Comments by "Magic Beans" (@Magic_beans_) on "The Twelfth Doctor Regenerates: Peter Capaldi to Jodie Whittaker - Doctor Who Christmas Special 2017" video.

  1. Without getting too spoliery, there were two special regenerations that didn't result in a new numbered Doctor, so Eleven (Matt Smith) was actually the thirteenth version. When Eleven's time came, the Gallifreyans gave him more regenerations. The customary 13 isn't a hard limit; prior canon suggests it's imposed by the Gallifreyan leaders and lives are transferable. In the Eighth Doctor's TV movie, for example, the Master tries to steal the Doctor's remaining regenerations. We don't actually know how many more the elders gave The Doctor. As far as the Doctor knows, each one now could be the last, but as far as the show's concerned there's no need to stop any time soon.
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  2. Each Doctor has regarded his passing has a sense of finality, but I think we're in an interesting situation now because The Doctor no longer knows how many regenerations she has left. I'm sure the older Doctors knew they could be killed entirely like in "The Impossible Astronaut", but they at least knew that if all went well they'd come back (or conversely, Eleven knew he wouldn't and was able to plan accordingly.) We just don't know now; from the Doctor's perspective, any death could be the last. How will that change the Doctor? Would Thirteen sacrifice herself like Ten did, knowing that this could be once and for all?
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