Point Of No Return (2011) Review

 

Point Of No Return is a clumsy procedural, but an excellent character piece. 

WRITTEN BY

James Swallow. As with Liberator, it's a pretty great, inventive use of the B7 licence.

PLOT

Political figure and suspected terrorist Carl Varon requests the idealistic Major Travis to investigate his criminal charge. What he finds puts his loyalty to the Federation to the absolute test... 

ANALYSIS

The actual details about the crimes committed seemed incredibly murky and full of technobabble, but what I really appreciate about this story is the decision to blur the lines between good and evil. With the exception of Star One, there's never really been any serious question that we're meant to root for Blake's cause. And even there it seemed a given that we would still follow him. So this is the first time that we get to see the Federation through the eyes of a loyalist. 

Point Of No Return puts up a compelling case that the terrorists really are the true traitors to democracy, or at the very least no better than the Federation. Varon's case is especially relevant in today's climate. He is decried as a hatemonger, someone who only talks about tearing things down instead of keeping order. But he makes good moral points. Should you trust the government or the radicals? Or neither, like Avon? 

CHARACTERS

It's cool seeing Travis at a younger age, and Point does a really great job of seeing how he developed into the fearsome figure we all know and love. Craig Kelly's acting and characterisation still remind me a lot of Brian Croucher, especially in Trial when he denounced the Federation. You can sort of see where he's coming from here. Major Travis believes in it, but he's not blindly obedient - in fact, the first time we hear him, he's ordering his adjutant to speak his mind and use initiative. Contrary to what the terrorists may believe, the Federation isn't built up by automatons, but by real people with thoughts and dreams. We keep hearing about pacification drugs and stuff like that, but almost all the characters we've met throughout the franchise have been eclectic, original and clearly independent to some degree. 

Of course, that partially has to do with the fact that we follow a band of freedom fighters, but still, I feel like I have to make that point. The Federation seems to be comprised more of people who want power and/or have convinced themselves that they're doing something resembling the right thing as opposed to literal mindless slaves. 

Interesting that they choose to include Jake Maskall's Lt Garcia here. Garcia had been a supporting character in the main trilogy, but having him here in Travis's early days adds a retroactive camaraderie between them. It's a shame now that it's his last appearance, because I really like the character - he's kind of like a recurring, more fleshed-out version of trooper Par. 

And finally, there's Peter Guinness, who stars as the prisoner, Varon, a really dark joke of a character. He speaks of change, and of a fight against tyranny, but is in personality the perfect Federation soldier - dedicated to violence, devoid of empathy and with no concern towards free will. Democracy is his goal, but democracy is his enemy. It's a brilliant performance. 

NOTES

*The point about the Federation's stagnancy and slow disintegration caught my attention. In the original series, there was no sense of the organisation weakening until the Intergalactic War. So the idea that it might actually be on the verge of falling apart or at the very least slowly crumbling is something that could've been explored further.

*I love how London is always established with helicopter sound effects. Because MODERN SHOW.

*How do you turn a needle gauche gun into an electroshock weapon?

INFORMATION!

*The story takes place shortly before an election, which could be the same one depicted in When Vila Meets Gan. 

*Blake's political party is identified as the Freedom Party, as it was called in the original series episode Voice From The Past. 

*The name "Varon" is reused from Blake's lawyer in the 1978 premiere The Way Back.

*Varon is claimed to have connections in "the seven families", who appear to be of high importance in the Federation. It's very similar to Avon: A Terrible Aspect, where nine families governed. 

BEST QUOTE

GARCIA: "We don't have to be certain, Major, we just have to be right."
TRAVIS: "And the Federation is always right. Isn't that so, Lieutenant?"
GARCIA: "That's what they taught us."
TRAVIS: "That's not enough for me. I have to know!

CONCLUSION

I'm really digging these little vignettes.