Blake's 7

[DGTWoodward]

Unfortunately, the B7 DVD story has been a bit of a debacle. Kevin Davies, who has done some great behind-the-scenes stuff in the past, had actually done a massive making-of documentary that would be spread out over the four seasons, but after all the legal wranglings and rights issues (with the party that reportedly held some of the rights for a B7 revival), the BBC wimped out and stripped most of that material out of the discs.

I know that you are far too diplomatic to name names Joe, but I have a feeling that I know to whom you are refering.

[Joe Nazzaro]

Was it Blackpool? That period is a big muddle. I just remember the lengths we had to go through to smuggle Gareth into the hotel, and trying to keep his presence a secret so that news didn't spread too fast. And the fact that the guy in the costume place was a big B7 fan, who spent a phenomenal amount of time trying to track down the right tunic and was ultimately rewarded with an autographed photo of Jacqueline (Servalan) Pearce.

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

I'm a big B7 fan. (I even penned with my better half a sequel)

I think it had more of an influence on Farscape (A bunch of criminals escaping a despotic regime, on a massive organic spaceship, chased by a cybernetically inhanced villain and a crop top seductive lady)

The Liberator when shot right looks good even by today's standards.

Vila, Avon and Orac were my favourate characters and they wrecked their main ship twice before Star Trek 'discovered' the notion. The crash of the Scorpio was rather simular to the same crash in Generations.

As well as inspiring the look of the Drazi ships the Liberator looks rather like the Excaliber.

My favourate bit of dialogue comes from Season 4's Sand between Tarrant and Servalan. Priceless stuff.

[Joe Nazzaro]

The fact that the Drazi ships look like a souped up version of the Liberator is no coinicdence. That was a deliberate design created by Ron Thornton, who used to build models for the BBC before moving to the States including Blake's 7. I'm fairly sure he said as much in one of our early interviews.

I definitely agree about Farscape, but the show's creator Rockne O'Bannon insisted it was coincidental when I asked him about it, and we've known each other long enough that I have no reason to doubt him. I think David Kemper denied any knowledge as well, but there were some coincidences that struck pretty close to home in my opinion.

[Night Marshal]

I seen this Thread and almost fell out of my chair. I have seen Blake 7 Granted I'm about 10 years or so. Anyways I really Liked Blake 7 and if you look at it the show has a lot of the same issues as B5. Low Budget, a less that considant cast. I think two of the original 7 make it to the end of the show. Single Creative force behind it. Good show I was surpised it hasn't released in Region 1 but I guess when your hey day was alsost 30 years ago that will happen.

I guess the thing that sticks in my mind the most is the final Epiode of the show and complely unsatisfying it was. I won't say want it was but it just was seemed out of the blue, but at least they end with Avon Smiling.

Other than the End great show look forward to seeing again when I get the chance.

[therichieboy]

I think Blake's 7 could stand a remake. It wouldn't be half as good as the original if people were expecting it to be identical (minus the wobbly sets) but I think the overall theme and moodyness would please a modern audience (at least in Britain). It would need some first class actors in it to get anywhere near Gareth Thomas, Paul Darrow and Michael Keating- genious.

[saori]

Avon rulez big time! And my girlfriend made me say this...

Towelmaster, I think I like your girlfriend. Not only does she have great taste in onscreen heroes, but she must be smart too - she gets you to do her bidding!

My favourate bit of dialogue comes from Season 4's Sand between Tarrant and Servalan. Priceless stuff.

Sand is one of my all-time favourite episodes. That and Rumours of Death.

Sand is cool. The violent, green sand provides a moody backdrop to the drama and action and is another fine display of Servalan at her best. Who else would wear heels and an evening dress to go trapsing through dangerous terrain on foreign planet? Or sleep with one of her arch enemies?

I like Rumours of Death because it delves back into Avon's past and shows him for what he is: ruthless, unforgiving... and ultimately human. I love Anna in the space sheets and the fact that he ends up killing her even though he loves her more than anyone else - and thought she was already dead!

Not many like them around...

Sao.

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

Here is that dialogue from Season 4's Sand...

Tarrant: Being shut in here with you is rather like being locked in a cage with a panther: a black cat with large golden eyes and long silver talons.
Servalan (doe-eyed): Oh Tarrant, I'm just the girl next door.
Tarrant: If you were the girl next door, I'd move.
Servalan: Where would you move to, Tarrant?
Tarrant: Next door.

Though you have to see it to get the full impact.

[saori]

Here is that dialogue from Season 4's Sand...

Tarrant: Being shut in here with you is rather like being locked in a cage with a panther: a black cat with large golden eyes and long silver talons.
Servalan (doe-eyed): Oh Tarrant, I'm just the girl next door.
Tarrant: If you were the girl next door, I'd move.
Servalan: Where would you move to, Tarrant?
Tarrant: Next door.

Though you have to see it to get the full impact.

It's brilliant, really brilliant. I wish they had done a remake but it would be hard to replace Paul Darrow, Jacqueline Pierce, etc. And whether the scripts would be up to the same standard... I wouldn't want them to sully such a great series.

By the way, what's your avatar from?

Sao.

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

My avatar is part Kosh, Part Ulkesh, Part Gustav Klimpt and about 5 minutes on photoshop. (bit like it's owner)

[saori]

Cute. Very cute. And Shr'eshhhhh? (- the sound Kosh made as you did this to him?)

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

I was on a earlier B5 forum (around 1998), many of your Earth moons ago, and I wanted a Vorlonoid sounding name for myself. The forum folded but I happened across this here site and resumed the name. (I can't remember the forums name perhaps other members of this fine community can remember...? I seem to recall it had some chaps name ...Not JMS... ? I have a memory like one of those metal bowl things with holes for washing small objects in these days)

[saori]

Sieve, yes.

Have you ever been to FrostJedi.com? It's for gamers but they have a lot of B5 information. I just found out that spoo is an animal. http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/html/spoo.html
For some reason I always took it to be a vegetable, kind of like a sea cucumber or something. But I guess the animal is not much different. Liked the bit about sighing all the time.

There is apparently also an order dedicated to the wisdom of spoo:

Spoomun Complat

http://www.frostjedi.com/vex/html/spoomun_complat.htm

Spoomun Complat is an ancient alien sect that worships spoo as a superior lifeform. Spoomun members believe that spoo have a deep understanding of the Universe. Their lack of motion is proof that they are philosophers of the highest order. They believe that meditating within a spoo herd will allow one to ascend to a higher spiritual plane. Of course, this is generally accomplished by most members through suicide. Although member attrition is high, there are many new applicants. The accepted leader, the Spoomuni Fedil, resides on a large ranch on Ganis IV dedicated to preserving spoo and the contemplation of their mysteries.

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

I think there is enough sectarianism in the world without starting a Spoo vs Flarn jihad.

Oh no, and what if the blue milk of Star Wars (and B7)lot got in there and started roughing up the Romulan real ale brigade.

The pain, the pain.

I'll just sit here with my Soylent Green (R) Doublemeat Happy Meal (TM) thankyou very much. (I wonder what's in it? I hope it fits into my vegetarian life style.)

[saori]

Somehow I think spoo would rate higher than flarn for me, although that's not taking the ethical dimension into account.

I guess Minbari would probably be strict vegetarians, would they not? What about Vulcans? Maybe them too.

As a drink, I'm with Vila. It's soma (green) for me. Now "Solent Green" I'm not familiar with.... Can you get that Vir's favourite restaurant - what was it -McBarries?