Seven Nation Army

The BBC just released the Blu-Ray box set for the second season in Terry Nation's dystopian, space opera Blake 7. Naturally, I put my film watching on hold and binged through it like my life depended on it.

Many of the points I addressed in a blog post dedicated to the first season are just as valid here. Therefore, to avoid repeating it all again, here's an episode guide on the second season of the science fiction series.

Redemption 

Liberator, the mysterious alien spacecraft commandeered by Blake and his crew, is shown being destroyed in last season's cliffhanger finale. It's revealed as a prophetic vision by Orac, the supercomputer and one seventh of Blake's posse. Avon deduces that identifying the star constellation in the background of Orac's prophecy, the Liberator can avoid its destruction. Shortly afterwards, the ship is attacked and pursued by unknown spacecrafts. The Liberator attempts to flee, but is eventually controlled remotely by The System, a computer network created by an advanced alien civilisation, revealed to be the creators of the Liberator.

Terry Nation ends his streak as the sole writer of the series on a high. A rewarding season opener as the Liberator's origin sheds some of the mystique about the ship. Really enjoyed the scene where Blake has to wrestle with the Liberator's cables and circuitry; like they were snakes. I also found it funny seeing the Altas, a bunch of saggy-arsed, hive-minded and cold-blooded women being connected with the Liberator; a ship that looks like it was kit-bashed from a sex toy by the effects department. Rating: 9/10

Shadow

Blake goes to Space City seeking aid against the Terran Federation from the criminal underworld known as the Terra Nostra (see what they did?). Furthermore, Orac and Cally, the telepathic member of Blake's gang, are confronted by a psychic alien entity. Cally manages to combat the invisible enemey with the use of moon discs (they look like brown pebbles), the products used by the Terra Nostra to harvest the narcotic Shadow.

Dud episode! Terry Nation proves how big his shoes are to fill with script editor Chris Boucher taking control of the writing reins. The episode is a convoluted mess and hard to believe it's written by the same creative mind responsible for the seminal Doctor Who story The Robots of Death. Cally is a complete buzzkill once the episode focuses primarily on her. The episode really drags by all the hallucinatory imagery of Cally being trapped inside Orac or when a bunch of pebbles are laughably placed all over Cally. The Terra Nostra plot isn't enjoyable, either. The so-called gangsters are nothing but a bunch of stuck-up, English toffs in brown velour suits rather than resembling anything shady or scary. Also, it's no surprise when it's revealed the Terra Nostra is also controlled by the Federation. Worst of all, is seeing Karl Howman, from the awful sitcom Brush Strokes and the former British video nasty Exposé (1976), playing one-half of a pair of pixie-looking junkies being Shadow addicts. The siblings reminded me of Wilykit and Wilykat from Thundercats and were insufferable. Rating: 4/10

Weapon

Both the Liberator's crew and the Federation go searching for the fugitive scientist Coser, the developer of a powerful weapon known as I.M.I.P.A.K. (Induced Molecular Instability Projector And Key). A deadly device able to mark its target with dark matter and be detonated from an extremely long range (a million miles, or so). Servalan and Travis (in the latter's case; merely canonically) are back. The devious pair employ the genius psychostrategist (otherwise known as a "puppeteer") Carnell to pinpoint Coser's whereabouts, while also lure out the scientist with a clone of Blake.

A far better episode from Chris Boucher compared to his previous one. Great to see Servalan back in her sadistic glory again, although, I really can't say the same for Travis given how Brian Croucher's performance is so jarringly different when compared to what made Stephen Greif's version so memorable from the first season. Enjoyed seeing the I.M.I.P.A.K.weapon in action; at first against a clawed, alien beast, and once again on Blake and his comrades Avon and Gan. I also got a kick out of seeing British horror scream queen Candace Glendenning as Rashel, a freed slave on the run with Coser. Weapon has a worse IMDb rating than Shadow; which is bizarre, since it's a big improvement and far more enjoyable. Rating: 8/10

Horizon

Blake pursues a Federation ship to the mysterious planet Horizon. Blake and Jenna teleport down and are are captured by a native. The eventually become prisoners and forced into labour alongside the rest of the unfortunate populace in underground mines. They eventually learn that Horizon's ruler, Ro, is being used as a puppet by the Federation for their own means. 

A lame and largely forgettable episode by scriptwriter Allan Prior, the co-creator of the yachting drama Howard's Way. Avon left alone aboard the Liberator, debating whether he should abandon his crew mates still on Horizon, is probably the only positive aspect about this episode. Otherwise, there's lots of instances where Federation officials say "Kommissar!" and "Assistant Kommissar!" while Blake teaches the slaves how to share the cauldron of gruel they're given to eat. Definitely struggled to stay awake through this commie gobbledegook. Rating: 5/10

Pressure Point

Frustrated with all the foreplay, Blake decides to stick it where it hurts for the Federation; taking the battle to Earth. His plan is to destroy Central Control, the computer network and nerve centre of the Terran Federation, effectively toppling the authoritarian regime's iron grip over the galaxy. Thus, Blake teams up with resistance leader Kasabi, the former tutor of Servalan who harbours obvious beef with the ruthless Supreme Commander.

Terry Nation returns with one of the best episodes in the series thus far. Obviously, the mission fails; resulting in the death of the underdeveloped Olag Gan, a member of Blake's outlaw gang. Farewell, Gan! We hardly knew you. Nevertheless, Pressure Point is an action packed episode with an intriguing dose of betrayal. It's a lot of fun seeing Blake, Avon, Vila and the soon to snuff it Gan fighting their way to Central Control. This includes a genuinely tense scene where the lads traverse through a minefield. Also, despite my dislike for Croucher's portrayal of Travis, I did enjoy the scenes between him and Servalan during this episode. Rating: 10/10

Trial

In the aftermath of Gan's death, Blake decides to do some soul searching on an uninhabited planet while his crew ponder over whether to still follow him or not. Meanwhile, Travis does some of his own reflection as he awaits court-martial.

An introspective episode after the action-packed events of the previous one, but a good one, regardless. It's intriguing to discover that the unnamed planet (which looks like it might have been filmed in the Blue Peter garden) is in fact a living creature. It's also engrossing to find out that Blake and Zil, the ridiculous looking alien he befriends, have very limited time left before the living planet floods the surface with oceans of its own saliva to cleanse itself of all the parasites living on it. Overall, I found this part of the episode more interesting than Travis's trial. However, much like Pressure Point, I did find Brian Croucher's performance tolerable here. Kind of funny seeing John Savident, better known for playing Fred Elliott on Coronation Street along with Kevin Lloyd, who was D.C. Tosh Lines on The Bill, playing characters from the Terran Federation. Rating: 7/10

Killer

Avon and Vila teleport down to the Federation planet of Fosforon to get their hands on a translator crystal which would vitally aid them in decoding enemy transmissions. Tynus, the commander of the Q-Base installation, is an old "friend" of Avon; one who owes the renegade engineer a big favour. Blake also teleports down to the installation after a derelict, centuries-old spaceship drifts over the planet. Cally telepathically senses immense danger inside the ship.

Two great plot lines running concurrently by the legendary Doctor Who writer Robert Holmes. What starts off as a heist story eventually turns into a horrific contagion story; with a whiff of zombie goodness. Avon and Vila are a perfect double act, and it's great seeing them working together in this fantastic episode. Tynus, is played by Ronald Lacey, a natural at playing odious and slimy characters; best known for his characters Harris on the classic sitcom Porridge as well as Gestapo officer Arnold Ernst Toht in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Hence, you're waiting for the all important betrayal while the killer plague ravages the installation. Killer episode. Rating: 10/10

Hostage

After a run-in with Federation pursuit ships, the Liberator receives a message from Travis, who has now gone rogue. The dastardly villain has Blake's ex, Inga, hostage on the planet Exbar. Blake's uncle, Ushton, lives on the planet, who might be able to help.

WTF? Blake and Inga are literally kissing cousins! That's about the only memorable detail from what's otherwise a completely forgettable episode; that, and the fact Jenna gets a little jealous when she sees them kiss. I was mostly bored by this episode, and not even Avon and Vila could rescue it once they entered the mix. Therefore, I kept myself occupied googling what else Judy Buxton, the actress who played Inga, had done as she looked familiar. Turns out she was in I Don't Want to Be Born (1975), starring Joan Collins and a bunch of other cult legends no doubt ashamed of that god awful movie. She later married the actor who played Spike from the sitcom Hi-de-Hi. Rating: 5/10

Countdown

The Liberator reaches the planet Albion, searching for a Federation major once linked to Control Centre and might know of its new location. However, Albion's rebels are close to victory, thus the Federation activate a Solium radiation device which will wipe out all life on the planet. It's a race against time for Blake to find Major Provine, while Avon and Grant, a rebel who blames him for his sister's death, are on a tense-filled mission to deactivate the lethal weapon with the little time they have.

Once again, another stellar episode penned by Terry Nation. A riveting watch, with both plot lines lending to some thoroughly tense and suspenseful scenes. Incredibly entertaining watching all the convoluted hoops Avon and Grant have to go through in order to deactivate the bomb; even having to teleport to the polar ice cap and thaw it out. Loved it. Possibly the best of the second season, in my opinion. Rating: 10/10

Voice from the Past

During one of Cally's Rainbow Rhythms exercise sessions, Blake experiences severe mental pain brought about from the conditioning done to him by the Federation. It's revealed to be a subliminal signal, ordering him to divert from his ship's current course to the asteroid P-K118 instead. He convinces Vila it's a conspiracy engineered by the rest of the crew, where they subsequently lock them up. When Blake arrives on the asteroid's base, he meets rebel leader Shivan and Ven Glyn, a key figure who falsified evidence against him, who has defected over.

A convoluted episode from Roger Parkes, a writer who also contributed to a number of screenplays for another of Terry Nation's TV creations; the series Survivors. Sadly, what might have potentially been an episode full of of intrigue fundamentally yo-yos from tediously dull conversations to shambolically comedic once you see and hear Shivan on screen. I'm surprised the cast and crew were able to keep a straight face. Shivan's real identity is of no real surprise; it's so bloody obvious. Rating: 4/10

Gambit

After the events of Countdown, Blake learns that Control Centre has been renamed Star One and the former Terran Federation cybersurgeon, Docholli, might be able to know of its location. The crew of the Liberator find the cybersurgeon in the seedy quarter of the metropolis known as Freedom City, along with Travis working as the cybersurgeon's bodyguard. Blake, Jenna and Cally go in search of their their quarry. Meanwhile, unwillingly to be left behind, Avon and Vila take a shrunken Orac with them and hit the casinos. Unbeknown to them all, Servalan is also in Freedom City and on the hunt for Docholli and Travis.

Hard to believe Travis was such a villainous threat at one time, and yet he's reduced to skulking about in a hat and cape looking like the Phantom of the Opera. Servalan shines in this episode like a dominatrix from Hell. Once again, Avon and Vila's side story is the most fun. Vila playing speed chess against the Klute, "a galactic grandmaster", where the loser gets fried, was my favourite scene. This was another episode by Robert Holmes. Rating: 7/10

The Keeper

After finding Docholli, Blake learns that the co-ordinates to Star One are imprinted onto a brain amulet, worn around the neck of the planet Goth's ruler. Goth is a primitive world, whose natives live similarly to Viking culture. On their heals is Travis, who also happens to be after the amulet.

Another filler episode from Allan Prior, although Jenna has more to do in this episode; albeit feigning interest in the amorous advances of Goth's ruler, Gola. The McGuffins necessary to get to Star One have really outstayed their welcome by the penultimate episode. I also found the whole story rather predictable and lacklustre; the obvious plot twist being a particular crude set-up. Rating: 5/10

Star One

Lurena, a young technician on Star One, discovers that her fellow colleagues have been replicated by alien saboteurs. Climactic weather effects have already been felt across Federation worlds because of the sabotage on Star One.The Liberator finally reaches the base, where Blake and crew discover a vast minefield in the vacuum of space designed to keep something out. When the crew learn of an Andromedan invasion, Blake abandons destroying Star One and bides time for the now alerted Federation to stop the invaders. Thus, the Liberator is all that stands to fend off the armada until his sworn enemies come to aid in the battle.

Star One is an absolute belter and by far the best episode in the series by Chris Boucher. I like the obvious inspiration taken from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, along with the Andromedan fleet being forced to funnel through a small gap in the minefield with the Liberator holding them off. Essentially the Battle of Thermopylae, but in space. Which makes for a great cliff hanger. Apparently, Terry Nation intended for the invaders to be the Daleks. Of course, it never happened, but it adds fuel to the fire that Doctor Who and Blake's 7 were set in the same universe. Also, Travis didn't pull off anything immersion breaking to spoil the whole episode. Rating: 9/10

TL; DR:

Overall, the decision to include other writers was both a gift and a curse. It obviously worked for Terry Nation, since the episodes he wrote for the second season were amongst the best in the series. Even on my least favourite episodes, the character writing was mostly faithful (with the exception of Travis). The dichotomy between Blake the idealist and Avon the realist makes for some enjoyable chemistry between the two, which really flourished in this second season.

Regarding Travis, he was the biggest disappointment. That's partly due to Stephen Greif not returning to play the character for the second season. There was a twisted and psychotic menace about Travis in the previous season, and that's sadly lost in Brian Croucher's performance. Also, Greif looked far cooler with the cardboard egg box on his face as a cybernetic implant, than the tiny eyepatch Croucher has on. Croucher's Cockney inflection didn't help the character, either.

Also, I'm not surprised Sally Knyvette exited the series given how little she had to do. However, I am bewildered Jan Chappell stayed on for another season given how much of a dead weight Cally was. Gareth Thomas, who played Roj Blake would no longer be a regular after this second season. Blake's 7 without Blake! Paul Darrow's Kerr Avon would naturally take over as the show's lead, which was always apparent from the very first season.

Looking forward to the third season box set getting released next year! Fingers crossed there's a BBC still around to release it by then.