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Blake's 7 'Blake's 7', created by Terry Nation, was probably the best British BBC science fiction TV series after 'Doctor Who'. Blake (Gareth Thomas) was a daring choice for a hero, what with being accused of child molestation - albeit falsely. Other strong characters in the series included the cool and stroppy Jenna (Sally Knyvette), who was far removed from some of the shrieking Doctor Who assistants, and the unsmiling, cynical, strident, cocky, but likeable, Avon (Paul Darrow). The script for 'Blake's 7' was impressive, which is what you would expect from Terry Nation, with a fair deal of depth and philosophising. Other notable points about the series included the dramatic theme music by Dudley Simpson, which, though more traditional, was on a par with the 'Doctor Who' and 'Star Trek' themes. The special effects stand up not too badly, as all special effects by their very nature will soon look outdated. Okay, you had the occasional silliness of a man drowning in foam, but it was a well-crafted series, and up there with the very best. One interesting Terry Nation idea for the series, which never materialised, was that the Daleks were going to be brought into the show, but this was deemed too radical at the time - the deadly pepper pots being the stalwarts of another famous BBC science fiction series. Unusually, Blake only appeared in the first two series, apart from his dramatic finale. As a prisoner, Blake leads a mutiny attempt into taking over the prisoner transport ship, the London. It fails, but he and his supporters (reluctant supporter, as far as Avon is concerned) are sent to render harmless a dangerous, strange, and unidentified, starship. Blake achieves this and more, as he, Avon and Jenna, escape from the London. Blake now has an advanced starship to take on his enemies, the Federation, with - a ship that's named, appropriately, the Liberator. 'Blake's 7' really broke the mould with the way the series ended. Blake returns, but he turns out to be not so heroic after all. Like 'The Prisoner', this was a series which didn't necessarily give its viewers the ending they wanted. - Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com. |
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Blake's 7 Episode List |
Season A |
Season B |
Season C |
Season D |
1 The Way Back |
1 Redemption |
1 Aftermath |
1 Rescue |
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