Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is to protect the present and future, often by ignoring the painful parts of his past. Throughout the special, this evolves into a motivation to heal his past self and rewrite his greatest regret.

The Eleventh Doctor begins the story as the 'man who forgets,' actively running from the trauma of the Time War. His quirky and childlike demeanor is a mask for his deep-seated pain. When confronted by his past selves, he is forced to face the decision he's long tried to bury. His arc is one of acceptance and healing. By the end, he is no longer running from his past but has embraced it, finding a new purpose in the quest to find Gallifrey.

He is motivated by a fierce desire to atone for his perceived sins during the Time War, often acting as a swashbuckling hero to overcompensate for his inner turmoil.

The Tenth Doctor, positioned chronologically just before his regeneration, is the 'man who regrets.' He carries the weight of the Time War openly, his charm and wit barely concealing a deep melancholy. Initially, he clashes with his future self's apparent flippancy about their shared past. His journey in the special involves coming to terms with the idea that redemption is possible and that he doesn't have to bear the burden alone. His famous line, 'I don't want to go,' is repeated, but this time in a context of moving on from a moment of unity rather than facing his own demise.

His sole motivation is to end the unimaginable horror of the Time War, believing that destroying both sides is the only way to save the universe.

The War Doctor is the incarnation who has disavowed his name, seeing himself as a warrior rather than a 'Doctor.' He is weary, pragmatic, and resolved to make a terrible choice for the 'greater good.' His arc is the heart of the film. Through his interactions with his future selves and The Moment, he rediscovers his essential nature. He learns that even in the darkest of times, the answer is not to be a warrior but to be a 'Doctor.' He goes from a state of grim resignation to one of joyful hope, finally accepting himself as a true incarnation of the Doctor before regenerating.

Her motivation is to help the Doctor and to ensure he lives up to his own ideals. She refuses to accept that destroying Gallifrey was the only option and pushes him to be the hero she knows he is.

Clara's arc in this special is to solidify her role as more than just a companion; she becomes the Doctor's moral compass. Freed from the 'Impossible Girl' mystery, she is given a pivotal role in the central drama. It is her plea that breaks through the Doctors' shared guilt, reminding them of the promise associated with their name. She represents the human perspective that helps the Doctor see beyond the impossible choices of a Time Lord, pushing them to find a better way.

The Moment's motivation is to be used by someone worthy, and to ensure that the monumental decision to use it is made with full awareness of the consequences. It seeks to judge its user and, in this case, to save him from himself.

As the interface of a sentient weapon, The Moment's arc is to guide the War Doctor to a better choice. Taking the form of 'Bad Wolf,' an echo of a future companion, it acts as a catalyst for the entire plot. It doesn't provide easy answers but instead forces the Doctor to confront himself—literally. Its development is in choosing to offer the Doctor a path to redemption rather than simply fulfilling its function as a weapon of mass destruction.