The ambitious attempt to create a ‘sub-season’ of ‘70s cult smash Blake’s 7, using the original cast, continues with Part 3 of Crossfire. Wedged in the soft spaces of Series three, it embellishes how the crew of the Liberator react when a third party challenges the might of Servalan and the Federation. So far the anthology series has been exceptional as well as quite immersive, drawing the listener in and remind us all of how good Blake’s 7 was.
The collection opens with Ministry of Truth. Writer Una McCormack is pretty good at this sort of multi-layered science fiction, as anyone who’s read her books can attest. This particular drama opens with the Federation’s propaganda machine and we get a glimpse of what entertainment is like in the world of Blake’s 7. We open with a clever play on expectations, with an excerpt of a pro-federation drama that seems suspiciously familiar. In the story, the team making these shows are an odd bunch, some of whom yearn to make more blunt and honest dramas. The arrival of Avon and crew make matter much more complicated, of course. This is a vicious bit of fun, with some really sharp moments pointed at the world of media production. A great opener and one of the highlights of the collection.
Next up is Refuge, which is a more traditional sort of story. The crew come across one of Villa’s old associates, who these days is an ‘innocent freight ship operator’. This tale feels like it has time-warped its way straight out of the ‘80s. We’ve got a dodgy and greasy character with a space-cockney accent getting up to shenanigans and pretty much everyone is trying to one-up everyone else. Villa plays against type in a few cases as the story desperately attempts to avoid knocking over the status quo. It’s all right but instantly forgettable.
Kith and Kin is a Tarrant story. If you’re a fan of Tarrant, then this is a treat. Cally and Tarrant still have the old chemistry and the whole thing is familiar and interesting. It doesn’t add anything to the greater story and we don’t really learn anything more about Tarrant. If this was an episode of the original TV show then you might suspect that it was a back-door pilot for the character. Fun and a welcome addition, but it is not that remarkable.
Finally, we come to Death of The Empire. This is the end of the Crossfire series and it has a lot of expectations to live up to. The ending of the original Blake’s 7 is a bit of legendary telly, after all. It almost matches up. Expectation throughout the series is high and everyone brings their top performances. Not a single bit of scenery goes un-chewed, however.
As always, the cast is amazing throughout. Paul Darrow still has that twinkle and the whole thing really does feel like it’s part of the original series. This collection is a total must for fans of this classic series. Get the whole thing and give your ears a binge session.
BLAKE’S 7: CROSSFIRE PART 3 / DIRECTOR: JOHN AINSWORTH / WRITERS: UNA MCCORMACK, TREVOR BAXENDALE, CHRISTOPHER COOPER, STEVE LYONS / PUBLISHER: BIG FINISH / RELEASE DATE: MAY 31ST
