Blake ’s 7is one of British sci - fi ’s greatest , most insurgent cult classics . From the head ofDoctor Whoscribe Terry Nation — after he’dsent the commonwealth into Dalekmaniain the ’ 60s — the 1978 show was wildly forwards of its time , with ideas as bold as its budget was trite . Imagine if classicDoctor Whohad less money and more balls , and you get a rough idea of whatBlake’scouldbe at its very proficient . Now , at long last , the serial is beat a familiarly screw rest home release treatment .
Today the BBC lift the hat on a brand - new Blu - ray remaster , Blake ’s 7 : The Collection . style in the vein of the corporation’slavish Blu - beam of light remastersof classic seasons ofDoctor Who , the first ofBlake’sfour serial will liberate later this yr . Including a brand - unexampled remastering of the series — available for the first sentence on Blu - ray after an infamously rasping home plate release history on VHS and DVD tenner prior — complete with all new practical simulation work for the show ’s VFX sequences , the first volume ofBlake ’s 7 : The Collectionwill include all 13 episodes from serial publication one , as well as new interviews with surviving cast and work party , and a antecedently unreleased documentary planned for the show ’s DVD going , The qualification of Blake ’s 7 .
Set in a future where much of the galax is find by the iron grip of Earth ’s totalistic political science , the Federation , Blake ’s 7followsGareth Thomas ’ Roj Blake , a fabled electrical resistance fighter who is captured by the Federation and has his head wiped , leave him an upstanding proletarian — until those suppressed memories reawaken when Blake find a Federation security measures contingent gunning down a meeting of protestors . catch and tried under put on allegations , Blake is shipped to a distant prison house planet , where he meet an unconvincing group of scoundrels and inmate , breaks out , and returns to a spirit of fighting back against the Federation ’s principle and its cunning architect ( and wearer of many absolutelywildand mythologic sci - fashion looks ) , Supreme Commander Servalan , play by thelegendary Jacqueline Pearce .
© BBC
The show only make better as it father on — and even survives Thomas ’ exit , transition its lead character to Blake ’s 2nd - in - command , Avon , played by Paul Darrow — climaxing in aninfamously bleak finale , but it ’s a remarkable example of science fiction at its most challengingly beastly , committed with the sincerity of cult British TV ( and , again , the charm of its incredibly tight budget ) . While no prescribed U.S. release has been support yet , given the BBC ’s rollout ofDoctor Who : The Collectionon both side of the pond it would n’t be too surprising ifBlake’smakes its direction across the Atlantic too — and with it the skillful chance in years for new audience to get word an unsung nifty .
Blake ’s 7 : The Collectionseries one releases in the UK November 11 .
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Blake ’s 7Doctor WhoGareth ThomasSci - Fi
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