The Doctor is immortal. It's Official!

[XJ-0461]

I'm also annoyed that it's getting done in such an underwhelming way, but pleased that it's getting done at all.

And it's not like they could only have that fleeting mention as the only reference to it. There could be an episode next series exploring why it happened and how he knows it.

 

[XJ-0461]

i always thought it was a law imposed by timelords on themselves rather than a genetic fact

Nope, in the old series. The Master gets the end of his 13th regeneration and comes near death (his body begins to break down and die) and steals new regeneration for himself using the Eye of Harmony (yes?).

I thought that he stole the body of ...someone (someone who looks a lot like Anthony Ainley) then stuck with that body untill the end of the seventh Doctor's run, then got executed by the Daleks, stole Eric Roberts' body and got thrown into the Eye of Harmony while trying to steal the Doctor's body. After that, he got resurected by the Time Lords to fight in the Time War where he ran off to the end of the universe and became Professor Yana as his human disguise.

I know way too much Doctor Who stuff.

 

[The Salty Vulcan]

I have to admit, even though I am a fan of the good Doctor, I'm actually kinda saddened by this. It was the David Tennant and Matt Smith Doctors that really got me interested in the show (it was always just a little bit of fun before them) and only because he was approaching the end of his rope. I was genuinely looking forward to seeing his final regeneration and the stories that would come from him finally dying. Whathappens when a guy whose lived the life he has lived finally does meet his maker?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy but just not as happy. And yes, I am one of those people who thinks WALL.E would've been a better movie thematically had WALL.E died in case anyone was going to bring it up.

 

[Uberpig]

Speaking as a non-fan: lol.

EDIT: If I was a fan though, I'd be sharpening the knives.

 

[ultimateownage]

Hey, if they give a good enough excuse, then it should be all right.

That's the point, they aren't. They're only going to mention it in a passing comment on a completely different show by the looks of it.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

A passing comment? Lame. It isn't a surprise but they should have done something more about it, knowing that the fanbase would never shut up about it.

I'm not a member of said fanbase but speaking as a non-fan, it does make something that was a rather important in the series merely an afterthought instead of using the opportunity to let the Doctor grow in some way.

[sub][sub][sub]I'd watch the show more but I just don't have time...[/sub][/sub][/sub]

[sub][sub][sub][sub]I'm not staying up till 4:30 in the morning on the Escapist. This is Redlin's brother speaking... yeah...[/sub][/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[WolfThomas]

I read this on comic vine and was wondering how long it would take.

I really don't see any drama in this. The 12 regenerations was always a Timelord Council Edict, not a physical limitation. The president could grant more and remove them as he saw fit. Whatever reason, be it over-population or a limited power source to fuel all the timelords, is now also irrelevant with the time war. The Doctor is the last of the timelords, he can do whatever he wants.

Here's a completely non canon explaination off the top of my head. A Tardis is powered by the eye of harmony, which draws power from the black hole Omega harnessed. This same energy is used for a regenerations. With their being no Timelords to regulate the flow of energy and none to use it up, basically the Doctor's left with as many regenerations as he want. Bang say that in an episode and it explains why the current setting is different to the past.

How on earth did the time lords die out then?

There must be a massive over population on the original time lord planet

At the least there are very few natural births they're like elves in that trait. If a new adventure book is to believed Timelords reproduced by genetic "looms" anyway creating Timelords from genetic banks rather than the old fashioned way. However the canon of this is hugely questionable.

I have to admit, even though I am a fan of the good Doctor, I'm actually kinda saddened by this. It was the David Tennant and Matt Smith Doctors that really got me interested in the show (it was always just a little bit of fun before them) and only because he was approaching the end of his rope..

I'd recommend watching the Chistopher Eccleston eps if you haven't, while it can be debated (and how) which doctor is the best, I always thought he did have a nice story arc and character developement even though it was only one season. He went from depressed PTSD Doctor willing to kill to "Everbody lives" happy doctor again thanks to rose. Tennant despite his brilliance annoyed me with with his bipolar-ness sometimes.

 

[blxtnsq]

Glad they got rid of it. Sad they didn't decide to give a reason for it.
It would have made a nice plot for an episode. Especially if we come up to the end of 13s run and the issue hasn't been addressed. It could be a major plot point. He has to somehow find a way to beat the system before he dies.

 

[Jedamethis]

Hey, if they give a good enough excuse, then it should be all right.

That's the point, they aren't. They're only going to mention it in a passing comment on a completely different show by the looks of it.

By the looks of it? Lets hope they prove us wrong then.

 

[TimeLord]

i always thought it was a law imposed by timelords on themselves rather than a genetic fact

Nope, in the old series. The Master gets the end of his 13th regeneration and comes near death (his body begins to break down and die) and steals new regeneration for himself using the Eye of Harmony (yes?).

I thought that he stole the body of ...someone (someone who looks a lot like Anthony Ainley) then stuck with that body untill the end of the seventh Doctor's run, then got executed by the Daleks, stole Eric Roberts' body and got thrown into the Eye of Harmony while trying to steal the Doctor's body. After that, he got resurected by the Time Lords to fight in the Time War where he ran off to the end of the universe and became Professor Yana as his human disguise.

I know way too much Doctor Who stuff.

Out Who'd by Clank

To be fair, my knowledge of old Doctor Who is limited at the best of times, i can only watch so many old series DVDs a day xD

 

[XJ-0461]

Out Who'd by Clank

To be fair, my knowledge of old Doctor Who is limited at the best of times, i can only watch so many old series DVDs a day xD

Understandable

And to be honest, a lot of my knowledge of the old series comes from reading Doctor Who wiki and a few DVDs.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I have an angry.

I shall calm down and write later.

With sharpened words.

Yes, I know it's a major break of canon, but consider this: The 12 regeneration rule was established by Rassilon, yes? And since the Doctor is a renagade Time Lord (and Rassilon tunred out to be a massive jerk), wouldn't it make sense for him to break that restriction?

Also, keep in mind that River Song implied that the Doctor was evolving beyond what Time Lords are normally capable of (for example, opening the TARDIS doors by snapping his fingers). Who knows, maybe that could include regenerations as well.

 

[TimeLord]

I have an angry.

I shall calm down and write later.

With sharpened words.

Yes, I know it's a major break of canon, but consider this: The 12 regeneration rule was established by Rassilon, yes? And since the Doctor is a renagade Time Lord (and Rassilon tunred out to be a massive jerk), wouldn't it make sense for him to break that restriction?

Also, keep in mind that River Song implied that the Doctor was evolving beyond what Time Lords are normally capable of (for example, opening the TARDIS doors by snapping his fingers). Who knows, maybe that could include regenerations as well.

Which is all fantastic storytelling if it was explained in an awesome way. As I said in my OP, that fact that they have done this is not a problem, it's how they've gone about doing it.

 

[Hlain]

As long as Doctor Who don't stop being awesome, they don't need to stop making new seasons. Imagine sitting down with your grandkids to watch the latest episode, or show them the (by then) old awesomeness of David Tennant!

 

[FalloutJack]

To be honest, there is alot of ambiguity behind all this.

I'm a Doctor Who fan and this doesn't entirely surprise me. The rules have already been bent or broken and the capability to do so has been there a long time. It is within the power of, say, the Timelords to recreate and re-install regenerations in a fellow Gallifreyan. Case in point: The Master. He's used his regenerations, he's a body stealer, and he's been made extremely dead on several occasions. Come the Time War, he's back again, regenerations and all.

It has been implied for a long time that the Doctor is somehow special, that he has something different about him that allows the man to rise up to the heights of Rassilon in ways. Rassilon who, being completely immortal BTW, was pulled out of his 'tomb' for the Time War as well to be Lord President again. We know that the Timelords can restore themselves even beyond #12 with enough power and that it was even necessary in the war.

The Doctor is...last of an authority that lived too long for its own good and saw too much power in its time. But then, what are we saying? That the last of the Timelords can't keep on fighting the good fight? He always fought the Master's means of extending his life because it was wrong, or even many other people's because it was hideous. But for himself? There is a right way to do it. The power has always been there in his race. As the last, he has that entitlement, should he deem it necessary.

 

[Tiny116]

How on earth did the time lords die out then?

There must be a massive over population on the original time lord planet

They didn't die out. They're trapped in a time lock....

And I really don't know How I feel about this....But I have to say I am guiltily pleased that the series has a longer life span especially if it continues to be good.

But Surely Moffat Who is a believer in doing Things properly (Sherlock anyone?) Wouldn't blow something like this off to a kiddies spin off??

 

[Paksenarrion]

I believe they're bringing George Lucas aboard on this one. The reason The Doctor can live past his 12th regeneration is midichlorians.

...midichlorians.

MIDICHLORIANS

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

I'm not surprised, but I'm disappointed. I wouldn't have expected the BBC to turn away from such a wildly successful franchise but there are so many ways the writers could use a thirteenth regeneration as a plot device. If that's the phrase I want.

Example: The thirteenth Doctor, given that he'd think he was on his last life, could be more likely to avoid the more dangerous methods other Doctors may have used, and less inclined to place himself in the firing line, as it were. His eventual regeneration could lead to his successor's subsequent bewilderment, and he'd be compelled to find out just why he was still alive.
Or something.

EDIT: In response to the topic title, didn't we already know our wonderful Time Lord was quasi-immortal - that is, he can't die but he can be killed? This goes waaay back to the Second Doctor claiming that Time Lords could live forever, "barring accidents", and is backed up by the Tenth claiming that he doesn't age, but his companions "wither and die".

 

[vanthebaron]

But...he only...has 12 regen's...HOW!!!!! I want an explanation, now

 

[FakingVanity]

Well....that's a bit of a letdown.
Then again, it happens. Especially in a show like Doctor Who, there are so many little things that happened with one doctor that were ignored by another. I'm an old school Doctor fan, and I still watch. It would have been really interesting though if they'd made a bigger deal of it.
Especially with the way the Master handled running out of regenerations.

In some ways I prefer SJA to the current series of Doctor Who, it just feels a little more...adventurey? I don't know.

Like I said though, it happens, anyone remember why the fifth doctor wore celerey? Apparently he was allergic to some kind of gases...and celerey turns purple in it's presence...Odd. And it's never brought up again...or at any point before that. Throwaway comments in some ways define the series.

Really they're being quite clever,I suppose, instead of limiting the series with a such a small coment, they're freeing it up to go wherever it can go.

It doesn't change the fact that the fangirl inside me has her bottom lip wibbling a bit over this. It's all good though.