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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
- 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)"})
- Unsecuring a fence panel. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:07:03","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- To unlock doors. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:07:34, 00:21:54","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- Creating a holographic screen and adjusting the dials to begin analysing data. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:14:04","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- To raise a soldier's visor. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:25:26","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- Generating shields to stop bullets and neural anesthetic shots. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:26:05","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- Resonating with mortar in a brick wall to break it apart. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:28:02","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- Intercepting Wrarth Warriors' teleportation beam. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:31:27","1":"The Star Beast (TV story)"})
- Being inserted into the TARDIS's keyhole to reconfigure and initiate the machine's regeneration. (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:04:00","1":"Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"})
History
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 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)"})
During the Meep's attempted Destruction of London in late 2023, the Doctor used his screwdriver multiple times. First, he used the screwdriver to unsecure a fence panel in the perimeter of the Millson Wagner Steelworks to sneak in past UNIT undetected, then, as he entered the steelworks facility itself by unlocking a door with the tool, he used it again to create a holographic screen and adjusted its dials to begin analysing the data about the Meep's ship.
Later, when the Soliders of the Psychedelic Sun demanded to enter the Nobles' home, the Doctor used the screwdriver again to raise their visors to see that their eyes bore the effects of solar psychedelia. After these soldiers and the Wrarth Warriors began to open fire upon each other at each end of the hallway spanning the length of the Nobles' home, the Doctor used the screwdriver to create shields to create a safe passageway to the stairs, handing Donna the screwdriver while he pushed them out. When they reached the attic, the Doctor used the screwdriver to weaken the walls dividing the attic between each resident, to create a path to exit another person's home away from the gunfire.
After escaping from the firefight in Shaun Temple's taxi and driving to a car park, the Doctor used the screwdriver to intercept the Wrarth Warriors teleport to hold an impromptu court. Within the trial, he used the screwdriver to gesture towards the evidence he gathered. The Doctor and the Nobles' were taken as captives back to the steelworks, but after freeing themselves from the soldiers and the Doctor and Donna ran to the Meep's ship to prevent the Meep from using the dagger drive, the former using the screwdriver to help himself do so. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])
After the TARDIS landed out of control in a spaceship at the edge of the universe, the Fourteenth Doctor used a "non-sonic screwdriver" to pry off the TARDIS's lock so he could insert the sonic screwdriver into the keyhole left behind, to reconfigure the time machine and initiate the its regeneration, to repair the damage caused when Donna spilt coffee over the console. After the TARDIS dematerialised due to the HADs, Donna asked the Doctor to use the screwdriver, but he reminded her that it was in the keyhole. When the TARDIS returned, the Doctor immediately took the screwdriver out of the keyhole. (TV: Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...{"timestamp":"00:04:00, 00:46:25","1":"Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"})
Behind the scenes
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,[1] 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.[1]
Merchandise
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[2][3] and a retail non-chrome version that retailed for £14.99.[4]
- Rubbertoe Replicas sold a high-end replica of the sonic for £1198.[7]
- 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.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 DWM 594 - Designated 'Driver, Page 18
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Limited Edition Exclusive The14th Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver on merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk
- ↑ Doctor Who The Fourteenth Doctors Sonic Screwdriver on character-online.com
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Doctor Who The 14th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver Standard Edition on merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk
- ↑ @bbcdoctorwho on twitter.com
- ↑ The Fourteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver is available now on doctorwho.tv
- ↑ The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver on rubbertoereplicas.com