Helen wrote:
- The self-important aliens in Duel
Surely I can't be the only one who *likes* the aliens in "Duel"? Or even just "Duel" in general? The episode always strikes me as a nifty, subversive take-off on _Star Trek_ (whether entirely deliberate or otherwise), and the aliens are part and parcel of that. If you watch TOS' s "Arena," the alien in it is downright sickening (and I say this as one who *does* actually consider herself a TOS fan). It's this shiningly beautiful young man in a toga giving Kirk a metaphorical pat on the head and saying "Ah, give you a few million more years and you may be as shiny and advanced and perfect as we are!" Whereas the B7 aliens *aren't* more "advanced," morally, than humans -- heck, they destroyed themselves in a horrible war! And the individul specimens we see are as cynical and prone to squabbling between themselves as anybody else in the B7 universe. Giroc, in particular, is a nasty piece of work, and ugly, to boot. Even the "super-advanced aliens" in B7 are corrupt and petty! How can you not love that? :)
-- Betty Ragan ** bragan@nrao.edu ** http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~bragan Not speaking for my employers, officially or otherwise. "Seeing a rotten picture for the special effects is like eating a tough steak for the smothered onions..." -- Isaac Asimov
--- Betty wrote:
Surely I can't be the only one who *likes* the aliens in "Duel"? Or even just "Duel" in general? The episode always strikes me as a nifty, subversive take-off on _Star Trek_ (whether entirely deliberate or otherwise), and the aliens are part and parcel of that.
Well, personally I loved Duel. This is partly shameless nostalgia - it was the first ep. I ever saw when I was all of eight years old. But I think it works because of the sense of unremitting bleakness. None of these people, including (as you observe) the aliens have a clue what they're doing. We also see the galaxy, in part, through a mutoid's eyes. The incidental music is great and the ep. was directed by Douglas Camfield.
However unless anyone else wants to come rallying to the episode's defence we may be joining Una and Ellynne as defenders of doomed causes.
Stephen.
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Iain wrote:
On Wed, 13 Jun 2001, [iso-8859-1] Stephen Date wrote:
However unless anyone else wants to come rallying to the episode's defence we may be joining Una and Ellynne as defenders of doomed causes.
I'm with you guys.
Defence of doomed causes looks in danger of becoming fashionable. I may soon have to start taking a more populist line in my posts in order to remain unfashionable.
Re: 'Duel' - I never used to like it particularly but, on reflection, I think it's one of the better ones in season 1. I like the incidental music a great deal too,
Una
--- Una wrote:
Defence of doomed causes looks in danger of becoming fashionable. I may soon have to start taking a more populist line in my posts in order to remain unfashionable.
Fashionable is not an adjective that I would think of applying to Blake's 7. On this Lyst supporting lost causes is always going to be popular.
If you really wish to pursue the lonely path of individuality then I suggest that posting on the merits of Ben Steed in general and Power in particular may be the best strategy.
Stephen. (Diving for cover and priming anti-penguin devices).
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Stephen wrote:
If you really wish to pursue the lonely path of individuality then I suggest that posting on the merits of Ben Steed in general and Power in particular may be the best strategy.
At heart, Stephen, I am a woman of principle. Not even I could extoll the virtues of 'Power'. Plus, I do have some sense of self-preservation.
Una
Stephen Date stephend999@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
--- Una wrote:
Defence of doomed causes looks in danger of becoming fashionable. I may soon have to start taking a more populist line in my posts in order to remain unfashionable.
Fashionable is not an adjective that I would think of applying to Blake's 7. On this Lyst supporting lost causes is always going to be popular.
If you really wish to pursue the lonely path of individuality then I suggest that posting on the merits of Ben Steed in general and Power in particular may be the best strategy.
Stephen. (Diving for cover and priming anti-penguin devices).
In case anyone is interested:
St Jude is the patron saint of lost causes.
Isidore of Seville is the patron saint of the Internet.
Jacqui __________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Webmail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/
Una McCormack wrote:
Defence of doomed causes looks in danger of becoming fashionable.
Well, it's so very B7, isn't it?
In message Pine.OSF.3.96.1010613103848.9278A-100000@bscomp, Iain Coleman ijc@bas.ac.uk writes
On Wed, 13 Jun 2001, [iso-8859-1] Stephen Date wrote:
However unless anyone else wants to come rallying to the episode's defence we may be joining Una and Ellynne as defenders of doomed causes.
I'm with you guys.
AOL. I love Duel, because it takes the same premise as the Trek episode (which itself was based on an earlier short story), and puts its own delightful B7 spin on it:-> None of this "Wise superior being recognises the innate wonderfulness of our hero" crap. And the line "It wasn't a victory, only the end of the war" is *wonderful*.
Oh, and the quote appeal - see sig...
On Wed 13 Jun, Stephen Date wrote:
Well, personally I loved Duel. This is partly shameless nostalgia - it was the first ep. I ever saw when I was all of eight years old. But I think it works because of the sense of unremitting bleakness. None of these people, including (as you observe) the aliens have a clue what they're doing. We also see the galaxy, in part, through a mutoid's eyes. The incidental music is great and the ep. was directed by Douglas Camfield.
However unless anyone else wants to come rallying to the episode's defence we may be joining Una and Ellynne as defenders of doomed causes.
I like the idea of Sinofer and Giroc being eternally cursed to suffer one another's company. They're so totally different. I have a feeling that they will be released when they have both learned what they need to learn. Sinofer has found truth long ago, but Giroc still does not understand and it is she who still binds them to the planet.
They are, in a sense, the collective identity of the two races who warred there so long ago.
Are they ghosts? Or are they some lingering manifestation of a technology beyond our comprehension?
Judith
Judith Proctor Judith@blakes-7.com wrote:
On Wed 13 Jun, Stephen Date wrote:
Well, personally I loved Duel. This is partly shameless nostalgia - it was the first ep. I ever saw when I was all of eight years old. But I think it works because of the sense of unremitting bleakness. None of these people, including (as you observe) the aliens have a clue what they're doing. We also see the galaxy, in part, through a mutoid's eyes. The incidental music is great and the ep. was directed by Douglas Camfield.
However unless anyone else wants to come rallying to the episode's defence we may be joining Una and Ellynne as defenders of doomed causes.
I like the idea of Sinofer and Giroc being eternally cursed to suffer one another's company. They're so totally different. I have a feeling that they will be released when they have both learned what they need to learn. Sinofer has found truth long ago, but Giroc still does not understand and it is she who still binds them to the planet.
They are, in a sense, the collective identity of the two races who warred there so long ago.
Are they ghosts? Or are they some lingering manifestation of a technology beyond our comprehension?
Judith
Would Sinofer & Giroc only appear when there were two/several people in conflict with each other?
(and who would Servalan face?)
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