On Sun, Sep 09, 2001 at 04:35:18PM -0400, jacquispeel@netscape.net wrote:

There are two cases where 'hell' is used as a destination in B7 - Blake and Provine, and Avon and Servalan in 'Rumours' - which implies that 'some' sort of religious belief survived.

Maybe, maybe not... it could be just a linguistic echo... I mean, for example, isn't "goodbye" derived from the phrase "God be with you"? But that isn't what it means now...

But I guess that isn't the argument, really. Because you're right, particularly in the bit with Avon and Servalan, they are definitely talking about (well, it *appears* that they are talking about) "the place where bad people go after they die"... but I don't think either of them actually believe in it.

The following may not be complete nor totally accurate...

"I'm in hell and it's full of Avons!" -- Vila Restal (Blake's 7: Dawn Of The Gods [C4]) /?/

"All right then, give me a good reason. I'm a reasonable man. I'll accept a good reason. I'll accept a bad reason. I'll accept any damn reason at all, just tell me what the hell it is I'm meant to have done." -- Vila to Kerril (Blake's 7: City at the Edge of the World [C6])

Servalan: Go to hell, Avon. Avon: Probably. (Blake's 7: Rumours of Death [C8])

Slave: Sorry, sir. Tarrant: And don't keep saying you're sorry. Slave: Sorry, sir. Tarrant: Don't! What the hell. Preliminary damage survey, Slave. (Blake's 7: Animals [D5])

Soolin: What does it matter how the poor old man died? The question is `where the hell is Cancer?' Avon: Well we know where he isn't. He isn't on the flight deck, he isn't in his cabin and he isn't in here. Soolin: Shall we search the rest of the ship? Avon: Oh I imagine he would just love that, wouldn't you? (Blake's 7: Assassin [D7])

Avon: You do know that this is a hell of a risk? Tarrant: It usually is anyway, isn't it? (Blake's 7: Sand [D9])

Tarrant: A strategic withdrawal is running away - but with dignity. Vila: So lay in a course and let's get the dignified hell out of here. (Blake's 7: Blake [D13])

"So get the hell out of here, will you? There's no point in both of us dying." -- Del Tarrant to Kerr Avon (Blake's 7: Blake [D13])

Only one of those is actually talking about hell as a place -- the rest are basically expletives.

Hmmmm.

Kathryn Andersen -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Servalan: This isn't a game Belkov. We want those crystals and we want them now. Belkov: And I'm the only one who can get them for you. It is a game Commissioner, and I hold the winning hand. Servalan: No hand is a winning hand until it's played, Belkov. You should know that. (Blake's 7: Games [D8])