13 Things Non-Fans Always Get Wrong About Doctor Who

11. The Doctor Is Supernatural / Magic / Immortal

Actually he's just a Time Lord and that thing he does, the whole changing face / body / personality thing €“ it isn't magic. Time Lords are supposed to be able to do that. It's what happens to them when their bodies get injured or damaged or whatever. It's a bit like the way your skin can heal itself when you damage it, only on a much grander scale. When the cells of a Time Lord's body become worn out, they can be repaired just like your skin. That process is called "regeneration". In fact, the full extent of those repairs is such that they end up with a totally different body, mind, spirit, personality, voice, height, outward appearance of age... everything! They're still the same person, with the same mind and all the same memories from each and every previous incarnation, but they're a brand new person at the same time. Time Lords can actually do this twelve times, but after they've had thirteen bodies the cycle just kinda stops. They can't regenerate any more, so when it all goes pear-shaped they will actually die. Maybe. The bottom line here is that it's not magic. There's nothing supernatural about regeneration and The Doctor definitely isn't immortal.