Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3469 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 650 minutes

DVD Description
Contains all the episodes from Series 2 of Blake’s 7:

• Redemption
  
• Shadow
  
• Weapon
  
• Horizon
  
• Pressure Point
  
• Trial
  
• Killer
  
• Hostage
  
• Countdown
  
• Voice from the Past
  
• Gambit
  
• The Keeper
  
• Star One

Special Features

• Total Running Time: 620 minutes
  
• Region Code: 2

Synopsis
In the third century of the second calendar, after the chaos of the intergalactic wars, a powerful dictatorship has risen to dynamic proportions and engulfed most of the populated worlds. Liberty has become a crime punishable by death, and the majority of the population lives in a drug-induced state of docility. This tyrannical authority fulfils George Orwell's prophecy of 1984 to its most terrifying extremes. This government is known as the Federation. Each world has its share of rebels who either turned to crime or the Resistance. This is the story of one such group of rebels, led by a man named Blake. His group is largely composed of escaped convicts, thieves and smugglers, who are thrown together by chance. this five-disc set contains the entire Series 2, including digitally remastered episodes and extras.

Customer Reviews

Blakes 7 Series 2 - More adventures in space
After the gripping first series Blakes 7 moves forward with tremendous energy into new exploits. One of the first things noticeable is the new series has been written by various individuals. This is no longer purely Terry Nation's work and you wonder whether the quality might suffer. Happily the storytelling is as good as ever and since the budget was presumably larger the sets look more impressive. There are more models and less use of public works, quarries etc. The cast also has a fine wardrobe and this adds to the less Spartan mood of this series. Despite the new look some aspects of the series still remain the same. The high-risk lifestyle is still there as expected. The arguments between the crew are still there and if anything are now worse. One change in the series is the character Travis now has a different actor. Like many I don't like the new Travis as much as the old. The original was stocky and menacing, occasionally showing his temper he gave the aura of being dangerous. The new one is tall and always seems to be jumping around, constantly losing his temper. It seems to me that the new Travis might have been better cast as a crewmember for Blake's outfit.
The imaginative writing continues with episodes like `Shadow' at the intriguing Space City with SCI-FI entering the world of drugs. A B grade technicians invention in `Weapon' has tantalising possibilities as Blake's crew ride their luck for all its worth. This series is the first to have fatalities of main characters, a characteristic that continues to the end if I'm not mistaken. Avon in particular uses his blaster regularly as combat is a regular feature of the series. My favourite episode is `Gambit' which is such a classic it should be shown at Christmas. I remember this episode from when I was still at school and for me it's the jewel in the crown of the second series. At the other end of the spectrum although I did quite like some of `Voice from the past' the part where Travis is revealed, now potentially able to control the enormously potent Liberator and Orac, then tells the crew to teleport him is for me a low point in credibility. Travis would hardly trust his archenemies to teleport him into space or a nearby sun. This is a minor glitch and a trait of the Blake's 7 series, sacrificing a little realism but making an intriguing show. Avon is a character I particularly like in this series. He wants the Liberator for himself and seems to be constantly on the verge of going alone. In `Horizon' he ends up being the last man standing and you almost wonder whether he will take off with the ship and its treasures with Orac. His relationship with Blake is strained and he treats Vila like a monkey. Vila is another fine character; always worried about his personal safety this comical character finds the lifestyle terrifying running around with his box of tricks amid the explosions. All in all a fine series that solidly builds upon the super platform of the original series. Originality and intrigue on a grand scale Blake's 7 delivers yet again.

Much better than some would have you believe
Many fans of Blakes 7 consider Season Two to be the weakest. I cannot agree with that assessment. It is by far and away the most self-confident and unified of the four. Building on the strengths of Season One, Season Two provides us with a much bigger picture, as we are shown considerably more of the workings and machinations of the Terran Federation than we were in Season One. One gets a genuine feeling of its size and strength and the hopelessness of Blake's cause is thrown into sharp relief, especially in the episode "Power Point", which ends with the series' first significant death. The arc plot (still a relatively new concept in 1979) concerning the search for Star One provides a solid backbone to the season, something missing from the water-testing first season and the slightly directionless and meandering third season. Character development is on the increase here and the arguments between Blake and Avon represent some of the best scenes in the series' history ("Star One" springs readily to mind). The Avon/Villa double-act is also given its first real outing here, notably in the episodes "Killer" (one of the season hilights) and the wonderfully bizarre "Gambit". On the downside, the female leads get slightly less to do than in the previous season, and one can understand why Sally Knyvette decided to relinquish the role of Jenna at the end, although Jan Chappell's Cally remains suitably intriguing and alien. All in all, my favourite Blakes 7 season, despite a couple of weak episodes, and one that deserves to be remembered much more fondly than it is.

Twelve episodes of genius, and one of derangement
The story-driven second season of Blake's 7 was perhaps its most successful, and probably the most satisfying of the series. From the resolution in 'Redemption' of Orac's prediction at the end of the first season that a ship looking suspiciously like the Liberator would be destroyed to the apocalyptic cliff hanger with which 'Star One' finishes, the storylines are gripping and the pace remorseless througout.

Aside from the satisfying character development and the insights we are offered into the machinations of the B7 universe, many episodes (I would say 'all', but I will try and retain some objectivity) are gems in their own right. 'Shadow' focuses on Our Heroes interactions with the decidedly dubious Terra Nostra, with much hand-wringing as to the legitimacy of their own actions. Avon proves he is neither stupid nor expendable in 'Horizon', but can't help himself from bailing out the rest of the crew, whilst 'Pressure Point' sees the death of the first crew member and leaves the rest of the crew to reflect on whether Blake's leadership qualities are the consequence of altruism or egotism ('We did it! We did it! I did it!'). The court martial of 'Travis Mark 2' in 'Trial' is an opportunity for Brian Croucher to take centre stage and deliver a bravura performance, whilst 'Countdown', as the name suggests is a planet-hopping race against time which nevertheless allows for some interesting (or 'fascinating', as Orac would say) character development for Avon which is revisited in Series 3's 'Rumours of Death'. The supporting cast continue to put in outstanding performances, with 'Killer's Dr. Bellfriar being one of many season highlights.

Whilst the sight of Travis wrapped in toilet roll in 'Voice from the Past' may have jarred some contemporary viewers' sensibilities, nothing could have possibly prepared them for what was to follow in the next episode. Steady your nerves with a Betazade and prepare yourself for 'Gambit's head-on collision between Louis XIV costuming, 'Hamlet', 'Cabaret', speed chess, soup-spitting, a cat on loan from 'Dr. No', and an armful of strontium grenades. 'Gambit' also features the first and, lamentably, only appearance from the true star of the series, Jarriere. Impressively tonsured and ample of nose, you'll be hanging on his every word. Disappointingly, rumours of the remaster containing the legendary lost 'penguin' footage appear to have been misleading.

Buy without hesitation, and treasure this set as the masterpiece it is.