WEBVTT

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This transcript was created on 2026-06-07 at 22:05:32

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Maximum power.

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Hello and welcome back to Maximum Power, a podcast where I have my fingers poised on individual kill switches for each of my co-panelists, lest they misbehave.

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I'm Simon.

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I'm Cole.

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I'm Pete.

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And guess what?

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I'm Vita.

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Well, despite the fact that in those 1st few minutes on the Liberator, you'll think we're headed towards Rumours of Death.

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We 1st have to be diverted to children of our on, which is what we're talking about this episode.

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We'll start by just getting some, you know, top line impressions.

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So, Peter, how do you rate this one in the Blake 7 Irvine?

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All right.

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Well, on the out series B retrospective, I joked about the exotic world of our own being depicted as an airport control tower.

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And I do stand by the fact that that was an odd choice.

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I'm not sure this tellies with all the other hints of our own culture that we've had over the series.

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It's kind of an unexpectedly functional, technological depiction of a fantasy idea, such as clones and telepathy, but having said that, this is very, very good.

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In fact, it's my 2nd favourite Blake 7 story after aftermath and power play.

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I think it's just an incredibly well crafted episode.

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Big praise there.

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Brendan, do you agree?

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Yeah, I do think it's really enjoyable.

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And yeah, very, very well crafted.

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I will observe, however, that if I had a dollar for every time that Ronald Lee Hunt was the intransigent and sceptical base commander of a futuristic facility that involved a teleport in a BBC sci-fi production, well, I'd only have $3, but it's weird that it happens that often.

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Yes.

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More than one.

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But isn't he always so wonderfully earnest in all of these?

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He's got to tone up.

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He doesn't disappoint.

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Yeah, there's yeah, there's a particular moment where his his 2IC sort of has a very subtle line about despair, full of nuance and Ronald's reply is, yes, why?

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Why has this happened?

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Why?

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I like the fact that he and his deputy are called CA1 and CA2.

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I like to think that's control of the F, which one?

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Yeah.

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Striker.

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Striker.

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We just have a picture of himself on the wall behind himself looking increasingly drunk and then we could go into full airplane mode.

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The sweat pouring down his prowl.

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Yes, exactly.

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So, Colin, top, middle or bottom draw for you.

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Top drawer.

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Yeah, I think this is great.

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I thought, Peter, this was your favourite story and it's worked its way down 2 episodes in the last few weeks.

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But I'm with you.

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I think it's definitely my top five.

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I think it's, um, It's got a lot going on.

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I think it's pretty well crafted.

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I like the idea that everyone's pretty incompetent.

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Like, you know, the base commander.

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His reaction is, oh no.

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Uh, and, you know, it just, and I quite like that about Blake 7 is, you know, it's, uh, it doesn't, it doesn't all end wonderfully, but I think the thing that, you know, I think the thing that bugs me a little bit is the sort of planetary genocide is skipped by about a few days and you don't really notice it until the dialogue sort of catches up.

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And at the end of the episode, they're like, let's go away from a planet with 5000 children on it.

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Oh, but there was just this genocide thing, whatever.

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But I really like it.

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I like the characters.

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I think it's Serverland's, one of Serverland's very best episodes, and one of the Federation Guards' worst ever episodes.

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But it's a lot of fun.

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And Ginkka, has Ginkka, we'll get to Ginkka.

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We love Ginka.

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Well, get it.

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We are definitely getting to get.

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Ginku is a whole subcategory of the subsection of the episode.

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But, Pete, one of your top ones as well.

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Yeah, yes it is.

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Are you going to?

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No, no, yeah, I want to be on this one.

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Because, yeah, and it's a, it's got that nice blend of having serious drama moments.

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And also sometimes it does just crank it up a little bit too high.

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I don't like it when they do that You've got Daryl and Ginker kind of handbagging each other at dawn, squabbling for Servoland's attention in their own, in their own ways.

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And, uh, yes, Commander, Commander Radna, being, um, in, I, what was this?

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I, his agent, phoning Muckham. great new role for you.

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You're really breaking away.

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Oh, of course, I, well, Shakespeare's like, well, you're kind of the commander of a base and it's kind of under siege and it's kind of a teleport.

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And he's like, okay.

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But yeah, maybe...

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He said, the BBC phoned up and said, we want a Ronald Lee Hunt.

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So I'm getting in touch.

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Yes.

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Yes, exactly, because that's all he's capable of giving, to be fair.

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But I do like it anyway.

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It's reliable.

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It's reliable. anyway.

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No, definitely one of my tops as well.

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I had such strong memories of this from its 1st showing in Australia in 1980.

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I remember sitting there at midnight for the repeat 2 years later, all of a dither, waiting for it to come on because I remembered how great it was.

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And looking at it now, I just can't believe, is this really by the same man who brought us the ludicrous nonsense of voice from the past?

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Yeah, so it's the same guy's voice from the past and then he can turn around and do this.

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Maybe it's just the success of production.

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Maybe it's, it's people who really know how to do it because there are some, as sort of we have sort of all said, There are some sort of slightly ludicrous things about it, but it doesn't matter because it all just fits together and works so well.

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Yes, I mean, this was the last episode on that infamous 4 hour tape you let me peter like 30 something years ago, which I'd said was where I 1st saw Harvest of Chiros.

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So this is one of the very 1st Blake 7 episodes I saw.

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So it did set a rather high yardstick against which I measured everything that I saw since and very few of them stacked up to this one.

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I think it really is very good.

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So, how do we think that our old, I mean, Peter, you touched on that at the before.

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How do you feel our on is realised compared to what we already know about it from what's been dropped from Kelly's comments in the past?

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Is it as you'd expect it to be?

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I think that what we end up with is probably more interesting than we would have otherwise gotten because the hints we'd had of our on, they were quite, it was quite an airy fairy thing with legends and, um, you know, magical beings and things like that.

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If you're actually going to set an episode there, I think this was probably the way to go, actually.

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There's that great sort of info dump that you get on the Liberator where Cali sort of, they sort of writing and also slightly, I think, rewriting some of that legend just to make it perfectly work with the episode.

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Sort of, Pete, did it, did it measure up for you, what you were imagining?

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Yeah, sure.

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Yeah, because like you said, yeah, Peter, I expected more crystals.

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I expected more wafting.

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The fact that it's actually a sort of sort of admin centre.

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Yes.

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Yeah, and men will be like, people doing that on her planet.

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Yes, yes.

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It's like an air traffic control changer, really, isn't it?

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at desks. doing jobs very badly.

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It transpires.

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I expected a bit more competence from her people as well.

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I was like, okay, how, and they decided to have a real calmdown on quarantine the day after the deadly space plague breaks in, which, and maybe that's what, you know, Roger Parks maybe has been looking at.

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Yeah, any lessons there?

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Roger Parks has been, okay, looking at Blake 7 basics.

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What do we want?

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We want a plague.

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That's what we want.

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We've not got a quarry this week.

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How many plagues have we had so far?

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That's the point.

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Who's been keeping count?

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Should have been, should we?

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Well, those killer.

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Space flags are always useful, though.

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But there is that thing, don't you think, that you've got that, you know, A, you know, there's sort of this isolationist society at this and yet they don't seem to have any kind of even vague quarantine thing for when their their crew comes or their their lone crew member comes back from from space.

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And also like, you know, oh, no, exactly.

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But also, like, as I said, I mean, I'm just listing some plot holes because you do kind of not worry about them because another is when, so the older ones like, you know, Ronald Lee Hunt and whoever that other woman is, they're fine because they're older, so they'd been into space before, but the younger ones.

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So then why is Calli okay when she's escaped at a younger age.

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Why isn't she done it?

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And then, of course, it's revealed that this is supposed to be from the interplanetary war, so the aliens have brought it with them.

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So it's all a bit kind of, let's just not think about all that too much.

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Maybe Kelly got her gorilla booster shots before she went to Sorian Major.

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She's a sensible...

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But we do kick things.

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Yes.

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But we do kick things off quite, quite, quite well with a sort of an unmistakeable face who is not someone that you sort of think it's going to be somewhere that's actually, it turns out to be, well, someone related to someone.

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What do you think of that early performance from Michael Troughton?

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We asked him about it.

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We asked him about it last week.

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He was down.

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The doctor, the doctor, him convention...

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I can't remember.

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I think he said he had a lovely time and everybody was very nice.

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I think that's probably what...

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I think you said that's what he said.

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He said, I can't remember.

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I can't remember.

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I meant to ask. a lot of time in makeup and he didn't get really, you know, he didn't have all that much to do.

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Obviously, he's only in a couple 2 or 3 scenes.

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Um, but...

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That's how young he is.

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Yeah, some green ooze coming ahead with the corner of his mouth there.

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He said he'd had pizza for lunch and they didn't clear him off before he went to the door screen.

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It was so strange for me watching this because just last week I watched last Christmas for FTE.

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Oh, wow.

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Um, and, you know, I'm used to seeing young David, yeah, I'm used to seeing young David Trout and then Curse of Peladin, but I'd never seen anything with Michael that young as a, except for its enemy of the world.

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I think he's in in a very minor role.

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You know, so to see him that young, but also so recognisable, that especially the voice, of course, is so distinctive.

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And it's a small part, but he does well with it, I think.

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Like, he engenders sympathy with his sort of open attitude, and it does kind of bring to mind what Callie said back in Mission to Destiny, a man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.

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And Avon is quite correct in that that leads to a very short life expectancy.

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Yes.

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He has to be sort of boyish and sell the naivety of this nice lady who's rescued him giving him this lovely potion to drink.

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Sure, it's all going to be fine.

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How is this sort of, how is this species 5 this long?

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bloody telepathic and they still can't.

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Exactly.

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Well, no, it's the island.

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It causes a gullibility surge.

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It's the idea that our our rons are alien because they've been isolated for so long in general and they've created this cloning process and enhanced people with telepaths.

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Well, doesn't doesn't Cervolan say humid at some point?

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That's what I thought.

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Yeah, and Avon talks about Cali.

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Yeah, and Avon talks to Callie and says, and about the rest of humanity.

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The Arons or the rest of humanity.

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So it's like they have turned themselves into aliens seems to be what they've now what's now been decided.

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But also, I don't know whether that's that kind of a naming problem.

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Like anyone who doesn't need, you know, latex on their forehead or scales or whatever else is human.

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It doesn't matter if they evolved on earth or not.

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Do you think it's just that terminology?

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Or do you think it's just the fact that because they've set up this society cut themselves off and enhance themselves?

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I think it's saying the latter this week, but they're not nailing it down.

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It's the old galaxy solar system.

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Galaxy Schmalacy.

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Galaxy Salar System Universe.

186
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Yes, exactly.

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Humans.

188
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Yes exactly.

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I think it's a very interesting opening to the episode because we jump in with Michael Shouten with Servoland.

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And then when we eventually come back to the Liberator, it's, as you said, Simon, it's odd to start a story by teasing what the next story is going to be, as it does here.

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I'm not entirely sure why it does that.

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But I think there's kind of a, there's a loose meditation in this episode, an extra episodes about loss and grief, which goes through Remember's death and sarcophicus swell.

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But I don't think it's meant to be what you call an arc.

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But what it does do is really make the character interaction sing.

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And those early scenes.

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You'd swear that they were written by Chris Boucher because they're so strong for the regular characters.

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And there's that interesting element of tension between Avon and Cali, which we've never really seen before.

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They're quite antagonistic towards each other, or should I say Avon is antagonistic towards Cali?

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It struck me as, and you'll find this in fanfic anywhere, that they'd had a romantic buster.

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There's that kind of resentment between Avon Kelly there.

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And Callie's line.

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Why do you imagine I've never gone back, affection for him?

203
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And Villa and Tara, look at each other kind of wild-eyed and you think, what's going on here?

204
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I think it's really interesting.

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I think it's just another one of those things like, you know, where Tarrant is berating Villa at beginning of city at the end of the world.

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It's just one of those things they just decide to throw in there and then it's gone.

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I wonder if it's also, I wonder if there's a habitual thing for the writers just slipping into not wanting usually to do the same kind of conflict between a male and female character that they would easily do between Blake and an Avon.

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Avon and Blake could be fighting all the time, and those are great scenes, and we don't, and this is, I think, a fairly rare example of Avon doing that with one of the female characters.

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And it works fine, but I don't know if they were just the gentlemen who are making the show might have been a bit reluctant to do that sometimes.

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I don't know.

211
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Hmm.

212
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I think it's just the fact that, yeah, they don't want them all to be chummy, and so they're told, make sure they're not all chummy.

213
00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:30.419
They're supposed to be criminals who are thrown together, and they don't necessarily like each other. you know.

214
00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:38.639
I mean, Avon is supposed to be the lead now, and so that brings them into conflict with anyone of the crew who has their own agenda, like Cali does here.

215
00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:49.919
I think it's, there's a certain irony in the fact that Avon is the only one who's all suspicious that the fact that the distress call from our on could be a trap, considering what will go down.

216
00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:56.340
Well, anyway, enough of this serious discourse onto far more important things.

217
00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.080
Let's talk, let's talk about dinker.

218
00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:02.519
Which is one of the best space names ever.

219
00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:02.940
Can I say?

220
00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:03.539
I love that name.

221
00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.679
It just is so perfect.

222
00:15:05.820 --> 00:15:08.580
Do you know he has a hyphenated surname?

223
00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.960
Ginka King switch.

224
00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:15.779
No, that's what I've got on my on my on my console here.

225
00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:21.240
I mean, Daryl and Ginka are both really good.

226
00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:26.519
It's so easy for those sort of offices of the week to become faceless or interchangeable.

227
00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:30.360
So who really remembers Dastor from Harvest of Chiros?

228
00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:34.200
All that scruffy Battle Commander guy from Volcano.

229
00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:37.679
But Ginka, especially, gets screen time.

230
00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.720
And he has his own agenda.

231
00:15:39.779 --> 00:15:42.960
And of course, he gets his own dedicated gold switch, which is amazing.

232
00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:45.600
But do they both have a kill?

233
00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.600
Is it the same kill switch or is like Ginker on the left and Daryl on the right?

234
00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:51.059
No, it's incredible X. Right.

235
00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.759
I've watched it in detail.

236
00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:57.659
I think you have to press both buttons at the same time just in case you accidentally slam.

237
00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:01.799
Oh, it's like, it's like sitting off, it's like sitting off a nuclear missile.

238
00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:03.659
It's 12.

239
00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:04.259
Sorry.

240
00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.940
Yeah, killed the rock.

241
00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:11.399
Wouldn't it be terrible if Sergland couldn't tell left from right?

242
00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:13.860
She pressed the wrong button and Daryl dropped dead again.

243
00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.759
They're going, um.

244
00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:20.100
But it is, but the thing is, it is under, it is kind of at least protected.

245
00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.840
It's under a little flap that she has to lift up.

246
00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:24.419
So it's not like she could accidentally kill one.

247
00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.919
You done her coffee on it.

248
00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.620
Oh, sorry.

249
00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:29.519
I love it.

250
00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:42.120
Like, with, with Ginka, you know, it is cold-blooded fury where she, where she kills him with Daryl, is just like, oh, God, you're back, are you?

251
00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.080
Exactly.

252
00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:45.360
Get them out of here.

253
00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:51.840
But they love the way she sort of goes, she's kind of Yeah, she's kind of recovered from her trauma of losing her you're losing her embryos, her foetuses.

254
00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:53.759
And but the way, you know, says, Daryl.

255
00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.960
Wow.

256
00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:58.259
I just love the way he says.

257
00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.720
Well, and then she turns around and zaps him.

258
00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.679
Brilliant.

259
00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:03.659
But what do we, in terms of Genka, the actor.

260
00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.619
I mean, it is, is it?

261
00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:07.440
I mean, do you think he was supposed to be an Asian accel?

262
00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:10.319
Do you think that was just a, they just, that was just who was cast?

263
00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:13.740
Because it's a very very unusual choice for that era, let's be honest.

264
00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.200
It is an unusual choice for that era.

265
00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:24.539
I think they may do something with the music that is inappropriate a little bit later on. and that's not good.

266
00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.240
I didn't notice that.

267
00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.319
Yeah, he takes his mind.

268
00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:28.859
He gets that.

269
00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:29.160
Yeah.

270
00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:35.099
When he's raiding control and takes his mask off, Dudley's like, I know a dog.

271
00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:35.819
Oh, wow.

272
00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:43.140
Yeah, a big, a big, to be fair, to be fair, Dudley does like his goals at any opportunity.

273
00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:44.940
There is no other song in this episode.

274
00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:47.220
Oh, okay, fine.

275
00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.059
Yes, okay.

276
00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.140
Well, that's Dudley.

277
00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.859
That's Dudley for you.

278
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:53.940
So Rick Young is Indiana Jones from the Temple of Doom.

279
00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.680
He's in that opening scene, the nightclub.

280
00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.200
Yeah, he's really...

281
00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.480
He is so... both versions.

282
00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:02.519
Yeah, her original alias.

283
00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:04.200
Both versions.

284
00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:05.819
I think he was an alias.

285
00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:06.480
He is an alias.

286
00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.579
Yeah, absolutely. the 1st episode.

287
00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:11.339
And an early role for him.

288
00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:16.559
Well, I say early, he was actually acting in the UK in the 60s and before that in Singapore.

289
00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:26.640
Um, but something we may all know him from is tomorrow people, um, the doomsday men where he is Li Wan, the Chinese astronaut.

290
00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:28.259
One of the astronauts, that's right.

291
00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.160
I've never seen that.

292
00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.119
I'll have to go and find it.

293
00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:34.859
Brendan, just to be clear, I will never know anyone from the tomorrow people if I can help it. with you.

294
00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:40.559
You see, you see, Simon, in 1990, I should have given you a 4 out date with the Tomorrow people on, then it would be a very different story.

295
00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:41.759
The podcast.

296
00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:45.000
This would be the 1st time you were ever spoken.

297
00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:47.400
Exactly.

298
00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.240
Exactly.

299
00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:51.240
I think that Rick Young is amazing.

300
00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:53.460
I think he is really really great.

301
00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:57.240
And he makes Ginka really sly and reptilian.

302
00:18:57.299 --> 00:19:08.700
He's almost like a mini serve land in kind of the evil relish in his machinations and it's so good to see an Asian actor on television of the era and in a great role. defined by race.

303
00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.140
He should have been there.

304
00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:12.180
He should have been the new Travis, really.

305
00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.839
Yeah.

306
00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:14.400
Yes.

307
00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:15.480
Yeah, with with...

308
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:16.619
And a different kind of Travis.

309
00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:18.420
Yes, he could have, he's wasted.

310
00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:23.099
Well, not again, I guess his thing that he is too similar to Serverland for Serverland to tolerate.

311
00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:23.880
I guess.

312
00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.500
He wouldn't be a stoo-. wouldn't work as a stooge in the same way that she wouldn't.

313
00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:33.299
So maybe that's why he goes in a blaze of, well, in a blaze of button pressing.

314
00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:37.019
Um, A red CSO.

315
00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:46.980
She would turn around to him and say, bear in mind that I can kill you at any time, Ginker, and he would say, oh, I do bear it. in mind all the time.

316
00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:53.039
He rather outshines Daryl, but he's a familiar face from Horror Fang Rock.

317
00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:58.259
He's one of the people in the ship who get shipwrecked in Doctor Who horror.

318
00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.579
Is he really, right?

319
00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:02.519
Yes, he played the fabulously named Rio Fanning.

320
00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.240
Rio Fanning.

321
00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.500
Rio Flanning or Fanning?

322
00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:07.980
Fanning.

323
00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:10.259
Okay, I've mistyped that.

324
00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:13.019
The coach is going to be thinking for a moment expanding what you were saying.

325
00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:15.779
Yeah, yes. expanding on what you were saying, Peter.

326
00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:21.000
I think one of the reasons why his performance as Ginka is so strong is because it's so consistent.

327
00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:25.859
It's not like he's suddenly big in this scene and camp in that scene and then level in another scene.

328
00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:31.079
It is all pitched exactly the same in terms of bigness or kind of campness.

329
00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:34.079
And I think that's always important when you're doing a character like that.

330
00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:45.779
It's always, and even when he's, there's so much coming through there, even when you're watching him on a monitor and he's looking up at the screen, it's it's so, he's so perfectly pitched, don't you think?

331
00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:49.380
Yeah, is he the poshest person in Blake Seven?

332
00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:53.160
Or is it Suleim or Tarant or Gang?

333
00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.400
Ginking poshes.

334
00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.920
Yeah, he could well be as posh as that.

335
00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:01.140
He does...

336
00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:02.460
There's a lot of rolling of ours.

337
00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:04.019
Yeah.

338
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:14.039
And especially next to Rio Fanning, who's sort of growling, and dare I say, a bit one note, like Ginka enunciates everything he says.

339
00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:21.779
Yeah, yeah, you know, I can take in a death squad. you know, but it really works.

340
00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:31.259
Like, you know, it's kind of like the Arnold Rimmer thing of like Rimmer tries to be so proper, but Ginker's actually got the force to back it up.

341
00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:33.960
That sort of character, you know.

342
00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.640
Yes.

343
00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:39.720
Well, you feel like you can, you can hear him say, did you use a set square?

344
00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.619
I think not.

345
00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:46.079
Is this a 14 B?

346
00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:48.119
Does this look like a 14 B?

347
00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:50.759
This is a this is a 14 F. Sorry.

348
00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:57.900
It's also, it's really great that we have Ginker and Daryl to play off each other because I think that gives another element to the Federation.

349
00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:08.339
It's a fascinating deposit what the ranks look like under President Servland, because she has a line in orbit next series where she says to Agorian, don't concern yourself.

350
00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.539
I encourage ambition.

351
00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:16.380
And it really seems like it amuses her to see her underlings squabbling and trying to curry favour with her.

352
00:22:16.380 --> 00:22:20.940
And she oversteps Mark with Daryl a few times and just steps in when he's trying to discipline Ginka.

353
00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.960
So she's not helping matters.

354
00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:25.740
And going back to what I was saying, um, about Servland.

355
00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:29.160
That's not a leadership model that works, as is shown here.

356
00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:31.559
If only she had been a better commander.

357
00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.519
She probably would have pulled this off.

358
00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:39.299
I would love to see Servolan on a training course for managers, personnel management training course.

359
00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:43.680
Yeah, let's ask Kasabi how that went.

360
00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:54.180
But actually, going back to Brendan, you were saying, because Daryl is so so like vanilla in comparison, and that's, I think, why they do play off each other so well.

361
00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:57.299
Yeah, because you've got this kind of big performance in this more standard performance.

362
00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.200
You're going to say?

363
00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:16.740
Well, I was just going to say that playing off of subordinates is straight out of the fascist leader playbook because Hitler used to make his generals and air marshals and intelligence heads basically compete for his attention and thus funding and thus interest.

364
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:21.119
And there's a lot of historical analysis that says, had he not done that?

365
00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:27.059
Um, you know, he would have been harder to fight and defeat.

366
00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:36.839
And as you say here with Servolan, yeah, if she had not behaved in that way, things would have gone better for her.

367
00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.519
Yes.

368
00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:53.579
The thing with Hitler, I think, was that it was supposed to be that he deliberately give overlapping and unclear responsibilities to people so that that's why so that you get that kind of conflict. and they could they could vie for his attention.

369
00:23:53.640 --> 00:24:02.519
And it's, it's, I mean, notionally Daryl's supposed to be, you know, obviously Ginker's commanding officer, and of course it said that they were obviously at the same level at one point.

370
00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:08.099
But, I mean, why would you even want to be promoted and be under Serverland if there's a kill switch where?

371
00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.839
Well, exactly.

372
00:24:09.900 --> 00:24:12.180
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

373
00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:20.279
I mean, Serverland must have been in the midst of installing that jar, but kill switch 2 episodes ago.

374
00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:21.539
Yes exactly.

375
00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.539
Yes, where do I see myself not bright red on the floor?

376
00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:28.980
Because you love the way King is bright red when he's on the floor.

377
00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:32.460
No, no, afterwards, like when Daryl's teleported back.

378
00:24:32.579 --> 00:24:34.559
Gink is all red.

379
00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.700
It's still there.

380
00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:37.140
Just a corpse.

381
00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.180
We haven't got around cleaning that up yet, don't we?

382
00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:41.039
I think Jackie Pierce is really enjoying this episode.

383
00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:50.279
I think with several of the episodes this year, they have given her more stuff to do than just to be steely and villainous.

384
00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:58.380
And like there's a couple of words that are noted that there's a scene where she looks genuinely worried when she realises Avon and Co are heading for the replication plant.

385
00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:01.500
She gets to play worried and then later she gets to play vulnerable.

386
00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.880
Yes.

387
00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.960
Yes.

388
00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:09.720
She also gets to play crushing up the little aluminium mug and throwing it.

389
00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:12.180
Yes, why does he only get?

390
00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.880
Why does he only get crushed up plastic cup throat at you?

391
00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:16.859
Whereas the others get the kill switch.

392
00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:19.559
It's like she hasn't she any wiser for the senior officers?

393
00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:21.660
I mean, he actually let Avon escape or something.

394
00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:24.599
And like, did she have to fill out a form to have that kill switch made?

395
00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.740
I promoted them.

396
00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.720
Please supply one kill switch.

397
00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:34.980
It's almost, it's almost the opposite of rank has its privileges. rank brings you instant death.

398
00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:37.079
Where there's rank, that's right.

399
00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:43.980
When I rewatched it this morning, I just noticed her earrings.

400
00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.960
Did anyone notice her earrings?

401
00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.740
Ears.

402
00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.539
Do you mean Servlin or Ginka?

403
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:55.440
I think it's the, I don't know why I'm touching my ear when I'm telling you this.

404
00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:01.319
I think it's the ank anchor, the ank, the Egyptian symbol for life, is that?

405
00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:05.160
Yeah, I just thought I was in line in line with the episode.

406
00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.640
I think so.

407
00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.859
I'm not, makes sense.

408
00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:09.599
Yeah, yeah, a little bit automatic.

409
00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:14.700
I mean, I think that might be one of the reasons why seriously is my favourite.

410
00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:18.299
I mean, there's a multitude of lyrics, but...

411
00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:21.000
I mean, maybe.

412
00:26:21.059 --> 00:26:23.460
The primacy of Servolan in the action.

413
00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:32.880
This is the 3rd episode out of 5 that she's after the Liberator, which you would think would get boring, but because it's her and because she's trying all different things, it's actually really great.

414
00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:35.819
And this episode, I think, gives her more layers.

415
00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:45.960
Not only the urge to procreate, which is an interesting insight into her psyche, but it also, it shows how psychotic and venomous shears.

416
00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:50.880
She is utterly prepared to commit genocide just to get her hands on the liberator.

417
00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:54.359
And there's no real military imperative, even though she tries to dress it up as that.

418
00:26:54.420 --> 00:27:03.779
And she could have coerced them in any way into preparing her cloned babies, but she wipes out an entire race basically just to get Callie and the crew to detour there.

419
00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.559
It's quite amazing.

420
00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.220
Yeah.

421
00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:08.220
And a nice nudge to the Clonemasters being mentioned.

422
00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:11.759
That's the sort of world building that I forgot that Blake's having did.

423
00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:16.140
They do get, they do bother to put in a line saying, since the Clonemusters are no longer available.

424
00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.220
I'll do this.

425
00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:24.180
Um, And after she's introduced the pathogen and people are dying by their 1000s.

426
00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:30.720
She gets that extraordinarily wicked line where she says they'll have their narrow little minds on other things now and you think, ouch.

427
00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.519
Yeah, it's quite, quite awful.

428
00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:43.319
Does Ginka seriously, because Ginka is one of those great characters who thinks that it's the Ginka show this week?

429
00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:47.099
Buttles, but isn't going, and she's going.

430
00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.539
Yeah, pretty sure it.

431
00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:55.440
But sometimes a character is sort of elbowing into scenes and it doesn't quite land, but in this one, it flows.

432
00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:59.940
Is Ginka thinking that by the end of this episode, he's going to be president of the Federation.

433
00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.680
I don't, I don't know what I'll do.

434
00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:05.279
I'll double cross Servoland and then... victory.

435
00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:10.440
I possibly.

436
00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:19.200
I love her comment when, you know, in terms of being the liberator crew there, and she says, ah, then they're using teleport.

437
00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:23.279
And I sort of went, well, don't they always?

438
00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.660
Don't they always?

439
00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:27.539
When do they when do they land the liberator or send a shuttle down?

440
00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:29.099
very odd thing to say.

441
00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:35.160
I'm interested by the fact that Servlan wanted to procreate by using cloning.

442
00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:37.259
Again, that's interesting insight into her.

443
00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:44.160
But she'd really want mini Surflands floating around sort of posing a threat to her as the original.

444
00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:54.000
If she wanted babies, why not just have them with Carnell and choose some hapless surrogate from the slave bits of Ursa Prime to gestate them, that would make for attractive offspring.

445
00:28:54.059 --> 00:29:00.059
Or, if we wanted a comedy episode, how about Jerry F. from Damba to use the donor, imagine that.

446
00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:04.200
But yeah, it's an interesting thing.

447
00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.519
Why does she want to clone herself?

448
00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:10.799
I don't think there's a real reason.

449
00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:11.880
There's just a Blake 7.

450
00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:13.259
This is an episode that they want to do.

451
00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:18.480
I suppose it's the vanity, the idea that splicing her jeans with anybody else's would be a downgrade, so yeah.

452
00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:22.920
But, um, yeah, it's not really interrogated, is it?

453
00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:24.240
It's just obviously she would.

454
00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:25.200
Of course she would.

455
00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:44.460
Yeah, didn't someone say, Avon or someone say, it's a gene bag or something, like, almost the, the, the suggestion that you, you create the clones of yourselves, but they kind of freeze the embryos or freeze the foetuses or whatever at a certain stage and don't, don't allow them to grow up so that you can then harvest them for genetic tissue or whatever at a later point.

456
00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:46.740
If you know what I mean?

457
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:52.200
Like, you know, if she needs a heart transplant or something in...

458
00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:54.180
So it might be a way of continuing her own life forever.

459
00:29:54.900 --> 00:30:05.039
Yeah, I mean, I mean, they put, they only, she only, whoever it is only puts like, you know, 6 dollops of her blood in the things, and then when they open up the thing later, There's like a whole lot of them.

460
00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.599
Slide blue, slide fryer.

461
00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.859
It goes so quick.

462
00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:12.240
He's once I prepared earlier.

463
00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:29.279
Yeah, I wouldn't know how good it would have been if they, if some of the, some of the clones had survived and you could have multiple serverlands battling out between multiple serverlands, probably a bit over the top, but I think we got the right ending.

464
00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:31.440
Which, yeah, is...

465
00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:34.500
I want to know which actress played, played, would play young Shepherd.

466
00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:37.980
The adolescent serverland.

467
00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:42.480
How about the clone of Serverland marries the clone of Blake from Weapon?

468
00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.079
How about that?

469
00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.680
How all them being new?

470
00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:48.420
All life is sacred.

471
00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:56.579
If our on being neutral is technically Switzerland, then we're looking at a plot with lots of little children running around mountains.

472
00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:59.579
Uh, someone in the, probably Cali in the Julie Andrews role.

473
00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:00.779
I'm seeing a musical.

474
00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.160
It's Heidi.

475
00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:05.519
I'm thinking sound of music.

476
00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:08.759
I'm thinking, oh, I'm thinking I'm thinking songs, I'm thinking Alps.

477
00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.440
Oh, yes.

478
00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:16.559
I mean, it is extraordinarily dark, I think this episode, even though there's some lighter moments in it.

479
00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:28.380
Like there's the genocide and there's that scene where Surfland just offhandedly orders, a bunch of the sporting characters, including controller of airport one and controller of airport 2, to be taken out and shot, and they are.

480
00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:30.240
They're just taken out and shut off the screen.

481
00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:31.680
Yeah, they basically are.

482
00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.059
Yeah, yeah, you one assumes they are.

483
00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:34.740
Although they're all probably going to die anyway.

484
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:36.059
But yeah, it is quite brutal.

485
00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:39.059
And done very, very casually.

486
00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:49.680
And also, it doesn't really occur to me until after they're running away with the eskies at the end that actually the idea is that, yes, all of the population are dying. will die.

487
00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.220
That's it.

488
00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:50.819
Full stop.

489
00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.240
The end.

490
00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:57.059
They're not, they're not, it's not like, you know, the population will be reduced to a fraction.

491
00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:58.079
No, they're all gone.

492
00:31:58.140 --> 00:32:01.259
And that's quite, and taken out in the shot is such a fun.

493
00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:06.420
It's one of those phrases that people use. sarcastically all the time. you know, I think so and so.

494
00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:11.039
It's an idiom, not usually used as dialogue in a movie.

495
00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:13.440
Yeah, it's not usually used as actual dialogue.

496
00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:19.619
No one actually says, I think they should be, in a war movie, you'll often see a soldier saying you will be taken out and shot.

497
00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:22.859
So for her to just say it so casually, very servilant.

498
00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:26.220
But I kind of assume, I assume they were going to attack.

499
00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:34.619
I assume whenever that, it also means take them out, take them off stage so that they can do an escape if needed, and we can have a little runaround recapturing, but they're not good enough.

500
00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:39.539
Yes, when you realise they're not coming back and there's blood up against that wall in the corridor.

501
00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.920
It's pretty dark.

502
00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:55.859
I'm sad that because of what happens in this episode, because the fact that it is very big, like there's genocide, which happens, I'm a bit sad that there's no reference, no further reference to what goes down here later on in the series.

503
00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:02.220
So Kelly will meet Servland or has the opportunity to meet Servland another 3 times in the season, and it's never really addressed.

504
00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:16.859
I think it's kind of, it's a foolish talk, speculating that we might have had a female centric story in the 70s, but can you imagine how amazing it would have been to have Dana and Cali team up to take their blood revenge on Servlan.

505
00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:21.059
And if you add in what happens to Terrence Brother in Death Watch.

506
00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:24.539
What if they'd all decided to kill her once and for all?

507
00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:29.880
And Avon was the one left claiming it's better the devil you know, because, you know, Servline fucks up every time.

508
00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.700
Yes.

509
00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:45.420
Yes, it was kind of a, maybe that's, that's a 2nd, a 2nd version of Terminal is is where, you know, throughout the course of that season, they've all developed a reason to, that they want, they won't want her gone. want her want her dead.

510
00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:50.220
Not just gone, but punish. like, you know, killed slowly sort of thing.

511
00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:57.240
And it's what makes that scene that's coming up in Death Watch, the one where Dana actually does confront Servlan about the death of her father.

512
00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.680
That's what makes it so personal.

513
00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:06.960
So you can only imagine if they'd actually followed it through, how interesting it would have been to actually have Servilan have to face up to her horrible crimes.

514
00:34:07.200 --> 00:34:08.639
Yes.

515
00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:18.300
So going back to the cast, and someone who, of course, you just mentioned there, uh, in the form of Cali, uh, you mentioned, we mentioned Jan Chappel.

516
00:34:18.360 --> 00:34:20.460
And so she gets to play 2 roles.

517
00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:25.679
So do we feel that her playing Zelda is sufficiently different?

518
00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.460
yet the same?

519
00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:33.659
Because I, I really like the way she, she delivers, delivers that different, different version of herself or whatever better.

520
00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:35.579
The version that didn't go off to have adventures, basically.

521
00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:36.000
Yeah.

522
00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.619
And the fact that they are twins.

523
00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:41.820
There's the implication that there's a lot more of them as well, isn't there?

524
00:34:41.880 --> 00:34:42.539
That's not gone into.

525
00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.099
Yeah.

526
00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:45.360
Potentially, yeah.

527
00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:45.900
Yeah, yeah.

528
00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:52.860
And she's actually able to telepath herself with better clarity and more usefulness than she often does other people.

529
00:34:56.519 --> 00:35:09.179
And we and we get what we're missing in Death Watch, which is which is them actually the 2 characters actually completely interacting, and thanks to the hazardous suits, that, you know, they do it quite well.

530
00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:19.800
And they've chosen a suitable body double that is about the right size and shape because so often in these things, it's so obviously like a bloke or something.

531
00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:24.900
Well, who can say that it wasn't Stuart Powell, just extremely turned to novelty from the camera.

532
00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.800
Yes, exactly.

533
00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:28.139
Yes, he's a dainty little thing, so yes.

534
00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:33.239
I will say they have chosen someone with the same cheekbones.

535
00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:37.800
Like when you see Zilda from... yeah, yeah.

536
00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:39.480
Draw cheekbones.

537
00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:43.679
When you see Zelda from behind when they're hugging.

538
00:35:43.739 --> 00:35:46.980
The line of the cheekbones, it's like it's the same.

539
00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.539
Height is Callie's.

540
00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:58.320
Yeah, it's I was really impressed by that because whenever I see that kind of shot and Simon and Peter might know what I'm talking about, but Colin Pete, maybe not so much.

541
00:35:58.380 --> 00:36:03.300
We had this tonight show in the late 90s, which was also a sketch comedy show.

542
00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:09.840
And they had an ongoing segment called Charlie the Wonderdog, which was a piss take of terrible children's TV programming.

543
00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:17.519
Um, and there's, they have Charles Tingwell in there who's a, who was a big um, 60s, 70s actor here.

544
00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:20.880
And there's one point where his character is Gramps.

545
00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:28.380
His asshole brother comes to visit and they're both Charles Tingwell, but the double is someone half the age and a different hair colour.

546
00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:31.739
So whenever I see these jobs, I get that in mind.

547
00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:37.500
It would be like if Zelda had turned up and been played by a decima or something.

548
00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:42.300
One of the one of the blokes from ultra...

549
00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:47.880
I mean, I think Chad Chappell actually delivers a really great performance as Zelda.

550
00:36:47.940 --> 00:36:53.940
And I think it's a shame that she hasn't been used as well in the series as she might otherwise been.

551
00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:58.619
I think she is this series, but last series, obviously, was a bit of a bit of a flop for Callie.

552
00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:05.099
But this series, we get her being Zelda in this episode, where her being the alien in a couple of episodes in sarcophagus.

553
00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:08.639
And I think she's really magnetic in both roles actually.

554
00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:10.139
She's great.

555
00:37:10.199 --> 00:37:18.840
She would, she, I, I feel so much, especially watching this episode that so many of the Liberator crew just don't need to be there.

556
00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:22.619
It's like Tarrant, Dana, Villa.

557
00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:25.380
They're just like, there's nothing, nothing for them to do.

558
00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:44.460
And I, you know, but it's not that, you know, everyone gets the same point, uh, the same amount of stuff every week, but it's like continuously. like villas drinking, Terrence just bossing people about, you know, and it just feels, uh, uh, like, thank goodness Callie gets a bit more to do this time weekend, Zelda.

559
00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:44.940
Sorry, Pete.

560
00:37:45.000 --> 00:38:05.699
Yeah, no, and Callie has, yeah, Callie has to be the proper lead of this sequence, you know, going off and being in proper strong female lead role of actually leading the plot and taking decisions and things, which is just so often, I mean, this isn't a good episode for Dana, is it?

561
00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:06.539
Am I forgetting anything?

562
00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:08.760
Dana get much to do this week?

563
00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:15.300
Dana does come up with the subterfuge on the ship to get Daryl over.

564
00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:16.019
Yeah.

565
00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:18.300
Yes, she appears from off camera.

566
00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:19.500
Yeah, you know.

567
00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:21.539
Yeah.

568
00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:38.519
But I see what you mean, Colin. that little sequence on the ship is actually a really nice kind of B slash C plotty thing going on that you give to the characters that don't have the main story this week, but as you sort of saying, too often, it's the same people that are doing those the same characters are doing those roles.

569
00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:40.380
It would have been so much better to mix it up a bit.

570
00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:45.539
Although we'd all be booing if it was Avon. just up there operating the teleport.

571
00:38:46.260 --> 00:38:50.639
I'm going to say that I actually think the crew is all very well used in this episode.

572
00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:53.519
Obviously, sometimes have more screen time than others.

573
00:38:53.579 --> 00:39:07.619
Jan Chapel and Paul Darrow, but actually, it escapes that series B plot of someone being left on the ship just to operate the teleport because Villa and Dana actually do have a fair amount to do in the story, being a board liberator.

574
00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:15.000
And that's why I thought earlier, it almost feels like those crew scenes have been written by Chris Boucher, because he always uses the crew well.

575
00:39:15.059 --> 00:39:21.480
He never leaves anyone behind, even if they're not part of the main plot, they've always got some interesting lines or something to contribute in a scene.

576
00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:24.300
And I just think that those scenes are really great.

577
00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:30.239
And of course, we get Servoland Villa interaction, which is so rare, and so amazing.

578
00:39:30.300 --> 00:39:36.719
So when she's there saying having some degree of personal regard for you, Villa, I just jump for joy.

579
00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:45.719
And I love that Villa's like, okay, uh, uh, all right.

580
00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:47.460
Unless anyone's got a better idea.

581
00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:50.579
I'm gonna give up and Dana's like, I have a gun.

582
00:39:50.699 --> 00:39:52.619
I was forgetting that.

583
00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:54.599
I can do gum things.

584
00:39:54.960 --> 00:39:57.239
And Bill's like, oh, thank God.

585
00:39:57.300 --> 00:40:06.659
Don't you love that the little gun that Serverland gives to Daryl when he's about to teleport award liberator is the one that she stole from Dana's vanity cabinet in aftermath?

586
00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:07.920
She just keeps it in her handbag.

587
00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:10.019
Oh, is it the same brilliant?

588
00:40:10.139 --> 00:40:12.239
same problem. hilarious.

589
00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:15.780
I love the way the props people were like, yes, but this works. canonically.

590
00:40:17.219 --> 00:40:18.840
It does.

591
00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:24.599
And of course this wasn't meant to be in the action, but when he teleports up and Dana disarms him.

592
00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:28.679
She looks at the gun in her hand and you can almost read her as going, but this is my gun.

593
00:40:33.480 --> 00:40:35.039
Yes.

594
00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:37.800
What about the location work?

595
00:40:37.860 --> 00:40:39.360
Is it strange that they're using a dam?

596
00:40:39.420 --> 00:40:41.579
And leads polytechnic?

597
00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:45.000
Oh, is that Leeds Polytechnic, is it?

598
00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:47.039
It's all that beautiful 70s concrete.

599
00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:48.780
We've got a great idea.

600
00:40:48.840 --> 00:40:51.780
We're going to visit the mystical world of our on and where are you going to shoot it?

601
00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:53.099
Leeds Polytechnic.

602
00:40:53.159 --> 00:40:53.820
Leeds.

603
00:40:54.179 --> 00:40:58.559
It looked I felt a little bit Logan's run watching this episode.

604
00:40:58.619 --> 00:41:00.300
I felt like all the steps.

605
00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:01.320
Yes.

606
00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:10.199
Like, I just love the way they're sort of, they're jumping down these giant steps on the, on the video screen at some point.

607
00:41:10.260 --> 00:41:11.699
They're just sort of going, oh.

608
00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:14.880
Ow. just jumped out there.

609
00:41:15.119 --> 00:41:21.360
Well, that's a I love that bit where they're running over the dam or the reservoir or whatever.

610
00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:23.639
And I think that's a terrific piece.

611
00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:26.519
Um, uh, filming.

612
00:41:26.579 --> 00:41:30.719
And I like the model work as well, even though it's a bit bouncy when it explodes.

613
00:41:30.780 --> 00:41:31.739
I saw the draw.

614
00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:34.920
I think it all fits together.

615
00:41:34.980 --> 00:41:40.139
It's a nice bit of, you know, it's all not wonderfully connected, but I do feel it's a good bit of world building.

616
00:41:40.199 --> 00:41:44.639
And I just love to see 70s stuff outdoor stuff in Blake 7.

617
00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:53.159
Yes Yeah, I think this is really, really well directed by Andrew Morgan on a macro level as well as the little flourishes.

618
00:41:53.519 --> 00:42:01.860
It's extraordinary that Andrew Morgan's directing Blake 7 at this and yet it takes until, you know, 1987...

619
00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:14.880
Well, of course, Andrew Morgan was, yeah, Andrew Morgan was meant to come back and shoot terminal at the end of this season and had to drop out, which is why we got the wonderful Mary Ridge, but also, JNT booked Andrew Morgan for time flights, and he had to drop out.

620
00:42:14.940 --> 00:42:18.059
So he would have been part of Doc 2 off the back of their season.

621
00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:18.960
Oh, wow.

622
00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:20.699
Interesting..

623
00:42:21.179 --> 00:42:27.179
I loved the use of the dam because it implies, to me, hydroelectrics.

624
00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:41.099
And if we are to believe the hour on this highly technological, isolated but culturally advanced society, it makes sense that they'd be using renewable energy.

625
00:42:41.159 --> 00:42:42.239
So you can kind of square that.

626
00:42:42.300 --> 00:42:44.579
And as for the model work, I'm with you, Colin.

627
00:42:44.639 --> 00:42:50.400
I think it looks absolutely amazing to the point that I thought, have they nicked this from a Jerry Anderson production?

628
00:42:50.460 --> 00:42:56.699
It's like that looks like the air traffic control for Fireflash in Thunderbirds.

629
00:42:56.760 --> 00:43:01.739
It's that good and the the spaceship model work is fantastic.

630
00:43:01.800 --> 00:43:06.179
You know, it's all it's all along sort of right angles, but it still looks really great.

631
00:43:06.239 --> 00:43:07.980
Oh yeah, that spaceship.

632
00:43:08.039 --> 00:43:10.440
Her spaceship is brilliant.

633
00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:12.539
It looks like it looks like a shot. like spaceship.

634
00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:13.019
Yeah, yeah.

635
00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:21.360
Is it the spy you loved me where one of the bond thing swallows another ship or you need to edit me out?

636
00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:22.380
It's Moonraker, isn't it?

637
00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:29.159
It's, um, uh, say it again with, uh, for your eyes.

638
00:43:29.219 --> 00:43:29.400
No.

639
00:43:29.460 --> 00:43:30.000
Sorry.

640
00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:30.300
Sorry.

641
00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:31.980
Say it again with You only Live Twice.

642
00:43:32.880 --> 00:43:35.519
Oh, no, it's okay for you to correct me.

643
00:43:35.579 --> 00:43:36.480
I don't need to read that.

644
00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:38.400
I don't need to...

645
00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:40.440
I was asking you.

646
00:43:40.500 --> 00:43:43.260
But it felt like...

647
00:43:43.260 --> 00:43:45.840
You only live twice where they sort of...

648
00:43:45.900 --> 00:43:46.679
Yeah, pincer.

649
00:43:46.679 --> 00:43:48.960
Pincer.

650
00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:54.179
And let's not forget. the effects that Star Wars, the wide ranging effect that Star Wars had everything.

651
00:43:54.239 --> 00:44:00.059
So those opening scenes in Star Wars where the rebel troop ship gets eaten up by the Star Destroyer.

652
00:44:00.599 --> 00:44:02.039
Yes.

653
00:44:02.579 --> 00:44:13.920
But it is an interesting kind of spaceship design that despite the fact that the gun makes the reappearance from PowerPlay or aftermath or other, it's strange that then this spaceship had server land ship never gets seen again.

654
00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:21.119
Is that because she needs to, she's, she's utilised the kill switch on those and and they have to rewire the entire ship now.

655
00:44:21.179 --> 00:44:22.500
You just burnt it out.

656
00:44:22.559 --> 00:44:24.239
Literally don't...

657
00:44:24.300 --> 00:44:26.460
Maybe she pressed the wrong.

658
00:44:26.519 --> 00:44:27.539
She pressed the wrong button.

659
00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:28.920
Just the self-destruct.

660
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:32.820
She calls it a command cabin at the start.

661
00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:33.780
I don't know.

662
00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:36.179
That just sounds like a little kiosk, you know?

663
00:44:36.179 --> 00:44:37.380
Command cabin.

664
00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:37.920
Boudoir.

665
00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:39.300
You could have a grander name than that.

666
00:44:39.360 --> 00:44:41.159
Come to my command boudoir.

667
00:44:41.219 --> 00:44:45.840
I think they probably realise there's just not a very good model because it's introduced in volcano.

668
00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:47.219
That's the only other time we see it.

669
00:44:47.280 --> 00:44:52.440
It's meant to be in harvested, but they use the wrong model work and so it's...

670
00:44:52.500 --> 00:44:56.820
Oh, hilarious.

671
00:44:56.880 --> 00:44:58.800
I'm serious, that can then happen though, you know.

672
00:44:58.860 --> 00:45:00.059
Is it in Moloch?

673
00:45:00.119 --> 00:45:01.019
Is it in Moloch?

674
00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:02.159
Are they following her spaceship there?

675
00:45:02.219 --> 00:45:02.820
I think it might be.

676
00:45:02.940 --> 00:45:03.179
Yeah.

677
00:45:03.300 --> 00:45:04.619
Okay.

678
00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:06.059
So we do see it a few times.

679
00:45:06.119 --> 00:45:07.679
Yeah, it's a very weird design.

680
00:45:07.739 --> 00:45:08.340
It will look strange.

681
00:45:11.460 --> 00:45:17.760
Having said that, though, I think the going back to the effects work in this, I do think it's really, really good.

682
00:45:17.820 --> 00:45:28.800
And when you get a good director who just understands the grammar of making something like Blake 7 or Doctor 2 in the 1970s, like Michael Bryant, or here Andrew Morgan, everything just steps up.

683
00:45:28.860 --> 00:45:32.760
And so you notice that even the things that don't usually come off very well look immaculate.

684
00:45:32.820 --> 00:45:43.440
So there's crossfades on Franton when she's made up with the disease makeup and then it's flashing in and out and eventually she's free of the disease and it's perfectly done.

685
00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:51.659
Um, and Kelly is in shot when Dana and Pater teleport up and there's none of that kind of fringing or the change in position or anything.

686
00:45:51.719 --> 00:45:52.800
It's perfectly done.

687
00:45:53.699 --> 00:45:56.760
Just goes to show all you need is inventiveness.

688
00:45:56.820 --> 00:45:57.420
Yeah.

689
00:45:57.420 --> 00:45:59.159
Well, it's not just inventiveness.

690
00:45:59.219 --> 00:46:00.059
I think it's that thing.

691
00:46:00.119 --> 00:46:12.539
I mean, I often comment about, you know, directors of Dr. in Black 7 and stuff, the good ones know, um, well, should I say the bad ones are shooting the set and the props as if they look perfect.

692
00:46:12.599 --> 00:46:22.199
And which is so, which of course they don't, so they look rubbish because they're revealed to be plywood and polystyrene or whatever, whatever else it is.

693
00:46:22.260 --> 00:46:37.079
And I think those ones, like you're saying, Peter, the ones that understand the grammar of the show, I think they know how to shoot something in a way that's going to make it look as good as possible rather than having an idea in their head that, oh, this is the shot I had in mind.

694
00:46:37.139 --> 00:46:44.039
I needed to look like this because those other guys know that it's just impossible to shoot it like that because it's just going to look rubbish.

695
00:46:44.039 --> 00:46:46.619
Or it's going to take far too long for us to set up in the studio.

696
00:46:46.679 --> 00:46:49.500
But I also think there's a certain amount of ambition there.

697
00:46:49.559 --> 00:46:55.619
Obviously, it's ambition within what can be achieved because when you get unbridled ambition that can't be achieved.

698
00:46:55.679 --> 00:47:00.179
That's Richard Martin in Doctor Who, and everything just, you know, falls to bits in the studio.

699
00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:12.539
But when you get someone like Andrew Morgan, He knows that he, if he just lines it up correctly, he can do that teleport shot with Dana and PayTar teleporting up and Kelly actually being in short and then moving into the bit where they were.

700
00:47:12.659 --> 00:47:14.340
He knows he can make that happen.

701
00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:16.079
It just requires a little bit of forethought.

702
00:47:16.139 --> 00:47:17.340
Whereas St.

703
00:47:17.340 --> 00:47:25.559
Peter Moffatt in Doctor Who, whenever the TARDIS materialises, invariably cuts away to the shot of the TARDIS materialising and then cuts back.

704
00:47:25.619 --> 00:47:27.599
It's just too much effort to have people.

705
00:47:27.599 --> 00:47:28.500
Yeah, this is the director, does it?

706
00:47:28.559 --> 00:47:36.539
This is the director who decided to have the Dalek spaceship descend into a London school by actually building a Dalek spaceship and making it descend from a giant crane.

707
00:47:36.599 --> 00:47:37.019
Yeah.

708
00:47:37.079 --> 00:47:37.440
Yeah.

709
00:47:37.860 --> 00:47:39.420
Absolutely.

710
00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:43.019
Can you imagine how woeful that would have looked with even 1987 Chroma key?

711
00:47:43.079 --> 00:48:04.860
I mean, even when he directs Time and the Rani, on the on the Blu-ray for that, there are loads of moments on the location shooting where he's sort of calling for a shot to be redone and the subtext of what he's doing is, no, no, no, it's okay.

712
00:48:04.920 --> 00:48:06.719
It's fine, but it's not good enough.

713
00:48:07.559 --> 00:48:16.860
And considering, you know, I love time in the Rani, but no one considers it to be the best ever Doctor Who story, but visually it's fantastic.

714
00:48:16.920 --> 00:48:20.099
It's very unquestionably, it's very well made.

715
00:48:20.159 --> 00:48:22.440
It's very well directed, yes, even though the rest of it is rubbish.

716
00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:26.880
But, you know, that's an, that's an argument for another, that's an argument for a different podcast, I suspect.

717
00:48:27.119 --> 00:48:30.420
Can I just say, though, on the subject of Andrew Morgan.

718
00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:44.400
He does do one shot, which doesn't quite come off, but I think is really fascinating, and that is the early shot of the camera panning at a very high angle across the flight deck to give you the impression of the liberator moving through shot.

719
00:48:44.460 --> 00:48:45.420
I think it's really well done.

720
00:48:45.480 --> 00:48:52.139
It doesn't quite work, but it's indicative of the fact that he was thinking differently about how to shoot this set, the weakness of the last 3 series.

721
00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:57.480
It's a bit wobbly and it's cut right before the camera crashes into the wall.

722
00:48:59.099 --> 00:49:03.840
I think the camera actually slows down a little bit at the end and that's you give.

723
00:49:03.900 --> 00:49:07.139
You just said to them, you stand there, you stand there.

724
00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:08.639
You don't need to do anything.

725
00:49:08.699 --> 00:49:09.420
Just stand about.

726
00:49:09.480 --> 00:49:12.960
And it's Dana's kind of like rock solid, sort of standing still.

727
00:49:13.019 --> 00:49:14.159
And then they just, they do that.

728
00:49:14.219 --> 00:49:14.639
But I agree.

729
00:49:14.699 --> 00:49:19.260
I think it's got, as you said, earlier, Pete, flourishes like that.

730
00:49:19.320 --> 00:49:35.639
I think what lets it down slightly is that if I'd been directing it, I would have had the shot of the liberator model moving from left to right and cut to the camera, moving in the same direction so that you got that through idea of the fact that this is what you're saying.

731
00:49:35.699 --> 00:49:37.380
I think that's what it's missing, but still, it's pretty good.

732
00:49:40.440 --> 00:49:44.940
We touched on the kind of diverse casting of for Ginka.

733
00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:49.380
But I'd be curious to know, do you think that the character of Franton was always supposed to be a woman?

734
00:49:49.440 --> 00:49:50.699
It's interesting.

735
00:49:50.760 --> 00:49:59.460
I mean, Blake 7 often does better than Doctor Who of the era does with casting with writing female roles and casting them.

736
00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:00.179
But yeah, interesting.

737
00:50:00.360 --> 00:50:19.139
Yeah, I mean, considering that the Franton that Serverland is expecting is a grey-haired older man who, it turns out, has died since her intelligence came in, um, that seems an odd choice rather than just have have a picture of Franton as a woman as she is in the story.

738
00:50:19.199 --> 00:50:20.460
Oh, it's his daughter.

739
00:50:20.519 --> 00:50:26.519
Oh, and she was, she was born of a natural birth, not cloned, and that doesn't, that plot point doesn't particularly go anywhere.

740
00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:30.300
So, yeah, I do wonder, Cole.

741
00:50:30.360 --> 00:50:31.500
I think it's good.

742
00:50:31.559 --> 00:50:32.280
It's a great question.

743
00:50:32.340 --> 00:50:34.559
I think it's a good bit of background.

744
00:50:34.619 --> 00:50:37.079
I don't know how they managed to weave it in.

745
00:50:37.500 --> 00:50:41.340
Just so why don't we have it a man and then a woman and then explain, da, da, da.

746
00:50:41.400 --> 00:50:47.460
It does give you a bit more of a background, like, we only just invented this process maybe 30 years ago.

747
00:50:47.519 --> 00:50:53.039
So, um, here's here's why, but it doesn't perhaps lead anywhere.

748
00:50:53.099 --> 00:50:55.860
I'm just glad it's, I'm glad it's her.

749
00:50:55.920 --> 00:50:56.820
I think she's pretty good in it.

750
00:50:56.880 --> 00:51:01.980
Although I'm sure she calls Kelly Kelly. she's going off camera or something.

751
00:51:04.019 --> 00:51:23.940
I think definitely the implication we went to take away from it is that Cali and her group was one of the earliest cloned groups that they have because it seems that controller of Airport one and controller of Airport 2 are maybe in their mid 40s, whereas Cali's kind of in her mid to late 20s.

752
00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:26.039
And so I think that's sort of where the line is.

753
00:51:26.219 --> 00:51:28.920
Yeah, Peter, just remember how old we are.

754
00:51:28.980 --> 00:51:30.420
I think they're in the mid 40s.

755
00:51:30.420 --> 00:51:33.000
I'm older than Ronald Lee.

756
00:51:40.980 --> 00:51:51.420
I do remember someone we know recently having a bit of a moment when they realised that they were approaching the age William Hartnell was when he was cast in Doctor Who.

757
00:51:51.480 --> 00:52:00.360
There's a Twitter account that tracks celebrities Meldrew points, the point at which they're older, they come as old as Richard Wilson was when the 1st episode of one foot in the grave went out.

758
00:52:00.420 --> 00:52:02.400
Kylie Minogue passed it quite recently.

759
00:52:04.320 --> 00:52:06.000
Oh, really?

760
00:52:06.000 --> 00:52:13.800
That terrible realisation when you when you find out that not only are you older than when Tom Baker was cast in the role, you're older than when Ted Baker left the role.

761
00:52:14.519 --> 00:52:16.019
Yes.

762
00:52:16.079 --> 00:52:18.539
Yes, he doesn't look that good for that.

763
00:52:18.599 --> 00:52:22.079
I just looked it up and Commander Radnor is in fact 59.

764
00:52:22.260 --> 00:52:23.400
And looking great for her.

765
00:52:23.460 --> 00:52:24.719
He's 59 there.

766
00:52:24.780 --> 00:52:27.659
Well, that makes me feel a little bit better and yes, looking great for it.

767
00:52:27.719 --> 00:52:30.780
He's got that snow white hair, which he had in seeds of death still.

768
00:52:30.840 --> 00:52:31.559
So useless.

769
00:52:31.559 --> 00:52:32.519
Already, I should say.

770
00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:35.880
What the actor or the character?

771
00:52:36.059 --> 00:52:37.739
The character.

772
00:52:37.800 --> 00:52:39.420
I mean, maybe as well.

773
00:52:39.480 --> 00:52:44.460
But he's just like, oh, well, maybe a dozen people survive.

774
00:52:44.519 --> 00:52:46.679
You know, if only I thought about this.

775
00:52:47.519 --> 00:52:49.860
We can't call it...

776
00:52:49.860 --> 00:52:51.539
We can't call it people from off world.

777
00:52:51.599 --> 00:52:52.500
Okay, fine.

778
00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:54.179
We can't talk to the Federation.

779
00:52:54.239 --> 00:52:55.019
Okay, fine.

780
00:52:55.079 --> 00:52:56.340
We're not getting Allie back.

781
00:52:56.400 --> 00:52:57.119
Okay, fine.

782
00:52:57.599 --> 00:53:05.820
And everyone seems to blame him personally for the fact that, you know, they don't have resistance and they have an isolationist policy.

783
00:53:05.880 --> 00:53:10.019
It's like, you know, was the head of government going to the controller of the airport and going, what should we do?

784
00:53:10.019 --> 00:53:10.860
And he's going to go well.

785
00:53:12.659 --> 00:53:21.960
I think he's supposed to be representative of the faction that of the faction who were in charge when that decision was made and shouted everybody else down, you know, maybe, I don't know.

786
00:53:22.019 --> 00:53:23.039
Sorry, Pete.

787
00:53:23.039 --> 00:53:25.380
I like I like when they're talking about Callie and he growls.

788
00:53:25.440 --> 00:53:27.960
Oh, that young rebel. sounds so old.

789
00:53:29.940 --> 00:53:32.099
Colin, what were you gonna say?

790
00:53:32.159 --> 00:53:33.840
I have actually forgotten.

791
00:53:34.920 --> 00:53:40.199
Roland Lee Hunt being ineffectual and a bit rubbish and you said, oh, that reminds me.

792
00:53:40.260 --> 00:53:49.500
Oh, oh, that thing, uh, that plot twist where they're like, oh, fuck, there's another spaceship. you know, that arrived earlier.

793
00:53:49.559 --> 00:53:50.760
It's like, why did no one tell us?

794
00:53:50.820 --> 00:53:54.300
I think that's why the controller of airports tell them.

795
00:53:55.619 --> 00:53:56.880
Why didn't Zen tell them?

796
00:53:56.940 --> 00:54:01.559
Like Zen can detect a federation pursuit ship at 3000 spatials or whatever.

797
00:54:01.619 --> 00:54:04.619
Yeah, it was...

798
00:54:05.099 --> 00:54:06.480
Yeah.

799
00:54:06.480 --> 00:54:12.780
But, you know, Orat called him a ward ornament and he hasn't been talking to anyone.

800
00:54:12.840 --> 00:54:23.159
But, you know, it's a story that us is to look at things like neutrality and pacifism and whether sometimes you've got to fight, which is exactly what Kenny Rogers was doing.

801
00:54:23.219 --> 00:54:27.000
Number one in the UK hit parade with the song Coward of the County at this very week.

802
00:54:28.860 --> 00:54:30.780
Well done, Pete.

803
00:54:30.840 --> 00:54:32.760
Always got his finger on the pulse since Blake seven.

804
00:54:34.500 --> 00:54:36.599
Well done, yeah.

805
00:54:37.079 --> 00:54:43.440
And of course, he is Surfland's playing it like the winner takes it all, which will have been up one leisure in the same year.

806
00:54:44.039 --> 00:54:45.599
Very much.

807
00:54:48.659 --> 00:54:51.840
Still a better performance than Meryl Streep and Mama Mia.

808
00:54:52.739 --> 00:54:55.019
Oh, yes.

809
00:54:55.079 --> 00:54:55.860
Yes.

810
00:54:57.539 --> 00:55:00.239
I mean, it's just a fantastic episode.

811
00:55:00.300 --> 00:55:02.940
I really, really like this episode.

812
00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:04.800
And even though it's got some jarring bits.

813
00:55:04.860 --> 00:55:06.300
It all comes together for me.

814
00:55:06.360 --> 00:55:12.719
And scene by scene, I think the action is quite exciting and absorbing and with the best will in the world.

815
00:55:12.780 --> 00:55:15.659
That's not always the Blake 7 modus operandi.

816
00:55:15.719 --> 00:55:18.840
Just sort of expand your sort of echo that point.

817
00:55:18.900 --> 00:55:39.360
It is one of those things where in some respects you could argue that it's got the same sorts of things that are wrong with it, which could derail a different episode, but for some reason, they're not, either they're not to the fore or they're not, um, you know, laboured on or for some reason, maybe other things are just so good that we just are happy to forgive the little few things that don't make sense.

818
00:55:39.719 --> 00:55:42.239
It has Ginkka. all we need.

819
00:55:42.360 --> 00:55:43.500
Yep.

820
00:55:43.559 --> 00:55:45.000
And it has Ginken.

821
00:55:46.860 --> 00:56:04.199
I do wonder if part of the success of Blake 7 is, you know, obviously there is a little, um, a little part of it, perhaps not to begin with, but it starts to respond to Star Wars, but everything else that responded to Star Wars was a lot closer to it.

822
00:56:04.260 --> 00:56:06.719
I'm thinking Battlestar Galactica.

823
00:56:06.780 --> 00:56:18.179
Jason of Star Command, um, you know, they were, we've got this, this evil figure and a ragtag bunch of rebels, but the rebels always win through in the end and da da da da.

824
00:56:18.239 --> 00:56:23.519
Whereas Blake Seven is like, well, the rebels are still alive at the end, whether they've won or not is another matter.

825
00:56:23.579 --> 00:56:32.099
And also the, also the head of the federation is evil but fabulous and our heroes don't get along.

826
00:56:32.159 --> 00:56:35.820
And even though they've got the best spaceship, they're constantly on the run.

827
00:56:35.880 --> 00:56:41.219
You know, that that set up automatically builds in drama.

828
00:56:41.280 --> 00:56:50.699
And I have to wonder if maybe sometimes when things don't quite work and don't quite fit the tone, it's because no one else is making this kind of show.

829
00:56:50.940 --> 00:56:58.559
So there's nothing for David Maloney and Chris Boucher to look at and go, would this work?

830
00:56:58.619 --> 00:57:00.599
They just have to go, would this work?

831
00:57:00.659 --> 00:57:02.460
And then go, fuck no.

832
00:57:02.940 --> 00:57:05.340
Don't do it again.

833
00:57:05.400 --> 00:57:07.019
Ben Steed.

834
00:57:08.219 --> 00:57:18.300
But is that the kind of thing where, you know, you can, when you're talking, when they're talking to all there's other people and you can reference something, you can say, well, you know, it's like Dumpty Dump moment from Star Wars or whatever.

835
00:57:18.360 --> 00:57:24.780
And because you can't talk in that sort of shorthand for people to be able to use as inspiration.

836
00:57:24.840 --> 00:57:25.380
Yes, you're right.

837
00:57:25.440 --> 00:57:30.960
It's sometimes it's like, no, no, no, that's actually not what we meant because they're just so off the wall.

838
00:57:31.019 --> 00:57:44.219
One of the things I will say that I think is, is, is a weaker part of the episode, but for some reason, I forgive it, is I have to say that that last moment on the Liberator is probably the most Scooby-Doo ending of any episode, and yes, I don't care.

839
00:57:44.280 --> 00:57:50.760
And, you know, it would have worked in some other episodes, but coming after quite a dark and dim episode, you think, what are you doing?

840
00:57:51.179 --> 00:57:51.900
Yeah.

841
00:57:52.019 --> 00:57:52.619
Yes.

842
00:57:52.679 --> 00:57:56.159
I think the best line is Avon to say, yes, yes, I understand.

843
00:57:56.219 --> 00:57:57.480
Zen maintained present speed.

844
00:57:58.380 --> 00:58:03.119
It should have been Kelly on her own, in her room or something like that.

845
00:58:03.179 --> 00:58:04.440
I think.

846
00:58:05.519 --> 00:58:06.960
Exactly.

847
00:58:06.960 --> 00:58:13.739
Yeah, we get that scene into episodes time where she's clearly ruminating on what happened in children of our on.

848
00:58:14.280 --> 00:58:15.659
Yeah.

849
00:58:15.719 --> 00:58:21.599
Yeah, I think it's not even the quite the script at fault there.

850
00:58:21.659 --> 00:58:36.420
Like, I think it's, it's okay for Avon to make that little joke and the other 3 to kind of go, you know, that kind, that kind of little laugh and and then sort of have everyone go quiet and just get back to the game in front of them and have that pullout shot.

851
00:58:36.480 --> 00:58:39.780
And it's a way of saying, you know, life goes on, but also this has happened.

852
00:58:39.840 --> 00:58:45.179
So, yeah, maybe it's maybe maybe it's Andrew Morgan slipping up.

853
00:58:45.239 --> 00:58:52.019
Maybe David Maloney, because there's a few episodes that end with an inappropriately big laugh this season.

854
00:58:52.079 --> 00:58:59.880
Maybe it's David Loney saying, no, no, no, the BBC have told me to be happy because the actors, the actors are just dead behind the eyes for that.

855
00:58:59.940 --> 00:59:07.380
Maybe it was the maybe it was the AFM on the studio floor with David with Andrew Morgan going, tell them to bring it up a bit.

856
00:59:07.440 --> 00:59:09.599
I'm going, bigger love, bigger.

857
00:59:10.199 --> 00:59:12.300
Happy smiles.

858
00:59:12.960 --> 00:59:13.619
Tuesday night.

859
00:59:13.679 --> 00:59:15.179
We don't want to send the kids to bed crying.

860
00:59:17.039 --> 00:59:26.699
But I suppose he's supposed to be ending on and up because, you know, they have saved the hour and hour, at least they've saved the gene pool, so they can create a new world somewhere.

861
00:59:26.760 --> 00:59:31.139
But yeah, I kind of wanted more of a with, you know, Calais sister being killed.

862
00:59:31.199 --> 00:59:33.599
You do want more of a kind of an attack of the sub sort of end.

863
00:59:33.659 --> 00:59:44.699
I think I think that's why that one struck me at the time is that, you know, despite the fact that they've won in that, you know, they've defeated the baddies, as it were, in other ways, many other ways they've lost.

864
00:59:44.820 --> 00:59:51.659
And I thought it could have done, as you said, with that sort of, um, bit more sombre, bit more sobriety at the end. anyway.

865
00:59:51.719 --> 00:59:56.760
I think this is the episode as well, and the season where they get the look, right?

866
00:59:56.820 --> 01:00:09.659
So series series B is very operatic in its June Hudsonness and series A is quite functional, its look, but series C gets the look of the show and the look of the costumes just right.

867
01:00:09.719 --> 01:00:12.059
Blake Seven has its own look that no other show has.

868
01:00:12.119 --> 01:00:13.860
And I think you can see that here.

869
01:00:13.920 --> 01:00:18.780
The regular characters all look like they're wearing actual clothes, even though they're futuristic clothes.

870
01:00:19.079 --> 01:00:21.599
God, what is Tarant wearing?

871
01:00:21.659 --> 01:00:22.320
Jesus.

872
01:00:22.380 --> 01:00:23.639
Yeah.

873
01:00:23.639 --> 01:00:24.900
And then there's talent.

874
01:00:24.960 --> 01:00:25.380
Yeah.

875
01:00:25.440 --> 01:00:30.900
It's like, yeah, it's like every week, one of the crew gets a shit outfit and this week it's Tara.

876
01:00:31.440 --> 01:00:36.539
Let's just wait for series D where for half of it, Dana decides to dress up as slave.

877
01:00:39.300 --> 01:00:43.260
Yeah, she does look her outfit in the 2nd half of the season.

878
01:00:55.800 --> 01:00:58.320
Well, that's all for children of Auron.

879
01:00:58.380 --> 01:01:00.179
Please join us next time for Rumours of Death.

880
01:01:00.239 --> 01:01:04.679
Until then, rest assured that we know which ones were ours, because we felt them die.

881
01:01:04.800 --> 01:01:05.699
I'm Simon.

882
01:01:05.820 --> 01:01:07.260
I'm Brendan.

883
01:01:07.320 --> 01:01:08.400
I'm Pete.

884
01:01:08.460 --> 01:01:09.119
I'm Cole.

885
01:01:09.179 --> 01:01:10.860
And I'm Peter.

886
01:01:10.920 --> 01:01:12.059
But madam.

887
01:01:12.119 --> 01:01:13.559
Madam.

888
01:01:13.559 --> 01:01:14.340
Madam.

889
01:01:19.260 --> 01:01:20.880
Excellent.

890
01:01:21.360 --> 01:01:25.199
Adam and Ginker, not Adam of the E. Anyway.

891
01:01:28.260 --> 01:01:29.039
Get him.

892
01:01:29.099 --> 01:01:29.880
Right.

893
01:01:29.940 --> 01:01:30.960
There you go.

894
01:01:34.679 --> 01:01:36.900
Switching to manual.

895
01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:38.880
Maximum power on all drives.

896
01:01:41.940 --> 01:01:43.920
Maximum power.