BBC’s adored science fiction TV series Doctor Who has given us our first look at the new Sonic Screwdriver for Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor, which has left many fans feeling a pang of disappointment. The actor, who made his breakthrough as gay teenager Eric Effiong in the Netflix comedy series Sex Education, is the newest star of Doctor Who and will portray the title character as the fifteenth Doctor in the science fiction series.
With Gatwa’s debut, Doctor Who is entering a new era, and the new sonic screwdriver is very different from previous versions of the Doctor’s reliable tool. What could have been an exciting update to a beloved gadget has instead sparked a wave of rage and dissatisfaction among the show’s avid viewers, Whovians.
Doctor Who Unveils Ncuti Gatwa’s New Sonic Screwdriver
Ncuti Gatwa‘s debut marks the beginning of a new era for Doctor Who, but the recently revealed new sonic screwdriver is very different from previous versions of the Doctor’s reliable tool. With its more bulbous shape than its length, fans find the Fifteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver to resemble a remote control rather than a wand. The Rwandan-Scottish actor, 31, also disclosed a message written on his Sonic Screwdriver in the Doctor Who teaser on YouTube.
“My favorite thing about the sonic is this message that is written in Gallifreyan symbols and it is a Rwandan proverb. It translates to ‘the sharpness of the tongue defeats the sharpness of the warrior.’”
That phrase very much captures the essence of the doctor. In Doctor Who Special 3: The Giggle, David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor made an appearance alongside Gatwa’s Doctor. The Doctor is replaced by Gatwa in the Doctor Who Christmas Special of 2023. Additionally, Millie Gibson is introduced in the special as Ruby Sunday, the doctor’s new companion.
She stated as the BBC revealed her casting for Doctor Who (via ComicBook):
“Whilst still being in total disbelief, I am beyond honored to be cast as the Doctor’s companion. It is a gift of a role, and a dream come true, and I will do everything to try and fill the boots the fellow companions have traveled in before me. And what better way to do that than being by the fabulous Ncuti Gatwa’s side, I just can’t wait to get started.”
As per Collider, being the first actor of African descent, the fourth from Scotland, the first to be openly queer, and the first black actor to play the lead in a TV show, Gatwa is a special talent. We learned from CultBox that the eight-episode new Doctor Who series, starring Gibson and Gatwa, is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2024.
Ncuti Gatwa’s Sonic Screwdriver Causes Disappointment Among Whovians
Whovians were intrigued when Ncuti Gatwa, best known for his role in Netflix’s Sex Education, revealed his Sonic Screwdriver as the next Doctor. Apparently, there are differing opinions among fans regarding his interpretation of the Sonic Screwdriver, which is an essential tool in the Doctor’s toolbox. Over fifty years have passed since the debut of Doctor Who, and the Sonic Screwdriver has become an unquestionable icon. Some people are disappointed by the reveal because they miss the originality and wow factor that defined this beloved tool.
Let’s hear what Whovians have to say:
bro this is hideous wtf
— pierbi (@pierbiwierbi) December 10, 2023
One claimed:
This is worse than the Sonic Sunglasses
— Andious (@AndiousCS) December 10, 2023
Another stated:
okay, i let a lot of things slide with doctor who – but it should at least vaguely resemble a SCREWDRIVER
— Mona (@RealMona_) December 10, 2023
One asked:
It’s a sonic remote control?
— Author John A. Douglas (@BlkCrownAuthor) December 10, 2023
One inquired:
Ain’t that the thing Qui Gon used to read Anakin Midichlorians in Ep1? pic.twitter.com/P0ZkYPXWUj
— AyoBrownie? (@dansbro12) December 10, 2023
Another questioned:
Did they do any user/crowd testing with this?
— Fọlábòmí Àmọ̀ó (@Folabz_) December 10, 2023
Although Ncuti Gatwa’s Sonic Screwdriver reveal may not have lived up to the incredibly high expectations of some fans, it has created a forum for conversations and arguments regarding the key devices that characterize the Doctor. As they say, ‘time will tell’, and we can not wait to see how Gatwa will customize this well-loved device.
As per the BBC, a brand-new season of Doctor Who will debut in 2024 and reach viewers worldwide. Meanwhile, previous seasons of Doctor Who can be watched on Max.
