Return of Blake's 7?

[AE35Unit]

Orac?What or who is that?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Orac was one of the computers on Blake's 7. It was an incredibly powerful computer -- and knew it.

 

[nomad45]

I Probably would have drop kicked the litte Ba$T@RD.

 

[ktabic]

I would have threatened it with a Windows install

 

[The Procrastinator]

Orac would scoff at your threats as being immature and then go and sulk. Which, having little tank treads, he would be able to do more literally.

 

[nomad45]

Imagine a sulking computer.
Oh yeah Marvin , I forgot.

 

[Kostmayer]

Oh yes, Blakes 7. Can anyone tell me how many episodes did Blake (himself) actually last?

About 30 I think - and two of those weren't really him

Also, even if you count Zen - there weren't 7 for most of the series.

 

[alternicity]

Not only the boys would be difficult to replace. Who could do Servalan justice?

Olivia Williams might be good. (Dollhouse)

 

[AE35Unit]

Good news or not? One thing for sure, it won't be the same....



Hmm...



...but wasn't that part of the charm of the original?

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Blake's 7 poised for Sky comeback

Dr Who was also known for its shaky sets and look how succesful thats become!

 

[Interference]

"Blake's 7 was known for its shaky sets and basic special effects"

Dr Who was also known for its shaky sets and look how succesful thats become!

"Star Trek TOS was known for its shaky sets ..."

etc

I'm sorry, guys, but this is just basically and fundamentally untrue. Suspension of disbelief at the time was complete, but even then, it is a calumny to describe the sets as wobbly or shaky. Yes, absolutely, particularly in live broadcasts, flats purporting to be stone may have been seen to shake a bit when a door was slammed closed, but never did this impinge on the enjoyment of the programme, any more than the great big open bit with five hundred seats in front of it impinges on a performance at the Old Vic. Acceptance of the castle walls moving a little in an episode of The Six Wives of Henry VIII was no more difficult than acceptance that ply-wood painted silver was a computer console. Only in comparison with modern productions does it seem to lazy journalists that we must all have sat round our tellies going, "Ah, look. The set wobbles. How lovely!"

No. We were sitting around being so enthralled by story-lines and performances that were presented for our entertainment on a regular basis and to such a high standard that the stability of the sets was of no significance whatsoever. So, my answer to anyone who says "they were known for their shaky sets" is, "No! They are known for that today, but back then they were known for being quality productions."

Nowadays, of course, the exact reverse can be true. Lovely sets. What was the story about?

Rant over .... for now

 

[Interference]

About 30 I think - and two of those weren't really him

Also, even if you count Zen - there weren't 7 for most of the series.

I think you're meant to count Liberator and later Scorpio as well to keep the number running to 7.

 

[Rodders]

Blakes Seven's return to TV could be incredible. After what's just gone with Battlestar Galactica the political intrigue for this would be incredible.

Doubtless some sort of "Reimagining" would be in order.

 

[Urien]

No. No reimagining; we need a cardboard cut out spaceship attached to a lollypop stick, pushed through a slit in starscape curtains. Make a whoosing sound as you move it from behind the curtain and you have special effects.

Next you need a crew of the most unconvincing wooden actors this side of Altair 7.

Now bring on the suitcases with Christmas tree lights on them, these are your AIs and supercomputers.

Finally you need quarries, lots of quarries.

Voila, Blake's 7 is reborn.

 

[worldmaker]

No. No reimagining; we need a cardboard cut out spaceship attached to a lollypop stick, pushed through a slit in starscape curtains. Make a whoosing sound as you move it from behind the curtain and you have special effects.

Next you need a crew of the most unconvincing wooden actors this side of Altair 7.

Now bring on the suitcases with Christmas tree lights on them, these are your AIs and supercomputers.

Finally you need quarries, lots of quarries.

Voila, Blake's 7 is reborn.

Sounds like a Blue Peter project to me, get out your old cornflakes boxes and stickyback plastic and make your own Blake's 7!

Yes, and The World Famous BBC quarry! Don't trip over that old Dalek.

 

[Werthead]

I get the impression that this project has stalled. Sky One probably realised how much a top-line space opera was going to cost and might be on the look-out for funding. I'd heard that the Sci Fi Channel USA (sorry, SyFy) was looking at getting involved and things were on hold until then.

I like the idea of doing a remake. Unlike BSG the original show's tone and the direction of its story was fine, but the budget let them down and the series never got to its proper ending (there was supposed to be a fifth season so the 'shocking' finale wasn't really anything of the sort).

I think you're meant to count Liberator and later Scorpio as well to keep the number running to 7.

In Season 1 the count was Blake, Avon, Jenna, Cally, Vila, Gan and Zen to get the Seven. ORAC came aboard at the end of Season 1 so there was actually eight crewmembers for a while (although ORAC didn't do much in a lot of episodes) until Gan was killed in Season 2, which restored balance to the numbering system

In Season 3 the count was Avon, Cally, Vila, Zen, ORAC, Tarrant and Dayna, so again seven of them. Cally was killed in the Season 4 opener and replaced by Soolin, so again seven.

So the idea that there weren't seven of them for most of the run was pretty much a myth. The only time there weren't seven was for the first five episodes out of Season 2. For the other 47 episodes there were seven of them.

 

[SpaceShip]

Most of the stories in these types of show are very similar. Surely someone has the fantasy brain power to think of something new - even if they use exactly the same Blake's 7 stories with the same types of characters but just call it and them something completely different.

You just can't beat the original and I think they should leave it alone. I loved Avon and he just can't be replaced, let alone any of the others.

I know it now looks naff but my two sons as youngsters in those days couldn't wait for it to come on TV and sat goggle eyed all the way through it.

Perhaps we are just too sophisticated now! Sad!

 

[Dave]

I loved Avon and he just can't be replaced, let alone any of the others.

Actually, I thought cowardly Villa was the most original character, but then you also had gentle giant Gan, and not forgetting Servalan... they were all good characters, which is probably the appeal.

Also, it was your typical Terry Nation dystopian universe - always a good place to live.

To me, it felt like a Traveler RPG story, and unlike anything else on TV at the time. Sci-Fi TV has much improved since then.

 

[lew82]

Loved Early Blake 7 - had all the VHS vids

 

[Purdy Bear]

I loved the series and never missed one. I hope it has a good enough budget to give it credit this time.

 

[The Procrastinator]

Avon, Vila and Servalan are my undying faves. I find it hard to imagine anyone replacing Avon and Servalan in particular. And I must say, having watched it on tv as a teen (adoringly) and then many years later buying the dvd box set of series one (can't afford the others yet) I was pleasantly surprised by how charismatic Blake actually was - I had forgotten.

Having said that I would love to see a modern re-imagining. A bunch of space terrorists/freedom fighters would surely be right up our modern sensibilities...