doctor who - Why doesn't the Sonic Screwdriver "do wood"?

It has been said multiple times that the sonic screwdriver doesn't open, move, change anything made of wood.

Why is that? It is sonic!

The type of material should not affect it. The Sonic Screwdriver has worked on a multitude of materials, but never wood.

no wood embarrassing

Answer

Technically, the sonic screwdriver shouldn't be able to do nearly as much as it does in the series (open doors, reprogram Cybermen, adjust any of several other devices of largely arbitrary function). It is, sad to say, a magical "do anything" device.

As such, throwing in an arbitrary weakness, like being unable to do anything to any wooden objects, allows the writers to add tension to a story. If your all-powerful device suddenly can't do anything, then you are in a bit of trouble and need to find a new way out.

I honestly don't know if there is an explanation that involves the in-universe "science", but the inability of the sonic screwdriver to work with wood seems to be an addition to keep it from being used in too many deus ex machina plot resolutions.

Comments

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