Oh, every regen has been shown 'cept Eight into Nine.

Mostly it is shown. A couple of them weren't shown. We never saw the Sixth Doctor turn into the Seventh, because that series had ended with bad blood and the actor did not wish to do the regeneration scene. We didn't see the Eighth Doctor turn into the Ninth, because the Eighth Doctor only got the TV movie in the 90s with the failed attempt to reboot the series as a Brit-American co-production, after a hiatus of almost 10 years.

The Eighth Doctor featured in comics and also audios during the years between the tv movie and the 2005 reboot, but I think they wanted to start fresh by that point and didn't want to begin the new show by harking back to the last time it had been on the air.

Actually, that first series was almost devoid of references to past Doctors. An odd line or two here and there, a few old monsters. Also the website shuffled the past Doctors out the way so you really had to go looking for them if you wanted to know about the series history. Once the show had found its feet a bit they started throwing in little references and bringing in the odd actor/character from the old show (like Sara Jane) and gave the past Doctors more prominence on the website.

In general, regenerations are shown. The McGann-Eccleston one wasn't, and if henry is right, then they'll take advantage of that fact to stick Hurt in between them.

Hurt's regeneration seems like a likely scene to be in the special. It would be cool if they brought back McGann for it. I haven't been keeping up on spoilers, so I don't know if that's been ruled in or out.

They often play with the idea that regeneration isn't a guarantee. Took them a little while to decide it was even going to be a regular Timelord thing :p The new series has got more of an idea of what it wants from regenerations. The classic series did it differently pretty much every time. About the only consistent feature was that the new Doctor would experience a period of disorientation, often flitting in and out of different generation's mannerisms.

Here's the Fifth Doctor regenerating. He's just exposed himself to a lethal dose of poison in order get an antidote to save his companion, Peri (who hasn't been with him long at this point):



The ninth Doctor's regeneration shows the more modern approach. They've stuck to the same basic mechanism now throughout the new series. There is still a question mark over whether a regeneration will happen, with the Timelord home planet and civilisation gone. But if it happens it pretty much always happens the same way*, with the eruption of light and power.

Which is a big step up from that Wanderer shit they did with the Fourth Doctor (don't feel like explaining that one ;p)

Similar idea of the Doc sacrificing himself to save his companion. But done very differently.




* yes I know there have only been three Doctors and two regeneerations...but only sort of. There was that whole sidestep, false regeneration that turned into an additional sort of Doctor.

And, I really don't fancy explaining that one.

Dana, you got some 'splaining to do!

"if henry is right"
 

Oh, no doubt I'm as wrong as wrong can be.

As I say up-thread (in my view, if my theory is right) the Hurt doc is the best of the bunch.

How can I not favor the mass murderer?

But, I believe my favorite is the one portrayed in the Doctor Who Unbound audio play 'Full Fathom Five'.

He wants his tardis back and he'll do whatever is necessary to get it.

Doctors everywhere.

OMG, they're a Birddog-Time Lord Meta-Crises.

Not sure how I missed this. Very good.

Nice little interview with Smith: