Heartland

James Blast wrote:even my flatmate and I avoided this 'sub Dr. Who' bollocks in the 70s, where the hell is the attraction?

that is a genuine question BTW

Well ... unlike Star Trek with it's underlying hegemony of the USA policing a utopian ideal of the future ... Blake's 7 had a more socialist overtone portraying an idealist rebel organising and radicalising a bunch of anti-hero kleptocrats into attempting to overthrow a corrupt totalitarian matriarchal regime in a distopian future ... which mirrored the contemporary political situation and zeitgeist of the UK, thus providing a form of social catharsis.

http://www.mediawhack.com/RetroTVFile_Blakes7.html

Plus it had space chicks in tight-fitting shiny outfits ...


How the mighty have fallen section:
http://www.jackfm.co.uk/
(You'll need the sound up to ... ahem ... 'appreciate' the link)

Pursued By Trees wrote:Plus it had space chicks in tight-fitting shiny outfits ...

Mmm, Glynis Barber

Mmm, Sally Knyvette



This could be good, if well done. As pointed out previously, the new Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who series for the most part blew away the cynical naysaying of the old fans - Galactica is one of the finest dramas (sci-fi or otherwise) made in recent years ... and although a real hardcore of fans may have a problem with elements of new Who, the kids love it!

I don't know if anyone else here has heard the B7 audio dramas made last year? They were produced by the same media company involved in the proposed Sky remake. Well done, with a fine cast of actors. Colin Salmon as Avon? OK, he's not Paul Darrow but what an actor! Oh, and Blake and Servalan were both Scottish!

My only problem with the audio version was that as a "re-imagining" it wasn't radical enough!

In answer to Blast's question about what made B7 worth watching ... I can see both sides of the argument. At its worst it was a high-camp space opera with wobbly effects and occasionally wobbly acting. Maybe that's what some people liked about it! At its best it was a serious sci-fi drama with some great characters and a great back story.

The very first episode is possibly the best example of that. Blake is a former political activist who has had his memories wiped, his character "adjusted" and placed back into society. A cell of freedom fighters makes contact with him and his memories start to resurface, only for a meeting to be raided by Federation troopers. Blake is arrested, the others massacred. The administration then put him on trial. Not for his acts against the Federation ... but for "charges involving children". Pretty strong stuff for a teatime science fiction show!

The series also frequently posed the question of where the line lies between a freedom fighter, and a terrorist. Still relevant.

And ... what a final episode! I've watched it several times and it still leaves my jaw on the floor.

... Should I be embarrassed that this is one of my longest ever posts?

P.S. Avon was officially Cool As Fuck.

smiscandlon wrote:Mmm, Sally Knyvette

Now I remember why I stopped going to scouts

she didn't age well

Still the same haircut though

Glynis Barber seems to have done best with time:



Around 52 there, I guess...

methinks there's a portrait in an attic somewhere

I don't think Jan Chappell (Cally) has aged particularly well ... but then she wisnae the brawest o' chuckies at the time!

Servalan now...



My brothers have met her (they go to these sci-fi conventions and stuff) and apparently she's an absolute riot, larger than life with an amazing sense of humour.

Just read this & have to say I am verging on "moist" for a remake.
Just hope they do away with the curly wires on the "gun" things.
But if they change the Liberator 1 bit, I wion't be happy.
That ship was "out there".

oh, I dunno, I did date something similar to this for a while

the knorks were bigger of course

James Blast wrote: the knorks were bigger of course

Of course James, we wouldn't expect anything less!!

thank you

markfiend wrote:Still the same haircut though

The same can be said of Thatcher...

I feel sick now....

James Blast wrote:I feel sick now....

Is it worth catching Blakes 7 if the first six have not been seen?

James Blast wrote:oh, I dunno, I did date something similar to this for a while

the knorks were bigger of course

...a technical query mr B

Does Knorks HAVE a silent K, I never knew that.

Like in Knickers? or knob?

Yes, it is quiet at work today!

Petseri wrote:Is it worth catching Blakes 7 if the first six have not been seen?

you're so Amerikan!

Sounds potentially cool.
Hopefully this one will actually get off the ground.