#10 struggled with containing his anger and being merciful - 11 struggles too but he succeeds more often

[kitkatt0430]

I really like the idea that when the Doctor regenerates there is, on a sort of subconscious level, a choice to correct things in their new self that they didn't like about their current self.

Like, 9 struggled with being affectionate in a way 10 doesn't. And 11 is better at... not forgetting, but at compartmentalizing and masking his feelings than 10 was. 12 is better about speaking his mind and establishing boundaries than 11. 13 is better at listening to other people's points of view than 12 was.

But at the same time, they're all always the same person at their core. There are some things about themself that the Doctor never changes, because they can't. And, perhaps, even at the worst of their moments of self loathing, they don't want to lose who they are.

#9 was affectionate but he was often afraid to let himself express it #10 struggled with containing his anger and being merciful - 11 struggles too but he succeeds more often #and is better at being merciful even while furious #11 often spoke his mind but he also lied a lot to make the people he cared about feel better #but it often got him into trouble too especially since it led to him being trapped in a complicated relationship with River #where he had to mask his own feelings to make her happy only it didn't make her happy because she could tell when he was masking #12 listened to others when he respected them but he struggled to listen to people he didn't know or respect #but 13 listens to everyone on the chance they'll say something kind or useful or both #of course the Doctor ultimately makes their own decisions regardless of who says what #I wonder what 13 will want to change when she becomes 14?