"Blakes 7" (1978) TV series 1978-1981

Creator:

Terry Nation

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

2 January 1978 (UK)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

In the third century of the second calendar, a corrupt galactic federation, with Earth at its center...

Plot Keywords:

Cult TV | Spacecraft | Digit In Title | Wobbly Sets | Futuristic

Cast

Michael Keating	...	Vila Restal (52 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul Darrow	...	Kerr Avon (51 episodes, 1978-1981)
Peter Tuddenham	...	Orac / ... (49 episodes, 1978-1981)
Jan Chappell	...	Cally / ... (37 episodes, 1978-1981)
Gareth Thomas	...	Roj Blake / ... (29 episodes, 1978-1981)
Jacqueline Pearce	...	Servalan / ... (29 episodes, 1978-1981)
Sally Knyvette	...	Jenna Stannis (26 episodes, 1978-1979)
Steven Pacey	...	Del Tarrant / ... (26 episodes, 1980-1981)
Josette Simon	...	Dayna Mellanby (26 episodes, 1980-1981)

Runtime:

50 min (52 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

That endless corridor that the team were always dashing around the ship in was only about 20 feet long with a short tee on one end.

Quotes:

[about Blake]
Dr. Havant: Can't he be eliminated?
Alta Morag: No, he's a symbol of opposition to the Administration.
Dr. Havant: So?
Ven Glynd: We've done cross-sectional psych readings, which show that a high percentage of people, particularly the younger ones, believe that Blake's trial was a showpiece, that his statements were rigged.
Alta Morag: His death could be used by the dissidents. They need a hero. Alive or dead, Blake could be it.
Dr. Havant: Difficult. I suppose my department could infect him, some rapidly terminal disease. Would his natural death help?
Ven Glynd: I don't think so.
Alta Morag: What we need is something to discredit him. If he could be deported to Cygnus Alpha. ... Doctor, am I right in thinking you can create experiences, implant them into a subject, who will then believe that they really happened?
Dr. Havant: Of course. In fact, creating an illusion of reality is quite simple.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Cult of...: Blake's 7 (#1.5)" (2006)

Stylish substance over insubstantial style

In 1978, America had "Battlestar Galactica" and Dirk Benedict. England had "Blake's 7" and Paul Darrow. England had the better deal.

Sure, "Blake's 7" had a shoddy budget and clunkier sets than "Doctor Who", but the show had more interesting characters. You could not find a more diverse bunch of criminals, freedom fighters, and guns-for-hire - and these were the heroes (or anti-heroes)of the show. Almost every week they fought Servalan, Travis, and the evil Galactic Federation (boo,hiss!) while sometimes barely getting along with each other. The show flagged a bit in the last season, but it had the best series finale of all time in my opinion.