Blakes7 April 2001

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70 participants
295 discussions

Re: [B7L] Re: Mission to Destiny
by Marian de Haan 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Tavia wrote: >Murray wrote: >>What I particularly liked was the fact that the murderer was Sara, in conventional terms the least likely suspect due to being a small, screaming blonde.<< >Clearly tastes and attitudes differ -- this was one of my unfavourite bits, it just screamed cliche' at me.< Yes, tastes do differ, that's what makes the discussions on this list so interesting :-) On my first viewing I dismissed Sara from the list of suspects because of her screaming, so it worked for me. >(And re Buffy, one of the nice things about BtVS is Buffy's competence in fights -- pointedly unlike Sara.)< I haven't seen Buffy, so I can't compare them. It seems to me though that, in her wrestle with Avon, Sara does manage to hit him where it hurts. (And because of that I can't really blame him for enjoying whacking her :-) ) Marian

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Re: [B7L] Re: Mission to Destiny
by Tavia 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Murray wrote: >What I particularly liked was the fact that the murderer >was Sara, in conventional terms the least likely suspect >due to being a small, screaming blonde. Clearly tastes and attitudes differ -- this was one of my unfavourite bits, it just screamed cliche' at me. (And re Buffy, one of the nice things about BtVS is Buffy's competence in fights -- pointedly unlike Sara.) Tavia

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Re: [B7L] Re: Mission to Destiny
by Marian de Haan 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Steve Rogerson wrote: >Haven't watched this for a while, but I have alsways considered it a vert enjoyable, though a bit offbeat, episode. The bit that always gets me is Avon turning his back on sarah before announcing that she did it. Bit daft.< At that stage he hadn't yet grasped that there's a trick for hiding bulky weapons in skin-tight clothes. But he'll catch on. :-) Mission to Destiny is one of my favourite episodes. I like the plot and on first viewing I didn't guess who did it. I thought the characterisations of the Ortega crew were done quite well. It isn't easy to set down such a large group of suspects, but here all have specific traits and all get something to do. Even Levett, who only had two lines, is quite memorable. Cally is intelligent and resourceful and she doesn't scream when that body suddenly drops on top of her. I like the way she takes part in the unravelling of the mystery - it isn't Avon's one man show. This is the first example of Avon and Cally working together, something I always enjoy watching. (Their teamwork is one of the few things that makes Voice from the Past watchable for me.) Also we get the first indication that there may be more to Avon than his facade of cold self-serving cynicism. I do like Agatha Christie's work. Her books are easy to read and don't leave you feeling depressed. :-) Marian

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Website Updates/Cartoons
by Ashton7＠aol.com 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

I've posted two more of Leah's Blakes 7 cartoons to the Ashton Press website, as well as a new Highlander cartoon in honor of Spring. I've also posted some details about how to order Ashton Press zines that are no longer available from Linda Knights, including links to a new Blakes 7 price list and the like. Check it all out at: http://members.aol.com/ashton7/ashton.htm Annie

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MediaWest & Zines
by Ashton7＠aol.com 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

For those of you going to MediaWest who would like to purchase some of the zines Ashton Press carries, I'm getting ready to start printing in preparation for the convention. I won't be printing older issues unless I have special requests for any, for the most part. So, if there are any that you're interested in, please let me know via private email. You can find the list of fanzines at: http://members.aol.com/methosela/zines.htm Thanks! Annie

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Re: [B7L] Which Question(s) Would You Ask the Script Editor? (Hypothetical)
by Jenny Kaye 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Fiona wrote: >Is Gan really a psychopath on the quiet? And if he isn't, how does one >explain "Time Squad" and "Breakdown"? Funny you mention those, because I saw "Breakdown" recently and so I thought I'd watch "Time Squad" last night. I'd say there is something very nasty going on with Gan, and I was a bit surprised I didn't see it the first time. Why don't we ever hear what Cally says to Kayne (sp?) about why Gan has the limiter? Why does Gan make excuses for the bad guys in "Time Squad"? Why can Gan knock people down like ninepins in other episodes but can't stop the men attacking Jenna? Any thoughts? Jenny _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

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(Suggestion) The Rocks around Destiny were One-Way; Planetary Approaches and Exits - Early Series v. Late Series.
by seven＠gaudaprime.com 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Fiona wrote (snipped from 46285) >>> The implication in the Blake and Vila exchange: "We've got to get >>> back to them" "Now I *know* I don't feel very well..." is that it >>> did. Tavia >> Yes, but why didn't it damage the ship, as the energy is too >> drained to maintain the force wall and main drive simultaneously? Fiona > To go around the field would take them 336 hours-- however, it > won't take them 336 hours to recharge their power supplies-- so > it's still faster to wait for the recharge and go through it again. > The reason why you don't see the second go through is a) it would > be very boring :), and b) the field of asteroids is only there in > the first place to cause the neutrotope's case to fall off the > table and give them a reason to look into it and find it empty. David Initially in B7 the planets were easy to leave and approach (Cygnus Alpha, Saurian Major, and Earth, leaving only). This changed with the planet of the Decimas (and again with Dawn later). Both Cally and Jenna had to be taken over, the Liberator was blind as it approached the planet, and when it did come close, the web held it fast. When part of the web had been cleared with the fungicide, the Liberator escaped easily. The series showed no information concerning the initial approach to Kentaro except that there had been a detour in the episode before it. The second approach to Kentaro and both escapes from it were easy. Destiny's approach was difficult - piloting through the rocks was a Herculean task - but the exit from the rocks is not shown. Either it caused no problems, as the programme implies, or the writer omitted it for another reason. In _Duel_, a high speed chase, not necessarily in regular space, was required before the crew could take shelter on and around the planet. After a brief flight at ramming speed, and some events on planet, the Liberator left the planet easily. Little is nothing of the approach to Avalon's planet. Exit was unexpectedly easy. The second approach to Avalon's planet and exit from it were easy. The approach to XK-72 through the vortex was difficult; the subsequent exit easy enough. The next three episodes have planets that are neutral with respect to ease of approach and exit. Approaching the System produced many difficulties but the exit from it was easy enough. Leaving Zondar and the planet of Rashelle were not easy to leave. As the Liberator was falling towards the former, Cally had to defeat the Dark. And there was a minefield around the latter. Zondar and pRashelle go against the pattern of difficult approaches and easy exits established in the earlier portion of B7. Why, Avon even says finding, if not approaching, Zondar was easy. Silmareno / Horizon were difficult to approach, easy to leave. Earth (Pressure Point) was acutely difficult to approach as was the Space Station conducting Travis' trial; they were easy to leave. Let Zil's planet be deemed neutral. Now the crew attempt to approach Star One. This was a long convoluted process attained only with much difficulty. Leaving Star One was rather easy. Skipping Tarrant's initial piloting of the Liberator, _Dawn_ was a turning point like _The Web_ was. Here the Liberator is again pulled off-course, and Cally again encounters another of Auron's Lost (the Thaarn), but the Liberator is not blind. Approaches after the Black Hole become easier: Kairos, Auron, even Earth (Rumours). Kerrill-City fascinated Vila, Ultraworld and the tomb fascinated Cally, Servalan's carrier fascinated Dayna, Teal's war-ground fascinated Tarrant, and Terminal fascinated Avon. They were all rather easy to approach and the difficulty rating for exits was increasing. Moving towards the end of B7, Scorpio could approach Mecron II (Belkov's planet), Verne and Malodar easily. It was the getting away that was difficult. The Space Princess, if it counts, was easy to approach, difficult to leave. Leaving Xenon was achieved only after a long stay there. From Dorian to Zukan it was singularly difficult to leave. Finally, as far as we know, they never left Gauda Prime. The approach was difficult in nearly all respects. Conclusion: Apart from Zondar and pRashelle, the exits were easy in the early portion of the series, and the approaches difficult; and in the latter portion, the approaches were easy and the exits difficult. So I think it is ok to have Destiny a difficult planet to approach and an easy one to leave, as stated then implied by the script of _Mission to Destiny_. The asteroids and rocks acted like a one way street. DC http://tezcatlipoca.algonet.se/cgi-bin/getbyid.pl?id=46285

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Re: [B7L] Which Question(s) Would You Ask the Script Editor? (Hypothetical)
by Tavia 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

David (Seven) asked: >If you, Tavia or Fiona, had the chance to spend >quiet time with the B7 Script Editor, what would >you ask him? I fear I'd be the one cowering away at the back waiting for all the people who know what they're talking about to ask the sensible interesting questions. But some random issues that interest me with regard to Chris Boucher as both scriptwriter and editor (tempered by the fact he's probably forgotten totally)... what were his influences as a B7 scriptwriter (other television, film, literature, real-life issues); did he see B7 as science fiction, and if not, what genre did he see it as; did he see B7 as a groundbreaking series or as a hack rehash of, say, Star Trek; how much leeway did the writer get on producing scripts; what were the major constraints on scripts (budget / BBC interpretation of audience expectations); who was the ultimate arbiter on character or background; did he compile a Sevencyclopaedia-like facts database; how much did he discuss the Federation &c background with Nation and/or the directors; how much did he discuss characters with the actors; did he agree with the direction the series took in season 4, especially with regard to the changes in Avon's character; and how much of the latter was actually driven by Paul Darrow; did he feel a tension between his/Holmes' scripts and Nation's scripts; which scriptwriter was the hardest to edit; which is his favourite of those episodes he wrote, and the least favourite; was he expecting the mass fan outrage/upset at the episode 'Blake'; is he surprised that there are still active fans of B7; what (if anything) does he think of fanfiction... I fear that it might actually be more interesting to present the guy with a written series of questions rather than a live Q&A session. Tavia

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Re: [B7L] Mission to Destiny
by Tavia 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Fiona wrote: >What you're talking about here, though, is the production. >If it had been directed by say, Douglas Camfield, it might >well have been a lot more interesting-- as it is, it's directed >by the man who directed "Timelash,"and what you get is a >lot of uninspired interaction, dull lighting, poorly realised >scenes etc. I must admit, I'm not very sensitive to the director in television (which is strange, cos it's the first thing I notice about a film). I was even surprised to find that my favourite episodes were all written by three scriptwriters (Nation, Boucher, Holmes). Perhaps if I reconstituted my list of likes and hates according to director I'd find some trends (Excel must have some uses...). Perhaps someone who knows could explain what exactly the director (vs say the producer) is responsible for in television production? >For instance, take a look at John Leeson. In "Gambit," the man's >fantastic. Here, he's lacklustre. Now we know he's capable of >turning out a good performance so it's not that he's a lousy actor-- >it's that he lacks good direction. Interesting; I'd never noticed that (not being in the least sensitive to actors, as I've mentioned here before). To be honest, though, it was not him I was really moaning about, lacklustre works quite well for xyz crew member on dull passenger cruiser with nothing much to do. But Sara, Mandrian and especially Sonheim were dreadful. >the field of asteroids is only there in the first place to cause >the neutrotope's case to fall off the table and give them a reason >to look into it and find it empty. That was just what I meant by lame plot device upon lame plot device. Tavia

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Re: [B7L] More thoughts on Mellanby
by Marian de Haan 06 Apr '01

06 Apr '01

Fiona wrote: >True, but what happens is, he comes in and finds Mellanby dead, and upon ascertaining that this is so, his first response is to shout "Orac!"-- he seems more concerned about getting Orac back than taken aback at Mellanby's death.< Considering that Orac is his only means of getting back to Liberator, Avon's priorities here don't strike me as out of character. He must be kicking himself for having let Orac out of his sight. :-) It's him leaving Orac for Servalan to grab in the first place that I find hard to credit. >His one comment on Mellanby is "He got away from here after all"-- which is a little bit sarcastic under the circumstances (frankly, I'm surprised Dayna didn't clock him one for that).< I didn't interpret that as sarcasm but as a clumsy consolation attempt. :-) Avon's in a hurry to go after Servalan, but seems not to want to leave Dayna behind. Does he feel responsible for her out of guilt because he didn't prevent Servalan from killing her father? Marian

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Blakes7 April 2001