10. Liz Shaw Can't Be Bothered To Crank The Door
Story: "Inferno" (1970) - 3rd Doctor
Usage Rating: Letts - It's the most pedestrian usage of the Screwdriver ever.
Nyssa Scale: 3 - It's gotta be done, but.... "Inferno" stands as the Classic Series sole flirtation with parallel universes; Several other firsts happen too - The Doctor is allowed to let his regular cast/companions die for the greater good (as they're fascist counterparts), The TARDIS console goes on a long term trip without the rest of the Police Box, and Jon Pertwee pulls more faces than he did in a year of being Worzel Gummage. It also stands as the only occasion that a companion uses the Screwdriver multiple times and the Doctor barely uses it at all. This sounds like Liz is unusually capable and tech-savvy (In theory, she WAS supposed to be....). However, what actually happens is a bit different. Liz basically uses the Sonic Screwdriver as a garage door clicker. Really. The fascinating thing about this is that Liz is, by her character spec, a scientist from Cambridge University. She is actively and constructively aiding the Doctor in his "work" (which, honestly, is pretty self serving - the Doctor is siphoning power off the drilling project he's supposed to be observing to try and get the TARDIS console functional for travel. So basically, he's that guy who uses whatever WIFI doesn't require a password in the apartment block). Liz technically could've used the Screwdriver to assemble equipment, take readings, recalibrate equipment - Anything really. If anyone should've understood it, it was her. So, yeah. And that's Liz, opening the door. And closing it. The worst part about this is that it might not even have been Liz's fault. Upon opening and closing the door with the Screwdriver, she describes it to a visitor as a "door handle. And while describing it as such, she says that's what the DOCTOR told her. He knows damn well what he can do with that Screwdriver. So if he told Liz that the most you can do with it is accommodate guests who come knocking, then it's the man in the ruffled shirt who's led her astray, and basically let her have a complicated piece of equipment - but not trusted her to use it for anything more than a parlour trick. With that kind of patronizing behaviour, maybe it's easy to see why Liz bounced back to Cambridge by the next story - At least they probably let her use particle accelerators and the like as intended, rather than telling her that they're the ones that make the "cool humming sounds".