Blake's 7

[Pyan]

For those of you with Freeview, etc, Forces TV (FV:96 S:181 V:274 FS:165 BT:96) is showing the complete first series of Blake's 7, starting tonight (Tuesday) at 9pm, (repeated at 12.30 am).

 

[CupofJoe]

Caught it in time to set the recorder. UFO as well. That is pretty much my childhood TV. Add in Thunderbirds and Dr Who and you have the full set. Now let me see if Blake's 7 has aged as badly as I fear it has.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Caught it in time to set the recorder. UFO as well. That is pretty much my childhood TV. Add in Thunderbirds and Dr Who and you have the full set. Now let me see if Blake's 7 has aged as badly as I fear it has.

It has aged in terms of effects but not the characters and stories. And let’s be truthful, the effects were aged in the 70s

do love a rewatch. Cheers Pyan

 

[Foxbat]

I don't care how badly it has aged. It has Servalan. What more does any show need?

 

[thaddeus6th]

Damn, I missed the first episode. Wanted to watch this for a little while.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I don't care how badly it has aged. It has Servalan. What more does any show need?

Avon. They go together like…. Two power maniac Thesps

Thad - try YouTube. Most episodes are there

 

[Glaysher]

Damn, I missed the first episode. Wanted to watch this for a little while.

I think you can find the first episode on youtube

 

[Rodders]

I keep meaning to buy the blu-ray and binging this. I remember seeing episodes as a kid and enjoying them a lot, but I never saw many episodes and I think it was on quite late.

 

[Foxbat]

I have all four seasons on DVD and I think I’ll have to do a rewatch soon

 

[Vince W]

I'm watching it now although slowly. I had forgotten how good it is. There is real tension and drama almost from the opening scene. The writers over at DW need to rewatch this so they can remember how to do it.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Glaysher, you're right. Man, I'm gonna have square eyes, but to catch up is probably worth it. Cheers for this, it's been ages since I watched TV regularly, excepting F1.

 

[mosaix]

It has aged in terms of effects but not the characters and stories. And let’s be truthful, the effects were aged in the 70s

do love a rewatch. Cheers Pyan

Part of the set was made up of the keyboard of an NCR Class 31 accounting machine. As soon as I saw it it ruined the whole series.

 

[reiver33]

It was typical ‘no budget’ not very special effects even at the time, but the quality of characterisation carried it, especially the Avon-Servalan and Avon-Vila exchanges (with Orac as Iago).

But that final Blake-Avon confrontation;

“You betrayed us? You betrayed ME?”

I wealth of backstory in 6 words and a twist of fearful anticipation in my gut, even today.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

It was typical ‘no budget’ not very special effects even at the time, but the quality of characterisation carried it, especially the Avon-Servalan and Avon-Vila exchanges (with Orac as Iago).

But that final Blake-Avon confrontation;

“You betrayed us? You betrayed ME?”

I wealth of backstory in 6 words and a twist of fearful anticipation in my gut, even today.

I’m still not over the last episode

 

[reiver33]

I remember the shock, verging on stunned disbelief, on watching the finale for the first time.

 

[thaddeus6th]

Ha, can't get the channel on my TV.

Still, added to the old presents list for later this year.

 

[Foxbat]

I remember the shock, verging on stunned disbelief, on watching the finale for the first time.

I'm still not over it...

Part of the set was made up of the keyboard of an NCR Class 31 accounting machine. As soon as I saw it it ruined the whole series.

There's an episode (season 2 I think) where they are in some kind of facility with these gold objects on the wall. I recignised them right away. They were heat exchanger plates like this (but like I say they were painted gold). It does kind of ruin the moment.

 

[paranoid marvin]

What a great series this still is. The Beeb's props department made a wonderful job of converting odds and ends to make them appear what they weren't; what a great place that must have been to work.

Admittedly the general effects were never great, and have only worsened over times. But as kids we never really noticed this, and - other than Star Trek - there was nothing really to compare them against. What DOES a futuristic spaceship really look like?

But the storylines and the acting is what really matters, and that certainly has stood up. In fact, in comparison with some made-for tv/Netflix, it's actually improved. All of the characters are perfectly cast, and the series is well worth watching again.

As for the ending.. much better to have an ending than to have a never-ending series of adventures. And tbh it ends the only way it ever could; I think that Blake's 7 pretty much accepted that right from the very start of their adventures.

 

[Rodders]

I started watching this a couple of weeks ago and i have to say that i thought that i'd struggle watching a 70's BBC TV series, but i'm impressed. I think there was a big tendency in the 70's to view Science Fiction as kids stuff and this feels... much more adult.

The tone is great, the acting less so, but better than you'd expect for the time. Blake is a decent enough hero, but a bit predictable. I think that Avon is the scene stealer. I also think the Liberator is a great looking ship and her aesthetic hasn't aged at all badly. She still looks both unique and beautiful.

I enjoy the industrial look of the shooting locations, too. Very British.

I'm halfway through the second series.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Oh it’s Avon all the way. And Servalan