...
8 - Hostage
Travis kidnaps Blake's cousin Inga to draw the Liberator and its crew into a trap. Meanwhile knowledge reaches Servalan that both Blake and Travis are on the planet Exbar. She unleashes the entire force of the Federation to assist in the destruction of the Liberator crew ... Read review
In the third century of the second calendar, after the chaos of the intergalactic wars, a ... more
powerful dictatorship has risen to the dynamic proportions and engulfed most of the populated worlds. Liberty has become crime punishable by death, and the majori...
In the third century of the second calendar after the chaos of the intergalactic wars a ... more
powerful dictatorship has risen to dynamic proportions and engulfed most of the populated worlds. Liberty has become a crime punishable by death and the majority ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Blake's 7was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake ofStar Wars, though with a ... more
grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created byDoctor Whoveteran Terry Nation remain involving.The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven.On the DVD:Blake's 7, Series 1presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC'sDoctor WhoDVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good asBlake's 7is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted.Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract fromBlue Peterin 1978 with Lesley Judd making aBlake's 7bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs.--Gary S Dalkin
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Blake's 7was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake ofStar Wars, though with a ... more
grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created byDoctor Whoveteran Terry Nation remain involving.The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven.On the DVD:Blake's 7, Series 1presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC'sDoctor WhoDVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good asBlake's 7is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted.Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract fromBlue Peterin 1978 with Lesley Judd making aBlake's 7bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs.--Gary S Dalkin
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: Better viewing than series 1 Disadvantages: Over priced
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Travis kidnaps Blake's cousin Inga to draw the Liberator and its crew into a trap. Meanwhile knowledge reaches Servalan that both Blake and Travis are on the planet Exbar. She unleashes the entire force of the Federation to assist in the destruction of the Liberator crew and the retrieval of the Liberator.
9 - Countdown
Avon meets up with an old enemy in the form of Grant, who stole Avon's lover from him. ... .../>
When series one of Blake's 7 was screened its ratings were similar to that of Doctor Who. By the halfway point of series 2 the viewing figures for Blakes 7 decimated that of Doctor Who. The BBC had created a second popular sci-fi series and now was screening Blakes 7 and Doctor Who all year round. ITV struggled to produce competition but failed dramatically.
The identity of Blakes 7 had finally been set in stone, and in a master ... more
One year on (see earlier review for series 1) and at last Blakes 7 began to form its own identity. All reference of Star Wars was lost as the series took on a much darker and sinister form.
In series 1 Blake having realised that he was brain washed steals the fasted space vessel in the Universe and assembles a team of 6 others to help him in his fight against the federation.
The Season 2 box set contains the following episodes:-
1 - Redemption
Orac the new 8th member of the crew (a small see through plastic box, which is said to be the most powerful computer in the Galaxy) has a startling prediction. He sees the Liberator destroyed. Avon studies the ships computers and the star charts in an attempt to discover where the threat will be coming from in the hope of preventing it. In this episode something unique occurs, Avon moves up from forth rank on the liberator to joint first with Blake, could a change be afoot?
2 - Shadow
When Blake and the crew try to negotiate with an intergalactic drug dealer, he holds them hostage and plans to use them as a bribe for the federation leader Servalan. Meanwhile back on the Liberator Cally needs to gain control of the situation and plans to destroy the planet unless the crew are released.
3 - Weapon
An inventor creates a weapon that can be detonated from anywhere in time and space. The Liberator Crew and the federation battle to be the first to get to it.
4 - Horizon
When Blake and the rest of the crew minus Avon beam down on the planet Horizon they are held prisoner and forced to work slave duties in the mind. Back on the Liberator, Avon has the choice does he take off on his own in the Liberator or does he go to save the crew. Admitting to himself that he does not like a single member of the crew, Avon prepares to depart leaving the rest of the crew to certain death.
5 - Pressure Point
When the crew of the Liberator plan to destroy federation central control, the insider they work with is kidnapped. In an attempt to rescue her the crew teleport down to the control centre, however in a huge battle an explosion kills one of the crew.
6 - Trial
In an unlikely turn of events, the crew of the Liberator still recovering from their loss decide to interrupt the trial of Travis, a bounty hunter ordered by Servalan to kill Blake.
7 - Killer
When a 700 year old ship is recovered, a deadly virus escapes threatening not only the population of an entire planet but some of the Liberators crew.
8 - Hostage
Travis kidnaps Blake's cousin Inga to draw the Liberator and its crew into a trap. Meanwhile knowledge reaches Servalan that both Blake and Travis are on the planet Exbar. She unleashes the entire force of the Federation to assist in the destruction of the Liberator crew and the retrieval of the Liberator.
9 - Countdown
Avon meets up with an old enemy in the form of Grant, who stole Avon's lover from him. As the two begin a feud affecting the lives of the rest of the crew a Radiation meltdown occurs.
10 - Voice From The Past
The crew head for Del 10 where a summit is planned to resolve the wars in the galaxy. They are bought to the attention of Shivan and Governer Le Grand who promise to help them swing the balance of power. However the crew have walked into a trap with a face from the past.
11 - Gambit
In a search for the legendary Star One, the crew head for Freedom City to find the only person who knows Star Ones location. Vila a petty crook, gambler and con artist gets in way over his head in a game of speed chess and gambles both his and Avon's life away.
12 - The Keeper
In the continuing search for Star One, Jenna finds herself sold off to be the wife of a warrior. Cally and Avon discover the location of Travis's ship and head off to destroy it leaving the others to a fate worse than death.
13 - Star One
In an epic finale the crew discovers that Travis has removed an anti matter mine field, this prevents aliens from other galaxies from invading. In a dual situation to save Star One from exploding and in preventing an alien invasion the crew prepare for war. In a final push for control two more of the crew are lost forever.
Overview -------------
When series one of Blake's 7 was screened its ratings were similar to that of Doctor Who. By the halfway point of series 2 the viewing figures for Blakes 7 decimated that of Doctor Who. The BBC had created a second popular sci-fi series and now was screening Blakes 7 and Doctor Who all year round. ITV struggled to produce competition but failed dramatically.
The identity of Blakes 7 had finally been set in stone, and in a master stroke of genius not seen again until the BBC created spooks, they had made a show where the most central characters became endangered. Without warning or indication of what had happened three members of the Liberator crew were lost during the series and one of which was of considerable weight.
The special effects had increased dramatically from the first series, not a hint of wobbly sets. And they had included at the time some quite fantastic laser effects. And on top of that the acting had improved dramatically as the characters, some of whom were new actors had really found their feet.
Cast ----------
Blake - Gareth Thomas Jenna - Sally Knyvette Vila - Michael Keating Gan David Jackson Avon - Paul Darrow Cally - Jan Chappell Zen - Peter Tuddenham Orac - Peter Tuddenham Servalan - Jacqueline Pearce Travis - Brian Croucher
Brian Croucher who played Ted Hills in Eastenders took over the role of Travis, who had been played by Stephen Grief in the first series.
Peter Tuddenham took on dual roles of both the voice of Zen and Orac.
And Jacqueline Pearce who had been a silent "ish" cast member in the first series came to the forefront as a lead character. She created an evilness seldom seen in a woman on television to that time. Although Jaqueline stayed in acting she withdrew slightly from acting to pursue her career as an artist in St Ives, Cornwall before heading for Southern Ireland.
Special Features:-
There is an audio commentary on the first two episodes as well as the final episode from a variety of characters. In honesty it's not too interesting; most of the stories are rehashes of tales from series 1.
There is a making of Documentary, originally due to be scheduled as a special for Blue Peter.
Jane Hudson introduces her collection of Costumes from the series.
A piece on Models shows how explosions are achieved, which at the time was "State of the art" now most kids can achieve the same with a box of matches.
A look at the characters is a piece in which all the characters are introduced to you, in case you missed the first box set.
A massive section of Saturday Superstore contains interviews, a phone in and some exclusive footage.
Another section of footage from the soon to be departed Saturday Swap Shop.
A Trailer for the upcoming third series is also featured, that gives some nasty spoilers to yet more losses for the Liberator.
A series of Easter Eggs, and written material for viewing both on the TV screen and via DVD rom.
The DVD box set is available from Play.com for £31.99
Commentary Track, The Making Of, June Hudsons Costume Collection, Mat Models, Character Introductions, Trailer For Series 3, Saturday Superstore, Scene Today, Multi Coloured Swap Shop, 6 Easter Eggs, Small World Model Spacecraft
DVD Description
The entire Series 2 of the cult classic BBC sci-fi series, including digitally remastered episodes and extras. Episodes include: 'The Mutoids', 'The Ballad of Travis II' and 'Saturday Superstore'.
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