Blake's 7 Appreciation Thread

Cafe Society
1

Right then! Here is the place to share your affectionate likes and pet peeves about Terry Nation’s Blake’s 7 – wobbly sets, OTT acting, and actually rather intelligent scripts and all!

I liked it when I was wee, but didn’t really appreciate it until I was at uni here in the States, and it ran on PBS (after 11pm every night!) in the mid 1980s. I taped most of them, so to add to the charm of low production values, I have slowly disintegrating VHS sound and picture – suits, somehow! Every once in a while, like now, I will drag out the tapes as ‘comfort brain candy’ when life is going a bit difficult.

So here are my random thoughts:

  1. I always thought Blake was a complete twit, a bit a dull – it wasn’t until the first season episode ‘Deliverence’ that I noticed Avon’s character had a right potential for fun, and I think the writers realised that, as well! What amuses me is whilst packing away things last week, I found some of the fanfiction I’d written as a teenager, and in every story somehow or another, Blake gets booted out of the plot in the first paragraph (‘Blake had to do the weekly shopping’ or some other suitably humiliating, mundane task)

  2. I had a flaming crush on Paul Darrow (recently revived, of course!) who apparently has bought the rights to the show, and the BBC allegedly is planning to screen a version of a ‘25 years later’ in 2005.

  3. There is a website out there that documents only what Avon wore in every episode

  4. There is a website out there called something like ‘The Other Servalan’ which documents one man’s hobby as dressing like Jacqueline Pearce-as-Servalan

  5. I think Michael Keating and Paul Darrow got all the best lines

  6. The final episode so shocked me as a kid, it actually cured me of a case of hives! I suppose they were going away anyway, but I recall standing by the box with my jaw hanging open in disbelief, and suddenly realising I didn’t itch anymore. I was also in hysterics, though…

  7. Blake’s 7 was the first time I ever looked for fanfiction (having poked around on the internet about the show in the last week, I had to smile at what a truly joyful wasteland the internet is for happy times and memories!) – it was difficult to find anyone who carried fanfiction because I couldn’t get to conventions – at that time I was living in Minnesota, and found through a sci-fi catalogue the address of a British fanclub what sold fanfiction – and innocent, naive me bought a thick (over 200 pages) spiral bound, photocopied short story collection, and settled in one cold evening, all happy to read the continuing adventures – not realising I had bought a book of slash fiction – the first time I’d ever encountered it :eek:

I was one puzzled little Boodie, I can assure you…

Wish I could rattle on – must be out the door in a few minutes – will try to dig up those website urls.

Please feel free to natter on – it’s such a fun show, and to me it always seemed as if the actors were having a terrific time – I seem to recall reading once that during a rehearsal of a tense scene between Servalan and Avon (Jacqueline Pearce and Paul Darrow) that the director was a bit stuck as to how to block the action, and Ms Pearce, who also had a flaming crush on Paul Darrow exclaimed, ‘I know, Paulie! Let’s clinch!’

2

I have always considered Avon to be my rolemodel. Also didn’t you all find Servalan one hot babe? The Liberator is still one of the best looking star ships ever.
Here’s some pics on the web http://www.framecaplib.com/annual/b7lib/top.htm

3

It was a great little SF show, and the best thing about it was its sense of fatalism. The last episode played into that quite well (even though it was a blatant attempt to kill the series).

4

I loved Blake’s 7 and still have my VHS collection. (I think the series is out on DVD in Region 2/PAL but we don’t have it over here in the US yet.)

Yeah, the sets and effects were cheap but so what? (OK, so the box-full-of-christmas-lights that was ORAC was over the top cheesy.) The show always had a certain style about it and the costumes were usually good. And I agree that the Liberator is still one of the best looking ships in TVSF.

(I had two dogs named “Dayna” and “Cally”; Dayna was a big, exuberent black lab and Cally was a German Shepherd who had apparently had her brain absorbed one too many times… :wink: )

5

My life’s mantra has been ‘What would Avon do?’

:eek:

:smiley:
Just a quick cruise by – my ride is here! But I found this – it’s a bit of fun:

http://www.alternativeservalan.com/

Thanks for the comments so far!

6

I, too, must admit to a wild crush on Avon, though Vila had some moments, too! I never got into fanfiction…don’t even like reading it…but I’ve had some great daydreams where I of course save Avon’s tortured soul!

Many years ago I ordered 3 paperbacks that were written about the series (and I too have every episode on deteriorating videotape!). The one book was pretty much an episode by episode account, which was quite nice. But one book was an “after the final episode” continuation that was written, (I think) by one of the scriptwiters, and it was so good I sometimes forget that it was never filmed. The books are in storage, otherwise I could be more accurate…I know what box they are in, so if I get a chance I’ll dig them out.

I was really glad when they got rid of Blake himself. Pretty bold move to “kill off” the main character, but it really added some layers to the storyline. And of course the cheesy effects were so much fun! My whole family loves to drag the tapes out and watch a few episodes now and again, as well as the Dr. Who tapes. When I got divorced, I really anticipated that the only property we’d disagree on would be those tapes! Fortunately it didn’t dawn on him til later that I’d never even let him borrow them or I think he’d have demanded custody!

My favorite episodes were the one where they defeat the Ceska (sp)…I love the pair-bonding scenes!..and the one where Avon reunites with Anna and deals with the betrayal.

Servalan was so much fun as Servalan…couldn’t quite enjoy her as much as Sleer because I couldn’t figure out why no one recognized her but our intrepid band of reluctant heroes. And I really preferred the first Travis…so delightfully wicked. And I really liked the episode where Tarrant and Servalan succumb to their desires and then try to kill each other…she was truly a Black Widow!

Now I just want to drag out the tapes and re-watch them! Maybe I should get them transferred to DVD before they are too far gone!

7

This is one of my all time favorite series. What I liked about it was that these people seemed, for a sci-fi show, to be realistic. They have twice as many motives as main characters; each has a healthy dose of selfishness; and the writers don’t let them get away with always being the pure good guys - many of their actions have negative consequences.

Really, the writing is what did it for me. Lots of witty dialogue, and not constantly preachy (an occasional fault of Star Trek) - it’s telling a story. Yet, not too hokey (compare to Dr. Who).

One of the great things about Avon as the main character in the later seasons is that he’s a rebel crusader only under protest. There are many hints and a few outright statements that if he could get away with it, he’d be off keeping a low profile in a safe place. Yet he’s so identified with Blake’s group, plus the Federation is so ruthless, that he has to fight it out of self-defense - and he clearly isn’t happy about it.

This is also why it wouldn’t have worked with him at the lead from the start. He would have escaped and quietly slipped away. Instead, he spends years working with Blake against the Federation. It’s a brilliant writing decision - instead of a band of idealists, you have one head idealist who’s accused of child molestation, with a gang of thugs and criminals, and these are the good guys. I think you probably couldn’t get a show like this made today, as the group would seem uncomfortably close to terrorists.

8

I read much of the fanfiction in the 80s…some was all right, but too many were ‘Betty Sue’ stories where the narrator was writing out her fantasies about Avon! Could do that on my own, thank you very much.

And, yes, I think Vila had many many marvelous lines, too. I’m not re watching the show in order, and just strolled through ‘The City at the Edge of the World’ – which also features a side splitting OTT performance from Colin Baker, obviously having a blast…

I think that’s it, really, is they really were a group of naughty people…always bickering, self serving. Nice! (I’ve liked Star Trek, but sometimes that everyone all gets on so well together is a bit too much…no surprise my favourite TNG episodes were with Q or when Mr Data ‘went butch and bad’)

It’s funny, too – I’ve read that Steve Pacey (Tarrant) is an extremely nice, personable guy – but crikey did I want to punch Tarrant in all his sparkly teeth on more than one occasion!

Never quite knew what to make of the 4th season – was very disappointed in Cally for calling out for Blake (Blake?! That twit?!) in her final moments, and Avon I think went absolutely bonkers…admittedly great fun to see (that whole sequence in ‘Orbit’ when he’s chasing Vila – chilling, really), but it really affected his dress sense, really…forgive me being girly, but he really did have some smashing costumes, especially Season 3…

Got ‘Children of Auron’ in the machine right now to look at before bedtime…I never knew what to make of Cally – or rather the writers didn’t. One minute she was a real kick-arse lady, and then sometimes awfully weedy…

Now what we must do is have a Blake’s 7 ‘film festive’ like the nice James Bond film festival – although it’s , what, 52 episodes!

9

I keep hearing about this show. Will they ever come out with a Region One DVD?

10

They’re available on VHS, 2 episodes per tape, but not on DVD. I don’t know if they will, but I doubt they’ll release them on DVD, because they’re fairly old now. I hope I’m wrong though - I’d love to have these on DVD.

11

The best episodes tended to be the ones where they really looked at a character in depth. “City at the Edge of the World” was Vila’s best, and that’s why it’s a favorite. “Orbit” is a good one for Avon, as is “Gold”. “Deathwatch” and “Harvest of Kairos” are good Tarrant episodes. And “Shadow” and “Pressure Point” really show Blake at work. If I go on listing my favorite episodes, though, I’ll probably list 52 of them…

And, if anyone’s memory needs refreshing, here’s a link to episode synopses.

12

You can always save your pennies for this

http://www.conventions.org.uk/redemption/

which is in February 2005 (in the UK).

Here is info about the dvd of Season One, but I don’t think the format will play on American dvd players

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/news/cult/2004/03/01/9711.shtml

Since the show is coming up on its 25th anniversary next year, perhaps there will be more dvd releases. And allegedly there will be a film on British television next summer. But I don’t know how well this bodes for America. Maybe BBC America will pick it up?

I’ve never got into conventions, so I don’t know if Blake and co are on the docket for any American conventions – but it really appears if you are in the UK next year, there’s quite a bit of renewed interest…

It is purely coincidence I arranged to be in London next summer for an internship, purely, sheer coincidence…I had no idea about the Blake’s 7 movie, or the new Doctor Who series…
:smiley:

13

The Blake’s Seven DVDs were supposed to come out in time for the twenty-fifth anniversary, last year … the actual production has been a long and depressing story of legal wrangles and defective pressings … But, season one is now out, and there’s a reasonably firm date (October) for season two, so maybe I can finally retire my videotape collection.

I’m going to put in a good word for Blake himself; yes, Avon was cool, and he got most of the best snarky lines … but Blake was an interesting character. You got the impression that he genuinely believed in his cause, and was genuinely well-intentioned (Gareth Thomas’s slightly flustered sound, on some occasions, actually made him seem more real, as a person) … but …

But, as Avon came to realise, Blake’s straightforward idealism actually made him more dangerous than Avon himself … Avon was an amoral character who’d kill anyone who got in his way, but Blake would happily sacrifice anyone for his principles - the series asked some really pointed questions about the morality of revolution. It made clear that there were people who supported the Federation out of their own principles (“the greatest force for order in the known universe”, as one minor character called it). It comes out strongest in “Star One”, I think (last episode of the second season), where we see (and Avon rather eloquently points out) how much sheer damage Blake’s attack on the central computer complex will cause … you have to ask, bad as the Federation is, is Blake’s alternative actually any better?

OK, the series had wobbly sets, daft costumes, and cheap special effects … it also had solidly well-written (sometimes very witty) scripts, memorable characters, and serious themes. And I think those things make it one of the best SF series to appear on the small screen. Ever.

(Also, I fancied Cally something rotten.)

14

I remember being fascinated with this show when I was in college. It aired on the local PBS affiliate, the same people who brought me Dr. Who when I was in high school. I was yet another of the women with a crush on Avon - I bought a copy of Paul Darrow’s Blake’s 7 novel, A Terrible Aspect. It occurs to me that Avon is the same character as Professor Snape. Hmmm…

Man, I hope they get it on DVD here soon.

15

Interesting, I see Snape as a somewhat tragic character, but have never fealt that way about Avon. Did the book give some insight into why Avon was the way he was? Was more than just an amoral self serving genius.

16

Go watch the episode “Rumours of Death”; one of the best hours of science fiction I have seen anywhere. You learn a bit about Avon’s past there.

But one of the most revealing Avon lines comes in the very last episode; “Blake”

When Blake appears and seems to have sold everyone out, Avon has the line “You betrayed us. You betrayed… me!”

And you have to love the ending.

[spoiler]Then after he has learned the true situation, while the final shootout rages around him, he simply stares down at Blake’s body. At the very end, he looks up at the Federation troops surrounding him… and smiles.

Cut to black.

Sound of weapons firing.

Sound of body hitting the ground.

Roll Credits

My god what a way to end a series…
[/spoiler]

17

I’ve seen one or two places where someone tries to work out who is still alive, by paying attention to the order of the gunshots at the end and where they come from (just the sound, you understand)…

18

I can only go from memory of the tellivised series. But I thought the firs spoiler was Avon being incredulous. Sort of, but I was going to do that to you. How could I have not seen that you were doing that to me.

I also remember the ending, what a great ending…

I always saw Avon as just about the ultimate survivor. Charismatic enough to get people to follow him, but wise enough to join with a more charasmatic leader (blake) for security. And ruthless enough to use anyone and anything to his advantage. It is hard to think of any characte better or worse to have on your side.