B10: Voice from the Past: Behold, the Plot Shall Wither

Garry: 00:00:17

Hello there and welcome to Federation Strike: A Journey Through Blake's 7. My name's Garry.

Adam: 00:00:22

And my name's Adam.

Garry: 00:00:23

And welcome to episode 10.

Welcome back, everybody, to another episode of Federation Strike. It is great to have you checking back in with the podcast and listening as we get through the second series of Blake's 7.

And this week, if you can believe it, we're at episode 10 already. I know, 10 already. And our review of Voice from the Past. Indeedy, yes.

Before we get on to our review though, as I said, thank you very much for joining us. If you are new to Federation Strike, then it is awesome to have you listening along. Make sure you go and check out the our first series.

I'm assuming that you have watched some Blake's 7 before, as this would be a very random point to jump on. If this was your. I mean, that's cool.

If this is your very first episode of Blake's 7 ever, then there's not too much lore, actually, or heavy duty stuff in this one. Too much.

Adam: 00:01:44

What are the chances though, mate, that someone is set? If you've never seen Blake's 7, the episode you must start with is Voice from the Past. Now, what are the chances?

Garry: 00:01:54

What are the odds?

Yeah, probably not great on that one, but randomly, if you woke up this morning and you know what you thought, you know what I've heard about this show called Blake's 7. Let me have a little look. Oh, it's a podcast about it.

Adam: 00:02:08

Oh, yeah.

Garry: 00:02:09

Cool, cool, cool. Right, we're up to episode. Right, I'll watch that one.

But fair play, if you've dived at this point, I'm guessing you haven't, but if you've joined us from the beginning.

Beginning as in episode one of this series, or if you're a long time listener and you've joined us from the very beginning, from the start of series A, then welcome back. It's lovely to have you here.

And to those newbies who have started watching along from the start of series two, then it's great to have you here as well. Last week was our review of Countdown. We rated that one extremely highly. That was a belter of an episode, that one. I think that was a 9.5 for me.

Adam: 00:02:47

Yes.

Garry: 00:02:47

And a 9 from you, I think.

Adam: 00:02:49

That's right. Yeah, that's right.

Garry: 00:02:51

Yeah. Good stuff. Fast forward to this week. Are we going to keep the high scores going?

Adam: 00:02:58

Well, we've had two cracking episodes on the trot, haven't we, mate? So could this be a triple? Actually, not triple whammy, because I found out that that actually means three Bad things everyone says.

Oh, a triple whammy is if it's good. But could this be another 9 or 10?

Garry: 00:03:16

Keep the train going. Yeah.

To make sure that you are keeping up with all of our future reps and all that stuff, we'd love to have you following along in your fave podcast app of choice. Just hit the follow or the subscribe whatever the button says in your app.

If it's Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music or Spotify, whatever, we'd love to have you following along. Then you get a notification when the new episodes drop and you can follow along as we go through series two.

And then like we did with series A, I'm doing a thing where I'm interchanging 2 and B and 1 and.

Adam: 00:03:50

A. I know, same apologies.

Garry: 00:03:52

Yeah, sorry. Like we did with series A when we got to the end of that and we reviewed the last episode. We'll do the same thing for series B.

We'll do a special kind of wrap up episode where we talk about the series as a whole and highs and lows and our favorites and all that. And then we've also got a couple of special bonus eps planned as well where we chat to some people involved in making the blu rays of Blake's 7. Etc.

So yeah, stick around and tune in each week for that. And then we'll take a break at the end because this is a seasonal format show. And then we're back.

We'll be back towards the end of the year once series C has dropped on Blu Ray to go through all that malarkey.

Adam: 00:04:36

Indeed.

Garry: 00:04:37

So without further ado, shall we crack on with our review, bud?

Adam: 00:04:41

Let's do it, brother. Let's do it.

Trailer: 00:04:48

Is that man really Shiva?

He could be. A voice scan is incompatible with that tracheal vent, but he conforms with records of size, weight and gender in the absence of a cell tissue scan.

What about Ven Glynn? Records confirm his identity. Also his recent defection from the Federation post of Arbiter General. So what is wrong? You deduced it yourself earlier.

I did? Space Command has long tried to perfect a coarse interceptor attuned to the circuitry of navigational computers and rational coordinators like Zen.

The scientists on Oron, however, had the wit to aim for the weaker point. The human brain. Correct. A telepathic order was beamed to Blake to force him to reroute to that asteroid, as you yourself foresaw.

So tell us something new. It is to Blake you should look for the new. What's that supposed to mean? That they are still influencing Him. Correct again. But how?

A device of that kind would need an enormous power source. Agreed. But now that they have. Now that they are close at hand, low power, of course. So it's here on board. Right. What do we do?

Locate and destroy it and restore Blake to his senses. The two don't necessarily follow.

Adam: 00:06:12

Oh, that wonderful Paul Darrow voice.

Garry: 00:06:15

It's so iconic, isn't it?

Adam: 00:06:17

The way he interrupts. All right, then. And now he's like. The fact that he's just worked it out at the same time. Brilliant.

Garry: 00:06:24

Amazing. Very quick little nugget of info before we crack on. I was at a Doctor who event at the weekend, just gone.

We're recording this on midweek, it's the 13th of May. I was just at this Doctor who event called the Capital Event down near Gatwick, and the guys had put on this.

This show and it was a video diary of, like, old capital events on the Doctor who appreciation site, events over the years. And there was a nugget in the. In the documentary video where it cycled through loads of photos of. Of stars from Doctor who back in the day and.

And all that stuff. And there was one photo of John Pertwee and Paul Darrow.

Adam: 00:07:10

Oh, really?

Garry: 00:07:11

Together. And they both held. They both held up their pint and it was a convention that they were presumably both at donkeys years ago.

Adam: 00:07:19

Yeah.

Garry: 00:07:19

And I think I was the only person that gave up a little whoop and a little clap.

Adam: 00:07:24

Oh, good for representing Blake, though, mate.

Garry: 00:07:27

Of course. Yeah. I thought that was amazing. Just a really cool. Really.

And they were both beaming as well, you could tell, having a good time at this convention and. Yeah, yeah. So repping the old. The old Blake's 7 there, even at a Doctor who event.

Adam: 00:07:39

I thought you were going to say it was going to be Paul and Colin Baker, because obviously Colin pops up in series three of Blake's 7. We all know that. It's not a spoiler. And also Paul Darrow was in Time Lash, you know, the Doctor who story.

So I thought that's what you're going to say, because that's the sort of Doctor who Blake's 7 crossover, but. Oh, that's lovely. I'd like to send that picture of him and John.

Garry: 00:08:02

Yeah, it's cool. Yeah. Because. Because John Pertwee went on for years, carry on doing. Carrying on, doing conventions after his role had ended, his era. So they.

Presumably they just were mates.

Adam: 00:08:14

Yeah.

Garry: 00:08:14

On the convention scene, I guess. But yeah, it's a lovely little moment and I gave a little. A little clap.

Adam: 00:08:19

So.

Garry: 00:08:20

March: 1979

It was written by Roger Parkes. I believe this is his first. Yeah, Blake's 7 script. I believe it was directed by George Spenton-Foster, overseen by script editor Chris Boucher.

And the synopsis is from the old VHS tape. Ex arbiter General Van Glind has information which could put Servalin away forever. All he has to do is gain Blake's trust and confront the Council.

Blake is euphoric. A new era of peace is dawning at last. But Avon smells a rat. Just why is Blake behaving so oddly? Question mark.

So another pretty decent synopsis there. That explains the setup for the story there. So, mate, as usual, over to you first. What were your thoughts when you settled in?

But I'm gonna go one of two ways.

Depending on what time of day you watch this, you either got a cup of tea, settle down, or you had a glass of wine or a beer or something if it was in the evening. So as you settle down with your drink of choice, did it all come flooding back, mate, as you started watching this?

Adam: 00:09:37

I think this one required a large brandy, mate, I think. But I watched it in the afternoon, so it was a cup of tea still.

Garry: 00:09:46

But, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Adam: 00:09:47

Silver, Brandon.

So after two absolutely cracking episodes with Hostage and Countdown, yeah, I've been slightly, slightly dreading getting to voice from the past because it's not an episode I rewatch very often. And in the back of my mind I remember it being terrible.

I kept thinking, oh, no, this is a really bad episode coming up and we've had two really good ones. And I thought, oh, this is. Don't know what Garry's going to make of this. So I haven't watched this one for quite some time.

And so rewatching it obviously was interesting because I'm going into it with this thought that it's really bad and it's. It's certainly not great. I think it's possibly one of the weakest episodes of series B. But you know what?

For the first probably 20 minutes, I was sat there thinking, this isn't. This isn't too bad, actually, maybe I've given this episode a bad rep because I'm. I'm actually quite enjoying all this.

You know, the stuff with Blake. And there's a moment, mate, there's always a moment where I wish I was in the room with you.

And it's the bit where Avon gives Blake a good old karate chop when He's. Oh, I bet Garry was cracking up at that. But not just one, but two. You know, one wasn't enough.

He has to give him two karate chops to snap him out of it. So I was actually surprised how much I was enjoying this. And then, yeah, it just seems to pitter out.

And then the ending, it just wraps up so quick that, you know, even though I know what happens this episode, even. Even I was sat there thinking, God, is that it? Oh, it's over. It just. It almost feels like part one of a two part story.

Because there's some good build up in this. As I said, I think it's better than my memory gave it credit for, I think. If you ask me. What do I think of when I.

When you say voice from the Past, I think of two things. I think of a terrible planet effect, which to this day, I just can't quite work out what it's meant to be.

When Blake first teleports onto the rock or whatever is just, even by Blake's 7 standards, is just unbelievably bad. And I think of Siobhan, obviously, and the big reveal, if you like.

And I'm pretty sure even the first time I watched this, I knew straight away who was under that mask. So it's always been episode. I just. Yeah, if you, you know, if you mention the title, I think, oh, yeah, those two things pop into my.

Yeah, that's not a good one. That's not a good episode. But there is some good stuff in it, I feel. Actually, it just.

For me, I think the first half is very intriguing and I love the setup and I like the fact that it calls back to, you know, the very first episode with Blake and his trial. And it's nice to have some of that come back into the sort. Ethos of the Blake seven story.

So there's a nice bit of continuity there and a few recurring characters come back, although played by different actors. So, yeah, there's. There's more to it than I perhaps was giving it credit. I just felt like it really fizzled out at the end.

It felt like it was building to something good. And Brian Croucher, we just both started to sort of say how much we were appreciating him, you know, as Travis. I think he's pretty bad in this.

And I don't know if it's down to the direction or the fact that Brian is, you know, is on record as saying he thought the script was terrible and just wanted to get this one done and out the way and couldn't be bothered. I don't know. But it's just the whole accent thing, it just is cringe. The Shivan part of it and it's so obvious it's him. I don't know.

There's a few things I can't quite get. Get past with this one, but it's not as bad as I thought, but certainly ain't great.

So it's a very much like a few episodes of Blake's 7, I think it's one that isn't very good, but there are still a lot to enjoy in it. I still found it perfectly watchable, so. Wasn't quite as awful as I thought it was In. In all honesty, but your very first time seeing it, obviously.

What do you think of it?

Garry: 00:14:02

It's. It's okay. We. We certainly have not kept the train going.

Adam: 00:14:07

No, no, definitely not. A wheel or two has come off.

Garry: 00:14:11

Yeah, The. I don't think the tracks have been laid fast enough in front of the train and now it's. Yeah, it's derailed a little bit. In terms of scores. It's not.

It's okay. It's. It's not terrible. It's. It's an okay watch. The. The main thing that.

The main thought in my head after the episode had finished was I was a little bit bored in that one. A little bit bored. Which is such a contrast to last week because I was glued every second. Oh yeah. Every scene, everything.

I was just immersed and completely glued to it. This one, yeah. About 15 minutes in, I would say 10 to 15 minutes in, I started to drift off a little bit. Yeah. It.

I didn't come away from it thinking, well, that's one I'm never going to watch again because I will watch when I go through a re. Watch. I won't skip it. I'll still watch it. It wasn't terrible, but. Yeah, just didn't. I think it's. It that's always a risk, isn't it?

Where at the time when you're making the show you don't, you know, you haven't got a crystal ball. You can't foresee. Even though you've probably got a bit of a feeling around, you know, if you feel like, you know, either as a.

As a director or an actor, sometimes you get just a feeling about a script and a story, I guess, which is evident with Brian Crouch's comment, as you noted a second ago when he was interviewed and said he didn't like the script and just wanted it done so. But still, you know, as people putting out the show, you can't foresee in years and decades to come how this would be perceived overall. Too much.

But it does suffer for being from following such a hugely enjoyable and popular episode before it, you know, so if you were doing a bit of a binge watch and you were watching through series B, like in one or two sittings over a weekend or something, you would. You were definitely coming downhill on the roller coaster.

Adam: 00:16:21

Yeah.

Garry: 00:16:22

On this one, if that makes sense. So, yeah, not terrible, but, yeah, not. Not serious. B's finest hour.

Adam: 00:16:30

The thing I think is a shame about it is I felt like. I felt like it was going somewhere and then it's almost just like a reset at the end, isn't it?

As soon as Avon breaks the mind, whatever it is, the box, it's kind of like Blake even says it, doesn't he? What are we doing? We've got this to do. We've got that today. So it feels, for want of a better word, filler.

Because it's kind of like, all right, that's over with. I'm fine, Everything's good. Let's get back on with finding Star One. And I was kind of like, so what was the point of this episode?

Because there was some nice build up with, like, serverland, you know, bringing in, getting old Glyn. What's her name? The Grand Le grand, whatever her name is.

Garry: 00:17:12

Yeah.

Adam: 00:17:12

Getting her in and tricking her and. And Vin Glynn Legrand, isn't it? Sorry? The Ground Legrand. Yeah, yeah, getting it. No, it's all of that stuff.

All the treachery and, you know, people backstabbing each other. Who can we trust? Who can't we trust? Who's Shivan? Is it really him?

As I said, it feels like some good stuff, some good little plot points being thrown out there, but it just gets wrapped up so quick and reset and that I think, yeah, when the credits rolled, I was a bit like, so what was the point of that? Like, you know, we just. Yeah, it. It just felt a bit filler, which is a shame, I think.

I just want to quickly ask you, mate, while I remember as well, because I said, I'm pretty sure even when I first watched this, I'm pretty sure I guessed that was spoilers listener Travis under that mask. And maybe it's just because they've given him one eye. So you immediately think, is that Travis under there?

Because obviously he's got one eye, even though they've put the eye where the patch would be. But anyway. But yeah, did you guess, mate? Because I'm Pretty sure I remember. You know, I realized that was him straight away.

Even with the ridiculous accent, I don't even know what it's meant to be. Brother, so good to see you again. You know, it's like, it's Travis, but did you guess mate or not? Or were you.

How far did you get into the episode before you were like, hang on a minute.

Trailer: 00:18:33

It.

Garry: 00:18:34

I must confess to really my. My Travis radar being faulty in this one, I think, because I had no clue until the reveal towards the end. I had no.

Adam: 00:18:46

I actually kind of like that, though. I like that you didn't guess. So were you. Were you like, oh, did you know, Was your jaw on the floor? Did you drop your whiskey or your pint or your.

Oh, oh, no, Travis, I actually do love the fact you didn't guess. I kind of wish I hadn't because maybe that would have added something to it. But that's really cool.

What was your feelings then when you saw Travis rip that mask off? Were you like, oh, here we go?

Garry: 00:19:14

Well, yeah, exactly. That was. Those were the words that came out of my mouth out loud while watching it. I was like, oh, here we go. I think I said out loud.

Hell, here we go. It's going to get tasty now.

Adam: 00:19:26

Yeah.

Garry: 00:19:27

And it didn't disappoint from that. So it's weird because from that point onwards, you. Your. Your brain is trying to fill in the gaps a little bit.

Because in my head, I was thinking the last time that Travis and Serval and were together, they weren't exactly on the best terms. So now I'm thinking if they. They must have.

They must have planned this out and had a chat and had a drink somewhere between, you know, when we last saw them at the end of trial. Fast forward to now. And I think even one of the. One of the characters actually says, oh, you're. You and Servalan are working together again.

Who says that? Somebody.

Adam: 00:20:14

Yeah, somebody does say something like that.

Garry: 00:20:16

Yeah. And as a viewer, you're like, yeah, they must be. Must be in cahoots again.

And you think, okay, the opportunity is there to potentially end this episode on a bit of a cliffhanger, as in Travis has taken Blake hostage and now it's a case of Serverland coming to collect Blake or Travis going off to deliver Blake in some way. But no, there's like a tiny little scuffle with the teleportation bracelets and then they. They bugger off.

And then Travis is trying to move the MDF filing cabinet. That probably weighs, you know much as a packet of biscuits, but he's doing a very good job of acting like it's extremely heavy. And.

And then, like you said, we get to. Sorry, listener. We're just skipping to the end here pretty quick, but we get to the end and it's like the. Like the famous.

Is it junior moment in Dallas or Dynasty or something where it was all a dream. You know, it's that kind of big reset button. It's like, oh, because Blake comes out of it. He snaps out of it when.

And this is the other thing that drove me mad, I must admit. This did drive me mad. Is the device that. Is it Glynd Vinland? Yeah, he's got the. He's carrying the briefcase and it's got the.

The sort of mind control device in the briefcase. Yeah, you know that big black perspective again. They love an acrylic box.

Adam: 00:21:51

Oh, yes.

Garry: 00:21:52

This one's not see through, but it is. So he's. He's got that.

And in the end, the only way to sort of break the projected mind control, this kind of signal, they just lobbed it on the floor. Yeah. And broke it. It's like, why don't you just do that right away? Like, as soon as you saw that, that.

Because the guy was pretty open about it, he's like, yeah, cool. Yeah, this is the thing that we use to manipulate Blake into. Into getting him here. And this is exactly the device that we used. It's right here. So.

And then he says, yeah, you might as well leave it turned on, actually. It's just that kind of, like off the cuff sort of comment. It's like, yeah, we might as well just leave this turned on. I mean, it's done.

Blake's done all right so far with this on, so let's leave it on. And then there's this kind of thing where Avon's fiddling with it.

He's like, I don't know, just as soon as you get it, just launch the bloody thing at the wall and then, you know, on you go. So that.

That drove me mad a little bit because I think sometimes they're very quick, the writers are quite quick to have Avon because he's such a tech, you know, a tech and computer wizard and everything. They want him fiddling with bolts and cables and wires and stuff. Sometimes you've just got to launch stuff at the wall, you know. Yeah, that's.

That's the crux of it. But. But yeah, that was the. The ending. You're absolutely right, mate. It was kind of weird that they that, that Gareth Thomas is like, ah,.

Adam: 00:23:32

Well, we all doing standing around. He doesn't even remember it, does he?

Garry: 00:23:35

No, he doesn't like the viewer.

Adam: 00:23:37

He's like, what we all doing standing around.

Garry: 00:23:39

Yeah, because that was weird as well. You'd think that.

Because I think early on in the episode, Cali goes into a little bit of detail about this kind of oscillation, sort of sound wave that's, that's supposedly been planted in Blake's head way back when he was being sort of tortured mentally by the Federation. It's like a link there.

So she explains that, but the way that she's explained it would mean that he would remember things because he's kind of drifting in and out of this, this zombie like state, but apparently not. Apparently he doesn't remember anything, which is, which is weird. And the closing line from Avon's just solid gold. That was.

Adam: 00:24:21

It is good.

Garry: 00:24:22

He's like, I can report that Blake is now back to normal,.

Adam: 00:24:28

I'm sad to say.

Garry: 00:24:30

Sad to say, yeah. Sorry to say sorry. That's it. Yeah, I'm sorry to say, or I'm sorry to report that Blake is back to his old self or something.

It's, it's a solid gold line and.

Adam: 00:24:40

It's just, it just about saves it, really, doesn't it?

Garry: 00:24:42

It's a classic Avon. And yeah, Avon has another little dig, doesn't he, earlier on?

Because Blake, you know, throws his toys out the pram because he's changed the direction. They were first heading towards Del 10. And then. Oh yeah, because of the mine.

Adam: 00:25:02

Bill has been really looking forward to Deltan, hasn't he? His reaction is wonderful. Yeah. So disappointed.

Garry: 00:25:09

Yeah. So now the destination is asteroid PK118. And they're all confused. They're like, what is this place?

Why is Blake set this as the destination, et cetera? And because they all question, they confront him and he's like, I'm the commander of this, you know.

And Jenna's like, you lead, but we don't take commands from you. And then he wanders off, he just storms past him. He's like, he says something like, would it be too much to ask to just trust me or something?

And Avon straight in. He's like, even.

Adam: 00:25:47

By Blake standards or something, he says, doesn't he?

Garry: 00:25:50

Yeah, yeah, he's used a number of ploys to get his own way, but just try trusting me. That's weak. Great line for Avon.

So, yeah, even Avon is still going down this, this route of confusion as to why, even after Blake's been really beep with them and Jenna's like, yeah, you know, we should still help. And Avon's like, you know, he says something like, you know, your, you know, blind willingness to follow Blake still is questionable or something.

And yeah, he's absolutely right.

So even though they have no clue still why Blake has changed destination, what his mind's up to, all this stuff, they still just follow, you know, they still just, you know, Jenna especially because based on a couple of episodes ago, she's obviously got a bit of a soft spot, a bit of a thing, right, for, for Blake. You remember that at the end of Hostage which he has the right royal hump with him.

So yeah, I think there's, I think there's more than one reason, let's put it that way, why, why Jenna is keen to, to follow Blake blindly into, into these missions. But yeah, some wonderful.

That one thing, what's one thing I will say sort of dotted here and there throughout the episode, there was some, some quality little lines and some really cool little interactions.

Adam: 00:27:25

Yeah, I think that's the good thing with Blake, mate, is as I said, even in a below par episode, there is always some good one liners in it. Enough to make it enjoyable. But yeah, I mean if we were to believe Blake, Avon and Cali have been.

Yeah, but I mean that's quite a nice moment, isn't it, between Villa and Blake. I like that little scene where Blake is tricks Villa very easily. I mean, Avon, you've done it again. Why would you leave Villa to guard Blake?

Come on, man. But it does lead to once again a really fun scene does that where Blake's like convincing Villa.

Oh yes, it's been going on for some time, haven't you noticed?

And you know, convinces, convinces him that, you know, they're trying to bring his downfall and to, you know, convince his Villa to untie him and all that. So I like that little scene. There is some nice little character moments in it. And one of the things that we've criticized series B4 is the fan.

You know, the Callie and Jenna don't get much to do. They get some stuff to do in this more than some episodes. You know, like the whole thing with Cali working out that Blake's being controlled is nice.

And Jenna gets to be put under hypnosis or whatever, gets to be sort of plugged into Blake's brain with Orac as a sort of go between.

So they, you know, everyone gets some good little moments in this but it just, yeah, just sadly not enough to make It a great or good episode, but yeah. I do like that bit, though, where Blake's convincing Villa to let him go. I thought, oh, you still got your head in your hands. Not.

No, come on, Not Villa.

Garry: 00:29:07

Yeah, that's. He's an easy target, isn't he? He is easy to manipulate because he's in one half of him. He's just constantly wants.

Just a lie down, you know, he just wants to relax for a bit. He's fed up with. With these crazy missions and all that. He just wants a bit of time off.

That's all he wants is just to go and have a few beers somewhere, take it easy for a couple of days or a week. And he never gets it. He's always being dragged, you know, to be teleported down somewhere or get stuck in.

And then the other half of him, he just wants an easy life on the Liberator, you know, he doesn't. He doesn't want to. Every time they approach some kind of potential danger, he's like, are we sure?

He's kind of got that, are we sure about this, people? Because we've been down this road before.

Adam: 00:30:00

And every time he's promised that they're going to go to a planet that's like paradise, it always. They never end up getting there. Poor old Villa. Although he did manage to sneak down, didn't he, in one episode. That was funny.

He's like, oh, some of the sights I'm seeing down here. He did get to sneak off at one point, but he very rarely does he get to go to these planets. That. Although that might change.

I've just remembered something coming up. Hold that thought. Oh, no change. No. Say nothing more.

Garry: 00:30:28

That might change.

Adam: 00:30:29

He might get a bit of paradise.

Garry: 00:30:32

Okay.

Adam: 00:30:32

Whether it'll work out or not, though, we'll have to wait and see.

Garry: 00:30:35

Yes. Yeah, it's. Yeah, he's. Bless him, Villa, he's. He's easy to manipulate. Because we had this problem, didn't we, in the episode. Was it hostage? Yeah.

Where he. He's meant to be lookout. He falls asleep then. And then he gets accosted by Blake's uncle.

Adam: 00:30:55

Yeah, uncle, yeah, yeah.

Garry: 00:30:57

And he's meant to keep his. Keep his mouth stuck shut, keep it stum and literally within seconds, he just spilled the beans on everything. And so.

Adam: 00:31:07

He's a lovely character, isn't he? Such a great char.

Garry: 00:31:12

He is. He's just got that lovely sort of happy go lucky.

Adam: 00:31:16

And don't forget last week when he was given directions for the corridors. There's only about Three of them that he had to remember. And he's literally. Susie walked out the room. He said them backwards, didn't he? Turn left.

Right, I got it. It just brilliantly played by Michael Keaton, as well, as I've often said, even if he only gets one or two lines, they.

They are so memorable because of the way he delivers them that he really makes the most of. You know, sometimes very little that he's given. Michael Keaton.

Garry: 00:31:43

Yeah, he's great. Yeah, yeah, very cool. It's. I just laugh. I just. Every time I'm talking to anyone about this, and.

And Villa comes up, it's just smile on your face, and he's just so likable. But, yeah, you can see why.

It was very easy for Blake to spin a little yarn there about all the things that the crew are supposedly getting up to and, you know, and all that lot. And he falls for it, like, immediately. He's like, yeah, cool. All right.

Adam: 00:32:11

He's like, yeah, it makes sense.

Garry: 00:32:13

Yeah, yeah. He's like, you know what, Blake? You're absolutely right on this, mate. Yeah, yeah, you're right. Okay, let's do it. Right. What we up to?

And then, yeah, he's gone.

Adam: 00:32:21

So what do you think of Gareth's performance there? Because I like it. He sort of does an almost. He's almost sinister, I feel. Yeah. Slightly different edge to. To Blake.

I mean, I guess he's, you know, supposed to be under this hypnotic. Whatever it is, but, yeah, it's a nice little, very subtle change in performance, isn't it, to let the viewer know that he's lying.

But somehow Villa doesn't pick up on it, you know, but it's a nice. I think it's good. Nice little performance in Gareth Thomas in that scene.

Garry: 00:32:51

Yeah, that scene. Yeah, it was good because he. As you said, he has this. Yeah, this kind of sinister look about him. His voice has changed a little bit.

You know, just the way that he normally carries himself. And I'm not talking about just because he's strapped to the. To the chair, but just the way he's coming across.

Like, he's almost sort of dropped his eyebrows a bit, and he's lowered his voice a little bit.

Adam: 00:33:16

He almost looks like Davros when he's. You know, when he's pushed in and he's got that sort of circle on his head reminded me of Davros.

Garry: 00:33:23

Yeah, he's got that. Yeah, he does play it subtly different, but it's enough for you to. To look at it and think something's not right with Blake here.

This is not Blake Blake. This is mind control Blake. Yeah. And then what else is weird is that. Sorry, not what else, but the other thing that I noticed, it was weird.

Just about the way that Gareth Thomas plays Blake after that point though, right up until the end before he snaps out of it, is that he is kind of back to normal Blake though, if that makes sense.

Like when he's, when he teleports down and he's walking about and bumps into, into the, into the rebels, he's like, he's talking in a way that he doesn't act as if he's undermined control and always acting sinister in any way. It's like he's gone back to like good old normal. So shall we say a little bit easily sold?

Adam: 00:34:28

Yeah.

Garry: 00:34:29

Into like, you know, into somebody, you know, somebody could, could sell him, you know, a bucket of ice off the back of a van, you know, really easily and he'd pay £100. He's like, he's like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's. Yeah.

We've, we've teamed up with these, with these other rebels that we've never heard of and we're going to save today in one. You know, we've, we've fought the Federation for, for ages now.

We've made these big strikes on this and even though we turned up a control and it was empty, don't worry about that. Like, we've done all these other cool stuff, but these guys over here, they're the key, they're the answer.

And the way that we're going to do it is in this big showdown event where we're going to produce this kind of very thin, iffy evidence against Serverland. And based on all that, we're going to save the day and everything's going to be rosy.

Adam: 00:35:23

Yeah.

Garry: 00:35:23

And you think as the viewer, you're like, are you serious, mate?

Adam: 00:35:27

And I don't get, I don't get Serverland's plan or Travis's.

I don't really know what it is they were going to achieve because yes, they lure them to, you know, the Wembley Conference center and she makes this video to, to play them, which is just so elaborate and ridiculous. But I've always loved that scene. But what's the plan?

Garry: 00:35:49

Sorry, sorry to interject that Brit was brilliant. You know where they've got that pre recorded message of Serverland up on the big screen?

Adam: 00:35:56

Yeah.

Garry: 00:35:57

And she looks down as if she's looking live through the screen at the guards down on the bottom, right. And then she Looks down bottom left and the spotlight goes on the other Federation troops. It's like, no, no, no. This is a pre recorded message.

Like, what are you looking at? Like you don't know that those troops are down there in the Wembley Conference Center. Anyway, sorry.

Adam: 00:36:21

Yeah, that's what I mean. But she's. So she's gone to all this to lure LeGrand there and, and Glynn and Blake and you got.

Travis has managed to get himself on the Liberator deck. So they've got it all in place and then what? They don't do anything.

I mean, yes, they shoot LeGrand but they don't even attempt to like go after Shoe Blake really. I mean she would have had that place packed with Federation troopers if she really wanted to finish them off. Travis, as soon as he gets.

Reveals himself, asked to be teleported off the Liberator when surely he would stay there and take over it. Like, I just don't understand what the plan was.

Why does Travis teleport down just to have a ruckus with Blake when he could have easily taken over the Liberator once he was on there? What Serverland doing? You know, just shooting legrand with two Federation cards, you know, and letting Blake go free. It just.

The ending just doesn't really make sense to me at all. It feels like a big build up to nothing really.

Garry: 00:37:22

Yeah, a little bit. I, I thought that the plan was to. For Travis to capture Blake and whoever else might be with him from the Liberator and hand.

Hand him over to server land. Yeah, that's what I.

Adam: 00:37:42

He could have done that. He could have killed Blake on the Liberator and sent her a corpse. You know, I don't know. I know that we can't do these.

You know, there has to be for story convenience. You know, we can't sort of make it too easy. But it just. The whole plan just doesn't seem very well thought.

It feels very elaborate but not very thought out if you know.

Garry: 00:38:04

Yeah.

And it also felt like the Federation and the Federation troops that were at the Wembley Conference center weren't aware of Serval and Travis's of those two being sort of teamed up on this because.

Adam: 00:38:20

Yeah, that's true. Yeah.

Garry: 00:38:22

At the end when they break into the office where they think Blake is and so on, they see Travis, they. It looks like they sort of surround him and the look on his face is like, oh crap.

So I'm not sure if they've now captured Travis because if you think about it from the Federation's point Of view, Travis is a wanted man.

Adam: 00:38:44

Yeah.

Garry: 00:38:44

So unbeknownst to all the Federation troopers who were there, as far as they're concerned, they've now captured, you know, Blake's got away, but they have captured this other criminal, Travis, because I don't think Serverland has made it public knowledge that she's working with him behind the scenes.

Adam: 00:39:00

Yes.

Garry: 00:39:00

But yeah, so that's. That was kind of weird as well, because he's like, yeah, there was a big build up and we get the ring finger firing little crystal ring thing.

So that all that all kicked off and we thought it was gonna go. And there was that tense build up where Jenna's trying to get the bracelet back on Blake and he's a stubborn sod and all that.

And then, yeah, just ends with Blake being like, what you're standing around for? Like, I don't pay you to stand around.

Adam: 00:39:32

Did Certain know that. That Travis was Siobhan? Yes, she did. So that. So they are sort of working together on this. Whatever is going on here, this plan. Because I keep.

I meant to. I always mean to look for this and always forget when Siobhan is sprawled out on the Liberator sofa and he's got the box.

You know, there's that bit where I mean, I think Brian Crouch has just decided to have a bit of a sleep. But he's like sort of saying, you know that. But he sort of slouched down in the chair and he produces the box.

He obviously can't see what he's doing because he's. I don't know. But I always mean to look to. To see what the other hand is. He just got two normal hands in that. Does he put a.

Is he supposed to have got a glove on top of a glove? Like, where's the. Where's the ring gun that he wears? You know, it's just. Is he taking it off and put. Because that's a fake hand, isn't it?

So it's full of wires. It's like Luke Skywalker's hand in Empire, isn't it? It's supposed to be like a fake arm. So I always just mean to look to see.

What if he's just wearing two normal gloves or what? I know, it's the silly thing. I just always mean to sort of see if there's any sort of hint there that it's Travis.

Because I'm pretty sure he hasn't got that gun ring on in those scenes.

Garry: 00:40:45

No, I don't think so. I think one of his hands is all Bandaged up. Right.

Adam: 00:40:48

Is it okay? Yeah, I've kind of. Yeah, I forgot to look.

Garry: 00:40:53

Really? Oh, yeah. Talking of serverland, dude, she only has a small part in this. Yeah. Because in.

I'm not saying that she has to have a big part, of course, but it's down to the writers. But in previous episodes, whenever there's been a Serverland and a Serverland and Travis episode, they are in it a lot more. I know the thing with.

I'm not really talking about Travis here because he was undercover and quite literally. Yeah. So you know, his. He. They're relying on that character to be like the big reveal, the twist, you know, part way through the story.

But serverland, she. She takes a phone call about halfway through the episode and she's talking to. Is it LeGrand?

Trailer: 00:41:43

Yeah.

Garry: 00:41:43

Yes. You know, and they're having this very like she's done with a couple of people before.

Had this very sort of grinning through gritted teeth, can't really stand you, but I'm gonna smile anyway and play polite, you know, that kind of conversation. And then that's it. And then she's in that big pre recorded message at the Wembley Conference Center. And that's it.

Adam: 00:42:05

Yeah. Very easy day on set for. For Jacqueline. I feel she's hardly in it. She does come out of a very strange line in that scene.

I don't know if you know why she says it. It just goes over my head. She says, behold, the mutants shall wither.

Garry: 00:42:22

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. She asks for that to be broadcast. Right on.

Adam: 00:42:27

Yeah.

Garry: 00:42:27

One of the channels, I think. I don't know.

Adam: 00:42:32

This is such a random. I thought if I missed something here.

Garry: 00:42:35

I don't know, maybe it was a way. Maybe it was. I'm not talking about the, the. The broadcast being encoded. I'm not talking about that. But maybe it was code for something else.

Adam: 00:42:48

It could be.

Trailer: 00:42:48

Yeah.

Garry: 00:42:49

Maybe that message was meant for. Because actually doesn't it cut to the Liberator or somewhere? And they are. And they say, let's scan for open communication channels.

Am I making that up?

Adam: 00:43:03

No, I think you might be right. Yeah, I think you might.

Garry: 00:43:06

Yeah.

So I think that even though to us, the viewer, it was a cryptic thing, maybe there was like a code phrase or a code word in there intended for somebody. We've probably got a listener or two absolutely yelling full pelt at their headphones or the car speaker, whatever being, you pair of idiots.

It was this bit, wasn't it, in the story? What are you talking about? So, yeah, our memories are terrible, but.

Adam: 00:43:31

That's why I mentioned it.

Maybe I zoned out a little bit because as much as I love Serverland and any scene she's in, I. I think it was around about this point I was starting to get a little bit, you know, like you a little bit bored and thinking the story moves on a little bit now, which is unusual because normally when Serverland comes up on screen, I'm like, oh, here she is. You know, I'm excited to see it. But, yeah, it's a bit flat, wasn't it, around that point?

Garry: 00:43:57

Yeah, the episode did have the potential as well to, to, to be more grander than what it was as well, because there were, there were a few times where they, they mentioned stuff that, you know, backfilled some of the history for Blake and. And some other bits.

So, as I mentioned earlier, listener, if you've jumped into Blake's 7 in, in at the beginning of series B or you're part way through this episode refers to a few things that happened in the very first episode of Blake's 7 back in series A, the way back.

And so Blake mentions it a couple of times, doesn't he, where he, he, he, he, he mentions the events of his trial, you know, that fast trial that happened in the Way Back. And then obviously Glynd, is it played by Richard Bebb.

Yeah, he then was like, yeah, we knew it was a farce, but I couldn't do anything about it because I was undercover, you know, and that was just before I defected over to, you know, to be a rebel sort of thing.

And so we get some mention of that and then the, the conditioning, the mental conditioning and mental torture that Blake went through, you know, at some point. And then it also mentions a little bit of Blake's 7 in to the Future, which I obviously haven't seen yet.

But Blake's going on about, you know, it's all been talk up to now, Control this and that, Star One and all that stuff. And so that's something that sort of made your ears prick up and you're like, oh, this is pretty cool.

They're talking about, you know, bits that we've come before.

Obviously something that's going to come up, because I think you said to me back when we reviewed Countdown, you said, mate, just keep that in your head for now, Star One. I think you even asked me what I thought it was. So because you said that, any mention of it now, I'm like, oh, what's that? What's that?

So Blake mentioned. So from that respect, it kind of.

It has the potential to join the Dots between a couple of, you know, some cool things across Blake's timeline, but then doesn't immediately after it tries to do that.

Adam: 00:46:13

Yeah, it's frustrating, isn't it? Because I think potential is the right word there, mate. That's the whole thing.

I kept thinking during this episode was a lot of potential here, but going nowhere.

Garry: 00:46:23

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. That. It's. It's.

It's one of those things, isn't it, where when you're really into a show like we are with Blake at this point point, and we're loving it, you know, and it's great to talk about it and review it, you're so desperate to just keep the train going, and you want every episode to be an absolute banger.

So when you get to episodes like this one, where you think there's some really good stuff in here, some great ideas, some wonderful little moments between characters and so on, then you finish it and you're like, what was. What was that? You know? So, yeah, it. Potential is the right word. It had the potential to be a much grander, more interesting story.

Adam: 00:47:05

And. Yeah, and it's got an interest in. I like it.

There's a lot of interesting concepts in, I think, as well, you know, this whole thing of being controlled and it tapping back into Blake's guilt and convincing him that his memories were true or weren't true, depending on how you look at it. I think that's nice. I like the fact it ties into, you know, the original storyline with Blake of him being controlled. So that's all good.

They try and do this weird thing where they're trying to trick the viewer into thinking that gold pendant that Siobhan is wearing is the control. But they kind of throw that away pretty quick, don't they? Pretty almost straight away.

They sort of, like you said, allure to the fact, actually it's the box. But you still sort of thinking, is it the box or is it the pendant? So they try something there, and again, it kind of doesn't really work.

Orack says the box is in control in Blake, doesn't he? Like, Orac examines it and I can't remember.

Like you, I was confused why Avon didn't destroy the blocks, the box, sooner, you know, because he spoke to Warak about it. So again, I just thought, like, you would just break the box. What do you think's gonna happen?

Like, you know, or teleport it into space, you know, I'm surprised that Jenna didn't teleport Travis into space like she did with that other guy. She could have got rid of Travis like that, you know, but no, she teleports him down to where Blake is again. Another thing doesn't really make sense.

So, yeah, some nice concepts, but I think, yeah, a lot of wasted potential. And I did just mention Aurak there. I love Orac, mate. I am really surprised how little he's been in this series.

I mean, yes, I've watched these episodes countless times, but I often sort of cherry pick and go back, you know, because I've watched them from the beginning, you know, a few times. I often now, over the years will cherry pick certain episodes that I love or ever feel like watching.

So I don't always watch them in order, in other words, so, you know, my memory of it is slightly hazy in terms of that. And I saw Alrak was in this series a lot more than he is. He's hardly been in it, but he was nice.

So it's nice to see him pop up and have a little moment with Avon. I did. I did appreciate that little scene. He definitely becomes a more prominent character. Orac. I'm just shocked how little he's been in this series.

Re watching it.

Garry: 00:49:25

Yeah, I remember you saying actually a couple of eps ago that you're like, just reassurance, bud. Orac is in it a lot more moving forward. But it was nice to. To have some more Orac in this one, though. It's those.

Those conversations between Orac and. I know it's Avon and Cali, but Kali's got the more kind of human approach to it. Whereas Avon still, you know, he still treats Ava Orac as a.

Literally just what he is, just a machine. You know, he's got very little patience for his little ambiguous answers and stuff like that. And.

But it was nice for them to all those three to be in sort of detective mode, you know, while Blake is out on the flight deck, you know, playing nice with those guys and. And coming up with the plan and doing all that stuff. Avon and. And Cali are like, nah, something smells fishy.

Adam: 00:50:25

Yeah.

Garry: 00:50:26

With all this, we're gonna. We're gonna find out what's going on. So that was actually a bit of a cool kind of 60s Batman moment, you know, where you've got the.

The crime detecting machine doing its thing and you've got Batman and Robin figuring out the clues and stuff. So that was cool.

Adam: 00:50:41

Yes, I did like that part of it, actually. And I think Avon and Callie are great together. I don't believe they're a couple like Blake says, but I do think they work really well together.

I think Callie's a really interesting character actually. I really wish, you know, I really like it when she gets utilized. I wish I'd use a. A bit more. Really, mate.

I mentioned that some of the special effects at the start of this because as I said, I think this features one of the worst effects in Blake's 7, which is when Blake transports the rock. I don't quite know what that. I think it might be a. They used to paint on glass, didn't they? And have the actor walk in front of it.

So you know the scene. I mean, right. It's kind of crazy. They've like gone crazy. It's as if some. This is.

They've got some sort of 10 year old kid to draw, you know, a planet. It's. It's mad. And then there's another shot where Blake stands by this sort of metal pole.

I can't imagine, even back in: 1979

So that does bring me on to the new effects which we do talk about, you know, on the podcast and you. I mean, they couldn't really got it any worse in terms of. There's no way it could be worse than the old effects.

They've done a lovely job once again updating, updating this. Now there is a. An original model shot of a spaceship landing on some sort of docking bay which seems to go on forever, doesn't it?

Like, I felt like, is the episode under running?

Because we see it coming slowly down and then it's a close up shot of it coming slowly down that lands on a ramp and we see it coming slowly down, like, oh my goodness me. Like what. Why does this need to be. We get it. A spaceship's landing. So they've obviously updated that very nicely in the. With the new effects. The.

On the plus side, on the original effects, this does feature some lovely Liberator shots. So it's got some of the worst effects in Blake's 7, but it does feature some stock Liberator shots which the originals to me still look fantastic.

It's shots that they've used, you know, in other episodes. But they're beautiful model shots. They've obviously updated them and they've done a great job.

There's a, there's a nice shot of Blake on when he's teleported onto the rock and they've put the sort of Liberator behind him. But it looks quite big. At first I was a little. Found it jarring. I was like, hang on a minute, because how big.

We don't know how big the Liberator is, do we? So I'm trying to work out how they got the scale right for that shot, but it. Yeah, the more I looked at it, the more I really liked it.

I thought, that's a nice updated shot and as I said, a million times better than whatever that original shot was. So, yeah, once again, hats off to the team for the updated effects. They've done a very nice job on this one. I think this needed it.

This has got some terrible effects in it, unfortunately. Yeah. So they've done a. They've done a nice job just, I would say, adding in some effects that really. Yeah. Work well.

They don't stand out as looking too new, you know, they haven't done anything too bold with it. So, yeah, it's nice. Nice new effects on this one. I am hoping you watch the original just to see the bad effects.

Garry: 00:54:08

I did, yeah. Yeah.

Adam: 00:54:09

What did you think when you saw that planet? Were you like, what the.

Garry: 00:54:13

Yep. I was like, what the bloody hell is this?

Adam: 00:54:16

I mean, I almost gone mad with the crayon.

Garry: 00:54:18

Yeah. I know they didn't have the biggest budget on the show and. And that kind of thing, but that was a. That was a poor one.

And then when Blake has landed and he's walking across what looks like some kind of metal coat hanger or structure. Yeah. Or something. It's. I couldn't. My brain couldn't grok what was. What I was seeing. It was what. What is he walking through or past in this bit?

It's kind of weird. And then. Yeah. When I went back and watched the newer effects, it's. Yeah.

Because earlier on in the episode, there's about three or four slightly more than usual actually establishing shots of the Liberator just sort of in orbit and drifting through space and stuff. And they weren't too bad. The original models, they were. I think they were shots that have just been reused from previous episodes. You could tell.

Yeah, but they weren't too bad. But, yeah, that planet, you know, when they land on the asteroid. So the new effects were actually really cool. There was. There was the.

The replacement shot as well, when Avon and Jenna are looking out of the window.

Adam: 00:55:20

Oh, yes. Yeah.

Garry: 00:55:21

And they look down on it. That's been redone. So that was a nice touch. But there was, as spoke about. I think it was last week or the week before in whatever episode.

And I mentioned, much to your anger and disappointment, that I'd interviewed Chris Thompson already for the bonus episode. He's going to go out at the end of this series.

We actually speak about one of the shots in this episode in a bit of detail and it's the one where it's like a sunset and like you said, the ship that's coming down onto the landing pad and it's taken a while. So we dive into that shot a little bit and he breaks down how that was made, the new one, the new version of it and stuff.

And there's one, there's one element in that new visual effects shot which was. Surprised me a lot. I won't give anything away, but one element of that whole visual effects shot was mind bendingly simple.

Adam: 00:56:21

Okay.

Garry: 00:56:23

So you'll have to listen to that bonus app after that. We've, we've reviewed everything to find out. But yeah, the more, more so than ever were the, the effects needed.

Actually, no, let me rephrase that because regardless of how poor we might think the original effects are and, and all that stuff, it's still beautiful. Lovely old Blake's 7 classic British sci fi, right?

Adam: 00:56:50

Yeah. I mean, anyone that's been listening to this podcast for a while or no, I'm always an advocate for the original effects. I love them. There is a charm.

But I have to say I have so far been impressed with them with the new effects, which is a surprise to me because I don't normally put them on, but I have, they really have done a lovely job so far on this set, I have to be honest. Yeah.

Garry: 00:57:11

Yeah. So although the original stuff looks a little bit ropey in this one, it is nonetheless an original bit of charm from that era and that budget. Yeah.

Probably the best way to put it. And that's one of the great things about these Blu Ray discs is that we, we spoke about this, that they haven't done the George Lucas approach thing.

And his view on Star wars, the original trilogy is that the special edition is what you will watch. You know, you have no choice, you have to watch it. So the great thing about these Blu Rays is that the new effects are optional extras.

And second of all, they're not on by default. You have to go and turn the new visual effects on if you want to watch it. So yeah, it's a lovely touch.

Adam: 00:57:59

It is. If only George would take a leaf out of their book and do that. That would be lovely. George Lucas.

Garry: 00:58:06

Yeah. George, come on, come on. Get those AirPods out of your ears. Go and have A chat with whoever you need to. I know your mate's leaving.

Old Jackie or Kennedy. She's out the door soon. But, you know, you've got a little bit of swing still. You can do it.

Adam: 00:58:23

Maybe one day.

Garry: 00:58:24

Actually, I think next year for the 50th anniversary of the first Star wars film. Pretty sure they're putting the original, unedited version of that out in cinemas and everything.

Adam: 00:58:34

Well, George Lucas said they'd all been burnt. I'm pretty sure he said he hadn't got those anymore. The lying hound.

Garry: 00:58:41

Massive fibber.

Adam: 00:58:42

Yeah, come on, George. We don't believe a word of it.

Garry: 00:58:45

He's like, yeah, I threw all those on the barbecue decades ago. They don't exist anymore. Oh, so what's this over here, then? Oh, yeah, that one.

Adam: 00:58:55

Those.

Garry: 00:58:56

Yeah, yeah, that one. Interesting. You bring those up. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, it's good that Blake has that. That choice for you. The old Blake. 7.

Anything else on your notes, dude?

Adam: 00:59:08

No, I've got renounce written in great big letters for some reason. Renounce? Because I think it made me laugh that Blake kept shouting it. Let me have a look.

I don't think I've got anything else much more to say on this one, to be honest.

Garry: 00:59:21

You were brainwashed through it. Start scribbling the word renounce over everything in your flat in a Sharpie. Brainwashed, yeah, yeah, I've got nothing else either, mate. So let's.

Let's go. Let's get on with the scores on the doors for Voice from the Past. Who's. Who's. Whose turn is it?

Adam: 00:59:39

I think it's you this week, isn't it?

Garry: 00:59:41

It's me, yes. I will go with a six out of ten.

Adam: 00:59:50

Six?

Garry: 00:59:50

He says a six. Yeah, just over a sort of mediocre midway. Five. It wasn't terrible. We've certainly had a lot better.

And according to you, we've got way better to come, so.

Adam: 01:00:03

Well, yeah, we've certainly got some very good stuff to come over. Well, not just with the remaining episodes, but the next couple of series as well. We've got some great stuff, but yeah, it's.

It's a six for me as well. It's exactly what I wrote. It's a six. It's. It's. It's got some nice moments, you know, and it's got some funny moments.

As I said, the karate chop Avon bit made me laugh. It's so. So random as well. Like, why would you have to karate chop him to. But it's got some nice character moments.

It's got some great one liners as always and it's got some nice concepts, but I think, yeah, the way to sum up would be just potential that goes nowhere. It's. It's a shame. It's not bad, but it's not great this episode. So it's a. Yeah, it's a six.

Garry: 01:00:53

A six. Six all round. The Voice from the past. So what we on for next week then? The episode Gambit.

Adam: 01:01:03

Gambit, yeah. Should be an interesting one.

Garry: 01:01:07

Can't wait.

Adam: 01:01:07

We've got three episodes left, mate. Oh man, three left. Gambit, the Keeper and then, yeah, the final. So yeah, it's going to be interesting next three episodes.

Garry: 01:01:19

Indeed. Right, and on that note, I think we'll end it there for episode 10.

Adam: 01:01:26

Alrighty.

Garry: 01:01:39

Thank you. Thank you very much, dear Listener, for tuning in to another episode of Federation Strike.

That was episode 10 and our review of episode 10 from series B, Voice from the past. It was a six all round and yeah, not over the moon with that one. But yeah, not terrible either. Watchable for sure.

Next week we'll be back for episode 11 and our review of the episode Gambit. So make sure you're following or subscribing in your preferred podcast app of choice. Just do a search for Federation Strike Blake's 7.

You'll find us in all the podcast apps or there's a link in the show notes in this episode we'd love to have you following along and subscribed so you can tune into all of the future eps as we go through all of Blake's 7 from start to finish. You can also find us on the socials we're on X and Bluesky.

Just do a Search for Lake 7 podcast and give us a like and a follow over there and come and chat all the things Blake's 7. We've got a lovely community and really cool bunch of people who talk all things Blake's 7 all the time. Come and come and chat there.

A little shout out to one of our followers on blue sky, Tufty McTavish. Tufty's. Yeah, it's a good name.

Yeah, he's comments a lot on on our posts and episodes and posted a a picture of his Blake's 7 annuals and his DVD box at after we spoke about me almost drunkenly. Drunkenly ordering stuff off ebay after a few Guinness.

Adam: 01:03:11

Only a matter of time, mate. It's only a matter of time.

Garry: 01:03:14

Yeah. Yeah. But thank you Tufty and thank you to everyone else who we chat to over there.

So come and come and get involved and chat all things Blake over there. And don't forget to check out my co host channel over on YouTube for all the geekery stuff. It's the geek's handbag.

Adam: 01:03:29

Yes, I'm the geeks handbag on YouTube and all the socials go find me on there. The geeks handbag.

Garry: 01:03:35

Go do it. Loads of cool stuff on Adam's channel. Unboxings, reviews, some Blake's 7 stuff. Loads of Doctor who stuff, general geekery.

Go and give him a sub over there and get comfy. Years of content, years of videos. Go and check all that stuff out. Okie dokie. Until next time, my name's Garry.

Adam: 01:03:53

My name's Adam.

Garry: 01:03:54

And we'll see you next time on Federation Strike: A Journey Through Blake's 7.