The BBC television show Blake’s 7 first hit the UK television screens in January 1978. Those expecting a comfortable science fiction series in the mould of Dr Who were in for a shock. This was a gritty show full of flawed characters in a flawed world. The show ran for four seasons with 13 episodes in each season.
Set in the future, the world in Blake’s 7 was ruled by the Federation, an all powerful government that controlled the population with drugs and violence. But the programme centred on a bunch of criminals that had taken control of a powerful space ship and under the leadership of rebel Roj Blake they fought back whatever way they could, and this normally involved blowing up Federation facilities. The heroes were terrorists.
Opening Episodes
The show opened on a domed city on Earth and we learned that Blake had once been a rebel leader but had his mind erased and rebuilt by the Federation, forcing him to denounce his fellow rebels publicly and become a model citizen. But the rebels still existed and they wanted Blake back as a figurehead.
When the Federation discovered this, they slaughtered the rebels and put Blake on trial for child abuse to discredit him forever. They did this by altering the memories of children to make them believe they really had been abused by Blake.
Blake was sentenced to life on the prison planet of Cygnus Alpha but en route with the help of Kerr Avon (gaoled for attempting a computer fraud) and smuggler Jenna Stannis they took control of a powerful space ship found damaged in a battle. This became known as the Liberator and its computer was called Zen. Once Jenna had worked out how to pilot the ship, they headed for Cygnus Alpha to add more members to the crew and did so in the form of thief Vila Restal and murderer Olag Gan.
Time Squad
The outlaw’s first mission happens in the fourth episode "Time Squad" when they decide to destroy a Federation communications centre on Saurian Major. They team up with local freedom fighter Cally – a member of an alien race known as the Auronar – who afterwards becomes part of the crew.
Seek – Locate – Destroy
"Seek – Locate – Destroy" is the sixth episode of the first series and it is here that Blake’s main adversaries are introduced in the form of Supreme Commander Servalan and her henchman Travis. We also hear that Blake is now becoming more than a nuisance as his exploits become known. Opponents of the Federation see him as a hero and his existence is giving them confidence. The ruthlessness of Travis is shown when he captures and tortures Cally to gain information about Blake.
Project Avalon
For an episode to introduce someone new to the show to what is happening, there can be few better than the ninth season one episode "Project Avalon". There are rebels on the ground, there is robotic technology in various degrees, there are Servalan and Travis being ruthless and there are Blake and his crew trying to make the best of it.
Deliverance and Orac
The season ends with two episodes that start a trilogy to be finished with Redemption, the opening episode to season two. This sees the crew racing Servalan and Travis to take control of a small powerful supercomputer called Orac. The season ends with Orac apparently predicting the destruction of the Liberator.
Season One Trivia
Julia Vidler who played Avalon in Project Avalon later appeared as Barr in the season three episode Powerplay and Glynis Barber who played a mutoid in Project Avalon returned in season four as crew member Soolin.
Gareth Thomas who played Blake was in a previous science fiction TV show called Star Maidens in which he played Shem, in TV fantasy Children of the Stones in which he played Adam Brake and in Knights of God as Owen Edwards.
Blake's 7 was created by Terry Nation who also created the Daleks in Dr Who.
See also:
- Blake's 7: Season Two
- Blake's 7: Season Three
- Blake's 7: Season Four
- Blake's 7: BBC Audio Dramas
- Blake’s 7 on the Web
- Blake's 7: The Audio Adventures
- Blake's 7: The Early Years - Jenna
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
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