Arnold
CibbuanoBlakes 7 - Redemption
March 8th 2007 08:52
'Redemption' is the first episode in the second series of 'Blakes 7' and it picks up not too long after the last episode of the first series, with Blake becoming obsessed over Orac's prediction regarding the demise of The Liberator.
Avon solves Blake's dilemma, but it soon turns out to be all in vain as The Liberator comes under attack from two alien ships. The Liberator sustains damage at first and appears to escape, but soon starts to reject it's crew... the ship seems to come 'alive', at one point menacing Blake with a sparking snake-like cable, and it becomes apparent that The Liberator is finally returning home to it's creators.
We're introduced to The System, a conglomerate race controlled by a sentient computer and comprising three planets. Explanations regarding The Liberator's journey into the hands of Blake and co. aren't forthcoming, and the System turns out to be a rather nasty hybrid between machines and people (we get to see some slinky, cold-hearted chicky-babe aliens in figure-hugging lycra bodysuits). Blake and and his crew must try to escape death at the hands of this villainous, logical entity and rescue The Liberator. On top of this, they must also avoid the fate that Orac predicted for them in the previous episode.
This was a great episode. The special effects and budget might not have been up to the standard of the ideas, but the ideas themselves were great. The System - with it's hive mind and modified humanoid-extensions - comes across very much like a low-rent version of the Borg from Star Trek (but, like the Cybermen in Doctor Who, this predates the Borg by quite some time), and I have no idea if the System returns at any point in 'Blakes 7' but it would certainly be cool to see it again. There's a bit of posturing between Blake and Avon, possibly and probably setting the stage for some further clashes throughout the series, and Blake kicks some major arse in the last scenes of this episode too.
With the second series we get to see a new wardrobe - all the crew members have some snazzy new clothes on. This is also the first episode to be written by someone other than Terry Nation, and I think the injection of some fresh talent shows. It was good to finally get some background on The Liberator but I hope that's not all, I'm still not happy about Zen's role in the crew... it's not entirely clear if it had any sense of loyalty to Blake when The Liberator's builders showed up, yet it seemed to choose Blake and co. back in the second episode of the first series, displaying some kind of free will. Anyway, I hope we get some kind of resolution to this at one point or another.
Some quotes...
BLAKE: (to Avon) Do you think you could forget your superiority complex for a moment and get on with it?
BLAKE: It's alright Vila, I think we've lost them.
VILA: How do you know?
BLAKE: We're still here.
BLAKE: Are you alright?
AVON: All I am willing to admit is that I'm still alive.
VILA: So why did they pick on me?
AVON: I doubt that it was personal Vila.
VILA: It felt personal. It always feels personal when someone tries to kill me.
VILA: When you get Zen working ask him to prescrive something for a headache will you? I've got this shocking pain right behind the eyes.
AVON: Have you considered amputation?
VILA: If it ever comes to a showdown my money's on Blake. Well, half of it - I'll put the other half on Avon.
AVON: If they're going to kill us, let us at least try to make it difficult for them.
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