David Tennant's Cut Regeneration Scene Would've Rewritten Doctor Who
Tennant’s regeneration scene is arguably one of the saddest from Doctor Who, but his famous “I don’t want to go scene” was almost much different.
David Tennant’s regeneration scene in Doctor Who was almost much different, and it would have changed the Doctor’s entire personality. David Tennant’s Doctor differs quite a lot from other regenerations as he is the only Doctor to have regenerated twice, because the first time he regenerated in series 4, episode 13, “Journey’s End”, he kept the same face. Tennant is also the only face of the Doctor to make a return, as Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor regenerated back into David Tennant, which will be explained in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special ahead of Doctor Who season 14.
Although most of the Doctor’s regenerations have returned at some point throughout Doctor Who, David Tennant is particularly connected to the role. Tennant’s Doctor regenerated twice before changing to Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor, and he also returned for the 50th Anniversary Special of Doctor Who. It is quite fitting that Tennant has returned frequently as he is the only Doctor to show any outright sadness to regenerate into a new person. Every Doctor Who's regeneration has been sad in some way, but they have all been accompanied by some form of calmness and acceptance as if they know it is the right time. Tennant’s 10th Doctor regeneration was different though.
Doctor Who's Cut Tennant Regeneration Scene Changed The Doctor's Persona
Tennant’s Doctor Who regeneration may have differed from other the Doctor’s, but his cut regeneration scene almost changed the Doctor’s entire personality. Tennant’s regeneration in the 2010 Christmas special “The End of Time: Part 2” is famous for his line “I don’t want to go”. The Doctor Who Confidential series has now revealed there were four alternative takes for that scene, each getting progressively more emotional. The fourth take shows the Doctor crying and having a borderline breakdown as he says “I don’t want to go” which is very different from the version which aired.
Having a Doctor confess he did not want to leave was already a big character change as no other Doctor had ever done that before, and regeneration is an accepted part of the Doctor’s life. However, having him overcome with grief would have completely rewritten the character. In the Doctor Who Confidential video, Tennant says that the fourth take was too out of character, as it takes away some of the Doctor’s main personality traits, such as bravery and stoicism. The alternate regeneration scene would have made the Doctor too self-pitying, which goes against a character who has learned to endure hard life moments over hundreds of years.
Why Doctor Who's Aired David Tennant Regeneration Was The Right Take
Doctor Who did make a big change with the revelation of Tennant’s Doctor not wanting to regenerate, but using the alternate take would have pushed that too far. The third take mixes the Doctor’s strength and fear perfectly, which makes it more heartbreaking for the audience to watch. The Doctor is visibly sad to be regenerating, and that emotion shows in Tennant's physical regeneration, but he controls his emotions beforehand in a way that portrays his signature bravery. The third, and chosen, take makes it seem like his confession of not wanting to leave just escaped, and he is trying to stay strong despite his emotions.
The Doctor is never happy to regenerate, as it changes who they are and their personality, but they always accept it is the right time. This tugs at the audience’s heartstrings more as it is harder to watch the Doctor being so brave at such a tough moment for them. This is why the take that aired for Tennant’s regeneration was the right choice. It pushed the boundaries of the Doctor revealing his inner emotions but still honored his history and personality. Restraining Tennant’s emotion made his regeneration in Doctor Who more moving and accurate to the deep understanding the Doctor has about having to regenerate and change.