Blakes 7: The Web

[Jokie155]

http://sfdebris.com/videos/blakes7/blakes7s1e5.php

Oh boy, it really is amazing that the show can go from the fantastically dark space opera of the opening trilogy of episodes, to the goofiness of this episode in particular, and then to the following episode that introduces the two main villains and is one of my overall favourites for being such a good watch. But then with shoestring budgets and a rushed creator to boot, hit and miss is bound to happen.

Having grown up with the VHS triple-episode-edited versions, this episode was in fact cut from them, so my memories of it are more recent when I obtained the DVD collection. It's hardly the worst for those who don't know the show, that would either be Animals from Season 4, or Weapon from early Season 2, but yeah, this really is more of an exception to the rule of Season 1.

Something that the episode does give of worth is a brief scene that establishes the weapon systems, and why the crew will always say "Raise the radiation flare shield, clear the neutron blasters for firing," in future episodes when readying for battle. So while the story itself is undermined badly by some, no, most of the acting and the costumes of course, it does at least seed out more information about the Liberator that will be called on again and again.

I'm such a nerd...

[MadAmosMalone]

I honestly don't remember this episode. I'm sure I've seen it since I have the whole series (checks stash - yep it's there) but I just don't remember this ep at all. You would have thought it would have made some impression on me even owing to how bad it is. I love the series overall but it's like Chuck said, if you're on a shoestring budget and the series producers are harried then episode quality can vary pretty widely.

[Nevix]

The ONLY explanation I can think of that makes sense for the door being left open is that either Blake or Evin managed to poke the "leave doors open to conveniently resolve this plot" button.

Otherwise, it's both stupidity on the character's part, and bad writing.

[Robovski]

Yep, that happened, I remember watching it on late night PBS in Chicago as a teen. The fake web stuff was more impressive when it wasn't in dollar stores, the midget things from the black lagoons are rubber suit BBC aliens done usual and the space web doesn't make much sense - but echos the attitudes that lead to the later destruction of the Liberator in some ways so there is that.

The next episode Chuck is covering is MUCH better though.

[Jokie155]

I feel like the whole thing needed a second draft, looking back at it more critically. The door thing for instance could have easily been something Blake did while the constructs weren't looking, since they'd be focused on getting power restored. A few seconds showing him locking it open or something would've been enough, and show he chose the masses in danger over the ones holding the button of their deaths. Tie it back to his whole ideology as a freedom fighter.

I'd also say the point of the web being in space was to establish the blasters, but a dot point in notes ended up ballooning to a whole episode plot instead. There's a lot that feels like this was Nation laying out plot points either for the worldbuilding or for establishing facts, and just didn't make the time to weave them into a proper story. Like with Cygnus Alpha, spending a good few minutes establishing the teleporter system for a scene that was cut from the collective-edited version because ultimately it's just Gareth Thomas and some extras tumbling around in a quarry at night.

[Mickey_Rat15]

"Theoretical Projection", it is puckering time when your navigation system tells you it is going into SWAG (scientific wild ass guessing) mode while your ship is moving faster than it should be.

[Durandal_1707]

Jeez, that theme tune pretty much announces exactly what you're in for, doesn't it?

[Wolf359]

Chuck... the title card said "The Way Back, Season 1 Episode 1".

I totally understand why you'd want to think of that episode as much as possible rather than this one though!

[FakeGeekGirl]

That has nothing to do with anything but the little Ewok creature's shrieking was pissing off my cat. Every time Chuck played a clip of them Watson's head would pick up and his ears would go into the angry position lol.

[selvatico]

I know Charles was making a joke about black magic and cultural appropriation- but shortly before our divorce, my ex-wife joined a coven of witches who thought they could physically injure people with spells, and were eager to do so for trivial reasons. But they agonized over which rituals they were allowed to perform and which counted as cultural appropriation. Experiences like these are why I left the left.