For a while now, I’ve had variant regeneration moments in my head. Diversions from the TV stories, and alternatives I might’ve preferred. Are there any takes on existing regeneration scenes that you might’ve preferred, or things you might’ve done differently? For mine, I’ve kept fairly close to events on screen, rather than completely changing them to something brand new…
Tenth Doctor ~
I always liked the idea of him regenerating in that glass booth, once he’s freed Wilf. When he absorbs the radiation energy and collapses to the floor, clutching his head. On first watch, I dared to believe they’d actually done it so subtly. I imagined Matt Smith then standing up and pushing the door open - “Oh, yeah, now it opens!” to an astonished Wilf. No overblown regeneration effects, no overblown music, and a massive shock. We don’t even see the change. It happens as the Doctor is crouched and holding himself in agony. He then relaxes somewhat and stands up, a new man. I understand why they didn’t do this, but it would’ve been a fascinating change to the norm. There’s something appealing to me about a lower-key regeneration, even for David Tennant, and Matt’s first words being a slightly exasperated “yeah, now it opens” as he doesn’t quite realise he’s changed until he spots Wilf’s reaction.
Eleventh Doctor ~
Another one where I dared to believe they’d surprise us. When Clara re-enters the TARDIS at the end, we see the bowl of custard, etc. And we get a close-up of some boots as the feet walk up the TARDIS steps towards the console. I honestly hoped the camera would pan up to an already-formed Peter Capaldi, with the intent being that Smith’s final words were “love from Gallifrey, boys” as he exploded on the clocktower. Another one where I understand why they didn’t go for this, but it would’ve been a surprise for the audience. (I think they even intentionally teased this idea when we got the close-up of boots ~ in reaction videos I’ve seen people believing for a moment that it would pan up to reveal the new Doctor.)
Twelfth Doctor ~
For me, maybe the most frustrating of the New Who ones. He sort of got two “endpoint” moments before his actual regeneration. “Pity. No stars. I hoped there’d be stars.” As the Doctor lays on the ground, believing he’s dying, he starts to glow… and, similar to the Jenny resurrection scene, maybe some regeneration energy spills from him to revive the ground around him as the new Doctor is reborn. Alternatively, we have that moment when he’s taken back to the TARDIS by AsBill and Puddle Girl, and he has the “Doctor!” flashbacks. The camera closes in on his head, with a hint of regeneration energy. In this instance, the Doctor’s final words would still be “I hoped there’d be stars” and the last moment we’d see would be Missy saying “Doctor” as the Twelfth Doctor begins to regenerate. I like both of these alternatives because I always wanted to see a weaker Doctor lying down again, after the Jesus-poses of 2005 onwards.
Fourteenth Doctor ~
I quite liked the regeneration, up until the bigeneration. I knew that was coming so I’d mentally prepared myself, but it still took the wind out of my sails. I liked that Tennant was outside the TARDIS, surrounded by some old and new friends, embracing his change of appearance this time. I just wish this had been a more standard regeneration, with Ncuti going on to defeat the Toymaker alone. Usually, in a regeneration story, you want the outgoing Doctor to be there until the end and defeat the villain so it feels more satisfying, but here they had the opportunity to change things up a bit so that the new guy could win the day instead. But alas. It wasn’t to be.
