Is Blake on trial?
Blake's 7 - Trial (1979)
Blake is reeling from guilt over the death of Gan from the previous episode Pressure Point. Meanwhile, Travis has been made a convenient scapegoat for Servalan & the Federation. He is on trial for a war crime of 1'471 civilians, executed by his troops, under his orders, during his campaigns for them, go figure. The lawyer to represent him has been hired by Servalan herself, how extra convenient. Blake goes awol on an alien planet, only to discover that it's sentient & it's occupants are the prey for it. One of them, Zil, tries to help him & Blake finds himself on yet, another struggle for life & death on a totally alien world.
Which of the two is the subplot? Blake's guilt & the resulting alien side story or the ongoing fight for freedom against the Federation? Does it matter since the two, somehow, become entwined in this fab episode. I really enjoy this one. Blake is reeling with bereavement so much so that he gets Orac to beam him down to the nearest habitable planet & leaves a computer, skype type video recording. The rest of the crew are given a choice to beam him back up or just simply leave him. Avon's comment about the vid & swallowing everything except the self-pity (being genuine?) cracks me up every time. Then his pessimist attitude to Blake's cause does it to me period. Avon's opinion on guilt? Only something he's heard about.
Okay, I find the politics of the sub plot involving the Federation trial somewhat confusing. I assume Travis' failure to "seek, locate, & destroy" Blake has become an embarrassment for Servalan, so she needs to save face. Equally confusing is the scene where Travis' lawyer, Thania "bribes" one of his loyal squadron soldiers, a willing participant in the massacre in question, to share a (not-so poisoned?) drink with Travis in his cell. Okay, I was never one for futuristic, medieval politics of The Terran Empire! The presiding judge is none other than John Savident, that butcher from Coronation Street, playing Samar also known as Starkiller. Someone of a hikikomori/agoraphobic sufferer? He spends most of his time aboard his beloved flagship of the 8th fleet! Did the Corrie butcher wonder that one day his descendant will be a butcher of the judgemental kind?
Alright, I kinda, somewhat guiltily, get a laugh out of Avon rubbing Blake's face in his own morality. Blake beams himself down to the alien planet that's allegedly supposed to be devoid of life, though that fact leaves Avon with a reason to believe that it gives the planet that aspect of paradise! The planet is a living entity, & Blake's arrival has upset the natural balance, so it goes on a pest exterminating rampage of the lifeforms within it's surface. The aliens such as zil herself are born of eggs & must avoid being consumed alive. This Sci-Fi concept appeals to this geek, such a cool alien concept & one worthy of any space show!
love Travis' speech to the courtroom! The usual obeying orders one but with a twist about hypocrisy at his former commanders! Meanwhile, after his rescue from alien buffet planet, Blake suddenly goes on a fanatical quest of vengeance aimed at the Earth space station where the war crime trial is being held. If only you'd known Blake, that a hated enemy was about to be executed, LOL! Using a Trekkie-style cloaking device that Avon invented & that Vila thinks is "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! It'll never work." Love the groovy space station HQ by the way!
All that Blake's sudden attack does is help another enemy escape so that he can hunt Blake while Servalan hunts them both! Sometimes I can't help but wonder if Avon is right about Blake's over enthusiastic nature! Of course, Peter Miles, the Mr Smithers like Nyder from that classic Doctor Who - Genesis Of The Daleks (1975), plays one of Servalans rivals of the aforementioned, confusing political chess game in this one.
All in all we have a personal fave of Mine. I am so fascinated by Terry Nations future, dystopian concept of an evil Earth Empire which contrasts the glorious utopia of Star Trek's Federation in true blue (& dark) brutish, British mode! The enslaved Worlds in question being mostly former Earth colonies! But I also love the distraction stories. Be they the Human episodes of murder mystery, space pirates, berserk-er, looking at you, Bayban The Butcher, played by 6th Doctor Colin baker! Or the totally alien episodes or side distraction as in here. To misquote you Blake, next time you want to wallow in self pity, do so in your bunk like a good fanatical brat?!
Stay Safe!
Borgduck,
Stewart.
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