StuOz Seven escaped criminals, "Blake's 7", steal a spacecraft that escapes the "law".An essential part of my childhood, better acted and scripted than Battlestar Galactica (1978), but not as good as Star Trek (1966).These days it is rather normal for a complete bastard to have the lead in a TV series but back in 1978 we only got that situation in soaps like Dallas (1978). This is partly what made Blake's 7 so special to me back then, in the last two seasons we had the cold blooded "Avon" take command of the ship and having such a creep as the star of the show was a massive draw-card!Blake's 7 is one of my very favourite British TV shows ever but I think the reason it is not included in my Top Ten TV Show list is that cast members keep vanishing as early as season two (we got a new Travis this season after the first/better Travis left). And, frankly, the last two seasons has a couple of really annoying new cast members to fill the gap left by Blake.This series shined best in the first season of 13 episodes. Everything from the cast to the scripts was spot on at the start. But the whole series is still very watchable, even if I sometimes cringe at some of the actors who joined the show after season one.

screenman 'Blakes 7' was a piece of British television sci-fi that seemed to arrive in belated answer to 'Star Trek'.The characters were very heavily defined, and in a way, rather stereotypic of their time. The titular Blake was a man with a price on his head who had contrived, with assistance from the other characters, to hijack the ultimate spaceship. Able to outrun or outgun anything else in the known universe, they were destined for weekly adventures. Yet all the while, a furious and vengeful authority wanted both them and their vessel back. And so...The ensemble were a competent cast of young British actors of the day, though none seemed to have their careers boosted by the show. Which was surprising because it quickly became quite popular in a 'cult' kind of way. Most of the weekly plots were pretty straightforward, but they were lifted above the ordinary by a witty and intelligent script. Unfortunately, it often became pretty verbose, which inclined it towards a better-educated and more long-winded audience.The biggest let-down was the same as always. Made for British TV, it secured only a minimalist budget. The theme-music was tinny, the sound-effects tacky, and special effects juvenile. The sound-effects were especially and typically dismal. No effort had been made to make the ship interior 'feel' like a ship interior, as the makers of 'Star Trek' managed to do from the outset. There was no ambiance whatsoever. The crew stumped about on what was manifestly floor-panelling, and operated equipment that was clearly made from boxes. The ship had no substance. The series was filmed in a studio, and it looked and sounded as if it was set in a studio. I, for one, would have settled for a slightly less intelligent script and more intelligent effects. This was, after all, a post 'Star Wars' production.Eventually, for me, the more intelligent components failed to compensate for the crappy sets and effects.

roland-rockerfella I have been watching Blake's 7 for more than 30 years, and it only keeps getting better with time. I remember watching this show as a kid and thinking, wow. As an adult I came to appreciate the true magic of this show. Sure the sets and special effects are basic, even comical at times (one spaceship was 2 hairdryers glued together and spray painted red).But all that doesn't matter, the stories and characters are timeless. The first episode "The way Back" is a real nut buster covering such dark material as mass murder, child abuse and lifelong sentence's on prison planets. The main characters of Blake and Avon are 2 of the best characters ever to reach the small screen. A must see for dark gritty sci-fi.

mwillows2 "Blakes 7"... well.. where do you start, but back when it aired, it was my favourite show as a child, making my parents tune in to watch it every week, it had wonderful characterisation, delightful banter between Avon and Vila, definitely the best characters of the show. Paul Darrow, what an inspired choice, being a Shakespearean actor, took the role and made it his own. Snarling, sniping... Everyone remembers the wobbly sets... who didn't from that time, didn't Dr Who have the same problem?... Unlike Dr Who you didn't know who was to be knocked off that week? Gan being killed off in the second series at that time, who saw it coming?Years later, having them all on DVD, thank god someone decided to release them, fantastic!!! And they do get better after multiple viewings... up there with firefly, and Babylon 5, best British sci fi? Not now, back in 1978, god yes!!! it was dark, bleak, a kind of robin hood and his merry men in space, but with bickering... what a good idea, bot like star trek, where everyone is nice to each other..One word. Brilliant