It's becoming clear to the Terran Federation that Star One the control centre on which the Federation depends is breaking down . Space collisions are becoming frequent and climates on Federation planets fundamentally change . If Star One fails so does the Federation and Servalan uses the increasing chaos to overthrow the ruling council and install herself as Supreme President . As the crew of The Liberator arrive on the planet of Star One they make a shocking discovery - the control centre has been infiltrated by an advanced alien species from the Andromeda Galaxy who want to exterminate all mankind
This episode has a very interesting genesis . Originally the season two finale was to be written by Terry Nation who came up with the idea of the Daleks appearing as an alien opponent to the Federation . One has mixed feelings about this . The popularity of the Daleks would probably have meant people tuning in hoping to see the Daleks appear every week in BLAKES 7 then quickly giving up on the show and even for long term viewers and fans would probably be left with the feeling the metallic dustbins from Skaro had effectively overwhelmed and killed the show off . How'd you follow that up ? the answer is you can't . It would means BLAKES 7 exists in the meta-fictional universe of DOCTOR WHO and the show has gone to great pains to not be a DOCTOR WHO spin off series . Still one wonders what would have happened if they did appear ?
As it stand Chris Boucher has written a doom laden episode that owes more than a little to INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and series producer David Maloney directs in a manner that exploits all the strength of the script . As stated in previous reviews B7 isn't a series in the same manner as QUATERMASS or DOCTOR WHO but this is the one episode that comes closest to being an out and out horror tale as Lurena and later The Liberator crew realise that the technicians on Star One are alien infiltrators about to launch an invasion that will destroy mankind
There's more than just a horror element to this episode and the internal continuity and the contextual politics of the show are also about to change . BLAKES 7 is very much a series of two halves with Roj Blake leading the show for two seasons and the following two seasons having Kerr Avon in the driving seat . I preferred the first half and this episode sees Gareth Thomas as Blake at the helm for the very last time and it's a very good episode to bow out in as he coldly debates with Stott the ethics of terrorist victory that will see the death of millions only to find that Stott's agenda is more terrible than any ( Human ) terrorist is capable of , leading to a redemption of sorts as he ignores both the crimes he and the Federation have committed and embarks on stopping the alien invasion
This is one of the greatest pieces of drama telefantasy has produced containing action . characterisation , incisive dialogue and hard hitting visuals along with a bleak pessimistic air .Taken out context , that is watching it without seeing the previous episodes you probably won't be all that impressed thinking it just another SF series . But this is greatly disingenuous and Star One rewards the audience who've followed the series with a great send off and for some of us the show was never really the same after this great episode
This episode has a very interesting genesis . Originally the season two finale was to be written by Terry Nation who came up with the idea of the Daleks appearing as an alien opponent to the Federation . One has mixed feelings about this . The popularity of the Daleks would probably have meant people tuning in hoping to see the Daleks appear every week in BLAKES 7 then quickly giving up on the show and even for long term viewers and fans would probably be left with the feeling the metallic dustbins from Skaro had effectively overwhelmed and killed the show off . How'd you follow that up ? the answer is you can't . It would means BLAKES 7 exists in the meta-fictional universe of DOCTOR WHO and the show has gone to great pains to not be a DOCTOR WHO spin off series . Still one wonders what would have happened if they did appear ?
As it stand Chris Boucher has written a doom laden episode that owes more than a little to INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and series producer David Maloney directs in a manner that exploits all the strength of the script . As stated in previous reviews B7 isn't a series in the same manner as QUATERMASS or DOCTOR WHO but this is the one episode that comes closest to being an out and out horror tale as Lurena and later The Liberator crew realise that the technicians on Star One are alien infiltrators about to launch an invasion that will destroy mankind
There's more than just a horror element to this episode and the internal continuity and the contextual politics of the show are also about to change . BLAKES 7 is very much a series of two halves with Roj Blake leading the show for two seasons and the following two seasons having Kerr Avon in the driving seat . I preferred the first half and this episode sees Gareth Thomas as Blake at the helm for the very last time and it's a very good episode to bow out in as he coldly debates with Stott the ethics of terrorist victory that will see the death of millions only to find that Stott's agenda is more terrible than any ( Human ) terrorist is capable of , leading to a redemption of sorts as he ignores both the crimes he and the Federation have committed and embarks on stopping the alien invasion
This is one of the greatest pieces of drama telefantasy has produced containing action . characterisation , incisive dialogue and hard hitting visuals along with a bleak pessimistic air .Taken out context , that is watching it without seeing the previous episodes you probably won't be all that impressed thinking it just another SF series . But this is greatly disingenuous and Star One rewards the audience who've followed the series with a great send off and for some of us the show was never really the same after this great episode