30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a FANTASTIC SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, March 8, 2006
This review is from: Blakes 7 - Series 1 [Region 2 Import- Non USA Format] (DVD)
If only it was available in the US on DVD!!! Sadly, it is not, forcing me to acquire the PAL version and play it on my computer. However, it is SO worth it. Here's why:
1. Great writing. The beginning story arc ('The Way Back' to 'Cygnus Alpha' is great. 'Mission to Destiny', 'Duel' and 'Seek-Locate-Destroy' are great as well.)
2. Paul Darrow - He rocks as Avon and the best written character of the series.
3. The Liberator - Ah, what a ship!
4. Terry Nation - Creator of the Daleks, he created and set the tone for what would follow. This is not kid's stuff.
5. Steven Grief as Travis. The best is still the original. Watch his brief monologue at the end of 'Seek-Locate-Destroy' and then watch what Brian Croucher does, well, anytime in Series B. Case closed.
Blake's 7 is a study in how to write, direct on a limited budget, and get quality acting. I cannot see how, if you like SciFi, you CANNOT afford to miss this series. It is one of the pinnacles of British TV along with:
-Doctor Who
-The Day of the Triffids
-Survivors
I can't say enough about this series. It is so good I bought all the VHS tapes (getting worn out now)!! Superb TV and just, well, just fantastic!!!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Pessimistic Future View On Humanity, May 21, 2010
This review is from: Blakes 7 - Series 1 [Region 2 Import- Non USA Format] (DVD)
1978. After the success of Star Wars the B.B.C. finally realized there was money to be made in Science Fiction.
With the success Terry Nation had achieved with the Daleks in Doctor Who the B.B.C. trusted Mr Nation with almost anything, just before this show he had come up with "Survivors".
(A too pessimistic view of a future Earth for my liking.)
All four seasons are made up of thirteen episodes, in the first two seasons the Liberator crew are lead by Rog Blake and as such are quite noble and, "freedom fighterish" but once Blake leaves after season two the crew under Avon lose their nobility and become recidivists.
The first episode of Blakes 7 has certain similarities to "1984" and "The Prisoner" and as such is gripping entertainment, after that it developes a life and course of it's own.
It's obvious that Terry Nation plagiarised some ideas from Star Trek, but if you are going to copy then it makes sense to copy from the best!
~~~~
Human crew members season one, Blake, Avon, Vila, Gan, Jenna, Cally.
Non human member, Zen the ship's computer.
Season one stories are:-
"The Way Back", Blake is framed and sentenced to the prison planet Cygnus Alpha.
"Space Fall", Blake organises a take over of the prison ship. The Liberator makes it's first appearance.
"Cygnus Alpha", Blake makes changes on Cygnus, and start's to get his crew.
"Time Squad", Cally makes her appearance.
"The Web", The Liberator get's caught in a web, the crew get caught up with genetic experiments. My favourite story from this season.*
"Seek-Locate-Destroy", Blake want's to get a message decoder, and nothing will stop him.*
"Mission to Destiny", an Agatha Christie in space type story.
"Duel", Blakes 7 version of Star Trek's "Arena".*
"Project Avalon", Blake wants to meet up with a resistance leader.*
"Breakdown", Gan start's to go crazy.*
"Bounty", one of the season's low point's. Talky and pointless.
"Deliverance", The Liberator crew assist the survivor of a spaceship crash.*
"Orac", Blake meet's the "Box of tricks" for the first time.*
(*Personal favourites, with good strong storylines.)
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