"Blakes 7" (1978) TV series 1978-1981

User Rating:

8.3/10   

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

Colour:

Colour

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:

Sally Knyvette (who played Jenna during the first two seasons) is the only cast member not to have an on-screen kiss during her tenure on the series.

Quotes:

Sub-Commander Raiker: [to Blake] What have we here? Not a troublemaker, I hope?
Roj Blake: I didn't hear an order.
Sub-Commander Raiker: You didn't hear an order, sir. ... *Say it!*
Roj Blake: I didn't hear an order... sir.
Sub-Commander Raiker: That's better. What's your name?
Roj Blake: Blake.
Sub-Commander Raiker: So you're Blake. Well, made quite a name for yourself a few years back. Quite the celebrity. Something of a comedown for a leader of men, isn't it? Molesting kids?
Roj Blake: The charges were false.
Sub-Commander Raiker: Oh, yes, of course. Well, let me tell you something, Blake, as far as I am concerned, you are just another piece of cargo. Remember that and you might just survive the journey. Do you understand?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced 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.