I've recently been watching the new series, being a fan of the classic series. I like the new series, but I can't help thinking that the sonic screwdriver is used too much as a 'get out of jail free' card. I can understand why JNT destroyed in the early 80's.
sonic screwdriver
I see it less as a get out of jail free card and more as a handy plot contrivance that enables the writers to skip alot of boring stuff that would waste precious minutes of a 45 minute episode. Plus its cool. Really cool.
Originally Posted by saladfingers81:
“I see it less as a get out of jail free card and more as a handy plot contrivance that enables the writers to skip alot of boring stuff that would waste precious minutes of a 45 minute episode. Plus its cool. Really cool.”
“I see it less as a get out of jail free card and more as a handy plot contrivance that enables the writers to skip alot of boring stuff that would waste precious minutes of a 45 minute episode. Plus its cool. Really cool.”
This.
The Sonic Screwdriver allows scenes and dialogue to be streamlined so we don't spend ten minutes on a problem that we could solve in less than one. While I do agree that there are times it has been abused ("The Power of Three"), I don't have much a of a problem with it. In my opinion, the screwdriver should be able to advance the plot, without actually solving anything.
It was nice seeing the 11th hour again yesterday. Fresh faced Matt Smith with no screwdriver or Tardis able to save the world in about 20 mins, and to tell the atraxi to eff off 
Sorry for the spoilers Ulsterguy!
Sorry for the spoilers Ulsterguy!
Crap, its a crutch for lazy writers .Instead of writing a coherent, understandable conclusion just have the doctor wave the magic screwdriver.
If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show
If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show
I like the sonic screwdriver. Superior technology to solve problems is jsut a variation on the Doctor's normal modus operandi (superior intelligence or knowledge to solve problems). It's all part of what makes the Doctor great.
I agree that, at times, the screwdriver has been made to be capable of more than it should and, occasionally, makes things too easy, but I never cease to get a thrill when he uses it.
The Doctor without the sonic is like the Doctor without the TARDIS. It's almost inconceivable to believe he was once without it
I agree that, at times, the screwdriver has been made to be capable of more than it should and, occasionally, makes things too easy, but I never cease to get a thrill when he uses it.
The Doctor without the sonic is like the Doctor without the TARDIS. It's almost inconceivable to believe he was once without it
Originally Posted by Ulsterguy:
“I've recently been watching the new series, being a fan of the classic series. I like the new series, but I can't help thinking that the sonic screwdriver is used too much as a 'get out of jail free' card. I can understand why JNT destroyed in the early 80's.”
“I've recently been watching the new series, being a fan of the classic series. I like the new series, but I can't help thinking that the sonic screwdriver is used too much as a 'get out of jail free' card. I can understand why JNT destroyed in the early 80's.”
Originally Posted by Philip_Lamb:
“Crap, its a crutch for lazy writers .Instead of writing a coherent, understandable conclusion just have the doctor wave the magic screwdriver.
If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show”
“Crap, its a crutch for lazy writers .Instead of writing a coherent, understandable conclusion just have the doctor wave the magic screwdriver.
If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show”
He has, to date, used it once as a conclusion. Ina a poor story that was made poorer for the use of the sonic resolution.
But a 'get-out-of-jail-free' card? I don't think so. We need him to have a multi-tool, otherwise half the time he'd be either having to build a new gadget that will read something/check something/display something (and in a 45 min format, that would take up too much time), or he would be forever 'finding' a gadget either in his TARDIS or lying around that would tell him what he needs to know (which would be contrived and just as bad as a sonic screwdriver resolution).
It's a necessary story-telling technique.
Originally Posted by Philip_Lamb:
“If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show”
“If you can't explain what you're doing with it then you shouldn't be writing for the show”
This is true - but it's a fault of the writing, not of the screwdriver. Don't blame the screwdriver. Never blame the poor screwdriver.
Whether it's the Doctor waving his sonic screwdriver, his technobabble, his companion or his hands at the problem to make it go away - if it's not earned, it doesn't work.
Originally Posted by saladfingers81:
“I see it less as a get out of jail free card and more as a handy plot contrivance that enables the writers to skip alot of boring stuff that would waste precious minutes of a 45 minute episode.”
“I see it less as a get out of jail free card and more as a handy plot contrivance that enables the writers to skip alot of boring stuff that would waste precious minutes of a 45 minute episode.”
Please just copy and paste this perfect summary every time this topic comes up and then we don't have to waste time 'discussing' it
