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blakes7-d Digest				Volume 98 : Issue 85

Today's Topics:
	 [B7L] Best episodes
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
	 Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
	 [B7L] re: Blakes7 Dreams & Space City
	 Re: [B7L] epitaphs (silly)
	 Re: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
	 Re: [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
	 Re: [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
	 [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
	 [B7L] epitaph
	 Re: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
	 Re: [B7L] epitaphs
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
	 [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Avon
	 [B7L] Josette
	 [B7L] Avon
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Best episodes
	 Re: [B7L] Best episodes
	 [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
	 Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
	 Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
	 [B7L] Guards Guards - zines
	 RE: [B7L] Avon

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 20:22:47 GMT
From: STEVE.ROGERSON@MCR1.poptel.org.uk
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-Id: <398228640MCR1@MCR1.poptel.org.uk>

The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
and Blake.

Readers are invited to send in their own favourite episodes of
their top ten shows. I've voted for:

Blake's 7 - Star One
Doomwatch - Survival Code
Quantum Leap - The Colour of Truth
X-Files - Home
Star Trek (TNG) - Chain of Command
Fawlty Towers - The Rat
Red Dwarf - Backwards
Dr Who - Paradise Towers
Babylon 5 - Z'ha'dum
Xena - The Debt

Grab a copy and vote (don't forget to let us all know what you
voted for).

cheers
Steve Rogerson

Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention
26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
http://www.smof.com/redemption/

"The workers united will never be ignited"
Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 14:42:43 -0600
From: "Reuben Herfindahl" <reuben@reuben.net>
To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <016601bd51e5$3c725b50$660114ac@misnt>
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
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>The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
>episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
>episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
>and Blake.
>
>Readers are invited to send in their own favourite episodes of
>their top ten shows. I've voted for:
>
>Blake's 7 - Star One
>Doomwatch - Survival Code
>Quantum Leap - The Colour of Truth
>X-Files - Home
>Star Trek (TNG) - Chain of Command
>Fawlty Towers - The Rat
>Red Dwarf - Backwards
>Dr Who - Paradise Towers
>Babylon 5 - Z'ha'dum
>Xena - The Debt
>


I take it there is no on-line forum for this?

Reuben

P.S. Paradise Towers for Dr. Who?!?!?  An episode with Mel?  Ohh, well each
to his own.  I get quite a bit of flack from Who fans for liking Timelash.
I don't think I need to justify my reasons for Timelash on this group
obvious reasons.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 14:59:00 -0600
From: Lisa Williams <lcw@dallas.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980317144804.00c4e648@dallas.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

STEVE.ROGERSON@MCR1.poptel.org.uk wrote:

>The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
>episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
>episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
>and Blake.

Based on *what*, exactly? That's certainly an interesting selection of
episodes. (Gambit?! I regard that one as the most boring episode of the
first two seasons; only reason I ever look at it at all is to see the
lovely overview of the BBC costume collection.)

	- Lisa

_____________________________________________________________
Lisa Williams: lcw@dallas.net or lwilliams@mcopn1.dseg.ti.com

Lisa's Video Frame Capture Library: http://lcw.simplenet.com/
New Riders of the Golden Age: http://www.warhorse.com/

------------------------------

Date: 17 Mar 1998 14:06:53 -0800
From: "Kinkade.Carol" <kinkade.carol@ssdgwy.mdc.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
Message-ID: <n1321978744.91625@SSDGWY.mdc.com>

>Julia wrote:
>_Warlord_, when they're wandering around realising that Zukan's 
>tricked them. Having seen one version of this story as told by 
>Paul - yes, I agree with him, Avon would have shot anyway. Because 
>Avon, when faced with a "one dies/both die" choice, chooses the 
>"one dies", even in a situation where the socially acceptable norm 
>is to heroically sacrifice yourself as well. 

Thanks for the info.  For some reason I had a feeling it was "Warlord" he was
talking about when I heard Paul telling this story.  

I wouldn't have seen it as unreasonable at all for Avon to fire if a Fed guard
held Soolin as a shield and was aiming to fire at Avon, *of course* Avon's
response would be to fire first.  If their postions were reversed, I don't
believe Soolin would have hesitated to fire, either.  In fact, the more I think
about it, I don't think this particular scenerio is unique to Avon.  Any of them
would have fired in that kind of circumstance.  Even Tarrant.  

>Dr Plaxton's death is a particularly strong example, because the 
>immediate response of most people to the situation is that
>it's wrong to kill her. If you analyse it unemotionally - would 
>it have been more moral to have not started the engines, resulting 
>in the death of Dr Plaxton *and* everyone else? 

This one hit me hard the first time I saw it.  The odd thing is that it wasn't
Plaxton's death that bothered me (gee, what does that say about me?), but Avon's
reaction to it.  I recall that I accepted right away that his decision was
correct, his first responsibility was to save the crew, and he saved them.  But
it really bothered me that he had no remorse at the necessity to sacrifice Dr.
Plaxton.  But, then I realized that this was just one more difficult decision in
a life filled with difficult decisions.  And Avon couldn't/wouldn't let it be
any more than that.

>I can still remember the first time I watched _Orbit_. When Orac 
>did his impersonation of an 'I speak your weight' machine, I had 
>absolutely no doubt that Avon would save himself at Vila's expense

The first time I saw this I was convinced Avon wouldn't have been able to do it.
 It was obvious he didn't WANT to do it.  He certainly wasn't himself as he was
stalking the bays looking for Vila.  But, as I've grown more into the show, and
Avon, I'm convinced now that he WOULD have.  I think he would have regretted it.
 And I think it would have disturbed him enough that Vila's ghost would have
stayed with him for a very long time.

I've been discussing with a couple of people whether there was really any
difference in Avon's actions in "Orbit" and Vila's many attempts to flee danger,
leaving crew members behind to face "whatever."   It amounts to the same thing.
 
>- but I was not surprised that he didn't think of it himself.

I've never focused on this before.  Interesting point.

Carol K
(AVON RULES!!!!)

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 20:20:42 -0000
From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk>
To: "Helen Krummenacker" <avona@jps.net>, <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
Message-Id: <199803172317.XAA28738@gnasher.sol.co.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

----------
> From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
>  . _orbit_ wasmore difficult, because it was 1/1, the balance
> of lives depended solely on your point of view, not numerical
> calculation. I think Avon was _very_ uncomfortable with that choice.
> Others have referred to his using his best "Come out so I can shoot you"
> voice. I think he was compartmentalizing his mind because part of him
> couldn't deal with what he was going to do... and because of that, he
> sounded horribly unnatural.

I've always wondered whether the delivery in that scene was cleverly and
subtly telling us that Avon doesn't want Vila to show himself, or whether
it's just Darrow being a crap actor that day. Could go either way...

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 00:02:42 +0000
From: Jackie <jackiew@termlow.co.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] re: Blakes7 Dreams & Space City
Message-ID: <350F0F22.4DAE@termlow.co.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Tonya Fallis wrote:
> 
> P.S.  I haven't had any activity from Space-City in days.  Anyone know
> what's going on with that list?

Have you inadvertently been unsubbed, as I`m recieving "loud and clear".

Bye 
Jackie

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 08:13:16 +1100
From: Kathryn Andersen <kat@welkin.apana.org.au>
To: "Blake's 7 list" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] epitaphs (silly)
Message-ID: <19980318081316.20530@welkin.apana.org.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Tue, Mar 17, 1998 at 07:26:18AM -0800, Helen Krummenacker wrote:
> You know, all these epitaphs would make _great_ filler in a fanzine,
> (she hinted loudly). Tonya's are terrific, and in anyone wants to use
> the ones I wrote, they have my blessing.

I have started a monster!

Kathryn
(Byeee folks - off on a big white bird today!  See y'all in Newcastle
and Stoke!)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I don't believe Blake can think and swim at the same time."
			-- Kerr Avon	(Blake's 7: Trial [B6])
-- 
 _--_|\	    | Kathryn Andersen		<kat@welkin.apana.org.au>
/      \    | 		http://connexus.apana.org.au/~kat
\_.--.*/    | #include "std/disclaimer.h"
      v	    |
------------| Melbourne -> Victoria -> Australia -> Southern Hemisphere
Maranatha!  |	-> Earth -> Sol -> Milky Way Galaxy -> Universe

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 18:34:58 -0800
From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
To: Tonya Fallis <fallist@enmu.edu>
CC: "Blake's 7 Lysator List" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
Message-ID: <350F32D2.196A@jps.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Tonya Fallis wrote:
(snip)
> This reminds me of a question I meant to ask this group months ago:  Has
> anyone ever had any B7 dreams, and if so, what were they like?  (No, I
> don't mean *those* kind of dreams, you perverts--get those naughty thoughts
> out your your heads!)
> 
> My personal  little PGP scenario comes almost entirely from a very detailed
> dream I had about eight years ago, not too long after I'd  seen most of the
> series for the first time.   It was a very consistent, well-fleshed
> plotline, much like watching a movie or reading a book except, of course,
> it ended mid-stream.  I call these "plot" dreams and I have them at varying
> degrees of detail every month or three, usually involving  fictional
> characters of some show or book that I like.
> 
> Anyone else ever have "plot" dreams for B7?  

Yes! And Xena, Star Trek, Battle of the Planets (when I was a kid),
Hercules. Sometimes I'm a new character, sometimes I actually _am_ one
of the regular characters. It's kind of weird having a totally different
body in your dreams. One time I dreamt I was Data.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 18:47:15 -0800
From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
Message-ID: <350F35B3.938@jps.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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> >Julia wrote:
> >_Warlord_, when they're wandering around realising that Zukan's 
> >tricked them. Having seen one version of this story as told by 
> >Paul - yes, I agree with him, Avon would have shot anyway. Because 
> >Avon, when faced with a "one dies/both die" choice, chooses the 
> >"one dies", even in a situation where the socially acceptable norm 
> >is to heroically sacrifice yourself as well. 
> 
> Thanks for the info.  For some reason I had a feeling it was "Warlord" he was
> talking about when I heard Paul telling this story.  
> 
> I wouldn't have seen it as unreasonable at all for Avon to fire if a Fed guard
> held Soolin as a shield and was aiming to fire at Avon, *of course* Avon's
> response would be to fire first.  If their postions were reversed, I don't
> believe Soolin would have hesitated to fire, either.  In fact, the more I think
> about it, I don't think this particular scenerio is unique to Avon.  Any of them
> would have fired in that kind of circumstance.  Even Tarrant.  

Additionally, Soolin has very good reflexes and eye, and Avon had good
control-- I think she'd stand a fair chance of survival- Avon would
probably aim for either the hand pointing the gun at him (exposed area,
maximum danger) or the head of the guard. Shooting through her torso
would be less likely to be effective than either of those-- bones
deflect bullets-- as well as maximizing the danger to her.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 18:50:15 -0800
From: Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Darrow Doesn't Get It
Message-ID: <350F3667.56E5@jps.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

> This one hit me hard the first time I saw it.  The odd thing is that it wasn't
> Plaxton's death that bothered me (gee, what does that say about me?), but Avon's
> reaction to it.  I recall that I accepted right away that his decision was
> correct, his first responsibility was to save the crew, and he saved them.  But
> it really bothered me that he had no remorse at the necessity to sacrifice Dr.
> Plaxton.  But, then I realized that this was just one more difficult decision in
> a life filled with difficult decisions.  And Avon couldn't/wouldn't let it be
> any more than that.
Sorry I didn't respond to this at the same time as the other. I think
Avon didn't DARE show any form of remorse or emotion, because all the
others were acting like he was a murderer (okay, he was-- but Plaxton
would die anyway, and he saved the others' lives). He thought showing
any weakness about that decision would only make them feel more
justified.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 22:03:41 -0500
From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com>
To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" <BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
Message-ID: <199803172204_MC2-3727-9B4B@compuserve.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Tonya wrote:
>This reminds me of a question I meant to ask 
>this group months ago:  Has anyone ever had 
>any B7 dreams, and if so, what were they like?

I think so, but I don't remember much; my clearest memory is of a very
detailed dream in the summer of 1979, when I was in southern Italy and
probably pining for B7.  It was about Avon systematically disposing of a
Dalek.

>P.S.  I haven't had any activity from Space-City in 
>days.  Anyone know what's going on with that list?

Could it be you missed the roll call?

Harriet

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 01:51:18 +1000
From: "Roger The Shrubber" <darrenro@ozonline.com.au>
To: "B7 Main List" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] epitaph
Message-Id: <199803180352.NAA14529@budapest.ozonline.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Here lies Soolin
A final blaze of glory
She took on all the bad guys
Didn't live to tell the story
******
Here lies Vila
Shot on Gauda Prime
Now he's picked the lock to Heaven's Gate, 
And is drinking all their wine
*******
Here sprawls Dayna, 
She never had a chance
Never learned to love a man,
Never learned to dance.
******
Here lies Orac,
They buried him alive,
He'll wonder what became of them
In a century or five
*****












___________________________________
from Darren r ..... Comments are welcome !
powerplay@cheerful.com
____________________________________
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their
home." --Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment
Corp.,1977
______________________________________
"The Administration is out to get me" 
_______________________________________
"In the end, winning is the only safety"
_________________________________________
"If man is art, can I just go out of here and make an exhibition of myself
?"
________________________________________
Was God an astronaut ?
_________________________________________
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/2634
Anxiety & Panic
_________________________________________
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/2634/powerplay.html
Blake's 7 FAQ & free screen savers

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 21:44:59 -0800
From: Pat Patera <pussnboots@geocities.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
Message-ID: <350F5F5B.6A3F@geocities.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Helen Krummenacker wrote: re:
> Tonya Fallis wrote:
> > This reminds me of a question I meant to ask this group months ago:  Has
> > anyone ever had any B7 dreams, and if so, what were they like? <snip> 
>> It was a very consistent, well-fleshed
> > plotline, much like watching a movie or reading a book...
> Yes! And Xena, Star Trek, Battle of the Planets (when I was a kid),
> Hercules. Sometimes I'm a new character, sometimes I actually _am_ one
> of the regular characters...

oh, you lucky lucky fen! I would drool for such dreams!
I did once or twice have some amazing dream encounters with Mick Jagger
(10 years ago, before we both got old and wrinkly) and the plotline
could only be told on TheOtherList  ;)

Prurient Pat P

PS I've read about some novel writers who actually dream the entire
story and then simply write it out. This is *not fair* for those of us
who have to struggle to devise every plot twist!

PPS Maybe you could sell a subscription service to your B7 dreams?

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 21:57:31 -0800
From: Pat Patera <pussnboots@geocities.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] epitaphs
Message-ID: <350F624B.39E3@geocities.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Sven-Erik Geddes wrote:
> Here lies Tarrant, all teeth and curls,
> I don't miss him, but do the girls?

LOL - you don't post often, Sven, but this one makes it all worthwhile
I name you the First Champion of Tarrant Bashers
Pat P

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 22:55:20 +0000
From: Julia Jones <Julia.lysator@jajones.demon.co.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <ciP3ZDAY9vD1Ewla@jajones.demon.co.uk>

In message <3.0.32.19980317144804.00c4e648@dallas.net>, Lisa Williams
<lcw@dallas.net> writes
>STEVE.ROGERSON@MCR1.poptel.org.uk wrote:
>
>>The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
>>episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
>>episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
>>and Blake.
>
>Based on *what*, exactly? That's certainly an interesting selection of
>episodes. (Gambit?! I regard that one as the most boring episode of the
>first two seasons; only reason I ever look at it at all is to see the
>lovely overview of the BBC costume collection.)

<spluttering noises>
What?! I'll admit that the A storyline is a tad pedestrian, but the B
storyline is a delight. One of my favourite episodes, what with the
wonderful A-V interplay. Robert Holmes may not have had any idea of how
to write for the female roles, but he was, IMHO, the best writer for 
A-V.
-- 
Julia Jones

"Don't philosophise with me, you electronic moron!"
        The Turing test - as interpreted by Kerr Avon.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:15:24 +1000
From: Tim Richards & Narrelle Harris <parallax@wire.net.au>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980318181524.007aed80@wire.net.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Julia said:

>This type of ruthlessness isn't the
>same thing as sacrificing anyone for your own advantage, which seems to
>be where you get the split between Paul's perception of Avon (or at
>least his description of that perception) and the fans.

This isn't a bad way of putting it.  As anyone who has ever read his books
(or tried to), Paul Darrow is not exactly a prodigy when it comes to
finding his own words to express a feeling or idea that do so clearly and
accurately.  He *is* however a very fine actor who can turn someone else's
words into feelings and expressions both grand and subtle and portray a
much more complex individual than he capable of either writing or describing.

Narrelle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
               Tim Richards and Narrelle Harris  
 parallax@wire.net.au   http://www.wire.net.au/~parallax
          "Look, he's winding up the watch of his wit;
            by and by it will strike."  - Shakespeare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 02:46:08 -0600
From: Lisa Williams <lcw@dallas.net>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19980318024306.0076c9cc@dallas.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Julia Jones wrote:

>Robert Holmes may not have had any idea of how to write for the female 
>roles, but he was, IMHO, the best writer for A-V.

That could well be -- it's certainly what he concentrated on -- but I can't
muster much interest in A-V interplay, so his efforts simply leave me
yawning. And he evidently could not or would not write for Avon and Blake;
his two second series episodes have virtually no interaction between Avon
and Blake at all. A big minus in my book. I'm afraid that apart from the
costume parade, I regard Gambit as a near-total writeoff.

	- Lisa

_____________________________________________________________
Lisa Williams: lcw@dallas.net or lwilliams@mcopn1.dseg.ti.com

Lisa's Video Frame Capture Library: http://lcw.simplenet.com/
New Riders of the Golden Age: http://www.warhorse.com/

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 03:53:25 EST
From: RatterTat <RatterTat@aol.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
Message-ID: <6c02ab98.350f8b87@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

>Dangermouse wrote:
>I've always wondered whether the delivery in that scene was cleverly 
>and subtly telling us that Avon doesn't want Vila to show himself, or 
>whether it's just Darrow being a crap actor that day. Could go either 
>way...

My goodness, how time flies when you're having fun.  I didn't realize it was
already Darrow-bashing time again.

Carol K
(AVON RULES!!!!)
 
 
 
 

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:06:56 GMT
From: "Jane Elizabeth  Macdonald" <J.E.Macdonald1@student.derby.ac.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <138595E07E4@sdk1.derby.ac.uk>

Steve wrote
> The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
> episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
> episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
> and Blake.
> 
> Readers are invited to send in their own favourite episodes of
> their top ten shows. I've voted for:
> 
> Blake's 7 - Star One

My 5 favourite episodes are: -
Sand
Sarcophagus
Death Watch
Power
and Aftermath

Cylan 

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 00:29:12 +1100
From: Fran Myers <algemy@ozemail.com.au>
To: B7 <blake7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Avon
Message-ID: <350FCC28.1737@ozemail.com.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Carol sez: > Paul said he told the director that that> would not have
stopped Avon from firing.  He would have shot right thru Soolin
> if necessary.

Yes.   So?????
This is how I see my beloved Avon!   Totally ruthless and self-serving.

Fran M

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 00:36:16 +1100
From: Fran Myers <algemy@ozemail.com.au>
To: B7 <blake7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Josette
Message-ID: <350FCDD0.5D53@ozemail.com.au>
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i saw josette simon in an episode of 'kavanagh qc'last
night 

Me too, but unlike you I thought jees, her acting hasn't improved!  I
think she looked great.

Fran M

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 00:39:47 +1100
From: Fran Myers <algemy@ozemail.com.au>
To: B7 <blake7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Avon
Message-ID: <350FCEA3.4C27@ozemail.com.au>
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Julia sez:
> Dr Plaxton's death is a particularly strong example,> because the immediate response of most people to the situation is that> it's wrong to kill her.

Not mine.  I felt her death was inevitable, and that SHE also realised
this fact.  That look on her face as she joined the wires...I think she
knew what was going to happen, and continuing was her way of accepting
her fate and doing something useful for humanity again.

Fran M

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:44:26 -0000
From: Ian Lay <ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk>
To: Jane Elizabeth  Macdonald <J.E.Macdonald1@student.derby.ac.uk>,
        blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <01bd526b$95be58e0$407a0439@Ian_Lay.es.lon.sita.int>
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Cylan wrote:


>Steve wrote
>> The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
>> episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
>> episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
>> and Blake.
>>
>> Readers are invited to send in their own favourite episodes of
>> their top ten shows. I've voted for:
>>
>> Blake's 7 - Star One
>
>My 5 favourite episodes are: -
>Sand
>Sarcophagus
>Death Watch
>Power
>and Aftermath
>


Sand eh?  Interesting choice.  Not normally in the average Blake's 7 top
five list.  For what it's worth my favourites are probably (in no particular
order):

Gold
The Harvest of Kairos
Star One
Mission to Destiny
Aftermath/Powerplay


Ian "I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it" Lay
////
 :-)
\\\\
Watford Internet Football Club
Ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk or
wifc@wfc.net

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 14:55:49 GMT
From: "Jane Elizabeth  Macdonald" <J.E.Macdonald1@student.derby.ac.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <13B2B3B2D01@sdk1.derby.ac.uk>

> Subject:       Re: [B7L] Best episodes

> >Steve wrote
> >> The UK Cult Times magazine spring special is devoted to best
> >> episodes and has a section on Blake's 7. It says the five best
> >> episodes are Rumours of Death, Gambit, Orbit, Sarcophagus
> >> and Blake.
> >>
> >> Readers are invited to send in their own favourite episodes of
> >> their top ten shows. I've voted for:
> >>
> >> Blake's 7 - Star One
> >

And I wrote: -
> >My 5 favourite episodes are: -
> >Sand
> >Sarcophagus
> >Death Watch
> >Power
> >and Aftermath
> >
 
And Ian Wrote: - 
> Sand eh?  Interesting choice.  Not normally in the average Blake's 7 top
> five list.  For what it's worth my favourites are probably (in no particular
> order):
> 
> Gold
> The Harvest of Kairos
> Star One
> Mission to Destiny
> Aftermath/Powerplay

I picked Sand because I enjoyed the development of Servalan's 
character and the fact that it showed she had a weaker side as well 
as the more common ruthless one.

I also thought it made a nice change for 2 of the characters to have 
a relationship after "years?" of knowing each other.

And it made a change for Tarrant to be the "romantic interest" 
instead of Avon (he is usually the one who gets to kiss Servalan!)

Don't you think at the end that when Avon finds out it was Servalan 
with Tarrant on the planet that he feels jealous?

Cylan

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 15:24:21 -0000
From: Ian Lay <ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk>
To: Jane Elizabeth  Macdonald <J.E.Macdonald1@student.derby.ac.uk>,
        blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Best episodes
Message-ID: <01bd5281$ecac1000$407a0439@Ian_Lay.es.lon.sita.int>
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
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Cylan wrote:


>
>I picked Sand because I enjoyed the development of Servalan's
>character and the fact that it showed she had a weaker side as well
>as the more common ruthless one.
>
>I also thought it made a nice change for 2 of the characters to have
>a relationship after "years?" of knowing each other.
>
>And it made a change for Tarrant to be the "romantic interest"
>instead of Avon (he is usually the one who gets to kiss Servalan!)
>
>Don't you think at the end that when Avon finds out it was Servalan
>with Tarrant on the planet that he feels jealous?
>


I agree it is an interesting episode which shows another side to some of the
characters.  And I also agree that Avon does seem a little Jealous.  Though
whether it is because of "romantic interest" or whether he is jealous that
Tarrant had a chance to kill her and didn't...... I don't think we'll ever
know.

Take care,


Ian "I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it" Lay
////
 :-)
\\\\
Watford Internet Football Club
Ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk or
wifc@wfc.net

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 11:02:04 -0500
From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com>
To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" <BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Re: B7 Dreams
Message-ID: <199803181102_MC2-372F-7C9D@compuserve.com>
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Further to my reply to Tonya about B7 dreams, I have been digging in the
small box containing contemporary cuttings, Radio Times entries and a few
of my own notes from the time of original broadcast and, slightly to my
surprise, located the following remarks on my 1979 Avon-and-the-Dalek
dream.  These appear to have been directed at Avon.  Don't know whether
anyone is interested in 18-year-old ramblings, but...

<<1.    Full marks for persuading the Dalek to enter the lift, but once
it's in, try to move it to another floor before you jam the mechanism.

2.      If you can't manage this, stand well clear; you are less likely to
be affected by its exterminator when it burns through the door.

3.      Have someone with strong nerves manning the corrosive acid jars (ie
not Vila) and try to get as many open beforehand as possible - it's less
dangerous than smashing them on the Dalek.

4.      Full marks again for tipping the Dalek over while you were on the
floor, but try to roll it so that the exterminator is pointing at the floor
- less alarming for the person with the corrosive acid.

5.      Try to have your pace bowler on hand in the first place - a lot of
time is wasted climbing down a broken lift in search of Bob Willis.>>

Bob Willis?  Golly, this dream was more complicated than I remembered. 
Anyway, I think they all survived (except for the Dalek).

Harriet

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:01:41 -0500
From: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu (Carol A. McCoy)
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
Message-ID: <199803181701.MAA14886@yfn.ysu.edu>

Carol K wrote:

>My goodness, how time flies when you're having fun.  I didn't realize it was
>already Darrow-bashing time again.

Unfortunately, bashing does not appear to be a seasonal sport.

FWIW, I've always found Darrow's performance in "Orbit" to be
wonderfully complex and fascinating.  I think he's showing us
that Avon doesn't want to space Vila but that he most certainly
will space Vila if the opportunity presents itself.  We viewers
can be horrified by his choice and sympathetic at the same time.

And I agree with you, Carol, that he would have spaced Vila, but
that the ghost would have stayed with him a long time.  And
that possibly he wouldn't have been able to work past his guilt.
As it is, I see Avon's behavior in "Warlord" and "Blake" to
be heavily guilt-driven.  He's not at all happy that he 
was willing to sacrifice Vila's life for his own.  It would
have been much worse if he had killed him.

Harriet, thanks for sharing your dream.  What a hoot!  I
can't begin to imagine where the pace bowler came from.

I once dreamed that new episodes appeared out of nowhere (on
my local PBS station).  But I can't remember the details of
any them--except that I really enjoyed them and that they were
written with my taste (fondness for angst) in mind.  What
most sticks in my memory is my paranoid fear that I'd forget
to set the vcr each week to capture the new episodes on tape.

Five favorite eps.  Hm... for just this moment (I'm sure it
will be different tomorrow or even in an hour): Blake,
Terminal, Death Watch, Rumours of Death, Powerplay.  With
Gold, Sand, Headhunter, Sarcophagus and Star One getting
honorable mention.

Carol McCoy

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:16:40 -0500
From: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu (Carol A. McCoy)
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Darrow just doesn't get it.
Message-ID: <199803181716.MAA15560@yfn.ysu.edu>

Donna Chlouber wrote:

>After watching orbit with my Dad (who is one of the most moral guys I know) I
>asked him what he thought about Avon's behavior.  He was not appalled at all.
>He said that in that situation, he himself would have sacrificed either
>himself or the other crew member, in order that one of them would survive.  He
>would base the decision on which of the two would be best able to carry on the
>struggle against the federation, and which would be of the greatest value to
>the remaining crewmembers.

Your Dad's reasoning has crossed my mind as something Blake might
consider if he was in an "Orbit" situation.  That for the good
of the Rebellion Blake would be able to sacrifice one of his
shipmates.  Not easily and not without a lot of pain and guilt,
but for the greater good.  While it's usually not this cut and
dry, a military leader has to be able to make sacrifices
in order to obtain an ultimate victory.

And something similar has crossed my mind if Tarrant were in the
shuttle.  Not for the good of the rebellion, but if he thought
only his survival would save his shipmates not on board the 
shuttle, he might be inclined to space a shipmate.  But it would
have to be pretty clear to him that it was necessary for the
others' survival that he live.  Tarrant seemed pretty much
ready to accept the responsibility of a captain gets women and
children off and then goes down with his ship.  So if there
was no immediate risk to the others, I can see him spacing 
himself.  Which might not be the correct decision in terms of
survival of the remaining crew, but it's what his conscience
would demand.  Tarrant was capable of being as impractical
as his brother.

I don't see Avon considering either of the above.  He's not
committed to the Rebellion (probably believes it doesn't have
a snowball's chance anyway), nor is he committed to the 
concept that his shipmates need him to survive.  (He doesn't
want it to be that way, forcing more responsibility on him.)
After "Orbit," Avon seems committed to not sacrificing a
shipmate in order to survive.  (Willing to take over the
Scorpio controls so that Tarrant could teleport off.)   He
might be embarrassed to find out he could be as impractical
as Tarrant. <g>

Carol McCoy

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 17:38:57 +0000 (GMT)
From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Guards Guards - zines
Message-ID: <Marcel-1.42-0318173857-c72Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII

Janet Ellicott asked me to pass on the following.

> 
> GREYCLOUD SERVICES
> 43 Brooksbank House, Retreat Place,
> Morning Lane, Homerton, London E9 6RN
> janet.ellicott@virgin.net
> 
> 
> I'm trying to get to as many people as possible in the next week or so.  When
> Paul's at the hackney Empire, I'll be holding Open house every afternoon, from
> noon onwards.  No obligation to buy everything, but everyone's welcome. 

I don't know what zines Janet carries at the moment, but I'd expect her to have
a wide selection from a lot of fandoms.

Judith



-- 
http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7

Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention  
26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
http://www.smof.com/redemption/

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 20:59:10 -0000
From: Louise Rutter <Louise.Rutter@btinternet.com>
To: "'B7 Lysator'" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: RE: [B7L] Avon
Message-ID: <01BD52B3.0DC85BA0@host5-99-47-111.btinternet.com>

> >Dr Plaxton's death is a particularly strong example,> because the 
immediate response of most people to the situation is that> it's wrong to 
kill her.

>Not mine.  I felt her death was inevitable, and that SHE also realised
>this fact.  That look on her face as she joined the wires...I think she
>knew what was going to happen, and continuing was her way of accepting
>her fate and doing something useful for humanity again.

>Fran M

Yes. A woman who was expecting to get away would have shoved those two 
wires together as fast as possible. The way she hesitates momentarily, 
before pushing them deliberately together, tells me she knew what Avon's 
decision would be and she accepted it as logical.

Louise

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End of blakes7-d Digest V98 Issue #85
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