New 10th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote

[Mara Jade's Father]

The trek remark makes sense as the fx are not done at that point. But River's sonic is right there plus the fact that they built it differently so it was planned before filming the scene. So why not simply replace "exactly" with "sort of" or "almost". I know... sometimes common sense doesn't always make its way to the screen.

Either way, the primary point is that the doctor recognized something in River's sonic that is identifiable to his and therefore I would have to say that River's is a mod of the Ten's screwdriver.

 

[Asp9mm]

The original script and Future Sonic (that's how it is described... NOT River Song Sonic) design specs have it as a sonic from a later regeneration. An ancient and much worked on possession of the Doctors. It was meant to resemble the sonic of Ten so that it would be recognisable as a sonic, but it was designed to be so different to Ten's version that people wouldn't mistake it as being the same one. Sadly in this age of change and design stamps by producers, the sonic design radically changed with Smith's introduction and so we have this confusion.

Eight's sonic is different from Five's, but it follows the same kind of aesthetic design. The same was intended with the Future Sonic, only it differs much much more from Ten's in parts and design. Sadly with Eleven's sonic complete redesign (as with the TARDIS), it renders the sonic timeline suggested within the Library episodes as a dead end and not correct with that story and possible future. They should have had Smith rebuild his broken sonic after The Eleventh Hour and slowly modify it as he aged so it eventually becomes that sonic seen with River in the Library story. But producers and writers don't find these things quite as important as us prop fans and so we have this anomaly. Having new designs of Sonics, TARDIS, Silurians and Daleks is more to do with ego and franchises than sticking to a story written as a stand-alone rather than a series.

 

[Technoboots]

I would rather think that it looked like the 10th Doctor sonic because the Doctor knew that when River would be using it that she would be interacting with the 10th Doctor rather than a later Doctor. With it being the first time he met her he wouldn't have recognised any later designs so it was deliberate so that he would know that he interacts with her in the future. He gave it to her so his past self would know that she is part of his future.

 

[Asp9mm]

I would rather think that it looked like the 10th Doctor sonic because the Doctor knew that when River would be using it that she would be interacting with the 10th Doctor rather than a later Doctor. With it being the first time he met her he wouldn't have recognised any later designs so it was deliberate so that he would know that he interacts with her in the future. He gave it to her so his past self would know that she is part of his future.

It's a nice thought... but, the sonic was aged to look centuries used, which was what it was meant to have been within that story. He gave her HIS sonic. He was supposed to give her HIS sonic. The continuity is lost and looking back on past programmes usually make no sense. It's just one of those things about DW you have to accept and move on with. Skaro is a classic case in point, as well as many other things. It is annoying though, and I for one would shout a big Whooopiiiiie if Capaldi was wielding the future sonic next year.

I love this fan art....

 

[Angelus Lupus]

It'd be interesting if Capaldi's sonic was a 'brand-new', freshly-created version of the Future Sonic, all shiny, etc. That way we could see it get worn and used until he modifies it for River. I doubt that'd happen, but it would allow TWC to make a 12th Doc sonic that could easily be modded into River's. As it is, even if Capaldi gets a new and different sonic, I doubt he'll get it until the next season, unless 11 is using his when he regenerates and it gets blown up/destroyed due to whatever 'kills' him.

(sidebar: maybe this thread should be expanded to include general TWC sonic talk/speculation/R&D?)

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

Or it may just be the case that we're thinking too literally about it, focusing on elements of the prop itself instead of the sonic screwdriver as a fictional device. The sonic screwdriver doesn't work with a button, that element is there for the actor to control the device to give it it's intended appearance of functionality. But in the show, if I'm not mistaken, isn't the Doctor psychically linked with his sonic and it functions as such? He communicates with it and vice-versa. Couldn't that then be how he knew it was his?

"Same software, different case" as was stated by The Moment in the 50th anniversary special.

That sufficiently explains his use of the word "exactly" to describe the future sonic, despite it's barely recognizable appearance, as his personal sonic screwdriver (past, present or future), would have the same software architecture no matter what case it contained it.

I'm ashamed of us. We ought to have more faith in Moffet to resolve this crucial plot hole! :lol

 

[darthriley]

The same software different case part was "the moment" telling him not the sonic itself.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

The same software different case part was "the moment" telling him not the sonic itself.

"Same software, different case" as was stated by The Moment in the 50th anniversary special.

Yup. That's what I said.

But on topic of a future sonic mod - it's entirely possible to take parts of the 10th remote and work in custom bits to make a close-to-screen accurate version. If another 30% off ThinkGeek sale comes along...challenge accepted!

 

[darthriley]

Whoops. Didn't notice that sorry.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

 

[Xxblackbird]

River's sonic doesn't appear to be built over an existing sonic screwdriver and has many differences to the original prop. However, it shares the same basic shape, size and some details (like the crackle paint).
I'm no expert on the prop or the ins and outs of its creation. However, using some of the tools I have...
Here is a shot from Nick Robatto's Facebook, showing some of the CO toys, Wand Co. sonics, screen used props and some of his creations side by side.

You can see how similar the CO toy is in size to the Robatto replica (he made the original, BTW). It's not quite 100% exact, but it's pretty dang close.
Here is my River Song toy next to the Wand Co. 10th sonic, which we know is exact.

It matches very, very well. The main body (not the cap or emitter) are almost the exact same length. The ridges match up perfectly (though the shape is different on River's).

How do we know 11 didn't repurpose the shell of his burnt out sonic? We don't. He may have used it so 10 would recognize the device (we have seen numerous other sonic devices in the series, and are about to see a few more next season).
It has a big neural relay hidden inside that the Doctor has no use for. The screwdriver appears to be built around that. Why would he build his own sonic around a neural relay then use it for hundreds of years? (btw, 11 has used his sonic for 300-ish years and it doesn't look beat up at all)
We assume it's ancient due to the weathering, but: TIME MACHINE. And we do not know how long River had it between that night and the Library. We assume it's relatively close to the library expedition, but we don't know. We can also assume River could have a long lifespan similar to a Time Lord, and may have lived 200 years between "Last Night" and "Silence in the Library." (though I seem to remember her saying she ages normally... I don't recall)
And to throw a curve ball into the mix, who's to say the cyborg 47th Doctor didn't come back in her battle-SIDRAT and throw it at the 11th Doctor and say, "use this to save the pretty lady with the 'fro."

All this talk about continuity being screwed up and things not making any sense are caused by one thing: lack of imagination.

EDIT; Anyway, yes. You can theoretically use the Wand Co. sonic as a base, but the ridges are different and the Future version is a bit thicker. River's doesn't extend, the end cap is different, the emitter is a little different and the emitter lens is different. The activation switch is in a different place and, if you want to keep the remote or sounds, you wouldn't be able to add a neural relay inside.

 

[phase pistol]

OK so.... are we saying that's the CO toy in the middle and two props on the sides?

 

[Xxblackbird]

CORRECTION: I believe that's the Robatto replica on the LEFT, the CO toy in the middle and supposedly the screen used prop on the RIGHT. I originally had them backwards.

 

[phase pistol]

If so then it's astonishing how closely the toy resembles the prop.

CORRECTION: If so then it's not surprising how the toy is oversized.



k

 

[Balakin]

The sonic screwdriver doesn't work with a button, that element is there for the actor to control the device to give it it's intended appearance of functionality. But in the show, if I'm not mistaken, isn't the Doctor psychically linked with his sonic and it functions as such? He communicates with it and vice-versa. Couldn't that then be how he knew it was his?

I like this theory, never thought about this despite the fact that I knew the sonic works psychically. It would be interesting to see sometime a POV of the Doctor, what he is seeing when he is looking at the sonic (cause Smith alwasy checking it after scanning as if he read the data from a small screen on the side of the tool)
Was the screwdriver always psychic? In classic episodes, Baker for example, sometimes used it without sliding the handle down. Or maybe he just didn't bother to use it properly (for example, in Robot)

 

[Asp9mm]

There is no evidence any sonic has a psychic connection with the Doctor. That's just something fans made up. The classic sonic for the most part was just used as a sonic screwdriver to open stuff. Although it was used to blow circuits up and generate waves to detonate bombs a few times too.

 

[Balakin]

There is no evidence any sonic has a psychic connection with the Doctor. That's just something fans made up.

I'm pretty sure the 11th Doctor said it at least once, but I can't remember in which episode. But I could remember incorrectly.

 

[TimeyWhimyStuff]

I'm pretty sure the 11th Doctor said it at least once, but I can't remember in which episode. But I could remember incorrectly.

Pretty sure it was in the Let's Kill Hitler episode. His words to Amy were "Psychic interface, just point & click" when he gave Amy his sonic.

 

[Balakin]

That's the one, thanks!

 

[AlexBC]

Rory even reminds Amy that the sonic has a psychic interface in LKH.

Even back in 2005 when the Doctor told Rose to use setting 2428D to mend barbed wire, I kind of assumed she had to think that string while using the sonic. There was never a keypad on the sonic afterall.

 

[Doctor Octoroc]

There is no evidence any sonic has a psychic connection with the Doctor. That's just something fans made up. The classic sonic for the most part was just used as a sonic screwdriver to open stuff. Although it was used to blow circuits up and generate waves to detonate bombs a few times too.

I'm not as familiar with the classic episodes but there are many occasions where Tennant and Smith in the new series interact with the sonic in ways that strongly suggest that he's using it without a direct kinetic interaction. The way Tennant holds it up to the side of his head as if it's feeding him information, the way Smith looks into the core as if into the eyes of someone to gain the truth - and being a product, and therefore an extension, of the TARDIS, which does a lot on the physic level (and not just for the Doctor, but for those in close proximity to it's time energy - like how it translates all languages in the minds of those communicating in different tongues), I think it's safe to assume there's more than meets the eye. Even if it was never directly explained in the show as being such, I tend to agree with any fan speculation that it works psychically.

And come to think of it, the classic episodes I have seen have the doctor using it in certain ways, with or without the retraction - which perhaps is a setting that simply changes the mode in which it operates, one being a simply key to open doors or manipulate electronics, the other being a way to gather information and feed it to him, which also suggest this link. Although I'm not confident in the consistency that retracted or not yields the same result. He may use it as a key in either way, but this inconsistency doesn't seem to matter when you look at the way he operates the TARDIS. He just flips switches and levers like a child playing with a toy kitchen set, which is the beauty of his character in my opinion. But sometimes we'll see him hold it up to something (and sometimes it won't even make the sonic-y noise) and then announce a conclusion. I'll poke around to see if I can find some examples of this - I've been watching a lot of the Pertwee episodes recently so it's likely I've seen something in one of his episodes - but some of the classic Whovians may be able to shed light on the topic.