In your opinion, what was the best ever regeneration scene in Doctor Who?

Question

And why do you think so?

I was lucky enough to see the regeneration of the first Doctor into the second when it was first broadcast. At the time, as a young boy, I found it very upsetting since I loved William Hartnell so much as the Doctor, and the idea that anybody could replace him was just unthinkable (I wasn't the only one - there was a significant drop in viewing figures the following week). Looking back on it now though, it was a pivotal moment in Doctor Who history. Also, unlike subsequent regenerations, nobody knew about the first one in advance - which gave it all the more impact when it happened. As did the fact that it happened 8 episodes into the fourth series, rather than at the end of a series. So for me, the first regeneration certainly had the most impact.

My favorite one, though, is the one nobody has mentioned at all strangely. The regeneration of the third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) into the fourth (Tom Baker). It was almost completely seamless to my eye. So much so that when I first saw it, I though Tom Baker was actually Jon Pertwee made up to look a bit different. Add to that Elizabeth Sladen's wonderfully emotional performance as Sarah Jane, and the Brigadier's resigned quip "Well. Here we go again!” in addition to the fact that it marked the beginning of one of the best periods in Doctor Who's history – and that makes it the perfect transition in my view.

Answer 1

Well it's not the 6th into the 7th Doctor that's for certain, he just fell over and changed! And it was not even Colin it was Syvester in a wig!
There were a lot of good ones though. I would say the first ever one would be the best except for it's only a clip of it that survives so really it loses something because it does not fully exist anymore.
There was not really a proper 2nd into 3rd Doctor scene so that can't win, although the regeneration was a big topic in both The War Games and Spearhead From Space.
The 4th into 5th Doctor scene itself is quite good but marred by how silly the Logopolis story was. Which was a shame because the acting was very good and as a kid I was entranced by The Watcher.
The 5th into 6th Doctor regeneration is very well done. I love The Caves of Androzani and I think the effect with the companions and the Master talking to the Doctor while he regenerates is very well done but features a lot of random purple.
As I said the 6th to the 7th was very badly done.
The 7th to the 8th was a very good regeneration scene. The James Whale's Frankenstein influence (also influencing the episode last week). Also it had good special effects.

But my favourite has to be the 9th to 10th Doctor regeneration because it was just so well done. Christopher Eccleston delivers the lines so well and the scene is very emotionally charged. So because the first regeneration does not fully exist anymore I think the best remaining one is the latest.

Answer 2

Some excellent points made here - 1st to 2nd would have been awesome to see if you were just watching the series for the first time - a complete "What the hell just happened???" moment. For me, coming later, the 5th into the 6th was particularly cool - came at the end of a truly kicking story (Peter Davison is probably right when he calls Androzani his best story), and was a fitting, psychedelic handover without all the focus on the physical change. 9th to 10th, not for me - if you regenerate standing up, you're just too cool to be the Doctor, who traditionally has trouble with the process.

Answer 3

Tom Baker to Peter Davison. I was traumatised for years.

Answer 4

William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton because it was the first time we'd seen it happen.

Answer 5

tom baker to peter davison....went downhill after that.
i grew up with Dr Who & Tom Baker was the best.

Answer 6

#7 to #8 - in the morgue and he bangs the doors down and freaks out the guy working there, and the wire from the surgery is still embedded in his chest - awesome.