My favorite SF series, hands down. Shows how successfully you can realize an SF show even on a BBC budget. Virtually unknown in the USA, B7 consistently tops lists of the best SF series of all time.

The BBC has been slow to release these discs, and hasn't yet released them in NTSC - so these are a listing for the PAL discs. -bohus

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Product Description

[NON-U.S. FORMAT (PAL) Region 2 U.K. Import - This will not play on U.S./Canada DVD players or those from most other countries outside of Europe. You would need a "multi-region" or "region-free" PAL compatible DVD player or computer.] Roj Blake starts to realise that he has been brainwashed by the Federation and that he's actually a rebel against them. To discredit Blake, the Federation frames him for child abuse and sends him to a penal colony. On the way, Blake meets up with a group of fellow prisoners: Jenna, Vila, Gan and Avon, and together they plan to escape. This they achieve, escaping onto a deserted battleship, the Liberator. Instead of fleeing into obscurity, the group, along with the ships computer, Zen, and an alien telepath, Cally, decide to fight the Federation. Contains all the episodes from the first series.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98287 in DVD
• Number of discs: 5
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Running time: 650 minutes

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Customer Reviews

This is a FANTASTIC SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only it was available in the US on DVD!!! Sadly, it is not, forcing me to acquire the PAL version and play it on my computer. However, it is SO worth it. Here's why:
1. Great writing. The beginning story arc ('The Way Back' to 'Cygnus Alpha' is great. 'Mission to Destiny', 'Duel' and 'Seek-Locate-Destroy' are great as well.)
2. Paul Darrow - He rocks as Avon and the best written character of the series.
3. The Liberator - Ah, what a ship!
4. Terry Nation - Creator of the Daleks, he created and set the tone for what would follow. This is not kid's stuff.
5. Steven Grief as Travis. The best is still the original. Watch his brief monologue at the end of 'Seek-Locate-Destroy' and then watch what Brian Croucher does, well, anytime in Series B. Case closed.

Blake's 7 is a study in how to write, direct on a limited budget, and get quality acting. I cannot see how, if you like SciFi, you CANNOT afford to miss this series. It is one of the pinnacles of British TV along with:
-Doctor Who
-The Day of the Triffids
-Survivors

I can't say enough about this series. It is so good I bought all the VHS tapes (getting worn out now)!! Superb TV and just, well, just fantastic!!!

Robin hood in space!
This is top notch Sci-Fi made by the creator of the Daleks: Terry Nation. You may order it from Amazon UK but need a PAL dvd player. The story line is that of a band of rebels fighting an evil and corrupt Earth based Federation. Sort of like the one in Star Trek's mirror universe. The stories are hard hitting and no holds barred. However the show relies on great plots, and good acting instead of violence and special effects. I strongly recommend it.

Best Sci-Fi anti-hero character ever written
The brainchild of Terry Nation, Blakes 7 remains one of Britain's most popular Sci-Fi series. U.S audiences may be familiar with Doctor Who, which is brilliant, but the grim universe Nation conceived for Blakes 7 is a far more gritty adult affair.

A motley collection of individuals ply their way through the galaxy trying to overthrow the oppressive totalitarian regime of the Terran Federation. Roj Blake is a political agitator falsely accused of sex crimes and sent to Cygnus Alpha a remote penal colony. He escapes in a futuristic ship and is joined by Kerr Avon, a computer genius, Jenna Stanis, a smuggler and pilot, Vila Restal, a thief and self-confessed coward, Olag Gan a usually gentle giant and later Calley, a native of Auron who is capable of reading thoughts and feelings.

The ship, the Liberator, the fastest and most powerful in the galaxy affords the crew protection from the ruthless Federation. They are hounded by the power hungry Supreme Commander Servalan and her crony, Space Commander Travis, who will stop at nothing to avenge the wounds he received from Blake.

What makes the series so great is the fantastic dialogue and exceptional acting. The concept for the show is well done and makes up for the primitive BBC 1970's special effects. The crew not only fight the Federation, but also have to overcome inter-personal conflicts, especially between Blake and Avon. Blake may be a conscientious character with an axe to grind against the Federation, but Avon provides the pragmatic and less emtional counter-part.

Avon remains my all time favorite anti-hero. He's the Dirty Harry of the Sci-Fi world. Dark, brooding an intelligent(Avon means "dark waters"), Avon's quips throughout the series are a highlight of the character conflicts. "I look upon self interest as my great strength." "I've never understood why it should be necessary to become irrational in order to prove that your care, or indeed why it should be necessary to prove it at all."

I recently bought the series from Amazon and can't wait for it to arrive. I grew up watching it in the late 70's in New Zealand where it quickly became a cult fav'. I got reacquainted with the series as a teen in the late 80's and on payTV in the 90's once again. I have to say this is my all time favourite sci-fi show and as you can tell I've memorized screeds of dialogue and other nerdy facts about it. My dream is still to pen some fan-fiction, ideas I've been kicking around for years are slowly coming to fruition.... If you can cope with the special effects, this will not disappoint if you enjoy sci-fi.