiopia. Exactly how many and the condition of them has varied depending which 'newspaper' talked about it. But the BBC themselves just announced that... they're going to announce something end of this week about recovered episodes. The Restoration Team is probably still running through all the film to find out if it's usable or not. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24448063

[CornBreadGang 514]

Suddenly that Time Turner comic on DeviantArt where he uses his regeneration energy to wipe out the Cybermen armada doesn't seem so far from the show. That'd be a first.

 

It has been stated that the 11th would die by Cybermen, so that seems about right.

 

There's been a rumor running around for the last little while about a large chunk of early episodes being found in storage in a TV station in Sierra Leone or Ethiopia. Exactly how many and the condition of them has varied depending which 'newspaper' talked about it. But the BBC themselves just announced that... they're going to announce something end of this week about recovered episodes. The Restoration Team is probably still running through all the film to find out if it's usable or not. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24448063

Well, I'm watching these whether Africa wants me to or not!

[Storn 11]

In some old episode (If I'm not completely mistaken) the Timelords promised Doctor more lives for catching Master. Not sure though.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

In some old episode (If I'm not completely mistaken) the Timelords promised Doctor more lives for catching Master. Not sure though.

 

Not quite, but close. It was 'The Five Doctors', and it was the Timelords promising the *Master* a new cycle of regenerations if he helped the Doctor.

 

Also, in my long write up above, I had forgotten two other classic episodes that referenced the technological origins of regnerations:

 

The 'Underworld' episodes, where the Minyans were misusing Time Lord technology to give themselves infinite regenerations in order to complete a several-thousand-year journey. Although it was working on a purely physical level, it was breaking them down mentally and emotionally. This regeneration process required a machine to kick off.

 

The 'Mawdryn Undead' episodes, where an alien race was attempting to duplicate the Time Lord regeneration ability. It didn't quite go right, with the aliens experiencing constant pain and slow decay while being unable to die. Eventually temporal energy from the TARDIS (sorta) is used to substitute for the regeneration energy to 'fix' the problem.

[Bhending the Rules 697]

I don't think fans of the show have anything to worry about at all. When the Doctor comes up to that 13 regeneration limit, they'll contrive some sort of excuse to make that suddenly not be a deal-breaker. (Hey, don't look at me like that. It's not hating to acknowledge that sometimes DW writers come up with... "creative" solutions when they've written themselves into a corner.) A lot of folks here are coming up with some fine ideas, but the most powerful thing protecting the Doctor is his still-growing popularity.