Narrative Connection
How these two moments in the story relate
Why These Connect
The narrative assertion
"Susan's secret departure in Episode 22 leads to Barbara being the only remaining companion with the Doctor in Episode 28, increasing her vulnerability and responsibility in the Aztec temple."
inferred by llm_cross_episode_arc
Why This Matters Across Episodes
The longer arc this connection carries
Susan's departure ('She should have waited for us') results in Barbara being left alone with the Doctor, who is then arrested, leaving her to take charge. This creates a direct causal chain where one companion's defiance leads to another's heightened stakes.
About Causal Connections
A directly causes B. The first event sets forces in motion that produce the second. These are the load-bearing connections of plot--remove one and the story structure collapses.