Blakes7 Discussion

pna · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Cygnus Alpha

I watched a couple of the earlier 'Cult Of' programmes and the B7 one. The B7 one was ok, and I learnt a few new things, but as Zen has already said, they did seem to fill most of the time with describing what happened in the series, rather than much analysis of why it was a cult show & the impact it had.

Paul Darrow and Jacquline Pearce were excellent (as usual) - good to see JP looking so well.

Gareth Thomas mentioned his reasons for leaving the show (he said he thought it was getting too much fantasy, not Sci Fi) but Chris Boucher had another angle on this - GT apparently had some friends/ associates who didn't think much of the show, and questioned why he was still doing it. GT said he enjoyed the way he was able to present his character in 'Blake' though - much more of a tough, hard guy. At the end of the show, GT said he had never watched himself on TV, consequently hadn't ever seen Blake's 7. How strange!

Sally Knyvette said she left the show as she felt her role transformed into her being there as a sex symbol - a stark contrast to her background as a gutsy space pirate. She mentioned being asked to dress in leather all the time (no bad thing in my book) which she disliked and she and GT complained. After she left the show she said she did an 'A' level and university (I think).

In the opening part of the show there was also a response from GT and SK about fans - both did a mocking imitation of a fan asking an obscure question, with them giving a dismissive response. I think if they had asked Paul D or Jacqueline P they would have got a different response!

Simon · Joined: 19 Sep 2001 Posts: 1598 Location: UK

I saw the Star Cops one the other day and I found the majority of the documentry was featured people complaining that the show wasn't treated fairly in one way or another. By the end of it, I was almost glad it was over.

I'll watch the B7 one tonight.
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NaomiJane · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 2276

I recorded it but havn't watched it yet
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calculatedguess · Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Avon's pyjamacase

Hello everyone, I'm new here. I saw the programme and agree that 30mins was way too short, especially as it tried to tell the whole story from the beginning.

Good bits: I'd never seen Paul Darrow out of character so it was great to see what a pleasant, good humoured chap he is. His couple of outakes were great too.

Disappointed with: GT and SK's shabby sneering at fan questions. Also with GT's attitude towards the series which came across as slightly supercillious, as though he felt himself a bit above it all. I bet of the 2 versions about why he left which were given in the programme, the writer's version was most true. Such a shame GT is so insecure about his reputation as an 'actor, darling'. Who will remember his stage work in 20 yrs time? Who knows about it now?

But still great to see Blake's 7 stuff live on TV again ((sighs))

Picard · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:56 am Post subject:

Yeah it was far too much narritive and not much analysis. I think that we are actually lucky to have a season like this anyway which as Zen said would "bring followers to the faith" in a way.
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Trooper Par · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 17

I noticed the narrator prenounced some of the actors names wrong. Stephen Greif was called Stephen Grief and Jan Chappel was called Jan Shappell.

I think a 45 min slot would of been better.30 mins didn't really give enough time to explain what the show was about.

Simon · Joined: 19 Sep 2001 Posts: 1598 Location: UK

I assume the narrater was Robert Llewellyn (Kryton from Red Dwarf) He narrated the other episodes from the series.
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Capvermell · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:57 am Post subject:

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum but am a long time fan of Blake's Seven who was 15 when the first program screened in 1978, although now am somewhat older sadly. Also I am a big fan of Survivors which I saw the Cult Of program for last week. I have to say I remember all the Survivors plots of Series 1 quite vividly and in adult terms - you forget how grown up you have really become by age 12 at this grand old age of 43. My nephew of 7 is still a very jolly small boy but soon he will be changing in to a mini grown up 2 or 3 years down the road.

One thing puzzled me about last night's show which is that the EPG data which the BBC put out said that "revealing that Servalan underwent a sex change" whereas in the actual program all we hear is that the BBC wanted her to play the role in butch, tough woman costume and style but she suggested wearing the dresses and high heels. At the end there was something from Jacqueline Pierce about it being great to be every young man's masturbatory fantasy but nothing to say I've now become a bloke. Can I assume that she hasn't ever actually undergone a sex change operation in either direction and that some moron at the BBC writing their EPG descriptions misunderstood the plot of the Cult of program. Something else that I read said it was revealed in the closing sequence about the "sex change" but all that was actually revealed in the closing sequence was about her being a masturbatory fantasy of millions of young men.

Its interesting how differently people age over 28 years. Its really taken its toll on Gareth Thomas and Jacqueline Pierce but been relatively kind to Paul Darrow and Sally Knyvette. I have to say I personally always fantasised over Jenna because Servalan was just too much of a cold hearted b**** for my liking.

Anyone else notice the sex change thing in the program description and puzzled about it after watching? I have to say that Jacqueline Pierce does look rather mannish now but from what someone has been saying she's been quite ill? I was also interested by just how much Paul Darrow clearly had to actually act the cold and clinical Avon role since that clearly isn't his real personality.

Capvermell · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:

Cockroach Boy · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:50 pm Post subject:

Agree with a few of the other post - Jackie and Paul were the best thing about it. I think their natural charisma makes them ideal interviewees.

GT did come across as a bit snobbish - but it was great fun to hear Chris Boucher to saying that writing out Blake wasn't a big problem!

Got the impression that maybe Boucher and GT did not get on too well!!
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pna · Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Posts: 609 Location: Cygnus Alpha

Kaz · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 1806 Location: Omicron Theta

Capvermell · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject:

THE DOCTOR ALT 8 · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject: *

Well, you may get your wish about the Cult of... series turning up on BBC 2 at sometime. A lot of BBC 4 programmes end up there after about 6 or so months...
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NaomiJane · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Posts: 2276

grrrrr my tape stopped recording before th end of the program.
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"I'm sick of following my dreams, man. I'm just going to ask where they're going and hook up with 'em later."