Always wondered if the Doctor ages like a human in each of his lives, if he did then surley he could regenerate naturally simply because of old age.
Regeneration Question
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I think Hartnell regenerated because of age, having made a comment either explicitly about the body having become old or just worn out. So I guess he does.
Originally Posted by steven87gill:
“Always wondered if the Doctor ages like a human in each of his lives, if he did then surley he could regenerate naturally simply because of old age.”
“Always wondered if the Doctor ages like a human in each of his lives, if he did then surley he could regenerate naturally simply because of old age.”
I believe he ages at a much slower rate than humans, hence The First Doctor looked about 70 when he was actually over 400 years old. I believe the reason the First Doctor did regenerate into the second was because of old age (unless some better informed person than I knows a different reason).
I was think about this the other day!
I think he must age at a slower rate, because he is on his 11th body and he is over 900 years old. That means just under 100 years for each regeneration. But seeing as how he normally regenerates into a 30 ish to middle aged guy, his body must age slower.
Also, I think I read somewhere that it was the battle with the cybermen and the 'energy drain' from their planet being destroyed that made him regenerate.
I am not really a geek, just amazing how much your mind wanders while at work, lol.
I think he must age at a slower rate, because he is on his 11th body and he is over 900 years old. That means just under 100 years for each regeneration. But seeing as how he normally regenerates into a 30 ish to middle aged guy, his body must age slower.
Also, I think I read somewhere that it was the battle with the cybermen and the 'energy drain' from their planet being destroyed that made him regenerate.
I am not really a geek, just amazing how much your mind wanders while at work, lol.
I guess if The Doctor had stayed on Gallifrey and put his feet up he'd just about have reached Troughton by now. I would assume he grows old within each incarnation, as others have said.
And yet he gets younger and younger. But what gets me is the inconsistency of his regenerations. He gets younger looking as he gets older. 
But what gets me is the inconsistency of his regenerations. He gets younger looking as he gets older.
Originally Posted by tysonstorm:
“And yet he gets younger and younger. But what gets me is the inconsistency of his regenerations. He gets younger looking as he gets older. ”
“And yet he gets younger and younger.
But what gets me is the inconsistency of his regenerations. He gets younger looking as he gets older. ”
If you could regenerate wouldnt you want to carry on looking younger?
Originally Posted by zimnoch2007:
“If you could regenerate wouldnt you want to carry on looking younger?”
“If you could regenerate wouldnt you want to carry on looking younger?
”
Well TBH I'd rather have a "restore" point as it were and grow old from there. At the current rate by his 13th and final incarnation he will be a spotty faced teenager.
Originally Posted by steven87gill:
“Always wondered if the Doctor ages like a human in each of his lives, if he did then surley he could regenerate naturally simply because of old age.”
“Always wondered if the Doctor ages like a human in each of his lives, if he did then surley he could regenerate naturally simply because of old age.”
I always believed that a timelord was almost immortal within the span of 13 regenerations and aged for the remainder of the lifespan of his/her current regeneration, regenerating when the body got old and warn out or some fatal trauma forced a regeneration.
Whenever we go to Gallifrey, we see young and old timelords alike. Mainly old and probably because of the pedestrian lifestyle not bringing about regeneration too often.
Finally, a timelord would grow old and die at the end of the lifespan of his 13th regeneration.
I never got the "trying for size" regeneration of Romana, but other regenerations have been seen; Borusa, the Master (who seems to defy the process with ease!), Castellan (I think but this could have just been another timelord!)
Originally Posted by Vabosity:
“I believe he ages at a much slower rate than humans, hence The First Doctor looked about 70 when he was actually over 400 years old. I believe the reason the First Doctor did regenerate into the second was because of old age (unless some better informed person than I knows a different reason).”
“I believe he ages at a much slower rate than humans, hence The First Doctor looked about 70 when he was actually over 400 years old. I believe the reason the First Doctor did regenerate into the second was because of old age (unless some better informed person than I knows a different reason).”
Correct.
Originally Posted by austin85:
“Also, I think I read somewhere that it was the battle with the cybermen and the 'energy drain' from their planet being destroyed that made him regenerate.”
“Also, I think I read somewhere that it was the battle with the cybermen and the 'energy drain' from their planet being destroyed that made him regenerate.”
No-though the exertion of that adventure did seem to hasten the process.
Originally Posted by helo_75:
“and do we know that hartnell was the original dr?”
“and do we know that hartnell was the original dr?”
Yes-it was stated in The Three Doctors that the Hartnell version was the first, and then restated in The Five Doctors, when Davison confirms that he is the fourth regeneration, and the first Doctor replies 'goodness me, so there are five of me now'.
Originally Posted by Maffmoose:
“
I never got the "trying for size" regeneration of Romana, but other regenerations have been seen; Borusa, the Master (who seems to defy the process with ease!), Castellan (I think but this could have just been another timelord!)”
“
I never got the "trying for size" regeneration of Romana, but other regenerations have been seen; Borusa, the Master (who seems to defy the process with ease!), Castellan (I think but this could have just been another timelord!)”
The Master apparently used up all his regenerations off screen; the Ainley and Eric Roberts Masters were not true regenerations but the dying Master possessing the bodies of other people to artificially extend his life. He was eventually seemingly resurrected and given a whole new regeneration cycle by the Time Lords. As for the Castellan; three individuals using that title have been seen on screen, Castellan Spandrell (who it's indicated is not actually a Time Lord; though he's certainly a Gallifreyan, he seems to know little about the workings of Time Lord biology), Castellan Kelner and the unnamed Castellan seen in Arc of Infinity and The Five Doctors. The word 'Castellan' is not a name, but the title given to the keeper of a citadel-on Gallifrey, it seems to roughly equate to the Capitol's Chief of Police.
Originally Posted by Vabosity:
“I believe he ages at a much slower rate than humans, hence The First Doctor looked about 70 when he was actually over 400 years old. I believe the reason the First Doctor did regenerate into the second was because of old age (unless some better informed person than I knows a different reason).”
“I believe he ages at a much slower rate than humans, hence The First Doctor looked about 70 when he was actually over 400 years old. I believe the reason the First Doctor did regenerate into the second was because of old age (unless some better informed person than I knows a different reason).”
Polly : "What's happened to you, Doctor?"
The Doctor : "Oh, I'm not sure my dear. Comes from an outside influence. Unless this old body of mine is wearing a bit thin."
Incidentally, as an old fart myself, who has watched Dr Who from Ep1 , Series1, I was stunned to learn that William Hartnell was only 55 when he was cast as the first Dr.
Originally Posted by clacker2005:
“Polly : "What's happened to you, Doctor?"
The Doctor : "Oh, I'm not sure my dear. Comes from an outside influence. Unless this old body of mine is wearing a bit thin."
Incidentally, as an old fart myself, who has watched Dr Who from Ep1 , Series1, I was stunned to learn that William Hartnell was only 55 when he was cast as the first Dr.”
“Polly : "What's happened to you, Doctor?"
The Doctor : "Oh, I'm not sure my dear. Comes from an outside influence. Unless this old body of mine is wearing a bit thin."
Incidentally, as an old fart myself, who has watched Dr Who from Ep1 , Series1, I was stunned to learn that William Hartnell was only 55 when he was cast as the first Dr.”
There are some lovely rehearshal shots from the Daleks with Hartnell sans wig. He was definately acting okler to start with.
Originally Posted by clacker2005:
“Polly : "What's happened to you, Doctor?"
The Doctor : "Oh, I'm not sure my dear. Comes from an outside influence. Unless this old body of mine is wearing a bit thin."
Incidentally, as an old fart myself, who has watched Dr Who from Ep1 , Series1, I was stunned to learn that William Hartnell was only 55 when he was cast as the first Dr.”
“Polly : "What's happened to you, Doctor?"
The Doctor : "Oh, I'm not sure my dear. Comes from an outside influence. Unless this old body of mine is wearing a bit thin."
Incidentally, as an old fart myself, who has watched Dr Who from Ep1 , Series1, I was stunned to learn that William Hartnell was only 55 when he was cast as the first Dr.”
He certainly looked older than 55, most likely because of his impending or existing ill health. His longevity in the role couldn't have been helped by the on set accident he suffered during the production of 'Dalek Invasion Of Earth' and I'm sure they were thinking of the series finishing if they hadn't thought of the regeneration plot device then.
Originally Posted by Dear Viewer:
“He certainly looked older than 55, most likely because of his impending or existing ill health.”
“He certainly looked older than 55, most likely because of his impending or existing ill health.”
I tend to think that it was because he was a good actor and the BBC make-up team did a good job.
Originally Posted by clacker2005:
“I tend to think that it was because he was a good actor and the BBC make-up team did a good job.”
“I tend to think that it was because he was a good actor and the BBC make-up team did a good job.”
Yes, in photos from the time without the costume and wig he looks about ten years younger.
Originally Posted by helo_75:
“and do we know that hartnell was the original dr?”
“and do we know that hartnell was the original dr?”
Apart from what has already been mentioned both RTD and SM have confirmed Hartnell is the first. Using the same sort of thing by having the flashbacks provides the canon and stops the confusion caused by the 8th Doctor and the Doctor Who movies with Crushing.
Originally Posted by vampirek:
“Apart from what has already been mentioned both RTD and SM have confirmed Hartnell is the first. Using the same sort of thing by having the flashbacks provides the canon and stops the confusion caused by the 8th Doctor and the Doctor Who movies with Crushing.”
“Apart from what has already been mentioned both RTD and SM have confirmed Hartnell is the first. Using the same sort of thing by having the flashbacks provides the canon and stops the confusion caused by the 8th Doctor and the Doctor Who movies with Crushing.”
There is no confusion surrounding the eighth Doctor. Paul McGann's Doctor has always been regarded as canonical except by a small but irritatingly vocal minority of fandom.
But wasn't there a story Brain of the Morbius where the it indicates regenerations before Hartnell. the mind wrestling part.
Originally Posted by dvirgo:
“But wasn't there a story Brain of the Morbius where the it indicates regenerations before Hartnell. the mind wrestling part.”
“But wasn't there a story Brain of the Morbius where the it indicates regenerations before Hartnell. the mind wrestling part.”
Even as a 5 year old, not knowing at the time about 1 and 2, I thought the other people we saw in that clip were Morbius's regenerations.
Originally Posted by tingramretro:
“There is no confusion surrounding the eighth Doctor. Paul McGann's Doctor has always been regarded as canonical except by a small but irritatingly vocal minority of fandom.”
“There is no confusion surrounding the eighth Doctor. Paul McGann's Doctor has always been regarded as canonical except by a small but irritatingly vocal minority of fandom.”
Was the half-human statement in the TVM ever explained in any of the the audios ot booksfeaturing the Eighth Doctor?
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