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blakes7-d Digest Volume 00 : Issue 129
Today's Topics:
[B7L] Food, Folks & Fun
[B7L] Avon and Aliens
Re: [B7L] Avon and Aliens
Re: [B7L] favourite quotes
Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
FC: Re: [B7L] Gareth Thomas
Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
[B7L] First Impressions: "Redemption"
Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Redemption"
[B7L] Duel soundtrack
Re: [B7L] NYC get together
[B7L] Recruitment Tactics
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 19:46:00 -0400
From: "Dana Shilling" <dshilling@worldnet.att.net>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Food, Folks & Fun
Message-ID: <00b001bfb7b5$75eea180$cf614e0c@dshilling>
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Now that I've made my way through all the tapes for the first time, some
patterns emerge that I haven't seen discussed:
1. Although there are "print outs" of some information (some of which appear
to be human-readable, some not) and something that looks like a large Palm
Pilot in a late episode and is used to read data, I don't think there is any
canon view or reference of anybody reading anything for pleasure.
2. Although there are several board games, I don't think there were any
views of anybody playing cards, even in the "Gambit" casino.
3. There are numerous instances of drinks being served to crew members, (the
entire "green drinks" question has, however, been explored here and in other
venues) and some instances where they are eating snacks of some kind, but I
don't think there is any canonical instance of a proper meal. Nor is it at
all clear where the food comes from, who cooks it, etc. (although they must
have paper plates--hard to imagine any of that lot ever washing a dish,
except for Cally for about two weeks when she gave up), whether it is
necessary to get fresh supplies or if Zen synthesizes foodstuffs, etc.
4. However, food--including "tropical fruit" and "coffee from real beans" is
associated with the Federation, where the worse the bad guy, the more
elaborate the meal--e.g., the synthesized food provided to Servalan and
therefore incidentally to Tarrant in "Sand," Grose's dinner party for
Servalan in "Moloch."
5. The Federation seems to provide more real job satisfaction to its members
than the Rebellion, doesn't it? It's hard to recall many instances of crew
members enjoying ANYTHING, of any kind, in any of the 52 episodes.
-(Y)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 06 May 2000 15:18:12 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Avon and Aliens
Message-ID: <39149A24.1530E0E2@netzero.net>
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Alison wrote:
>Remember that in the UK introverts are in a majority, so I'm the one who can
>claim the moral high ground for being an oppressed minority.
Is that because all the Es got embroiled in criminal activity and got
shipped off to Austalia on "The London" ?
Or rushed off to The New World to do E things like 'form a new nation'?
And finally: then how do you explain such flamboyand exports as Mich
Jagger, David Bowie, and Elton John?
nit-picking pat p
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 06 May 2000 16:59:28 -0700
From: mistral@ptinet.net
To: B7 List <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon and Aliens
Message-ID: <3914B1E0.ECDBDE47@ptinet.net>
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PatPat wrote:
> And finally: then how do you explain such flamboyand exports as Mich
> Jagger, David Bowie, and Elton John?
Flamboyance is often a compensation for introversion. Elton John
is almost certainly an introvert; David Bowie might be. There are
a great many introverted entertainers.
Nit-picking back,
Mistral (the flamboyant recluse)
--
I won't get to get what I'm after till the day I die.--Pete Townsend
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 23:36:14 -0600
From: "Ellynne G." <rilliara@juno.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] favourite quotes
Message-ID: <20000506.233616.-88891.1.rilliara@juno.com>
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Vila: I'm in H--l and it's full of Avons
Also, heard a good one recently with two characters who were rather like
Avon and Vila.
While engaging in a questionable activity that could get them killed if
_anyone_ finds out what they're up to -
Vila-avatar: What do we do if we get caught?
Avon-avatar: You hold them off while I go for help.
Ellynne
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------------------------------
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 23:30:23 -0600
From: "Ellynne G." <rilliara@juno.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Message-ID: <20000506.233616.-88891.0.rilliara@juno.com>
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On Sat, 06 May 2000 14:39:28 +0200 Steve Kilbane
<steve@whitecrow.demon.co.uk> writes:
> > Edmund and Dayna - somewhat on the homicidal maniac side sorts
> whose
> > blind fathers die tragically. Also, each seems to have a mellower
> > sibling.
>
> Pardon? Edmund was a trecherous little weasel with a talent for
> sowing
> discord and hate. Dayna's vindictive, but openly and honestly. :-)
I didn't say it was an _overwhelming_ resemblance. Just mentioning a few
things they had in common (con't let Blake and Avon hog all the glory).
Besides, maybe Edmund (his own arguments about free will and the stars
aside) would have been more like Dayna if his dad had allowed him to play
with explosives as a child and slaughter the neighbors. Repression has
such ugly consequences....
Besides, I already stretched things by comparing Avon to Lear. Would
Avon put up with small, court jester type guy after he'd had a falling
out with everyone else he knew? Especially one who didn't mind
criticizing him?
Oh. Right.
Well, did Avon get stuck trying to survive in some middle of nowhere
wilderness (braving the elements, as it were) while homicidal females
he'd previously thought he could deal with tried to hunt him down and
....
Oh. Right.
Well, wouldn't you at least expect Avon to be sane enough to realize the
guy with the lost eye problem - and plenty of people hunting to kill him
- was in as bad a fix as he was and that they should work together
instead of ....
Forget I even mentioned it.
But at least Avon doesn't know anyone named Goneril.
Heh, heh, heh.
(Sorry, Kathryn, no one else will get it, but I couldn't resist).
Ellynne
________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 09:28:47 +0100
From: "Alison Page" <alison@alisonpage.demon.co.uk>
To: "lysator" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Message-ID: <003c01bfb7fe$5eadfc20$ca8edec2@pre-installedco>
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>> Edmund and Dayna - somewhat on the homicidal maniac side sorts whose
>> blind fathers die tragically.
Surely Dayna is supposed to be Miranda, with Hal as Prospero, and the entire
Sarran population as Caliban.
I think Aftermath was definitely written from 'the Tempest': The mostly
off-camera Andromedan war is literally 'the Tempest' that wrecks the ship
and turns them all into castaways and Avon is whassisname the prince who
comes and takes Miranda off the island
No Ariel unfortunately
Alison
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 07:03:11 -0400
From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com>
To: "INTERNET:blakes7@lysator.liu.se" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Message-ID: <200005070703_MC2-A404-B00D@compuserve.com>
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Steve K wrote:
>Edmund was a trecherous little weasel with a
>talent for sowing discord and hate.
He could be quite sweet, though.
Yours in the ranks of death!
Harriet
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 07:04:08 -0400
From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com>
To: "INTERNET:freedom-city@blakes-7.org" <freedom-city@blakes-7.org>,
"Blake's 7 (Lysator)" <BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: FC: Re: [B7L] Gareth Thomas
Message-ID: <200005070704_MC2-A404-B014@compuserve.com>
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Judith wrote re Gareth at Fab on Tuesday:
>Phone number is 0161 236 2019 You may/may not have to
>call and collect your tickets in person (sources seem to vary
> on this point). The address is 111 Portland St, Manchester.
What they said to me was that, as the tickets were free, they weren't very
keen on paying for posting them out, which seemed very reasonable. So I
went and picked a couple up. At the moment, I think I have one double
ticket (ie for two people) spare, as several of us went and got them.
Harriet
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 10:15:47 -0700
From: Nick Moffitt <nick@zork.net>
To: lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] B7 and Shakespeare and Stuff
Message-ID: <20000507101547.A28423@zork.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
begin Alison Page quotation:
> I think Aftermath was definitely written from 'the Tempest': The
> mostly off-camera Andromedan war is literally 'the Tempest' that
> wrecks the ship and turns them all into castaways and Avon is
> whassisname the prince who comes and takes Miranda off the island
Oyy, first Forbidden Planet and then The Black Hole and now
this!
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 21:11:37 +0100
From: "Ariana" <ariana@ndirect.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>, "Judith Proctor" <Judith@blakes-7.com>
Subject: [B7L] First Impressions: "Redemption"
Message-ID: <00b201bfb861$07704540$39ed07c3@ariana>
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Our *#!@ video decided to record BBC1 instead of BBC2, so we didn't get
"Redemption" on tape; we just watched it as it aired. It's a pity, as it's
an episode I'd like to see again -- and *not* at 11:50 when I've just
stumbled out of bed! Between this and the fact that we had guests this
week-end, this is going to be a rather patchy review.
I really liked this one. Lots of nice character interaction, some
interesting themes, and the return of Travis and Servalan. Plus, of course,
some foreshadowing of the Liberator's next mission (I'd have to be living
under a large rock not to know about Orac).
As usual, we have two interwoven threads. On the one hand, there is Ensor's
rescue, and on the other, the Avon-as-a-god storyline. I felt that the first
aspect had some weaknesses. Tony Caunter was convincing neither as a
delirious man, nor as a hostage taker. Maybe I'm just too used to seeing him
as Roy Evans in EastEnders.
In fact, the hostage taking bit went on too long, IMHO; there was no obvious
reason why Cally couldn't have overpowered the weakened Ensor from the
start. And there's that Liberator-buggers-off-just-when-the-away-team-needs-
teleport gizmo again. However, these weaknesses were amply counterbalanced
by
the scenes with Servalan and Travis, and the mysterious revelations about
Orac. I'm looking forward to next week's episode already!
While Servalan was telling us about Orac, and Ensor was providing this
week's excuse for the Liberator to scamper off, the other plot took us to a
frozen wasteland inhabitated by cavemen and vestal virgins. The cavemen
didn't have much going for them, but their existence was amply explained,
and I rather liked their Ice Age huts. Although their motives for capturing
Jenna were obscure, they provided a suitably expendable backdrop for the
main action, namely Avon's sudden promotion to godhood.
Okay, I've complained before about oft-used scifi themes cropping up in
Blake's 7, so I just have to mention that this is definitely one of them.
Our SciFi Hero turns up in a backward culture and is mistaken for a deity.
However, I liked this version a lot. The usual tendency is for Our Hero to
give his would-be worshippers a lecture about false gods (or have I watched
too much Star Trek?), but Avon's approach made more sense, IMHO. A long
argument with Meegat would have achieved nothing since he knew he would be
on his way by the end of the episode. The whole idea of the seed ship was
nice, too, though Avon, Vila and Gan seemed to be jumping to a lot of
conclusions as to its purpose.
Character stuff:
================
My assumption is that Meegat picked Avon because he was the first to speak
to her. But on the whole, she didn't make a bad choice. One thing that
struck me is how gentle Avon was with Meegat; it isn't a trait that has been
associated with him so far. He was clearly uncomfortable with her adoration,
avoiding eye-contact when she was on her knees and trying to minimise the
adulation. But OTOH, he made no effort to convince her that he wasn't the
one she was looking for.
One could argue, as Vila did, that he was getting a kick out of the whole
business. I don't think Avon doubted for one minute that he would make a
suitable god for Meegat. However, I do get the impression that his behaviour
was prompted by pragmatism at least as much as vanity. He seemed cautious
when she first rescued them -- there was no point antagonising the person
who had just saved them, after all -- and embraced the role only once it
became clear that he would be able to fulfil it completely.
There are some nice Vila moments in this episode too; he was obviously
tickled pink by Meegat's reaction to Avon. Aside from that, Jenna gets
abducted, Cally spends a lot of the episode with her face on the floor,
Blake doesn't do much and Gan... is Gan, but at least he gets something to
do.
Apart from Avon, the one character who benefits most from this episode is
Travis. It was interesting to see the consequences of his last appearance in
"Duel". He's very subdued in "Redemption", and the hint of sentimentalism
which he showed when talking to the mutoid in that episode appears again
when he's talking about Maryatt. For all his cybernetic implants, Travis is
still a human being.
Servalan, on the other hand, might as well be completely cyborg. Her casual
attitude to Maryatt and his family shows that she's prepared to go to any
lengths to achieve her ends. A nasty piece of work -- but someone who should
be interesting to watch in future episodes!
I've already expressed my misgivings about Ensor Jr, so I'll move on to
Meegat. I found her Bible-style declamations a bit tiresome, but as they
elicited interesting reactions from Avon and Vila, I think they were just
perfect for the episode. I have a feeling I've seen the actress in other
things -- no doubt someone will refresh my memory as to what.
Subtext: nothing obvious, but the first scene with Avon and Blake possibly
qualifies.
Nitpicks and Preposterous Props:
================================
What on Earth was Cally doing when the away team called in?!? That
entertainment unit, complete with musak, had both of us roaring with
laughter! :)
Some conspicuous blue-screen work on the first scene with Ensor's ship.
Also, Blake and his crew saw the ship break up on their screen, but when we
cut back to it, it was still ages away from the planet.
Dialogue Gems:
==============
BLAKE: None of which sounds very promising. [To Avon] You're sure you
want to go down?
AVON: Are you afraid that I'll be able to cope with it better than you?
BLAKE: [Chuckles] No.
AVON: Well, perhaps you ought to be.
======
TRAVIS: You're almost as ruthless as I am.
SERVALAN: You underestimate me, Travis.
[[And as the subsequent conversation proves, that's an unwise thing to do]]
======
AVON: [pointing gun at her] Who are you?
MEEGAT: And you shall answer. [She approaches and prostrates herself before
him.] My name is Meegat, Lord.
VILA: "Lord?"
======
MEEGAT: [still kneeling before Avon] I will describe the way to the
scavengers' camp so that you may rescue your follower.
AVON: My follower? I never really thought of her [Jenna] in those terms.
======
MEEGAT: Yes, Lord. Everything is as it was written. One waits.
AVON: For what?
MEEGAT: For you.
VILA: [aside, to Gan] I told you she was mad.
=====
MEEGAT: Welcome, Lord, welcome! [She embraces Avon's ankles.]
AVON: [extricating himself] Yes, well, let's not start all that again.
GAN: You've hurt her feelings now.
MEEGAT: I have offended you.
AVON: No, you haven't offended me.
MEEGAT: Forgive me!
AVON: I forgive you. [Stoops and brings her to her feet.]
VILA: You're enjoying this, aren't you?
AVON: Probably.
======
MEEGAT: But it does not provide light.
GAN: Well, it could, Meegat, if it was working.
AVON: Of course. That's why they were waiting for us.
MEEGAT: All things are known to you. You are truly Lord. [Kneels before
Avon,
holding his hand.]
VILA: Counting yourself, that makes two people who think you're
wonderful.
======
MEEGAT: [as if reciting] He shall recognize deliverance and speak its name.
He shall speak its name as a thing known and understood. As to him
all things are known and understood. [Kneels before Avon.]
VILA: [aside, to Gan] Been alone too long, definitely.
======
GAN: Do you really think we could launch that ship?
AVON: If the people who built it did their job properly, I don't see any
reason why not. And it does seem we have a reputation to live up
to.
VILA: Oh, you certainly do, Lord Avon. I wonder why she picked on you?
AVON: Well, now, you are hardly the stuff that gods are made of.
VILA: And you are, I suppose?
AVON: Apparently.
======
AVON: [to Meegat] That was close.
VILA: No respect. They obviously didn't realize who you were.
======
AVON: Meegat, I'm sorry you've waited so long.
MEEGAT: Our waiting brought you.
AVON: That seems like a poor reward, somehow.
======
ZEN: It is calculated that the rocket will make planet-fall in the
system Magdalen Alpha.
AVON: How many suitable planets are there in that system?
ZEN: There are four with compatible biospheres.
AVON: Flight time?
ZEN: Five hundred earth years.
VILA: You won't be a legend in your own lifetime, then.
======
CALLY: Did she really think you were a god?
AVON: For a while.
BLAKE: How did it feel?
AVON: Don't you know?
BLAKE: Yes. I don't like the responsibility, either.
Miscellaneous:
==============
I don't suppose anyone would happen to have a tape of Redemption I could
borrow and copy onto our B7 tape? :)
Comments and discussion welcome as usual!
Ariana
======
"Counting yourself, that makes two people who think you're wonderful."
-- Vila to Avon in "Redemption"
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 13:31:07 -0700
From: Nick Moffitt <nick@zork.net>
To: b7 <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Redemption"
Message-ID: <20000507133107.C28423@zork.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
begin Ariana quotation:
> Our *#!@ video decided to record BBC1 instead of BBC2, so we didn't
> get "Redemption" on tape; we just watched it as it aired.
[...]
> I really liked this one. Lots of nice character interaction, some
> interesting themes, and the return of Travis and Servalan. Plus, of
> course, some foreshadowing of the Liberator's next mission (I'd have
> to be living under a large rock not to know about Orac).
Sounds more like you're describing "Deliverance".
"redemption" is the one where someone redeems coupons for a full
Liberator refund.
Relish the next episode well, as it is the last one with the
non-boufante Travis. I'd say Travis's sense of style peaks in Avalon,
when he wears that grim-reaper furry cloak. Future Travis will not
wear leather, and his eyepatch will shrink considerably. Also, his
hair will become a sandy pompador, and he will snivel a lot.
I'm not joking. Future Travis is a weasly geek.
--
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 14:57:28 -0700
From: Nick Moffitt <nick@zork.net>
To: b7 <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Duel soundtrack
Message-ID: <20000507145728.F28423@zork.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
One of the things I loved about the episode _Duel_ was the
avant-garde screeching soundtrack during the space battle. It added a
frantic atmosphere to the whole scene. What bothered me is that
subsequent episodes in that season suffered from a deficit of
incidental music. Was the BBC radiophonics group on strike or
something?
Of course, in the second season, we find a lot more of the
incidental music being variations on the theme music.
I think the show would have really benefited from a better
soundtrack. Too many moments of suspense were ruined because they
were shown in complete silence.
For an example of the BBC failing to put in incidentals, check
out Resurrection of the Daleks.
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You are not entitled to your opinions.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 9 May 2000 23:04:27 +0100
From: "Andrew Ellis" <Andrew.D.Ellis@btinternet.com>
To: "Blakes 7 List" <blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] NYC get together
Message-ID: <006f01bfba03$857b9400$7b19073e@leanet>
Content-Type: text/plain;
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>I'd love to! I'm based in Toronto, wouldn't take too long to get to NYC,
>but money is too tight right now - I'm still awaiting landed status in
>Canada after moving from the UK, so can't work yet. It would be good to
>meet up with other fans. So if there are any other meetings later in the
>year, let us know.
>
>One of the problems living in Canada and not earning money.... I can't yet
>> As a Yank, I know I am often a wee bit jealous of those enticing bar
>> gatherings in London (a bit pricey commute for me).
>>
>> After finally meeting Dana Shilling face-to-face today, we discussed the
>> possibility of arranging something in the US, on the Eastern Seaboard, in
>> particular, New York.
Make it early June and I might even fly over to join you.
Gnog.
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 20:12:48 -0400
From: "Dana Shilling" <dshilling@worldnet.att.net>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>, <freedom-city@blakes-7.org>
Subject: [B7L] Recruitment Tactics
Message-ID: <003601bfb882$2eba8c20$e1604e0c@dshilling>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
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Well, I have already ruled out "pretend to be a bounty hunter" as a way of
recruiting new fans, but what are other list members' experiences with the
most and least effective ways of turning otherwise sane and productive
individuals into B7 fans?
In the US, the series is not being broadcast anywhere that I know about, so
initiation has to be via VHS. Which tapes would you recommend as a "short
course" for potential fans, who might then go back and watch everything in
sequence? At what point do you introduce list membership, online fanfic
archives, and paper zines? Should one's friends' inclinations toward fanfic
production be nurtured or stamped out?
-(Y)
PS--in case the friends I am trying to entice should ask me for a
definition, what is a "OneList?" What is an "APA"? I have seen references to
such but don't know what they are.
--------------------------------
End of blakes7-d Digest V00 Issue #129
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