Doctor Who: The Return of the Sonic Sunglasses?

The sonic sunglasses were an interesting addition in Series Nine of Doctor Who. Could they make a return for Series Ten?

More from Winter is Coming

• For All Mankind finally gives us information in Episode 405, “Goldilocks”
• Watch a stunning VFX breakdown of The Wheel of Time season 2
• Of course Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon) thinks Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen) should rule Westeros
• Confirmed: The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025
• Final season of Star Trek: Discovery will have “a lot of action, a lot of adventure, a lot of fun”

One of the interesting things about Doctor Who involves how different items and characters are received by the fanbase. Those characters, episodes, or items that are beloved by some may be reviled by others, making for a fascinating study. Of course, while not everything can be a hit, the inventiveness of the show, especially after 53 years, is quite amazing.

On the list of those polarizing items would be the sonic sunglasses that we saw during Series Nine. Taking the place of the sonic screwdriver, the sunglasses were a better fit for the persona of the Twelfth Doctor, allowing him to take more of the punk rock image that he had cultivated. Alas, they met their end as the Doctor met Ashildr and the Vikings during the events of ‘The Girl Who Died’ — crushed as the Doctor rambled about how much technology was included in their simple package.

While they would return from time to time, notably during the Christmas special where they were ridiculed by River Song, they never really caught on with much of the fanbase. Nonetheless, these sunglasses seem to be as regenerative as the Doctor himself, and may be making their return in Series Ten. A recent image from the set showed the Twelfth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, and next to them, a pair of sunglasses.

Yes, one of the more controversial items of Series Nine, an item that was hated enough where fans began a petition to ensure that they never return, appears to be back. The criticism is sure to return as well, although if the sunglasses are paired with the screwdriver, we can imagine that they would not be as ubiquitous as before. Ironically, there have also been many complaints over the years that the sonic screwdriver has been used too frequently.

Next: Jenna Coleman Discusses Chances of Return to Doctor Who

As much as the sonic sunglasses fit the Twelfth Doctor, sometimes less is more. Hopefully, their return to Doctor Who will be in a way that makes the most of the gadget, while keeping them off the air enough to not inspire the same level of wrath as before.