Doctor Who: 9 Predictions About The Regeneration Conundrum

4. The Solution Could Involve A Reward From The Time Lords

This is probably the idea that the majority of fans are siding with right now. The possibility of tacking on extra incarnations by one means or another has been hinted at in past episodes such as "Mawdryn Undead," "The Trial of a Time Lord" and "The Sound of Drums." The scenario: Assume the search for Gallifrey acts as an overriding story arc-beyond-the-story arc for some or all of the 13th Doctor's era. Figure that toward the end of said era, Capaldi's Doctor restores the planet to its rightful place in our universe. Figure that the Time Lords in their infinite gratitude and quite possibly hoping the Doctor assumes the Presidency of a benevolent-again Gallifrey reward him with a whole new lifecycle. And figure then that the Doctor agrees to the post, only to duck out in the TARDIS in a déjà vu back to "The Five Doctors." One could even imagine an entire episode devoted to the Capaldi Doctor attempting to settle into life back "home" €“ perhaps taking a job as a curator? €“ before deciding to abscond in his now-retired old TARDIS in similar fashion to the First Doctor's departure. It all makes sense, doesn't it? Sure does. Also, it's way too easy and too predictable. So call this the default solution.