4.13: Blake (was 'Terry Nation')

[Dave]

Terry Nation

I read that Terry Nation only created Blakes 7 through desperation. After pitching ideas to the BBC and getting no reaction he had used up all of his prepared ideas. He came up with a final last effort -- 'Robin Hood in Space'.

The BBC bought it on condition that he write the entire first season of 13 episodes himself.

He hated the final series of Blakes 7, especially the message that the bad guys win in the end. He wanted to write a novel that would pick up at the end of that season and bring the characters back again but never managed to.

 

[{ACA} Spellcaster]

I wish he had written the book

I hated the way that they ended the seires.....I couldn't believe it!

Willz
:blpaw: :blpaw:

 

[Dave]

I've never met anyone who liked the ending!

 

[rde]

I've never met anyone who liked the ending!

Hello.

Ignoring the fact that the last series should never have happened (not just because the revised theme music annoyed the hell out of me), I thought it was a good ending. The whole point of the series was that the Federation were bastards, and they'd do anything to stay in power. That power meant that most attempts at subversion were doomed to failure. In that context, I thought it was a fitting ending.
Of course, panning away so that Avon could conceiveably make it out alive for another series smacked of the B-movies where the evil monster's offspring crawls out from under a rock leaving the way open for a sequel. Very annoying.

 

[Dave]

I've met one person who blew cool about the ending!

Hello rde

It was unusual and different to do that, but among my friends, all of the magazine reviews that I've ever read, and pages that I've read on-line, everyone complains about it -- that was what I meant!

 

[AVON]

"Well now",after the initial shock of watching the final episode ("BLAKE") way back on 21st Dec 1981 - I like many fans felt the BBC had delivered a nice kick in the teeth to us fans - just before Xmas too!

But despite that ending to the series - after the previous "final" episode ("TERMINAL"). These days equally like both - and class them like many fans to be two of the best episode of the entire 52.

(Along with Rumours Of Death, Sarcophagus, Space Fall, Aftermath,Orbit, Gambit, Killer etc).

The "BLAKE" episode is no doubt one of the reasons why the series is still talked about by it's cult following of Fans.

 

[Darth Simpson]

I'd agree with the point that nowadays it is one of my favourites, although at the time I was horrified.

I've seen it loads of times since and have watched it again this week. I'm left with a few questions though.

1. Why was Servalan not in it ? (if terminal was originally the last ep, she was in that)- She was also in the penultimate episode Warlord, so why not the last one? I felt a final confrontation was needed.

2. When Blake brings Tarrant in first, why did he not tell him about his new resistance. He had already tested his trustworthyness. That way Tarrant would not have run out and warned Avon that Blake had sold them out.

3. When confronted by Avon, why did Blake not just tell him quickly that he was forming a resistance cell so he would not get shot ? There was no one else in the room at the time to overhear ?

4. In that final scene where was Orac ? Surely he could have detected federation troops closing in.

 

[AVON]

The main reason I was included in "TERMINAL" was thatis was supposed to be the final episode - which, as happened did not end up being the case!!!

I wasn't in "BLAKE" simply as they thought it was too obvious that I would be there at the end, so that's why I wasn't!!! To keep the surprise which, is still there after all these year's, wouldn't you say!!!

"BLAKE", simply mis-judged "TARRANT" and, vice-versa sadly for him. He wasn't very good as he pointed out at judging who 'he' coudl really trust.

Likewise, he hadn't been with "AVON" for some time and, both had been under considerable stress ("AVON" and, the "SCORPIO" crew certainly had, lately) SO - perhaps neither, really knew one enough for that original trust to still be there and, "AVON" killed "BLAKE" before they could establish what was going on, etc.

"ORAC", was hidden somewhere before, "AVON" entered the base with "VILA", "DAYNA" and, "SOOLIN".

 

[The Ace]

Wasn't the final episode supposed to bea cliffhanger anyway, but the BBC decided to withdraw funding ? Sorry, mum wanted to watch the other side, so I never saw it.

 

[Brian G Turner]

As a kid watching it I enjoyed the ending - it had all high-drama and tension that seemed (as a kid) to naturally fulfill the quest for Blake. And that Avon should kill him...