Blake's 7 - 3x13 First Time Watching Reaction & Review

[@leslieride5813]

Hello again Alexa. Terry Nations Script as written for Terminal was originally intended to be the final Episode of the series. However During the evening of the original broadcast of "Terminal" in the UK on March 31st 1980 as the end credits were reaching the last 15 seconds a voice announced out of the blue that Blakes 7 would return for a new series next year. For the cast and crew of the series this announcement was a big surprise and unexpected as they all thought it was the end as well. The powers that be at the BBC at that time decided to give the series a reprieve based on the continuing popularity and healthy viewing figures for series 3 of between 10 and 11 million viewers here in the UK. Blakes 7 did indeed return for its 4th and final series on the BBC on September 29th 1981 after a long 18 month wait and once again maintained its viewing figures.

[@chrisgibbings9499]

Yes, indeed. I remember all that. Exciting times!

[@dkoukol]

I love this episode. Paul Darrow's look of heartbreak when Servalan tells him Blake is dead is his best acting in the series - completely believable and done without words. A real pity that someone spoiled Blake's return for you, though.

[@greedycapitalist8590]

Assuming the spoilerpaths weren't lying about Blake coming back, of course. ;-)

[@DamnableReverend]

if you come across the episodestitles though, which I guess sometimes it's hard not to do, you would probably know, or at least suspect, anyway.@@greedycapitalist8590

[@dashdecent4462]

Fantastic! I’ve been waiting all evening for this week’s instalment to appear, especially knowing what episode it is. Looking forward to your reaction to it, Alexa. Please keep them coming.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

Millions of us were left devastated after the death of Zen and the destruction of the Liberator. We had to wait 16 months until season 4 aired. Total agony! "I have failed you, I am sorry I...." Poor Zen😢

[@helmethead72]

Right!! Having the best ship in space, a teleport facility and Orac gave the crew a fighting chance against the Federation. We had a long bloody wait to see how on Earth they were going to get over the loss of the Liberator. Luckily we've only got to wait till next week for Alexa's reaction.

[@FlightProgramAborted]

Yeah i think it was a mistake if im honest

[@Wulfyr]

The Liberator years were the best of Blake's 7. It never felt the same when they were flying the Scorpio. The Liberator was an iconic ship. It was almost a member of the cast.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

@@Wulfyr Almost? Without the Liberator there would have been no resistance, no series, no nothing. Scorpio was a very poor replacement. It didn't even have any armaments to defend itself. Can you imagine those gunships from Gauda Prime making a dent in Liberator's force wall? Not a chance in hell. The battle computers would have detected them, then chewed them up with a few shots from the neutron blasters.

[@Wulfyr]

@@escapetheratracenow9883 That's kind of my point. They should have either ended the show when the Liberator was no more or left the Liberator intact. It was an amazing formula and they lost a lot by trying to fix what wasn't broken. You know I can't even remember what the Scorpio looked like. I'll never forget the silhouette of the Liberator.

[@cardcounter21]

_"Anyway I'm just going to go watch the next episode!"_ Ahh, I wish I could have said that back in 1981 (;

[@darrenrunning5415]

Although Gareth and Paul had been working on different projects for months, when they were reunited for ‘Terminal’, the old urge to play tricks on one another hadn’t died. Gareth had been planning for weeks, and director Mary Ridge and I had been drawn into the plot. David Jackson had given me a tiny teddy bear as a Christmas present during series two, and this was to be Gareth’s secret weapon. Four weeks before we were to go filming, I had taken the bear into a studio recording and sat him on Paul’s make-up place. I told him that I felt Avon’s cold nature was as result of being separated from his teddy bear as a child. Paul laughed, and agreed it was a possible theory, and the seed was planted. The bear also appeared for the next studio day, and this time was greeted by a big smile from Mr. Darrow. It was, said Gareth, like shooting apples in a barrel. The filming day arrived, and the scene between Avon and Blake began. It was good to see that the chemistry between the two characters was still as strong as even. Mary Ridge shot the whole thing as a master to establish the room and the position of the two men, and then went in for a two shot and close ups. Mary shot Gareth’s close up first, with the camera taking Paul’s position., with Paul himself standing next to the lens, and delivering the lines so Gareth’s eyeline was correct. Avon’s bear was hidden in my pocket and when Mary repositioned the camera to take Paul’s close up, she knew exactly what was going to happen. The lens was low, looking up as though it was Blake’s view of Avon’s face - Gareth sitting just beside it. Paul was giving the most beautiful performance, and the tension was really tight between them as Blake spoke, ‘Careful, Avon, your sentiment is showing,’ and Avon’s teddy bear rose straight into Paul’s eyeline and waved its paw. We all know that Avon rarely smiled, but this time, he threw back his head and roared with laughter, and Mary Ridge captured the whole thing on film for the blooper-reel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2TYqaCvrZ6IpbM

[@FloatingFatMan]

I had a feeling that would be your expression at the end.. Imagine how people felt at the time, when we were kids!

[@Eltonlaleham]

I must say Alexa anyone who posts spoiler, is inconsiderate and also they do not think about how much it will ruin it for other people. I imagine you may agree with me on this point Alexa, when Avon reroutes the ship away from the intended destination to planet Terminal he is repeating in effect what Blake did in the previous series in episode 10 Voice from the Past when Blake came under the influence of a telepathic message and taking the ship to a barren asteroid where he met Ven Glynd again who had taken part in Blake,s trial in the pilot episode of B7 the Way Back. In Voice from the Past, Blake when under the influence of the telepathic message refused to trust the crew like what Avon refuses to do in this episode. I thought the beard that Blake wore in this episode, made him IMO like a bit like David Bellamy and when I met Gareth Thomas at a convention in Leicester 22 years back he told me the beard was real and he was playing Orsino in Twelfth Night and also for his short scene as an illusion of Blake the filming was done in the village hall where he was performing because Gareth could not get time off to go to London studios to film his scenes as the fake Blake.

[@williamoarlock8634]

Terry Nation's final episode and a totally devastating one. Love that it's Tarrant, rather than Zen and Orac, who gives the lowdown on Terminal, having a real passion for the history of spaceflight (he identified, as well as flew, that lunar module when Avon couldn't) and space engineering. The oblate shape of the planetoid is like Hal Clement's planet Mesklin in his novel MISSION OF GRAVITY. My favourite gown of Servalan's too.

[@tombaxter6228]

Terminal was supposed to be the actual finale of Blakes 7. However, it was renewed for another series at fairly short notice, which obviously necessitated a number of changes. In reality, the Liberator bridge set was literally falling apart, a situation not aided by the less-than tender ministrations of the heavily unionised (and therefore untouchable) BBC scene shifters. Wrecking it so spectacularly, was a fitting send off to a unique set..

[@SteveGodrich]

I don't remember the specifics but I think the director general of the BBC was watching the episode and was so impressed he told them to announce a new series the following year during the end credits. Naturally, this came as a huge surprise to everyone, including the production team and cast!

[@modehead101]

@@SteveGodrich That would be the legendary Bill Cotton. Whilst the BBC was mostly hostile to the series and disliked it, we were fortunate that the most powerful person at the BBC during the show's run happened to be a big B7 fan. Terminal is a terrific episode but I'm not sure it would have worked quite as well had it been the final ever episode of B7? Adore your reactions Alexa and sorry that someone had spoiled Blake's return for you. Some terrific episodes (with a slightly increased budget), lay ahead of you.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

By "at fairly short notice", it was announced that Blakes7 would be back over the end credits when it was first televised on TV, which no one was expecting. Apparently the BBC head at the time liked the episode as it was on TV, called the studio half way through the episode & approved a 4th season while the show was being aired on TV. The production crew & actors were in shock as they were watching the show on TV, a lot of WTF phone calls (they had just destroyed the Liberator bridge set for real, no contracts had been negotiated & the writers had at this stage no ideas for a season 4).

[@adaddinsane]

Shock!

[@Eltonlaleham]

I also wondered Alexa if you are thinking of viewing and reacting to Lost in Space, from the mid to late 60s and also possibly to Children of the Stones from the mid 70s. I like your top it is a nice colour, and also I hope that you have an awesome christmas and a nice new year and I will always support your viewings and reactions to the programmes and films you view and react to. I will say if I was watching and reacting to programmes and films and spoiler were posted I would very cross and I would think why do people do these silly things. I wondered if you might go back to watching and reacting to Star maidens again as you have seen episode one Escape to Paradise and also I imagine you have seen and reacted to classic Dr Who from William Hartnell to Slyvester MCcoy.

[@FloatingFatMan]

I still remember Children of the Stones.... Vividly... Probably forever... :S How the hell was that a kids show? :O

[@alexachipman]

I am considering all of these, actually! I am doing Robin of Sherwood after Blake’s 7, but after that the slot is open again.

[@simond5387]

@@alexachipmanMaybe you could find a future slot in your busy TV watching schedule to review "CI5: The Professionals", a TV series from the late 70s - early 80s. It's almost a mixture of 'British Starsky and Hutch, with a dollop of 007', as my friend once described it... as a wee kid I loved it! Anyhow, it's great seeing you have the same expressions we all did as kids to B7 back in the day 😊

[@colonelfostershado9705]

Brilliant idea and a brilliant series!! As Emperor Palpatine was often saying “DO IT!”

[@tekoneiric]

My first time seeing that episode felt like a gut punch. That's one of the few times I felt like that watching a show.

[@normiron736]

I am soooo glad nobody ruined this for you. I cried when Zen apologised. Loved the Liberator, it is sadly missed. Great reaction as always, Alexa.

[@chrisjackson5210]

The all-too-brief renewal of the old bromance/antipathy between Avon and Blake is especially touching. Sad and genuinely dream-like (the contrast between the harsher-looking video footage and softer film stock helps for once), it feels like an unexpected, poignant reminder of some previous, familiar acquaintance you didn’t realise you missed or were ‘over’ until you did..

[@leslieride5813]

I was so disappointed and saddened for you that someone decided to reveal the Return of Blake to you in a spoiler therefore ruining the pleasant that we all had here in the UK all those years ago in 1981 im very sorry.

[@MariaLeel]

And I love that we finally got the dovetail of Blake's 7 and Outlander here... Fell about laughing when I watched your Outlander reaction - now we get it the other way around. Perfect :D xxx

[@alexachipman]

I still can’t believe I got this perfect a crossover. I mean how many reactors are conveniently doing Outlander and Blake’s 7 simultaneously!

[@Villafarrell]

Vila's sculpture Orac 😂

[@jasonjuneau3554]

The death of Zen reminds me of the death of Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[@MariaLeel]

I've so been waiting for your reaction to this one... Left an entire nation in shock when it first aired! I'm sorry people have spoiled things for you re: Blake - because they spoil it for us all when they do. The joy in this is watching your reaction to something fresh (just as it was for us when it first screened...) It's been really interesting watching your reactions to season 3. Only now (having rewatched Blake's 7 so many times) do I see how much foreshadowing there was in this season. In the S3 ep1 (Aftermath) where they had to abandon ship for a while you asked the question, 'Are we going to lose the LIberator?' and I thought, 'Yes, but not yet.' Then in S3 ep5 (Harvest of Kairos) Servalan wanted Liberator 'Blown to smithereens' - But I guess not with her on it! So it was all there... we just didn't see it :( Actually, back in 1980 this was supposed to be the last ever episode of Blake's 7. Both cast and crew thought it was done. They only found out there was to be more when a voice over announced, when the episode had just screened, that Blake's 7 would return for a fourth season. The head honcho of the day thought it deserved more! So that's how we got a season 4 xxx

[@DamnableReverend]

When i watched the series fast year with a friend, it was their first time, and I didn't spoil anything, except for one thing. i won't say what it is, but they pretty much told me they appreciated being prepared for it, when it happened. Going into this series unspoiled is pretty great though. It's pretty much what i did on initial viewing, though this was in the 90s, not back when it aired. I think I'm glad I didn't have access to the internet yet at the time, as I discovered once I did that even back in 1995 or whenever it was you could find stuff about the show online. Including lots and lots of fanfiction.

[@DamnableReverend]

And no, the thing they appreciated me telling wasn't what you think it might be....

[@Ravenscroft82]

Avon to Blake: "well there are times when your simple minded certitudes would have been refreshing." Translation: "I have really missed you." The major reason I love this show is these two and their tortured friendship. Avon, at the end of his rope after the death and revelations of Anna, and frustrated by the power plays of Tarrant, needs Blake back. Device that will make them rich? He knew darned well Blake didn't care about any of that, and yet he risked it anyway. And yes, the way his face melts when he hears what Servalan says...priceless. His brutal exchange with Tarrant also reveals that unlike his relationship with Blake, there is no soft core to his feelings about Del. He really doesn't care much for him. Tragic, heartbreaking episode. Servalan at her demonic worst, using Avon's tormented psyche against him and the very sad loss of Zen. I am VERY sorry you endured spoilers; hopefully you don't know EVERYTHING. Nice reaction, very intuitive.

[@alexachipman]

Agreed - although there was antagonism, Avon and Blake were at the core of it all friends. When it comes to Tarrant, Avon and I are on the same page “why is he on the ship?”

[@CaminoAir]

If it was the final episode of series 4 that was spoiled for you, then this is how the show was initially intended to end (so you did get to see the ending unspoiled). However, if this was the episode that was spoiled, then you get to see the actual finale unspoiled. I thought Terry Nation came up with a good script (probably improved by Chris Boucher) and the head of BBC programming agreed. He was watching the broadcast of 'Terminal' and phoned the continuity department requesting the announcer state (over the end titles) that the show would return. This meant a real scramble by the production team to get sets, props, scripts and a new format in place.

[@FloatingFatMan]

I had a feeling that would be your expression at the end.. Imagine how people felt at the time, when we were kids!

[@greedycapitalist8590]

I knew you'd have a strong reaction to this episode. It made a big impact on me too. There's a real feeling of impending doom, helped along by that "heartbeat" sound effect on Terminal's surface. It was good to see Blake again, however briefly - the Great Gareth elevated everything he was in, and - although I liked Tarrant - the absence of Blake was definitely a detriment to the series. I think the only thing wrong with this episode is that Servalan seems to have completely forgottend about Orac - which in my opinion would be a much more valuable prize than even a fully operational Liberator. Speaking of the Liberator, the "death" of Zen was just as moving as Gan's demise, at least for me. Season 3 is my least favourite of the four seasons - I thought they were to quick to move on from the Intergalactic War, and overall the crew seemed to lack a definite purpose. Season 4 was an improvement for me and I think you'll enjoy it too (no spoilers).

[@DamnableReverend]

This one's a lot, allright. I remember first watching it at age 11 and getting a sinking feeling in my gut as the episode progressed. There were a few episodes from seasons 3 and 4 where I was not exactly allright after watching them, and someone would ask me, "hey what's wrong with you?", and I just couldn't explain. But here, we get a glimpse of something I think you and some other watchers suspected since at least season 2 -- Avon's antagonism toward Blake is at least in a sense a bit of a put-on, I guess, to make himself seem less vulnerable in the minds of others. It's true that those left on the ship seem a little passive as liberator falls to pieces around them, but I chuckled a bit when you said they should just start throwing chemicals at the stuff, because I thought of a late period Troughton Doctor Who thing where they did just that, and it was a really funny, slapstick scene. In the end the substance that dissolved the alien fungus was in fact -- plain ole' water! So, I guess Servalan never briefed any of her troopers about orac. Seems like she's still trying to keep that particular thing hidden. Good news for Vila and his love of scupture!

[@BenVaserlan]

14:28 To partially offset C11 ("Moloch"), you might be glad to know this episode was directed by a woman (Mary Ridge) and she also directed D13 ("Blake"). Good choreography in how the showplayers move past the camera. Use of three levels: foreground, midground and background.

[@blakesliberator3197]

'Terminal' DEFINITELY has Terry nation written all over it! No matter how many times I've watched it, there's a certain crescendo build as we come closer to this episode and as it unfolds. Seeing one of the Liberator's nacelles breaking off and spinning was a scene that has really stuck with me. And watching the flight deck actually being broken apart on-screen was as heartbreaking as it was brilliant. So _final._ I mean, how many TV series come to an end where we actually get to witness the set being irreparably trashed? I think that losing the Liberator is more profound than losing a major character, like Blake. The Liberator: the iconic ship that I think was itself like a major character. Not to mention, Zen: arguably the most realistic computer in all sci-fi. A unique way for a spaceship to be destroyed, as well. Dissolved from the outside in by a corrosive fluid. Also, you actually see the ship being blown apart. It all adds up to a brilliant end to an iconic ship. Zen's struggling final words were probably the only time Zen showed any indication that he was more than just an information-responding computer. The only time Zen showed any personality. I could be wrong, but I think in this episode, Zen spoke the most than in any other. Many of the episodes are made for one or more of the characters. This could be Zen's episode. Vila really shined in this episode as well. In Redemption, the Liberator's destruction was seemingly predicted. Unrelated, Liberator's demise finally came to pass. I think, this time, killing off the Liberator was a masterstroke. It cemented a raised fondness for the Liberator.

[@richardhal]

Loved your reaction and costume appreciations!! I'm not a huge Blake's 7 maniac, but loved watching the show when it first aired, and losing the Liberator and Zen was definitely hard. How could it continue, I thought. Well, now you get to find out! And I'll be watching with you

[@ianbuckley2347]

Great reaction Alexa although I'm sorry someone spoiled the episode for you. I'm glad the destruction of the Liberator still shocked you though. A great finale to the season. Roll on year 4.😊

[@Eltonlaleham]

Alexa I will say that in this 3rd series of Blake,s Seven arch-enemy Servalan went through her lackies like changing a shirt and unlike season 1and 2 of B7 she was much happier not having a regular henchman with her unlike when she originally had Travis who really only worked well in season 1 and much as I have said this probably millions of times it was a shame Stephen Greif did not reprise the role of Travis in season 2 of B7 which would have been preferable to recasting an existing role with another actor who had a very unenviable task and also who was on a total hiding to nothing in playing what had been some other mans part. I would say season 2 of B7, would have been best served, if Travis had not been in it and instead Travis really should have been killed off in the series 1 finale Orac or even written out of B7 between seasons 1 and 2 and had season 2 of B7 introduced an entirely new character with a new name as a replacement henchman for arch-enemy Servalan to be paired up in season 2 of b7 that would really have done series 2 of B7 millions and billions of more trade than the silly thing that happened. I also like your dress Alexa it is a lovely colour, and the silver pattern is lovely too.

[@Eltonlaleham]

I like the outfits that Avon, Cally, Vila, Tarrant and Dayna are wearing Avons, jacket or tunic is an awesome colour black Tarrant,s tunic, is a nice shade of red and the silver studs look awesome too and Cally,s tunic is a nice colour. I will say Alexa when this series of Blake,s Seven, first aired in 1980 I turned 11 and left primary school and this episode IMO was quite shocking when things turned out not to be what they originally seemed.

[@bobbova8708]

I hope this is not considered as a spoiler, but in the late 1980's or 1990 ish my brother and I were fortunate to have attended a convention in N.Y. city where Paul Darrow was among of the guests. Mr. Darrow was then on the convention circuit as most of the PBS television stations here in the U.S. were playing Blakes7 and having very good audience responses/viewing numbers.Mr. Darrow recorded short messages on a lot of the channels as he was nearby to his convention appearances and did so in full character as Avon. Mr. Darrow picked my brother for a question to which my brother asked him" was there anything that you wanted Avon to do but the producers felt was too much" to which Mr .Darrow pointed at my brother and announced to the crowd "This fellow and I would get on just Fine"! During the question and answer some one asked him about Avon's reaction at the end of this episode, and Mr. Darrow said that Avon smiled because basically everything that was of importance to Avon was just lost,so what other reaction could Avon have had? Just thought you might have found that to be of interest, take care.

[@alexachipman]

Fascinating, thank you!

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi Alexa in this episode of B7, intended to conclude B7 as a whole but as it was we got a 4th series . I do think as far as duplicate Blakes go we got the 2 clones in series B episode Weapon and this illusion in this episode but never an android duplicate of Blake or any of the other crewmembers unlike in classic Dr Who when either the Doctor and or his companions were replicated by various villains such as the Daleks in the Chase and the Kraals in the Android Invasion . I did think seeing Blake with a beard was rather strange, given when he was in series A and B he was always clean-shaven . The way arch-enemy Servalan stated to Avon that she beamed messages to the Liberator purporting to come from Blake himself, and how Blake was her prisoner on the planet Terminal and stuck on a life support system for 3 months seemed to very suspicious and I wondered when I first saw this episode was the Blake Avon encountered even the real Blake or just a duplicate like a clone seen in Weapon or an android replica . When we learn from arch-enemy Servalan that the Blake we saw was not the real Blake, ,but a hologram an illusion and that Blake according to her is in reality dead and cremated was a shock and we we either take it as she might having been telling the truth about Blake or it might have been a clone Blake that died on Jevron that she saw cremated . We also cannot ever really know if the Blake in the finale titled, Blake was even then the real Blake, or possibly a clone Blake . I was shocked how the Liberator and its master computer Zen were blown up, into billions of tiny little pieces.

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi Alexa I do say in this episode of B7 the way Tarrant recognised planet Terminal was similar in a way to how, the 1st Doctor recognised the Cybermen,s home planet Mondas in their debut serial the 10th Planet which also saw out the 1st Doctor and introduced the 2nd Doctor who then became most connected with the Cybermen as they became the arch-enemies of the 2nd Doctor and also the returning villains for the 2nd Doctor like the Daleks were the returning villains for the 1st Doctor and the original Master the returning villain for the 3rd Doctor .I also know in the first Cybermen story the 10th planet, the Doctor clearly knew about the Cybermen before he met them in person in part 2 of the 10th planet . I do say Alexa I wonder if the Blake clone seen in series B episode Weapon was still alive given how its creators and master Fen the woman who created the Blake clones was cloned herself .

[@Eltonlaleham]

I do say Alexa the way Avon points at gun at Tarrant is quite scary, and he is determined not to let Tarrant stop him doing what he intend to do. I could never imagine the Doctor pointing guns at his companions or threatening to kill them either, Dayna has a valid point if it was not for Avon she would most likely have been killed on Sarran and also the same for the rest of the Liberator crew as well. I do think in a way Alexa it was a shame we did not get Del Grant, as a new crewmember in the Liberator and also he would have been awesome too . I did think in Countdown the main villain Provine really should survived to become the new henchman to arch-enemy Servalan in place of Travis and he really should have been introduced earlier in B7 in Weapon as the new henchman to arch-enemy Servalan and had we lost Travis in series A finale Orac or between series A and B like how classic Dr Who lost Liz Shaw between series 7 and 8 and offered an explanation why Travis was gone it would have been a better option than what they did .

[@Eltonlaleham]

I know that this episode Terminal was intended to end B7 altogether, and had this been the finale of B7 then we never Alexa would know to this day whether arch-enemy Servalan was telling the truth about Blake been dead and cremated or whether the Blake she said she saw was in reality a clone Blake like the 2 seen in series B episode Weapon or whether it was the real Blake himself that died on the planet Jevron.

[@FlightProgramAborted]

Like a lot of us, we were gutted with the loss of the Liberator

[@AdamSouthward]

As others have said, this was meant to be the finale for the entire series but got a reprieve very late in the day. I'm so glad it got one, otherwise the show would have passed me by completely. Back in the days when we had only one TV in the household, B7 was always on at the same time as Coronation Street in the UK, so as a young 6-year-old I had no chance of getting dibs on the choice of viewing! Luckily, by the time season 4 rolled around we must have acquired another set. And thank the Lord we did!

[@delorangeade]

At least nobody spoiled this particular episode for you and I think the finale will still work. My favourite scenes here are the ones with Avon and Servalan. Maybe they should have done a sitcom together. It looks as though they are trying not to laugh at one point. The Liberator remains my favourite TV space vehicle, so its loss is a blow. I don't think the links added anything to the episode apart from an unnecessary allusion to our essential beastliness. It would have been better without them.

[@chrisgibbings9499]

I disagree: the Links and the accompanying depressing theme of humanity heading for devolving into bestial creatures added an edge to the story, actually a very Terry Nation theme, by way of HG Wells's Morlocks.

[@darrenrunning5415]

It was during the location filming for this episode that Deep Roy was injured. Deep was playing a Link, and he and Steven Pacey were rehearing a fight scene and Steven misjudged how much (or how little) Deep weighed and accidentally threw Deep over the safety mat, resulting in a broken collarbone. This restricted Deep's movement when it came time to film the Moloch scenes, and the hasty redesign of the costume, where only his head was visible through a cutout of the set, and the arms being manipulated by stagehands.

[@ashleycronk3881]

I can't believe it was spoiled for you. People are so annoying sometimes. You don't won't the series final spoiled. I'd suggest not reading B7 comments until you watch it.

[@Eltonlaleham]

I will say Alexa the destruction of the Liberator and Zen was terrible, in trillions of ways and also in season three of B7 arch-enemy Servalan went through henchmen like changing a shirt every five minutes. I also thought the way Avon was tricked by their arch-enemy into believing that Blake, was on Terminal and the Blake Avon encountered turning out to be an illusion a hologram was a real shock and also I do think season 3 of B7 did have some awesome guest stars in it Colin Baker as the villain Bayban in City at the Edge of the World four years before Colin became the sixth actor to play Doctor Who. I also liked the sets on planet Terminal they were awesome, and I have a hunch what looked like bodies in the room where Avon saw a teleport bracelet and then saw Blake,s face on a viewscreen could have been androids that were unactivated or possibly moulds.

[@jamesdodds9407]

away to watch next episode 😂 I wish I could enforce the gap the same as we original viewers had to endure til series 4 started 😁. what I think interesting that most comments from original watchers is that everyone is shocked and saddened that Zen died and Liberator is lost but this episode marked the confirmed death of Blake and defeat of Servalan while the crew were to be left with an uncertain future stranded on Terminal far from the victory we had been hoping for from episode 1. only the surprising announcement that B7 would return gave us hope that we'd find Blake was indeed still alive and achieve final victory. and of the course biggest disappointment and let down was no appearance or information about our gorgeous space pilot Jenna Stannis

[@bobacrey1068]

Maximum power!!!!!

[@hepsycamellia5459]

I've just read all the comments and everything I would've said has been covered so I will just say that was another great reaction and you are wearing yet another lovely top. Always really enjoy your observations about the outfits too.

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi Alexa your dress is lovely and the colour is awesome hope you enjoy any other series, or films you watch and react to in the future

[@Eltonlaleham]

I will say Alexa there is the possible chance that multiple clones of Blake were produced, as well as the 2 seen in series B Weapon and apart from the second Blake clone who survived and fell in love with the slave girl Rashel to guard IMIPAC against arch-enemy Servalan and the Federation if a clone Blake had been on the planet Jevron where arch-villain Servalan says Blake died and was cremated that could be the truth . I also throughout watching B7 know as do many other millions f B7 fans that Blake was the only member of the heroes to be duplicated with 2 clones and no other member of the heroes was ever copied either cloned or had android replicas made of them something which was used numerous times in classic Dr Who with both the Doctor and or his companions and also a thing used in other sci-fi series and sci-fi films.

[@alexachipman]

Very true!

[@jervishorton7372]

Blake's 7 vs THE GREEN SLIME

[@Zallerquad]

I saw this episode back in the late 80's and was incapacitated with grief over Zen and the Liberator. I stopped watching the show for a while but saw a later episode by accident and liked it so I continued from that point to the end. Zen is to this day my favorite shipboard operations computer of all time. I broke down when he said that he had failed them. I always wanted to write a bit of fan fiction where the Borg finds Zen's memory core and tries to jack into it and he takes over part of the collective and creates a Borg hybrid Liberator out of old Borg cubes. Good times. Cheers.

[@alexachipman]

That would be a great fiction!

[@Zallerquad]

@@alexachipman Thank you. You're very kind.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Wow, what was that show that had Blakes7 on the TV??? Oh, it's Outlander, ta. :) - Oh, I'm so sorry that people endulged in spoilers & blew it for you that Blake would make another appearance (and that he's in the last episode, that's shameful to spoil that for you, that's worth blocking people over). Some people just can't help themselves. - Servalan's defining line again "Maximum Power!!!". And that sardonic smile on Avon's face at the end, somehow perfect.

[@alexachipman]

It was a fun moment as a reactor because I also do videos for Outlander and having Blake’s 7 pop up was so weirdly perfect!

[@pimlicoX]

This was the last episode but the head of the BBC at the time loved the episode so much he called halfway through and told them to mention a new season . Thanks to him we get season 4👌😀❤

[@chrisgibbings9499]

Bill Cotton, wasn't it?

[@pimlicoX]

yes it was couldn't think of his name at the time.@@chrisgibbings9499 😃

[@Eltonlaleham]

I did think when Tarrant recognised the name of the planet Terminal, it was similar to when the first Doctor in classic Dr Who story the 10th planet recognised planet Mondas as Earth,s twin planet and the Doctor also clearly had met the Cybermen before their debut story. I also thought the way Avon, pointed a gun at Tarrant was scary and it is not something I could ever imagine the Doctor doing to any of his companions. I was shocked at how the space liquid damaged the liberator, and caused it to blow up into billions of tiny little pieces and also the way the arch-enemy Servalan herself told Avon that Blake was in reality dead and cremated on the planet Jevron from serious injuries made me think either arch-villain Servalan is plainly lying about Blake or she could be telling the truth about Blake or perhaps it was possible that other Blake clones in addition to the 2 we saw in season 2 episode Weapon could have been created off-screen and it might possibly have been a clone Blake dying on Jevron. I also remember in season one, episode of Blake,s Seven the Liberator went through a cloud of turbulence to get to space station XK-72 and on that occasion no damage occurred to the ship in Breakdown. I hope you have fun watching and reacting, to the next series of Blake,s Seven and any other programmes and or films you watch.

[@BenVaserlan]

13:10 JP's acting is really good when she says ''it is what man will become'. The tragedy in that. She also got a nice close-up. Someone should tell the BIg Bang Theory Director (Cendrowski) that those are allowed.

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi Alexa there was one element in this episode, I noticed was recycled from the second season of B7 the way Avon redirects the Liberator away from the planet calipeheron to the old artificial planet Terminal is like what Blake did in Voice from the Past when he was under the influence of a telepathic message and he redirected the ship away from their intended destination the planet Del -10 to a derelict old asteroid PK-118 and it was a trap by the arch-enemy Servalan herself as is the case in this episode Avon receiving messages from Blake and it turns out the Blake he meets on Terminal is not the real Blake but in reality a hologram an illusion created and planted in Avon,s mind with powerful drugs and when, Avon and co except for Vila are told by the main Villain Servalan that Blake died from serious injuries, on a planet called Jevron and his body was cremated there it made me think when I first saw this episode when it was first shown on tv I was in two minds whether to think is arch-enemy Servalan lying or was the Blake she say she saw, really a clone . I did wonder if there was a Blake clone on the planet Jevron, that died and was cremated , or else if it was the real Blake himself perhaps the Blake we saw in the finale of B7, was a clone I could not see it as an android duplicate like the ones seen various times in classic Dr Who when either the Doctor and or his companions were replicated .

[@BenVaserlan]

15:17 Big LOL with "Why did we lose Zen? We still have Tarrant. It's just wrong."

[@Epsilon1Zeta]

I saw Blakes 7 when it was first broadcast in the 1970s - yes I am that old (born in 1971). And I have loved Blakes 7 ever since. But it annoys me that people who have seen the programme are spoil sports and keep making comments about what you have not seen yet! When season three of Blakes 7 was aired it was not obvious to the viewers that both Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake) and Sally Knyvette (the lovely Jenna Stannis) were not going to be part of the regular cast. Terry Nation wrote TERMINAL as not only the finale of Season Three, but also as what was intended to be the conclusion of Blakes 7. So it was shocking to see the death of ZEN and the destruction of the beautiful LIBERATOR, it was a heart-stopping moment when the gorgeous Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan) tells Avon (and the spell-bound viewers like myself) that BLAKE is dead! Yes it was electrifying to watch as a child Alexa Chipman. About 10 years ago my then girlfriend was introduced to watching Blakes 7 (and yes she loved it too). But I remember my best friend Ian saying to her that he identified with Vila, and then saying 'I know that Zack really admires Blake, but in terms of his own character and intellect, Zack is far closer to Avon.' For me Blakes 7 is my second favourite TV series from the 1970s and 1980s, only surpassed by Doctor Who (to be fair when Blakes 7 was around, the Doctor was Tom Baker) - and yes Alexa Chipman, myself and Ian have actually met the great Tom Baker at a signing event! As we said our goodbyes, Tom Baker looked at me, raised his right arm to wave goodbye and then said in a booming voice 'GOODBYE ZACK!' I was on cloud 9 for the rest of that day!

[@alexachipman]

That’s awesome! Do you still feel closest to Blake as a character now, or has that changed over time to a different character?

[@Epsilon1Zeta]

@@alexachipman There are a 'big three' of TV characters that have influenced me in terms of my development. Number one of whom is The Fourth Doctor Who, closely followed by Roj Blake, and in third place is No. 6 from 'the prisoner.' So the main inspiration for me is the Fourth Doctor as a Bohemian intellectual student type. I have a very strong moral compass - like the Doctor and like Blake too. I also really detest bullies and cruelty. But in terms of my wit, sarcasm, and cynicism about Humanity, my friend Ian is right, I have a strong similarity to Kerr Avon too. Alas I never got to meet Jacqueline Pearce, or Paul Darrow, or the late Gareth Thomas - I regret not doing so. Although from what I have read of those three actors, Paul Darrow and Jackie Pearce were the most enthusiastic about promoting their history with Blakes 7. Oh and by the way when the final season of Blakes 7 was transmitted in the UK in 1981, that was the year in which Paul Darrow celebrated his 40th birthday, and in which I reached the age of 10!

[@nehukybis]

First time I watched this I was completely baffled by who the blonde people were. Apparently they were some sort of variant mutoid.

[@thebigboo5]

I do love that in the end, Avon did exactly what he complained Blake did and kept things from the others. It's a little thing, a lot of people probably don't notice, but it's one of those things that gives a lovely depth to the show. I love that scene in the Teleport room before Avon goes down. It's a great, emotional, deep scene. The ending... yeah... I still miss Liberator and Zen. Best ship ever imagined. As others have commented this was meant to be an ending, but they got a fourth series. I think, as endings go, it would have worked well.

[@mikemeggison5084]

Non-Outlander fans on this channel? Nope, you have to become an Outlander fan, it's a rule. I did it.

[@chrisgibbings9499]

Terminal's surface, aka Box Hill in Surrey?

[@colonelfostershado9705]

Thank you. I missed this first run as it was the same night that I went to scouts. I was 13 😃 Long ago…

[@mikesilva3868]

Great episode 😊

[@CaminoAir]

Paul Darrow explained Avon's smile in the final shot. Essentially what else could Avon do in that situation, but smile in recognition of what consequences he had brought about and then immediately move on.

[@letitiabeausoleil4025]

Hi Kitten. Love your reactions to this show.

[@robinhood2524]

Are we sure Avon is not a Lannister?

[@alexachipman]

Now that you point it out, he is 100% a Lannister!

[@robinhood2524]

@@alexachipman 10 🙂🙂🙂

[@normiron736]

I had a thought, Alexa. Servalan had been on the Liberator before, so surely she would have known something was off when she saw all the slime and decay. Her maximum power command didn't make sense to me.

[@alexachipman]

I think she was too excited!

[@darrenrunning5415]

A line cut from the episode would have had Servalan saying that the Federation had been hounding the crew of the Liberator so much that the ship hadn't had time to fully repair itself.

[@darrencooper6511]

Mankind’s evolution from apes will result in less hair not more! Terry Nation must have been influenced by “Planet of the Apes” here. Ps I love your dress! Servalan has been outdone!

[@alexachipman]

Thank you!

[@MrSlitskirts]

Great reaction review and episode, glad you liked the drama. Have fun.