Science Fiction - Director: Gerald Blake, Fiona Cummings, Vere Lorrimer, David Maloney, Mary Ridge, Desmond McCarthy, Fiona Cumming - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance more
The BBC had tried for years to make a successful Sci-Fi serial to rival Doctor Who, by 1980 Blake's 7 had become a worthy and equal partner in the BBC's Sci-Fi offerings.
In series 1 and 2 Blake a Federation guard realised that his was brainwashed. He formed a team of rebels in the form of Vila, Cally, Jenna, Gan, Avon, Zen and later Orac. Together they stole the most deadly space ship in the Federation fleet the Liberator. The group target a variety of Federation assets and are victorious on most occasions. Realising that a small group can have such effect on an Army of millions the crew get more daring with every mission. As series two ended only 4 of the original crew remain.
Episodes:-
1 - Aftermath
With the war over the crew leave the Liberator and scatter across the planets. Avon lands on a planet where he is captured by savages, Dayna the daughter of a scientist saves Avon from certain death. Meanwhile Servalan also on the planet steals Orac but is captured by the same savages. In order to get Orac back Avon must rescue Servalan.
Two new regular cast members appear their characters are called Dayna and Tarrant.
2 - Powerplay
Dayna and Avon return to the Liberator for the agreed meet up with the rest of the crew, however on arrival they discover that the Liberator is over run with Federation soldiers.
The episode ends with the first realisation to both the crew and the viewing audience that both Jenna and Blake are dead.
3 - Volcano
An army of Assassins board the Liberator with plans to take it over. Avon declares himself the new leader of the small band of rebels.
4 - Dawn Of The Gods
The crew face The Tharrm a creature that was believed to be an Urban Legend, after many crew are injured they realise the only person that can fight it is Cally.
5 - The Harvest Of Kairos
While on the planet Kairos, the Federation again take control of the Liberator.
6 - City At The Edge Of The World
Vila opens a portal and goes through it to find himself in a different world, there he falls in love with Kerril and decides to say goodbye to the rest of the crew.
7 - Children Of Auron
The crew have to stop Servalan from creating a cloaned race of evil babies.
8 - Rumours Of Death
Avon travels alone to a planet to avenge the death of his former lover Anna Grant, but is shocked to find her alive and well living a new life.
9 - Sarcophagus
Cally is victim of a mind altering process, taking control of her and turning her into a deadly assassin.
10 - Ultraworld
The crew find a strange sphere which has a mind altering effect on those nearby; they discover the sphere is called Ultraworld. Once inside they have to fight the great Ultra allegedly the greatest mind ever to exist.
11 - Moloch
The crew intercept a space freighter carrying prisoners on their way to be converted into rogue troops.
12 - Death-Watch
Tarrant lands on a planet where he finds his brother Deeta. He discovers that Deeta is to fight a duel, when he is killed by an android Tarrant plans the death of both the android and its owner who turns out to be Servalan.
13 - Terminal
This was voted the second favourite episode by Blakes 7 fans.
In the final episode of the third series tragedy strikes twice, one of the original crew is savagely killed and probably more heart wrenching still one of the signature players in Blakes 7 meets an untimely death.
When Avon discovers a coded signal leading him to the man made planet Terminus, the crew suspect something is afoot. When they question Avon they get no joy, however as the pressure builds Avon reveals he has found Blake. While down on the planets surface the Federation take control of the Liberator. Servalan finally sits aboard the deck of the Liberator taking control of something she has wanted since the second episode. But victory for Servalan is short lived, the Liberator has fallen foul of a strange alien organism, and slowly it breaks up leaving the crew stranded on the planet Terminus. However the problems have only just begun…….Cast:-
Vila - Michael Keating Avon - Paul Darrow Cally - Jan Chappell Dayna - Josette Simon Tarrant - Steven Pacey Zen - Peter Tuddenham Orac - Peter Tuddenham Servalan - Jacqueline Pearce Blake - Gareth Thomas
Josette Simon is the first new addition to the crew of the Liberator, a relative unknown at the time of joining Blakes 7 Josette has gone on to appear in Pob ( a popular kids TV show with a spitting puppet), the movie Cry Freedom, and TV shows Dalziel and Pascoe, Silent Witness and The Last Detective.
The second new addition Steven Pacey started his acting career in 1970, when it fell flat on its face he turned to a different form of work; he became a porn star. After an appearance in the Sweeney in 1976 Steven found himself much in demand. Since Blakes 7 he has gone on to appear in M.I.T., Heartbeat, Spooks and Lovejoy.
Overview
Not only had Blakes 7 become an individually important piece, but it had become much more interesting to men too as well as children. Suddenly Servalan who not only was despicably evil, had become a sex kitten. As the weeks went on she appeared in less and less an seduced both Avon and Tarrant. Saturday night became a top totty night for men as both Doctor Who and Blakes 7 had sex symbols at the centre of the casting.
The budget was raised again for Blakes 7, more elaborate and expensive sets were used, which went on to be recycled for Doctor Who. This was the first sign of failure for Doctor Who as it got the outcasts from Blakes 7 instead of vice versa. Incensed at the beast they had created the BBC plotted the demise of Blakes 7 and announced that after the forth series Blakes 7 would end. The announcement came the day the last episode of the third series was screened, and confused signals meant that the viewing public thought that night's episode was to be the last. As a result 18 million viewers watched the 13th episode of the third series.
When the Liberator was destroyed during episode 13 protests and petitions began to bring back the Liberator. But these requests were ignored and the production team began work on a new very different vessel.
For me, at this time the third series was by far the best, even as a child (the first time round) I was in full appreciation of the changes on screen in respect of Budget. It was so obvious, that big changes had been made. There was a lot more metal (or at least material that looked like metal) than before. And small well known actors turned up during the series, some of whom had turned down Doctor Who.
But the most noticeable thing of all for series 3, was the twisted plot telling. No ending was predictable, up until Series 3 the crew had always been victorious and the plots had been quite thread bare. Now nobody had a clue what was happening.
Special Features:-
A section on stunts, by Stuntman Stuart. This includes a classic scene in which one of the Federation guards having taken over Liberator is hoisted up and falls down a hole as the Liberator falls apart. Although very straight forward nowadays back then this was a mammoth operation.
Make Up artists give us a unique view of how they work; they include showing us about the flesh and metal eating force that destroys the Liberator.
More character introductions, this shows the old cast plus the two new members.
Trailer for the 4th and final series, which like previous Box Sets trailers, gives far too much away.
Look North goes behind the scenes of Blakes 7 and shows how the Liberator was made to break up. It's worth pointing out that in the destruction of the Liberator it did not just explode, it was slowly eaten away, the floor began to crack and rip up. The whole sequence of destruction took nearly 5 minutes of the episode run time.
Screen tests on the casting of Steven Pacey.
Plus a selection of written matter, Easter Eggs and Bloopers.
Blakes 7 is available from Play.com for £34.99
The final series of Blakes 7 is available to buy from 24th April.
