Loading ...Mojo and I have been watching and enjoying Blake’s 7 lately. Thankfully it holds up better than I thought it would. It has been 30 years, after all, since it first aired. And every single time we watch it, I think of Che.
Because the main villain of the piece looks a lot like her.
Blake’s 7 was a breath of fresh sci fi air when it first aired on the BBC in the late 1970s. Whereas much of the sci fi airing at the time was utopic, Blake’s 7 was decidedly dystopic (In spite of its frequently high body count, even Doctor Who, which was airing on the BBC at the same time as Blake’s 7, was generally utopic in attitude.) On Blake’s 7, main characters died, fan favorite set pieces were destroyed, the heroes didn’t always win, and even Blake himself disappeared for much of the last two seasons. Blake’s 7 was so bent on beating its own drum that it purposely left the apostrophe out of its own title. And just to be snitty, there usually weren’t 7 main characters on the show. Unless you count Blake himself (if he could be one of his own 7) and the two main computers.
Basically, Blake’s 7 was a show about a man named Roj Blake, wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit, gathering together a ragtag group of criminals (a smuggler, a murderer, a thief, and a swindler) and fighting the unjust Terran Federation. And they did it all from an extremely advanced ship that they stole, called the Liberator.
In spite of the dystopic air about the show, it was acerbic and witty as well. And the most acerbic of the group was the character Avon. He could always be counted on to give some biting remark especially towards resident lockpick and coward Vila (who incidentally was the only character to appear in every episode of the show). Just a few exchanges.
Vila: I’ve got a shocking pain right behind the eyes!
Avon: Have you tried amputation?
Vila: It’s cold out there, and I’m very susceptible to low temperatures. I’ve got a weak chest.
Avon: The rest isn’t too impressive.
Cally: My people have a saying: A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.
Avon: Life expectancy must be fairly short among your people.
Blake: Imagine you’re standing on a cliff.
Avon: As long as you aren’t standing behind me.
Jenna: Avon’s right.
Avon: I usually am.
Blake: Does [the planet] support any intelligent life?
Avon: Does the Liberator?
And his most famous.
Avon: I’m not stupid. I’m not expendable. And I’m not going.
There were so many things that I loved about the show when I was a teenager watching it for the first time. Sarcastic Avon, sassy smuggler and pilot Jenna Stannis, bitchy computer Orac (it would often snap “What is it now?” when they would ask it a question), the zen like way that computer Zen would say “Confirmed”, Dayna’s love of weaponry, Tarrant’s lack of love of underwear, Soolin’s I Dream of Jeannie hairdo, and the acrylic dildos they used for guns.
But the thing that I loved above all else on the show, the reason I kept coming back week after week, was the main villain Servalan. Played almost to the point of extreme camp by Jacqueline Pearce, the character of Supreme Commander (and later President) Servalan was a joy to behold. Her lines would slip silkily from her tongue. You never knew if she wanted to fuck you or kill you. Or both. And the things she would wear! I think more presidents should dress like Servalan.
Without a doubt, Servalan was the high point of the show. I just couldn’t get enough of her all those years ago. And I still get a kick out of her today.
And coincidentally, she looks very much like Che. Or at least the way Che used to look when we hung out back in the 90s. And that is just one more reason to love the character!
So for those readers of the SP who do not know what Che looks like, this is the image you should have in mind as you read the Shattered Prayer.
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It’s so true! I think if Che were Supreme Commander (and who says she isn’t?), that is exactly what she’d look like. I mean, she goes a bit easier on the makeup and couture, but Richard is right about the resemblance!
All hail Supreme Commander Chevalan!
I am actually thinking of running for president, on the Pie platform. Pie for everyone.
First order of business… pie.
Mmmm… pie.
Its not an original idea. I stole it from Edwards.
You gotta love Jaqueline Pearce. She’d make a good president. Or I would. We’re interchangable.
Please do run on the Pie ticket! You would have my vote.
Hell, you’d have to be Vice President on the Pie ticket. Richard could be secretary of defense (making the world safe for pies, and those who love them).
Sounds like a winning ticket to me.
But do we all need to dress like Servalan?
Yes Richard,I want to see Mojo in that outfit with the feathered collar, and you in the hat and tights with androids.
I love that outfit with the hat and tights!
Why wear pants when panties will do?
Yeah…but the androids are the ultimate accessories. And a necessity for any secretary of defense.
Hurrah, Pie VP! Finally!!! All my dreams have come true! AND I get to wear the feathered collar outfit?! Is there no end to the joys my new life will bring? While I have decided to love androids, despite their lack of functional anatomy, I shall cede their control to Richard who is better suited to their command as Secretary of Pie Defense. Surely he rose through the ranks of Banana Creme Division… I know he would never have joined up in the Peanut Butter Pie Brigade.
Supreme Commander and President Che would, of course, have the honor of wearing the ‘beaded collar’ and fishnet business white outfit. Obviously.
That is exactly the way Che should dress during her Presidency.
Thats the way everyone should dress during their presidency.
With the exception of GW. There’s one person I don’t want to see in fishnets.
Ewww… horrible image burned into my mind forever… Dubya in fishnets. *barfs *
Yeah… kinda makes you want to put your own eyes out with red-hot knitting needles.
she’ll have all us girls trying to dress like her, just like jackie O… which is unfortunate because i’m short. woe.
is there sumfin for short redheads with huge tracts of land?
Hmmm. I am not sure I know any short red haired sci-fi women with huge tracts of land.
But short or not, everyone looks lovely in a broad rimmed hat and panties.
I’m going to make everyone dress like me. Pajama bottoms, t-shirts, and converse sneakers.
A comfortable world is a happy world.
You’ve already got one convert! That’s what I am wearing right now. Minus the converse sneakers.
oh, hell yeah. i can rock that look… especially if i can switch out a tank top and/or flip-flops every so often.
of course, a broad-brimmed hat and panties for special occasions is okay, too.
What about a thong and nipple clamps? Maybe not for the supermarket, but what about the 7-11? That may be overdressing there.