TV Gold

Well here we are back again with the crew of the Liberator and initially glancing over all the discs of my just acquired season three box set this release is, for me, a more ?workman-like? presentation that the previous one. It?s all impressively done but somehow the menu graphics sparkle of Season Two just seems to be missing. We have a fairly average ?escape capsule launch? from battle damaged Liberator opening graphic on each disc which lacks the impact of the ?Liberator being chased? opening graphics on Season Two. Personally I always thought that trying to pick three episodes out of this particular run that were worthy of commentary was always going to be a tough call, however I certainly approve of the choices that were eventually made. There is without doubt, a distinct element of powerful drama and character development in ?Rumours of Death? delving in to Avon?s past culminating in the classic ?dungeon scene? with Servalan and Paul Darrow (making his first and most welcome commentary appearance) and writer Chris Boucher?s comments would probably be interesting but I was a bit surprised that Jan Chappell also features as, correct me if I?m wrong, I don?t think it?s not particularly a strong ?Cally? episode. Personally I?ve always found ?Death Watch? painfully slow so it?s appreciated to divert to hearing writer Chris Boucher and Jacqueline Pearce chatting away although her use of the word ?Darling? can get a bit grating. Full marks indeed for bringing in Gareth Thomas in to comment on the classic season finale ?Terminal?. This is indeed a key story in the interaction between Blake, Avon and Servalan so to have Gareth joining Paul Darrow and Jacqueline Pearce should hopefully give valuable insight into their characterisations. Completing the line-up and giving an equal balance to the conversation you have, from behind the camera, director David Maloney.

The extra features on this release are rather thinner than those you?d find on Season Two however I appreciate the fine overview given to both of the series newcomers arriving this year with 4:00 to ?Introducing Tarrant? and 3:49 ?Introducing Danya?. You?ve certainly got some interesting production featurettes on offer here with the newly recorded ?Stuart?s Stunts (14:01), Sheelagh Wells? Make Up Memories (12:47) sitting along the interesting ?Look North? regional program extract (5:42) focusing on the making of ?Aftermath?. Probably the best extra here is the interesting ?Tarrant Screen Test? (14:53) featurette although I personally don?t rate Steven Pacey?s character as anything special in both looks and performance. Almost as an afterthought we?ve been given ?Blake?s Bloopers? (3:09) and an easter egg (1:03) featuring Jan Chappell reading the initial outline for Cally. After the hilarity of the Season Three trailer I cautiously clicked on the Season Four trailer to be found here wondering how they?d try and sell the final series. I needn?t have worried, it was all very tastefully, and respectfully done, reflecting the tragic nature flowing through Season Four. Backed by a specially recorded operatic piece (?The Innocent Sleep? by Mark Ayres) the moving 2:23 trailer focuses almost entirely on the memorable season and series finale interspersed, albeit briefly with guest character images from this particular thirteen episode run.

So there we go, in my opinion, a fairly lukewarm release backed up with a rather modest amount of extras, worthy of acquiring of you want to get the entire series however on its own, frankly I really don?t think Season Three is that strong a year. Anyway onwards towards Dorian?s ?Rescue? of the crew from Terminal and journeys end for the series in Season Four maybe by the end of the year???

Were can i find the easter egg with Jan Chappell...? <!--emo&:unsure:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->
Or the other easter egg's....? <!--emo&:mellow:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mellow.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->

RDV (and all Blakes 7 fans out there!)

Here's the details of where to find the Season Three easter eggs

On Disc Five if you hop down below the four main page options you will find a hidden 'B7' logo. Clicking on this will show the 'Jan Chappell reading the outline of Cally' egg.

There is one further easter egg. Go into the scene selector option for 'Terminal'. Below the scenes there is a further hidden 'B7' logo. Clicking on this will show a short clip of the London model going up and down on a ramp. Why this could not be featured in the more appropriate Season One, lord only knows.

Happy viewing all!
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Thanks <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->