Watching the Doctor regenerate has been an important part of Doctor Who throughout most of its history. On this day fifty years ago, the first regeneration in show history happened.
Doctor Who had a problem. It had become a wildly successful program, one beloved by fans young and old alike. With William Hartnell as the Doctor, in a role that he truly loved, the show seemed as though it had a bright future ahead of it.
However, there were problems under the surface. Hartnell was becoming ill, making it difficult for him to remember his lines and to film the show. Likewise, his cantankerous personality had begun rubbing others the wrong way. Yet, he was the star of the show, the Doctor himself. How could the BBC just move on from the most recognizable character that the show had?
When Patrick Troughton was brought in to take over the role, the BBC figured out an answer. On this day fifty years ago, the mortally wounded First Doctor was lying down on his back as the screen faded to white. As the saturation returned, audiences first saw the face of the Second Doctor. The serial was ‘The Tenth Planet.’
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The renewal, as the regeneration was referred to then, was born. It set into motion a plot device that would become a staple of Doctor Who throughout its history, as the Doctor would change form, and personality, whenever he suffered tremendous damage. It also served to let the show have an indefinite lifespan, as the actors could be replaced at any given point in time.
In coming up with the regeneration, Doctor Who also, unwittingly, ushered in the idea of rebooting a franchise. While the changing of the cast on Doctor Who is never a hard reboot, it seems to have fostered the idea in the world of television production that a fresh start can be made with old ideas.
Next: The Connection Between Dirk Gently and Doctor Who