SMASH THE SONIC...

[Redfern]

Do you remember the toy version from the 80s? It was at least twice the size of the Doctor's sonic. No pocket tucking with that one. I think it took C batteries just so you could get that grinding sound it made. It was horrible, but older me now wishes I had had one. LOL.

I do remember it...and I have it. A friend bought it for himself, but when he moved to the Carolinas, he gave it to me along with some other memorabilia and a library's worth of books.

Due to it being so oversized, I endearingly call it a "sonic socket wrench".

Oh, and I have the Character Options "4th Doctor" sonic. In fact, here I am holding it and prepared for a Halloween themed company sponsored luncheon back in 2018.

 

[C.E. Evans]

During the classic run, the only real issue with the sonic screwdriver wasn't how much it was used but how it made it too easy for the Doctor to escape from a jam (usually a dungeon) or to figure a way in or out of something that was locked (usually again a dungeon).

As already mentioned, these days the sonic is used primarily as just a scanner and very rarely is used to solve a problem. I think it is now as much of a fixture of the show as the TARDIS. I also think the sonic is a reflection of the current times we live in where most of us rely daily on multitasking tools, like our phones. The Doctor's sonic is no different in that regard, IMO.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I don't mind the sonic--it delivers exposition in a lovely way.

 

[Marc]

During the classic run, the only real issue with the sonic screwdriver wasn't how much it was used but how it made it too easy for the Doctor to escape from a jam (usually a dungeon) or to figure a way in or out of something that was locked (usually again a dungeon).

Unless locked in a Cardinal's office on Gallifrey

 

[Relayer1]

I've hated it for a long time, but I've since made my peace with its ubiquity.

Is that a bulge in your avatars pocket or is it a sonic being ubiquitous ?

 

[marillion]

I do remember it...and I have it. A friend bought it for himself, but when he moved to the Carolinas, he gave it to me along with some other memorabilia and a library's worth of books.

Due to it being so oversized, I endearingly call it a "sonic socket wrench".

Oh, and I have the Character Options "4th Doctor" sonic. In fact, here I am holding it and prepared for a Halloween themed company sponsored luncheon back in 2018.

That. Is. Brilliant!!

 

[JD]

I've never really been that bothered by the sonic, like others have said, it's usually just one step in solving the problem, not the solution itself.
The sonic is just way to much of an iconic part of the show for them to completely get rid of it at this point. I could see them maybe start using it less often if enough people complain enough, but that's probably as far as they'd go.

 

[Solariabsg25]

I do find it odd that people seem to have a problem with 13 using the sonic as a scanner, when 9 actually had a setting for re-attaching barbed wire.

 

[OCD Geek]

Aw. I was hoping for hedgehog porn.

 

[JD]

I don't think it's ever, in the new series at least, been stated definitively what it can or can't do, so it seems kind of silly to try and say it can't do something.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

I don't disagree with how ridiculous the abilities the screwdriver has have become, but would balk at eliminating it altogether. Just downgrade it a bit.

it almost seems like the various Doctors all try to outdo their previous incarnation with upgrades to the device and he / she / they are still calling it a "screwdriver" out of habit. Just like how so many people call the miniature computers that they carry in their pockets all day "phones" even though phone calls are the least of what they use it for.

This is my take too. A lot of plot pints in modern day non sci-fi drama now hinge on people's phone battery running out /no signal/loss of phone etc. Either that, or hope the audience doesn't question why a character doesn't use their phone to get information. The Sonic Screwdriver is the Doctor's equivalent multitool/tricorder.

I don't think it's ever, in the new series at least, been stated definitively what it can or can't do, so it seems kind of silly to try and say it can't do something.

It can't unlock a "deadbolt seal", we know that much.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Aw. I was hoping for hedgehog porn.

I'm sure that's available somewhere on the Internet.