Assistants have really gone downhill, haven't they?

You mean from the time when they were characters with motivation that wasn't "get into the Doctor's pants"? Yes, yes they have.

I thought the whole insta-surrender thing was too OTT, sure, many would, but others would definitely fight them on the landing grounds, etc.

Quite cool to see Cribbins reprise a bit of his role from the Cushing films though.