Doctor Who: one person or many? (SPOILERS)

After watching the 50th Anniversary, I've tried reflecting on the problem I had with Doctor Who ever since "The Name of the Doctor." Mainly, the nature of the Doctor's incarnations. Are they all the same person, the same self aware entity? Or is it something more complicated?

I delved into some of the olders stories and took into consideration how Doctors interacted with each other in "The Three Doctors", "The Five Doctors" and of course, the recently broadcast "The Day of the Doctor." You know what's interesting? They don't get on too well. In fact, they bicker and insult each other. 

Except for 10 and 11, they're like old chums, while John Hurt's Doctor mercilessly insults them. "Are You Capable Of Speaking Without Flapping Your Hands About?" From this, you get the feeling that they are separate entities of sorts. They share memories and certain traits, but at the same time you could think they're not the same person. They treat each other as though they were an upstart or usurper. "So you're my replacements – a dandy and a clown!"  The 1st Doctor made no effort to conceal his feelings about his successors. He's a harsh old turkey.

Despite this, there's so much that points to the Doctor being the same person. The transition from Pertwee to Baker, for example, in which 4th groans and is less than pleased about his looks. The 9th acknowledges that he was the one who destroyed both Time Lord and Dalek together in the last day of the War. Each incarnation refers to the last without considering it a different person.

Then I thought about regenerations. Until the era of the 10th Doctor, each incarnation followed on from the other in a fashion that implied this was the same character. It's in recent years that producers/writers seem to approach the subject of regeneration in a different way. It's more traumatic and intense (attributed partly to better special effects). 10th sees it as a form of dying, as opposed to shedding old skin. "Even if I change, it feels like dying. Everything I am dies. Some new man goes sauntering away...and I'm dead." There's a lot more angst to it.

David Tenant is well known for being a massive Who fan. One of his ambitions, he openly admitted, was to play the Doctor. The enthusiasm with which he propelled himself into the role left its mark for millions of fans, many of whom regard him as their favourite. His character's comments about "dying" and "some new man" taking on the role reflects his feelings about leaving. This was written into 10th's final appearance by Russell T Davies and acted with so much emotion and sincerity, it's hard to ignore.

We also need to consider the way companions interact with him. If he is pretty much a new person, why do previous companions still treat him like an old friend? Is it because as non Time Lords they have a limited understanding of the concept of regeneration? Is there a deeper existential meaning to it, somewhat like reincarnation?

Perhaps what Steven Moffat intended was to work on the new interpretation of regeneration (the one where it's considered a form of dying) and the Doctor's ongoing existence. Tenant put so much into the role and gave so much emotion in his departure. However Moffat couldn't bring about a complete retcon and invalidate the past 50 years of Who history. So he leaves it kind of open to debate. He is and isn't a different person.

Thus in the closing minutes of the 50th Anniversary, the 10th and 11th stand by their old self, to share the burden of ending the War they way it was meant to. It's an acknowledgement that its their responsibility as much as it is John Hurt's Doctor.

There's no definitive answer. As I said, it's open to debate. Whether this was intentional or the writers dropped the ball doesn't matter. In the 50 year history of Doctor Who there have been numerous people working on the show, each brining their own take on the adventures of the Doctor. The portrayal of the character, whether its the regeneration or vocabulary and mannerisms, reflects changing attitudes and changing society. For one thing, the 3rd Doctor wouldn't have uttered "timey whimey" and I doubt very much a pre 1984 Doctor would dress like a rainbow factory.

Oh, and that girl with the scarf really needs help. Her asthma is so not well controlled.