Rather than a "what happened next" approach (that has been done very well by others), these are just my random thoughts that came up during each episode. My bias in these comments is that I like the ambiguity of the series - i.e. not everyone in the federation is EVIL and not every rebel is PERFECT. The things that grate are those that are totally out of character or just don't make any sense or require an explanation I feel was probably in a cut out scene. Feel free to correct my observations/interpretations/add sarcastic comments :-). And before anyone asks - I *did* watch the episode!!! 8-P
The Way Back
A tremendous first episode that sets the scene for the whole series. We get insight to how the federation works, Blakes background, indications that you can't trust anyone, noone is totally good or bad.
Drug me. We learn that the way the federation ensures total control is that the food and water are treated with suppressants. This only works if they have developed drugs that allow people to remain productive whilst stopping them from questioning authority. The idea that the federation is comfortable with designer drugs like this reoccurs in many episodes - even post federation with commissioner Sleer. However, the federation is aware that the drugging is not perfect because they also have many surveillance cameras (in public places only?). And they have terrible elevator music in the hallways - this music alone is probably enough to drive some people insane and break the drug induced tranquility. Another indication of imperfect drugging is the public address announcement: "President to answer questions on population control". So clearly there are people questioning authority and public announcements about it - so even the fact that people question authority is not hidden. This implies that the administration needs some sort of popular support. Is it possible that there are elections to some positions within the administration? So Blake may be fighting a democracy (albeit a pretty dodgy one).
Blake asks Ravella why the administration would suppress us [with drugs]? Is he blind. everyone we see looks drugged. Is part of the drugging (even after 36 hours without drugs) stopping him from seeing this?
I live in a dome. People live in domes, but it is possible to live outside - they are not surrounded by wasteland, the air is safe to breathe and the water is safe to drink (as Blake and Ravella do later in this episode). It is illegal to leave the domes - presumably because then people would not be drugged. The doors to outside are also locked (so the drugging isn't perfect) and require special equipment to open them. I wonder what drove everyone into the domes to begin with - I am sure the writers want us to believe some global nuclear or biological war. Are there domes in which the food is grown - or does food come from outside? I don't think so - it would be too difficult to harvest and transport. Where does the water come from? They must do lots of recycling in the domes. The domes are many levels above (see the outside shots) and below the ground (they come up the ladders to exit).
Get a job. Blake (and presumably others?) is being "looked after": constant observation and following and faked tapes from his relatives (needing actors that look just like his family). This must be a huge industry in the federation employing lots of people.
You can't trust anyone anymore. Why is Tarrant following them? And why is he following them if there are surveillance cameras everywhere? This is another indication that the total control is not perfect - there must be parts of the domes not covered by the cameras so they need to be followed in person). When Blake meets Foster I like that in the background Dev Tarrant says hello to everyone - so we know he really is a member of the resistance - after all our worrying with him following Blake. And then he actually says ".I thought for a moment we had been infiltrated." Hahahaha! Dev also says "we met before" implying the "old" Blake. Does this mean he Foster were members of Blakes first resistance group and they escaped the massacre? It has been four years since all Blakes followers were "captured" according to Foster. But they were "..transported to outer worlds and executed on arrival.". Why transport them at all - why not just kill them? After all, a pro keeps it simple ;-). I suppose it might be easier to hide the crime on a remote planet with less people to bribe (or keep quiet).
These people are as ruthless as the federation - they have prepared documents to implicate Blake in their activities. Why would this worry Blake? - the federation watch him all the time and know that he has not been in contact with the resistance.
Conspiracy theories galore. Are Tarrant and Foster both double agents? Tarrant asks Foster "what do you think?", to which Foster replies "there's not much left of the man I knew". Foster sounds sincere so I don't think he is a double agent, but this might be evidence that Foster is being "run" by Tarrant because Tarrant doesn't care what Foster thinks really because he has arranged a massacre! I am even more confused by their wanting to trap Blake if he is a reformed character.
When the troopers come in, a trooper looks at Blake in his hiding place and does nothing: have they all been briefed to let Blake live (but then the "mastermind" would have to do something to all the troopers so they don't blab about this. This kind of thing is always a problem with too complex conspiracy theories - you have to keep too many people silent!).
Why are all the bodies left lying around? To provoke Blake? After all, they are waiting for him when he returns to the dome: the expect him to survive!, and get captured! And return to the dome!! He could just have run off into the countryside. Was he saved because he would have become a martyr? Then they try to frame Blake with the child molesting charges. This is baffling if they have caught him with the resistance. Is it the "avoiding matyrdom" problem - i.e. child molesting will put everyone off. But then why set him up with the resistance? What's going on??? Also, when the lawyer and his S.O. are killed - their bodies are left lying around outside the dome. Won't these bodies be found by the outsiders and incite them further?
Interior decorating taste aside, Glynd is concerned that justice has to be seen to be done. When Blake meets Varon, Varon says "of course not" when Blake says the charges aren't true. How does he know, or was he just being cynical?
At the trial, why did Tarrant come to gloat. Very unprofessional!
The legal records technician is a charicature beaureaucrat - listening to music instead of working. Like all small minded people with a little power he is actually happy that they do not have the right security clearance. But he is easily bribed. Varon is very naïve - if someone is easy to bribe you have just established that they can't be trusted - it then becomes obvious that he will stab you in the back and turn you in to the authorities (or - as part of the conspiracy he was told to take a bribe.). Tel Varon knows about mental implants, but his S.O. doesn't.
It's the 70's dammit. Flares + bubble perms - 'nuff said. Why do Glynds doors a the justice department have that annoying woosh (I know - its overdubbed to hide the clunking of plywood hitting plywood)? Its great that Glynds place has shag pile carpet - a sure sign of '70's decadence. I bet the B7 producers had shag pile in their homes! But we do get to meet the worlds most machiavellian grandmother!!
New neighbourhood, new friends. Vila is the first one he meets. Vila knows Blake the name, but not Blake the face. This implies that people (even potential followers) don't know what Blake looks like, so why don't the federation simply eliminate him? They can have a "Fake Blake" and noone will know. (However, Jenna looks like she recognises Blake?) The federation has failed to "adjust" Vilas brain too - a kindred spirit for Blake. Vila knows Jenna and Jenna knows Vila. Have they worked together before? The way they talk it does not sound like they have just met. At first Jenna is very aggressive, she says to Blake: "Better get used to the idea that noone out there gives a damn about you.". Then she goes soft, reassuring Blake with "don't worry, they'll get it" when discussing the holding order. She also reassures him again on the ship. (She MUST fancy him - it is the ONLY explanation.) But then we see that the lawyer is dead and Blake has no hope - great ending. In any other program our hero would never be condemned in this way. It is clear that from now on the good guys will regularly lose! And get killed off too! Together with their friends and family.
Next week: Space Fall
- Iain Walker