Also, what about those planets that were visited and nothing nasty or adventury happened at all....
Obviously we don't get to see it because of the Not Drama. "This week - shopping! Relaxation! Having A Quiet Drink And A Nice Meal!"
You know, I have always wanted to have a "non"-episode of Doctor Who. Just one, where
nothing dramatic happens as far as external conflict and all. I think that would be a great change for a show. And, like, The Doctor could just be waiting for something horrible to befall them at any moment, the entire episode. But, nothing ever does...
But, wasn't that the inference? He had been there. "Once." Give they were making weapons-grade sonic tech, I would think that's where he got his screwdriver (or at least one of the three) or perhaps the parts to assemble it, even? You could be right. I just always read it that way. Also, gives the origin of the(a) Sonic Screwdriver a little unique flavor...
I think it was stated, in 'Fury From The Deep', that the Doctor invented the sonic screwdriver. Of course, he
may have got the idea after going to Vyllangard. But there's no evidence for that.
Ah, okay, fair enough! I knew he had built his own when Ten came out with a new one in
Smith & Jones. But, I was never sure about the original one (i.e. the one Troughton first whips out). Still, I would love to see a 7th Doctor/Ace adventure with them trashing the weapons factories, and him acquiring the screwdriver we see him using in the '96 TVM. I would imagine McGann built/rebuilt the one Eccleston/Tennant use during The Time War. It seems to be far more powerful than the original models, and war has a tendency to push technological achievement.
Ah, you know, it's fun to theorize.
I'm curious as to the Doctor's encounter with the 'Terrible Zodin'.
While one half of me agrees with you, it would seem almost a shame to invalidate the inevitable "legend" that the Zodin comment has become in the past twenty-seven years. It would be almost like showing the adventure where Tom Baker's Doctor inadvertently taints Zoanon (from Leela's homeworld). I remember as a kid, the first time they mention why Baker's face is on that mountain, freaking out because I couldn't figure out why PBS had skipped an episode!
"What? When did this happen? Why haven't I seen it?!"
The one where Ten is trying to save Charlemagne from an insane computer.
That was a pretty cool nod. Also, just the context of it has Hartnell/Troughton-era written all over it!