Blake's 7 S2 - Review
May. 25th, 2024 03:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dickinsonsI finished B7's season 2 last night, so it's time to gather my thoughts on the whole season. As in my previous post, I'll be using screencaps from this image gallery and the transcripts from this site.
Episode by episode review
Redemption was a good start to the season, On the one hand, everyone has new outfits, Cally a new haircut as well, and Avon's leather outfit is a particularly inspired choice. I enjoyed the concept of the ship rejecting them, how it attacked Blake, and of course I always like seeing Avon saving Blake's life. Sure, Avon, you hate the guy! We totally believe you! The alien culture was ruthless even if their costumes were quite silly, but it was interesting to learn about the Liberator's origins. And of course, I have to mention Orac's wonderful intervention.
I had a good chuckle with Avon punching Vila's stomach because he didn't realise it was him. Poor, poor Vila, but how I love their relationship.
I was excited about watching Shadow because I realised it was the first non-Terry Nation episode in the show, and Chris Boucher's script was great! A ton of great costumes here: Avon's silver tunic and thigh-high boots (RIP these poor boots, which were cut off later on, apparently), Cally's beautiful dress, and the white outfits Blake, Jenna and Avon wore later on. The highlight of this episode, for me, was Cally. First, look at the way she handled Vila's antics:
She has an edge to her that she doesn't often show, but I love it. It's in moments like these that you remember that she was introduced as a rebel on a suicide mission, so of course she can be tough! But somehow they've often given her a nurturing role, as the resident nurse of the crew when any of them is injured. To me, this seems connected to the fact she's a telepath, but I might make a panfandom post about this topic because I find it in so many sci-fi canons. In relation to that, I have to say I loved the lore about her telepathic abilities and how she used to be connected to the other Aurons, so being alone is painful for her. The little telepathic rocks helping her save Orac and, by extension, everyone, was so much fun. Also, good on Avon for defending Cally! I like their relationship this season.
Very interesting political implications regarding the Federation and the drug trade, although I would've loved to see the city Vila visited! No budget for that, I guess. But it's fine because later in the season there's Gambit.
Weapon was a weak episode for me. I don't really like this new Travis, and the character was starting to bore me at this point. The clones thing should've been bigger than it was, as well as the actual weapon. I loved Servalan and her outfits, though! Best part of the episode. A friend of mine said her jacket must be Romana's, but I've watched so little Doctor Who. And talking about outfits, that lobster suit on Avon is just horrid.
I enjoyed Horizon's story very much. An interesting reflection on imperialism and collaborationists, with a pretty hopeful ending. Poor Gan, who had to be shot twice! And good on Cally's telepathic abilities for saving the day once again. Avon's choice of a moment to smile was fascinating, when he realised his plans to leave had been thwarted. I love him so, what can I say? And then his face when he almost shot Blake and he said "missed." Oh, and Vila having to work and hating it was so funny. He was real for that one!
Pressure Point was without a doubt one of the highlights of the season for me. I have a lot to say about this one.
First of all, Servalan's scenes with Kasabi were amazing. I felt like I got enough of a gilmpse into Servalan's past to get me thinking, but not enough to know much about her and her past relationship with Kasabi. It was great to hear about Servalan before she was this Servalan, though. Very intriguing. And thank God she was more of the focus here, because at this point it's the only way I tolerate Travis: when he's a background character supporting Servalan.
And secondly, this was definitely one of the most defining moments for Blake so far, if not the most. He's been risking so much from the beginning, but this was a reckless move, motivated by his hatred of the Federation, and he not only endangered his entire crew but also got poor, poor Gan killed. The high stakes in this show ARE real, this isn't one of those shows where you know the heroes will always make it and save the day. This is Blake's 7!
I liked Kasabi's kid being manipulated and finally teaming up with Jenna to save the day. Good for you, Jenna! She's grown on me a lot.
On a lighter note, Vila's orange peel outfit was crazy. The costuming in this show is genuinely so much fun to talk about.
I actually found it hilarious that Trial starts with Travis being judged for war crimes right after he had been slapped by Servalan in the previous episode for hesitating when her life was a stake. And I know I keep repeating myself, but I love all her outfits on the show. It's fascinating that she only (mostly) wears white, really, but other than that the costumes are often well-tailored and look good. Although perhaps it's the colour that hides the imperfections? No idea.
It's interesting that Blake was going through a parallel trial of sorts, although his choice to attack right after coming back was... well. Very Blake, I guess.
The planet that was alive and saw other lives as parasites was interesting, although it felt more Trek to me, and the poor actor who played Zil had to wear a really awful costume and makeup. Kudos to them though, they sure made an effort.
Killer was fun, mostly because of the Avon and Vila team up, as well as seeing someone from Avon's past. How curious that Vila would warn Tynus against Avon's betraying ways when it was Tynus who ended up betraying him. Oh, well. The banter between Vila and Avon was fabulous here, I had a lot of fun. But even beyond the comedic value, I think Vila was reading Avon quite well:
Next comes Hostage. This one was... weird. The hightlights for me were Cally and Jenna teaming up, and Jenna's smile after teleporting that guy into space, and the Blake-Avon-Vila interactions. That Blake and Avon moment from the screencap was so slashy, I loved it. And Vila was very funny throughout! Too much Travis for my liking, though.
And please, what the hell was up with Blake and his cousin Inga? It was kind of bizarre, to be honest. Kissed her and all!
Believe it or not, Countdown was the first B7 episode that made me cry. I was looking forward to it sinceexecutrix told me it was an episode that pointed at Avon's motivations, but I didn't imagine it'd make me so emotional.
The story gave what the episode title promised, an exciting plot that had me on the edge of my seat. And it's a very dark story, too, with the Federation once again showing how ruthless and evil it is. Millions of lives at stake!
It was very clever how Avon and Grant's history unfolded, revealed bit by bit while they were in such an extreme situation. During the climactic moment where Grant is trapped and Avon proceeds to save him while deactivating the device, I ended up crying because of the tension, the sadness of Avon and Anna's story and Avon's present actions all together. It really was a lot!
Oh, and I have to mention this:
OOF.
Voice from the Past! An interesting episode with a fun start. Why was everyone doing what looks like yoga? Well, except for Jenna, who was just lying down, lol! That would be me as well. Nice outfit for Jenna, by the way. Probably my fave of hers so far.
I think an interesting thing that keeps happening on this show is that one of the characters is under obvious mental duress, be it manipulation or malfunction of an implant, and the rest of the crew treats them with respect. It's kind of refreshing, since I've often seen canons where a mentally ill character will be treated terribly, if not by their companions, by the narrative itself.
Shivan's introduction was interesting, and although it was obvious from the get-go that something was wrong and I liked the twist itself, I was reaaaally tired of Travis being everywhere at this point. But it was an enjoyable twist in spite of that!
There were a lot of Avon and Cally scenes in this episode, and I'm happy about that. I feel like they complement each other in a way, since he projects this image of a logical and closed off guy, while Cally's obviously open to people's emotions and reacts based on instinct and feelings. They cover all the bases together, you know? And they respect each other.
Regarding the whole political plot, I particularly enjoyed Le Grand's part in this episode. Her downfall was hard to watch and really upsetting, but it really hit me. Servalan keeps being deliciously evil, which I really enjoy. But you already know that!
Gambit was so much fun! For once, Servalan wasn't dressed in white, but in that campy red outfit that I adore. I'm obsessed with how she said this with a smile:
And then, of course, the best part of the episode: the Avon and Vila team up! Complaining about Blake together, plotting that scheme, manipulating Orac and using him to get rich, and Vila getting drugged to participate into that last challenge and winning it! It was hilarious how touchy Vila was as a drunk (I get it, A/V shippers) and it was just delightful to see their fake smiles and their knowing looks as Blake, Jenna and Cally came back and asked what they had been doing in their absence. Just so much fun.
Travis AGAIN! Jesus. I did enjoy some parts of the Blake, Jenna and Cally team up, particularly when Jenna and Cally faked a cat fight as a distraction for Blake. Oh, and the casino theme was very fun in general. They put together the most random costumes they found at the BBC, I reckon.
Errrr, what was up with The Keeper? Such a weird episode. The only good parts were Vila as the fool and the Jenna-Servalan interactions. Servalan was fabulous, of course. I can't say much more about this episode, honestly. I'd rather think about something else!
And I've finally reached Star One.
The concept of Star One itself I found fascinating. Firstly, the power it contains could tempt anybody, so it really is dangerous. But secondly, the way it controls EVERYTHING, including climate, was terrifying. It reminds me of our current reality, where the powerful continue to act like climate change isn't real but they're very much responsible for it. At least Servalan understands that it's dangerous, lol.
This bit of dialogue was illuminating:
It was shocking to see those strange-looking aliens! We've had aliens before, but they didn't look as alien as these. That poor scientist woman! And the Andromeda reveal was very intriguing.
Finally, FINALLY, Travis is dead. Thank you, Avon. What was he even doing, by the way? He suddenly decided that yeah, sure, he'd love to erradicate the entire human race? I was so confused by that, honestly.
Anyway, this line from Blake also drove me crazy:
Myyyy feeelingsssssssssss.
Last but not least, that last scene was great! A good cliffhanger to end the season at. It reminded me a bit of a good TNG cliffhanger, you know? Which came later, of course.
This season was a mixed bag, with some bad episodes and too much Travis for my liking, even though I enjoyed the character in s1, but the good episodes were very, very good. I think the new writers brought a lot to the table, for example the Avon-Vila dynamic, which was more developed this season.
Regarding the characters, I don't think Jenna got enough to do overall, but Cally did get some interesting episodes where her telepathic abilities were very relevant, and her relationship with Avon has developed more. I do feel for Gan leaving, and I still miss the guy, but I think he was a good choice for the first character to die, since he was always such a lovely guy to the rest of the crew (unless the chip was malfunctioning) and he really trusted people easily, as Vila said. Blake's had really great moments that make him more than just a simple hero, with his low point being Pressure Point, but it only made him more exciting as a character. I think these dark moments really elevate Blake's 7 as a series.
And yes, Avon's still my favourite character, so I'm glad we got some more info on his past, but only enough to make me want more! Gahh, I just want to understand the guy.
As for the setting, one thing I'm enjoying is how much the politics of the Federation have developed at this point. Just because it's an evil totalitarian government it doesn't mean there isn't nuance and layers to their evil ways. It's an enjoyable part of episodic shows for me, how the little bits of lore keep adding up episode after episode.
I think I've said all I had to say about s2! And now I'm looking forward to season 3! Thanks for reading :)
Episode by episode review
Redemption was a good start to the season, On the one hand, everyone has new outfits, Cally a new haircut as well, and Avon's leather outfit is a particularly inspired choice. I enjoyed the concept of the ship rejecting them, how it attacked Blake, and of course I always like seeing Avon saving Blake's life. Sure, Avon, you hate the guy! We totally believe you! The alien culture was ruthless even if their costumes were quite silly, but it was interesting to learn about the Liberator's origins. And of course, I have to mention Orac's wonderful intervention.
I had a good chuckle with Avon punching Vila's stomach because he didn't realise it was him. Poor, poor Vila, but how I love their relationship.
I was excited about watching Shadow because I realised it was the first non-Terry Nation episode in the show, and Chris Boucher's script was great! A ton of great costumes here: Avon's silver tunic and thigh-high boots (RIP these poor boots, which were cut off later on, apparently), Cally's beautiful dress, and the white outfits Blake, Jenna and Avon wore later on. The highlight of this episode, for me, was Cally. First, look at the way she handled Vila's antics:
VILA: Stop worrying, Cally. I'll be back soon. Tell you what, I'll bring you back a present. What would you like, Cally? Name it and it's yours.
CALLY: A necklace, Vila, made from your teeth.
She has an edge to her that she doesn't often show, but I love it. It's in moments like these that you remember that she was introduced as a rebel on a suicide mission, so of course she can be tough! But somehow they've often given her a nurturing role, as the resident nurse of the crew when any of them is injured. To me, this seems connected to the fact she's a telepath, but I might make a panfandom post about this topic because I find it in so many sci-fi canons. In relation to that, I have to say I loved the lore about her telepathic abilities and how she used to be connected to the other Aurons, so being alone is painful for her. The little telepathic rocks helping her save Orac and, by extension, everyone, was so much fun. Also, good on Avon for defending Cally! I like their relationship this season.
Very interesting political implications regarding the Federation and the drug trade, although I would've loved to see the city Vila visited! No budget for that, I guess. But it's fine because later in the season there's Gambit.
Weapon was a weak episode for me. I don't really like this new Travis, and the character was starting to bore me at this point. The clones thing should've been bigger than it was, as well as the actual weapon. I loved Servalan and her outfits, though! Best part of the episode. A friend of mine said her jacket must be Romana's, but I've watched so little Doctor Who. And talking about outfits, that lobster suit on Avon is just horrid.
I enjoyed Horizon's story very much. An interesting reflection on imperialism and collaborationists, with a pretty hopeful ending. Poor Gan, who had to be shot twice! And good on Cally's telepathic abilities for saving the day once again. Avon's choice of a moment to smile was fascinating, when he realised his plans to leave had been thwarted. I love him so, what can I say? And then his face when he almost shot Blake and he said "missed." Oh, and Vila having to work and hating it was so funny. He was real for that one!
Pressure Point was without a doubt one of the highlights of the season for me. I have a lot to say about this one.
First of all, Servalan's scenes with Kasabi were amazing. I felt like I got enough of a gilmpse into Servalan's past to get me thinking, but not enough to know much about her and her past relationship with Kasabi. It was great to hear about Servalan before she was this Servalan, though. Very intriguing. And thank God she was more of the focus here, because at this point it's the only way I tolerate Travis: when he's a background character supporting Servalan.
And secondly, this was definitely one of the most defining moments for Blake so far, if not the most. He's been risking so much from the beginning, but this was a reckless move, motivated by his hatred of the Federation, and he not only endangered his entire crew but also got poor, poor Gan killed. The high stakes in this show ARE real, this isn't one of those shows where you know the heroes will always make it and save the day. This is Blake's 7!
I liked Kasabi's kid being manipulated and finally teaming up with Jenna to save the day. Good for you, Jenna! She's grown on me a lot.
On a lighter note, Vila's orange peel outfit was crazy. The costuming in this show is genuinely so much fun to talk about.
I actually found it hilarious that Trial starts with Travis being judged for war crimes right after he had been slapped by Servalan in the previous episode for hesitating when her life was a stake. And I know I keep repeating myself, but I love all her outfits on the show. It's fascinating that she only (mostly) wears white, really, but other than that the costumes are often well-tailored and look good. Although perhaps it's the colour that hides the imperfections? No idea.
It's interesting that Blake was going through a parallel trial of sorts, although his choice to attack right after coming back was... well. Very Blake, I guess.
The planet that was alive and saw other lives as parasites was interesting, although it felt more Trek to me, and the poor actor who played Zil had to wear a really awful costume and makeup. Kudos to them though, they sure made an effort.
Killer was fun, mostly because of the Avon and Vila team up, as well as seeing someone from Avon's past. How curious that Vila would warn Tynus against Avon's betraying ways when it was Tynus who ended up betraying him. Oh, well. The banter between Vila and Avon was fabulous here, I had a lot of fun. But even beyond the comedic value, I think Vila was reading Avon quite well:
VILA: You don't have a lot of time for Blake, do you?
AVON: I could never stand heroes.
VILA: A quarter of a million volts and you're putting your hand in?
AVON: Ah, but that is self-interest. We need that crystal. Blake takes risks to help other people. Sometimes people he doesn't even know. One day that great big bleeding heart of his will get us all killed.
VILA: Unless somebody ditches him first.
Next comes Hostage. This one was... weird. The hightlights for me were Cally and Jenna teaming up, and Jenna's smile after teleporting that guy into space, and the Blake-Avon-Vila interactions. That Blake and Avon moment from the screencap was so slashy, I loved it. And Vila was very funny throughout! Too much Travis for my liking, though.
And please, what the hell was up with Blake and his cousin Inga? It was kind of bizarre, to be honest. Kissed her and all!
Believe it or not, Countdown was the first B7 episode that made me cry. I was looking forward to it since
executrix told me it was an episode that pointed at Avon's motivations, but I didn't imagine it'd make me so emotional.The story gave what the episode title promised, an exciting plot that had me on the edge of my seat. And it's a very dark story, too, with the Federation once again showing how ruthless and evil it is. Millions of lives at stake!
It was very clever how Avon and Grant's history unfolded, revealed bit by bit while they were in such an extreme situation. During the climactic moment where Grant is trapped and Avon proceeds to save him while deactivating the device, I ended up crying because of the tension, the sadness of Avon and Anna's story and Avon's present actions all together. It really was a lot!
Oh, and I have to mention this:
BLAKE: [To Grant] One more thing: if anything happens to Avon, I will come looking for you.
OOF.
Voice from the Past! An interesting episode with a fun start. Why was everyone doing what looks like yoga? Well, except for Jenna, who was just lying down, lol! That would be me as well. Nice outfit for Jenna, by the way. Probably my fave of hers so far.
I think an interesting thing that keeps happening on this show is that one of the characters is under obvious mental duress, be it manipulation or malfunction of an implant, and the rest of the crew treats them with respect. It's kind of refreshing, since I've often seen canons where a mentally ill character will be treated terribly, if not by their companions, by the narrative itself.
Shivan's introduction was interesting, and although it was obvious from the get-go that something was wrong and I liked the twist itself, I was reaaaally tired of Travis being everywhere at this point. But it was an enjoyable twist in spite of that!
There were a lot of Avon and Cally scenes in this episode, and I'm happy about that. I feel like they complement each other in a way, since he projects this image of a logical and closed off guy, while Cally's obviously open to people's emotions and reacts based on instinct and feelings. They cover all the bases together, you know? And they respect each other.
Regarding the whole political plot, I particularly enjoyed Le Grand's part in this episode. Her downfall was hard to watch and really upsetting, but it really hit me. Servalan keeps being deliciously evil, which I really enjoy. But you already know that!
Gambit was so much fun! For once, Servalan wasn't dressed in white, but in that campy red outfit that I adore. I'm obsessed with how she said this with a smile:
He is a despicable animal. When the Federation finally cleans out this cesspit, I shall have that vulpine degenerate eviscerated with a small and very blunt knife.
And then, of course, the best part of the episode: the Avon and Vila team up! Complaining about Blake together, plotting that scheme, manipulating Orac and using him to get rich, and Vila getting drugged to participate into that last challenge and winning it! It was hilarious how touchy Vila was as a drunk (I get it, A/V shippers) and it was just delightful to see their fake smiles and their knowing looks as Blake, Jenna and Cally came back and asked what they had been doing in their absence. Just so much fun.
Travis AGAIN! Jesus. I did enjoy some parts of the Blake, Jenna and Cally team up, particularly when Jenna and Cally faked a cat fight as a distraction for Blake. Oh, and the casino theme was very fun in general. They put together the most random costumes they found at the BBC, I reckon.
Errrr, what was up with The Keeper? Such a weird episode. The only good parts were Vila as the fool and the Jenna-Servalan interactions. Servalan was fabulous, of course. I can't say much more about this episode, honestly. I'd rather think about something else!
The concept of Star One itself I found fascinating. Firstly, the power it contains could tempt anybody, so it really is dangerous. But secondly, the way it controls EVERYTHING, including climate, was terrifying. It reminds me of our current reality, where the powerful continue to act like climate change isn't real but they're very much responsible for it. At least Servalan understands that it's dangerous, lol.
This bit of dialogue was illuminating:
BLAKE: I meant what I said on Goth, Avon. We are not going to use Star One to rule the Federation, we are going to destroy it.Aaaand of course he didn't answer that question. Oh, Avon, how I'd love to take a look at your brain and know what's going on there and what you really think. Such an intriguing character.
AVON: I never doubted that. I never doubted your fanaticism. As far as I am concerned you can destroy whatever you like. You can stir up a thousand revolutions, you can wade in blood up to your armpits. Oh, and you can lead the rabble to victory, whatever that might mean. Just so long as there is an end to it. When Star One is gone it is finished, Blake. And I want it finished. I want it over and done with. I want to be free.
CALLY: But you are free now, Avon.
AVON: I want to be free of him.
BLAKE: I never realized. You really do hate me, don't you?
It was shocking to see those strange-looking aliens! We've had aliens before, but they didn't look as alien as these. That poor scientist woman! And the Andromeda reveal was very intriguing.
Finally, FINALLY, Travis is dead. Thank you, Avon. What was he even doing, by the way? He suddenly decided that yeah, sure, he'd love to erradicate the entire human race? I was so confused by that, honestly.
Anyway, this line from Blake also drove me crazy:
Avon, for what it is worth, I have always trusted you, from the very beginning.
Myyyy feeelingsssssssssss.
Last but not least, that last scene was great! A good cliffhanger to end the season at. It reminded me a bit of a good TNG cliffhanger, you know? Which came later, of course.
General thoughts
This season was a mixed bag, with some bad episodes and too much Travis for my liking, even though I enjoyed the character in s1, but the good episodes were very, very good. I think the new writers brought a lot to the table, for example the Avon-Vila dynamic, which was more developed this season.
Regarding the characters, I don't think Jenna got enough to do overall, but Cally did get some interesting episodes where her telepathic abilities were very relevant, and her relationship with Avon has developed more. I do feel for Gan leaving, and I still miss the guy, but I think he was a good choice for the first character to die, since he was always such a lovely guy to the rest of the crew (unless the chip was malfunctioning) and he really trusted people easily, as Vila said. Blake's had really great moments that make him more than just a simple hero, with his low point being Pressure Point, but it only made him more exciting as a character. I think these dark moments really elevate Blake's 7 as a series.
And yes, Avon's still my favourite character, so I'm glad we got some more info on his past, but only enough to make me want more! Gahh, I just want to understand the guy.
As for the setting, one thing I'm enjoying is how much the politics of the Federation have developed at this point. Just because it's an evil totalitarian government it doesn't mean there isn't nuance and layers to their evil ways. It's an enjoyable part of episodic shows for me, how the little bits of lore keep adding up episode after episode.
I think I've said all I had to say about s2! And now I'm looking forward to season 3! Thanks for reading :)
no subject
Date: 2024-05-30 10:59 am (UTC)Oh wow, I hadn't heard that about Jenna. That's foul! I'm glad the actors managed to stand up to that, but god, what an awful concept. It's weird, because throughout Blake's 7 the sexism hasn't seemed so blatant to me, even though I can't deny it's a 70s show, but now as I'm watching season 3 I got to the first Ben Steed episode and... What the hell, man? I'll talk about it a bit when I post a review but MY GOD. Just foul stuff. And I'm talking about The Harvest of Kairos, I'm assuming there are more episodes by the guy later on. Ooof.
Yeah, the Battlestar thing was bizarre. Again, I liked SOME things about the resolution, but most of it was just... a mess. A lot of manpain, bad science, and absurdity in general.
Errr, what the hell is that summary? Well, I'm glad that didn't get made lol.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-30 02:41 pm (UTC)Yes, apparently she said, 'no I'm not dressing like that' and Blake said, 'no she's not dressing like that' and supported her.
I think the 1970s were just sexist, end of. It's only recently that sexism has become unacceptable, probably from the 1990s onwards? Yes, Ben Steed is the worst, he wrote 2 more episodes after Harvest of Kairos, there's one where Avon gives such a sexist speech while fighting a woman. Totally out of character IMO. I didn't think Avon was particularly sexist.
I wonder if the Battlestar people were trying to be all things to all fans, and that never works.
Yes, Blake isn't/wasn't a soldier! He didn't have a wife! As far as we know. It sounds far too American, they would have Vin Diesel playing Blake. Nothing against Vin Diesel but he isn't right to play Blake 😅
no subject
Date: 2024-05-30 07:45 pm (UTC)Yeah, they were sexist all right. Oh, god, that sounds awful about Avon's sexist speech! Why did they keep getting the guy to write episodes? Surely the audience didn't love the Kairos episode, did they? Because it really was TERRIBLE! Eugh.
Maybe so with Battlestar. I feel like it might have been the usual case of not being fair to the audience, by not trusting them and by improvising everything. Remember how the intro would always say the cylons had a plan? Well, they didn't. The writers never came up with an actual plan. And that was true for them and the whole show, I fear. Such a mess lol. Again, I sound like I hated it but I liked a lot of it. It just fizzled out so badly that I consider myself lucky my fave characters got the better ending.
Really bizarre choices for a reboot Blake. They really thought a fridged wife was a good idea lol! Too American, that's right. Why do they always make an American remake? Not everything needs to be American. Most things don't, actually.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-31 12:37 pm (UTC)I don't think anyone thought in terms of the values and attitudes presented on TV in the early days of broadcasting, they just got people to write stuff and whatever the writer thought up was accepted. People were just happy to be on TV, I suppose. It was a very different time indeed. That's my guess anyway.
Maybe Battlestar was still one of those shows where people just wrote stuff and acted it out, they didn't have a story arc or 'show bible' or whatever. Now days shows usually have story arcs and character arcs etc. Writing has changed.
Yes that summary of the Blake's 7 reboot was so bad it's funny 😅
no subject
Date: 2024-06-02 12:52 pm (UTC)I get you, yeah, they didn't think about that. But the result is just appalling lol. At least I'm glad to see the fandom always hated those episodes and wrote fics bashing Jarvik etc. I've even seen anti Ben Steed memes now!
Yeah, they kept making shit up as they went, the problem is they kinda acted like the opposite, you know? So the ending was a mess, of course. Writing has changed in many ways, yeah. It's more normal now to have completely serialised shows rather than episodic, but also I feel like writing often gets limited these days because they know it's very hard to get renewed, idk.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-03 06:55 am (UTC)Bashing Jarvik and Ben Steed, haha! Serves them right. Can't believe someone like Servalan would act like that with a man 😂
I think in the past with shows, each episode was self contained with little to no reference to other episodes. But now it's more continuous and consistent in terms of character behaviour and storylines.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-03 03:06 pm (UTC)Yes, exactly, there's more continuity. Sometimes that lack of continuity was awful back in the day. I'm thinking Voyager, where sometimes I would've loved to see some consequences for the horrible things that happened to the crew, because often they'd just act like nothing significant had happened on the next episode. But this has downsides, too. If an episode is truly bad nowadays, it's hard to dismiss and move on because it affects everything that comes after. It wasn't as important with episodic shows!
no subject
Date: 2024-06-04 09:58 am (UTC)I suppose it's 50:50- continuity is good in one way and bad in another 😋 I think I'd prefer continuity though. They say that life doesn't make sense, so we need our fiction to make sense instead!
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