How I Would Solve The Regeneration Problem
davrosdodebird
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Ideas discussions and theories concerning the regeneration limit are around, I thought I would add my 2ps worth, as I thought of a solution this morning that doesn't involve just upping the number of times a Time Lord can regenerate, and it partially retcons The Deadly Assassin so it still makes sense given my theory.
What if the Master hadn't simply used up all his regenerations? Say he was suffering from a debilitating disease which suspended his regenerative capacity. His body was wasting away, rotting and dying without the means to heal itself.
Time Lords do not have any regeneration limit. Rather, once they have used 12 regenerations/ 13 lives, they become susceptible to such diseases, having renewed their bodies so many times already. Thus, after the 13th body, regeneration becomes more difficult, rather than impossible.
I would like to see a story along these lines, as we have seen the Doctor struggling with regeneration before, and this would put a slightly new slant on things.
So what do you think? And what's your own theory?
What if the Master hadn't simply used up all his regenerations? Say he was suffering from a debilitating disease which suspended his regenerative capacity. His body was wasting away, rotting and dying without the means to heal itself.
Time Lords do not have any regeneration limit. Rather, once they have used 12 regenerations/ 13 lives, they become susceptible to such diseases, having renewed their bodies so many times already. Thus, after the 13th body, regeneration becomes more difficult, rather than impossible.
I would like to see a story along these lines, as we have seen the Doctor struggling with regeneration before, and this would put a slightly new slant on things.
So what do you think? And what's your own theory?
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There are other canon references to the regeneration limit than Deadly Assassin (Mawdryn Undead for one, and Let's Kill Hitler). It is canon (now) that the Time Lords can trigger a new cycle of regenerations, as they brought back "The Master" (End of Time, 5 Doctors), and that sufficient amounts of energy can also trigger a new cycle (Keeper of Traken). So there is plenty of scope for the writers to get around that little problem.
My guess is that the Sash is currently with the President of the High Council of the Time Lords who, as we all know, is currently a bit busy being time-locked on Gallifrey.
But then, anything's possible
Maybe the White Guardian could help out, or Omega's still lurking somewhere out there and I'm sure he'd be only too willing to lend a hand......well, ok - to kill the Doctor sure, but there will most likely be enough force/energy excuse to be able to wrangle it.
It's as good as any - although it also retcons The Five Doctors, in which the Master is promised a new cycle of regenerations if he helps out. If we were to take that into account, then it would suggest that the Time Lords have the ability to cure these kinds of diseases, meaning it's not such a health limitation after all.
I would personally solve it by having the Doctor find a way to extend his regenerations and have to decide whether he wants to because it's extremely painful and dangerous (It probably involves burning energy beams.)
My problem with saying "no it's not 13 its something else really!" or having the Doctor acquire new regenerations is that it doesn't solve the problem at hand, it just delays the time when fandom says "the doctor is running out of regenerations! what do we do?!" -- saying that the limit is just a measure of how many "safe" or "healthy" regenerations a time lord can have means there is no real limit after all.
Now there's obviously an opportunity to tell an interesting story around this one if they choose to go that route but, and this is just my opinion of course, I don't really see that there's any major problem in need of solving here.
Would be interesting to see, but I would say that the Doctor is extremely young to have gone through this many regenerations, and that he has a natural talent for regenerating, even though he can't control what he regenerates into (as is the case with some timelords/ ladies)
Because for me that doesn't ring true. Regeneration is a natural process, like breathing. It would be very strange indeed if someone were to tell me "the government has decided you can only have 1million breaths." (equal to 49 years)
Aside from murdering me I don't see how that is enforcable. But yes, it's easy to say, hard to believe. As is the case with most thing in nu who recently
Logan's run. That is all.
Not really since it's not something Gallifreyians have had since they first evolved, it's a process that was given to them by Rassilon.
The fact that the Timelords can give a new regeneration cycle to someone implies that they also have the power to Limit them.
They can also be taken away from a Time Lord with the equipment for such stored in every TARDIS.
Surely the ability to regenerate becomes a natural one, in such a way that distinguishes Time Lords from Gallifreyans?
Or during The Time War The Time Lords changed it so they had unlimited regenerations as that would give them a better chance of winning.
I think this is exactly right. Casual viewers are not going to be attracted to a story based around an ill thought out line from 30 years ago.
If the line solving this in Sarah Jane isn't enough, (and it should be) then it'd probably be fine to just have the 14th Doctor wake up and babble something about
"huh...didn't think that would happen, guess the limit died with my people then...."
You can't get too bogged down in the minatue, sometimes a throwaway line is enough.
(Though ironically, Red Dwarf likes solving entire cliffhangers this way, which takes the idea too far sometimes )
Yes, there's nothing quite like bringing an end to all the inter-house fighting and killing than limiting their "immortality". Rassilon was wise.
Not if you go with the Idea that to be a Time Lord you have to attend the Academy.
During the time there Students would be given the ability to regenerate.
Because of that in the Sarah Jane Adventures, there is no need for a 'get-out' clause, or a fix. People think he was joking when he said it - the programme makers might think differently. If they feel that covers the 13 regeneration issue, then it will cover it (and probably without even a reference to it). If they wish to make something of the 13 regeneration issue, then they will. But it will be dependent entirely upon the team actually producing the show at the time.