10 Changes Doctor Who Hoped You Wouldn't Notice

The sonic screwdriver is a staple of the show, first appearing in the early years of the classic era. Back then, it was a relatively simple device with limited uses - one of them being an actual screwdriver - but today, things are very, very different.

Over time, the sonic screwdriver has gone from a handy tool that could help the Doctor in a few specific situations, to an all-encompassing plot device that can do absolutely anything the writers need it to, logic or reason be damned.

This is something that really started to become noticeable during the NuWho era, with the modern sonic screwdrivers capable of carrying out all manner of baffling feats, such as turning regular glasses into sunglasses, and even healing injuries.

We're now at the point where the ridiculous power of the sonic screwdriver is one of the big criticisms of Thirteen's era (even the Seventh Doctor himself, Sylvester McCoy, thinks that she relies on it a bit too much), with many fans feeling that gadgets and technology are now the Doctor's main strength, rather than that brilliant mind.

It's a fair argument, but from the point of view of the show's writers, the overpowered sonic screwdriver is indispensable because it's an easy way to advance the story or resolve a conflict - particularly when each episode is restricted to a tight 45 minutes.