Doctor Who Series 11: 10 Big Questions We Are Asking After 'Rosa'
6. What Is A Vortex Manipulator?
Fans of Captain Jack Harkness will have immediately got the reference to the vortex manipulator. It’s a basic form of time travel used by Time Agents in the 51st century. The Doctor has never been a fan. The Tenth Doctor dismissed it as a ‘space-hopper’ compared to his TARDIS (Utopia) and the Eleventh Doctor called it cheap, nasty and very bad for you, suggesting that it was an addiction of his he needed to break (The Big Bang).
Like the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, the vortex manipulator has had a range of customised functions. In Torchwood, co-produced by Chris Chibnall, we saw it being used to open doors, project holograms, control other devices, store and translate messages and even play music. Indeed it’s a wonder Krasko needed any of the other gadgets in his suitcase.
Whilst it is mostly associated with Jack Harkness, we should be cautious about thinking there could be a connection between him and Krasko. River Song, Missy and the Family of Blood are among a long list of others to have used the device in the extended Doctor Who universe.