[jpl]

I was having a read at some rumours for the new series of Who and seen a mention that it might be called season 1 and not five or 30.

anyway I was wondering do you think that at they end of the specials they may sort out the Doctor's depleting number of regenerations. If (and I do) you count the regeneration at the end of the forth series then he only has 1 left Once he changes to Matt Smith.

I know as it's a science fiction show that it's easy to come up with something at anytime to give him more regenerations but it seems a good time to sort it out, what with the return of the time lords.

Just a thought.

[korbany]

From what I have been told, the regeneration issue will be resolved in the final. Just have a box of hankies on standby ;-)

[davrosdodebird]

has anyone realised that the dr has FOURTEEN lives, that is, if he has 13 regenerations (regenerates 13 times) ?

cos in the 5 drs, the doc syays its his "fourth" regeneration, so, with DT, we are on his ninth.

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by davrosdodebird

has anyone realised that the dr has FOURTEEN lives, that is, if he has 13 regenerations (regenerates 13 times) ?

cos in the 5 drs, the doc syays its his "fourth" regeneration, so, with DT, we are on his ninth.

It's 12 Regenerations, 13 Lives.

DT was the 10th Doctor after regenerating 9 times.

[davrosdodebird]

Originally Posted by Corwin

It's 12 Regenerations, 13 Lives.

DT was the 10th Doctor after regenerating 9 times.

hmm.... but, in the deadly assassin, the timelords say "after the 13th regeneration, nothing can be done..." establishing 13 regenerations...???

[Solamenn]

Originally Posted by davrosdodebird

hmm.... but, in the deadly assassin, the timelords say "after the 13th regeneration, nothing can be done..." establishing 13 regenerations...???

Nothing can be done, yet the Master was resurrected for the Time War. So they may be either very bad at counting or they vary that regenerations number according to their mood

[darthbibble]

Originally Posted by davrosdodebird

hmm.... but, in the deadly assassin, the timelords say "after the 13th regeneration, nothing can be done..." establishing 13 regenerations...???

in the 5 Doctors they offered the Master more incarnations

[NewbieCanuck]

Originally Posted by davrosdodebird

hmm.... but, in the deadly assassin, the timelords say "after the 13th regeneration, nothing can be done..." establishing 13 regenerations...???

However in TV they can do whatever they like, even if it blatantly contradicts something said the previous week, let alone 33 years ago.

[Corwin]

My take on the Regeneration limit is that a Time Lord body can only regenerate 12 times after that there is not enough energy left in it.

The Time Lords do however have the ability to create a new body (cloned from a DNA sample taken before the first regeneration) and transfer the mind of a Time Lord (stored in The Matrix) into it. This new body then has the energy for 12 more regenerations.

However this process is only done in extreme circumstances and the usual rule is 13 Lives and that's it.

So Borusa (in The Five Doctors) was not allowed to get a new body so had to use other means to carry on living but the Master was given a new body to fight in the Time War as they needed everyone they could get for the fight.

The Master was offered a new set of regenerations in The Five Doctors* but that would only have worked because he was in a body that had never regenerated.

*Of course Borusa and the High Council may have been lying and never intended going through with the offer.

[Urban Bassman]

Originally Posted by Corwin

My take on the Regeneration limit is that a Time Lord body can only regenerate 12 times after that there is not enough energy left in it.

The Time Lords do however have the ability to create a new body (cloned from a DNA sample taken before the first regeneration) and transfer the mind of a Time Lord (stored in The Matrix) into it. This new body then has the energy for 12 more regenerations.

However this process is only done in extreme circumstances and the usual rule is 13 Lives and that's it.

So Borusa (in The Five Doctors) was not allowed to get a new body so had to use other means to carry on living but the Master was given a new body to fight in the Time War as they needed everyone they could get for the fight.

The Master was offered a new set of regenerations in The Five Doctors* but that would only have worked because he was in a body that had never regenerated.

*Of course Borusa and the High Council may have been lying and never intended going through with the offer.

So how did The Master circumvent this and maintain his body during The Deadly Assassin and The Keeper Of Traken - albiet in a decayed state?

As i have said before the regeneration thing is not an issue - it's been got round before when The Master stole Tremas's body in TKOT. Not saying The Doctor would steal somebodies body but a precedent for breaking the rules has been set.

[Face Of Jack]

As far as I'm concerned - we were told that the Doctor has twelve regenerations (hence 13 Doctors). Matt will be No.11 (the 10th regen.) I'm sure that this will all be resolved, and we'll find out that he can live 'forever' like capt. Jack. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.
Suppose back in the old days, the producers thought - "Well, he's never going to last 12 regenerations!".

[Dreamscaperuner]

The Master reached the end of his regenerations but took over another body ergo another 12, then in Survival he mixed with the Cat people and apparently morphed into The Master who was zapped by the Daleks at the request of the timelords, became a slug, morphed again in to The Master re Eric Roberts etc.......then to the end of the universe and the watch................and now we await the ring.....

[Stev0]

As someone else said, it's 12 regenerations and 13 lives. He had his original look then has 12 other incarnations. Thing that I always wondered though was in the series 4 finale when he had the "half" regeneration, did that count as one? hmm..

[Urban Bassman]

Originally Posted by Dreamscaperuner

The Master reached the end of his regenerations but took over another body ergo another 12, then in Survival he mixed with the Cat people and apparently morphed into The Master who was zapped by the Daleks at the request of the timelords, became a slug, morphed again in to The Master re Eric Roberts etc.......then to the end of the universe and the watch................and now we await the ring.....

Yep - but he maintained his existance even after his body "died" as seen in The Deadly Assassin and The Keeper Of traken. it was some time before he took over Tremas's body. Certainly enough time, at least, to ensnare Goth into his scheme on Galifrey and take over Melkur in TKOT.

[jpl]

Originally Posted by Stev0

As someone else said, it's 12 regenerations and 13 lives. He had his original look then has 12 other incarnations. Thing that I always wondered though was in the series 4 finale when he had the "half" regeneration, did that count as one? hmm..

I think it did. and I seen an interview with Tennant saying he thinks it counts to, though that means nothing I supose.

I get the impression from the interviews I've seen from Moffat and RTD that they don't care to much for these things in so much if they get in the way of the story then they'll think of a quick way round it. If they thought that it could really drive a story then they might make more of it. The important thing for them is to write a fun and entertaining story without letting cannon or things like this get in the way of it or dragging the story down.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. Part of the return of the Time Lords or some rushed scene to get the inconvenience out of the way.

[Cel1084]

I say the doctor has already had 14 incarnations. You have 1-10 and every things fine, then ten goes and get himself cloned in to a female solder split into two, stuffed into a human female ,and regenerates back into himself so we now have 1-10, Jenny, Human Doctor , Doctor Danna, and 10.1. Basically I lost count and its a RTD's fault.

[Friz]

Originally Posted by Cel1084

stuffed into a human female

Phwoar

[davrosdodebird]

Originally Posted by Friz

Phwoar

[Listentome]

Originally Posted by Dreamscaperuner

The Master reached the end of his regenerations but took over another body ergo another 12, then in Survival he mixed with the Cat people and apparently morphed into The Master who was zapped by the Daleks at the request of the timelords, became a slug, morphed again in to The Master re Eric Roberts etc.......then to the end of the universe and the watch................and now we await the ring.....

When he took over the body of Tremas, it did not give him another 12 regenerations. This is clearly stated in subsequent stories, he even tried to steal the Doctor's regenerations. When the Eric Roberts Master is sucked into the Eye of Harmony portal we have to assume he died.

However, as Time Lord brain patterns etc are stored in the Matrix on Gallifrey, I assume this is how they resurrected him for the Time War.

[Listentome]

Originally Posted by jpl

I think it did. and I seen an interview with Tennant saying he thinks it counts to, though that means nothing I supose.

I get the impression from the interviews I've seen from Moffat and RTD that they don't care to much for these things in so much if they get in the way of the story then they'll think of a quick way round it. If they thought that it could really drive a story then they might make more of it. The important thing for them is to write a fun and entertaining story without letting cannon or things like this get in the way of it or dragging the story down.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle it. Part of the return of the Time Lords or some rushed scene to get the inconvenience out of the way.

RTD said on This morning there are 12 renegerations, but said anything is possible.

[darthbibble]

Originally Posted by Listentome

RTD said on This morning there are 12 renegerations, but said anything is possible.

It's a job for whoever is the showrunner when Doctor #13 decides to quit - which is likely to be around 10 - 15 years time.

It's not even sure if the programme will still be running then. There is no point in RTD or Moff putting something into the equation for that point unless it's a specific plot point for a current storyline.

[jpl]

I'm not well versed in cannon, but I was sure that the 13th Version of a time lord a sort of half life horrible creature as they were at the end of their life.

now Tennant is the 10th and 11th incarnation (my view) making Matt Smith the doctors last proper fit and healthy incarnation.

[darthbibble]

Originally Posted by jpl

I'm not well versed in cannon, but I was sure that the 13th Version of a time lord a sort of half life horrible creature as they were at the end of their life.

Nope that's incorrect

Check out Azmael in Twin Dilemma.

[Katy Butterfly]

The Valeyard in Trial Of A Time Lord said that he was from "somewhere between your twelfth and final incarnation". No mention of 13 bodies there! Could be between twelfth and five hundredth!

[JAS84]

The events leading to him becoming the Valeyard could quite easily be erased. In fact it probably was, due to the Time War, because as things stand, the Trial can't happen.