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Following his prevention of the 1986 Cyberman invasion of Earth, the First Doctor experienced a bodily renewal in which he became the Second Doctor; (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"], The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"]) one account referred to the rejuvination as a "strange psychological storm", (PROSE: The Phoenix in the Tardis [+]Loading...{"page":"20","1":"The Phoenix in the Tardis (feature)"}) while the Doctor would later refer to this event as his reincarnation (PROSE: The Sour Note [+]Loading...["The Sour Note (short story)"], Only a Matter of Time [+]Loading...["Only a Matter of Time (short story)"]) or his first regeneration (PROSE: Timewyrm: Apocalypse [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Apocalypse (novel)"], Christmas on a Rational Planet [+]Loading...["Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)"], World Game [+]Loading...["World Game (novel)"], etc.) in a life cycle of twelve regenerations. (TV: The Time of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Time of the Doctor (TV story)"], Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"], etc.)
Chronology[[edit] | [edit source]]
From the Doctor's chronological perspective, the renewal occurred during Ben Jackson and Polly Wright's travels with the First Doctor, at the end of the 1986 Cyberman invasion of Earth (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"]) and leading into the Vulcan Incident. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"])
Another account showed the Doctor's appearance changing between adventures during John and Gillian's travels with Dr. Who. (COMIC: The Experimenters [+]Loading...["The Experimenters (comic story)"], The Extortioner [+]Loading...["The Extortioner (comic story)"])
The Doctor's age[[edit] | [edit source]]
By one account, the Doctor was four hundred and fifty years old at this time. (PROSE: Iceberg [+]Loading...["Iceberg (novel)"]) By another, he was nine hundred. (PROSE: The Phoenix in the Tardis [+]Loading...{"page":"20","1":"The Phoenix in the Tardis (feature)"})
Shortly after the regeneration, the Second Doctor told Ben Jackson and Polly Wright that it had been over 750 years since he left his home planet. (PROSE: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)"])
The First Doctor's regeneration happened roughly 1,500 years before the Twelfth Doctor's regeneration, as the future Doctor claimed. (TV: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"]) Earlier, the Twelfth Doctor repeatedly claimed to have lived for over 2000 years. (TV: Deep Breath [+]Loading...["Deep Breath (TV story)"], Smile [+]Loading...["Smile (TV story)"])
Nature[[edit] | [edit source]]
The process of the Doctor's change corresponded to much activity in TARDIS control room, with the ship's controls moving on their own, various lights on the controls flashing, a loud flickering noise filling the room, and the central column moving as if the ship was in flight. (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"]) Immediately after its occurrence, the Second Doctor compared the renewal to a butterfly's metamorphosis, saying that "life depends on change -- and renewal." He claimed that his renewal was part of the TARDIS, necessary for his survival. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"])
One account indicated the process was a "strange psychological storm" which rejuvenated him but also overwhelmed him such that he almost became a new, younger personality. This was similar to the rejuvenation of the Phoenix. (PROSE: The Phoenix in the Tardis [+]Loading...{"page":"20","1":"The Phoenix in the Tardis (feature)"}) In line with the idea of this process as a rejuvenation which shook up his personality as a side-effect, rather than a change to a completely new body as such, at least one account physically depicted the Second Doctor as sharing the height, facial structure and hair cut of the previous Doctor, but with black hair and renewed vitality. (PROSE: Daleks Invade Zaos [+]Loading...["Daleks Invade Zaos (short story)"]
Most accounts, however, very much treated the Second Doctor as not just a rejuvenation, but a "change of appearance" where the Doctor had genuinely changed faces. (TV: The War Games [+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"]) The "rejuvenated Dr. Who", who thought of his prior body as his "older form", once explained to his companions that the closest term for the process would be "reincarnation". (PROSE: Only a Matter of Time [+]Loading...["Only a Matter of Time (short story)"])
Later sources indicate this was a "regeneration", a Time Lord biological process. (AUDIO: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (audio story)"], PROSE: Lungbarrow [+]Loading...["Lungbarrow (novel)"], etc.) By one account, there were many types of regeneration, with this being regenerative technique known as "the White Light". (PROSE: How to be a Time Lord [+]Loading...["How to be a Time Lord (novel)"]) Other accounts indicated this regeneration also involved gold regeneration energy. (COMIC: Blood and Ice [+]Loading...["Blood and Ice (comic story)"], TV: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"]) A depiction of the First Doctor regenerating showed the TARDIS control room as being far more quiet, with no controls moving on their own. (TV: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"])
Clothing change[[edit] | [edit source]]
By the end of the renewal process, the Doctor's clothing had visibly changed from the First Doctor's outfit to a baggier outfit which was similar but not quite the same, which the Second Doctor continued to wear afterwards. However, the newly-renewed Second Doctor was still wearing the First Doctor's cape and signet ring, which were visibly discarded, suggesting that the Second Doctor was indeed continuing to wear the rest of the First Doctor's clothing. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"])
The Doctor's clothing had been instantly changed by the temporal abilities of the TARDIS on an earlier occasion when it jumped a time track. (TV: The Space Museum [+]Loading...["The Space Museum (TV story)"])
By some accounts, changing clothes was a feature of regeneration. (PROSE: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)"], A Letter from the Doctor 2024 [+]Loading...["A Letter from the Doctor (DWAN 2024 short story)"]) One version of events showed that Ben Jackson instantly noticed the Second Doctor's change of clothing, remarking, "And I suppose he not only changed his body but his tailor as well?" (PROSE: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)"]) After a similar change of clothing during the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration, the Fourteenth Doctor noted that he done so a long time earlier. (PROSE: A Letter from the Doctor 2024 [+]Loading...["A Letter from the Doctor (DWAN 2024 short story)"])
First?[[edit] | [edit source]]
By many accounts, this was the Doctor's first regeneration. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"], Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"], PROSE: Lungbarrow [+]Loading...["Lungbarrow (novel)"]) However, the Doctor indicated he may have regenerated before. (PROSE: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)"])
Indeed, most accounts treated this at the Doctor's first regeneration, or at least the first he remembered. The Eleventh Doctor understood that he had expended twelve regnerations in his life cycle before being enabled to regenerate into the Twelfth Doctor who, (TV: The Time of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Time of the Doctor (TV story)"]) before his own regeneration, identified the First Doctor's change as "the very first time" they had regenerated. (TV: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"]) However, a few accounts suggested that the Second Doctor who emerged from this incarnation knew that he had regenerated before, (PROSE: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)"]) in line with the Fourth Doctor winning his mindbending duel with Morbius thanks to the edge of eight additional faces before the First Doctor which took Morbius by surprise. (TV: The Brain of Morbius [+]Loading...["The Brain of Morbius (TV story)"]) Additionally, the Thirteenth Doctor, after encountering a past incarnation she did not recognise, (TV: Fugitive of the Judoon [+]Loading...["Fugitive of the Judoon (TV story)"]) found evidence of many earlier lives which she did not remember. (TV: The Timeless Children [+]Loading...["The Timeless Children (TV story)"])
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Anticipation[[edit] | [edit source]]
While observing the Ashtallans on Ashtallah, the First Doctor pondered on the nature of his regeneration. (AUDIO: The Invention of Death [+]Loading...["The Invention of Death (audio story)"])
Shortly after he met Katarina, the First Doctor began to feel he was nearing the end of his life. (PROSE: Scribbles in Chalk [+]Loading...["Scribbles in Chalk (short story)"]) Several months later, while in ancient Egypt, the hot weather bearing down on him caused him to consider that he was no longer as young as he once was, or "would be again". (PROSE: The Mutation of Time [+]Loading...["The Mutation of Time (novelisation)"])
While contemplating his sacrifice to satisfy the Web of Time, the First Doctor reflected on regeneration, and the person he could become when he regenerated. (AUDIO: Men of War [+]Loading...["Men of War (audio story)"])
Causes[[edit] | [edit source]]
Weariness[[edit] | [edit source]]
After his struggle with the Toymaker, the First Doctor became increasingly unwell from fatigue, (PROSE: The Man in the Velvet Mask [+]Loading...["The Man in the Velvet Mask (novel)"]) and was aware his loss of strength would lead to his regeneration, something he was afraid of. (PROSE: Ten Little Aliens [+]Loading...["Ten Little Aliens (novel)"]) After he was joined in his travels by Ben Jackson and Polly Wright, (TV: The Smugglers [+]Loading...["The Smugglers (TV story)"]) the First Doctor was aware that his regeneration was nearing. (PROSE: Ten Little Aliens [+]Loading...["Ten Little Aliens (novel)"], Five Card Draw [+]Loading...["Five Card Draw (short story)"]) Throughout all this time, however, he resisted and suppressed the regeneration process. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)"])
After the First Doctor was diverted from the South Pole, (AUDIO: The Bonfires of the Vanities [+]Loading...["The Bonfires of the Vanities (audio story)"]) he learned from the Player that "forces from the future" were interfering with his history to stop him from becoming an incarnation that would play a key role in a future conflict. (AUDIO: The Plague of Dreams [+]Loading...["The Plague of Dreams (audio story)"])
By the time the First Doctor, Ben, and Polly arrived at Snowcap Base, the Doctor had been suffering intermittent moments of delirium, sometimes referring to Ben as "Ian" and Polly as "Barbara", much to their confusion. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Tenth Planet (novelisation)"])
Encounter with the Cybermen[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Main article: 1986 Cyberman invasion of Earth
The Doctor collapsed when Mondas began draining Earth's energies, (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"]) due to his regeneration process starting, (PROSE: Interference - Book Two [+]Loading...["Interference - Book Two (novel)"]) and Mondas syphoning off his ability to resist regenerating any longer. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)"])
While emerging from his sleep, the Doctor overheard Ben claim that it was "all over now," and became weary. (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"]) Walking in the snow, the Doctor caught a fading image of Oliver Harper. (AUDIO: The First Wave [+]Loading...["The First Wave (audio story)"])
Rejection of change[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Main article: Twelfth Doctor's regeneration
By some accounts, after his regeneration started, the Doctor rejected it. Walking through the snow, he insisted to himself that he would not change and that the entire idea was "ridiculous." (TV: The Doctor Falls [+]Loading...["The Doctor Falls (TV story)"]) He entered a temporary state of grace which renewed his strength, though he would ultimately be forced to change or die. However, he became involved in the Twelfth Doctor's regeneration and was inspired to regenerate. During this time, the First Doctor was observed by his future self to be "mid-regeneration", his face being "all over the place".
Now inside the TARDIS and glowing with more regeneration energy, the Doctor managed to set the coordinates to return it to Antarctica in 1986 (TV: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"]) using the fast return switch. (PROSE: Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (novelisation)"])
The renewal[[edit] | [edit source]]
As the TARDIS's controls continued to operate on their own, the Doctor opened the doors for Ben and Polly before collapsing unconscious to the floor, having lost the energy needed to keep his old body going. Before the astonished eyes of his friends, the Doctor transformed into a much younger man. (TV: The Tenth Planet [+]Loading...["The Tenth Planet (TV story)"])
This new man saw his previous, older face in his reflection while still adjusting to his new body shortly afterwards. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"])
Aftermath[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Main article: Vulcan Incident
Immediately after his first regeneration, the Doctor was at one of the weakest points in his life, allowing the Timewyrm to enter his mind, where it would stay until he travelled to Panjistri with Ben and Polly. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Revelation [+]Loading...["Timewyrm: Revelation (novel)"])
After the renewal was completed, the new Doctor found himself suspected as an impostor by Ben, while Polly was more ready to believe that he was the same Doctor. He found that his signet ring no longer fit. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"], COMIC: The Chameleon Factor [+]Loading...["The Chameleon Factor (comic story)"]) Very soon after, they all became caught up in events on the planet Vulcan. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (TV story)"])
Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]
Upon coming back into contact with the Second Doctor, the War Chief revealed that he knew who he was despite his change in appearance. While ordering the Second Doctor's change of appearance at the end of the Doctor's trial, the First Time Lord reminded the Doctor that "[his] appearance ha[d] changed before". (TV: The War Games [+]Loading...["The War Games (TV story)"])
The Fourth Doctor once reminisced on his newly regenerated second incarnation's battle with the Daleks on Vulcan. (AUDIO: The Power of the Daleks [+]Loading...["The Power of the Daleks (audio story)"])
The Seventh Doctor relived his memories of the First Doctor's regeneration while he was interrogated by Matheson Catcher. (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet [+]Loading...["Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)"])
When the Doctor's friends travelled through the Seventh Doctor's memories, they experienced all seven of his previous regenerations, including the First Doctor's. (PROSE: Lungbarrow [+]Loading...["Lungbarrow (novel)"])
When the Twelfth Doctor visited Snowcap University, he was unnerved due to associating the area with his first regeneration. (COMIC: Blood and Ice [+]Loading...["Blood and Ice (comic story)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
The earliest-known production office-generated document on the Doctor's renewal described it thusly:
The metaphysical change which takes place every 500 or so years is a horrifying experience — an experience in which he re-lives some of the most unendurable moments of his long life, including the galactic war [which was believed, at this time, to have been the cause of the Doctor and Susan's departure from their home planet]. It is as if he has had the LSD drug and instead of experiencing the kicks, he has the hell and dank horror which can be its effect.
The renewal scene would have originally simply seen William Hartnell collapse on the floor of the TARDIS console room with his cloak covering his face; in the first episode of The Power of the Daleks, the cloak would have been pulled back to reveal Patrick Troughton instead.[source needed]
During Richard Landen's period hosting Matrix Data Bank, he frequented claimed that the First Doctor's "rejuvenation" was not the same thing as a regeneration. (DWM 74, DWM 76, et al.) When asked about the difference, Landen stated that "Rejuvenation means getting younger while regeneration is the renewal of bodily cells" and that this reconciled The War Games's "We live forever, barring accidents" with the concept of regeneration cycles by suggesting that Time Lords could live forever with rejuvenation but had to use regeneration to heal from physical accidents. This meant that the First Doctor's rejuvenation did not use up one of the Doctor's twelve regenerations. (DWM 76)
Regeneration, an instalment of the Reconstructions series, recreated the First Doctor's renewal using actors David Bradley and Reece Shearsmith, who played First Doctor actor William Hartnell and Second Doctor actor Patrick Troughton respectively in the docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time. Another Doctor added Mark Gatiss as the Third Doctor to the mix.