The Quirks of Regeneration – The Doctor’s Character Arc Part 1

“Change my dear. And it seems not a moment too soon.”

Regeneration, it’s one of the core tenants of Doctor Who and a great way to recast the main actor whenever they want to call time on their run. Yet, for being such an integral part of the show, we know surprisingly little about the process. We know it changes a Time Lord’s appearance and personality, emphasising some characteristics while downplaying others. It also makes a newly regenerated Time Lord erratic and temperamental while their new personality sets itself. We know there’s supposed to be a limit to the number of times a Time Lord can regenerate, but we also know this can be overridden. That’s really it for concrete facts, the rest is just speculation and fan theory, which brings me to today’s post.

Over the years I’ve noticed a particular trend in the portrayal of the Doctor, every regeneration feels like a reaction to the last. Where one Doctor is gentile and empathetic, the next will be arrogant and brash. Once serious and scientifically-minded Doctors become child-like and bohemian. I’m sure most of this is purely coincidental, and from a meta standpoint it makes sense. Every new actor coming into the role wants to make it their own, so they’ll try to be as different to the last as possible. Whatever the reason, it does have the effect of creating a continuous character arc for the Doctor, allowing them to constantly grow, change and, in some cases, regress. But enough generalities, let’s dig into some specifics.

I’ve already discussed the characters of the First and Second Doctors, but to briefly go over it again. The First Doctor is introduced as a serious figure, secretive and self-interested, but as times go on that original bluster begins to crack and reveal the big kid underneath. After the Doctor regenerates that big kid aspect comes to the foreground, no longer trying to be the stern grandfather, the Doctor becomes much more open and playful, taking an active interest in the worlds he visits. It’s a natural character progression, taking the Doctor from a flawed scientist to a genuinely heroic individual. Of course the Doctor’s new found playfulness does create some problems for him, as many authority figures find it difficult to take him seriously until it’s often too late, a lesson the Doctor learns for his next regeneration.

In some ways you could argue that the Third Doctor is a bit of a regression for the Doctor’s overall character arc. Once again he has become a more serious man with tendencies towards self-interest. Admittedly that self-interest is motivated by this incarnation’s exile and his frequent attempts to break free of that with varying results. However, the more heroic side that the Doctor has cultivated is still in effect and he’ll quickly become involved when the situation calls for it. Unlike the Second Doctor though, this Doctor is a figure of authority, able to command a room and make himself heard, it’s only the deaf bureaucrats and general close-mindedness that get in his way this time around.

That brings us to the Fourth Doctor, who once again has a complete turn around in the personality department. This Doctor rejects authority on almost every level, oh he’s still very commanding and ready to take charge at a moment’s notice, but he’s in no way serious or sensible. I’ve always read this as the Doctor just being done with bureaucracy and us, well, ‘pudding brains’ as a later incarnation will call it. It makes him temperamental and short-fused, a far cry from the image of the Third Doctor sat in a velvet jacket critiquing a choice selection of wine in ‘Day of the Daleks’.

Now, stepping outside the show for a minute, Tom Baker’s fourth Doctor is one of the longest serving Doctor’s in the show’s history and I feel it’s fair to say that this shows by his last season. As the Fourth Doctor leaves us he feels, to me at least, weary with the universe. He’s lost a lot of his humour and snaps at his companions more often, perhaps that’s the reason why the Fifth Doctor is so young. An attempt to recapture the youthful vigour of yesteryear? Whatever the reason, the Fifth Doctor is much more soft-spoken than his predecessor, less inclined to take charge and just has a generally gentleman’s air about him. Unfortunately he’s landed squarely in the grimness of the 80s, definitely not the time for a gentle approach.

The universe of 80s Who was not kind to the Fifth Doctor, one companion dead, another a part of a plot to murder him and his longest-serving tearfully running away, fed up with all the death and destruction. That’s without bringing up the Doctor’s own demise, fighting for his and his companion’s life after being caught in a web of greed and backstabbing. Is it any wonder the Sixth Doctor is the way he is? He tried to play nice with the universe and where did it get him? No, the Sixth Doctor will not go gentle into the night, he bulldozes his way into situations, more willing to commit violence and by far the least empathetic of any incarnation, at least while he was on TV, Big Finish is another matter. Eventually the rough edges get worn off, but it’s a long road to get there.

I could go on and on, and I will, but not in this post. We’re already dangerously close to 1000 words and that’s the rough limit I try to set for myself with these posts, but fear not! I’ll be back to this topic again in the future, we’ve got the Seventh Doctor to talk about, as well as the Wilderness Years and even New Who at last!

I’m Chris Joynson, aka Neverarguewithafish, I’m a writer and blogger and if you want to chat with me you can find me on twitter @ChrisGJoynson. See you out there in the vortex.