dickinsons | Entries tagged with currently watching

I haven't posted much since the beginning of the month so I want to share some stuff I've been doing.

What I've been reading: I recently read Juan Rulfo's Pedro Páramo in one sitting, and I loved it! It's the second time I've read magical realism, and I loved both works so I'm interested in reading some more. If you like non-linear narratives and multiple POVs this might be the book for you, but it can get pretty confusing.

What I've been watching: I'm continuing with my very slow first watch of Stargate SG-1. I'm currently watching season 6! I really, really liked season 5. I thought it was brilliant, and Meridian was a very memorable episode. Season 6 feels very different, but I'm already fond of Jonas.
It's just weird that they keep doing missions without the Stargate!

What I've been making: these are the fic I've posted this month (I'm just realising they're all rated E... I was going through something, I guess):

( three fics )

What I'm doing now: I'm participating in 2 events:

fandomgiftbasket and

iddyiddybangbang. In my basket I'm requesting fanworks for Blake's 7, Stargate SG-1 and Farscape, but I've already done some fills that are from other fandoms. I love that you can request different types of fanworks here! In the case of the other event, I'm trying to finish at least one of my iddy B7 fics, but I also have a very, very iddy idea for a Farscape fic, so we'll see what I do in the end lol.

I 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:

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!

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:

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.
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?

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.

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 :)

Last night, I finished watching Blake's 7's first season for the first time, so I thought I'd write a review for it. I even went on a bit of an icon hunt and found a very appropriate one to use today, lol!

Before anything else, I want to mention some resources I've found useful to illustrate the review: this image library for the screenshots, and this transcript site for the quotes. So, without further delay...

General thoughts on the season

I'm not new to sci-fi, but it's been a while since I last watched British sci-fi from this era. I find it so, so charming! I decided to check the first episode, just to see if it seemed interesting, and I was hooked almost immediately. What a way to start the show! The dystopian setting was brutal from the start, and very intriguing. Seeing so many people get killed, both rebels and those who were trying to help within the system, as well as the horrid accusations and fabricated evidence against Blake, was a really effective way of showing how ruthless this Federation is. And as a Trekkie, it's a great contrast to the utopian vision of the future presented by TOS.

I love darker sci-fi, but it's almost shocking to me to see a take like this in a show from this era. They really didn't hold back with the violence and darker themes!

Furthermore, I really love most of the characters, including both the Liberator crew and the villains. Avon and Vila in particular had very clear personalities established from their very first scenes, and from the start I wanted to see more of them and how they would all work together. Vila's first line was especially memorable:

Easy! Take it easy! I hate personal violence, especially when I'm the person.

As the crew finally got the Liberator, the show moved on to a more purely episodic nature, where every week they visit a different planet or space station, have a new problem, aid new people... Some episodes were more memorable than others, but overall I thought this season was very well-written, entertaining and addictive! The humour is really good, scenes kept making me laugh to the point where I'd rewatch some to laugh again, and show them to my friends ~~(who put up with each of my niche obsessions)~~. Initially, I didn't expect the show to be that funny, so it was a pleasant surprise.

The characters

Blake had a very interesting backstory presented in the first episode, although they haven't really developed it much further. He got his memory erased, then he finds out he used to be the leader of a group of rebels, then he steals the Liberator with a group of prisoners and there we go, he's a leader again! It's okay, though. I know this is how episodic shows work! He's a charismatic leader, and he keeps proving over and over the values he holds dear, inspiring his crew as well. Gareth Thomas had a really great voice, by the way. It adds to the character!

I love how funny Vila is as the cowardly thief of the group. He gets some of the best lines in the season, and some very funny scenes. I can't find this scene on YouTube, but here's the quote:

Hello there. How are you? Excuse me wandering about your premises but I wonder if you can help me. I'm an escaped prisoner. I was a thief but recently I've become interested in sabotage, in a small way you understand, nothing too ambitious, I hate vulgarity, don't you? Anyway, I've come to blow something up. What do you think will be most suitable? [Throughout this babbling the guards have been looking back and forth at him and each other in disbelief. Blake slips up behind them from the other side and takes out one of the guards. Vila bashes the other with his tool box.]

I want to mention that his and Avon's banter is some of the best in the show, too. I love when they get to have scenes together!

I had high hopes for Jenna in her first episodes, as she showed a strong personality, and her previous experiences in space were very useful at times. For example, she saved the day on Bounty! She was also the pilot from the start, which is very cool. I like that she's experienced and tough. However, I keep thinking she could be more developed, that there's something missing from the character. Perhaps she could have more interesting interactions with the others. For example, with Cally! I do hate when there are several women on a show but they don't seem to have very meaningful interactions, you know?

Even before starting the show, I'd heard about Avon being a very popular character in the fandom. Once I met the character, I instantly understood. And the more episodes I watch, the more I get it! He's smart but pedantic, always planning a betrayal but also saving the day, and his banter with Blake and Vila is always delightful. At times you just want to slap him, but I like that in a character, lol. I guess Paul Darrow is still charming people to this day, because it's definitely working on me.

In a way, he's the character that really keeps showing you that this crew isn't your regular sci-fi one. No, this is a darker type of show, your crew members are all criminals, and they could betray you anytime. Especially Avon.

My dear Cally! From the moment she showed up in that red suit and pointing at the others with a rifle I knew I'd love her, and so I did. She's a very special character, being an alien with telepathic abilities, and even though she didn't get to use them very often this season, Jan Chappell's acting really conveyed she was different all the time. She really fits with the rest of the crew, even if she joined them later, and her backstory and abilities make her really interesting to me. I'm very fond of the character, as you can tell.

I like Gan, but I feel like he could've been more used throughout the season. He has an interesting backstory, having murdered somebody and then received that chip in his brain, but he's mostly used as the Liberator crew's strong guy. One thing I enjoy about the character is that he always seems very caring with the rest, which maybe you wouldn't expect from him at the start.

Listen, Zen has been useful (at times) to the crew, and some of his scenes were really funny, if only for the reactions of the others. But I have a feeling Orac is gonna be way more fun, judging from what little I've seen from him, so I can't wait to see how that goes. Sorry, Zen, for talking about Orac when I was supposed to talk about you.

My dear Servalan! I've been fascinated by her from the start, even before watching the show I'd heard of her. I'm not sure where I first heard about her, perhaps as a Farscape fan I first knew of her through comparisons to Grayza. But she's so much better than Grayza, what can I say? I love her all-white look, her short, black hair, her cold eyes. And I'm just obsessed with how ruthless she is and how little she seems to care, even less than Travis himself. She's also a bit of a seductress, which I like. I can't wait to see more of her!

Travis is such an enjoyable character to watch. Ruthless, obsessed with revenge against Blake, and wearing that insane leather outfit. And his hand can shoot! He's mostly at his best when he's next to Servalan, who, as I said earlier, turns out to be much more ruthless than him, but I also enjoyed the character in Duel, where you can see his relationship with the mutoids. In spite of his pride, he turns out to be a pathetic character over and over, as he's defeated by Blake and his reputation in the Federation keeps getting worse. I do wonder, though, how much he can change in the future. In every episode so far he's had the same exact goal, and behaves mostly the same way, so maybe he could get repetitive. But so far, I'm really loving the character.

Other thoughts

As you can see, I tend to focus on characters the most. But after this whole commentary on all the main characters, I want to mention some other thoughts I have:

The intro is really fun, and I like the music of the show in general.
The whole season was written by Terry Nation, which is impressive, but afaik this isn't true for the rest. I wonder if that affects the quality or consistency of the show going forward, or if it's not always a bad thing. We'll see!
The costumes go from horrible to really fun. I'm sorry, Avon, but what the HELL is this?

I loved the lore about the mutoids, and I hope to see more of them in future episodes.
Knowing about the Blake 7 Wars now is crazy. I know there were more reasons behind it, and that, apparently, the complaints against slash weren't the reaaal cause of it, but... How was anyone supposed to NOT do slash for this show?

Did I forget anything or anyone? Feel free to tell me if I did! As you can tell, I'm a bit obsessed with the show at the moment, so I don't have a lot of bad things to say about it. We'll see what I think about the next seasons. Thanks for reading!!

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Entries tagged with currently watching

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Blake's 7 S2 - Review

Blake's 7 S1 - Review

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