Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4540 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-01
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 650 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Blake's 7 was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake of Star Wars, though with a grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created by Doctor Who veteran Terry Nation remain involving.

The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven.

On the DVD: Blake's 7, Series 1 presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC's Doctor Who DVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good as Blake's 7 is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted.

Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract from Blue Peter in 1978 with Lesley Judd making a Blake's 7 bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs. --Gary S Dalkin

DVD Description
Episodes:

• The Way Back
  
• Space Fall
  
• Cygnus Alpha
  
• Time Squad
  
• The Web
  
• Seek-Locate-Destroy
  
• Mission To Destiny
  
• Duel
  
• Project Avalon
  
• Breakdown
  
• Bounty
  
• Deliverance
  
• Orac

Special Features

• The Making of Blake's 7 - Part One
  
• 2 out-takes plus missing scene 1 Robot, 2 Flat Feet and a blooper
  
• Lesley Judd shows us how to make a Liberator teleport bracelet on Blue Peter
  
• Trailer for Series 2
  
• 4 Easter Eggs
  
• 9 character introductions
  
• Scene selection
  
• Commentary tracks on 3 episodes: Project Avalon, Space Fall, Seek Locate Destroy (each featuring a mixture of the following people involved in the series: David Maloney, Stephen Greif, Jacquelin Pearce, Sally Knvette, Michael Keating, Brian Croucher, Chris Boucher and Jan Chappell)

DVD Technical Information:

• Total running time: 650 mins
  
• Region Code: 2

Customer Reviews

The Beeb's definitive space opera
Yes, it's low budget. Yes, the sets wobble. Yes, the costumes are naff. But Blake's 7 has that certain 'something' that makes it special and something to be cherished. The first of the four seasons isn't the best, but it does have a freshness and harder edge that gradually diminished as the show went on. What makes this show so watchable are it's characters who are wonderfully brought to life by some excellent actors. The Blake's 7 universe is a very dark and pessimistic one, the total opposite of Star Trek, an Orwellian 1984 scenario in space with the heroic Blake and his crew bravely fighting against overwhelming odds. The first episode, The Way Back is one of the finest episodes of the entire series and one of the most adult too (Blake being convicted on false charges of child molestation) and the other'7' main characters being far from clean cut and wholesome, consisting of thieves, murderers, smugglers and the cynical and cold Avon, played by Paul Darrow who would become the show's most memorable character. Other great episodes this season include Seek Locate Destroy which introduces the two main rivals, Servalan and Travis, Duel and the cliffhanger finale Orac. A superb start to one of the finest sci-fi shows ever made.

Blakes 7 Series 1 - A fine start to a wonderful series
Blakes 7 is the classic SCI-FI series. In series 1 there are thirteen episodes chartering the life and times of a band of renegades against the mighty Terran Federation. In a similar way to `A Clockwork Orange' Blake's 7 finds spectacle not in law abiding honour but the honour of criminals. The future according to this series is depressing: of technology racing ahead but mixed with conflict and corruption. This type of thing tells you something about the kind of series you are watching - no compromise SCI-FI. The series starts off quite slowly and it might be possible for the less discerning viewer to reject Blake's 7 early on. However it's not long before the major strengths of this series become apparent. These are as follows:
1. Superbly original and imaginative storytelling
2. Intricate and realistic characters
3. Plausible use of low budget effects
4. Magnetic draw on the viewer to keep on watching
5. Touches of genius sprinkled through the episodes
6. The music
Blake is a strong leader, already well known for previous exploits. With a piece of good fortune they capture the superstarship the `Liberator'. One aspect of Blake's 7 that will keep you on the edge of your seat is the tense action and risk taking. Blake takes some formidable risks throughout the series. Early on when nobody is confident with the teleport system Blake volunteers to try it out, risking his particles being spread across the universe. Success hangs by the slenderest of threads. The characters are marvels:
1. Blake - a natural leader, honourable, humane, idealistic and moralistic
2. Avon - a leader, highly intelligent, high ability with computers, materialistic
3. Villa - a coward, very criminal, breaks into anything, comic
4. Jenna - a pilot/smuggler, interacts a lot with Blake, dependable
5. Cally - a telepathic alien, not criminal, has good insight into problems
6. Gan - murderer, strong man, gentle giant, practical
The interaction of these characters is one aspect that makes the series a star. The arguments, conflicts and different ways of seeing things is plausible and done to great effect. Against this band is the immensely powerful Federation headed by Servalan and the renegade space commander Travis. Balancing these two unequal forces against each other has been a compromise for writers since fiction began. The reality of a quick annihilation stops the show and a sequence of very low probability events doesn't fool anyone. If I might be so bold as to criticise such a great achievement as Blake's 7 this is the area I would find fault. In `Mission to Destiny' Blake leaves with an empty box carrying what he thinks is a neutrotope, they run into an asteroid belt and run low on the energy required to maintain the force wall and power the drives. They are stuck. Teleport range along with other facts has been stated as 1000 spatials. A few moments later they teleport back to the other ship? Cally says `How did you get here'. How indeed.
The often quoted low budget effects of Blake's 7 have often been criticised. I find them a little uninspiring but this doesn't take much away from such a quality series. They are cleverly arranged to minimise their impact and often they could be realistic, realism not always being that flashy. Sometimes when the crew teleport down to an military installation which is a gas works, it seems like Blake is a time traveller coming back to Earth from his ship. It does reduce a little of the flavour but it's the consequence of not having the budget of Star Wars. Blake's 7 is a bit like one of those classic fibreglass cars from the seventies: cheap, pretty and handles beautifully but the rain leaks in and there isn't a V12 engine. In this series there are also some wonderful ideas that add a lot. Gan's brain implant and its malfunction, the super computer Orac, the different weapons. The Liberator with the computer Zen and his character. The idea that computers might be condescending and sarcastic. Then there's Travis with an artificial limb which a weapon has been installed. The mutoids that serve him, vampires requiring a serum to sustain their life. There is so much in this series from the scary `Time Squad', the spectacular `Seek-Locate-Destroy' to ice planets and obsolete space ships. Each episode is beautifully crafted as Blake's band weaves their way around the Federation, hitting centres, stealing prized equipment with their future hanging by a thread. The acting is excellent throughout and the characters seem lifelike. One trait of Blake's 7 is in the use of female characters - this is no male dominated series. A class act, most SCI-FI pales against this level of quality.

Regret , is part of being alive , just keep it a small part
Blake`s 7 was an awesome British sci-fi series, which was first shown in the UK the same night Star Wars premiered in London ( 2nd Jan 1978 ). Created by Terry Nation , father of the Daleks from Dr Who , it follows a band of outlaws who continually try to thwart the plans of a futuristic totalitarian government , the Federation.

The real magic of the show , which resulted in a cult following and a viewing figure of about 10 million for the final episode ( a lot back then ) , is its diverse , yet beautifully and wittingly scripted characters. The sniping relationships mixed with subtle humour , the way out and over the top costumes and wobbly , yet lovingly crafted and original sets and spaceship models made the show unmissable. Both good and bad guys alike are flawed. And no-one is really safe , neutron blaster in hand or not. The show was forever being replaced with new blood. This sugar and spice approach gives it a wonderfully rich flavour , which keeps you coming back for more. And like a fine wine it just gets better with age , tasting just as good today as it did back then. This is a real sci-fi delicacy that any fan of the genre should try at least once.

The DVDs in this boxset , unfold to reveal a lovingly crafted set of images with a nice background. This luscious creativity continues , as you play the first disc. The CGI opening scene , and the style of menu on each one , really get you in the mood for the viewing pleasure that lies ahead.

Both the sound and image quality on each disc are superb. The commentaries are nice and long and very enjoyable. For anyone who remembers the show with fondness , this boxset will surely take pride of place in thier DVD collection.