Arnold
Tash Jayasinghe
CibbuanoBlake's 7 - Shadow
March 12th 2007 11:42
Continuing the upward swing in quality that started with 'Redemption', 'Shadow' follows on with a complicated interwoven plot incorporating all manner of cool ideas and new developments.
The episode opens with Blake leading The Liberator towards SpaceCity, a giant space-station the size of a city that is said to be run by the infamous Terra Nostra - a massive mafia-like crime organisation that Blake is hoping to make allies of in his war against the Federation.
The crew is split on Blake's decision... Avon is sceptical as to how Blake and co. will be received by the secretive organisation, Vila is excited at the prospect of visiting SpaceCity (one of his all-time ambitions), and Gan is disgusted at the idea of dealing with the Terra Nostra.
That's only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the story... throw in some shenanigans from Orac that turn out to actually be quite sinister, a rare illegal drug nicknamed 'shadow', shady connections to the Federation, a Star Wars-styled desert planet, and some interesting character developments. So far Series 2 of Blakes 7 seems to be all about bigger stories and opening the show up a whole heap more. I like it.
The Terra Nostra man the crew visit, Largo, comes across as a genial snake and the inner workings of the organisation are fun to watch too. Hopefully we get a revisit at some point in a future episode. We don't really get to see much of SpaceCity - the so-called Satellite of Sin - though we do get to hear Vila enjoying the vices it has to offer (when he speaks to Cally over the intercom it sound suspiciously like he is having sex). Also, Cally uses telepathy for the first time since she was introduced way, way back in the fourth episode of the 1st series. Actually, Cally just plain kicks arse in this episode... up until now she's felt to me like the weakest link in the crew, a kind of wishy-washy character that doesn't really fit in. This episode really addressed her capabilities quite well, and I hope her telepathy doesn't go unmentioned for another ten or so episodes.
Good episode, it was cool to see Terra Nostra-controlled drug fields on the twin-sunned planet... was done quite well. Good ending too.
Some quotes...
BLAKE: Think Gan, think what they’ve got – men, material, information – think what we could do with a fraction of the resources they control.
GAN: Now you think Blake. Think what it is they control – everything dirty, depraved and cruel on just about every colonized world.
VILA: The Terra Nostra aren’t responsible for everything Gan – I could go and murder someone now and it wouldn’t be their fault. Mind you, if I picked his pocket afterwards they’d want their cut.
BLAKE: You’re staying here.
VILA: What?
BLAKE: Where I can find you if I need you.
VILA: But that’s Space City, one of my all-time great ambitions.
BLAKE: You’d probably be disappointed.
VILA: I’ll take that chance.
VILA: I’ve wanted to visit Space City ever since I was old enough to read the graffiti in the toilets of the juvenile wards.
LARGO: Why do I feel as if I’m on trail here?
AVON: Why do I feel as if you should be?
LARGO: Those are beautiful stones. I’m a bit of a collector, in a modest way – I could make you an offer.
AVON: They have a sentimental value for me.
LARGO: Oh, family heirloom?
AVON: No, I’m just sentimental about money.
VILA: I’ll bring you back a present. What would you like Cally? Name it – it’s yours.
CALLY: A necklace, Vila. Made from your teeth.
BLAKE: We chose the wrong approach, that’s all.
GAN: Is that all? I thought maybe we’d chosen the wrong people to get involved with.
BEK: (to Vila) With what you drank you’re lucky to remember who you are.
AVON: I would not call that lucky.
VILA: Where are all the good guys?
GAN: You’re looking at them.
AVON: What a very depressing thought.
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