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{{first pic|Ten to Nine Retro-regeneration 2.jpg|The [[Tenth Doctor]] after retro-regenerating back into the [[Ninth Doctor]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Fountains of Forever (comic story)|The Fountains of Forever]]'')}}
{{first pic|Ten to Nine Retro-regeneration 2.jpg|The [[Tenth Doctor]] after retro-regenerating back into the [[Ninth Doctor]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Fountains of Forever (comic story)}})}}
'''Retro-regeneration''' or '''degeneration''' was the process of [[regeneration]]s being forced in reverse, causing the [[Time Lord]] in question to revert to previous [[incarnation]]s, ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Fountains of Forever (comic story)|The Fountains of Forever]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]'') known only to be attempted by Time Lords of the [[First Rank]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[State of Change (novel)|State of Change]]'') though it was normally a short-term experience. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Timeslip (comic story)|Timeslip]]'', ''[[The Fountains of Forever (comic story)|The Fountains of Forever]]'', ''[[Outrun (comic story)|Outrun]]'')
{{you may|degeneration (Movie Millie)|n1="degeneration", as depicted in Movie Millie}}
'''Retro-regeneration''' or '''degeneration''' was the process of [[regeneration]]s being forced in reverse, causing the [[Time Lord]] in question to revert to previous [[incarnation]]s, ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Fountains of Forever (comic story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}) known only to be attempted by Time Lords of the [[First Rank]] ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|State of Change (novel)}}) though it was normally a short-term experience. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Timeslip (comic story)}}, {{cs|The Fountains of Forever (comic story)}}, {{cs|Outrun (comic story)}})


== Instances ==
== Instances ==
Following his presence in the [[court (The War Games)|court]] which tried the [[Second Doctor]], ([[TV]]: ''[[The War Games (TV story)|The War Games]]'') [[Socra (The War Games)|Socra]] regenerated into a [[Third Time Lord (Colony in Space)|new incarnation]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon]]'') only to return to his previous body by the time of the [[First Omega Crisis]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'')
Following his presence in the [[court (The War Games)|court]] which tried the [[Second Doctor]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The War Games (TV story)}}) [[Socra (The War Games)|Socra]] regenerated into a [[Third Time Lord (Colony in Space)|new incarnation]] ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon (novelisation)}}) only to return to his previous body by the time of the [[First Omega Crisis]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Three Doctors (TV story)}})


Reunited with the Third Doctor in the [[Death Zone]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]] reminded him of when he [[Fourth Doctor|changed]], only for him to explain that it was yet to happen for him. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'') By one account, this was caused when the Third Doctor briefly began to regenerate after battling a mind parasite known as the [[Nurazh]]. The Nurazh attempted to take control of his mind, but was overwhelmed by both the Third and Fourth Doctor's minds co-existing. The parasite perished, healing the Doctor and reverting the regeneration. [[Jo Grant]] witnessed this, and described to the Doctor his next incarnation. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Touch of the Nurazh (short story)|The Touch of the Nurazh]]'')
Reunited with the Third Doctor in the [[Death Zone]], [[Sarah Jane Smith]] reminded him of when he [[Fourth Doctor|changed]], only for him to explain that it was yet to happen for him. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Five Doctors (TV story)}}) By one account, this was caused when the Third Doctor briefly began to regenerate after battling a mind parasite known as the [[Nurazh]]. The Nurazh attempted to take control of his mind, but was overwhelmed by both the Third and Fourth Doctor's minds co-existing. The parasite perished, healing the Doctor and reverting the regeneration. [[Jo Grant]] witnessed this, and described to the Doctor his next incarnation. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Touch of the Nurazh (short story)}})


The [[Fourth Doctor]] and his [[TARDIS]] were once infected by a [[space amoeba]], which caused him to revert into his [[Third Doctor|third]], [[Second Doctor|second]], and [[First Doctor|first incarnations]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Timeslip (comic story)|Timeslip]]'')
The [[Fourth Doctor]] and his [[TARDIS]] were once infected by a [[space amoeba]], which caused him to revert into his [[Third Doctor|third]], [[Second Doctor|second]], and [[First Doctor|first incarnations]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Timeslip (comic story)}})


The [[Sixth Doctor]] was similarly forced to revert to all of his previous incarnations on [[Terra Nova]], as his arrival in that pocket dimension exposed him to various mutagenic radiation fields; as a result, his body regressed through his past selves seeking a more stable physiology, but he didn't regenerate because he hadn't actually been injured. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[State of Change (novel)|State of Change]]'') A similar occurrence took place inside the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] while fending off the [[Funhouse]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Funhouse (comic story)|Funhouse]]'')
The [[Sixth Doctor]] was similarly forced to revert to all of his previous incarnations on [[Terra Nova]], as his arrival in that pocket dimension exposed him to various mutagenic radiation fields; as a result, his body regressed through his past selves seeking a more stable physiology, but he didn't regenerate because he hadn't actually been injured. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|State of Change (novel)}}) A similar occurrence took place inside the [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] while fending off the [[Funhouse]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Funhouse (comic story)}})


While the [[Seventh Doctor]] battled the energies of the [[Charon (species)|Charon]], he erupted into flame and momentarily regressed into (at least) his sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second incarnations. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Sky Pirates! (novel)|Sky Pirates!]]'')
While the [[Seventh Doctor]] battled the energies of the [[Charon (species)|Charon]], he erupted into flame and momentarily regressed into (at least) his sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second incarnations. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Sky Pirates! (novel)}})


According to one account, [[the Master]] was forced back to his [[Decayed Master|decaying body]] upon the [[destruction of Tremas' body]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Dust Breeding (audio story)|Dust Breeding]]'') which the Master earlier took [[Decayed Master's possession of Tremas|possession]] of ([[TV]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'') in what one account identified as being the Master's [[thirteenth regeneration]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Divided Loyalties (novel)|Divided Loyalties]]'')
According to one account, [[the Master]] was forced back to his [[Decayed Master|decaying body]] upon the [[destruction of Tremas' body]] ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Dust Breeding (audio story)}}) which the Master earlier took [[Decayed Master's possession of Tremas|possession]] of ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Keeper of Traken (TV story)}}) in what one account identified as being the Master's [[thirteenth regeneration]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Divided Loyalties (novel)}}) After having [[Bruce Master|possessed and lost]] the body of [[Bruce Gerhardt]], the Decayed Master was finally killed by the [[Ravenous]] before [[Resurrection of the Master|being enabled to regenerate]] into a [[Reborn Master|new incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doctor Who (TV story)}}, [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Day of the Master (audio story)}})


When [[Borusa]] was freed from the [[Tomb of Rassilon]], he emerged in [[Borusa (The Invasion of Time)|the incarnation]] he was in during the [[Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey]] instead of [[Borusa (The Five Doctors)|the incarnation]] that had been imprisoned by [[Rassilon]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Eight Doctors (novel)|The Eight Doctors]]'')
When [[Borusa]] was freed from the [[Tomb of Rassilon]], he emerged in [[Borusa (The Invasion of Time)|the incarnation]] he was in during the [[Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey]] instead of [[Borusa (The Five Doctors)|the incarnation]] that had been imprisoned by [[Rassilon]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Eight Doctors (novel)}})


At some point during the [[Last Great Time War|Time War]], the [[War Doctor]] visited the [[Diamond Array]], a station built by [[The Union (The Union)|the Union]]. She shot him with a degeneration gun, causing him to shift back and forth between his past incarnations, with his clothes and possessions changing to match each incarnation. As he searched for a way to fix himself, he was able to temporarily stabilize himself in a single form for a while, but the effects would take hold again, causing him to shift into other forms. The degeneration also affected [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], causing it to shift desktop themes to match whichever incarnation the Doctor shifted into. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Past Lives (audio story)|Past Lives]]'', ''[[Two's Company (audio story)|Two's Company]]'', ''[[The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)|The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50]]'', ''[[The Union (audio story)|The Union]]'')
At some point during the [[Last Great Time War|Time War]], the [[War Doctor]] visited the [[Diamond Array]], a station built by [[The Union (The Union)|the Union]]. She shot him with a degeneration gun, causing him to shift back and forth between his past incarnations, with his clothes and possessions changing to match each incarnation. As he searched for a way to fix himself, he was able to temporarily stabilize himself in a single form for a while, but the effects would take hold again, causing him to shift into other forms. The degeneration also affected [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]], causing it to shift desktop themes to match whichever incarnation the Doctor shifted into. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Past Lives (audio story)}}, {{cs|Two's Company (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Union (audio story)}})


[[The Master]] was also struck with the weapon. Seeking a way to stabilise himself, the Master ended up on Planetoid 50, where he managed to create a device to cause a controlled degeneration that would leave him stable in his correct form for a while. However, the controlled degeneration went too far, causing him to shift into a future form, that of [[Missy]]. When the Doctor later arrived in the form of the [[First Doctor]], Missy used the device on him, causing him to shift into the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)|The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50]]'') The effects did wear off, causing them both to degenerate again. However, they both continued to be able to degenerate into future incarnations, such as when they encountered each other again in the forms of [[the Lumiat]] and the [[Ninth Doctor]] respectively. ([[AUDIO]]:'' [[Time Lord Immemorial (audio story)|Time Lord Immemorial]]'')
[[The Master]] was also struck with the weapon. Seeking a way to stabilise himself, the Master ended up on Planetoid 50, where he managed to create a device to cause a controlled degeneration that would leave him stable in his correct form for a while. However, the controlled degeneration went too far, causing him to shift into a future form, that of [[Missy]]. When the Doctor later arrived in the form of the [[First Doctor]], Missy used the device on him, causing him to shift into the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)}}) The effects did wear off, causing them both to degenerate again. However, they both continued to be able to degenerate into future incarnations, such as when they encountered each other again in the forms of [[the Lumiat]] and the [[Ninth Doctor]] respectively. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Time Lord Immemorial (audio story)}})


The Doctor found his way back to the Diamond Array and, with help from [[Susan Foreman]] and [[River Song]], was able to stop the Union and bring an end to the degeneration, restoring him to his correct incarnation. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Union (audio story)|The Union]]'')
The Doctor found his way back to the Diamond Array and, with help from [[Susan Foreman]] and [[River Song]], was able to stop the Union and bring an end to the degeneration, restoring him to his correct incarnation. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Union (audio story)}})


Having regenerated into a [[The Master (The Then and the Now)|child incarnation]] during the [[Last Great Time War]], [[the Master]] regenerated back into the {{Jacobi|n=War Master}} after being caught in a [[time paradox]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Fast Asleep (comic story)|Fast Asleep]]'')
Having regenerated into a [[The Master (The Then and the Now)|child incarnation]] during the [[Last Great Time War]], [[the Master]] regenerated back into the {{Jacobi|n=War Master}} after being caught in a [[time paradox]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Fast Asleep (comic story)}})


The [[Tenth Doctor]] was once forced to retro-regenerate into his [[Ninth Doctor|ninth incarnation]] by an age-regression gun. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Fountains of Forever (comic story)|The Fountains of Forever]]'')
The [[Tenth Doctor]] was once forced to retro-regenerate into his [[Ninth Doctor|ninth incarnation]] by an age-regression gun. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Fountains of Forever (comic story)}})


When [[The Then and the Now]] attempted to ingest the timeline of the [[Eleventh Doctor]], it caused him to regress through his incarnations to the [[War Doctor]], where the Doctor's resistance of that period of his life halted the ingestion. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Outrun (comic story)|Outrun]]'') A similar occurrence happened earlier, and the Eleventh Doctor appeared between his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] and [[the Curator (The Day of the Doctor)|the Curator]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Then and the Now (comic story)|The Then and the Now]]'') The next time it happened, the Eleventh Doctor partially became his [[Second Doctor|second]], [[Third Doctor|third]], [[Fifth Doctor|fifth]], [[Seventh Doctor|seventh]], [[Eighth Doctor|eighth]], [[Ninth Doctor|ninth]], [[Tenth Doctor|tenth]] incarnations, as well as his [[Twelfth Doctor|twelfth]], a future incarnation. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Running to Stay Still (comic story)|Running to Stay Still]]'')
When [[The Then and the Now]] attempted to ingest the timeline of the [[Eleventh Doctor]], it caused him to regress through his incarnations to the [[War Doctor]], where the Doctor's resistance of that period of his life halted the ingestion. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Outrun (comic story)}}) A similar occurrence happened earlier, and the Eleventh Doctor appeared between his [[First Doctor|first incarnation]] and [[the Curator]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Then and the Now (comic story)}}) The next time it happened, the Eleventh Doctor partially became his [[Second Doctor|second]], [[Third Doctor|third]], [[Fifth Doctor|fifth]], [[Seventh Doctor|seventh]], [[Eighth Doctor|eighth]], [[Ninth Doctor|ninth]], [[Tenth Doctor|tenth]] incarnations, as well as his [[Twelfth Doctor|twelfth]], a future incarnation. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Running to Stay Still (comic story)}})


The Twelfth Doctor was hit by energy from a [[time storm]] and entered a degeneration cycle, going back from his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] to his [[First Doctor|first]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Lost Magic (audio story)|The Lost Magic]]'')
The Twelfth Doctor was hit by energy from a [[time storm]] and entered a degeneration cycle, going back from his [[Eleventh Doctor|eleventh incarnation]] to his [[First Doctor|first]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Lost Magic (audio story)}})


Having been subjected to [[Thirteenth Doctor's forced regeneration|a forced regeneration]], the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] regenerated into a body identical to {{Dhawan}}, who would then hijack the Doctor's body as his own in as part of his plan to ruin the Doctor's name and reputation. Though he insisted to [[Yasmin Khan]] that he could not change back, the Thirteenth Doctor's persona was able to resist the change inside [[the Doctor's mind|her own mind]]. From the outside, Yaz and the Doctor's [[Holo-Doctor|AI hologram]] used the [[regeneration energy]] of a group of [[CyberMaster]]s to initiate a "forced degeneration", restoring the Thirteenth Doctor and forcing the Master back to his own body, severely weakening him in the process. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]'')
Having been subjected to [[Thirteenth Doctor's forced regeneration|a forced regeneration]], the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] regenerated into a body identical to {{Dhawan}}, who would then hijack the Doctor's body as his own as part of his plan to ruin the Doctor's name and reputation. Though he insisted to [[Yasmin Khan]] that he could not change back, the Thirteenth Doctor's persona was able to resist the change inside [[the Doctor's mind|her own mind]]. From the outside, Yaz and the Doctor's [[Holo-Doctor|AI hologram]] used the [[regeneration energy]] of a group of [[CyberMaster]]s to initiate a "forced degeneration", restoring the Thirteenth Doctor and forcing the Master back to his own body, weakening him in the process. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}})


==Other references==
==Other references==
During the [[First Omega Crisis]], it took time for [[the Brigadier]] to realise that the [[Second Doctor]] was genuinely from the past rather than the [[Third Doctor]] having changed his face back into [[the Doctor]] who he had first met, despite both the Second Doctor and [[Sergeant Benton]]'s attempts to convince him otherwise. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Three Doctors (TV story)|The Three Doctors]]'')
During the [[First Omega Crisis]], it took time for [[the Brigadier]] to realise that the [[Second Doctor]] was genuinely from the past rather than the [[Third Doctor]] having changed his face back into [[the Doctor]] who he had first met, despite both the Second Doctor and [[Sergeant Benton]]'s attempts to convince him otherwise. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Three Doctors (TV story)}})


While explaining to [[Alice Obiefune]] how time worked different during the [[Last Great Time War]], the {{Titan|n="Child" Master}} briefly appeared to turn back into {{Delgado|n=his "UNIT enemy" incarnation}}. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[Kill God (comic story)|Kill God]]'')
While explaining to [[Alice Obiefune]] how time worked different during the [[Last Great Time War]], the {{Titan|n="Child" Master}} briefly appeared to turn back into {{Delgado|n=his "UNIT era" incarnation}}. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Kill God (comic story)}})


Shortly after witnessing the [[Ninth Doctor]] regenerate into the [[Tenth Doctor]], [[Rose Tyler]] wanted him to change back and asked him if he could do so, only for the new Doctor to claim that he could not. ([[TV]]: ''[[Born Again (TV story)|Born Again]]'')
Shortly after witnessing the [[Ninth Doctor]] regenerate into the [[Tenth Doctor]], [[Rose Tyler]] wanted him to change back and asked him if he could do so, only for the new Doctor to claim that he could not. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Born Again (TV story)}})


On more than one occasion, the Doctor saw that faces from their past awaited them in the future. Looking into his future through a [[Tomorrow Window]], the [[Eighth Doctor]] saw [[the Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|many men in pseudo-Edwardian dress]] as well as the [[First Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Tomorrow Windows (novel)|The Tomorrow Windows]]'') Musing that he may eventually [[retirement|retire]] and become the [[curator]] of the [[National Gallery]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] met with [[the Curator]], who he found to have a [[Fourth Doctor|familiar face]]. The Curator told the Doctor that "in [[year]]s to come", he may find himself revisiting "a few, but just the old favourites". Indeed, as well as the Fourth Doctor, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') the Curator had forms resembling the [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Crossed Lines (audio story)|Crossed Lines]]'') and the Eleventh Doctors. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Keys of Baker Street (audio story)|The Keys of Baker Street]]'')
On more than one occasion, the Doctor saw that faces from their past awaited them in the future. Looking into his future through a [[Tomorrow Window]], the [[Eighth Doctor]] saw [[The Doctor (The Brain of Morbius)|many men in pseudo-Edwardian dress]] as well as the [[First Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Tomorrow Windows (novel)}}) Musing that he may eventually [[retirement|retire]] and become the [[curator]] of the [[National Gallery]], the [[Eleventh Doctor]] met with [[the Curator]], who he found to have a [[Fourth Doctor|familiar face]]. The Curator told the Doctor that "in [[year]]s to come", he may find himself revisiting "a few, but just the old favourites". Indeed, as well as the Fourth Doctor, ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Day of the Doctor (TV story)}}) the Curator had forms resembling the [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth]] ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Crossed Lines (audio story)}}) and the Eleventh Doctors. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Keys of Baker Street (audio story)}})


Shortly after enduring a temporary [[forced regeneration]] which ended with a degeneration, the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] was mortally wounded by {{Dhawan}}. This caused her to regenerate into [[Fourteenth Doctor|a new incarnation]] greatly resembling the [[Tenth Doctor]], much to his shock. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]'') However, he later affirmed he was indeed a different incarnation from the Tenth Doctor on a cellular level. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Into Control (comic story)}}) Nevertheless, [[Donna Noble]] concluded that there was a reason the Doctor came back with his "old face", so he could find his place with [[Noble family|her family]] and fulfill an "out of order" [[rehab]] which would benefit the [[Fifteenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}})
Shortly after enduring a temporary [[forced regeneration]] which ended with a degeneration, the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] was mortally wounded by {{Dhawan}}. This caused her to regenerate into [[Fourteenth Doctor|a new incarnation]] greatly resembling the [[Tenth Doctor]], much to his shock. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}) However, he later affirmed he was indeed a different incarnation from the Tenth Doctor on a cellular level. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|Into Control (comic story)}}) [[Donna Noble]] concluded that there was a reason the Doctor came back with his "old face", so he could find his place with [[Noble family|her family]] and fulfill an "out of order" [[rehab]] which would benefit the [[Fifteenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Giggle (TV story)}})


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
* A very different meaning of "degeneration" was used in the invalid source ''[[Movie Millie (comic story)|Movie Millie]]'', where an incarnation of the Doctor in an [[pornography|alternate]] version of ''Doctor Who'' chased [[Millie (Movie Millie)|Millie]] in a way which could be described as "degenerate".
* A very different meaning of "[[degeneration (Movie Millie)|degeneration]]" was used in the invalid source ''[[Movie Millie (comic story)|Movie Millie]]'', where an incarnation of the Doctor in an [[pornography|alternate]] version of ''Doctor Who'' chased [[Millie (Movie Millie)|Millie]] in a way which could be described as "degenerate".
* In the extended extras for {{cs|Past Lives (audio story)}}, Robert Valentine refers to two processes that are part of the effects of the degeneration weapon; degeneration and "re-regeneration", the latter presumably referring to the degenerating Time Lords' tendency to move forwards through their incarnations almost as often as backwards.
[[Category:Regeneration]]
[[Category:Regeneration]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 8 October 2024

The Tenth Doctor after retro-regenerating back into the Ninth Doctor. (COMIC: The Fountains of Forever [+]Loading...["The Fountains of Forever (comic story)"])

Retro-regeneration or degeneration was the process of regenerations being forced in reverse, causing the Time Lord in question to revert to previous incarnations, (COMIC: The Fountains of Forever [+]Loading...["The Fountains of Forever (comic story)"], TV: The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]) known only to be attempted by Time Lords of the First Rank (PROSE: State of Change [+]Loading...["State of Change (novel)"]) though it was normally a short-term experience. (COMIC: Timeslip [+]Loading...["Timeslip (comic story)"], The Fountains of Forever [+]Loading...["The Fountains of Forever (comic story)"], Outrun [+]Loading...["Outrun (comic story)"])

Instances[[edit] | [edit source]]

Following his presence in the court which tried the Second Doctor, (TV: The War Games [+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"]) Socra regenerated into a new incarnation (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Doomsday Weapon (novelisation)"]) only to return to his previous body by the time of the First Omega Crisis. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"])

Reunited with the Third Doctor in the Death Zone, Sarah Jane Smith reminded him of when he changed, only for him to explain that it was yet to happen for him. (TV: The Five Doctors [+]Loading...["The Five Doctors (TV story)"]) By one account, this was caused when the Third Doctor briefly began to regenerate after battling a mind parasite known as the Nurazh. The Nurazh attempted to take control of his mind, but was overwhelmed by both the Third and Fourth Doctor's minds co-existing. The parasite perished, healing the Doctor and reverting the regeneration. Jo Grant witnessed this, and described to the Doctor his next incarnation. (PROSE: The Touch of the Nurazh [+]Loading...["The Touch of the Nurazh (short story)"])

The Fourth Doctor and his TARDIS were once infected by a space amoeba, which caused him to revert into his third, second, and first incarnations. (COMIC: Timeslip [+]Loading...["Timeslip (comic story)"])

The Sixth Doctor was similarly forced to revert to all of his previous incarnations on Terra Nova, as his arrival in that pocket dimension exposed him to various mutagenic radiation fields; as a result, his body regressed through his past selves seeking a more stable physiology, but he didn't regenerate because he hadn't actually been injured. (PROSE: State of Change [+]Loading...["State of Change (novel)"]) A similar occurrence took place inside the TARDIS while fending off the Funhouse. (COMIC: Funhouse [+]Loading...["Funhouse (comic story)"])

While the Seventh Doctor battled the energies of the Charon, he erupted into flame and momentarily regressed into (at least) his sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second incarnations. (PROSE: Sky Pirates! [+]Loading...["Sky Pirates! (novel)"])

According to one account, the Master was forced back to his decaying body upon the destruction of Tremas' body (AUDIO: Dust Breeding [+]Loading...["Dust Breeding (audio story)"]) which the Master earlier took possession of (TV: The Keeper of Traken [+]Loading...["The Keeper of Traken (TV story)"]) in what one account identified as being the Master's thirteenth regeneration. (PROSE: Divided Loyalties [+]Loading...["Divided Loyalties (novel)"]) After having possessed and lost the body of Bruce Gerhardt, the Decayed Master was finally killed by the Ravenous before being enabled to regenerate into a new incarnation. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Loading...["Doctor Who (TV story)"], AUDIO: Day of the Master [+]Loading...["Day of the Master (audio story)"])

When Borusa was freed from the Tomb of Rassilon, he emerged in the incarnation he was in during the Sontaran invasion of Gallifrey instead of the incarnation that had been imprisoned by Rassilon. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Loading...["The Eight Doctors (novel)"])

At some point during the Time War, the War Doctor visited the Diamond Array, a station built by the Union. She shot him with a degeneration gun, causing him to shift back and forth between his past incarnations, with his clothes and possessions changing to match each incarnation. As he searched for a way to fix himself, he was able to temporarily stabilize himself in a single form for a while, but the effects would take hold again, causing him to shift into other forms. The degeneration also affected the TARDIS, causing it to shift desktop themes to match whichever incarnation the Doctor shifted into. (AUDIO: Past Lives [+]Loading...["Past Lives (audio story)"], Two's Company [+]Loading...["Two's Company (audio story)"], The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 [+]Loading...["The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)"], The Union [+]Loading...["The Union (audio story)"])

The Master was also struck with the weapon. Seeking a way to stabilise himself, the Master ended up on Planetoid 50, where he managed to create a device to cause a controlled degeneration that would leave him stable in his correct form for a while. However, the controlled degeneration went too far, causing him to shift into a future form, that of Missy. When the Doctor later arrived in the form of the First Doctor, Missy used the device on him, causing him to shift into the Tenth Doctor. (AUDIO: The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 [+]Loading...["The Martian Invasion of Planetoid 50 (audio story)"]) The effects did wear off, causing them both to degenerate again. However, they both continued to be able to degenerate into future incarnations, such as when they encountered each other again in the forms of the Lumiat and the Ninth Doctor respectively. (AUDIO: Time Lord Immemorial [+]Loading...["Time Lord Immemorial (audio story)"])

The Doctor found his way back to the Diamond Array and, with help from Susan Foreman and River Song, was able to stop the Union and bring an end to the degeneration, restoring him to his correct incarnation. (AUDIO: The Union [+]Loading...["The Union (audio story)"])

Having regenerated into a child incarnation during the Last Great Time War, the Master regenerated back into the War Master after being caught in a time paradox. (COMIC: Fast Asleep [+]Loading...["Fast Asleep (comic story)"])

The Tenth Doctor was once forced to retro-regenerate into his ninth incarnation by an age-regression gun. (COMIC: The Fountains of Forever [+]Loading...["The Fountains of Forever (comic story)"])

When The Then and the Now attempted to ingest the timeline of the Eleventh Doctor, it caused him to regress through his incarnations to the War Doctor, where the Doctor's resistance of that period of his life halted the ingestion. (COMIC: Outrun [+]Loading...["Outrun (comic story)"]) A similar occurrence happened earlier, and the Eleventh Doctor appeared between his first incarnation and the Curator. (COMIC: The Then and the Now [+]Loading...["The Then and the Now (comic story)"]) The next time it happened, the Eleventh Doctor partially became his second, third, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth incarnations, as well as his twelfth, a future incarnation. (COMIC: Running to Stay Still [+]Loading...["Running to Stay Still (comic story)"])

The Twelfth Doctor was hit by energy from a time storm and entered a degeneration cycle, going back from his eleventh incarnation to his first. (AUDIO: The Lost Magic [+]Loading...["The Lost Magic (audio story)"])

Having been subjected to a forced regeneration, the Thirteenth Doctor regenerated into a body identical to the Spy Master, who would then hijack the Doctor's body as his own as part of his plan to ruin the Doctor's name and reputation. Though he insisted to Yasmin Khan that he could not change back, the Thirteenth Doctor's persona was able to resist the change inside her own mind. From the outside, Yaz and the Doctor's AI hologram used the regeneration energy of a group of CyberMasters to initiate a "forced degeneration", restoring the Thirteenth Doctor and forcing the Master back to his own body, weakening him in the process. (TV: The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"])

Other references[[edit] | [edit source]]

During the First Omega Crisis, it took time for the Brigadier to realise that the Second Doctor was genuinely from the past rather than the Third Doctor having changed his face back into the Doctor who he had first met, despite both the Second Doctor and Sergeant Benton's attempts to convince him otherwise. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"])

While explaining to Alice Obiefune how time worked different during the Last Great Time War, the "Child" Master briefly appeared to turn back into his "UNIT era" incarnation. (COMIC: Kill God [+]Loading...["Kill God (comic story)"])

Shortly after witnessing the Ninth Doctor regenerate into the Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler wanted him to change back and asked him if he could do so, only for the new Doctor to claim that he could not. (TV: Born Again [+]Loading...["Born Again (TV story)"])

On more than one occasion, the Doctor saw that faces from their past awaited them in the future. Looking into his future through a Tomorrow Window, the Eighth Doctor saw many men in pseudo-Edwardian dress as well as the First Doctor. (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows [+]Loading...["The Tomorrow Windows (novel)"]) Musing that he may eventually retire and become the curator of the National Gallery, the Eleventh Doctor met with the Curator, who he found to have a familiar face. The Curator told the Doctor that "in years to come", he may find himself revisiting "a few, but just the old favourites". Indeed, as well as the Fourth Doctor, (TV: The Day of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Day of the Doctor (TV story)"]) the Curator had forms resembling the Sixth (AUDIO: Crossed Lines [+]Loading...["Crossed Lines (audio story)"]) and the Eleventh Doctors. (AUDIO: The Keys of Baker Street [+]Loading...["The Keys of Baker Street (audio story)"])

Shortly after enduring a temporary forced regeneration which ended with a degeneration, the Thirteenth Doctor was mortally wounded by the Spy Master. This caused her to regenerate into a new incarnation greatly resembling the Tenth Doctor, much to his shock. (TV: The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]) However, he later affirmed he was indeed a different incarnation from the Tenth Doctor on a cellular level. (COMIC: Into Control [+]Loading...["Into Control (comic story)"]) Donna Noble concluded that there was a reason the Doctor came back with his "old face", so he could find his place with her family and fulfill an "out of order" rehab which would benefit the Fifteenth Doctor. (TV: The Giggle [+]Loading...["The Giggle (TV story)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • A very different meaning of "degeneration" was used in the invalid source Movie Millie, where an incarnation of the Doctor in an alternate version of Doctor Who chased Millie in a way which could be described as "degenerate".
  • In the extended extras for Past Lives [+]Loading...["Past Lives (audio story)"], Robert Valentine refers to two processes that are part of the effects of the degeneration weapon; degeneration and "re-regeneration", the latter presumably referring to the degenerating Time Lords' tendency to move forwards through their incarnations almost as often as backwards.