Cygnus Alpha
With Artix dosing the air with suppressants there must be an antidote for the crew? What about "health and safety in the workplace" regulations for the London's crew? Are they unionized?
We get more portrayal of "every day" federation citizens when Artix is worried about his promotion prospects, and the captain says he can live it down because he is so young (compared to the captain for whom it will be the end of the road?). But our "good" captain makes a mistake when recording the log. He says five London crew died in the rebellion. They didn't. Teague and Wallace died on the Liberator, not during the takeover. Krell went insane on the liberator and Raiker died when the ships separated. This leaves one and maybe two unaccounted for (OR another five died during the rebellion and the captain thinks noone will noitce the other missing crew?). Later we find this is Artix first prison planet run. He is surprised that the planet looks so inhospitable, and that he cannot go down to the planet and stretch his legs.
And now a real bone of contention: the HOT Liberator guns. One explanation is that you only get the hot reaction when the guns are in the storage compartment, that's why Blake can hand his gun to Jenna and she doesn't get burned (but Blake could have been a little more careful/thoughtful - he wasn 't to know this). In other words, the storage compartment detects that you have another gun in your hand - not the gun itself. But what if you had a gun in a holster, not touched by skin - would that be OK?
The "lost religion" is too cliché for words. With language like "New bounty has come from the darkness." Sheesh!
So Blake, Jenna and Avon are on a new and strange ship. The survival priorities should be air, water, food, heat & light, but they don't even discuss these things. In other episodes we know they don't take these things for granted, so what is going on here?
Jenna names the ship "Liberator", too bad she isn't in charge of the whole operation. At least she would tell everyone what is going on more than Blake does, and she can certainly stand up to geeky old Avon.
Even when they are stuck on the planet, Vila is still telling jokes - does he take nothing seriously?
There have been many SFX criticisms of B7, but one of my favourite things is the "white outline" teleportation trick. BUT why does Blake say to bring him back in four minutes and not a shorter time. Oh, I know, it is just enough time for "Mr. Bumble" to get into trouble. When "the followers" see Blake they are told "A deserter, kill him". How do they know? Isn't it more likely he is a new prisoner? Blakes first LIE. He doesn't tell Jenna and Avon about being assulted. Grrr.. And when being interviewed by Vargas he says "No way am I ordering the ship to land ". Why not just tell the truth (as far as we know) it can't land on a planet?
More hysterical dialog from the followers: "I am the servant of your god, Neil." So who is this Neil, and why is he god? :-). And why oh why is Gan kissed? Baffling. Another S.F. religion cliché - Medieval Chanting. Why not have a tele-evangelist? I know - no T.V. on this planet and they couldn't get the suits or whores. Why do they use sharps extra strong mints in the sacrament ceremony? Is this the religion that refreshes? More than a religion - its petty beurocracy too. there are chances for the faithful to rise in the priesthood - doing as you are told brings you into favour. Where did Vargas gun come from? I can't see the federation allowing armed prisoners to be shipped, can you?
Jenna asks Avon about killing face to face. He says he doesn't know. I guess he shot the visa seller in the back then :-). Once again forgetting about food/air/water Jenna concentrates on fashion - but Avon is not impressed. Also - why are jewels so valuable? Apparently there is enough to buy a planet - equivalent to a whole banking system. This just makes no sense - you would need more minerals than are in a planet for starters.
And I won't even mention the tennis shoes or the time differences between the liberators trip and the london. Rats - I just did.
We have now gone three full episodes into the show and not one mention of football. Now, I can believe that religions have been wiped out, everyone lives in a dome, FTL space travel and BUT it is incredible that we are asked to believe that there is no organized sport (ask any facsist dictator about this way of getting people to let off steam) :-^. Surely Vila would have a replica shirt - probably Man City :-).
- Iain
On the substitutes bench we have Time Squad warming up!
Okay, let's have some fun.
Iain Walker wrote:
So Blake, Jenna and Avon are on a new and strange ship. The survival priorities should be air, water, food, heat & light, but they don't even discuss these things. In other episodes we know they don't take these things for granted, so what is going on here?
I agree, it would have been nice to see all the bases covered. But realistically, the only thing relevant to the plot was propulsion - in both a metaphorical and literal sense.
Even when they are stuck on the planet, Vila is still telling jokes - does he take nothing seriously?
I think Vila is the type to crack wise even when frightened out of his wits - in other words, he's witty even when witless, if you follow.
There have been many SFX criticisms of B7, but one of my favourite things is the "white outline" teleportation trick. BUT why does Blake say to bring him back in four minutes and not a shorter time. Oh, I know, it is just enough time for "Mr. Bumble" to get into trouble.
Mr. Bumble? Please. My Blake is stealthy and coordinated, stretching his legs after long months on a ship. Why four? Doesn't four happen to be Blake's magic number? Five minutes would have sounded cliche. Three would have felt a little rushed. So, four it was. Not to obsess about the matter too much.
When "the followers" see Blake they are told "A deserter, kill him". How do they know? Isn't it more likely he is a new prisoner?
It is necessary to establish the environment of Cygnus Alpha as deeply unfriendly. These "followers" are maniacs and probably intending to make an example of Blake. They could even be on a search and destroy "deserters" mission. But yes, you would *think* they would take a moment to be sure that he actually *was* a deserter.
Blakes first LIE. He doesn't tell Jenna and Avon about being assulted. Grrr..
For some reason I love this. Blake gets good practice for being secretive later on the series, but here he seems to have little justification. Maybe he didn't want to have any altercations with Avon and Jenna about whether to stick around the planet or not. Knowledge is power and all that.
And when being interviewed by Vargas he says "No way am I ordering the ship to land ". Why not just tell the truth (as far as we know) it can't land on a planet?
What, and get into a debate with this madman? Even if Blake *could* land the ship he isn't about to let that happen. Another thing: Blake recognized the deeper intent of Vargas's question. Vargas wanted the ship. Vargas didn't *care* if it could land on the planet or not. He just wanted the ship. And Blake was just a bridge to getting it. Details were unimportant to Vargas's true intent.
Where did Vargas gun come from? I can't see the federation allowing armed prisoners to be shipped, can you?
"New bounty has come from the darkness." Well, Cygnus doesn't just get visited by prison ships, right? Maybe they get care package deliveries from other sources . . .
Jenna asks Avon about killing face to face. He says he doesn't know. I guess he shot the visa seller in the back then :-).
Y'know, it would be just like Avon to be pedantic like that.
Once again forgetting about food/air/water Jenna concentrates on fashion - but Avon is not impressed.
Clearly Avon is still under the effect of drug suppressants.
We have now gone three full episodes into the show and not one mention of football. Now, I can believe that religions have been wiped out, everyone lives in a dome, FTL space travel and BUT it is incredible that we are asked to believe that there is no organized sport (ask any facsist dictator about this way of getting people to let off steam) :-^. Surely Vila would have a replica shirt - probably Man City :-).
We don't *know* that there aren't any organized sports, maybe something along the lines of "Rollerball." Then again, would people's doped and drugged dome life actually *give* them much steam to let off?
Thanks for your episode review. Looking forward to the next.
Jackie
On Tue, 22 May 2001, Iain Walker wrote:
Once again forgetting about food/air/water Jenna concentrates on fashion - but Avon is not impressed. Also - why are jewels so valuable? Apparently there is enough to buy a planet - equivalent to a whole banking system. This just makes no sense - you would need more minerals than are in a planet for starters.
Maybe there's only enough to buy a really rubbish planet, like Pluto.
We have now gone three full episodes into the show and not one mention of football. Now, I can believe that religions have been wiped out, everyone lives in a dome, FTL space travel and BUT it is incredible that we are asked to believe that there is no organized sport (ask any facsist dictator about this way of getting people to let off steam) :-^. Surely Vila would have a replica shirt - probably Man City :-).
Perhaps his jester outfit is actually a replica shirt? Partick Thistle, most likely.
Iain
Jolly good, Iain!
The "lost religion" is too cliché for words. With language like "New
bounty
has come from the darkness." Sheesh!
This is also a major theme in Golden Age detective stories--fringe religions are ALWAYS sandal-wearing muttering nutters. BTW, do you think this episode was a conscious influence on the Angel production team? The priests in the latest (US) episode remind me of Vargas & Co.
So Blake, Jenna and Avon are on a new and strange ship. The survival priorities should be air, water, food, heat & light, but they don't even discuss these things. In other episodes we know they don't take these things for granted, so what is going on here?
My story "Good Housekeeping" (available on The Hermit Library) deals with some of these questions--WARNING: It's a (non-explicit) slash story, so for people who do not like that sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they do not like.
Jenna names the ship "Liberator", too bad she isn't in charge of the whole operation. At least she would tell everyone what is going on more than Blake does, and she can certainly stand up to geeky old Avon.
Presumably she was NOT piloting DSVs as a "free trader"--piloting skills must a) be very transferable and b) easy to acquire--in Time Squad, Avon, Vila, and Gan, none of whom presumably so much as drove a Citroen 2CV before are performing complex docking maneuvers
Even when they are stuck on the planet, Vila is still telling jokes - does he take nothing seriously?
Well, I can't say I blame him, I hope I'd be able to do the same.
There have been many SFX criticisms of B7, but one of my favourite things
is
the "white outline" teleportation trick. BUT why does Blake say to bring him back in four minutes and not a shorter time. Oh, I know, it is just enough time for "Mr. Bumble" to get into trouble.
And where is he carrying the boatload of teleport bracelets Vargas heaps on the table? I believe in manga/anime this is referred to as "weaponspace."
Surely Vila would have a replica shirt - probably Man City :-).
Perhaps a thousand years from now, Man City supporters wear suede crossing guard outfits.
-(Y)
-
Dana Shilling -
Iain Coleman -
Iain Walker -
jstaylor