The original plot centred around Blake, a member of the resistance against an oppressive Federation. In early episodes Blake discovers his past role within the resistance, which had been wiped from his mind through coercion. Blake finds himself amongst a group of resistance fighters when they are set upon by armed enforcers. He is the only survivor, and through a series a false allegations is banished to an off world penal colony. On route, the transporter encounters an alien ship, which manages to repels any attempts at capture. The guards force Blake and some other detainees aboard to investigate. The ship, which was previously considered a floating hulk, comes alive, and transports the new crew to safety. The alien ship is highly advanced, and with it Blake and his crew set about harrying the Federation.

Blake’s 7 will soon be making a return to our screens after an absence of over 20 years. The plan is to resurrect the show in a similar way to Battlestar Gallactica and Dr Who, whose new incarnations have been well received.

Blake’s 7 was a BBC sci fi series that ran for four seasons during the late 70s/early 80s. It was quite unlike any sci fi drama at the time, owing a lot of its inspiration to 1984, with its dystopian vision of mind control and constant surveillance.

The original plot centred around Blake, a member of the resistance against an oppressive Federation. In early episodes Blake discovers his past role within the resistance, which had been wiped from his mind through coercion. Blake finds himself amongst a group of resistance fighters when they are set upon by armed enforcers. He is the only survivor, and through a series a false allegations is banished to an off world penal colony. On route, the transporter encounters an alien ship, which manages to repels any attempts at capture. The guards force Blake and some other detainees aboard to investigate. The ship, which was previously considered a floating hulk, comes alive, and transports the new crew to safety. The alien ship is highly advanced, and with it Blake and his crew set about harrying the Federation.

What set the show apart was the depth of its characters. Most, if not all, of the crew members encounter a conflict of interest at some point. Besides from Blake, they were all criminals, and so it comes as no surprise that some crew members wish to use the ship for themselves. This results in a series of fraught interactions, and interesting character dynamics which really set the show apart.

I will never forget the final episode. Blake doesn’t feature as a major character after series two, as he’s believed lost. But on the final episode, the crew members finally come across Blake, and in the process of saving him, were encountered by the Federation. Avon, believing that Blake had sold them to the enemy, shoots him. The last scene of the series involves a fire fight, where all of the crew members bar Avon are shot, and the doors of the chamber slam shut, leaving us with a final glance at Avon surrounded by enemy troops. Gun fire is heard, but nothing more than that. No screams, not even a whimper. And on that enthralling, but equally frustrating, note the show ended. If it was any other show, then it would’ve been almost unthinkable to kill of so many characters in one fell swoop. Full blown massacres simply aren’t shown on screen, whether they involve blood or not. And at this point in the life of the show, when the characters were fully matured, with over 50 episodes of back story, it’s truly gut wrenching.

But this is what the new writers will have to contest with. Will they pick up where the show left off? Or inhabit Blake’s world some years into the future? Its anyone’s guess, but it promises a welcome return to a type of dystopian sci fi, with its dark drama, that all fans of the genre hanker for.

As if a new tv show wasn’t enough, a new radio series is planned for the coming months. I’m equally excited about this, because while the tv show is being undertaken by Sky, the radio series is a BBC venture, and as far as radio dramas go, the BBC has a very high pedigree. Just think of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Hopefully it will help replicate some of the pull of the other great sci fi series at the moment – Dr Who. If so, we could find ourselves well and truly in a sci fi renaissance, built on solid titles which are all in their own way vibrant and unique, even after years of absence.

Blake’s 7 will soon be making a return to our screens after an absence of over 20 years. The plan is to resurrect the show in a similar way to Battlestar Gallactica and Dr Who, whose new incarnations have been well received.

Blake’s 7 was a BBC sci fi series that ran for four seasons during the late 70s/early 80s. It was quite unlike any sci fi drama at the time, owing a lot of its inspiration to 1984, with its dystopian vision of mind control and constant surveillance.

The original plot centred around Blake, a member of the resistance against an oppressive Federation. In early episodes Blake discovers his past role within the resistance, which had been wiped from his mind through coercion. Blake finds himself amongst a group of resistance fighters when they are set upon by armed enforcers. He is the only survivor, and through a series a false allegations is banished to an off world penal colony. On route, the transporter encounters an alien ship, which manages to repels any attempts at capture. The guards force Blake and some other detainees aboard to investigate. The ship, which was previously considered a floating hulk, comes alive, and transports the new crew to safety. The alien ship is highly advanced, and with it Blake and his crew set about harrying the Federation.

What set the show apart was the depth of its characters. Most, if not all, of the crew members encounter a conflict of interest at some point. Besides from Blake, they were all criminals, and so it comes as no surprise that some crew members wish to use the ship for themselves. This results in a series of fraught interactions, and interesting character dynamics which really set the show apart.

I will never forget the final episode. Blake doesn’t feature as a major character after series two, as he’s believed lost. But on the final episode, the crew members finally come across Blake, and in the process of saving him, were encountered by the Federation. Avon, believing that Blake had sold them to the enemy, shoots him. The last scene of the series involves a fire fight, where all of the crew members bar Avon are shot, and the doors of the chamber slam shut, leaving us with a final glance at Avon surrounded by enemy troops. Gun fire is heard, but nothing more than that. No screams, not even a whimper. And on that enthralling, but equally frustrating, note the show ended. If it was any other show, then it would’ve been almost unthinkable to kill of so many characters in one fell swoop. Full blown massacres simply aren’t shown on screen, whether they involve blood or not. And at this point in the life of the show, when the characters were fully matured, with over 50 episodes of back story, it’s truly gut wrenching.

But this is what the new writers will have to contest with. Will they pick up where the show left off? Or inhabit Blake’s world some years into the future? Its anyone’s guess, but it promises a welcome return to a type of dystopian sci fi, with its dark drama, that all fans of the genre hanker for.

As if a new tv show wasn’t enough, a new radio series is planned for the coming months. I’m equally excited about this, because while the tv show is being undertaken by Sky, the radio series is a BBC venture, and as far as radio dramas go, the BBC has a very high pedigree. Just think of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Hopefully it will help replicate some of the pull of the other great sci fi series at the moment – Dr Who. If so, we could find ourselves well and truly in a sci fi renaissance, built on solid titles which are all in their own way vibrant and unique, even after years of absence.