Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

[mrv3000]

Here's a "what if" question for you. Ignoring for a minute that external forces are involved (that Doctor Who is written by people who probably would have written things the same no matter what), how would S2 be different if Nine never regenerated? How about if we had seen Ten already in S1

Comments

[fannishliss]

I'm really torn about this question. On the one hand, I see a lot of continuity between Nine and Ten. I really think of them as being two stages in the life of essentially the same Man. I'm an old Whovian, and they both remind me so much of Four in all the best ways

[kilodalton]

Don't forget, he's the one who had to actually make the sacrifice of Gallifrey to save the universe.

I had always thought RTD implied it was Eight who nuked Gallifrey, and then that he regenerated into Nine during or shortly thereafter (thus being why Nine is so surprised at his reflection in the mirror during Rose.

Argh. Where's the arc of growth in that?

There is none - I think the cracks in the universe ate it XD

[fannishliss]

I think it would make a lot of sense for it to be Eight, but then again, RTD wants to have it both ways when he says that Cloen committed genocide, born in battle etc just like Nine when Rose first met him. If you like, it was Eight who pushed the button and Nine is left to deal with the fallout-- but Ten seems to indicate that it's more than that. I could easily go both ways on that.

It also confuses me when Nine left all those traces of himself in the past (without Rose) if he picks her up so soon after his regeneration? I think there is a teensy plot hole there.

It's really awful to see Ten in such a sorry state during the Specials-- in some ways, apparently worse off than he was before we first met Nine. :(

[kilodalton]

but then again, RTD wants to have it both ways when he says that Cloen committed genocide, born in battle etc just like Nine when Rose first met him

Rofl this is one of those moments where my memory of canon is interlacing with my memory of excellently written fanfic! I read a really great fic where basically, Eight nukes Gallifrey, thinking he will die as well, then merely gets seriously injured in the battle and regenerates into Nine as it is ending. Thus covering both "born in battle" and the Rose implication that Nine is new.

It also confuses me when Nine left all those traces of himself in the past (without Rose) if he picks her up so soon after his regeneration? I think there is a teensy plot hole there.

I write it off to wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey... in my head!canon, Rose is the one who took the pictures, which is why she's not in the pics!! XD

Such an RTD stan that I can justify near anything hahaha