Doctor Who: Every Regeneration Ranked From Worst To Best
13. The War Doctor (The Day Of The Doctor)
As portrayed by the late great John Hurt, the War Doctor is a very confusing addition to the Time Lord's timeline.
A version of the Doctor who has been fighting in the Time War, the War Doctor comes into contact with his future selves after attempting to use a super weapon known as The Moment.
Originally out to destroy both the Time Lords and the Daleks, the War Doctor is convinced by his alternate selves to avoid this loss of life, and they instead freeze Gallifrey in time to save its inhabitants.
After this is complete, the old man thanks his younger selves (who are actually older, but you get it) and flies away in his TARDIS. He then regenerates because... he's old? Does he just get tired and die?
Though symbolising the completion of his struggle, the War Doctor's regeneration still comes out of nowhere. The fact that we also don't see it in full (Christopher Eccleston refused the opportunity to return for this episode) also hampers the occasion.
A nice idea, but poorly executed in the end.