Doctor Who: The Well Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
3. DOWN - Red Code
Anyone who's seen him play Roddy Ho in Slow Horses will know that Christopher Chung excels at playing arrogant arseholes who mask deep insecurities. Cassio is a similar character, more of a hands-on type of guy than Roddy but just as insufferable to be around. When he finally tires of Shaya's handling of the mission, he pulls a "Red Code", effectively a mutiny that lasts all of a few minutes before he gets everyone killed.
As a moment of drama it feels clunky and functional, rather than an organic development which takes the story in a new direction. RTD and Walfall need to show the power of the Midnight monster at this stage in the episode, so toss in a quick mutiny that gets everyone brutally murdered. Job done.
Cassio's death in and of itself is a great moment, reflecting the atmosphere of paranoia and self-interest that the monster creates, but the wanton destruction of everyone else confirms what we suspected all along – that the majority of these 13 space marines are cannon fodder.
And worst of all? The apologetic "He tried his best" at the end. He got a bunch of people killed by being a total tool!