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Blake's 7
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Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first series, produced by David Maloney (series one to three) and Vere Lorrimer (series four), and the script editor throughout its run was Chris Boucher, who wrote nine of its episodes. The main character for the first two series was Roj Blake, played by Gareth Thomas.
Blake's 7 was broadcast in 25 other countries. It had a low budget but featured many tropes of space opera, such as spaceships, robots, galactic empires and aliens. Critical responses have been mixed; some praised the programme for its dystopian themes, strong characterisation, ambiguous morality and pessimistic tone, as well as displaying an "enormous sense of fun", but others have criticised its production values and dialogue, and accused it of lacking originality. It retains a sizeable and enthusiastic fan base, and was described in The Guardian's 40-year retrospective as "a bold show that wasn't afraid to break formulas".
A limited range of Blake's 7 merchandise was issued, and books, magazines and annuals were published. The BBC released music and sound effects from the series, and several companies made Blake's 7 toys and models. Four video compilations were released between 1985 and 1990, and the entire programme was released in videocassette beginning in 1991 and re-released during 1997, and as four DVD boxed sets between 2003 and 2006. The BBC produced two audio dramas during 1998 and 1999, featuring original cast members, that were broadcast by BBC Radio 4. Although proposals for live-action and animated remakes have not been realised, Blake's 7 has been revived with two series of audio dramas, a comedic short film, and a series of fan-made audio plays involving the original cast.
Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were made, and first broadcast in the United Kingdom between January 1978 and December 1981 by BBC1. They are set in the third century of the second calendar (this is mentioned in associated publicity material, not in the series) and at least 700 years in the future. Blake's 7's narrative concerns the exploits of political dissident Roj Blake, who leads a small group of rebels against the forces of the totalitarian Terran Federation that rules the Earth and many colonised planets. The Federation uses mass surveillance, brainwashing, and drug pacification to control its citizens. Blake is arrested, tried on false charges, and deported to a remote penal colony. En route, he and fellow prisoners Jenna Stannis and Kerr Avon break free and escape on a technologically advanced alien spacecraft, which its central computer 'Zen' refers to as the Liberator (a word Jenna was thinking when the ship probed her mind). Liberator's speed and weaponry are far superior to any Federation craft, and it also has a teleportation system that enables transport to the surface of planets. It also contains rooms filled with clothes and precious gemstones, and a medical bay facility. After freeing fellow prisoners Vila Restal and Olag Gan from the penal colony, and recruiting alien telepath freedom fighter Cally, Blake and his new crew use the Liberator to begin a campaign to damage the Federation, but are pursued by Space Commander Travis—a vengeful Federation officer—and Servalan, the Supreme Commander and later Federation President.
The composition of the titular "seven" changes throughout the series. The initial group—Blake, Vila, Gan, Jenna, Avon, and Cally—included Zen as the seventh member. At the end of the first series, they capture a supercomputer named Orac. Gan is killed during the second series, and the five remaining humans and two computers make up the defacto seven. After the end of the second series, Blake and Jenna disappear and are replaced by new characters Dayna and Tarrant. At the start of the fourth series, Cally dies and is replaced by Soolin. After the destruction of Liberator, the computer Zen is replaced by a new computer, Slave, on board the group's new commandeered ship Scorpio.
While Blake is an idealistic freedom fighter, his associates are petty crooks, smugglers and killers. Avon is a technological genius who, while apparently motivated by self-preservation and wealth, consistently acts to help others. By the third series, after Blake has gone missing, Avon becomes the leader. At first, Avon believes the Federation has been destroyed; he becomes tired of killing, and seeks rest. However, by the middle of the third series, Avon realises that the Federation is expanding again, faster than originally realised, and he resumes the fight.
The BBC had originally planned to conclude Blake's 7 at the end of its third series, but a further series was commissioned unexpectedly following the broadcast of its final episode. As a result, some changes to the programme's format were inevitable, both in front of and behind the camera. These included the appointment of a new producer and the introduction of a new spacecraft, Scorpio, and new characters, Soolin and Slave.
Blake's 7 was watched by an average of 9 million viewers in the UK, and was broadcast in 25 other countries.
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Blake's 7
Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first series, produced by David Maloney (series one to three) and Vere Lorrimer (series four), and the script editor throughout its run was Chris Boucher, who wrote nine of its episodes. The main character for the first two series was Roj Blake, played by Gareth Thomas.
Blake's 7 was broadcast in 25 other countries. It had a low budget but featured many tropes of space opera, such as spaceships, robots, galactic empires and aliens. Critical responses have been mixed; some praised the programme for its dystopian themes, strong characterisation, ambiguous morality and pessimistic tone, as well as displaying an "enormous sense of fun", but others have criticised its production values and dialogue, and accused it of lacking originality. It retains a sizeable and enthusiastic fan base, and was described in The Guardian's 40-year retrospective as "a bold show that wasn't afraid to break formulas".
A limited range of Blake's 7 merchandise was issued, and books, magazines and annuals were published. The BBC released music and sound effects from the series, and several companies made Blake's 7 toys and models. Four video compilations were released between 1985 and 1990, and the entire programme was released in videocassette beginning in 1991 and re-released during 1997, and as four DVD boxed sets between 2003 and 2006. The BBC produced two audio dramas during 1998 and 1999, featuring original cast members, that were broadcast by BBC Radio 4. Although proposals for live-action and animated remakes have not been realised, Blake's 7 has been revived with two series of audio dramas, a comedic short film, and a series of fan-made audio plays involving the original cast.
Four series of thirteen 50-minute episodes were made, and first broadcast in the United Kingdom between January 1978 and December 1981 by BBC1. They are set in the third century of the second calendar (this is mentioned in associated publicity material, not in the series) and at least 700 years in the future. Blake's 7's narrative concerns the exploits of political dissident Roj Blake, who leads a small group of rebels against the forces of the totalitarian Terran Federation that rules the Earth and many colonised planets. The Federation uses mass surveillance, brainwashing, and drug pacification to control its citizens. Blake is arrested, tried on false charges, and deported to a remote penal colony. En route, he and fellow prisoners Jenna Stannis and Kerr Avon break free and escape on a technologically advanced alien spacecraft, which its central computer 'Zen' refers to as the Liberator (a word Jenna was thinking when the ship probed her mind). Liberator's speed and weaponry are far superior to any Federation craft, and it also has a teleportation system that enables transport to the surface of planets. It also contains rooms filled with clothes and precious gemstones, and a medical bay facility. After freeing fellow prisoners Vila Restal and Olag Gan from the penal colony, and recruiting alien telepath freedom fighter Cally, Blake and his new crew use the Liberator to begin a campaign to damage the Federation, but are pursued by Space Commander Travis—a vengeful Federation officer—and Servalan, the Supreme Commander and later Federation President.
The composition of the titular "seven" changes throughout the series. The initial group—Blake, Vila, Gan, Jenna, Avon, and Cally—included Zen as the seventh member. At the end of the first series, they capture a supercomputer named Orac. Gan is killed during the second series, and the five remaining humans and two computers make up the defacto seven. After the end of the second series, Blake and Jenna disappear and are replaced by new characters Dayna and Tarrant. At the start of the fourth series, Cally dies and is replaced by Soolin. After the destruction of Liberator, the computer Zen is replaced by a new computer, Slave, on board the group's new commandeered ship Scorpio.
While Blake is an idealistic freedom fighter, his associates are petty crooks, smugglers and killers. Avon is a technological genius who, while apparently motivated by self-preservation and wealth, consistently acts to help others. By the third series, after Blake has gone missing, Avon becomes the leader. At first, Avon believes the Federation has been destroyed; he becomes tired of killing, and seeks rest. However, by the middle of the third series, Avon realises that the Federation is expanding again, faster than originally realised, and he resumes the fight.
The BBC had originally planned to conclude Blake's 7 at the end of its third series, but a further series was commissioned unexpectedly following the broadcast of its final episode. As a result, some changes to the programme's format were inevitable, both in front of and behind the camera. These included the appointment of a new producer and the introduction of a new spacecraft, Scorpio, and new characters, Soolin and Slave.
Blake's 7 was watched by an average of 9 million viewers in the UK, and was broadcast in 25 other countries.