Posted in: BBC, Doctor Who, TV | Tagged: bbc, blakes 7, blu-ray, doctor who, terry nation

Blake's 7: BBC Studios Teases Updated FX Ahead of US Blu-Ray Release

Blake's 7 Season One is getting a Blu-Ray release for the first time (including in the US). Here's a teaser previewing the updated FX work.

Blake's 7, the cult 1970s space opera series created by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for Doctor Who is getting a US Blu-Ray release on top of the UK edition. Hurrah! The Federation was the evil empire in this series, and the heroes were a bunch of escaped convicts who couldn't stand each other and would sell each other out in a heartbeat, led by idealistic rebel Roj Blake (Gareth Thomas), who had to watch his back against his own crew members, especially his amoral second-in-command Avon (Paul Darrow, who achieved Science Fiction immortality with the role).

"Framed for crimes he did not commit, freedom fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) escapes a prison ship and enlists a crew of rogue heroes to fight back against the tyrannical Federation. With Avon, Vila, Jenna, Cally, and Gan, Blake boards the fantastical spacecraft, the Liberator, and begins his quest to free the galaxy."

Blake's 7: Still the Darkest Space Opera TV Series Ever Made

Blake's 7 took a harsher view of the universe than Doctor Who, Star Trek or Star Wars ever did. It also had a more adult feel than Star Wars. The heroes often tried to screw over each other, and everywhere they went, people kept trying to screw them over. Death was always a betrayal away. It also made the late, great Jacqueline Pearce, who played the series Big Bad Servalan, a sex symbol and fashion icon for the dresses and gowns she wore in the crazy 1970s extravaganza.  Servalan and Avon also developed serious sexual chemistry as the series progressed. Cult Science Fiction series Farscape has been influenced by Blake's 7, only with more kink subtext and muppets.

The FX for the series in the 1970s were, well, rough, possibly with even less money than for Doctor Who at the time, so the new Blu-Ray release will feature new updated CGI effects.

Blake's 7 Blu-Ray Special Features

All 13 episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources, including the original film where available. These stories have never looked or sounded so good on home media. Plus, fans can experience their favourite show like never before, with brand new optional updated effects on every episode, exclusive to this Blu-ray set.

Blake's 7 The Collection: Series 1 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material, including:

• IN CONVERSATION: Matthew Sweet conducts two new interviews with Sally Knyvette (who played Jenna Stannis) and director Michael E. Briant.
• LIBERATION: A brand-new feature-length documentary looking back at the making of the first series
• ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTARY: The previously unreleased Making Of Blake's 7, featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.
• STEPHEN GREIF TRIBUTE: A look at the life and career of the first incarnation of Travis.
• RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE: Previously unreleased panels with the cast and crew.
• HD PHOTO GALLERIES: With previously unseen images
• PDF WRITTEN ARCHIVE: Production paperwork, scripts, studio floor plans, and much more – available for the first time
• ARCHIVE TREATS from the BBC archives.
• Plus, all previously released DVD bonus features, including episode commentaries and featurettes.

Blake's 7 The Collection: Series 1 was released on Blu-ray on November 11, 2024, in the UK. This US edition will be out on December 10th.

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