TV Gold

by **Sarah Tarrant** on Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:07 am

With the release of UK DVD release of Season Four on 24th April 2006 all fifty-two adventures featuring this intergalactic group of mercenaries are now available to buy so I thought now might be a good time to weigh up the relative merits of each ?box set? to see which offers the most ?complete overall package?. Along the way I?ll give some rough thoughts about the contents and extras featured in each release with my personal ?marks out of ten? in each category and then combining said total to give an overall score out of a potential twenty points. As I said before this is only my opinion and I don?t want to influence anyone as to which is the strongest season, after all we all have our favourite run of stories out of the four years that ?Blake?s Seven? was being made.

If I recall the arrival of Blake?s Seven on DVD suffered interminable delays due to the wrangling between ?Fabulous Films Limited?, who were planning to create a new generation of adventures and the original series copyright owners, the BBC. However finally Season One broke cover in the UK during February 2004 with the 1978 run of thirteen episodes spread over five discs. This release strategy together with the distinctive gatefold, simplistically geometric patterned silver coloured packaging replete with selected key episodic images set the design format for subsequent season box sets and was echoed on the radio collection release. Now, no doubt much has already been said about this debut story collection with series creator Terry Nation taking sole charge of the entire script writing duties, however I have a few thoughts I?d like to make. You can effectively group ?The Way Back?, ?Space Fall?, ?Cygnus Alpha? and ?Time Squad? together as a four part developing story arc where we learn of Blake?s personal history, his subsequent discovery, with Avon and Jenna of the Liberator, rescuing other prisoners from the Federation penal planet and then encountering Cally on the arid surface of Saurian Major. Although from a visual perspective certain elements are arguably dated from a twenty-first century perspective the script?s central premise remains, I feel, as strong and engaging as it was on its original initial transmission now almost three decades ago. Thumbing through subsequent stories the central theme of thoughtless cloning a genetically created species with no regard for their experiments feelings still conveys fifth story ?The Web? as a rather disturbing entry. Personally my first season favourite due to its ?whodunit? mystery element would have to be seventh episode, ?Mission to Destiny?. The main plot provides good material for Paul Darrow?s Avon, ably assisted by Jan Chappell?s Cally as they conduct investigations aboard the Ortega, a Galaxy Class cruiser whilst the others onboard Liberator, rush back to the planet Destiny with the vital and priceless neutrotope. Another very strong script echoing the Star Trek Original Series story ?Arena? places Blake and Travis against each other in a fight to the death watched by their crews in the exciting well-paced eighth story called ?Duel?. I?m not a particular fan of tenth episode ?Breakdown? (despite a guest appearance by Julian Glover) however the distinguished believable delivery of noted actor T.P.McKenna as slightly aristocratic ex-president Sarkoff certainly helps to lift eleventh entry ?Bounty? beyond its already unique stylised and engaging premise. The twelfth (?Deliverance?) and thirteenth (?Orac?) clearly play out as a two part season finale and other than noting Suzan Farmer?s amusingly meek ?Avon-worshiper? Meegat and Derek Farr?s slightly irritable Ensor there?s really not much more to say other than it is a fine ?super-computer quest? tale to round off this debut season.

Turning my thoughts back to the Season One DVD box set and with the strategy of three episodes per disc there would undoubtedly be a great amount of space available alongside the solitary season finale. Leading up to this release there was great speculation as to the possible inclusion of extensive documentary features helping to tie into the ?new generation Blake?s Seven? project that was, at the time being considered. Unfortunately neither the making of the new series or bonus extras on Season One?s fifth disc materialised. With two out-takes, a deleted scene, Blue Peter feature (has anyone made a Liberator teleport bracelet from this DVD extra?), clip-fest character introductions and admittedly exciting Season Two trailer the extras offered up in this release are rather pathetic. Having said that credit has to be given to those cast and crew members whom contributed to commentaries on three selected episodes although I personally felt their participation would have been so much better had a moderator been present. This is no more apparent than on sixth episode ?Seek-Locate-Destroy? where (Stephen) Grief, (Michael) Keating and (Jacqueline) Pearce are more than happy to just sit back and watch what?s going on for a great deal of the fifty minutes duration. It?s much the same story with ninth episode ?Project Avalon? however Michael Keating is replaced on this occasion, by Sally Knyvette. The strongest of the three, thankfully, falls to second episode ?Space Fall? which although a key series establishing entry deserves a commentary due to its rather slow, dull nature. I certainly prefer the in front/behind the camera mix as offered here with cast members Michael (Keating) and Sally (Knyvette) joined this time by director David Maloney. Aside from a fine CGI rendered Liberator introductory sequence you have to say that using stock episode footage for menus does look rather poor in comparison. Although Blake accessing the secondary display screen (taken from tenth episode ?Breakdown?) in ?scene selection? seems appropriate the DVD product designers have elected to use a seated Servalan turning to a display screen (an image taken from season three?s ?Death-Watch? story) for the settings option which to many a loyal series fan could be ?a little jarring? to say the least. So in my opinion, in the final analysis it is the episodes themselves that is this sets strongest asset which at the time of release, with no other sets to compare, was enough for fans, like myself, whom had waited so patiently over many months for its DVD format arrival.

SEASON ONE

Episode score (marks out of ten) : Seven
Extras score (marks out of ten) : Four
Total score (marks out of twenty) : Eleven
B)

Almost a full year elapsed before the next thirteen story instalment of this space saga broke cover (the packaging gaining a golden tinge to its packaging) however, on episodes alone it was well worth the wait. Even from my initial thoughts on the series second year it is clearly evident as to the high regard I place on this particular run. Where did the fantastic spacecraft ?Liberator? come from? The answer to this often asked question is provided in engaging opening story ?Redemption? where our heroes encounter creators ?the system?, a deadly adversary with technology, loyal subjects, weaponry and a fantastic intriguingly designed space station. John Bennett?s slightly unhinged fugitive scientist Coser and the self-assured persona of Carnell (portrayed by Scott Fredericks) who works his seductive charms on Servalan are the strongest elements of third episode ?Weapon?. Fourth episode ?Horizon? offers up an effectively realised primitive alien planet and convincing palace interior sets which are strongly counter pointed by the memorable performances of Darien Angadi (as ?puppet leader? Ro) and William Squire (as the Federation Kommissar). Although a little jarring to find ourselves back on Earth for fifth episode ?Pressure Point? I did like the Federation observation post whose high tech interior makes a mockery of its period styled thatched roofed exterior. Strong roles for Jane Sherwin and Yolande Palfrey (as rebel leader Kasabi and her daughter Veron) work well especially in their interactions with Travis and Servalan. However this story is best remembered for our heroes ultimately failed attempt to locate and destroy the Federation Control Centre, resulting in the death of Gan. Robert Holmes ?Killer? script (seventh episode in this run) certainly conveys the intended unsettling premise of a deadly alien disease let lose on a Federation listening post to great effect. Strongest elements of eighth episode ?Hostage? would be guest star Andrew Robinson?s attempts to destroy the Liberator as a pursuing Federation Space Commander and, having failed, the conversation between Servalan and Federation President?s aide, Councillor Joban, played with self assured pace by well recognised cult TV actor Kevin Stoney. Also amongst the cast, as hardened inhabitant of relatively inhospitable planet Exbar, Ushton is ?Survivors? star John Abineri who imbues the character with a rugged believability. Ninth tale ?Countdown? not only has a tense ?planet in danger from bomb? central premise coupled with some interesting Avon character back-story but also features ?Secret Army? actor Paul Shelley (who so successfully played Major Nick Bradley) as tough and resourceful Space Major Provine. For me the only really obvious weak link in season two comes from tenth script ?Voice From The Past? mainly due to the rather implausible disguise adopted by Travis to gain access to the Liberator although Frieda Knorr?s performance as the ultimately betrayed Governor Le Grand is indeed worth noting. I personally find the seasons penultimate story (?The Keeper?) set in and around the primitive ?tents of Goth? to have a rustic period charm further imbued by the strong acting abilities of Bruce Purchase (as booming, overbearing tribal chief Gola) and Freda Jackson (as cackling old crone Tara, a character steeped in the tribes ancient beliefs and magic (as typified in her scene with Jenna)). This strong season builds to an epic climax with Chris Boucher?s dramatic and highly effective ?Star One? in which our heroes reach the edge of the known universe beyond which a sinister alien force is preparing to invade!

Turning to the extras and we?ve got a much stronger line-up this time round which takes in children?s program extracts (?Saturday Superstore? & ?Multi Coloured Swap Shop?), series model work (?Mat?s Models? & ?Small World:Model Spacecraft'), a regional feature (?Scene Today?), a feature on series costumes (?June Hudson?s Costume Design?) and a few little pieces of interest (?Introducing Orac?, ?The Mutoids? and the enjoyable clip-feast that is ?The Ballard of Travis II?). A couple of ?easter egg? features are sprinkled into the mix (to be found in the episode selection options over on discs two and four) plus there is a laughable attempt to convey a serious tone to Season Three through a special promotional trailer. In my opinion we have a faultless choice of episodes with which be honoured with commentary options. My personal favourite of the entire series, second episode ?Shadow? finds Cally actress Jan Chappell joined by writer Chris Boucher and director David Maloney. There is some wonderful almost mystical imagery on offer here, centring around Cally?s interaction with super computer Orac and although I know its only a less than exotic location like a quarry or sand pit the arid alien planet that our heroes visit towards the end of the story is effectively realised. Following the repercussions of Gan?s death and another failure to capture the rebel leader both Blake and Travis face different challenges in sixth episode ?Trial?. For Blake it is solitary contemplation on a supposedly uninhabited planet where he encounters the bizarre but memorable creature Zil (played with twitching charm by Claire Lewis). Travis meanwhile faces a seemingly farcical court-martial which eventually leads to Brian Croucher?s impassioned emotional outburst towards its conclusion. This story is indeed worthy of discussion and cast members for this commentary are represented by Jan Chappell and Brian Croucher whilst counter-pointing the acting perspective we gain writer Chris Boucher and director David Maloney?s opinions as the episode plays out. Now much deemed as a classic story the visual splendour of ?Gambit? which deposits Avon and Vila in the gambling establishment, ?The Big Wheel?, keen to try their (albeit computer aided) luck whilst the others are otherwise occupied. As befits a Robert Holmes script the author has offered up another memorable double act with the pompous and dandified ?Big Wheel? owner Krantor (Audrey Woods) and his slightly effeminate nervous assistant Toise (John Leeson). With her usual understated style Servalan, dressed in a frilly scarlet dress wafts into Freedom City accompanied by her latest assistant, the dim-witted but well meaning Jarriere (Harry Joines). Assembled around the commentary microphones on this occasion we find actors Brian Croucher, Michael Keating and Jacqueline Pearce joined by director David Maloney.

SEASON TWO

Episode score (marks out of ten) : Nine
Extras score (marks out of ten) : Eight
Total score (marks out of twenty) : Seventeen

B)

Later in 2005 the light blue tinged Season Three box set followed its predecessors into the DVD retail market however for me these thirteen seemed slightly weaker than the preceding years collection. The first (?Aftermath?) and second (?Powerplay?) clearly play out as a two-parter with the shattered remnants of both the Federation and our heroic crew reassembling themselves after the previous years Galactic war. However having lost key cast members Gareth Thomas (?Blake?) and Sally Knyvette (?Jenna?) the incoming new characters would have to compete with viewers affections for the departed stars. Admittedly Josette Simon, as fierce weaponry expert Dayna fitted in well to the series but I personally have never really cared much for supposedly ?dashing, handsome? ex Space Captain Del Tarrant as the perceived ?Blake replacement?. I feel fairly ambivalent towards third episode ?Volcano? despite Michael Gough?s (butler Alfred in the ?Batman? films) distinguished presence as Obsidian planetary leader Hower however I find fourth story ?Dawn of the Gods? pretty much utterly disposable drivel and can?t believe that the writer James Follett is the same man who created the classic Science Fiction Radio series ?Earthsearch?. Construction worker Jarvik (played by ?Warship? regular Andrew Burt) is a pleasant enough character in fifth story ?The Harvest of Kairos?, particularly in his interaction with Servalan during and following his attempts to capture the Liberator. Also note worthy is our heroes regaining their ship with an antiquated space vehicle armed with only a piece of Sopron rock. For its imaginative central premise, a strong surprisingly heroic role for Michael Keating?s Vila character and for featuring a rather young Colin Baker as homicidal maniac Bayban exhibiting traits that typified his Sixth Doctor Who role it is understandable that sixth episode ?City At The Edge of The World? has gained a degree of ?classic? status amongst fans and the general public at large. Guest starring Ronald Leigh-Hunt and Michael Troughton, writer Roger Parkes takes us to Cally?s home planet in seventh episode ?Children of Auron? at a time of crisis instigated by Servalan. It is indeed an audacious scheme by the Supreme Commander with her ultimate aim, once more, to capture the Liberator. The ninth instalment, under the title ?Sarcophagus? is a strange ?possession? story which presents an interesting dual acting role for Jan Chappell. It is rather difficult to find anything complimentary to say about ?Ultraworld? when towards the end of this tenth story you get to see the disgusting blobby creature referred to as ?the core?. Aside from some amusing by-play between Vila and Doran (Davyd Harries) the eleventh episode, under the title ?Moloch? is, I feel, rather unremarkable.

On the subject of extras we?ve certainly got a reasonably good line-up on offer here. You?ve got a couple of specially prepared behind the scenes items (?Sheelagh Wells ? Make-up Memories? & ?Stuart?s Stunts?), another regional feature (?Look North?), a Steven Pacey item (?Tarrant Screen Test?), a couple of brief clip-fest introductions (?Tarrant? & ?Dayna?), a bloopers feature, an Easter egg plus a respectful Season Four trailer albeit focusing entirely on that years final story. We?ve got an interesting choice for commentaries this time around, most of which I can agree with. As an extremely strong ?personal history? story for Avon, eighth episode ?Rumours of Death? was indeed worthy of selection although whilst Paul Darrow and writer Chris Boucher are worthy participants most people would have been a little puzzled to find Jan Chappell included here as it?s not particularly a strong story for Cally. Now personally I?ve never really been that great a fan of penultimate Season Three instalment ?Death-Watch? and I personally felt that the commentary pairing of writher Chris Boucher and actress Jacqueline Pearce did little to alter my opinion from the very little they said over the entire duration of this story. A suitably strong line-up of actors Paul Darrow, Jacqueline Pearce and Gareth Thomas alongside director David Maloney were indeed a fitting choice for dramatic season finale ?Terminal? with its ultimate ?now get out of this? doom-laiden feel about it.

SEASON THREE

Episode score (marks out of ten) : Six
Extras score (marks out of ten) : Seven
Total score (marks out of twenty) : Thirteen

B)

So bringing us up to date the Fourth and final Season released this month (April 2006) concludes our heroes adventures with an unexpected run of stories that was originally broadcast in the winter of 1981. Once more the opening couple of instalments (entitled ?Rescue? and ?Power?) loosely play out as a two-parter beginning with privateer pilot Dorian (played by blond haired Geoffrey Burridge landing on Terminal where he encounters the former Liberator crew. Now it?s very hard to be overly complimentary about the series new spacecraft Scorpio which is unable to match the majestic splendour both externally and internally of the formidable Liberator. I think Tarrant rather echoed my thoughts about this modified Wanderer Class planet-hopper when, in attempting to lift off the planets surface during ?Rescue? he frustratingly shouted ?lift you scruffy bag of bolts, lift!?. Although second episode ?Power? marks new recruit Soolin?s (Glynis Barber) first full episode her contribution, I feel, is rather overshadowed by the swaggering gusto of Dicken Ashworth?s tribal chief Gun-Sar. Also noteworthy is ?Secret Army? regular Juliet Hammond Hill who renders a welcome guest appearance as Pela, leader of the Seska. Familiar guest stars are also upper most in my mind for third episode ?Traitor? with Robert Morris (?Warship?s Commander James Napier) appearing as rebel leader Major Hunda although he is rather overshadowed by the story?s main series development, the return of Servalan, now referred to as Commissioner Sleer. Whilst fourth story ?Stardrive? appears as rather dated nonsense, albeit advancing the series development I have to say that I personally find subsequent fifth tale entitled ?Animals? as rather sentimental twaddle that not even the cameo appearance of Kevin Stoney as blind retired operative Ardus can help save. Things improve slightly with the headless robotic figure eventually stalking the crew through their base in the entertaining sixth story ?Headhunter? which benefits by the inclusion of Lynda Bellingham as the creator?s wife Vena. Turning my attention toward the eighth entry of Season Four and Stratford John?s jovial Belkov helps the fairly lightweight feel of ?Games? immeasurably. One of the stronger scripts from this run finds Servalan and Tarrant stranded on the green shaded planet of Vern in the highly atmospheric ninth ?Sand? episode. In amongst their concerns for safety from the vampiric sand there almost a degree of warmth between these two supposed adversaries with convivial conversation and even a touch of romance! Another story and another relaxed guest star as we find rotund comedian Roy Kinnear as Keiller, purser of the pleasure ship, the ?Space Princess? aiding in our heroes attempts at robbery in entry number ten entitled ?Gold?. Robert Holmes offers a further contribution towards the series and in his script for ?Orbit? provides with a further memorable character double act. The overbearing and slightly pompous Egrorian (John Savident) is ably complimented by his nervous and ill at ease elderly assistant Pinder (Larry Noble) who seek to swap their ?Tachyon Funnel? for Orac. Penultimate Season Four entry ?Warlord? rather plays out as a set piece towards the series ultimate and final conclusion resulting in the total destruction of our heroes base by explosives and airborne virus.

At the time of writing I hardly had chance to properly explore the assembled ?special features? however from a brief cursorory glance through the contents assembled for this release it appears to be a reasonable collection to compliment the episodes. You?ve got behind the scenes items (?Ken Ledsham?s B7 Designs?, ?Special Sounds: Radiophonics? and ?Series 4 Studio Recordings?), a children?s program extract (?Blue Peter: 6 June 1983 (How to make a Scorpio Bracelet)?), a couple of clip-fest introductions (?Soolin? & ?Slave?), Terry Nation feature, magazine program extract (Liz Parker on Pebble Mill: 11 April 1979) plus season four bloops collection and clean titles. However the best extra on offer here is undoubtedly the half hour ?Forever Avon? feature which although no doubt is a shameless way of plugging his recently published biography is a worthy addition to this release. Contrary to certain media reviews Season Four does indeed feature commentary tracks however for this occasion only two episodes have been selected. Personally I rather found seventh episode ?Assassin? as fairly routine but enjoyable fair although worth noting that familiar actor Richard Hurndell (who stood in for William Hartnell in the 1983 celebratory Doctor Who story ?The Five Doctors?) features as Domo planet slave Nebrox. Despite this we find Paul Darrow and Jacqueline Pearce sharing commentary duties on this occasion. As predicted and most possibly expected the dramatic and highly memorable strong ratings achiever ?Blake? is the other story to be offered with a commentary option. On this series and season finale we find actors Paul Darrow and Gareth Thomas joined by writer Chris Boucher.

SEASON FOUR

Episode score (marks out of ten) : Five
Extras score (marks out of ten) : Seven
Total score (marks out of twenty) : Twelve

As this exercise I hope helps to demonstrate I believe it is true to say that a good selection of extras to a television series DVD release greatly enhances a title. Get it wrong and a successful and original first season can cheapen the appeal of the product. However if it?s done well then even an admittedly poor, in my opinion, season like the fourth can gain some appreciative sparkle from the viewer/purchaser.

B)

TV Gold

all four season now on DVD!

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