Blake's Lively

British science fiction series Blake's 7 (1978-1981) was already nearing the end of its lifespan when I was first aware of it. The vaguest of memories exist in my memory banks, thus it was only later on when I became aware of the show's cult following.

The brainchild of Terry Nation (the creator of Doctor Who's infamous Daleks), curiosity had me keen to in check out Blake's 7. Thankfully, the recent high definition release of the first season came out earlier this month.

A few notes on Blake's 7 season one:

Dark Star

Right off the bat, Blake's 7 is the complete antithesis of Gene Roddenberry's progressively optimism from Star Trek (1965-1969). It's dark, nihilistic, and perfectly captures the doom and gloom of notable seventies science fiction media. This downbeat tone is more than evident in the first episode when the show's amnesiac protagonist, Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas), finds out his family were executed, witnesses a massacre and is also framed as a nonce.

 

Baker's Dozen

Terry Nation wrote all thirteen of Blake's 7 first season. Given that the show was about a band of fugitives fighting back against a vastly superior and ubiquitous enemy, most of the episodes were driven with small victories in mind to a greater outcome. Along the way, some details pertaining to a main cast member's backstory would be revealed. In the case of Cally (Jan Chappell) and Olag Gan (David Jackson), they're written quite poorly and feel like dead weight. This is despite each of them having a dedicated episode which focuses on them. Definitely a mixed bag here.

 

Avon Calling

The computer wizard, Kerr Avon (Paul Darrow) elevates himself from being just one of Blake's recruits to the show's biggest star. The acerbically tongued anti-hero whose witty put downs, usually aimed at his cowardly crew mate Vila Restal (Michael Keeting), is a major factor to the show's appeal. This is a character who possesses the vibe of a potential double crosser, which makes him a tough person to second guess. Evidently, the show's writers felt the same way about Avon as he would eventually lead the crew in the last two seasons. Sadly some of the other characters are far less interesting.

The Villains in Black & White

Like all good sci-fi adventures, there's always a big bad; Blake's 7 features the Terran Federation. Much like Terry Nation's pepperpot baddies, the Daleks, the Terran Federation is the equivalent of space Nazis. Really like the design aesthetics of the villains:

• Federation Troopers: The lowly grunts look particularly sinister dressed in black overalls and gas masks. They look similar to SAS soldiers, but with fluorescent green rings around their heads; making them effectively sinister looking.
• Mutoids: The design aesthetic forerunners to the Hellraiser cenobites and Star Trek: The Next Generation's The Borg. Mutoids were mainly women whose memories were wiped and made to serve the Terran Federation as augmented elite guards. Despite the ridiculous, black wisdom tooth looking helmet and their pale grey complexions, these killer bondage femmes were cool in action; particularly the season one episode Duel.
  
• Space Commander Travis: Another highlight is black clad Travis (Peter Greif) , the agent in charge of pursuing Blake and the Liberator. Really dig how he interacts with the rest of his circle. It's too bad Greif left after the first season and he was honestly one of the better actors on the show.
  
• Supreme Commander Servalan: In striking contrast to all the black attire, the show's major villain, the vampish Servalan (Jacquelin Pearce) is the iron lady in angelic white. As far as fascist villains go, Servalan is the Margaret Thatcher to Travis's Michael Heseltine.

Low budget

Much of the charm of the show definitely stems from it being low budget. It does lend to the run down and oppressive tone for its depiction of a galaxy ruled by tyrannical fascists. It also means the show's creative writing needs to do much of the leg work; and for the most part, it largely succeeds. Although, there's definitely room for improvement

• The lack of a modest budget is very evident with its production sets. Creased metallic foil on the walls of some sets and the recurring use of English countryside and a quarry for outdoor locations. The bridge of the Liberator has more in common with a DFS showroom thanks to its leather sofas than the what might be contained inside an extraterrestrial starship.
  
• Some of Blake's crew are dressed like they shop from Millets or have just walked off from a Robin Hood production. The Terran Federation scores much better, on the other hand. They could easily be mistaken for early New Romantics; especially Servalan. 
• Big fan of the tribe of creatures known as the Decima from the episode The Web. They're the type of creations which could have been from an episode of Doctor Who which appeals to me.
  

Updated VFX

The modern visual effects of various starships or monitor screens are tastefully done and feel complimentary to the show. The Liberator and the Terran Federation pursuit ships look great on screen. These effects are not overused and definitely help with the general galaxy building.

Overall

Did not expect Blake's 7 to be so dark from the jump. It's all the more surprising that this was meant for prime time TV. 

 

By far the best character on this show is Avon. It's just a shame that his comrades aren't written with the same depth or quality; even Blake feels like a supporting character at times.

 

There's definitely major room for improvement. Terry Nation no longer being burdened as the only writer, does spell a possible correction. However, the show's charm and surprising subversiveness has me eager to check out what the rest of the seasons have to offer.