Bigeneration embraces Doctor Who canon – and that’s perfectly acceptable
Bigeneration redefines Doctor Who canon, injecting fresh energy and innovation into the beloved franchise Discover why this groundbreaking concept is a welcome and exciting addition to the Doctor Who universe
Doctor Who's innovative bigeneration concept revolutionizes the franchise's established canon. Here's why this departure from tradition is a positive change.
A bigeneration occurs when a regenerating Time Lord divides into two individuals: their current and future versions. In "The Giggle," this manifests as the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) coexisting as separate entities.
After the special was released, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies disclosed that the Fourteenth Doctor's bigeneration also applies to all of their past selves. "A whole timeline has been bigenerated," he stated, and added that these previous Doctors are now present in the "Doctor verse."
In essence, bigeneration has permanently altered Doctor Who. However, the positive aspects far outweigh the negatives. Warning: "The Giggle," the final Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, contains major spoilers.
How bigeneration breaks Doctor Who canon
And there are some pretty big negatives to bigeneration’s introduction to Doctor Who lore.
The concept of bigeneration reduces the emotional impact of regeneration even more. While we understand that the Doctor doesn't die when he regenerates, there is still a sense of sacrifice involved. This includes the Doctor letting go of their current identity and us fans saying goodbye to both the character and the actor who portrayed them. However, with the Fourteenth Doctor still present after the arrival of the Fifteenth, much of this emotional weight is diminished.
David Tennant may no longer be the headline actor for Doctor Who, and Davies claims that the Fourteenth Doctor is not in the immediate plans. However, the potential ease of their return undermines the impact of their departure. This also applies to the predecessors of the Fourteenth Doctor - if they can come back to life, why should we mourn them?
Furthermore, another drawback of bigeneration is that it adds unnecessary complexity. The simplicity of regeneration is what has made it so effective. When Time Lords, like the Doctor, are near death, they regenerate with a new face and personality. It's straightforward.
Now we are faced with a multitude of new rules and unanswered questions. What happens if the current incarnation dies? Will the two incarnations ever merge? Only Davies knows the answer for certain.
Bigeneration also adds complexity to the Doctor Who timeline, which was already difficult to follow due to its inconsistencies, by branching it into a multiverse. While multiverses can be entertaining, as evidenced by recent successes like Oscar-winning films, the increasing complexity can also lead to viewer alienation, as seen in the declining interest in the MCU from Marvel Studios.
Why bigeneration is good for Doctor Who
Yet for all these headaches and others like them, bigeneration is still a good thing for Doctor Who.
BBC
The concept primarily focuses on the rehabilitation of both the Doctor and Doctor Who itself. Through the process of the Fourteenth Doctor working through the emotional baggage of decades’ worth of storylines off-screen, the bigeneration approach paves the way for Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor to begin with a clean slate.
It’s a method of refreshing without fully refreshing. Instead of wiping out Doctor Who’s history, the focus is being redirected to its future. This aligns with the show’s theme of change and makes it easier for new fans to join in after the Disney deal. "The Giggle" also offers something for long-time fans, thanks to the introduction of bigeneration. The "multiverse" concept has made Doctor Who continuity more adaptable than before.
Typically, this is the type of change that die-hard fans strongly oppose. After all, if the Doctor Who mythology isn't consistent, then what's the point of having it at all? However, as Davies pointed out, "loosening the rules" allows longtime fans to stop worrying about storylines they don't care for by placing them in an alternate time stream instead.
"It simply eases the rules to say [The Doctor] can be whatever you imagine him to be," Davies stated. It's difficult to disagree with that, even if it means disregarding Doctor Who's established canon.
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Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I have mixed feelings about the introduction of the bigeneration concept. On the one hand, I appreciate the show's willingness to take risks and innovate. Bigeneration certainly injects fresh energy into the franchise and allows for new storytelling possibilities. The idea of the Fourteenth Doctor coexisting with the Fifteenth Doctor is intriguing and could lead to some fascinating character dynamics.
On the other hand, I worry that bigeneration may undermine the emotional impact of regeneration. One of the things that makes Doctor Who so special is the sense of loss and change that accompanies each regeneration. When a Doctor regenerates, it's not just a change of actor; it's a change of personality, memories, and experiences. This can be a difficult moment for fans, but it's also what makes the show so compelling. I'm concerned that bigeneration could lessen the impact of these moments by making it seem like the Doctor can simply come back to life.
Overall, I think bigeneration is a risky move, but one that could pay off if done well. I'm excited to see how Russell T Davies and the rest of the Doctor Who team develop this concept in future episodes.
