10 Biggest Doctor Who Retcons
3. The First Doctor Is NOT The First Doctor
For the first 57 years of Doctor Who's existence, William Hartnell's incarnation of the Time Lord was known to be the very first version of the Doctor. The original, you might say. But no more! As of Series 12's finale The Timeless Children, Hartnell no longer has the honour of being the first face the Doctor wore, since it was revealed that the Doctor had already regenerated dozens if not hundreds of times prior.
This does feel a little disrespectful to Hartnell, the man who brought the beloved role to life way back in 1963. Not only that, but his character and quirks are based on the fact that he is the initial incarnation: his growth from nonchalant grump into the very essence of The Doctor we know and love is the crucial foundation for the series, and this retcon makes all that redundant.
Some have argued that this is a positive change that opens up new storytelling possibilities. But was there really a limit on storytelling possibilities before the change? Doctor Who is inherently unlimited, it can go anywhere in time and space, adapt itself to suit any genre, and change its cast whenever necessary. Introducing dozens upon dozens of Doctors we didn't know about before is just overwhelming, and dilutes the character by making the incarnations we know feel comparatively insignificant.