Blake's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

[auntiehill]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

I remember reading some interview with Paul Darrow, and he said, about Avon, "Inside every cynic is an idealist screaming to get out."

I think part of Avon really wanted to believe that maybe he could be "free" someday, and so he took up Blake's fight--for far less idealistic reasons--but he did see it as a "win or die" proposition.

But, after all that happened to him, particularly after learning about Anna, I think he just snapped. There's a slow and noticeable change taking place throughout the series; compare the Avon in "Duel" or "Horizon" to the Avon in "Stardrive" or "Orbit." By the end, he's pretty much lost it.

 

[Candlelight]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Compare the Avon in "Duel" or "Horizon" to the Avon in "Stardrive" or "Orbit." By the end, he's pretty much lost it.

It depends. Throughout all the episodes, Avon has done whatever needed to be done by any means necessary. Whether that's helping people to live or letting people die, he's still the same.

But I agree, towards the end he was leaning towards the 'let them die' end of the spectrum.

 

[RandyS]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

This is one of those SF TV series that I've meant to see, but haven't been able to. The fact that it STILL isn't on DVD in the United States outside of a Region 2 import will probably continue to keep me from seeing it in the near-future. And that's too bad.

And here I was beginning to feel like I was alone in this. I've wanted to see this too, and have never been able too.

 

[Marc]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

This is one of those SF TV series that I've meant to see, but haven't been able to. The fact that it STILL isn't on DVD in the United States outside of a Region 2 import will probably continue to keep me from seeing it in the near-future. And that's too bad.

And here I was beginning to feel like I was alone in this. I've wanted to see this too, and have never been able too.

Beats my why there's the reluctance from the BBC to release it outside of the U.K.

Don't they think it would sell enough to justify the PAL to NTSC conversion (but is it really that hard?)

Or is the $@#$@%% Nation estate again?

 

[auntiehill]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

No, they really don't think it's worth the cost and effort. I tried looking up that very question not long ago, and ran across the "cost efficient" line.

Of course, there are other ways to see it....but....*cough*... I wouldn't know anything about that.

 

[Marc]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

No, they really don't think it's worth the cost and effort. I tried looking up that very question not long ago, and ran across the "cost efficient" line.

Of course, there are other ways to see it....but....*cough*... I wouldn't know anything about that.

You'd think Netflix they could do easily - simply get some-one to covert to NTSC (in the process of converting them to what ever format Netflix uses) - nice and simple and with the cost of producing discs etc etc.

 

[saturn5]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Personally I always like the Villa/Avon relationship, especially in the ep where they're on the shuttle about to crash (would Avon really have?)

Loved this series as a kid, looking at it now it does seem dated as does classic Dr Who up to at least the sixth Doctor but it does have great power in the writing and acting. V, Dr Who and BSG have very successfully been rebooted, surely Blales 7 cries out for the same?

I always wondered what happened to the prison ship guards but I'll take your word for it. Hands up to the designers of the Liberator for one of the greatest spaceships ever!

 

[Starkers]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Oh yes Avon clearly would have...

Although in fairness if I was Villa I'd have smashed Orac's box for putting the bloody idea in Avon's head!

 

[Count Zero]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

That was one of the greatest moments of the series, Avon searching for Villa to kill him. I actually screamed, "Oh no, he wouldn't!" at the screen. He would have, though, no doubt about that. Many of the stories are really twisted, just like life. That's what I appreciate so much in the series. Its fundamental realism - silly looking costumes, laughable special effects notwithstanding.

 

[Marc]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

That was one of the greatest moments of the series, Avon searching for Villa to kill him. I actually screamed, "Oh no, he wouldn't!" at the screen. He would have, though, no doubt about that. Many of the stories are really twisted, just like life. That's what I appreciate so much in the series. Its fundamental realism - silly looking costumes, laughable special effects notwithstanding.

Though occasionally they would ruin it with an ending that was inappropriate C.F Children of Auron.

Have to admit I have have a fondness for the exchange between Orac and Avon at the end of Headhunter.

"Yes Masterrrrr".

 

[saturn5]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Avon (as the shuttle begins to go into a terminal orbit)"Orac, how much more weight do we have to lose?"

Orac; "In order to survive we must jettison an additional 70 kilos"

Avon; (desperately looking around the ship)"70 kilos! What the hell weighs 70s kilos?"

Orac; (dispassionately) "Vila weighs 80 kilos"

Avon; (pauses a moment then pulls his gun from it's hiding place)-calling softly; "Vila....?"

The great thing about this is that Vila has already run and hid, having worked out exactly what Avon's solution to their problem will be

 

[Candlelight]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

This is one of those SF TV series that I've meant to see, but haven't been able to. The fact that it STILL isn't on DVD in the United States outside of a Region 2 import will probably continue to keep me from seeing it in the near-future. And that's too bad.

And here I was beginning to feel like I was alone in this. I've wanted to see this too, and have never been able too.

Beats my why there's the reluctance from the BBC to release it outside of the U.K.

Don't they think it would sell enough to justify the PAL to NTSC conversion (but is it really that hard?)

Or is the $@#$@%% Nation estate again?

Whoever got the contract to produce Blake's 7 on DVD in America wanted to do an entire series box set, with all 52 episodes shoved onto 10 discs, and said they weren't even considering single season releases.

Naturally - and I agree with the Nation Estate on this one - they pulled out.

 

[Marc]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

And here I was beginning to feel like I was alone in this. I've wanted to see this too, and have never been able too.

Beats my why there's the reluctance from the BBC to release it outside of the U.K.

Don't they think it would sell enough to justify the PAL to NTSC conversion (but is it really that hard?)

Or is the $@#$@%% Nation estate again?

Whoever got the contract to produce Blake's 7 on DVD in America wanted to do an entire series box set, with all 52 episodes shoved onto 10 discs, and said they weren't even considering single season releases.

Naturally - and I agree with the Nation Estate on this one - they pulled out.

It was probably meant the Nation Estate wasn't going to get as much money as frankly diddums to them. The man is dead, he was the one who did the work and earned the money. The estate is just a leech.

 

[RandyS]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

No, they really don't think it's worth the cost and effort. I tried looking up that very question not long ago, and ran across the "cost efficient" line.

Of course, there are other ways to see it....but....*cough*... I wouldn't know anything about that.

Yeah....me neither.......

 

[Starkers]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Avon (as the shuttle begins to go into a terminal orbit)"Orac, how much more weight do we have to lose?"

Orac; "In order to survive we must jettison an additional 70 kilos"

Avon; (desperately looking around the ship)"70 kilos! What the hell weighs 70s kilos?"

Orac; (dispassionately) "Vila weighs 80 kilos"

Avon; (pauses a moment then pulls his gun from it's hiding place)-calling softly; "Vila....?"

The great thing about this is that Vila has already run and hid, having worked out exactly what Avon's solution to their problem will be

It's just the look on Keating's face as he hears Orac say the words!

The weird thing is that as a kid I actually thought Avon knew all along about the dwarf star material, it was only rewatching it as an adult that I realised that he's quite patently going to dump Villa out of the airlock...

 

[KB24]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

I have to catch up on this thread. Every 10 years my Dad and I have a rewatch marathon. You try and allow enough time to forget and go in with fresh eyes, but each time its been tougher and tougher!

We started up again around Thanksgiving I think, but when I got sick and didn't visit my parents house for awhile, he went ahead with out me! This is the first time we're watching it on dvd, too, instead of our old vhs. They were seriously due for retirement!

 

[Candlelight]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Beats my why there's the reluctance from the BBC to release it outside of the U.K.

Don't they think it would sell enough to justify the PAL to NTSC conversion (but is it really that hard?)

Or is the $@#$@%% Nation estate again?

Whoever got the contract to produce Blake's 7 on DVD in America wanted to do an entire series box set, with all 52 episodes shoved onto 10 discs, and said they weren't even considering single season releases.

Naturally - and I agree with the Nation Estate on this one - they pulled out.

It was probably meant the Nation Estate wasn't going to get as much money as frankly diddums to them. The man is dead, he was the one who did the work and earned the money. The estate is just a leech.

Well, the Hancock Estate then.

 

[Sindatur]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

No, they really don't think it's worth the cost and effort. I tried looking up that very question not long ago, and ran across the "cost efficient" line.

Of course, there are other ways to see it....but....*cough*... I wouldrn't know anything about that.

Not in NTSC that I was able to find, only in PAL, and you have to convert it yourself, if you do obtain it, which is a very long process, with greatly reduced quality, unless you happen across a certain software converter, which doesn't degrade the quality, but, I wouldn't know about that.

Returning home next week and hopefully be watching more epsiodes soon

 

[Candlelight]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

No, they really don't think it's worth the cost and effort. I tried looking up that very question not long ago, and ran across the "cost efficient" line.

Of course, there are other ways to see it....but....*cough*... I wouldrn't know anything about that.

Not in NTSC that I was able to find, only in PAL, and you have to convert it yourself, if you do obtain it, which is a very long process, with greatly reduced quality, unless you happen across a certain software converter, which doesn't degrade the quality, but, I wouldn't know about that.

Returning home next week and hopefully be watching more epsiodes soon

If you had QuickTime Pro you could export out an image sequence at 25p then bring it back in at 29.97 and export out a new quicktime, then if you had video editing software you just need to apply a speed ramp on it to bring it back into sync with the audio.

Or buy yourself a standards converter.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Re: Balke's 7 Revisitation (rewatch)

Most DVD players in the UK support NTSC as well as PAL (probably because Japan is region 2, but uses NTSC). I was sort of surprised to find out that DVD players in the US generally only support NTSC, although I believe that HD TVs can usually display both NTSC and PAL signals. Therefore, a hacked or imported Japanese region 2 DVD player *might* do the trick if you have a suitable HD TV.