Blakes 7 - returns

[Brian G Turner]

Blakes 7 was a British sci-fi drama that had a prime time BBC slot in the 1980s. It was a gritty tail about a group of prisoners who escaped from a detention ship, fleeing across the galaxy in a commandeered vessel while being chased down by a ruthless Federation.

Some of the characters were particularly memorable - everyone who watched it remember Avon, who was the "second in command" of the fugitives, and who had a very amoral outlook on life that made him brutally funny - very dark humour.

And, of course, Blake, whom the series was named after, disappeared - the fugitives ended up simply trying top find him - - - and when they finally did in the very last episode, he'd been brainwashed and converted to the Federation.

Despite being surrounded by enemy troops, Avon points his gun at Blake and yells out in anguish. the screen went black, and there was only the sound of firing and screaming.






50 years on...

...and the Federation is, on thee whole, a more enlightened place. Except at the edges of the galaxy, where corruption and self-interest can still rule.

The rebellion under Blake is now a half-forgotten legend.

Excepting that, in a prison cell at the fringes of civilisation, is imprisoned a single survivor from that original rebellion...


Yes, everybody - Avon is back - this time with production company, the purchsed rights to Blakes 7, a new logo - and a film schedule.

Oh, and a webiste:

http://www.blakes7.com

 

[dwndrgn]

Sounds good. As I mentioned in the earlier post I had no idea what Blake's 7 was but now that I know, I'm interested!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Ah, yes - now you know.

I can't wait to see Foxbat's reply. I think he may be excited.

 

[Foxbat]

Woohoo! I'm off to check it out right now.
The one thing I want to know is will there be another character like Servelan? Not only was I madly in love with her as a spotty teenager but she was bad!
Perhaps we'll finally find out where the Liberator came from?
This is all getting too much for me.....where's my medication

 

[Foxbat]

Just checked out some of the blurb. Described as West Wing meets The Dirty Dozen....hmmm. Political intrigue in space.
Looks like Avon will be a good character and have a bit of tragedy about him as a reluctant figurehead. It seems that Avon will be a man defeated by 25 years of imprisonment? Gasp! I never thought I'd see the day!
Looks like we're going to have quite a wait before the finished product appears.
Hell! I can wait a bit longer.
Just a bit, mind you.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Never heard of it before, but it sounds really good.

 

[mac1]

My god, Blake's 7, I haven't seen an episode of that in years. Didn't they kill off almost the entire cast in the last episode, or was that something else?

 

[Foxbat]

My god, Blake's 7, I haven't seen an episode of that in years. Didn't they kill off almost the entire cast in the last episode, or was that something else?

Avon was the only survivor (although that didn't come to light until the news about this new version came to light).

They were betrayed by a brainwashed Blake.
Avon is the last man standing - he points his gun, screen goes black -audience hears an anguished scream - cue credits and theme tune

 

[AVON]

YES - "AVON" did shoot "BLAKE" in that last episode, and the rest of the crew - ("VILA", "DAYNA", "TARRANT" & "SOOLIN" didn't sadly survive). "SERVALAN" was not in the last episode so unfortunately, she could still be around - so could "ORAC" as he was hidden outside the base before the final shoot-out!

Sadly, this so-called new "B7 Reveival" if, it materialises won't have "AVON" in it anymore. Reason being, that "PAUL DARROW" has severed links and is no longer a director of B7 Enterprises (the company formed to produce the new show!) "ANDREW MARK SEWELL" still plans to go ahead with the project, despite the fact that most fans on the various Forums I'm on, who are "B7/AVON" Fans are, pretty much no longer interested in seeing it's return. "AMS/B7E" is basically only out to make money from the 'brand/image' etc of "B7" and, isn't really interested in doing a revival as it's late creator "TERRY NATION" wanted to see (had he lived long enough to do it, himself!)

"AVON" was the only link from the original show to any possible new show - as he was the only character left standing at the end of the episode "BLAKE".

Sadly, although as a Fan we loved the idea of a new version to bring it up to date, so to speak. Without "AVON" - not any more.

"TERRY NATION'S" - "BLAKE'S SEVEN" - 2nd Jan 1978 to 21st Dec 1981 - R.I.P."

 

[Brian G Turner]

The mind boggles - if there is no longer an "Avon" then there is no reason to epic call a series "Blakes 7"...

As for the branding - so far as I can tell, the marketing potential of the name alone is going to be minimal - not least because our transatlantic friends seem to have no real idea of what it is. In marketing terms, a sci-fi show has to travel well abroad. In that regard, the branding is irrelevant.

And if absence of links to the older series means the original viewing fan base will reject it, then there is no real established domestic market either.

In other words - I don't see the marketing logic - it;s going to take a hell of a production to cut it on such unstable foundations.

Btw - do you have a source for the story of Avon being pushed out? I had somehow been under the impression that he was the engine behind the revival.

 

[AVON]

YES, we do, since the results of an interview between "STEVE ROGERSON" and "ANDREW MARK SEWELL" & "SIMON MOOREHEAD" of "B7E" took place - most Fans who have read the interview are not exactly happy about what they're being told now about this so-called Revival!

http://www.blakes-7.co.uk/b7e/b7eint.shtml

Any new "B7" without "AVON" being played by "PAUL"! "PAUL" is "AVON" and vice versa, the two cannot be separated!

 

[Incognito]

Thanks for the link - much appreciated.

It does sound as if he producers are taking their sweet time over their plans - how on earth can they not have an idea of whether to pitch specifically for the UK or US domestic audience before buying the rights?? That just doesn't make sense. Surely everything should have been worked out much earlier?? No wonder Paul Darrow got "frustrated".

 

[AVON]

I would say that frustrated with B7E's goings-on is putting it politely!

The vast majority of "B7" Fans on all the different Forums don't blame "PAUL" for his decision in the least! Any faith in what could've been a possible worthy successor to "TERRY NATION'S" orignal "BLAKE'S SEVEN" has vanished into thin air - or should that be the nearest "Black Hole".

Most of us, "AVON/PD" Fans, I suspect are no longer interested in this venture!

BLAKE'S 7 - KERR AVON - R.I.P.

 

[Whitestar]

And, of course, Blake, whom the series was named after, disappeared - the fugitives ended up simply trying top find him - - - and when they finally did in the very last episode, he'd been brainwashed and converted to the Federation.[/url]

I just wish to point out that Blake was never brainwashed by the Federation, nor was he working for them. In the final episode it was established that Blake was using the bounter hunter profession as cover and was looking for new recruits to join his quest to defeat the Federation. The problem was that Tarrant took Blake's word for it and told Avon who had reached complete paranoia by the series end. Thus, the whole thing ended in tragedy with Avon misunderstanding Blake's intentions. After Avon kills Blake, he has a look on his face that clearly states that he is in shock and made a BIG mistake. Brinkmanship is a very dangerous game when one is dealing with Avon!


What set Blake's 7 apart from most of the science fiction television shows was that Blake's 7 was not afraid to kill off major characters. This show had balls and that's what made it so great. The fact that Avon killed Blake only proves that even though heroes are heroes, they are still imperfect and occasionally make errors, especially fatal ones!


Whitestar

 

[Brian G Turner]

It was a long time ago snice I saw it, but thanks for the correction.

And, yes - I love it when major chaarcters go - it can really heighten the tension on any work wonderfully. Trouble is, in Hollywood they usually create token best friends for this purpose.

 

[Whitestar]

The vast majority of "B7" Fans on all the different Forums don't blame "PAUL" for his decision in the least! Any faith in what could've been a possible worthy successor to "TERRY NATION'S" orignal "BLAKE'S SEVEN" has vanished into thin air - or should that be the nearest "Black Hole".

Most of us, "AVON/PD" Fans, I suspect are no longer interested in this venture!

BLAKE'S 7 - KERR AVON - R.I.P.

What was Paul Darrow's reason for leaving the project?


Whitestar

 

[astounding]

"TERRY NATION'S" - "BLAKE'S SEVEN" - 2nd Jan 1978 to 21st Dec 1981 - R.I.P."

He didn't live very long did he??? must have been a genius to accomplish that which he did when he was alive....

r.i.p. my three year old role model.

 

[Quest]

Blake was a great show. It should have lasted longer. I had heard about the proposed revival, then about Paul Darrow's departure from the project. In my own opinion, it won't be the same show without him. Producers have tried before to do shows without the main star (and I regard Darrow as the real, main star) and it hasn't worked. I doubt it would work with Blake.