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Blake's 7 Season 1

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  • #1

    Blake's 7 Season 1

    Well I've had it a while but, after watching it again this week, I thought it was worth a mention.

    For me a very nostalgic journey through my childhood, Blake's 7 is the ultimate original space opera. Almost every episode you can see original ideas and stories that have been copied and recycled into other sci-fi shows.

    Even when I watch it today, I find it strangely compelling and the dialogue and character development is outstanding. This is sci-fi turned on its head, where the good guys are often at each others' throats and threatening to kill each other. In fact, in future seasons you can never tell who will live or die, giving it a unique atmosphere I have not seen in any other show.

    Each season of this show is full of twists and turns taking the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster, ending in the most dramatic and memerable ending to any show ever.

    This season 1 boxset is pretty good. Its beautifully packaged (uk version) and has a few interesting extras. (including how to make your own Teleport bracelet 'Blue Peter' special) The set includes some classic episodes, three of which have actors commentaries.
    My only complaint would be there was no Paul Darrow or Gareth Thomas commentaries.

    I would recommend this series to any sci-fi fan, if only to see how different sci-fi can be from the normal 'mainstream' shows.

    This is storytelling in its purist form.
    *Den-Sha*
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  • #2
    Couldn't agrre more BH. I have loved B7 right from the start. As I understand it, JMS often quotes it as an inspiration to how B5 always kept its viewing audiance guessing. I mean who realy expected Sinclair to be gone after 22 eps, or for Kosh to die in the 3rd season? These things had their basis in B7!
    http://www.lddb.com/collection.php?a...er=dgtwoodward
    Yes, I still collect Laserdiscs!!
    47" Phillips 1080p 46" Samsung 1080p Toshiba HD-30E (2 both Multi Region) PS3-80G 120G BR Multi-Region Maidstone MD-BR-2102 Sky-HD Freesat-HD Pioneer DVL-909 CLD-D925 CLD-2950 (AC3) CLD-D515 CLD S315 Yamaha ADP-1 Meridian 519 Pioneer 609 (DD/DTS) x 2 Speakers & subs Jammo M/S Pioneer Technics Sony Eltax Akai Aiwa

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    • #3
      Series 2 announced for January release. Lets hope they can stick to the date this time.
      Series 2
      *Den-Sha*

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      • #4
        I'm the girl next door.

        As mentioned elsewhere my favourate line of dialogue is the above quoted bit from 'Sand' . They don't write em like that anymore.
        I have the wings for Bingo.

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        • #5
          Unfortunately, I found Blake's 7 to be boring. The first 5 or 6 episodes I really enjoyed, because each ended with a "cliffhanger", but after that the series did lots of stand-alones. It felt directionless & the stand-alones were very poor quality.

          I'll probably never watch it again.

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          • #6
            I'll probably never watch it again.
            i`m sure you`ll manage to live through it, one man`s Babyon 5 is another man`s Andromeda.

            always liked Blake`s 7 myself.
            "The trouble with being a cynic is that you eventually get labelled as a highly reliable fortune-teller"

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            • #7
              Unfortunately, I found Blake's 7 to be boring. The first 5 or 6 episodes I really enjoyed, because each ended with a "cliffhanger", but after that the series did lots of stand-alones. It felt directionless & the stand-alones were very poor quality.
              Well, I'm a great believer in everyone having their own opinion. I must pick up on a couple of points, however.

              I've never heard the word 'boring' associated with Blake's 7. Bear in mind it was the late 70's and most of the ideas and stories were completely original. Nowadays, these ideas have been re-used and re-hashed countless times in modern sci-fi (with modern resources and budgets) So to go back and watch the show for the first time now, would probably not do it justice.

              But this is the appeal of the show. The fact that it was made on a shoe-string budget, with no special effects, made it completely character driven. This gave it a unique feel to a sci-fi show and is the complete opposite to modern shows. For me, this is what I watch it for. An episode 'you' might call boring, I would watch to enjoy the great dialogue between characters or the wonderfull performances from the likes of Paul Darrow or Jacqueline Pearce.

              As for the style of the show, this was the first show I can remember that actually 'did' carry on stories and ideas from one episode to the next. Back then, shows were always stand alone episodes (like Star Trek) Blake's 7 was one of the first to break the mold. This is why Jms lists it as one of his favourite shows and constantly refers to writer/creator Terry Nation. (in fact without Blake's 7, I doubt Babylon 5 would be written in the style of a novel that we have all come to love)

              As for cliffhangers.... well there are more in the four short seasons of Blake's 7 than I've seen in most modern shows, and they get much better than the ones in the first five episodes. But I'd say that in later seasons, the best ones were used as end of season cliffhangers. (The pick of the bunch being episodes like 'Star one' 'Terminal' and 'Blake')

              To finish, if you have only watched season one then you have missed out. I wont go on and on, because if you dont like it, so be it. But I cant help thinking what most of us would say to someone who had only watched season one of Babylon 5 and decided it was not very good.
              *Den-Sha*

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              • #8
                It was also the first show of it's kind that killed off main crew members and trashed the princible environments namely The Liberator and Scorpio. Something that Trek copied in Wrath of Khan and Search for Spock and Generations. B5 didn't do that until the last episode. (Ultinate timelines aside)

                You really didn't know who would survive an episode. And the last episode was surely the most unexpected conclusion to any show ever (Ok The Prisoner beats it but you know what I mean.)
                I have the wings for Bingo.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by RCmodeler
                  Unfortunately, I found Blake's 7 to be boring. The first 5 or 6 episodes I really enjoyed, because each ended with a "cliffhanger", but after that the series did lots of stand-alones. It felt directionless & the stand-alones were very poor quality.

                  I'll probably never watch it again.
                  Hello RCM,

                  Well, what can I say that has not already been said within these pages? All I can say is, give it another chance. Yes the FX were terrible (Though this was the 70s BBC so they did the best they could, and actually it was one of the shows that B5's Ron Thornton proudly has on his CV!), yes as there were alot of characters to get to know so their setting up took perhaps a few more episodes that you may think necessary...but give it a chance! Try one more time and this time stick with it. Pretty soon you will get to see the emotional dynamic between Blake and Avon, Avon and Vila, Avon and Cally, Blake and Jenna, Avon and Servalan, Blake and Travis. The character interactions are the driving force of the show. The fact that there are space battles and high speed chases going on all around them is almost incidental. PLEASE GIVE IT ANOTHER CHANCE.
                  http://www.lddb.com/collection.php?a...er=dgtwoodward
                  Yes, I still collect Laserdiscs!!
                  47" Phillips 1080p 46" Samsung 1080p Toshiba HD-30E (2 both Multi Region) PS3-80G 120G BR Multi-Region Maidstone MD-BR-2102 Sky-HD Freesat-HD Pioneer DVL-909 CLD-D925 CLD-2950 (AC3) CLD-D515 CLD S315 Yamaha ADP-1 Meridian 519 Pioneer 609 (DD/DTS) x 2 Speakers & subs Jammo M/S Pioneer Technics Sony Eltax Akai Aiwa

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                  • #10
                    I looked at some pics of this show and I like the cheesiness. Is this show out in R1? I couldn't find it at amazon.
                    Recently, there was a reckoning. It occurred on November 4, 2014 across the United States. Voters, recognizing the failures of the current leadership and fearing their unchecked abuses of power, elected another party as the new majority. This is a first step toward preventing more damage and undoing some of the damage already done. Hopefully, this is as much as will be required.

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                    • #11
                      I fear Blake's Seven is yet to hop over to region one. Which is a real shame because you are missing out on some of the most inventively written and peformed characters/dialogue ever to bless the small screen.
                      I have simular problems getting Region 2 dvd's here.
                      I shall definatly be getting a region free dvd player when I move.
                      I have the wings for Bingo.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Shr'eshhhhhh
                        I fear Blake's Seven is yet to hop over to region one. Which is a real shame because you are missing out on some of the most inventively written and peformed characters/dialogue ever to bless the small screen.
                        I have simular problems getting Region 2 dvd's here.
                        I shall definatly be getting a region free dvd player when I move.
                        Did the show ever air over here? I know it's on VHS, but at a high price and two eps per tape.
                        Recently, there was a reckoning. It occurred on November 4, 2014 across the United States. Voters, recognizing the failures of the current leadership and fearing their unchecked abuses of power, elected another party as the new majority. This is a first step toward preventing more damage and undoing some of the damage already done. Hopefully, this is as much as will be required.

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                        • #13
                          I have no knowlege.
                          I have the wings for Bingo.

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                          • #14
                            Yes it did. During the days when Dr. Who aired on PBS as it's main money maker, Blake's 7 often times aired along side it.

                            Sadly, no more.

                            I'm sure they will eventually get it to R1, but god only knows when that will be.

                            CE
                            Anthony Flessas
                            Writer/Producer/Director,
                            SP Pictures


                            I have no avatar! I walk in mystery and need nothing to represent who and what I am!

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                            • #15
                              Region 2 Season 1 was delayed greatly by the team trying to revive the show. BBC had the rights to the actual programs but the revival team had bought the name from Terry Nations estate and were putting demands that the BBC advertised their endeavor on the boxed set. We have been waiting for Season 2 for an age too. I suspect they have been holding out for yet more money or perks since finding out the amount they paid Terry Nation's estate for the use of the Daleks in the new Dr Who show.
                              I have the wings for Bingo.

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