Doctor Who Season 14 Gives Companions Their Own Version Of The Sonic Screwdriver

SUMMARY

Doctor Who season 14, episode 6, “Rogue,” continues to tweak the show’s formula in the Disney era, with the Doctor’s companion using technology that sits within the same category as the iconic Sonic Screwdriver. Generally speaking, Doctor Who companions aren’t often separated from the Time Lord for too long at a time, as the unknown dangers of an alien world or tumultuous period in human history can present incredible risks. The Doctor’s almost-omnipotent device has gotten both him and his companion out of countless tight jams, but now the Time Lord’s sidekicks may not be so reliant on him.

Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday has a unique place in the Doctor Who season 14 cast due to the show’s recent arcs focusing more on her story than the Doctor’s. “Rogue” finally centers more around Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, making up for his being underutilized in the previous two installments. However, the episode still manages to find time to add to Ruby’s uniqueness, and it could change the companion archetype forever.

The Doctor isn’t the only character with a technological advantage

Whether it’s unlocking a door on an alien spaceship or deactivating a particularly evil AI villain, the Sonic Screwdriver usually has a specific setting that can save the day. Former Doctor Who companions have been trusted to borrow the Doctor’s Sonic in the past, but it’s with the strict understanding that the device is only on loan. In “Rogue,” Ruby is given the brand-new introduction of psychic earrings by the Doctor. They’re far more inconspicuous than the Sonic Screwdriver, as they’re visually indistinguishable from regular jewelry. However, they do far more than let the wearer look good.

Ruby’s new tech has at least two settings in “Rogue,” although there could be more that she doesn’t get around to using. The first allows her to mimic the era’s dance moves, which the Doctor describes as “Choreography beamed into your motor system.” As soon as he follows up with, “Just don’t set them to Battle Mode,” it’s almost a guarantee that the setting will make an appearance later in the episode – which it does.

Past Doctor Who Companions Really Could Have Used The Sonic Earrings

Bill Potts’ is a prime example of a character who could have been spared her suffering

Psychic Earrings are clearly a huge advantage to an unarmed companion outside their comfort zone. While Ruby is the first companion to receive such an edge, many of her predecessors would have benefited immensely from such advanced technology. One of the most obvious examples would be Pearl Mackie’s Bill Potts, who served as the Twelfth Doctor’s companion throughout Doctor Who season 10. If she had access to Psychic Earrings, Bill may have been able to use “Battle Mode” to give her a better chance at avoiding being converted into a Cyberman.

To avoid poor judgment calls like this on behalf of the Doctor, it’s easier just to give him the benefit of the doubt. That is to say, he may have only just come across the Psychic Earrings, and he can’t give out what he doesn’t have access to. So, although the earrings could have saved some of his other traveling companions from certain macabre fates, they simply weren’t an option at that time. Otherwise, it’s hard to imagine why the Doctor wouldn’t just be handing them out to anyone boarding the TARDIS.

The Psychic Earrings Should Become A Permanent Feature For Doctor Who Companions

The “Rogue” writers have opened Pandora’s Box

Doctor Who‘s new gadget is a cool addition to franchise lore. The earrings are useful, sleek, and easy to conceal. The Doctor may get frisked for his Sonic if he’s captured, but villains are less likely to strip Ruby of her jewelry – unless they know about its abilities in advance. Now that the Psychic Earrings have made an on-screen appearance, it wouldn’t make sense for them to disappear from the canon completely. Therefore, they should remain a part of Ruby’s arsenal going forward, and arguably any future companion with pierced ears.

There’s also the fact that the franchise’s new tech allows the Doctor’s companions to have a greater level of autonomy. Rather than relying so heavily on the Doctor to find a solution – which quite often involves the Sonic Screwdriver in some capacity – the companions can venture off more often, content with the knowledge they have the safety blanket of the Psychic Earrings. In addition, it’ll also be exciting to discover what other modes and settings the sci-fi jewelry possesses, adding another layer to future Doctor Who adventures.