Blake's 7 - 4x13 First Time Watching Reaction & Review

[@thehoodedman7221]

In 1981 a monthly magazine was published in UK (I think by the BBC) which was called Blake’s Seven and contained cast interviews, interviews with script writers, model makers etc. One of the magazines provided a breakdown of the final episode, including who fired which shots at the end. A professional photographer had been employed and was on set to document those final moments, including the final shootout between Avon and the Federation troops. The photographer has three cameras. The first camera failed to operate. He switched to his first back up… that failed too… switched to his smaller second back up… which also failed due to film roll becoming jammed! So no photography exists of those final moments. But the way it was explained in the magazine… Avon - first shot Fed troops - group of shots Avon - group of shots Fed troops - shots fired Avon - Final shot

[@delorangeade]

Liberator. Probably the most important episode of television I ever watched. I was never equivocal about the ending. The teenage nihilist I was found it entirely satisfactory, and any idea that any one of them survived is just denial. I suppose I grew up reading stories of heroes, meeting tragic but appropriate ends, Arthurian Legend, Cuchulainn and many others which readily played into my own morbid fantasies, so Avon and Blake were meeting an almost foreordained fate, the others were just collateral damage. I watched this episode originally in black and white. I turned up uninvited at my friends house after a row with my parents, and we watched it together on his old tv, with one ear open for the mythical tv detector vans, as he did not have a tv licence. Our friendship later went much the same way as that of Avon and Blake, for not entirely dissimilar reasons, and he's been dead for many years, but I can't watch this show without thinking about him.

[@helmethead72]

Even with the power of the Liberator or upgraded Scorpio, there's no way five people with limited ammunition, and even less support from other would-be rebels, could ever defeat the entire Federation. It's like the classic Trek episode with the undefeated parallel universe Roman Empire where Kirk threatens them with a hundred crew armed with phasers, and he's cut off by the ProConsul that these 100 crew could defeat the combined armies of their entire empire?

[@andyastrand]

"have you betrayed me!" ... The one thing Avon couldn't take, the number of times he thought about betraying Blake and didn't do it, and then he thinks Blake has betrayed him. God I remember watching this as a boy.

[@andyastrand]

Also worth remembering that on screen anyway the very last words exchanged before this between Avon and Blake were Blake saying "For what it's worth Avon, I have always trusted you, from the very beginning"

[@dashdecent4462]

The old B7 "Silly Thing" mashes that last "For what it's worth" with Blake & Avon coming face to face on GP. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4a9mGp5mdlgndEsi=gFRsKDn5wT4IWpvL

[@Fiero425]

I had already been a fan of Doctor Who in college! Someone told me about B7 & I jumped on it, taping all 52 episodes to VHS & Beta formats! Great show! - scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2011/01/blakes-7-w-more-dr-who-comments.html

[@ProfArmitage218]

I always felt that Avon was steadily losing his mind and becoming more paranoid ever since he discovered his wife's betrayal.

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi again Alexa I do say gruesome and savage this final B7 episode was, I would suspect the Blake Avon shot to death was possibly the real Blake or possibly a clone Blake there was no way Blake could be an android replica since androids cannot bleed and neither can their flesh which is metal and plastic get bruised either. I do think when Deva the colleague and buddy of Blake said the representative from the Federation high council could come at anytime Blake,s face became a picture of seriousness and he no doubt guessed it was his arch-enemy Servalan herself whom he had not met in person since series 2 episode Pressure Point when Gan was killed. There was no mention of Gan in the finale of B7, and also an old friend of mine Alan who was a big sci-fi fan like me seemed to think that Blake had become a bit of a villain and he was of the suspicion that Blake in this final episode was a clone Blake. I am pleased Alexa you have enjoyed watching and reacting to Blake,s Seven I hope you can get to watch and react to other series and films you have yet to see. I did think 8 years after B7 ended the year I became 20 classic Dr Who ended after 26 years having begun in late 1963 on 23rd November 1963 and sadly ended on 6th December 1989 with Slyvester MCcoy in the role of the 7th Doctor the final story which was called Survival had the Doctor,s Time Lord arch-enemy the Master back for his one and only onscreen encounter with the 7th Doctor and the fight scene in the final episode on the CHeetah planet had the Doctor holding a rock above the Master,s head as if to kill him but the Doctor does not kill the Master the ending of classic Dr Who was a shock but there was no shootout between heroes and villains.

[@borgduck]

Robin Of Sherwood? I wasn't expecting that! Now there was a Sheriff Of Nottingham.😁 Liberator.👽

[@ulyssesfilmchannel]

Liberator. This was hard to take when I was 11 years old! Had been one of my favourite series.

[@greedycapitalist8590]

Liberator! I've been looking forward to, and half-dreading your reaction to this final episode. I'm glad it wasn't spoiled too badly for you. If I remember right, the trailer for this episode did show Blake, so I knew when it was first broadcast that he was back. It was fun watching you make the wrong assumptions about Blake's behaviour - you're usually so much better at spotting plot twists, but to be faire, Chris Boucher did do a skillful job of raising doubts about Blake in the first half of the episode. I don't think that Blake has really changed that much in this episode. He's a bit grimmer, but who wouldn't be after fighting a guerrilla war for years, seeing their freinds get killed, and not making any apparent progress? I'd be terminally depressed after a day of that. And Blake still manages some moments of humour. His tactics have changed, but so has his situation. Presumably he was never able to acquire another ship with Liberator-like capabilities, so hes' not as mobile as he used to be - he can't do so much of the hit and run stuff. Instead, he's had to establish a base and start to build up some kind of organisation. And when you do that, it's a risk every time you recruit someone. Blake's method of testing potential recruits seems unnecessarily risky to me, but it's typical of his lead from the front mentality. A pity Jenna wasn't in it too, but at least we know she went out in style - I'm convinced that Blake's story is true, look how passionate he was when he told Tarrant. The SFX in this episode are really good for the time, especially the Scorpio crash. Obviously the production team managed to arm twist the BBC into giving them an extra fiver. Which Star Trek movie was it where Picard and his doltish crew managed to crash the Enterprise? I remember watching it and thinking that scene was inspired by this episode. Avon always was his own worst enemy, but he's obviously at the end of his tether by this point. His deterioration over the course of Series 4 was planned to make this ending more feasible. The Avon of Series 1 wouldn't have been so quick to pull the trigger - he'd have kept Blake covered and demanded a proper explanation. I was totally gobsmacked when this episode was first broadcast. With Blake coming back, I remember hoping he was back to lead them in Series 5 - I really liked the new look, every inch the battle-hardened guerrilla. But the last few minutes filled me with feeling of impending doom - I remember silently willing Avon to be sensible, and then being shocked when he shot Blake. And then of course the rest of them went down. I was walking around in a daze for a day or two after that. Of course if the BBC had suddenly changed their minds and commisioned a fifth series, it would have been easy enough to bring it back within a year or two, with all the actors who wanted to come back. Just say most of them were stunned, as you say. Even Blake could have been brought back if Gareth Thomas had been willing to return - it's science fiction, it's the future, there's no obvious reason why Federation medics couldn't have operated on him and revived him if they got to him quickly enough, the obvious motivation for doing that being so they could interrogate him. This episode gave rise to a sub-genre of fanfic called PGP (Post Gauda Prime), following the adventures of one or more survivors of the massacre afterwards. The majority of PGPs have Avon and Vila surviving, but sometimes it's other characters, and in one series I followed back in the day, everyone survived (including Blake, although he had to cope with severe injuries and loss of memory). So what happens next? I think they're all dead - Avon in particular will have more holes in him than a collander. But that doesn't mean it was all for nothing. There never was a dictatorship that was able to completely stamp out all opposition, and the Liberator and Scorpio crews interacted with a lot of people over the four seasons who could have carried on the struggle. We don't know how extensive Blake's organisation on GP was, there may have been cells in other places who could get themselves reorgaised and carry on. Nobody's indespensible.

[@jasonjuneau3554]

The ending is shocking, but having such an ending gives the show a gravitas that other genre shows lack. Blake's 7 is about a rebellion; it failed. Only Orac survives.

[@joshuajoshua2732]

The most upsetting ending of any TV show in my opinion i think in my "head canon" Avon definately got out of this alive and fired on those federation guards i also think the rest got out of it too but unfortunately will never know they clearly didn't want to make a Series 5 did they.

[@damienkakoschke3099]

Ah, we finally get to the last episode. Very interested of your review on this one. Paul Darrow wrote novels where Avon survived. This is one of the boldest endings ever! I think after what happened when series 3 ended & suddenly there was a series 4, they wanted to make sure there was no series 5. The last half dozen episodes really lead up to this episode. ORAC is still hidden under a tree somewhere. Everyone watching at the time was gob-smacked. - Liberator - Reviews done by another KZbinr you might like (they make me laugh) = kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXOVf4t8qbKSj6M & kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4mvpoWuZ9eqbNU

[@CaminoAir]

Tarrant was originally intended to be a Federation agent infiltrating the Liberator. The removal of this agenda did leave him lacking any clear motivation (besides the need to restore the crew level to the end of series 2 level).

[@CaminoAir]

Liberator. 😊

[@OnafetsEnovap]

Indeed. The character was also meant to be older (between 30 and 40 years old).

[@Villafarrell]

Gareth Thomas added such gravitas in this amazing conclusion, they couldn't end the show without him.

[@alexachipman]

Agreed!

[@Fiero425]

Funny, Thomas wasn't as serious about the show as Darrow, thinking it beneath him! ;-) scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2011/01/blakes-7-w-more-dr-who-comments.html

[@Stevenspielburger]

Liberator: A devastating ending, and a brave one. Telling a generation of kids that good doesn't always win - even though the "good" guys were really a criminals, they could be described as terrorists even. It was that kind of series. Enjoyed your reviews Alexa, thanks

[@jharekcarnelian]

Blake's 7 has been described as the anti-Star Wars. The plucky rebels achieve nothing but temporary victories. At best perhaps they will inspire others.

[@escapetheratracenow9883]

Liberator. I’ve been dreading these moments, knowing the heartbreak you were about to feel. The night before this episode aired I dreamed the Xenon base would be destroyed. Everything after that seemed inevitable. Watching Scorpio and Tarrant crash and the the rest of the crew scattered into an environment more deadly than anything they’d previously encountered was awful. The killing of Blake, the rapid deaths of everyone we’d come to care about very deeply over 4 years was crushing to the soul. The knowledge that evil triumphs if good sits back and lets it is on display right in front of our eyes as our hard-won freedoms are continually eroded. I’m so sorry to say that we’re witnessing the birth of the Federation all around us, and despite this, I’d still sooner join the rebels and go out on my feet than on my knees. Thank you for your wonderful reactions to this fantastic series. Your insights have been truly enjoyable and very thoughtful. It’s testament to the whole team behind Blake’s Seven that it engenders such discussions forty years after it finished. Best of luck to you in everything you do in the future! ❤ P.S. I’m so happy you’re doing Robin of Sherwood next. Everything about it is mystical, magical, enthralling. Enjoy! May Herne protect us!

[@colonelfostershado9705]

“They’re dead Dave, all of them” “Even Kachanski?” “Dead. They’re all dead Dave” “Even Rimmer?” 🤣🤣🍻 Well done Alexa. Liberator

[@SnabbKassa]

Well, technically speaking

[@normiron736]

This takes me right back to my 9yr old self sitting in front of the tv, slack jawed watching them get shot and trying not to cry. It hit me hardest when Villa was shot. I'm of the opinion they all died. Thank you for your reactions to another iconic UK tv show. Check out Blake's Junction 7, you'll like it. Looking forward to seeing Robin of Sherwood reactions next week. Did you ever check out Ted Rivers on youtube for the Space 1999 related stuff?

[@paultapner2769]

I was always Villa when we played Blake's seven in the school playground.

[@ommmana2163]

Liberator Anyone mentioned this yet kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3bYnKCZoqdrd5I "Blake's Junction 7" (2005) seems the original Orac voice actor was involved

[@petesmith4498]

Liberator. You could also watch "Blake's Junction 7" which is an affectionate spoof.

[@Epsilon1Zeta]

With a surprisingly chillingly good version of Servalan!

[@aland5336]

Liberator. This episode aired 21st December 1981 and ruined Christmas for a lot of people I can tell you. 21st December is now celebrated as Gauda Prime day by those of us who still remember. As a teenager back then I was convinced it was the clone Blake and that the crew were just stunned - a theory supported by the fact that Servalan wasn’t even there to enjoy the show. Still arguing about it 43 odd years later. Being on this journey with you has been a blast, thank you.

[@Wulfyr]

I remember it well. It was the day after my 9th birthday.

[@MarkSW]

I’ve been looking forward to your reaction to the final episode. It has one of the most strong endings of any sci-fi series I know.

[@hepsycamellia5459]

jEEZ you just have to hear those sirens start and you know it's all about to go to hell. Even watching this as a reactions stresses me out. I've read that Jackie Pearce was upset that Servalan wasn't in this episode, but I think it's better without her. The series ended as it began, with a slimy infiltrator and faceless federation guards. Also, it would be harder to enjoy Servalan as a character retrospectively if she'd come slinking in tossing furs about and gloating over the bodies. Someone has probably told you already that Glynis Barber insisted on a different hairstyle each week to make up for having almost no costume changes. I'm really looking forward to your episode on the outfits of Blake's 7, pretty sure no-one's done that before. You are so right about the variety of possible interpretations. I think definitely the shock value of tne ending, but also its ambiguity, have both done a lot to maintain its cult status. I recommend a panel show, "Pointless Celebrities" S11e16. Paul Darrow and Michael Keating were a competing pair on it (against actors from Doctor Who and Harry Potter) and it was Darrow's last TV appearance. I didn't refer to it earlier because Keating mentions he was in every episode of B7 which is a minor spoiler! Also recomment the Kaldor City series of audio stories (six on CD), with Paul Darrow, Brian Croucher, Peter Tuddenham and plenty of others you'll recognise. Set in the Doctor Who universe and with the character of Carnell the psychostrategist from B7's "Weapon". Bloody fantastic. Thanks for your B7 reactions, i have enjoyed them so much and now looking forward to RoS. And BTW - LIBERATOR!!!

[@ashleycronk3881]

I was in shock for weeks after seeing this as a kid when it was first on tv in Australia in the early 80s. I waited for decades for a new season and only gave up when Gareth, Paul and Jacqueline passed away. It was great to watch along with someone seeing it for the first time. It made the experience fresh for me after watching the series countless times over the years. Intersting fact: The woman calling for help at the end who was killed by Avon was actually Paul Darrows real life wife. -Liberator-

[@grumioculina]

Liberator! I'm so glad that the ending wasnt totally spoilt for you! Phew!🙂

[@johnswift376]

Even though it was the 1980s when the series ended, this is the most 70's, downbeat, typically English dystopian SF series ending ever. When I first saw it I didn't want to accept it, but everyone is definitely dead. It's the Peckinpah ending that Blake could really only finish with, Avon standing over his body, realising just what he has done. Traumatised me for ages. On a lighter note; Robin of Sherwood is the best Robin Hood. Ever. I will brook no disagreement. Liberator.

[@tekoneiric]

Liberator! I still remember how the destruction of the Liberator/Zen and this episode hit me back in the '80s. Very few shows have caused me an emotional shock reaction like this series. I know how they could continue this series, even with so much of the cast gone. I wish I could relate the idea to someone in control of the property's future.

[@simoncurry5336]

Liberator. For what it's worth I waited 52 weeks to see your reaction to the last scene of "Blake's 7" and you took it much better than "reactors" normally do. (Reactors is a collective noun that I've invented for people who have KZbin channels and do reaction videos.) Thanks for watching Blake's 7, thanks for letting us watch you reacting to it and I'm pleased that you enjoyed it.

[@CaminoAir]

So the typical response of KZbinrs watching this episode is a 'reactor meltdown'?

[@alexachipman]

It made sense to me - Avon has been descending into madness and it fits the tone of the show, so while it is shocking, it also is logical.

[@bobbova8708]

I am looking forward to your future videos and enjoyed getting your insight from a fresh viewpoint on Blake's 7.I recall watching back when the series first was available here in the U.S.A. in the early 1980's on PBS stations and having many spoilers introduced via sci Fi magazines,so I went into this episode already aware of the out come. In almost all of his interviews post series and seeing Paul Darrow at convention appearances whenever he was asked about Blake's 7 coming back he would say it was possible if series creator Terry Nation would be the one in charge When he was asked who would be returning he always said"Just me".Mr. Darrow was also a bit uncomfortable with the fact that series 4 or season 4 was made in the absence of series creator Terry Nation who at the time was in America working on projects here(one of which if my memory serves was the earliest ideas for the series Macgyver).And Terry Nation in many interviews recalled not being in the loop whatsoever in season 4 and was not too happy upon learning what had befallen his series,he was stunned that what was done was done entirely without any contact with him. Mr. Darrow also wrote a novel picking up Avon post series and was involved in Blake's 7 audio dramas. Like yourself and probably every fan of the series my brother and I would talk many times about possible out comes of which there are many possibilities. It was very interesting to get your thoughts on the series as well as the wardrobe,and I am looking forward to your last 2 Blake's 7 videos very much.so I guess the only thing left to say is "remember the Liberator!"

[@colonelfostershado9705]

It’s very British Sci-Fi. See UFO, Quatermass etc…

[@simoncurry5336]

@@CaminoAir No and yes. No, because a reactor is a KZbinr that uploads reaction videos. Yes, because (usually) they can't believe what they are seeing and meltdown emotionally. To put it another way (usually) reactors meltdown when they watch this episode and therefore a "reactor meltdown" is the typical response.

[@darrenrunning5415]

Liberator. Oh wow. Where to begin. Once it was decided that there wasn't going to be a fifth series, Producer Vere Lorrimer and Script Editor Chris Boucher sat down to write the ending. "We both agreed that it was clearly impossible to end it with the defeat of the Federation. It would be like five men trying to defeat the German army. The only alternative was to end it as we always did: with Avon looking into space as the ship disappears off into the stars. Well, we'd done that for fifty-two episodes, so what sort of ending was that?" Location filming took place between 13-15 October 1981, with studio filming taking place 5-8 December 1981, with Blake's death being filmed on the 7th. The actual final day of shooting was the destruction of the Scorpio set, and Gareth and Steven Pacey's scenes together on the Scorpio bridge and in the flyer. Director Mary Ridge only had seven extras available to portray Federation trooper, so she had them constantly in motion, running behind the camera, taking up various positions on the set, to make it look like there were more than she had. Gareth Thomas agreed to return as Blake, on the condition that it be well and truly established that he was dead by the end of the episode. It was his idea for Blake to have a scar after it was proposed that Blake be wearing a patch over his left eye, like Travis; showing that he had become the sort of person he hated. On the day of filming, Gareth went to Jim Francis, who oversaw special effects, and asked that more bullet squibs be added to the chest piece he was wearing. Gareth held the detonator in his left hand and waited for the director's signal (which is why Blake's left hand is held close to his side during the final confrontation; to conceal the detonator and the wires). The detonation was more powerful than Gareth anticipated and the look on his face is one of genuine shock and pain. The detonation left cuts and bruises on his stomach. After filming was over, Gareth went to Vere and Chris and said if Blake had been written that way from the beginning, he would never have left the series. Jacqueline Pearce was not happy to be excluded from the final episode, and never really forgave Vere Lorrimer and Chris Boucher for the oversight. Chris Boucher maintained, and quite rightly so, IMO, that having Servalan show up in the final minutes to gloat and saying that they fell into her trap would take away from the impact of Avon having shot Blake, and that the story was about those two men and their final confrontation. Edit to add - Vere Lorimmer and Chris Boucher instituted a rule this season, that, after having Avon and Servalan meet each other every other episode in the third series, stretching the realm of credibility, that Avon and Servalan would not meet face to face in the fourth, except for one occasion. If you go back and rewatch the fourth series, that holds true. As for who survived, Josette Simon, Steven Pacey and Glynis Barber have all subsequently said that they wouldn't have returned if the series had been renewed for a fifth season. Michael Keating was onboard as well as Paul Darrow. Jacqueline Pearce's availability to continue as Servalan/Sleer was in question due in part to her continuing health struggles. What would a fifth series have been like? The only thing Chris Boucher knew for certain was that if there had been a fifth season, then "it would have meant that Avon now has to fight the Federation as Blake did; he's now stuck with it. Having killed Blake, within Avon there is now an unavoidable sense of responsibility. He was always able to justify doing the decent thing for some un-decent reason, but you'll notice that throughout the series, he's always done the proper thing when it came down to it, although he's quite cynical in his reasons for doing it." "Now that Avon has killed Blake, he's stuck with having to do what Blake would have done. That's how I think it would have ended up. Avon wouldn't have been Blake, but neither would he have been an evil man pursuing good ends. He obviously wouldn't have been totally sane or saintly, pursuing those means; he would have been doing relatively decent things for relatively decent reasons, just as mixed up as Blake was."

[@seancase2746]

Note that the guns of the Scorpio crew make a different noise to to the ones used by the Federation troops, and Avon’s gun continues to fire throughout the blackout, lending credibility to the idea that he just shot everybody. The writers have since insisted that they didn’t know they’d been cancelled until after this episode was complete - possibly even after it aired - and that f the show had continued, any character whose actor wanted to come back would have been written as having survived. Gareth Thomas was adamant about never returning, which is why we see blood when he’s shot. (Liberator)

[@michaellevenson2200]

That's true, interviews given over the years make clear Dayna Soolin and Tarrant wouldn't have come back, Josette, Glynis and Steven made it clear. Paul Darrow and Michael Keating would have come back.

[@OnafetsEnovap]

@@michaellevenson2200 They would have had to, really (Paul and Michael), considering they were really the only original actors left, and their characters had been in the thick of it from Day 1 (plus, I doubt either Paul or Michael could have carried the show on their own).

[@tombaxter6228]

And here, I must leave you, Alexa. Call me cowardly, but I haven't seen 'Blake' again, since it's initial airing in 1981 and my subsequent trauma over Christmas...

[@helmethead72]

My mum has refused to watch it again either. The shock in our house was replicated across millions of other homes throughout the country.

[@MariaLeel]

I've been looking forward and dreading you seeing this episode in equal measure. It's a doozy! Shocked an entire nation just before Christmas 1981. It's kept the show talked about for years. Paul Darrow always said Avon would never shoot himself - he'd go out fighting. I miss the show... I particularly miss the Liberator. Looking forward to your next Blake's 7 commentaries and to Robin of Sherwood. Nothing is forgotten x

[@davidmcbryde3570]

Liberator. I've enjoyed your reviews of Blake's 7, powerful ending, I hold out the hope of Avon's survival, since the production made it ambiguous so as to allow anyone (except Blake) to return if the series was renewed.

[@SteveGodrich]

Liberator! Some interesting info about the last episode. The lady that Avon shot before the finale was none other than his real-life wife Janet Lees-Price! Also, you didn't seem to notice but Slave referred to Tarrant by name before he permanently shut down, something he'd never done before to any crew member.

[@347Jimmy]

It was a great reversal of Zen's one and only use of first person

[@kevinputry5655]

This has to be the most unique and craziest ending of a show in the history of TV! It's interesting how they freeze-framed it with Avon. I believe that he was taken out with the rest of them but of course there could have been a bit more action we didn't see. But as always this show had gritty realism all the way to the end. There was a novel written called Blake's 7 Afterlife that continues on after this episode. At least some of these characters survived in it. Funny you should mention Robin of Sherwood. I haven't seen that show in ages. And I just bought the DVDs too!

[@Fiero425]

scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2011/01/blakes-7-w-more-dr-who-comments.html

[@chrisjackson5210]

So at the end of a season which seemed so out of kilter with the rest of the show we finally come full circle, not to victory but at last to rest. Another authoritarian massacre to inspire new rebels of the future, perhaps? To quote Black Mirror’s creator Charlie Brooker - “(the finale was) so devoid of hope it seemed to have been made on a camera made from frozen widow’s tears”(!). Undoubtedly a formative part of many young childhoods, the show’s conclusion continues to be a central part of what make Blake’s 7 so special to so many after all these years.

[@JasonHeart-qj2mb]

In the back of the Blakes 7 Program Guide written by Tony Attwood in 1982, he has several pages detailing the synopsis for the novel 'Afterlife', published in 1984. There was meant to be a follow up novel to this, 'State of Mind', but it was never written but he did detail the notes he had for it. From it, we find out that Avon and Vila were the only two to survive. Servalan took possession of Orac, but after losing a civil war, eventually meets back up with Avon and Vila on Terminal, with a woman named Korell. Korell kills Servalan in revenge and then a ship called 'Blakes 7' arrives, captained by Avon's sister Tor. She indicates that his actions over the last few months and the killing of Blake were influenced by his desire to find out who and what was behind MIND. This turns out to be Tor and she has been using Avon in her quest to control the galaxy. The follow-up novel was then meant to be the power struggle between the various parties. This was interesting and as the author says, Avon saw himself as one of the great computer geniuses of the age, but what would he do if that crown was challenged by his own sister and what steps would he take to stop his brain being controlled by her and MIND?

[@dashdecent4462]

Liberator! What a ride, and what an amazing episode. Like 'Oribit' you'd still feel the story even if you'd never watched the show before, but you really need to live through the whole series to get the impact of this fateful ending. It was terrible then, but I chuckle slightly that not even Jenna is left safe offscreen. We're coming for everyone. I love Blake's scar in this. Originally he was going to have an eyepatch, to really spell out he'd become like Travis (it's the left eye on both of them), but they changed it to the scar. I think Blake looks fantastic with it, especially the eye-popping look he gives Deva when he says "Indulge me!" Gareth Thomas could act! Speaking of acting, what of Avon's very last ironic half-smile, quickly turning sour at the very end. Simply amazing. Thank you Alexa for your good taste in classic TV, and for letting us come along on the adventure with you. I loved every minute of it.

[@simonoleary9264]

This finale left an indelible mark on me (and many people) when it first aired. As for fighting the system, I'd like to use an out of context scene from my favourite SciFi show. Interrogator: "The pre-eminent truth of our time is that you can't beat the system" Prisoner: "But, if like you say the truth is fluid, then maybe you CAN fight the system." Interrogator: "But can you win?" Prisoner: "Every time that I say... No!" Ps. Psyched to see you watch Robin of Sherwood - still my favourite version of the Legend by far ("Nothing's forgotten, nothing is ever forgotten").

[@phillipayriss3608]

Hello here we are at last. Let us all hold hands and face the end. As you have seen the episode we can speak freely. There is no grand plan by Servalan, she is not even in the episode, our 'heroes' fall to a routine counter insurgency operation, run by an anonymous security officer. Ignominious but completely appropriate. The 'Blakes Seven ending' has gone down in history as one of the most iconic endings of any program in British television history. It is still spoken about today 43 years later. I have been listening to the full cast audio dramas by Big Finnish Productions, and I can recommend then for anyone who wants more Blakes Seven adventures made by people who love the original program. Alexa, your positive and joyful appreciation of this icon of British sci fi has been a joy to share with you. Thank you. Liberator!

[@cardcounter21]

If it hasn't been mentioned already the woman who Avon shoots at 11:56 was his real life wife! Paul Darrow wrote three novels following on from this episode. I haven't read them myself but they are generally well reviewed by fans. Liberator.

[@dangerman5617]

1981 was such a bad blow for viewers in England. First, they lose the best incarnation of Doctor Who being Tom Baker in "Logopolis" as his Doctor fell from a terrible height. Then viewers were treated to a pile of deaths at the very end of "Blake's 7." I'm American so I didn't have exactly the same experience as the English. I watched my favorite Doctor (Tom Baker) "die" around 1983-ish when watching Doctor Who on PBS which left me distraught. I was a kid. I followed the Blake's 7 series in the early 1990s on PBS when I was in college only to have a similar reaction at the end.

[@Eltonlaleham]

The man playing Deva was in classic Dr Who three times, he was Vorus in Revenge of the Cybermen, Poul in Robots of Death and also Mawdryn in Mawdryn Undead he was also in Sapphire and Steel as Silver. The death scenes are very gruesome, and shocking and I still have not forgotten this bleak episode over 42 years later.

[@AdamSouthward]

Not to mention one of the Psychobombs in UFO...

[@konsumterra1]

i cried when i saw as a kid you can see blake in these shows children of the stones Starmaidens (a saphic superscience civilisation)

[@alexachipman]

Starmaidens is going right now as a patreon exclusive.

[@HopeMonkey]

I was traumatised as a teenager, but love it even more now. That’s how you end a series. Cant end the show? Let the bad guys win.

[@Fiero425]

It could have come back for Series 5, it just didn't! Darrow definitely wanted to continue the story! It was a tragic ending that still gets me verklempt! ;-( scifiblogs3.blogspot.com/2011/01/blakes-7-w-more-dr-who-comments.html

[@Eltonlaleham]

I do say Alexa Blake,s death was savage and, I always knew when I saw this episode first time around I would never like millions of other B7 fans forget the bleak and savage ending of B7.

[@paultapner2769]

I can still remember my reaction as this episode went out: 'No!' 'No!' 'No!' 'No!' [End credits begin] 'ooooooooohhhhh' [Music begins]. 'Aggggggggggghh!'.

[@Eltonlaleham]

Hi Alexa I must say this final episode of B7, titled Blake was quite bleak and horrific when it was broadcast I was 12 and in my second year of high school. I had a theory the Blake in this final episode, might have been a clone like the one seen in season 2 episode Weapon with IMIPAC. I thought in the season 3 finale Terminal, when arch-enemy and returning arch-villain Servalan stated Blake was dead from serious injuries and his body was cremated on the planet Jevron I did wonder was arch-enemy Servalan lying or was it a clone Blake like the one who was in Weapon who stayed with the girl Rashel. I also thought this episode, was strange not featuring arch-enemy and principal villain Servalan herself, and also 8 years later when classic Dr Who ended abruptly after 26 years and would not return for over 15 years it was a shock but the ending of classic Dr Who did not feature a shootout between heroes and villains also when classic Dr Who ended I was aged 20 and I like many other Dr Who fans did not expect the series to end like it did. I hope you can get to see the Tomorrow People which was in the early to late 1970s and also perhaps Children of the Stones too.

[@simoncattle1434]

Agreed. Children of the Stones is really fun and spooky.

[@michaeldaniel5009]

I was 10 when I watched this, it freaked me out. What an excellent ending.

[@mark-nm4tc]

19.56 Your face looked pretty much like mine & my friends back in the day when this episode aired...I was 14 when B7 started, 18 when it ended. I missed the first episode because it clashed with the Royal Institution Christmas lectures - Carl Sagan was guest so he trumped B7!. There is a book 'Afterlife' which is meant to carry on the story and I think there's a Big Finish audio reboot. In one interview, Paul Darrow (Avon) mentioned that there was talk of a spin -off in which Avon was kept alive in exile by Servalan but it never got beyond the idea stage. You should take a look at Boucher's late 80's take on 21st century space exploration, 'Star Cops'. Only got one season but its fun, theme is by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues.

[@alexachipman]

Thank you but remember any spoilers with suggestions disqualifies them.

[@mark-nm4tc]

@@alexachipman I note you've started ROS on Patreon?. Will it be coming to YT?.

[@buidseach]

Brilliant, I love Robin of Sherwood :)

[@Steampunk-Cyclist]

Liberator. Great reaction. By the way don't forget the Big Finish audio productions. There was also two audio productions by the BBC as well, initially produced for radio. Plus B7 Productions did some. A full list is on Wikipedia under Blake's 7 (audio drama). As far as I remember they were all set within the 4 established seasons. Only on thing (a book) took the story forward from the last episode which is Afterlife by Tony Attwood. Enjoy. My brother and I were privileged to be present during the studio recordings of 'City at the edge of the world' and 'Stardrive', due to dad working for the BBC, plus we got an extra bonus of being present at the location filming for 'Rescue', due to (of all things) a timber lorry sideswiping our car on the way home from school!!! Long story! Happy days.

[@Temeraire101]

Enjoyed watching Blake 7. Maybe try BBC series The Tripods

[@sixstanger00]

I agree that there could be different outcomes, but your own theory is what the writer intended - at the beginning of the series, Avon was always skeptical about Blake's crusade against the Federation, even telling Jenna in _"Cygnus Alpha"_ that _"He can't win - you know he can't win."_ So in this final scene, I think Avon's smile is one of contentment - knowing that he was right about them being unable to win. At the end, Avon stands over Blake (now realizing his mistake about Blake), and chooses to go out in a blaze of glory. Blake's 7 was unique among other "good vs evil" tropes in that "evil wins" in this series. However... The series was originally meant to end with Series 3, following the destruction of the Liberator (which would've killed off Servalan) and thus cut the proverbial head off the snake (similar to the Emperor's death in _"Return of the Jedi."_ ) So in the S3 ending, our heroes WIN. But for Series 4, our heroes regularly lose, with the final episode ending in a total loss.

[@robinhood2524]

I told you I had some insights you may find interesting, or maybe not, here goes. I was fortunate enough to call Paul Darrow a friend. He was very protective of the character Avon, but said the character had a slow descent into madness after he lost Blake. Brought on by a series of misfortunes, Cally's death, losing the Liberator ,almost killing Villa, to name a few. He secretly realized he could not run things as well as Blake, that bothered him. Paul and Terry Nation once discussed this with me and said it was written that way intentionally. Every 4th season episode pushed Avon a little closer to the edge, leading to the events of the final episode. Though I believe it started with Anna and the loss of the Liberator . Later when asked if he thought Avon was still alive, Paul would give that cold Paul Darrow smile and reply "He's Avon." Paul did have an outline for a book titled After Blake, but that's as far as it got before his passing. Terry Nation said that if you listen to the shots after the fade out, it will tell you the story. I have not taken the time to line up the firing sounds. My personal thoughts, Avon saw Servalan walk in and had a chance to take her out with his last shot

[@alexachipman]

I like that ending idea - that he and Servalan end up going out together, as a final act.

[@Ravenscroft82]

I think your reading is the most fair and dramatically "correct." I see tons of Avon lovers (and I love him too) saying "well he ducked!" or somehow survived, but honestly, I don't want Avon to have to suffer living with the knowledge of what he did to Blake. He obviously knew what would happen when he raised that gun, and it wasn't to keep living. It was (along with his Blake straddle) symbolically saying "yeah, you were right...sometimes you just have to fight and giving in isn't an option, even in the face of death." Such a tragic ending. I did write a fanfic where some of the crew survived, but I made sure Blake had a chance at the end too because I can't put Avon through that hell. Very Shakespearean isn't it? Blake became more like Avon, distrustful and hardened, and Avon became a bit more like Blake but even more paranoid than Blake. They both needed each other and did very poorly without the other. Oh what an ending. And I miss the Liberator! I have REALLY enjoyed following your thoughts on this show, and will be here for your final videos. I'll be checking out your film reactions, though sadly I have not seen any of the shows you are currently reacting to, so I'm not sure there. But thanks for another insightful reaction. Oh, and somewhere online there's a great fanfic where Servalan finds ORAC and discovers that either Avon or Blake have planted a failsafe in him wherein if she ever tries to command him, he kills her with intense radiation. It's quite chilling. Take care!

[@cardcounter21]

_"I don't want Avon to have to suffer living with the knowledge of what he did to Blake"_ Paul Darrow's three Blake's Seven novels, directly following on from this episode, have Avon indeed surviving the massacre! I haven't read them myself but they are generally well reviewed.

[@Ravenscroft82]

@@cardcounter21 to each his own; I loved Darrow but I've heard varying reports on the quality of those books. And I honestly don't consider them, or much of anything after "Blake" to be canon.

[@bernice6867]

I love Avon too, but I actually always prefered Avon and Blake together. I am not really interested in Avon as a lone survivor even more damaged than before. I read Darrow's first book "Avon -a terrible aspect". As Terry Nation said "Literature it ain't". I'd even say it is f-ing terrible, like Darrow only ever read the most awful pulp fiction in his life.

[@PhillipHoskyn]

liberator. when blake got shot blood everywhere, when the other crew got shot no wounds to see? so i can buy that maybe most of them survived and could be in another series. i think blake kinda doomed himself with his little tests but tarrant added fuel to the fire with his comments i never liked him at all. i have watched a youtube clip on Avon many times with his best lines etc. Avon is my favourite fictional character of all time, Paul Darrow played him so well that smile at the end perfect. I watched Robin of sherwood when it came out the Music was awesome.

[@Epsilon1Zeta]

Liberator and Scorpio, Zen, Orac, and Slave. It was quite a journey from Earth to Gauda Prime. And very shocking to watch the return and then downfall of Roj Blake. In some ways 'Blake' mirrors the first episode of Blake's 7 'The Way Back' with Federation Guards blazing away at rebels shooting them dead at close range. As for Servalan as Commisioner Sleer. She was nowhere near Gauda Prime! No the operation against Blake and his rebel base on Gauda Prime is almost certainly a military rather than a police/security service operation. Roj Blake is Public Enemy Number One, the top of the Federations most wanted list as a political criminal who challenged the Terran Federation - and had the beginnings of an army to fight a civil war against the High Council on Earth. Very bleak ending indeed. It is also the episode of Blake's 7 that I have watched most of all bar none.

[@chrisgibbings9499]

British TV, especially in the old days, was good at downbeat endings. The episode was shown the week before Christmas '81, the night before the last episode of Brideshead Revisited, another justly highly talked-about series. I recommend that. Fanzines got readers to write in with possible sequels to Blake and many were good efforts. I liked Tony Attwood's paperback sequel Afterlife. A reaction show called Points of View was practically dominated by fans re the last episode for months. And there was a funny outline in one fanzine for Blake's Who, a combined Blake/ Dr Who series with the aim of saving on budgets by combining the shows. That was quite imaginative as a sequel too! A couple of mysterious masked villains going by the names Thealan and Servmaster waylay the heroes and steal Orac... Blake's 7 magazine carried on after the series for nearly two years before a final signed column by Paul Darrow saying what a pleasure it had all been, especially the affection shown to the cast and series by the fans. Liberator.

[@347Jimmy]

It's been a great ride, looking forward to the overviews. I can only imagine Servalan finally getting her hands on Orac and absolutely hating his personality 😂 "How did Avon even put up with this thing?!?" As others have mentioned, there is also other Blake'sverse material, the novels and audiobooks (featuring largely original cast) are great. I'd love to see a reaction to the Warship audiobook, which fills in the gap between Seasons 2 & 3 (the big battle against the Andromeda aliens). Liberator!

[@modehead101]

Liberator! I've really enjoyed your B7 reactions over the months and glad that you enjoyed the final which I think is one of UK TV's finest ever moments - superbly acted, shot etc. Still the most shocking conclusion I've ever seen for a TV show but it couldn't have ended any other way. I was fortunate enough to bump into Chris Boucher who wrote this episode and we had a great chat about it. Chris was a very talented actor and a lovely bloke. He was a fan of Deep Space 9 at the time and I told him that he had to watch Babylon 5 as the creator of that show was a huge fan of B7 and it was full of creative B7 nods though ultimately, B5 was a much more 'optimistic' series but still utterly brilliant and original.

[@paulbrecken2136]

What an ending. Great reaction. Liberator.

[@Eltonlaleham]

I must admit Alexa 13 episodes earlier in Terminal, arch-enemy Servalan stated to Avon I was right I knew you would never Blake die. Avon,s reply death is something that Blake and I faced together on a number, of occasions I always thought Blake,s death and mine might be linked in some way was later accurate given that this B7 episode has Blake in and presumably the real Blake not a clone like the 2 seen in season episode Weapon and also one male fan I was friends with called Alan thought Blake in this episode had become a villain given his rather strange behaviour. I suppose when arch-villain Servalan, said in Terminal Blake is dead and cremated, I suppose it could have been a Blake clone or otherwise she was simply lying one thing she was good at doing. I wonder Alexa if the episode Orbit, might have been a possible exit for the arch-enemy Servalan given she does not appear in this final episode of B7 . There are some fans who thought, she could have been aged to death by the radiation Pinder used to kill himself and Eggorian on the planet Maladoor .

[@jurgenvandesanden2490]

Liberator. Thank u 4 the positive ending, but I tend 2 b with u on the more negative alternative... It was all 4 nothing... 😢😭 but at least Jenna could still b alive and kick ass

[@neilmcdonald9164]

The lady on Blakes base is played by Avon actor Paul Darrow's real life wife,who only agreed to take part if her husband shot her🎩

[@Cires789]

I'm actually quite sad your reaction to Blakes 7 has reached the end.

[@alexachipman]

Two more Blakes 7 videos and probably at least one livestream still coming!

[@papalaz4444244]

I am still traumatised from watching this when it ws first shown. Darkest ending ever.

[@simonparry5958]

There are various book sequels the best ones by Paul Darrow by big finish three in all Liberator

[@helmethead72]

Liberator. This still hurts me as much as it did in December 1981. My poor mother has been unable to re-watch this episode ever since. Thinking about it during the hours after your reaction aired, at least they all died together. I suppose that's some small comfort. Vila must have wondered after his comments about going into one of these holes in the ground and never coming out again, that he should have stayed with Kerril after all. You'll love Robin of Sherwood. It has a fabulous cast, gorgeous music by Clannad, wonderful sets and locations, great writing and has as many devoted fans as Blake's 7. I'm lucky to have lived many years at the top end of Sherwood Forest, close to Edwinstowe where Robin married Marion, visited the graves of Little John and Will Scarlett, and as for Nottingham itself? What a fantastic city to visit, especially as it has the oldest pub in all of England. There's a crossover phrase from Robin that suits the ending of Blake's 7: nothing's forgotten. Nothing is ever forgotten.

[@mark-s]

Wow a shocker end to the series to a great show still season 3 is my favourite season but the death of the crew and open end for avon did he die or not this was my favourite of this season

[@stephenchurchill2418]

A Shakesperian finale.....a tragedy caused by a misunderstanding.....the only real Liberator of the Galaxy Rog Blake killed by the man who killed Travis. Its been a wonderful journey .....Blakes 7 often referred to as Bleaks 7 was simply a brilliant show. Loved your reviews as I have never appreciated the hard work of the costume department until you highlighted all the various details and subtle changes of the many varied costumes and designs....yes they were wonderful. Rejoice in yhe knowledge that Avons other best mate Orac is safe and well.......

[@davidmacfarlane1763]

NOW she sees what we saw when it first aired. Anyone who says X is a gritty Scifi show... needs to watch this. As a teen I was blown away

[@thebigboo5]

LIBERATOR!! And there it is. The ending of Blake's 7. It's a tough re-watch. The worst misunderstanding on TV. I think I first saw it about 25 years ago. Well after the original date. I was watching it with my parents, they'd got the VHS tapes. They'd seen it before, when it was originally on TV, but they didn't spoil what was coming next. Boy was I shocked! No other show has really done it I don't think, and it hits hard, and stays with you. That's why it's still around, I guess. A lot of other people are mentioning the same things, but this show always gets me talking, so here I go. SO many people comment on the lack of blood for the crew. Are they dead? I found out much later the ending was designed to be ambiguous, depending on if a fifth series was commissioned and if actors were going to return. So lots of books and fan fiction have them surviving. Gareth Thomas though, only agreed to come back if his character was dead for certain. He'd been getting a lot of questions over the role and wanted it cleared up and ended for sure, sadly. Chris Boucher decided the shoot out would be the most memorable ending they could do. Although the date of the final episode, 21 December 1981, he said was "unfortunate" and has described himself as "the man who killed Father Christmas" in 1981. ORAC is still outside, hidden, presumably. Wonder if anyone ever finds him. That comes up a lot in fan fiction too!! No Servalan was a surprise. You kind of think she's going to turn up right at the end for the shoot out, but it doesn't happen. I've really enjoyed your reactions to the show. KZbin has made a great recommendation here! Thank you :) Two more Blake's 7 videos to watch, then I guess it's over :( Sorry for rambling! I'll leave you with some of my favourite quotes... Avon: In the end, winning is the only safety. Avon: Have you betrayed us? Have YOU... betrayed... ME? Cally: He who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken. Avon: Regret is part of being alive -- but keep it a small part. Avon: It is not neccessary to become irrational in order to prove that one cares; indeed, it is not neccessary to prove it at all.

[@alexachipman]

Thanks! I will be doing at least one more reaction that is related and the occasional livestream.

[@jasonjuneau3554]

Maybe there is another Liberator at the System.

[@DavidBall-k6f]

Liberator. Formative stuff to watch as a kid in the 80's. The writer said there was no blood shown for anyone other than Blake so he had a way of bringing them back if another season was commissioned. Big Finish audio do many full cast stories, including a storyline that has Avon captured and deposed like Napoleon to Elba. One thing still argued about, where was Orac... not seen in the final shots, so was he put someplace safe? After years of hoping and waiting for more B7, I guess I'll have to settle for Firefly. Paul Darrow has commented he felt it was a spiritual successor to B7, and is also a great watch if a very short run due to early cancellation. Long live the resistance! And thanks for bringing me along for the ride, it was great to share this and get to relive it again.

[@alexlee2237]

Liberator. Orac is the only crewmember we don’t see get shot. So however you interpret the ending, Orac survives! Sasha Mitchell, who plays Arlen, was only 16 at the time. Big Finish has produced lots of Blake's 7 audios, with the original cast, which I think you'd enjoy if you ever get chance to listen to them.

[@CaminoAir]

It isn't that difficult to think of ways to write a way around that ending. Think of part 2 of Deep Space Nine's 'The Search' for example. Besides, backstage realities determined how 'Blake's 7' developed, so we don't know what Terry Nation or Chris Boucher would have dreamt up if Gareth Thomas hadn't left, etc. This is a show that twice changed its format substantially in response to cast and broadcaster decisions.

[@CaminoAir]

Also, Gareth Thomas returned on the condition that Blake was unambiguously killed off. Another decision taken out of the hands of the writers.

[@erasedmind7120]

You should probably check out the Kaldor City audios if you haven't :) Sadly, it does not feature *the Liberator*

[@DavidB-2268]

I was actually going to suggest Robin of Sherwood, but I didn't know if it was available to watch.

[@alexachipman]

It is on BritBox - I just finished season 1 reactions to it on Patreon.

[@DavidB-2268]

​@alexachipman I've loved that show since it first aired on PBS in the eighties. And it led to my love of Clannad, as a result of their soundtrack.

[@southbailey.]

Another alternative Sherwood Forest story is Robin and Marian (1976)

[@DavidB-2268]

@@southbailey. but that's a movie, not a series.

[@Eltonlaleham]

I will say Alexa if B7 had a 5th series, and say Avon, Vila and presumably the arch-enemy and recurring arch-villain Servalan herself would have returned but the other 3 Tarrant, Dayna and Soolin would not have returned had there been a 5th seaosn of B7.

[@johnbarleycorn_]

This episode is probably the reason why I generally never find the "put your characters in mortal danger" style of cliffhanger particularly satisfying. In the end, most in most of the cases that trope is used, the characters in question walk away in the concluding episode. There was the idea that there would be a fifth season in which case the only suspense is around how they arrange for the characters to be alive, which is what makes this weak as a cliffhanger. In the end, they didn't come back. The lasting effect is that I have a love for the endings where something changes that makes you want to find out what happens next over the "get out of that" style.

[@richardhal]

Alexa, thanks so much for bringing me back on this journey, I watched the series in real time. Loved your comments, really on point. (and as an addition, the fashion comments) The ending of this is one of the most nihilistic things I have ever seen. It's not just a single movie, but a whole group of series. It taught me that things don't necessarily turn out ok. That is really depressing, but also, unfortunately, a fact. As far as the story goes, I have nothing left to say, but am looking forward to your future videos. Thanks again!!

[@BenVaserlan]

12:13 What do you think of Paul Darrow's acting here? especially during "Have you betrayed us? Have you betrayed me?" 12:28 He told you to stand still.

[@Nyssa337]

The 40th anniversary Big Finish audio ‘The Way Ahead’ in my opinion is the definitive version of events following the finale. Liber…oh never mind. 😊

[@AdamSouthward]

Your point about the possibilities of the ending of the show is spot on- although this was always intended as the series finale, the lack of blood on the crew was to leave the possibility of a return open, just in case the show had another reprieve, as it did after Terminal. Anyone who didn't want to return in the event of this happening was already conveniently written out too. As someone who only started watching Blake's 7 when the last season aired (and I'd have just turned 7 when this episode was first broadcast) I had no concept of shows being cancelled- knowing Doctor Who (and fresh off a recent repeat of Logopolis, with the Fourth Doctor regenerating) I just presumed they went on forever- so I always assumed this was a cliffhanger that would be resolved when the series came back. Looking back now I realise how ahead of its time this episode really was and how bold it was. PS: You may or may not be aware, but Paul Darrow wrote a trilogy of books that followed on from this episode, entitled Lucifer. Also, the woman shot by Avon was played by his real-life wife...

[@rahlmaclaren1478]

Liberator lives! As many times as I have seen it, its always a gut punch, leaving me with wet eyes and a Saving Pvt Ryan shaky hand afterward. How awesome was Vila's disarming move on the officer! Even while everyone else was being gunned down, Avon still would not look away from Blake. Next mandatory viewings: Star One - "Intergalactic Space Crusaders", probably the fan video version. Blake's Junction 7 - The full version is 14:32.

[@normiron736]

I mentioned Blake's junction 7 to Alexa in another post, I'm sure She'll appreciate it

[@rahlmaclaren1478]

Just now getting into Space: 1999, and lament how amazing it would have been if B7 inherited the Gerry Anderson budget.

[@eceltictube]

Liberator

[@helmethead72]

@@rahlmaclaren1478 Who's your favourite character in Space 1999?

[@rahlmaclaren1478]

@@helmethead72 Hmm, I'm only 4 eps into Series 2, so.... Probably Allen; he's sometimes a hot head, but his survival instincts seem to be better than most.

[@jamesdodds9407]

interesting you say, I say an understatement 😂 Liberator. I want to talk about the episode but so enthusiastic about costume review and Robin of Sherwood reactions. honestly you have covered most of points I would and added a new one , I never considered the new rebel army would arrive over the horizon to rescue them. my personal and most optimistic end when I watched on broadcast, a time when news reports were full of footage of armies firing in the air in victory celebrations, was that the gunfire at end was guards signaling the final victory against Blakes 7 and rebels and the capture of Avon who was imprisoned until much older rescued by a new generation of rebels. having only watched once while young for many years until to a rewatch there was a Mandela Effect where we all thought near the final shot Servalan appeared to slyly bask in victory and Avon's final act and smile was to shot her knowing either way he facing certain death.

[@BenVaserlan]

You could do your reaction (chapter by chapter) whilst reading the book "Afterlife" by Tony Atwood. Orac is in it.

[@zoppie]

Liberator. My headcanon says that prior to these events, Avon had been captured by Servalan and placed in the same mind-screwing machine that had been used on Blake in the first episode. So all of it is a fiction designed to convince Avon that he is now all alone and his wisest course of action would be to throw in his lot with Servalan. Except he realizes at the end that reality would not have so many plot holes in it. This is why he's grinning. And why he raises his gun. If he's wrong, he's dead and all his troubles are over. But if he somehow survives, it's the final proof that this has all been a fiction and he needs to plan accordingly.

[@alexachipman]

Love this idea!

[@dashdecent4462]

@@alexachipman There's two theories I like that rescue things for me. One is that it is all a test by Blake's people, trying to allay suspicions they have of the Scorpio crew. (Avon gets the Liberator, it vanishes. Scorpio visits Zeork the gold planet, and suddenly Sleer is rich. Scorpio visits Zukan, one of the strongest anti-Federation warlords, and he is dead, etc. ) It's all well explained in an old fan fiction story called "The Pattern of Infinity" by Ana Dorfstad. Of course, there are hundreds of these kinds of stories ("PGP" - Post Gauda Prime), but this is one of the best. The other was a spectacular analysis of the episode by Betsy Ramsey. Chris Boucher and Mary Ridge said they left things open so they could make a fifth series - slow motion shootings with no blood - but Betsy really analyses the episode to the nth degree. She pulls out a fantastic amount of evidence that Blake and Avon are in cahoots. She surmises they want to make everyone believe Blake is dead so they can take off some of the pressure as they get things seriously underway. It turns out "Blake is alive" has as much evidence as "Paul is dead"!

[@russytherutan]

Liberator. I have really enjoyed your Blake’s 7 reactions. Great and very sad ending to a brilliant show. Only Serverlan and Orac still around. Would have been a great spin off. So shocking 4 days before Christmas. The next day I recall the whole office being stunned. My favourite characters were Avon, Cally, Vila and Severlan although I liked all the characters.

[@alexachipman]

To be fair, I would 100% have watched an Orac and Servalan show spinoff!

[@russytherutan]

Me too!!

[@bizarreabomination]

The story continues in the book Blake's 7: Afterlife.

[@joestacey6185]

No. Just, no.

[@Jamesed1971]

When this aired on the 21st December 1981, I was around 10/11, I was upset at the ending, since then I the series ending was a cliff hanger ending in case the BBC brought the series back, I believe that Blake was either a clone or android, apart from Dayna, Vila, Soolin, Tarrent were only stunned and Avon managed to the shot all the Federation Security Gaurds, it's a pity that Big Finish who did regular monthly audio Blake's 7 stories, did not do a season 5 series, but now that is impossible with the passing of Paul Darrow and that Big Finish decided not to recast Avon, for the last couple years, I been wotrking on my own fan fiction which will continue the story .

[@chrisgibbings9499]

All four seasons are about to be released on blu-ray with enhanced effects. I might fork out some cash to give them a go.

[@nehukybis]

I think the actress who played the woman Avon shot was Paul Darrow's wife in real life. And him shooting her was her idea.

[@DavidHayes56]

After I had seen this series decades ago, I wanted to know if there was anything written about the show's ending and heard there was a book called "Blake's 7: Aftermath." It was published in the UK and not available at the time. I haven't been able to get a hold of it since. I was able to get Paul Darrow's book ... I think it's buried about 3 feet deep around here somewhere. When I think of the ending now, I think it adds a realistic touch. I'm not taking a POV that things are hopeless, but this crew took extreme chances over a long period of time and often got away by chance instead of a plan. You can beat the odds for only so long as a risk taker.

[@alexachipman]

The ending gave the series weight and a grounded feel that will make it a wonderful rewatch I think. I am glad they went this direction with it. I went back and watched the first few episodes again and that opening massacre hit differently knowing this is how the show will end.

[@DavidHayes56]

@@alexachipman One of my favorite series is The Fugitive. Even as a kid watching it, I was so thrilled that the last episode would tie up the storyline. Up until then, series were cancelled in the summer so the series rarely got an episode actually written as the last episode. I have watched the series in re-runs for decades and have a copy on DVD. I was shocked to read an article recently where the producers of the show said the decision to make a final episode cost them millions of dollars because no one wanted to watch it in re-runs since people knew that the storyline had concluded. Personally, I have a hard time believing that. Almost every episode could stand alone and had some weight to it. The idea that a man who had so much to lose if caught would risk everything to do the right thing for someone else was a real model for me growing up. I was shocked seeing an episode that I had forgotten where a bunch of boys pooled their money to buy an actual rifle through the mail so they could hunt bad guys with it. That felt SO relevant almost 60 years later! This may seem weird, but The Incredible Hulk TV series had much of the same feel to me as The Fugitive. It had as much to do with David Banner's kindness and respect for other people as it did with Hulk smashing stuff.

[@dashdecent4462]

@@alexachipmanThere is an interesting 'book end' quality with the big line up of troopers at the start and the finish. Coincidentally, the very first word in the series is "Blake!" and the very last is "Avon!"

[@pimlicoX]

The lady you liked was Paul Darrows real wife so technically Avon killed his real wife I Bet that’s a great conversation starter👌

[@duralinium1]

Logic of empire is on youtube too. I was one of the writers. Recommended by Chris boucher and vere lorrimar

[@duralinium1]

Now listen to Logic of Empire. Original cast radio play

[@tc-2000]

Liberator. Many thanks for the reactions. There is one other thing you may wish to watch - a short satire on Blake's 7 called Blake's Junction 7. A set of three films were made which takes famous 1970s iconic parts of pop culture and transports them into the modern banal and ordinary. So Blake's 7 gets transported into a motorway service station. Many top UK comedians were in it, and also, you'll enjoy Peter Tudenham reprising his role of Orac for the final time on screen - so more Orac action for you. There is one bit of Blake's 7 trivia you need to know otherwise you will miss a great joke. When Peter Tuddenham recorded the voices of Zen, Oran and Slave, he sat in a little booth called Zen's Den, and according to Paul Darrow and Gareth Thomas, spent all day in there drinking bottles of Brown Ale. Tuddenham denies this, but Darrow and Thomas insisted it was true. So would be a source of much fun making and jokes at conventions with the fans. Some love this film, others don't get the subtle humour. But a fun watch and will make you smile. You'll find it on KZbin.

[@ianbuckley2347]

Thanks for the great reaction Alexa. I'm with you in thinking Avon and crew were shot down and lost to the Federation. A bleak ending for sure but somewhat fitting for the show I think. The model work of the Scorpio crashing is great even if the actual break up of the ship looked a lot like the destruction of the Liberator. Star Trek will do much the same thing in the Generations movie much later. I've loved watching you react to this great series and can't tell you how pleased it made me to see you enjoy it so much. I'll be watching whatever you choose to do next I'm sure!!😁

[@rucker1584]

I'm on Team Boucher, rather than Team Nation, and would agree with you, though it could be argued, I suppose, that Servalan operated a fifth column and they wound up brainwashed and on Cygnus Alpha as a warning to others (thence to be rescued by clone B etc). It's fitting the first ep was about poisoning the mind leading to suspicion for the reasons outlined. Context is everything - in 1981, there was an implosion of the Left/Hard Left in UK politics, huge mistrust among factions and the formation of a new party. I guess a poststructurist might argue all rebellion is elliptical and built on the ever-expanding metonymy of what has gone before; it lives by eliciting a sense of the original point in its failure. I think the Left has always understood the material substrate of success is limited. For all the noises of a remake (Glynis Barber has stated she'd like to play Servalan) I think it's fine the way it is (albeit, I preferred the stripped -back first seasons, more than the kitsch of the latter.)

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Depending on where you read Servalan wasn't in this episode due to having done the episodes she was contracted to do or the actress was ill or both...the others weren't certainly dead in case a season 5 was made...Glynnis Barber kater said in an interview that had there been a S5,she wouldn't have wanted to do it🎩