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blakes7-d Digest Volume 00 : Issue 99
Today's Topics:
[B7L] Avon looking for Blake (as longish as usual)
[B7L] [B7] Avon's Skills
RE: [B7L] Avon looking for Blake (was: Avon's Skills)
Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Re: [B7L] Avon looking for Blake (was: Avon's Skills)
Re: [B7L] MS3K/B7
Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
[B7L] Re:Avon's search?
Re: [B7L] deportation (was Avon's Skills
Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
RE: [B7L] Why send them to Cyngus Alpha?
RE: [B7L] Avon's Skills
[B7L] Unamerican activities
[B7L] Anna's attempted coup
[B7L] Torture (was MS3K/B7)
[B7L]Collectors Lot
RE: [B7L] Avon's Skills
[B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
[B7L] Perverted Penguins
[B7L] Vila's taste in women
Re: [B7L] deportation (was Avon's Skills)
[B7L] Gone with the Wind
Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Re: [B7L] Re: Action Figures
Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 04:04:34 PDT
From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Avon looking for Blake (as longish as usual)
Message-ID: <20000405110434.9514.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
WARNING: Me burbling about my favourite subject time.
<grin> the mere fact that Avon isn't *talking* about looking for Blake
doesn't mean he isn't. Avon spends quite a bit of his time not telling the
others stuff unless/until he has to (and he admits to Anna he's not good at
it). And after all, the first we hear that he's given *one thought* to Anna
since Countdown is at the beginning of Auron, but it is reasonable to assume
that he didn't bounce out of his chair half an hour before the credits and
say "Yes! I've had a thought - let's kill someone for Anna! Orac, get me
names and work addresses by 8.30, please..." No..? Same with Blake.
So. Up to and including Volcano they have definitely been searching, and
fairly overtly, the proof being in the change of attitude from the one
person who'd be watching fairly closely. Her Supremeness goes from from "you
want power and you won't let anyone get in your way" and "forget Blake" all
the way to using the man's name as bait. Clearly she has been taking notes,
and *something's* changed her mind there.
Of course, one could assume that the fact that Avon had already decided to
go to Obsidian for strategic reasons *then* - by sheer coincidence - it just
turned to be the place Servalan had planted that false rumour about...or
alternatively that Avon chose to chase the false rumour and *then* found
impeccably self-serving reasons to do it (which of course is *totally*
unlike him).
It's reasonably clear (to me at any rate <g>) that Avon has been monitoring
all the information he, Zen and Orac can gather, and what we see in Volcano
is him becoming discouraged and depressed by the sheer number and
unreliability of the rumours, by the fact that they have no clear leads, and
possibly also by the fact that Blake hasn't contacted *them*.
So sometime not too long after this, he half-convinces himself that Blake is
either dead or totally lost or doesn't want to be found, and he turns his
attention to the memory of Anna (ideas on which has probably been gathering
force in his mind at least since he got back to the Liberator and got stuck
on the "now I've got it, what the hell do I do with it???" question).
This dominates his thoughts right up until Rumours. After that, everything
drifts a bit, but it's arguable that he's still monitoring what information
he can get, possibly getting Orac to chase up promising leads that lead
nowhere. (Possibly a non sequiter - in Moloch, he reacts sharply to the
suggestion that the Liberator is still Blake's ship; but in Rumours - too
tired and in too much pain pain to equivocate - he *agrees* that they are
Blake's people. A small point, but it appears he still feels that way...)
The fact that he doesn't talk about it to the others is hardly unusual - as
Dayna quickly works out, he just doesn't. And it would be a smidge
embarrassing to admit that he misses and is still worried about someone who
might truly have been dead or just ignoring/avoiding them (and whom he did
say RATHER LOUDLY that he wanted to be free of.) But again, *something*
convinces Servalan that using Blake as bait will still work on Avon, to the
point where she spends months concocting that elaborate plan to pull him in
at Terminal. It wasn't anything *we* saw...and we must admit it worked like
a charm (some may again believe Avon's self-serving "it was the money" claim
- won't surprise you to know that I most definitely don't).
In fact, Servalan's gone even further - not only does she now believe that
he'll come, but that he'd do anything at all to save Blake's life (the irony
being - no he won't do something he knows Blake would die before doing
himself, even if Avon, Blake, Cally *and* Tarrant die for it.) The only
thing I can think of is that she has intercepted some of his and Orac's
searches.
IMO, he's been pushing himself to accept that Blake was dead (and that it
didn't matter - well, not much) at the point the message comes in, and it
throws him for a loop. Which explains the sheer intensity and violence of
his reaction (pushing himself as he did, forcing the ship through the
particle field, coming sooo close to killing Tarrant when *he* gets in the
way); he is 90% sure it's a trap, but can't take the chance on Fearless
Leader's life (and if it *is* a trap, and Blake's in it, all the more reason
to go). His face and bearing from the moment he sees what he thinks is Blake
alive (if not well) suggests to me that he'd lost most if not all hope at
the point where the message comes in.
Then Servalan says that Blake is dead - and Avon does believe her for quite
a while, especially after his third emotional blow (Cally's death) makes him
close down in self-defence for a while. But when he starts thinking again,
and decides (we don't know when or why) that she might have been lying, he
directs Orac to take up the search again (well, *I* don't think Orac made
the decision all by itself). In Blake Orac makes it clear it was not an easy
job - it's reasonable to assume that it took quite a lot of time and
effort.
Avon again doesn't tell the others - given Star One, Terminal, Rescue etc,
not a surprising decision. T'would however appear that, for all the
disastrous consequences, he truly *doesn't* regret what he did at Terminal,
since he's doing it again (he tends to lose all claim to common sense where
his emotions are concerned).
At the start of Blake Avon says that he's known where Blake was for some
time, since before the warlord conference, but he's being distinctly
disengenuous throughout this scene (something he's rather good at). The
amount of time that (IMO) he and Orac have put into this is extremely hard
to equate with Avon's statement that he *would* have left Blake there had
the conference succeeded, not least of all because you simply *don't* go to
all that work for no reason, (and the search, by my reasoning, probably
lasted through several episodes, starting well before the conference idea
came into being). Also, the figurehead idea's an excuse and a thin one at
that (*could* Avon convince himself that he or anyone else could mould Blake
into a tame figurehead? He couldn't manage Blake *before*), and even if it
wasn't, a semi-legendary and charismatic figure like Blake would in fact
have been a hell of an asset at the conference, where he's trying to
convince these people to unite (Avon is under no illusions about his own
people skills, after all, nor is his crew much better).
So no, he's bending the truth if not technically breaking it. IMO, sometime
before the start of Warlord, he learned that someone, whom Orac said was (or
might be) Blake, was on Gauda Prime. But after Terminal, he's unwilling to
risk another might-be, and the information Orac has on this man worries him
more than he later lets on (more disengenuousness) - makes him more
uncertain that he has the right man (or if he has, what the hell has
happened to Blake???). So he keeps his mouth shut and waits for more
information from Orac.
He gets the final confirmation he wants at some point during Warlord, but
has neither time to absorb it properly or decide what to do about it before
events quite literally explode around him and force his hand.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 21:39:42 +1000
From: Andrew Williams <AWilliams@daikin.com.au>
To: "'blakes7@lysator.liu.se'" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] [B7] Avon's Skills
Message-ID: <4103E830BB67D211877400A0247B635E15EE26@dialup49.actonline.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain
Marian wrote:
>I know it's a plot device to make Liberator fly through that cloud but I
>still find it silly.
I want to know where the cloud came from. I think it was a load of bad
booze that Vila concocted in his bath tub in the first series. When it
started eating the enamel off the bath, he jettisoned it into space, only to
have it reappear in "Terminal"....
andrew & Gnog wrote:
>>( i am a different andrew from the other Andrew ( with a capital A ) on
the
>>list. )
>
>I think there are at least three of us.
Yep.
>Gnog
First name Egg? ;)
Andrew.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 12:58:28 +0100
From: Godrich Stephen <Stephen.Godrich@icl.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: RE: [B7L] Avon looking for Blake (was: Avon's Skills)
Message-ID: <8FA6C9AA73AAD211BCEE00A0C9D9E57502385255@WWMESSM7>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
The below is quite interesting. I found from personal experience that I've
been with people who, although I cared for and was friendly with, couldn't
wait to get completely away from. Then I found that once away from them, I
missed being with them. Loved to hate would be a clumsy analogy but I
suppose the best way to describe it would be a pain in the backside who,
after losing them and in reflection, weren't that bad really. Maybe Avon
was in the similar situation?
Just my tuppence worth...
Steve
>
>In Volcano, he wanted a base, ooh and Blake might be there.
>
>In Terminal, he wanted lots of money, ooh, and Blake might be there.
>
>In Blake, he was p* (sorry) a little bothered about making Slear
successful,
>wanted to start a revolution and needed a fearless leader for the front
>line. (Like Vila, that was not a suitable place for someone with Avon's
>valuable skills !). He did try Zukan. Blake was lucky to be the next
nearest
>hero.
>
>So.
>
>Did Avon REALLY look for Blake ?
>
>Gnog
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 07:32:59 -0700
From: "Ann Basart" <abasart@dnai.com>
To: "Blake's7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Message-ID: <009a01bf9f0b$d8af7fa0$05d3b5cf@flp1>
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Claudia Mastroianni and Phert@aol.com made some interesting comments on
Babylon 5 that reflect on the moral ambiguity of B7.
The latter said
>: Ah, but B5 is *not* morally ambiguous. B5 is in most respects pretty
mainstream good-guys vs bad-guys stuff.
And Claudia M. responded:
> In [B5], we do meet people who took principled stands different than our
heroes'. The whole Shadow/Vorlon thing turns white hats/black hats on its
head for a time. And the descent and rise/rise and fall of Londo Mollari is
the most complex moral study I've seen anywhere near pop culture in years.
Yes! I agree. In fact, I've come to think that Londo was really the central
character of B5.
John Kenneth Muir, in his "History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7,"
suggests that (for complex reasons that I won't go into here) Avon is really
the central character of B7.
I'd be interested to hear comments on either one of these statements.
AnnB
abasart@dnai.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 00:06:52 -0600
From: "Ellynne G." <rilliara@juno.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon looking for Blake (was: Avon's Skills)
Message-ID: <20000405.091014.-87687.0.rilliara@juno.com>
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On Tue, 4 Apr 2000 09:32:28 +0100 "Andrew Ellis"
<Andrew.D.Ellis@btinternet.com> writes:
> Did Avon REALLY look for Blake ?
>
I'd guess yes.
In Volcano, Avon implies they've checked out other leads just as good (or
bad) as this one with about the same results. He's perhaps beginning to
suspect Blake is dead and _all_ the leads are false. So, there's the
frustration of almost being certain he's following false leads and the
fear of finding out the worst if they actually find a real trail. Add to
that the realization that they aren't as free of the Federation as he'd
hoped (and perhaps some realization that following every Blake lead they
hear will only make it that easier for Servalan to set traps for them).
When he _does_ follow a Blake lead again, he _thinks_ he's getting
messages from Blake (a reasonable indicator Blake is alive) and the
messages and directions are difficult enough to discourage any ship but
the Liberator (only Liberator has the speed to get from one message
pickup spot to the next in time). Possibly other features were included
in the messages that made Avon hope they were real (though he was
obviously ready for a Federation trap [or would have been if the ship's
warranty hadn't run out (c'mon, you didn't really think a red space cloud
could do that much damage, did you?). Poor Servalan should have really
checked the mileage and the blue book listing. Let this be a lesson to
you all (but then, Avon and Vila both come from long lines of used car
salesmen)]). He finds both his worst fears confirmed - this _was_ a
Federation trap and Blake _was_ dead
Just as Avon's hope Blake was alive gave Servalan a lever against him,
his fear Blake is dead does the same. He realizes this after the Zukan
fiasco (he's also a little desperate) and asks Orac to try looking for
Blake again, having the computer use its sporadically remembered oracular
skills (c'mon, Avon, if it worked that well you think the original owners
would have known not to try making a deal with Servalan in the first
place?). Off they go ....
Ellynne
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 09:10:10 -0600
From: "Ellynne G." <rilliara@juno.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] MS3K/B7
Message-ID: <20000405.091014.-87687.1.rilliara@juno.com>
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On Wed, 5 Apr 2000 00:36:53 EDT Pherber@aol.com writes:
>
> But would Avon give Vila enough parts to build the 'bots?
>
As Anna Karenina walked in front of the train for the 50th time, while
the narrator of "Classic Film Adaptations of Russion Literature"
explained the significant ways in which this scene varied from the past
49, Vila picked up the stuffed sock, Crow (aka, King of the Potato
People).
"Amazing how the train always comes on time." Vila said for the 48th
time, still trying to think of something witty and throwing his voice for
Crow, "Don't you think so, Tom?" he asked, looking at the marker face
he'd drawn on his fist.
Orac, though deeply immersed in the subtleties of Tolstoy, recorded
Vila's stress level.
Ellynne
________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 13:20:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Claudia Mastroianni <cmastr@fas.harvard.edu>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Message-Id: <200004051720.NAA26645@is04.fas.harvard.edu>
"Ann Basart" <abasart@dnai.com> wrote:
: And Claudia M. responded:
: > In [B5], we do meet people who took principled stands different than our
: > heroes'. The whole Shadow/Vorlon thing turns white hats/black hats on its
: > head for a time. And the descent and rise/rise and fall of Londo Mollari is
: > the most complex moral study I've seen anywhere near pop culture in years.
: Yes! I agree. In fact, I've come to think that Londo was really the central
: character of B5.
I am firmly of this opinion. :) I said last night as friends and I
watched The Long Night and Into the Fire that I felt Londo's personal
arc was really what the show was all about (if one *had* to pull one
narrative thread from the whole). I am so glad for Peter Jurasik's
sake and for ours that he got the chance to play it. He gave me
chills of delight right from day one with "nice shark... pretty shark"
in the pilot movie.
Andreas Katsulas is best at delivering the more inspirational prose JMS
writes (but then, I really could listen to him read the phone book)...
but Jurasik and Londo are incredible.
Without him, it's excellent space opera. With him, I think it's
literature. If B5 is a novel, he's the main character.
: John Kenneth Muir, in his "History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7,"
: suggests that (for complex reasons that I won't go into here) Avon is really
: the central character of B7.
This is a much more difficult question, in my opinion.
In B7, our choices are limited by who is actually around for the whole
series. And in literal terms that's only Vila. Open the gates wider
and you have Avon, Blake and Servalan I suppose. If you're going to
pick out someone who most develops over the course of the series, I don't
see how it can be anyone but Avon. I can roughly chart the seasons as
(this is off the top of my head, don't hold me to it too much)
Avon coming to grips with being on the Liberator and one of Blake's crew
Avon's struggle for self-determination (battling Blake and his own
contradictory desires)
Avon trying to be and not to be leader (this is insufficient--I can try to
flesh it out)
Avon's descent into madness
There's no-one else whose story really has this much of a structure
to it. Vila is always there, but for much of the series he's an
observer--he's there to deliver or be the butt of jokes, and often
to be the counterpoint or sounding board for others. I love Vila,
but I can't see him as the central character.
And Blake is absent for half of the series, and while fan fiction can
do an admirable job of filling in the two seasons he was absent, I don't
think one can account that as part of Blake's 7 for the purpose of this
question.
Servalan... hm. :)
No, if you have to pick a central character, I don't really see how
it can be anyone but Avon. And yet, I feel that it does the series
a disservice to look at it in those terms. It wasn't conceived as
a narrative whole, and Gareth Thomas's departure keeps the later
seasons from behaving as one might originally have expected. It is
often the case that the ensemble stars, rather than any one actor.
So I'd rather not answer the question at all. ;-)
Claudia
--
"Three million years in the future, the only suriving human
rebel is Kerr Avon, his only companions, a creature that evolved
from his pet thief, and a hologram of his dead shipmate, Gan.
Additional; it has been two months since we discovered the still
working ancient cloning facilities in deep space and Avon is
running out of Blake's to shoot." --John McKenzie
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 09:52:59 -0700
From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Re:Avon's search?
Message-ID: <38EB6F6B.325@jps.net>
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> And Marian had some good comments.
>
> This exchange (from "Volcano") seems to capture the flavor of Avon's lack of
> enthusiasm:
>
> VILA: They're going to check out that rumor too, don't forget.
> AVON: That Blake was here? It's getting to be a fairly common rumor. We
> could spend the rest of our lives chasing down the ones we've picked up so
> far.
> CALLY: Still, now we're here.
> AVON: [in a very tired, flat voice] Oh, yes, now we're here.
>
> AnnB
Which indicates, for whatever reason, they HAVE been collecting rumors
of Blake's whereabouts. But I suppose that could be Cally's idea.
Why didn't they look for Jenna? Mmm. Jenna made a few anti-alien
comments in front of Cally. And then she and Avon often snarled at each
other. Why didn't Vila suggest they keep an eye out for her, though? .
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 10:12:58 -0700
From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] deportation (was Avon's Skills
Message-ID: <38EB741B.2D31@jps.net>
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> Could you remind me of the evidence for mass drugging of Delta's. I seem to
> have forgotten it.
Interesting. In 1984, it was the upper classes that were heavily
controlled, because the masses would take no action without leadership.
Later, Nina spoke of the likelihood of a blue collar/white collar
division.
But what about the people in between? The clerks, the data processors...
Smart enough to have read some political books or studied history. Pink
collar jobs are now the most numerous in civilzed areas. We have access
to informatino, but we aren't the movers and shakers. Only a tiny
fraction of our mental abilities are used at our jobs, yet we don't
break a sweat, either. There's plenty of time for boredom to turn a
critical eye to the system. It's probably the ones below Alphas and
above Deltas that are kept peaceful.
But until Pylene-50 was introduced to hostile populations, I don't think
mass drugging was the Federation policy. Why, in that case, did everyone
in Blake's area seem drugged? The Federation put a bunch of potential
trobule makers together, the more easily to control them.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 20:32:20 +0200
From: "Marian de Haan" <maya@multiweb.nl>
To: "Ann Basart" <abasart@dnai.com>, "Blake's7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Message-ID: <005b01bf9f2d$500f7c00$abee72c3@marian-de-haan.multiweb.nl>
Content-Type: text/plain;
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Ann Basart wrote:
>John Kenneth Muir, in his "History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7,"
>suggests that (for complex reasons that I won't go into here) Avon is
really
>the central character of B7.
He started out very much as a supportive character - in the promotion
pictures for S1 he stands well at the back. :-) I think that when it became
clear that he was becoming rather popular with the viewers, he was allowed
to come more to the foreground and finally take over the lead. (This is
just my interpretation).
Marian
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 11:59:28 -0700
From: "Otewalt, Andrew" <Andrew.Otewalt@kla-tencor.com>
To: "'Helen Krummenacker'" <avona@jps.net>, blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: RE: [B7L] Why send them to Cyngus Alpha?
Message-ID: <3B5D5F691204D3118C0400A0C911A490012F9034@milxpr05.kla-tencor.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;
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helen -
oh, yeah, that's a good point.
that would be a good reason to send them to Cyngus Alpha = to colonize it.
by the looks of it, that planet needed a lot of work.
after a number of years, the federation could step in, take over, and
contuine to let the killer virus keep the masses under control.
in the end the frederation would have a cheap ( almost free ) planet, in
good working order.
you make a very good point.
- andrew -
-----Original Message-----
Subject: [B7L] Why send them to Cyngus Alpha?
<snip> within the Federation ...
...they have a culture dedicated to expansion...
...through colonization. <snip>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 12:15:10 -0700
From: "Otewalt, Andrew" <Andrew.Otewalt@kla-tencor.com>
To: "'Andrew Ellis'" <Andrew.D.Ellis@btinternet.com>, blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: RE: [B7L] Avon's Skills
Message-ID: <3B5D5F691204D3118C0400A0C911A490012F9035@milxpr05.kla-tencor.com>
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Gnog, glad to meet you -
1. <snip> I like to think that they *don't* drug them all <Snip>
no drugs for the masses ?
that's a radical idea.
Blake is pissed off because he hasn't eaten or drank in awhile.
he is asked if he is *clean*.
but, he could be a target of drugs.
in a citydome, you could have food served in a general cafeteria, and
specific shifts could be drugged or not drugged.
do we see a kitchen in a personal space, or a cafeteria for the masses ?
or even mention of either ?
or even different amounts and different drugs for different shifts.
imagine an agressive drug on a shift that is causing you trouble, minor
fights break out and a few *citizens* kill eachother.
the trouble elements are eliminated and the workers go back to work with
fewer distractions.
2. <snip> I swim against the stream and think that manpower is actually one
of the most scare resources in the Federation <snip>
this may be, but the federation sure kills a lot of people.
3. <snip>fill up a duff planet with convicts. Leave it alone for a few
generations, whilst filling a different one, and then go in, take over
<snip>
yeah, colonization.
that's a great point.
- andrew -
<< note that *andrew* uses the proper net etiquet using <snip> and no
personal attacks ! i are so civilized ! >>
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 11:21:31 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Unamerican activities
Message-ID: <38EB842B.1326EC53@netzero.net>
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Trish wrote:
re the insightful commentaries by Dana and Kai:
> my understanding is that those who coexist with Nature at its most elemental forms view death and violence > with a completely different perception, and don't necessarily regard it as great tragedy.
Absolutely. I spent a decade living 'like a pioneer' in the north woods,
interspersed with long periods camped out in the wilderness of the
American West. In the natural world, death is exactly equal to life. It
is everywhere, always, in the eternal game of eat and be eaten. It is
what makes the world go round. Death, in fact, feeds life.
Actually, there is not much eating in Blakes 7. The big spider on Kairos
eats only minerals. Terminal had man eating plants and violent Links
(whom presumably ate what they killed; few animals kill and then forgo
the feast). Then there was the saliva planet that ate everything except
giant eggs and Blake.
PatPat
(popping off to devour a doomed muffin)
(sorry Neil, that's __uffin with an m, not a p)
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Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 11:07:53 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Anna's attempted coup
Message-ID: <38EB80F9.99E399B9@netzero.net>
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Marray wrote:
...
>Anna and her followers were in no danger of overthrowing the Federation. While they managed to capture >Servalan, does anyone honestly believe that the military would obey orders from a President and Supreme >Commander they knew to be a prisoner?
...
The outside world would never know Servalan was being held prisoner. The
state dinner would have gone forth as planned, without its guest of
honor, who had become briefly 'indisposed'. Meanwhile, political wife
and Federation socialite, Sula Chesku would preside in her place,
graciously greeting guests.
Servalan had this palace built exclusively for her. Sula and her cohorts
planned to hold Servalan prisoner, alive, chained in the cellar, while
they ruled in her name. With just a few weeks of cleverly executed
commands the rebels could have accomplished a lot: freed political
prisoners (presidential pardon), appointed their candidates to positions
of authority, veoted pending legislation, passed new laws, repealed old
laws. Perhaps they even planned some brain refurbishing for Servalan to
make her more - cooperative.
We saw many scenes that proved what a coward Servalan was at heart. Just
a wee bit of torture would no doubt have prompted The Steel Queen to
make some recorded statements / vocal confirmations when required.
If only Avon hadn't arrived and executed the hostess understudy.
PatPat
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Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 11:56:33 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Torture (was MS3K/B7)
Message-ID: <38EB8C61.9C6D33ED@netzero.net>
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Nina wrote:
re: rilliara:
>> Avon looked at Joel, trapped in solitary confinement in his satellite and
>> screaming in horror as another bad movie began. Then he looked
>> speculatively at Vila.
>> Avon gathered up his missing tools and went to talk with Orac. He had a
>> new project in mind ....
><giggle> Might be hard to find something bad enough to torture Vila with, though.
Vila? I saw Avon going to round up some films with which to torture
Blake. He would want Vila alongside himself to make witty wisecracks.
What films would he line up to torture Fearless Leader? Those in which
evil triumphs in the end. Hope he has the good sense to skip the U.S.
film companies. Those gritty, grain, eastern european dirges ought to do
it.
Or, he could start with the british Robin of Sherwood, in which the
leader guy with big sleeves gets killed senslessly...
PatPat
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Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 19:44:48 +0100
From: "Julie Horner" <jihorner@dial.pipex.com>
To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L]Collectors Lot
Message-ID: <004701bf9f2f$175ccbe0$4c97bc3e@orac>
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After watching yesterday's Collectors Lot (very enjoyable)
I had a couple of questions:
(1) was the Federation guard who ran on at the end
anyone we know?
(2) I followed the teletext link and saw a reference to an
upcoming publication called "Zenith". Would this be
NL 40 that wasn't?
Julie
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 15:23:33 EDT
From: KKrause658@aol.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: RE: [B7L] Avon's Skills
Message-ID: <9.3e894d2.261cecb5@aol.com>
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<3. <snip>fill up a duff planet with convicts. Leave it alone for a few
generations, whilst filling a different one, and then go in, take over
<snip>
yeah, colonization.
that's a great point.
- andrew - >
andrew and Gnog-- can't see it as colonization. Since there is only one female there and no signs of any others or any children, must be another reason or else that is one busy follower!!!
catlyn
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 10:02:57 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Message-ID: <38EB71C1.4B50DF9@netzero.net>
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Ariana wrote:
re Avon:
>but also gets to strut around with his hands behind his back, putting on a fine display of
>Holmesian superciliousness.
ho ho - the *best* two word despcription of Avon ever.
PatPat
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Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 10:54:26 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Perverted Penguins
Message-ID: <38EB7DD2.BDA8A4F1@netzero.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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Neil wrote:
> Neil (typing one handed while he scoffs his muesli)
oh my! *blush* Neil, take that sort of chat to the Other List.
>Anna Grant? No, I fear not. She is Anna Gannet, she whose name is a byword
>for gluttony, a greed that knows no bounds and will engulf us all in its
>insatiable quest for the enslavement of all humankind. Here at last is the
>final proof, the last shred of damning evidence that
><remainder snipped to keep post under 25k>
<chortle> Oh Neil, you are the slippery one (no inuendo intended)
OTOH, I have thoroughly enjoyed how the backstory to Avon and Anna has
been pieced together here, starting with Andrew's post about Avon being
a dupe for the master puppeteer behind the embezzlement. Even to
explaining the long annoying discrepency between the $5 million (Vila)
and $500 million (Ultras). I love the idea that Anna got away with that
$495 million to further political ambitions and left Avon to take the
fall. And the cincher: that Servalan's power was built on the previous
work of Anna and Avon. I dearly hope someone is inspired to write all
this up into a Pre-Season story.
What I like best in fanfic? Marvelously convoluted plots. That's why the
devious Pattern of Infinity by Ana Dorstaf remains my 'most read' gen
zine.
PatPat
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Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 10:21:45 -0700
From: Pat Patera <patpatera@netzero.net>
To: B7 Lysator <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Vila's taste in women
Message-ID: <38EB7629.5119ADD2@netzero.net>
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Joanne wrote:
>re: Helen Krummenacker
>More so than Tarrant, though. Never tried to have a go at Servalan.
> Hm. There are times when one wonders if Tarrant knows the meaning of fear.
Or caution. Like so many heroes, he is at his best when up against the
wall. It took real guts to pul off the charade he managed when wresting
command of the Liberator away from that tough-as-nails Federation squad
leader. That guy was not a man to surrender control easily! A shame we
were never shown that bit of one-upmanship. It might have made the Blake
- Avon matches look like pussycats playing.
>One also wonders if Soolin is fluffier than she looks, given Vila's interest
>in her. Servalan, however, is a seriously scary woman.
I always found Soolin fluffy-looking. That is part of her intrigue, that
she looks so soft and curvy and stylish, with those fabulously frilly
hair-dos. Neither does she puff and strutt (witness her initial
tolerance to the close-up drooling of the Space Princess Pursur and his
'pretty one' ploy.) Part of Soolin's scariness is the subtelty of her
dangerousness.
Similar to Servalan, who masks her danger with elegance and survace
femininity.
Granted, Servalan is far more dangerous than Soolin. Because while
Soolin has only the danger of her own person, while Servalan commands
the might of the Federation.
To Vila's credit, he was not much afraid of Kerril, even in her 'bad
grrrl black' get up. Yet he was clearly afraid of Bayban (expressed by
his best babble fest ever). Is this lack of reaction a sexist thing? Or
perhaps he (subconsciously) saw in the Bayban - Kerrill relationship the
same thing he lived with daily in the Blake - Avon dynamic. Never mind
how scary Avon pretended to be; he wouldn't bite unless Blake (Bayban)
let his second off the leash.
What's that? Oh. Vila requests this thread be renamed "Vila's tasty
women."
PatPat
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------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 07:46:59 +0100
From: Julia Jones <julia.lysator@jajones.demon.co.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Cc: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] deportation (was Avon's Skills)
Message-ID: <a95hWKAjFu64EwJG@jajones.demon.co.uk>
In message <001b01bf9e10$6f770680$494201d5@leanet.futures.bt.co.uk>,
Andrew Ellis <Andrew.D.Ellis@btinternet.com> writes
>Could you remind me of the evidence for mass drugging of Delta's. I seem to
>have forgotten it.
Large portions of _The Way Back_ suggest that it is the practice on
Earth at the start of the series. It is also a policy that they're
willing to bring in on colony planets once they have the technology -
Pylene 50 is used on planets refusing to accept the Federation's
benevolent offer of membership, even though it lowers the productivity
of the workforce.
--
Julia Jones
"Don't philosophise with me, you electronic moron!"
The Turing test - as interpreted by Kerr Avon.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 15:59:36 EDT
From: Prmolloy@aol.com
To: dshilling@worldnet.att.net, blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Gone with the Wind
Message-ID: <e4.353c3a6.261cf528@aol.com>
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Thank you Dana for that frightening picture now in my mind of Avon with the
Rhett Butler wet-look.
I've always thought the Avon search for Blake was more a compulsion than a
desire, but thanks to the horrid image, I'll have to save my comments for
when I've recovered!
<g>
Trish
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 16:01:29 EDT
From: Prmolloy@aol.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] UnAmerican Activities
Message-ID: <b1.2d22fc1.261cf599@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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Elynne wrote
There are social problems Americans are willing to tolerate that would never
be accepted in a place like Japan because we see them as necessary evils or
unfortunate side effects of something we _do_ value. Standing up for
individual liberty vs anarchy, for example.
Now, I just need a B7 application for this. Hmm. OK, given Blake's
usual attitude towards other cultures, did he have any of this problem?
The Decimas come to mind
Trish
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 16:08:37 EDT
From: Prmolloy@aol.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Action Figures
Message-ID: <9c.2b27674.261cf745@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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To: Pat Patera & Dana Shilling
From: Trish Molloy
Subject: Marketing of B7 Action figures.
Agreed with Legal's input, with additional comments
1. Avon doll likely to be the most popular--good, in light of its propensity
to destroy all nearby props/accessories. Enhanced potential for resales.
**Demand forecast for Avon doll includes necessary resale of nearby
props/accessories, esp. guns. Forecast also includes his effect on
companions, i.e. we expect increased demand for the other dolls as well. We
may want to consider the Avon doll as a loss leader, pricing accordingly.
3. Why not sell Dayna doll with enclosed lyre-thingie, with non-erasable MP3
files, e.g., "I Will Always Love You" and "I Know that My Heart Will Go On."
Repeat sales guaranteed after parents smash doll to bits.
** Planned to package the MP3 with above named songs in a special collector's
edition of Dayna and Justin. Will not include with every Dayna doll.
4. Non-erasable MP3 file, e.g., of "Feelings" or Greatest Hits Barry
Manilow, if included in Gen Avon doll beneficial, as likely to lead to
self-destruction (and repeat sales). Inclusion in Slash Avon doll
counterproductive, since probably could get to like that sort of thing.
** In talks with Nancy Sinatra about the Sinatra catalogue, as well as her
own greatest hit.
Trish
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 21:35:13 +0100
From: "Ariana" <ariana@ndirect.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Message-ID: <008501bf9f40$53527760$01e107c3@ariana>
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More from me -- but you should probably be grateful it's diverting me from
thoughts of a B7/Randall & Hopkirk 2000 crossover...
From: <Pherber@aol.com>
> This is indeed a great episode for Cally. I even like the green outfit
she
> wears.
Me too. I gather she's another one not know for great sartorial choices.
Okay, who designed these terrible costumes anyway? ;))
> Well, *she* takes him that way, evidently! I get the feeling she finds
his
> griping rather amusing.
I don't get the feeling Vila takes him very seriously either, nor any of the
others for that matter. They certainly don't seem to treat him with kid
gloves, as they might if his repartee frightened them.
> > [[Tada! Avon Reveals All (er, not to be misinterpreted by the Avon
> > enthusiasts out there ;)]]
>
> Rats! <veg>
Speaking of which: am I the only one who is rather disturbed by Paul
Darrow's role in "The Strangerers"? (his acolyte in that is called Rats,
btw, whence the association)
> One thing I find very interesting about this ep is Blake's bloodthirsty
> streak at the end, deliberately mining the Ortega's entry hatch.
Absolutely! I didn't notice it the first time around, but that did look
rather like overkill.
Ariana
http://www.alpha.ndirect.co.uk
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 21:29:39 +0100
From: "Ariana" <ariana@ndirect.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Message-ID: <008401bf9f40$52b23fc0$01e107c3@ariana>
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Murray:
> He does remind me of Sherlock Holmes, who only took many cases because
they
> were intellectually challenging.
Although someone on afb7 compared him to Miss Marples, I think Holmes is a
better parallel. Another arrogant borderline nutter with a flair for mystery
and lengthy expositions. :)
> explosive device that Blake placed on the entry hatch was quite powerful,
> or else the ship that came to pick Sara up was quite small.
Also, why did he want to *blow up* their ship? He didn't even know who
Sara's contacts were. Maybe they didn't deserve to be summarily blown into
oblivion.
Ariana
http://www.alpha.ndirect.co.uk
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 21:26:43 +0100
From: "Ariana" <ariana@ndirect.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First impressions: "Mission to Destiny"
Message-ID: <008301bf9f40$519e10a0$01e107c3@ariana>
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Catching up with some e-mail:
> look like the home movies from Gulag Archipelago (like many cinema
> enthusiasts around here joke, "Why is the picture so grey and dreary in
> this programme? Oh, of course! It's British television!").
That switching from film to video was definitely a trademark of British TV
in the 1970s. I remember my parents and I always trying to guess the origin
of the shows we saw on French television when I was a child. British shows
developed a sort of dull grey tinge throughout because of the conversion
from PAL (UK) to SECAM (France). Also, everyone was ugly. Those were also
characteristics of German shows, so the rule was that if everyone was ugly
and the picture went fuzzy outdoors, then it had to be British. If everyone
was ugly, but the picture stayed the same throughout, it was probably
German. OTOH, if everyone looked like plastic Barbie dolls and the picture
was slightly green, it was American. Nowadays, though, everything looks
pretty much the same.
Anyway, enough reminiscing. :)
Ariana
http://www.alpha.ndirect.co.uk
--------------------------------
End of blakes7-d Digest V00 Issue #99
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