[This file is from the Sf-Lovers Archives at Rutgers University. It is provided as part of a free service in connection with distribution of Sf-Lovers Digest. This file is currently maintained by the moderator of the Digest. It may be freely copied or redistributed in whole or in part as long as this notice and any copyright notices or other identifying headers or trailers remain intact. If you would like to know more about Sf-Lovers Digest, send mail to SF-LOVERS-REQUEST@RUTGERS.EDU.] The BLAKE'S 7 Abbreviated Programme Guide Compiled by James J. Poltrone (acsgjjp@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu) (ugpoltr1@joey.cs.buffalo.edu) Versions 3 and 4 by Michael Portuesi (portuesi@sgi.com) Format of guide entries Story #) Title Original air date, Running length, Writer, Director Brief plot summary (2-3 lines). [Changes to regular crew] Notable appearances (mostly of interest to Doctor Who fans) BLAKE'S 7 Series created by Terry Nation CAST Roj Blake Gareth Thomas (1-26,39,52) Jenna Stannis Sally Knyvette (1-26) Kerr Avon Paul Darrow (2-52) Cally Jan Chappell (4-39) Vila Restal Michael Keating (1-52) Olag Gan David Jackson (2-18) Del Tarrant Stephen Pacey (27-52) Dayna Mellanby Josette Simon (27-52) Soolin Glynis Barber (40-52) Zen (Liberator) Peter Tuddenham [voice] (3-39) Orac [voice] (13), Peter Tuddenham [voice] (14-52) Slave (Scorpio) Peter Tuddenham [voice] (40-52) Servalan Jacqueline Pearce (6-51) Travis Stephen Greif (6-13), Brian Croucher (14-26) CHARACTERS The Original Crew: Blake: Earth native. Crime: trying to overthrow the Federation. Punishment: At first, mind-wiped and put on trial, made to confess error of his ways, rebellion fizzled. Later, after being recruited by new rebellion, framed for child molestation and sentenced to life imprisonment on Cygnus Alpha. Highly trusting and idealistic. Avon: Earth native. Crime: embezzlement. Tried to break the Federation. banking cartel. Galaxy's second best computer programmer (the first was the person who caught him). Had psychopathic tendencies, which worsened as show continued, especially in fourth season. Enlisted in attempt for freedom from prison ship London by Blake. Vila: Earth native. Crime: theft. Vila is a chronic thief and alcoholic. Met Blake while waiting in holding cell for trip to Cygnus Alpha (Vila was in the process of liberating Blake's watch). Terrible coward, but very intelligent at times. Jenna: Crime: smuggling. Also met Blake while waiting to go to Cygnus Alpha. Had great fondness for Blake. Gan: Crime: murder. Killed the Federation guard who had raping his girlfriend. Has limiter implant that prevents him from violence. Friend of Vila's from prison ship London. Cally: Auron native. Guerrilla fighter. Telepathic (can only send to other life forms, two way with other Aurons). Was only survivor of an anti-Federation guerrilla mission, and could not return to her world due to her failure to complete the mission. Liked Blake and believed in his cause, so joined crew. Zen: Alien computer that runs the Liberator's functions. Zen's primary duty is to preserve the ship, and will do so to the point of rejecting orders which are certain to result in the ship's destruction. Replacements/Additions: Tarrant: Ex-Federation starship pilot. Stole a Federation ship and found the Liberator in the wake of the Galactic War. Having nowhere else to go, joined crew. Very impulsive and headstrong. Dayna: Earth native. Father offended Federation somehow, was in exile. Weapons specialist extraordinaire. Has blood feud with Servalan, who murdered her father. Soolin: Joins crew after death of Dorian, original owner of Scorpio. Excellent gunmaster, also has blood feud with Federation. Semi-assassin. Orac: Galaxy's most powerful (if ornery) computer. Has a carrier wave capability that can link with and control other computer systems across light years of space. Would much rather spend time contemplating the mysteries of the Universe than helping mere mortals. Slave: Master computer of the Scorpio. Very meek, and has severe inferiority complex. Can be very humorous at times. The Bad Guys: The Federation: Very Big-Brotherish. Earth and all the other planets ruled by the Federation are controlled by drugged air, food, water, and nothing is done without approval from the Federation. See George Orwell's "1984" for a good idea of what life is like in this time period. Servalan: The most evil person in the Galaxy. Has ceaselessly worked her way up the Federation hierarchy through double-crossing, backstabbing, and murder. Will stop at nothing until she achieves total rule of the galaxy. Travis: Servalan's right hand man. Has blood-feud with Blake, who nearly killed him. Arm was destroyed when Blake fired upon him; it has been replaced by a robotic arm with an embedded blaster gun. SERIES A (First Season - Winter-Spring 1978) Producer: David Maloney Script Editor: Chris Boucher 1) The Way Back 2-Jan-78 0:47 Terry Nation Michael E. Briant Former Federation resistance leader Roj Blake learns that his memories have been selectively tampered with by the Federation, and is being accused of crimes he did not commit. [intro. Blake, Jenna, & Vila] 2) Space Fall 9-Jan-78 0:52 Terry Nation Pennant Roberts Blake's attempt to seize control aboard the Federation prison ship London meets with failure. The London encounters the abandoned Liberator, which Blake and Jenna manage to control over after Zen kills several members of the London crew. [intro. Avon, Gan, & Zen (Liberator)] 3) Cygnus Alpha 16-Jan-78 0:52 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer Blake tries to rescue the rest of the prisoners from the prison colony on Cygnus Alpha, and from the clutches of the high priest Vargas. Brian Blessed as Vargas 4) Time Squad 23-Jan-78 0:52 Terry Nation Pennant Roberts A ship whose crew had been put in suspended animation is picked up by the Liberator, while Blake attempts to destroy the Federation communication base on Saurian Major. [intro. Cally] 5) The Web 30-Jan-78 0:52 Terry Nation Michael E. Briant The Liberator runs into a web created by psionic means; the crew meets the race of genetically-engineered Decimas. Blake learns of the attempt at genocide being waged against the Decimas by the creator of the Web. 6) Seek--Locate--Destroy 6-Feb-78 0:52 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer The crew steals a Federation deciphering unit, only to leave Cally behind. Travis finds her alive and holds her hostage as a trap for Blake. [intro. Servalan & Travis] 7) Mission to Destiny 13-Feb-78 0:52 Terry Nation Pennant Roberts Someone aboard the Ortega, en route to its home planet Destiny, is killing the crew members one by one. John Leeson as Pasco 8) Duel 20-Feb-78 0:52 Terry Nation Douglas Camfield The Liberator, low on power, engages three Federation ships in combat. Before the battle reaches its conclusion, the goddess Sinofar suspends the battle and sets Blake and Travis in a one-on-one death battle on a forest planet. 9) Project Avalon 27-Feb-78 0:52 Terry Nation Michael E. Briant Another freedom-fighter, Avalon, is held hostage by Travis in a Federation detention cell, and is recovered by Blake's crew. Travis devises a plan to destroy Blake and his crew using Avalon. Glynis Barber as a Mutoid 10) Breakdown 6-Mar-78 0:52 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer Gan's limiter malfunctions, and the crew go to space station KX-72 to have it repaired, at the risk of being discovered. The neurosurgeon notifies the Federation and delays surgery long enough for Federation forces to arrive. 11) Bounty 13-Mar-78 0:52 Terry Nation Pennant Roberts The crew land on the planet Lindor, where a deposed leader has been held in exile. Blake and Cally ask him to return to his people. Meanwhile, a ship in distress is helped by the Liberator, only to encounter a group of bounty hunters who seek to turn Blake and the Liberator over to the Federation. 12) Deliverance 20-Mar-78 0:52 Terry Nation Michael E. Briant The Liberator crew brings back the survivor of a ship that blew up while delivering some medical supplies to Ensor, the survivor's father. Jenna is captured on the planet, while the survivor of the destroyed ship forces Blake to leave the planet by holding Cally at gunpoint. On the planet, Avon is considered a god by a priestess leading her people there. 13) Orac 27-Mar-78 0:47 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer The Liberator crew fly to Aristo to deliver the supplies to Ensor, in exchange for radiation drugs and the computer Orac, which Ensor gives to Blake before he dies. Orac predicts the destruction of the Liberator. [intro. Orac] SERIES B (Second Season - Winter-Spring 1979) Producer: David Maloney Script Editor: Chris Boucher 14) Redemption 9-Jan-79 0:50 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer The crew encounter the System, builders and original owners of the Liberator (known to them as Deep Space Vehicle-2). They disable its defense systems in an attempt to try to get their craft back. A sister ship (DSV-1), in pursuit, is destroyed by Orac. 15) Shadow 16-Jan-79 0:50 Chris Boucher Jonathan Wright Miller Blake wants to enlist the aid of the Terra Nostra, an organized crime organization, in order to help them against the Federation. 16) Weapon 23-Jan-79 0:51 Chris Boucher George Spenton-Foster Servalan uses clones of Blake in order to get information on a new weapon - Imipak, from one of Blake's friends. 17) Horizon 30-Jan-79 0:50 Allan Prior Jonathan Wright Miller The crew are put to work in a mine on the planet Horizon after teleporting down and being captured by Federation guards. Avon considers leaving the planet by himself with the Liberator. 18) Pressure Point 6-Feb-79 0:49 Terry Nation George Spenton-Foster The Liberator returns to Earth, and Blake wants to capture Federation Control, in the belief that it would cripple the Federation. An important episode for the series, and also one of the best. [Gan dies] 19) Trial 13-Feb-79 0:51 Chris Boucher Derek Martinus Travis is put on trial for the deaths of civilians. Blake goes to a barren planet to think about the loss of his fallen comrade. 20) Killer 20-Feb-79 0:51 Robert Holmes Vere Lorrimer The Liberator crew journey to a planet where a friend of Avon's works, in order to get TP crystals. The derelict spaceship K-47 is retrieved, and an on-board virus spreads throughout the complex. 21) Hostage 27-Feb-79 0:51 Allan Prior Vere Lorrimer The Liberator is ambushed by several Federation ships. Travis captures Blake's cousin. He claims to want to join Blake's crew. 22) Countdown 6-Mar-79 0:51 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer The crew travels to the planet Albian in search of information on the location of the Federation computer system Star One. Avon defuses a bomb with the help of Del Grant, who had thought Avon deserted his sister. Important background information for Avon's character. 23) Voice From The Past 13-Mar-79 0:49 Roger Parkes George Spenton-Foster A "time bomb" planted in Blake's memory by the Federation has been stimulated. He goes to an asteroid to meet with the legendary Shivar and Governor Le Grand, who also wish to overthrow the Federation. 24) Gambit 20-Mar-79 0:52 Robert Holmes George Spenton-Foster The crew search for the only man who knows the location of Star One - in Freedom City. At the Big Wheel gambling casino, a miniaturized Orac helps Avon and Vila win large amounts of money. John Leeson as Toise 25) The Keeper 27-Mar-79 0:51 Allan Prior Derek Martinus In their quest for information on the location of Star One, the crew search for a member of the royal family of Goth who has an amulet containing a brain print. 26) Star One 3-Apr-79 0:48 Chris Boucher David Maloney The crew reach Star One, only to find it is already being overtaken by Andromedan forces. Avon kills Travis. The Federation computer is destroyed. Blake is seriously hurt. An important episode for the series. [Departure of Blake and Jenna] SERIES C (Third Season - Winter-Spring 1980) Producer: David Maloney Script Editor: Chris Boucher 27) Aftermath 7-Jan-80 ~0:50 Terry Nation Vere Lorrimer Severely damaged by combat in the Galactic War, the Liberator disperses its crew while it repairs itself. Avon lands on a planet and is rescued by the daughter of a former revolutionary. Priceless scenes between Avon and Servalan. One of the best episodes of the series. [Intro. Dayna] Richard Franklin as First Trooper 28) Powerplay 14-Jan-80 ~0:50 Terry Nation David Maloney Avon and Dayna return to the Liberator, only to find it has been claimed by Tarrant. The rest of the crew are rescued by a medical ship and eventually brought back to the Liberator. [Intro. Tarrant] 29) Volcano 21-Jan-80 ~0:50 Allen Prior Desmond McCarthy The crew search for a new home base on the planet Obsidian, whose volcanic outbursts, and a nuclear device buried in the planet's core by its inhabitants, protect the planet from being overtaken. Servalan employs an elaborate plan to take control of the Liberator. Michael Gough as Hower 30) Dawn Of The Gods 28-Jan-80 ~0:50 James Follett Desmond McCarthy Orac steers Liberator off course to investigate a black hole, and Liberator lands on the artificial planet Crador. The only episode where you get to see Liberator parked. 31) The Harvest Of Kairos 4-Feb-80 ~0:50 Ben Steed Gerald Blake One of Servalan's former subordinates, critical of her inability to catch the Liberator, is given an opportunity to catch it. Kairopan crystals harvested from the planet Kairos are taken aboard the Liberator after an attack run on the Federation freighter transporting them. Servalan boards the Liberator for the first time. 32) The City At The Edge Of The World 11-Feb-80 ~0:50 Chris Boucher Vere Lorrimer Crystals would be provided for Liberator's weapon systems, in exchange for Vila's help in obtaining a treasure on the planet Keezarn. Vila finds a gateway to another world. Vila's best episode in the series. Colin Baker as Bayban the Berserker Valentine Dyall as Norl 33) Children Of Auron 19-Feb-80 ~0:50 Roger Parkes Andrew Morgan Servalan introduces a plague to the people of Auron, and the crew journey to Cally's homeworld to save them. Servalan uses this plan to get the Liberator, and to make clones in her image. An important episode for the development of Servalan's character, and much background information on Cally's character. 34) Rumors Of Death 25-Feb-80 ~0:50 Chris Boucher Fiona Cumming Avon wishes to hunt down the person who killed his former girlfriend, Anna Grant. He finds her alive, now working as an agent of the Federation. An important episode for the development of Avon's character. 35) Sarcophagus 3-Mar-80 ~0:50 Tanith Lee Fiona Cumming The crew find a drifting ship, whose artifacts have a strange effect on Cally. An alien avoiding death has possessed her, and Avon has to break the spell. 36) Ultraworld 10-Mar-80 ~0:50 Trevor Hoyle Vere Lorrimer The crew go to the planet Ultraworld, only to discover it is a mental reprocessing plant. Vila saves the crew by telling riddles to Orac. 37) Moloch 17-Mar-80 ~0:50 Ben Steed Vere Lorrimer Tarrant is teleported into a spaceship bound for the invisible planet Sardos, which the crew of Liberator discover after nearly crashing into it. Servalan is interested in the matter replication technology developed by the inhabitants of the planet. 38) Death-Watch 24-Mar-80 ~0:50 Chris Boucher Gerald Blake The crew visits the Teal and Vandor systems, currently at war with each other. A representative of each system is chosen for a battle. Tarrant kills the warrior who killed his brother. 39) Terminal 31-Mar-80 ~0:50 Terry Nation Mary Ridge Avon secretly takes over the ship and flies it through a field containing enzymes which eat away at the Liberator's hull. They reach the planetoid Terminal, where Avon believes Blake is residing. Another important episode, both for the series and for Avon's character. [Appearance by Blake. Destruction of Liberator (and Zen).] SERIES D (Fourth Season - Fall-Winter 1981) Producer: Vere Lorrimer Script Editor: Chris Boucher 40) Rescue 28-Sep-81 ~0:50 Chris Boucher Mary Ridge Dorian, owner of the spaceship Scorpio, rescues the crew from Terminal. He tries to enlist the help of Orac to build a teleport mechanism for Scorpio and attempts to kill the crew. [Intro Scorpio (and Slave) & Soolin. Death of Cally.] 41) Power 5-Oct-81 ~0:50 Ben Steed Mary Ridge The Scorpio, rendered inaccessible by an elaborate security system, is stolen by a native of the planet who seeks to escape. Avon completes the Scorpio teleport system with the help of Orac. 42) Traitor 12-Oct-81 ~0:50 Robert Holmes David Sullivan Proudfoot The planet Helotrix is falling easily to attack from a new Federation pacification drug, as are many other star systems. Tarrant and Dayna teleport down to the surface to investigate. Servalan, deposed of her presidency in the Federation, is back under the alias Commissioner Sleer. 43) Stardrive 19-Oct-81 ~0:50 James Follett David Sullivan Proudfoot After attempts to match the course of an asteroid for cover result in collision with the asteroid and severe damage to Scorpio's engines, the crew search for an experimental stardrive developed by an ex-Federation designer who is now working for a terrorist group. One of Avon's more vicious episodes. 44) Animals 26-Oct-81 ~0:50 Allen Prior Mary Ridge Dayna meets an old friend, Justin, to seek help with synthesizing an antidote to the Federation pacification drug. Servalan learns of Scorpio's visit to Justin's planet and of the genetic research he is performing there. 45) Headhunter 2-Nov-81 ~0:50 Roger Parkes Mary Ridge The crew rescue a protege of Ensor's who instead turns out to be his android creation seeking to unite with Orac. Orac verbally slams Avon near the end of the episode. 46) Assassin 9-Nov-81 ~0:50 Rod Beacham David Sullivan Proudfoot Servalan hires an assassin to kill the crew by luring them to a trap set aboard the assassin's ship. Richard Hurndall as Nebrox 47) Games 16-Nov-81 ~0:50 Bill Lyons Vivienne Cozens The scientist Belkov has stripped a planet of a valuable crystalline substance and tries to double cross both Servalan and the Scorpio crew in an attempt to escape with the private stash he has collected. He is aided by his computer, an amalgamation of a standard Federation computer and a pleasure planet gaming machine. The only episode where Scorpio fires its weaponry. 48) Sand 23-Nov-81 ~0:50 Tanith Lee Vivienne Cozens Servalan investigates a planet which contains an unknown substance of potential usefulness whose investigation team mysteriously died. The crew learn of Servalan's trip and decide to investigate for themselves. Interesting scenes between Tarrant and Servalan. 49) Gold 30-Nov-81 ~0:50 Colin Davis Brian Lighthill A plan to steal a shipment of atomically converted gold being transported from the planet Xeroc aboard a domestic passenger ship winds up turning into a major loss for the crew. Note the aluminum pie plates which comprise the interior of the passenger ship's cargo hold, and the plastic-covered Xerox machine which Avon inspects for the ship's records. 50) Orbit 7-Dec-81 ~0:50 Robert Holmes Brian Lighthill The scientist Egrorian offers Avon a powerful weapon, the Tachyon Funnel, in exchange for Orac. Servalan, who is behind the transfer, prepares a plan to double-cross Avon that would give her both the Tachyon Funnel and Orac. Avon nearly murders Vila. An important episode for Avon's character, for this reason. 51) Warlord 14-Dec-81 ~0:50 Simon Masters Viktors Ritelis Avon tries to form an alliance to produce an anti-pacification drug by negotiating with the leaders of three warring star systems. The Xenon base is sabotaged by explosives and a deadly virus. Tarrant falls in love with the daughter of the saboteur. 52) Blake 21-Dec-81 ~0:50 Chris Boucher Mary Ridge After Orac traces Blake's trail to the planet Gauda Prime, Avon and crew travel there, leaving the destroyed Xenon base behind. Scorpio is attacked on approach to the planet and crash lands on the surface of Gauda Prime. Avon and crew travel in search of Blake, and discover that he may have sold out to the Federation. Another important episode for Avon and the series. [Destruction of Scorpio (and Slave). Death of Blake and possibly remainder of crew.] Bibliography / References a) Blake's Seven Season Guide, by Barbara E. Warne, Fantasy Empire #7, #8, c. 1983 New Media Publishing, Inc. (Partially reprinted in Fantasy Empire Collector's Edition #2, c. 1983 New Media Publishing, Inc.) b) Blake's 7 Episode Guide for Series One, by Cherry Steffey, Fantasy Empire Limited #3, c. 1984 New Media Publishing, Inc.) c) Terry Nation's BLAKE'S 7: The Programme Guide, by Tony Attwood, c. 1982 Tony Attwood. Published by Target Books, Ltd., 1983. Special thanks to Robert Chao, Henry Chatroop, Kit Kimes, and Louis Singh for providing additional information. BLAKE'S 7 Fan Clubs (US) SCORPIO 4064 Appleby Lane Richton Park, IL 60471