Question for hardcore Doctor Who fans

[captaincabbage]

Probably a side effect from putting off the regeneration long enough to see everyone. For me, at least, it's the easiest way to explain it without having to go too in depth.

Either that or the side-effect of increasingly fan-wanky writing (at least in the most recent series).

OT: as far as I know (by which I mean, as far as my girlfriend has informed me), The Doctor is practically a completely different person every time he regenerates, allowing his social and emotional responses to vary from actor to actor. As far as the social awkwardness goes, I think it's more due to this Doctor being more of an eccentric genius, as opposed to an eccentric northerner, or an eccentric, and I quote (from my girlfriend) "Skinny, Scottish, sex beast".


. . . I, I don't know either.

But to be more basic, his personality is just more introverted than Tennant or Eccleston's Doctor.

 

[Bassik]

Honestly that's the least of the new series issues. Maybe you should focus on the painful melodrama, the cappy editing, the terrible writing, the boring companions, the overcompensatory production values, the recycled plots, the terrible fanbase and just the overstuffed feel of it all. New Who wants to be epic so hard it comes right around and just starts getting boring. The Caves of Androzani was an effective epic story without all the flashy effects, the music that spoon feeds you the mood and even better neither the Doctor nor the companion were whiners. The Fifth Doctor died with dignity, not blubbering like a fool. The New Series is tolerable at best and utterly wretched at worst and I can't believe people willingly watch it.

Me and my pals watch it willingly all the time, thanks.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Honestly that's the least of the new series issues. Maybe you should focus on the painful melodrama, the cappy editing, the terrible writing, the boring companions, the overcompensatory production values, the recycled plots, the terrible fanbase and just the overstuffed feel of it all. New Who wants to be epic so hard it comes right around and just starts getting boring. The Caves of Androzani was an effective epic story without all the flashy effects, the music that spoon feeds you the mood and even better neither the Doctor nor the companion were whiners. The Fifth Doctor died with dignity, not blubbering like a fool. The New Series is tolerable at best and utterly wretched at worst and I can't believe people willingly watch it.

Well...there were one or two actually good episodes in the 5 new series. But yeah...everyone watched the third Star Wars prequel after they watched the two before that. Likewise, AVP2. Beloved franchises are hard to give up on, and lazy creators know this all too well.

...

Incidently, I don't see why Caves of Androzani is so highly thought of. In general terms, it was a very strong story, true, but as a Doctor Who story, it's up against stories like Genesis of the Daleks, Earthshock, Inferno, Seeds of Death and so on. The bar was alot higher back then. Probably the best regeneration story, though.

 

[SsilverR]

From what i know of the doctor, his dominant personality traits change with each regeneration.
Some are more emotional, some more callous, some extremely social ... it's weird but that's the best i can explain it right now.

 

[Robert Ewing]

I remember in the really old series, from the 70's I think, the Dr. made a massive deal that he only had (7?) lives. So he could die prematurely 7 times before he actually pops his clogs. But if he dies naturally, he can regenerate with no penalty. I'm not sure if it's 7, but I know he said he had a set amount of times he can die.

Fact is, I think he's been killed more than that. Continuum error?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I remember in the really old series, from the 70's I think, the Dr. made a massive deal that he only had (7?) lives. So he could die prematurely 7 times before he actually pops his clogs. But if he dies naturally, he can regenerate with no penalty. I'm not sure if it's 7, but I know he said he had a set amount of times he can die.

13

However, he can them jump bodies, but it kills the host.

This "seems" to have been ret-conned in the Sarah Jane Adventures, much to the great gnashing of teeth from the fandom.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

The New Series is tolerable at best and utterly wretched at worst and I can't believe people willingly watch it.

That's your point of view, and you're welcome til it chokes you.

But no two reasons why you like Caves of Androzani then?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

...from a New Who fan.

Carry on ranting until you find the truth.

 

[Pegghead]

While it may not be relevant to newer Doctor Who (and admittedly I only started watching it on Tennant) I was once reading an old Doctor Who book in a library a few years ago in which he went through a regeneration and had bursts of aggression and violence.

So yeah, I guess each regena=eration is sort of like puberty times a million and thus makes it awkward for him to adjust.

 

[Doitpow]

I remember in the really old series, from the 70's I think, the Dr. made a massive deal that he only had (7?) lives. So he could die prematurely 7 times before he actually pops his clogs. But if he dies naturally, he can regenerate with no penalty. I'm not sure if it's 7, but I know he said he had a set amount of times he can die.

Fact is, I think he's been killed more than that. Continuum error?

Actally its 12 regenerations, so there would stll be one more after Matt Smith, however it has also been suggested that his is more like tradition than biolgical fact. Also a few time lord have managed to circumvent this rule, The Master, Rassilon, Omega. I think the Peter Davidson Doctor may have indicated that he had 7 regenerations left

 

[Bassik]

He changes every regeneration. To prove my point, look up Colin Baker - the 11th Doctor's like an updated version of him.

You've got to be kidding. You've never actually seen a Colin Baker episode have you?

That's your point of view, and you're welcome til it chokes you.

Ah ill wishes. Just the kind of rational, well researched and articulate rebuttal I'd expect from a New Who fan.

Yes, entireley unlike your posts, witch have been nothing but class and civillity.

People like new Doctor Who. A lot of them do, in fact. You can disagree, but first dismount that incredibly high horse you're sitting on.

 

[wyldchyld337]

Wow, that turned into one hell of a rant!

But it was a good rant that I agree with. The Doctor should come across as PhD graduate who is forced to play and socialise with 6 year olds and not like a teacher with a class of students (as he seemed to be in Tennant's era).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB1gB6K-2A

Yep, the Dr. with a room full of students. Courtesy of Catherine Tate and Red Nose Day.

 

[neoptolemus]

The way I understand it every time the Doctor regenerates he becomes a whole new person with a new personality. He keeps a few common traits throughout and he holds all of the memories of his previous incarnations, but he's a different person with a different personality. I think 9 and 10 just better understood humans and human behaviour whereas 11 has a hard time picking up on certain signals. I'd hardly call him socially awkward, that's what I'd call Rory, but I'd say he's more alien, which I like personally. Matt Smith is my favourite doctor so far (though I haven't gotten round to watching all the classics yet).

 

[MADrevilution]

each time he regenerates he gets a new personality as well as a new face. i know this has been stated in the comments above me, but its been explained before in the actual show.

 

[Bassik]

You really don't need Futurama to look like an idiot. I'm sure there's a wealth of ideas you haven't tried yet.

On a more serious note, try using actual words and reason to attempt to convince me using clips from TV shows is essentially an "I've given up on thinking for this argument" flag.

Stop being such a rude person. What, you see a question of someone about a tv show, and your response is to belittle anyone who enjoys sayd tv show? That's not healthy behaviour.

The way I understand it every time the Doctor regenerates he becomes a whole new person with a new personality. He keeps a few common traits throughout and he holds all of the memories of his previous incarnations, but he's a different person with a different personality. I think 9 and 10 just better understood humans and human behaviour whereas 11 has a hard time picking up on certain signals. I'd hardly call him socially awkward, that's what I'd call Rory, but I'd say he's more alien, which I like personally. Matt Smith is my favourite doctor so far (though I haven't gotten round to watching all the classics yet).

Well then you are in for a treat. Matt Smith is a lot more like the older Doctors then Chris and Dave where. Not that there was anything wrong with them, affcorse.