Fourteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver

Fourteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver

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Fourteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver
Type:	Sonic screwdriver
Used by:	Fourteenth Doctor
First appearance:	The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver
Appearances:	PROSE: Under Control [+]Loading...{"page":"10-15","1":"Under Control (short story)"} PROSE: Super Sonic [+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"} PROSE: "Technology" [+]Part of Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse, Loading...{"namedpart":"Technology","1":"Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (reference book)"} TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"]
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The Doctor's sonic screwdrivers
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A sonic screwdriver was owned by the Fourteenth Doctor, which had similar design elements to previous models. (PROSE: Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"})

Appearance and technology

The sonic screwdriver had similar design elements to previous sonic screwdrivers and other devices: the wide area dispersal petals and the resonator cage were similar to the Eleventh Doctor's sonic screwdriver; the handle was similar to the Ninth and Tenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver, which was made from coral like the TARDIS; the frequency and intensity dials were similar to the Master's laser screwdriver; the cage around the central sonic cluster was similar to that of the Twelfth Doctor's second model (PROSE: Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"}) and a Dalek gunstick; (TV: Dalek ^[+]Loading...["Dalek (TV story)"], AUDIO: Eye of Darkness ^[+]Loading...["Eye of Darkness (audio story)"], etc.) and the primary sonic emitter was similar to the bullet-shaped emitter on the sonic screwdriver belonging to the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Doctors and the sonic screwdriver belonging to (PROSE: Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"}) the Seventh (TV: Doctor Who ^[+]Loading...["Doctor Who (TV story)"]) and Eighth Doctors. (PROSE: Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"}) When used, the screwdriver had a "bright blue buzz". (PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"14","1":"Under Control (short story)"})

The activation button also had circular Gallifreyan embossed into it and the function access controls were located at the pommel, with a hexagonal cutout at the very base. (WC: The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver ^[+]Loading...["The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver (webcast)"], PROSE: Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...{"page":"36-37","1":"Super Sonic (feature)"})

Uses

The Fourteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver had the uncommon ability to place shields. (TV: The Star Beast ^[+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])

• Scanning the walls of a cave to identify the technology within. (PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"12, 13","1":"Under Control (short story)"})
• Operating on a precise resonance to dislodge a chunk of rock from a cave ceiling, a pitch so high it was inaudible to even the Doctor with his Time Lord ears. (PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"12","1":"Under Control (short story)"})
• Adjusting a pulley to increase and decrease the height of a seemingly dangerous stalactites-spiked platform. (PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"14","1":"Under Control (short story)"})
• Resonating with mortar in a brick wall to break it apart. (TV: The Star Beast ^[+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])
• Generating shields to stop bullets and neural anesthetic shots. (TV: The Star Beast ^[+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])
• Projecting a display screen to analyze various bits of information. (TV: The Star Beast ^[+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])

History

The Thirteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver is destroyed. (COMIC: Liberation of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)"])

After the Thirteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver fell into the Fourteenth Doctor's possession following his regeneration, he used it for a short while to scan inside the Dalek Dome until it was destroyed by a fake Supreme Dalek. He later got an identical one made for him that he used to change the direction of the Daleks' escape rocket to hit the Mathematicians' Moon. It was then destroyed by the fake Golden Emperor. (COMIC: Liberation of the Daleks ^[+]Loading...["Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)"]) He later replaced it. (WC: The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver ^[+]Loading...["The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver (webcast)"], PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"10-15","1":"Under Control (short story)"}, Super Sonic ^[+]Loading...["Super Sonic (feature)"])

During his travels, the TARDIS brought the Doctor to a Sycorax spaceship piloted by the Queen of the Sycorax during Christmas, (COMIC: Into Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"48-53","1":"Into Control (comic story)"}) however he was unaware that he was in anything other than a cave. While exploring, the Doctor came across a Strombok lodged in a fissure, whereupon the Doctor pulled the screwdriver out from his coat to dislodge a slab of rock to prevent the fissure from closing. On several occasions, he used the screwdriver to scan the veins of silver embedded in the walls of the craft, but only got unclear readings each time. He also used the screwdriver to adjust a pulley to raise and lower a platform with stalactites facing down towards a group of humans, to demonstrate that the trap physically couldn't actually harm them as it was designed merely to provoke fear, as the craft was powered by psychic turbines that fed off pain. (PROSE: Under Control ^[+]Loading...{"page":"10-15","1":"Under Control (short story)"})

Behind the scenes

This section's awfully stubby.

More information from DWM 594's Designated 'Driver article needs to be added.

• Some of the design choices of the sonic screwdriver were Easter Eggs; as revealed by props makers Michael van Kesteren and Barry Jones, some of the out-of-universe details included:
  • The "frequency and intensity dials" portion of the sonic contained a ball detent ratchet — as Phil Sims wanted "knurled" detail on the sonic — so the dials, when turned, made a clicking noise.
  • The hexagonal indentation in the pommel was designed to fit an ordinary screwdriver head.
  • The wide area dispersal petals resembled the officially-named "Eleventh Doctor's flippy-out petals"
  • The cage around the central sonic cluster was meant to reference Rusty's line to the Twelfth Doctor in Into the Dalek: "You would make a good Dalek."
  • That the crackled coral effect on the screwdriver — like Nine and Ten's — was Raku.
• Furthermore, Van Kesteren revealed that the Fifteenth Doctor's screwdriver was a distinct model from the Fourteenth's.

Merchandise

File:The Fourteenth Doctors Sonic Screwdriver.

A showcase of Rubbertoe Replicas' prop replica of the Fourteenth Doctor's screwdriver.

Several pieces of merchandise of the Fourteenth Doctor's sonic screwdriver have been released.

• Character Options released two toys based off the sonic, an online exclusive chrome-finished edition that retailed for £29.99 and a retail non-chrome version that retailed for £14.99.
  • Both versions sold out quickly leading to inflated prices on the second hand market.
  • The chrome version was also sold at San Diego Comic-Con on 19 July 2023.
  • The toy was reviewed in DWM 596.
• Rubbertoe Replicas sold a high-end replica of the sonic for £1198.
• Various pieces of merchandise released by Titan Merchandise has included promotional photographs of the Fourteenth Doctor and his sonic screwdriver being utilised.
• A stuffed accessory of the screwdriver was included in Build-A-Bear Workshop's Diamond Anniversary Fourteenth Doctor bear.