10 Times Doctor Who Knew EXACTLY What You Were Thinking
7. It STILL Doesn't Work On Wood?
A deus ex machina is a plot device that inexplicably solves a major issue in the story. In Doctor Who, it's called the sonic screwdriver.
The sonic has dozens and dozens of different functions, such as locking and unlocking doors, burning rope, disarming weapons, and oh look, tightening screws.
It is a screwdriver after all.
While most fans can look past this magic bullet, some are more annoyed when it gets trotted out to save the day time and time again. It does have one weakness though, an almighty foe that even the sonic can't overcome: it doesn't work on wood.
This has been a running gag throughout the modern series, with the Doctor usually stating that they must tinker with the device to finally solve this recurring issue.
It's a weakness that doesn't really make sense when you consider everything else the sonic can do, and the Twelfth Doctor actually pointed this out in one of his final episodes.
Empress of Mars finds him, Bill Potts, and British soldier Colonel Godsacre imprisoned in the brig by the smarmy Captain Catchlove.
While trying to escape the wooden door in front of him, the Doctor says "There's no setting for wood. Why is there still no setting for wood?"
Only you can answer that one, Doc.