Comments on: Blake’s 7 – Blake

By: Joe Dredd

Joe Dredd — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:44:40 +0000

A magnificent blog entry. I can’t believe I haven’t commented on it before.

“I am glad we never learn what happened to Blake because it leaves me room to ponder. I notice that, like Travis, it’s his left eye that was injured, enabling me to imagine a vengeful confrontation between the two.” – except that Travis died at Star One. However, I do wonder if Blake was involved in some of the rebel fighting on Earth mentioned in “Rumours of Death”. He tells Tarrant that “most” of what happened to him hadn’t happened on Earth, but that leaves the door open a little. Shrinker threatens to damage Avon’s eye at the start of the episode. He points a laser probe at Avon’s left eye, and it is Blake’s left eye that is damaged. Of course, the comparison with Travis is a good one because it was intentional. Gareth Thomas didn’t want to work with an eye patch – too cumbersome or too obvious, I can’t remember which – but the scar is much better, I think. I love the way his one eye bulges as he speaks to Deva: “Indulge me.”

By: Francis Shailes

Francis Shailes — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:18:18 +0000

“A man who trusts can never be betrayed. Only mistaken”
“For what it’s worth I have always trusted you. From the very beginning.”

By: Frank Shailes

Frank Shailes — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 04:52:10 +0000

In reply to Iain Walker.

The heroes did achieve a few things – including saving humanity from being eradicated by the Andromedans, destroying Ultraworld, ensuring the races of Cephlon, Keezarn and Auron survived in new star systems, etc. Though they did consign those Time Squad gene banks to being lost in space…

By: Frank Shailes

Frank Shailes — Sun, 10 Dec 2023 04:43:28 +0000

No, it would’ve been horrifically cheesy if Servalan had swanned in at the last moment to crow over their deaths. Thank goodness we got a more mature ending.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:38:11 +0000

In reply to John Charlton.

I agree with everything you’ve said here.

I was seven years old when this was first broadcast, having seen the entirety of seasons C and D. This ending was an absolute shock, particularly the death of Vila.

I still remember the stunned silence in our front room as we all took in what had just happened. While it’s a great piece of television still find it painful to watch even today!

This and Orbit are two of my most memorable TV moments. At its best, Blake’s 7 was *very* good indeed.

By: James Paul

James Paul — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 20:37:22 +0000

There are fans of Blake,s Seven who strongly believe Blake in the finale is a clone Blake similar to the 2 clone Blake,s seen in series 2 episode weapon . I know the Blake Avon shoots down is not a robot copy aka an android like the android Avalon in series 1 episode Project Avalon or like the android first and fourth Drs in Dr Who or any other sci-fi series or sci-fi film where android copies are utilised . I have by and large always believed Blake in the series D finale to be the genuine Blake but I suppose the Blake Avon shoots dead could have been a clone like the 2 Blake clones from season 2 episode Weapon

By: Iain Walker

Iain Walker — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:55:07 +0000

I have thoroughly enjoyed this muttering through B7 – its always good to get another perspective on this show. Blake is a great ending – it was all for nothing, no matter how good your plans, things sometimes just happen to mess them up and big issues are often decided by misunderstandings and poor judgement. Almost no other show does this – it’s rare to have a TV show avoid cliches this much. I love that it dismantles the “hero” as the center of the universe story. Turns out, our “heroes” didn’t matter and achieved nothing. It’s why we are still talking about it 40 years later. This has been a great blog and I am sorry its over…..

By: googum

googum — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 21:21:53 +0000

I have to wonder: if the producers had known this was the final episode, would it have ended this way? I feel like an American version probably wouldn’t have had the stones for everyone to die, or would’ve undercut it with them “inspiring” others to finish their fight.

By: AndrewP

AndrewP — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:50:12 +0000

I don’t bother to follow many blogs – I don’t usually have the time and so many do just re-iterate a lot of the same points to me – but this revisit of “Blake’s 7” which has been so vividly performed I’ve never even had to get the DVDs off the shelf has been *immensely* enjoyable. Not just to be reminded of a wonderful series that was a major part of my formative years, but to know that it can still capture the enthusiasm and engagement of a new generation of fans – and fans who can look at old things in new ways and keep the spirit of discovery so enjoyable even for somebody such as myself who was there from Day One.

This is terrific writing. Yes – “Blake” isn’t a pleasant watch. Yes – the characters we’ve invested in deserve better. Does this make it a bad ending to the series? No – it doesn’t. And it’s lovely to see you vocalise that.

Utterly delighted that you’ve discovered a passion for miniature work. So many amazing series for you still to unwrap in that respect – if you liked the Scorpio material including the crash on Gauda Prime, go and check out some of the SHADO Mobile sequences in “UFO”. Quite brilliant, even today…

And – yes, yes, yes – follow up on the work of the people who gave you this brilliant show that’s given you so much enjoyment. I’d put Chris Boucher’s “Star Cops” near the top of the list if you’re looking for recommendations.

Thank you *so* much for this – it’s been a real joy. I don’t recall “Blake’s 7” having return to life so vividly for me in years!

All the best

Andrew

By: John Charlton

John Charlton — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:47:34 +0000

Great review, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your take on B7. It’s refreshing to see it through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time.

Just imagine the impact of that ending in 1981 when there was no internet, no spoilers, no way of knowing in advance that any of these characters were going to die. The impact was heightened by it being broadcast on December 21st, what a contrast to the rest of the the saccharine-sweet Christmas TV schedule.

I was 8 at the time and I’m told I was inconsolable that night, especially over the death of Vila.

It’s a fitting, if brutal, end and one of the most memorable TV moments of my life.