You know, when we found out that Belinda was going to be the Doctor’s little helper, I assumed she’d be gone for a while and then show back up sometime in the future. I really like this whole backstory retrospect thing we’ve got going here. Good work, Doc Legostar.
Enter the Doctor Who historian (i.e. British sci-fi fan )
The doctor has arguably ALWAYS been immortal. Way back in the days of the second doctor he described Time Lords as being able to ‘Live forever, baring acidents’. However in one of the Tom Baker stories there was a throw-away line about time lords only being able to regenerate 12 times, and for some reason it stuck despite the obvious contradiction. In any event in the most recent series of the spin off – ‘The sarah jane adventures’ the doctor guest starred in one episode and when he was asked how many times he could regenerate he answered ’507′. The tone of the scene was humerous so that can be taken as fact or joke depending on your viewpoint.
but, in one of the dr who confidentials (i forget which one, but from serries 4 with donna i think, or posibly the cristmas special where dr no.10 dies, or the one witch introduces matt smith) russle t. davies (head writer of (new) serries 1-4 for those that dont know) stated that the doctor only had 12/13 (again i forget, but i am assuming 12 based on your comment (though i was convinced it was 13)) lives, but a macguffin will probably appear to extend his life when he loses his last one.
I way be wrong, but… I don’t know that The Doctor would exactly lie about himself to any of his companions. He does stretch and omit the truth, but he very, very rarely outright lies to his companions.
One item that came up several times is the Master was on his last regeneration and was trying to steal/cheat his way into another regeneration. He’s on what? his 15th or so in canon?
The obvious escape is that the limit was imposed by Gallifrey, and since all the Time Lords are dead it doesn’t apply anymore.
Heheh. For a second I didn’t get it… then I did.
You know, when we found out that Belinda was going to be the Doctor’s little helper, I assumed she’d be gone for a while and then show back up sometime in the future. I really like this whole backstory retrospect thing we’ve got going here. Good work, Doc Legostar.
well technically, he IS the second chance, he’s the doctor, making people better.
apparently they’re going to make the Doc immortal sometime soon in the series…
Enter the Doctor Who historian (i.e. British sci-fi fan
)
The doctor has arguably ALWAYS been immortal. Way back in the days of the second doctor he described Time Lords as being able to ‘Live forever, baring acidents’. However in one of the Tom Baker stories there was a throw-away line about time lords only being able to regenerate 12 times, and for some reason it stuck despite the obvious contradiction. In any event in the most recent series of the spin off – ‘The sarah jane adventures’ the doctor guest starred in one episode and when he was asked how many times he could regenerate he answered ’507′. The tone of the scene was humerous so that can be taken as fact or joke depending on your viewpoint.
but, in one of the dr who confidentials (i forget which one, but from serries 4 with donna i think, or posibly the cristmas special where dr no.10 dies, or the one witch introduces matt smith) russle t. davies (head writer of (new) serries 1-4 for those that dont know) stated that the doctor only had 12/13 (again i forget, but i am assuming 12 based on your comment (though i was convinced it was 13)) lives, but a macguffin will probably appear to extend his life when he loses his last one.
probably.
12 regenerations would mean 13 lives as the first isn’t a regeneration, so you’re both correct. : )
I way be wrong, but… I don’t know that The Doctor would exactly lie about himself to any of his companions. He does stretch and omit the truth, but he very, very rarely outright lies to his companions.
One item that came up several times is the Master was on his last regeneration and was trying to steal/cheat his way into another regeneration. He’s on what? his 15th or so in canon?
The obvious escape is that the limit was imposed by Gallifrey, and since all the Time Lords are dead it doesn’t apply anymore.
Ooo, I like that theory.
The Doctor is indeed mortal. In one of my favorite scenes, with Colin Baker of all Drs., Davaros shows the Dr his tombstone.