One persistant theory in Doctor Who is the idea that the Doctor's regenerations are shaped and affected by the lives each Doctor lives, which highlights a connection between Matt Smith and David Tennant's Doctors. Doctor Who's rich history, which extends all the way back to 1963, allows the show to have an expansive wealth of stories to explore, leading to plenty of speculation about details within the show. The sci-fi series features mysteries, twists, and a central character whose face can change, though they remain The Doctor.

However, adding the additional canon into the mix, which includes the Big Finish audiobooks, comics, novels, and even live experiences, the lore for Doctor Who runs deep. And when following one specific thread that crossed over the multiple media formats of the Whoniverse, it adds further reason behind David Tennant's Tenth Doctor transforming into Matt Smith's Eleventh. And it all starts with the Doctor's darkest moment, the Time War.

Matt Smith's More Carefree Eleventh Doctor Was A Direct Response To Tennant's Time Lord Victorious

The Regenerations Are Responsive To Earlier Doctors

Before Matt Smith works with the Tenth Doctor and the War Doctor to save Gallifrey and avoid the annihilation of the Time Lords, the Tenth Doctor is under the impression that he is responsible for the destruction of his entire race of people. While he was not the Doctor responsible for committing the act, he continues to feel the weight of his choices, and this has caused him to become one of the darkest and most intense iterations of the Doctor, despite his frequently cheery nature.

The Tenth Doctor makes some tough calls in his time on the TARDIS, such as granting the Family of Blood immortality in a way that will cause them to suffer forever. However, his most dark stories come when the Doctor adopts the moniker of Time Lord Victorious in the multimedia story covering Ten's path to destroy another race of evil aliens. And in response to this dark side, it makes sense that Ten's regeneration into the Eleventh Doctor would see him become a more carefree, fun, and enthusiastic Doctor who runs from his dark past.

The Eleventh Doctor Had Darker Moments In Doctor Who, But Never Like Time Lord Victorious

Eleven Is A Much More Laidback Doctor

That is not to say that Eleven didn't have a dark side. The character often revealed how intense and intimidating he could be, but he was undeniably a more fun and enthusiastic young Doctor who leaned into being silly and goofy. While Ten was burdened by his choices and history, Eleven ran, and laughed, and simply enjoyed his time as the Doctor. And arguably, his darker moments came as people tried to peel back the jovial surface and find what was underneath.

Matt Smith's Doctor still lived in fear of his dark side, but in order to cope with that awful reflection he recognized in himself, he became a more childish and juvenile figure. This created one of the most interesting and popular versions of the Doctor in the history of the show, and appears to be a clear response to the Doctor's time as the Time Lord Victorious. Thus, Doctor Who once again dives deep into the psyche of the Doctor as the character changes his face and takes on a new form that helps him grow beyond the last ones greatest struggles.