This two-part, two-hour original full-cast drama celebrates the 40th anniversary of Terry Nation’s classic TV space opera. Blake’s 7: The Way Ahead, its title a reversal of the television show’s first ever episode The Way Back, screened on BBC One on 2 January 1978, was released by Big Finish four decades to the day from Blake’s 7’s TV premiere. It’s a taut and cleverly constructed tale that unfolds before and after the events of the pivotal second TV series finale Star One.
This well-crafted ensemble piece takes the time to ensure all of the main characters can enjoy multiple moments in the limelight (no mean feat with so large a team of protagonists). Writer Mark Wright delivers a consistently strong script, with each episode replete with hallmarks from the television series; while director John Ainsworth finds changes of pace and texture throughout the twists and turns of the story.
Opening segment Project Aquitar begins sometime after the events of the legendary TV finale Blake, with a disdainful Avon reading aloud from a hagiography of the rebels’ exploits Heroes of the Rebellion. His audience is a woman named Magda (a quietly captivating performance by Glynis Barber). In a story that unfolds outside of Soolin’s timeline in the series, this casting switch is a welcome means to include Barber in proceedings. Avon’s innately cynical reflections about his time aboard the Liberator frame the two retrospective stories that he then narrates.
The plot of The Way Ahead pivots around the character of headstrong rebel Avalon, first introduced in the Blake’s 7 TV series’ story Project Avalon. This strong sense of intertwined plot continuity is a recurring feature of Big Finish’s Blake’s 7 audios but is a particularly apposite conceit in a story intending to celebrate the show’s fourth decade. As rebels, led by Avalon, rise up to free their world from Federation control, Servalan counterattacks with an unspeakably evil new weapon. Blake’s crew forge a plan to sabotage the new device by destroying its power source.
Olivia Poulet is excellent as the passionate and relentless Avalon. Stephen Greif is deliciously malevolent as Travis, sparring with and challenging Jacqueline Pearce’s peerless Servalan. Sally Knyvette is clearly delighted to be awarded some great action scenes as Jenna, including a memorable sequence where her character is trapped in a poisoned mineshaft with Travis. Jan Chappell shines as the inscrutable Cally, while Michael Keating’s comedic instincts are as sharp as ever as the rascally Vila. Alistair Lock is once again superb as Zen and delivers pitch-perfect intonation as Orac. Paul Darrow is as excellent as you would expect, relishing each and every one of Avon’s sarcastic barbs and putdowns. Unseen, Blake and Gan haunt the episode throughout, out of earshot on the Liberator.
Compared to Project Aquitar the plot of Dissent is simpler and more straightforward, but it’s the ideal rip-roaring finale to this commemoration of the series. There’s great mileage to be had from Blake’s crew being ousted from their position by Avalon’s more militant and aggressive rebel group. Steven Pacey and Yasmin Bannerman make the most of being thrust into the main action as Blake’s team are split apart and Tarrant and Dayna struggle to protect the ship from Avalon’s gung-ho recklessness. There is fast-moving space combat aplenty, culminating with a daring raid by the Liberator on one of the Federation’s prized command and control centres – which ensures a suitably explosive finale.
The hour-long behind-the-scenes interviews are anything but an afterthought. In keeping with the forty-year anniversary theme, the majority of cast reflections are about the making of the original TV series (although the audio dramas are given fair treatment in the closing stages). Fan convention regulars may hear some stories they are familiar with, but there’s still a joy in having so many of the Liberator’s crew share memories of a time working on a show they continue to hold in such fond regard, despite their surprise at still being a part of Blake’s 7 universe decades later.
To suggest that The Way Ahead succeeds as something of a homage to the TV series is all to its credit. As an evocation of all that was exciting about the original television programme, this is fitting and fulsome. To hear the rich, warm tones of Gareth Thomas sign off the story, voicing the words of an unusually reflective Roj Blake, adds an additionally poignant endpoint to the drama.
If there’s a contention running through both stories it’s that heroes and ideologies will end up disappointing their followers when they inevitably overreach themselves. “The problem with idealists,” Avon suggests, “is they’re self-serving narcissists who think they’re right.” While Avalon sees herself as a credible substitute for Blake, she simply does not measure up. Despite his cynicism, Avon himself remains a far more credible, albeit a reluctant, hero.
BLAKE’S 7: THE WAY AHEAD / WRITER: MARK WRIGHT / DIRECTOR: JOHN AINSWORTH / STARRING: PAUL DARROW, MICHAEL KEATING, JAN CHAPPELL, STEVEN PACEY, JACQUELINE PEARCE, YASMIN BANNERMAN, ALISTAIR LOCK, SALLY KNYVETTE, STEPHEN GREIF / LABEL: BIG FINISH / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (BIG FINISH WEBSITE), FEBRUARY 28TH
