Stars: Gareth Thomas, Sally Knyvette, Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Jacqueline Pearce, Stephen Greif

Summary: All thirteen episodes from Series 1 of the classic TV Science Fiction programme. Episodes are: 'The Way Back', 'Space Fall', 'Cygnus Alpha', 'Time Squad', 'The Web', 'Seek-Locate-Destroy', 'Mission To Destiny', 'Duel', 'Project Avalon', 'Breakdown', 'Bounty', 'Deliverance' and 'Orac'.

Roj Blake starts to realise that he has been brainwashed by the Federation and that he is actually a rebel against them. To discredit Blake the Federation frames him for child abuse and send him to a penal colony. On the way, Blake meets up with a group of fellow prisoners: Jenna, Vila, Gan and Avon, and together they plan to escape. This they achieve, escaping onto a deserted battleship, the Liberator. Instead of fleeing into obscurity, the group, along with the ships computer, Zen, and an alien telepath, Cally, decide to fight the Federation.
Contains all the episodes from the first series.

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Blake's 7was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake of Star Wars, though with a grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created by Doctor Whoveteran Terry Nation remain involving.

The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven.

On the DVD:Blake's 7, Series 1presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC's Doctor WhoDVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good as Blake's 7is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted.

Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract from Blue Peterin 1978 with Lesley Judd making a Blake's 7bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs. --Gary S Dalkin

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Out Takes, Missing Scene, Blue Peters Make A Teleport Bracelet, Series 2 Trailer, Commentary Tracks, Nine Character Introductions
Year:	1978
Release Date:	March 1, 2004
Runtime:	650 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 1176
Keywords:	Five, Off, General, Series, Fiction, Science, Tv, Horror, Discs, Schedule, Sci, Fi, Blake's, Blakes
Genre:	Science Fiction