thinking about what vastra said about the 11 to 12 regeneration being 'stripping away the veil'... i really do think 12 is very fundimentally The Doctor Unfiltered like he's a grumpy old man who is very tired and has a bit of a superiority complex and does morally questionable things but has a lot of love (possibly too much) for the right people. which is kind of how 10 is under his 'i'm just a quirky little dude' persona and how 11 is under his childish silly persona and how 13 is under her endearing erratic rambly persona (9 i think is kind of different bc imo his cover up is being purposely abrasive and difficult but my point still stands bc i don't think 12 is doing that either)?? and i think his arc mirroring 1's is kinda linked too with the whole softening over time thing he has going on? like he's stripping away the veil by becoming like the first version of himself