CC 7.07 - The Flames of Cadiz (Spoilers)

Must give this one a relisten, however Genesis Chamber is currently at the top of the listening pile.

I definitely get the feeling that this was originally a normal CC and then Platt was asked to expand it to a four-parter. The second two episodes do feel tacked on, although there's a little dialog in the first two episodes that seem to foreshadow those developments. Honestly, I feel like the first two episodes were perfect and it all falls apart in the latter 2. Ian was whipped and tortured by the Inquisition meaning that he would have huge welts in his back, but within a few hours he's able to undergo a day's journey on the road? Even if he'd been in perfect health, the fact that Ian would separate himself from the group willingly seems so bafflingly out of character that I just can't see it. It doesn't matter that Drake is a childhood hero. He'd know that it would be difficult if not impossible to find his friends again and he'd put their safety first. Why would he tell them to wait at Don Miguel's house and not in the Ship? In any other story in the first season it was always about "back to the ship" unless it was broken down or they were separated from it for some reason. Then there's Barbara being totally ok with Ian leaving whereas in any other story she'd tell him off for being a fool. Just look at their argument in The Reign of Terror. She wasn't some sap that was so besotted with him that she'd just agree to support whatever he wanted to do because she was in love with him. 

So, yeah, I feel like the whole story falls apart in the third and fourth episode despite there being some nice ideas. Even the twist about Don Miguel is telegraphed so heavily in the third episode that it's not really a surprised when you find out at the end of the fourth. 

A decent four part CC, story paced well, solid historical drama, William Russell is amazing in this as Ian Chesterton.

I'd rate it 7/10

The only problem with that is that you don't see the resolution to the episode 2 cliffhanger when Ian and the Doctor are about to be executed by the Inquisition. I definitely agree that it's better than The Devil's Armada though. 

Don't get me wrong. There are some great things about it. I loved the character of Esteban and Nabil Elouahabi did an excellent job playing him, but the entire second half of the story is so dependent on Ian doing something colossally out of character that I just can't get over it. That's the same point that the other regulars start acting out of character as well and it snaps me right out of the "reality" of the story. 

Ditto. I recall that, around time of release, I kept getting this one confused with Library of Alexandria, which I adore, but I've only got vague memories of this one. It's checked off on my lists as having been listened to, but I should probably give it another go.