It's time to analyse how each episode handled our main protagonist, Roj Blake.
#28. Horizon (2x04)
Blake's irrational insistence on pushing the crew to their limit despite everyone already being exhausted was annoying. There's not much going on for him in this one character-wise that we haven't seen before, and the fact that the episode isn't that great means that I find myself wishing Blake wasn't around to force us to sit through it.
#27. The Keeper (2x12)
He spends almost the entire episode in the catacombs of Goth, waiting for the plot to move forward. It's not great. When the plot does move, it has nothing to do with him. I thought the way Rod adopted Blake as some kind of honorary sidekick was amusing, but it was brief and went nowhere.
He spends almost the entire episode in the catacombs of Goth, waiting for the plot to move forward. It's not great. When the plot does move, it has nothing to do with him. I thought the way Rod adopted Blake as some kind of honorary sidekick was amusing, but it was brief and went nowhere.
#26. Hostage (2x08)
Blake reuniting with his family after everything he's endured could have been a really touching moment. Instead, we get incest and a quarry. Gareth Thomas himself looks bored out of his mind. I do like how he controls Avon and Vila in the airlock as if they were his bickering children, and the scene where he insists on rescuing Avon is rather touching.
#25. Voice from the Past (2x10)
Aside from Gareth Thomas getting to flex his villainous muscles, there's absolutely no merit to Blake in this episode. He spends most of it under some kind of inconsistent hypnotic control, so technically speaking he's barely in it. At least we get a cute gag later on when regains his old self and starts yelling about Star One again.
Aside from Gareth Thomas getting to flex his villainous muscles, there's absolutely no merit to Blake in this episode. He spends most of it under some kind of inconsistent hypnotic control, so technically speaking he's barely in it. At least we get a cute gag later on when regains his old self and starts yelling about Star One again.
#24. Mission to Destiny (1x07)
Nothing much to say here, as Blake is barely in the episode. We see a little of his empathy, as he agrees to support the Ortega crew's mission, but other than that, he's just there because he has to be. Nothing he does bothers me though, so it's above the last few.
Nothing much to say here, as Blake is barely in the episode. We see a little of his empathy, as he agrees to support the Ortega crew's mission, but other than that, he's just there because he has to be. Nothing he does bothers me though, so it's above the last few.
#23. Gambit (2x11)
Although Gambit is an episode I love, Blake is definitely the most forgettable part of it. It's not a story he really belongs in and most of his time is just spent on skulking about outside the casino until he's able to find Docholli and get the next clue to Star One. Amusing parts include his decision to have Jenna and Cally catfight and the nervousness he induces in Avon upon his return to the Liberator.
Although Gambit is an episode I love, Blake is definitely the most forgettable part of it. It's not a story he really belongs in and most of his time is just spent on skulking about outside the casino until he's able to find Docholli and get the next clue to Star One. Amusing parts include his decision to have Jenna and Cally catfight and the nervousness he induces in Avon upon his return to the Liberator.
#22. Countdown (2x09)
I like how Blake quietly supports Avon throughout this entire ordeal, from threatening to harm Grant if he should try anything to get Avon to open up about Anna. It's probably the most caring he ever gets. That being said, he's not really a major part of the episode so I can't rank it higher.
I like how Blake quietly supports Avon throughout this entire ordeal, from threatening to harm Grant if he should try anything to get Avon to open up about Anna. It's probably the most caring he ever gets. That being said, he's not really a major part of the episode so I can't rank it higher.
#21. Deliverance (1x12)
The viciousness with which Blake threatens Ensor Jr foreshadows Series B really nicely. It was of course a scene that was originally written for Avon, but the roles were switched around and so Blake gets to be a little nastier this week. This episode is where the parallels between the two really get their start.
The viciousness with which Blake threatens Ensor Jr foreshadows Series B really nicely. It was of course a scene that was originally written for Avon, but the roles were switched around and so Blake gets to be a little nastier this week. This episode is where the parallels between the two really get their start.
#20. Orac (1x13)
Although the episode is mainly plot-oriented and lacking in character drama, it does feature Blake heavily so I've put it a bit higher. I get a crack out of Gareth Thomas's reaction to Derek Farr's antics, and the smugness with which he declares his intention to tattle on Servalan and Travis to Space Command. It's Blake at his most enjoyably pettiest.
Although the episode is mainly plot-oriented and lacking in character drama, it does feature Blake heavily so I've put it a bit higher. I get a crack out of Gareth Thomas's reaction to Derek Farr's antics, and the smugness with which he declares his intention to tattle on Servalan and Travis to Space Command. It's Blake at his most enjoyably pettiest.
#19. Breakdown (1x10)
There's a neat little subplot where Avon almost abandons the crew of the Liberator, and it was interesting for me to see that Blake absolutely does not try to stop him. I feel like if it was Series B, he might have. But here, out of either respect, exhaustion or pride, he is completely willing to lose such a valuable asset.
There's a neat little subplot where Avon almost abandons the crew of the Liberator, and it was interesting for me to see that Blake absolutely does not try to stop him. I feel like if it was Series B, he might have. But here, out of either respect, exhaustion or pride, he is completely willing to lose such a valuable asset.
#18. Project Avalon (1x09)
Blake leading an attack on industrial facilities is always great fun. The balls he has to teleport straight into the facility and tell Servalan and Travis how their attack failed is awesome, and I love that he nearly kills them with the disease thingy.
Blake leading an attack on industrial facilities is always great fun. The balls he has to teleport straight into the facility and tell Servalan and Travis how their attack failed is awesome, and I love that he nearly kills them with the disease thingy.
#17. Trial (2x06)
The idea of Blake having a moment of crisis and needing to be pushed in order to rediscover his obsessive determination to survive and seek out justice is great, and Gareth Thomas does play those bits to perfection. However, the episode is far too slow on that side of things and the Zil subplot ends up being more bizarre than anything else.
The idea of Blake having a moment of crisis and needing to be pushed in order to rediscover his obsessive determination to survive and seek out justice is great, and Gareth Thomas does play those bits to perfection. However, the episode is far too slow on that side of things and the Zil subplot ends up being more bizarre than anything else.
#16. Time Squad (1x04)
Blake's meeting with Cally is a great example of how easily he wins friends to his side. He knows exactly which buttons to push, is honest even when risking his own safety and carries himself with such a fatherly and knowing presence that one is simply compelled to join up with him. And Avon of course knows this and suspects (probably half-correctly) that Blake is self-aware and uses it to win followers.
Blake's meeting with Cally is a great example of how easily he wins friends to his side. He knows exactly which buttons to push, is honest even when risking his own safety and carries himself with such a fatherly and knowing presence that one is simply compelled to join up with him. And Avon of course knows this and suspects (probably half-correctly) that Blake is self-aware and uses it to win followers.
#15. Killer (2x07)
And then there was that one time when Blake played Dr Who. The fact that he gets involved in Q-Base for absolutely no reason other than curiosity (and openly admits to being who he is) cracks me up. It's almost out of character, but at the same time, Gareth Thomas sells it so well. It's certainly the most eccentric Blake ever gets, and he has such great chemistry with Paul Daneman (Dr Bellfriar). A nice change of pace.
And then there was that one time when Blake played Dr Who. The fact that he gets involved in Q-Base for absolutely no reason other than curiosity (and openly admits to being who he is) cracks me up. It's almost out of character, but at the same time, Gareth Thomas sells it so well. It's certainly the most eccentric Blake ever gets, and he has such great chemistry with Paul Daneman (Dr Bellfriar). A nice change of pace.
I adore the Liberator scenes in this episode. For once, Blake and Avon are mostly on the same page and seeing the two of them take potshots at Vila is perfection. They feel like brothers, almost. I wish we had more storylines like this, and I can imagine that if they'd manage to reunite properly in Series D, this is how their relationship would have progressed.
#13. Bounty (1x11)
It was cool seeing Blake struggle to re-inspire President Sarkoff and him becoming genuinely pissed at how broken he was. Probably the first time when we see him exhibit questionable behaviour as he outright coerces Sarkoff into submission by threatening to destroy his beloved collection.
It was cool seeing Blake struggle to re-inspire President Sarkoff and him becoming genuinely pissed at how broken he was. Probably the first time when we see him exhibit questionable behaviour as he outright coerces Sarkoff into submission by threatening to destroy his beloved collection.
#12. Duel (1x08)
Blake already learns the lesson he's meant to be taught in this episode, so it's really just a comparison of him and Travis and their different relationships with subordinates. There's good character development between him and Jenna, and I love watching him command the flight deck during the space battle. His little strategy session with Avon and Cally is great and I wish we'd have seen more scenes like this as it gives us an idea of just how resourceful Blake can be when pushed into a corner.
Blake already learns the lesson he's meant to be taught in this episode, so it's really just a comparison of him and Travis and their different relationships with subordinates. There's good character development between him and Jenna, and I love watching him command the flight deck during the space battle. His little strategy session with Avon and Cally is great and I wish we'd have seen more scenes like this as it gives us an idea of just how resourceful Blake can be when pushed into a corner.
#11. Terminal (3x13)
It's only a brief scene and to be fair, Blake isn't actually in it, but it's a terrific, vital part in the development of his relationship with Avon. Besides, it's really the only time we get a taste of the classic Thomas/Darrow banter after Series B. I love how Blake immediately feels like the dominant figure again despite having been gone for an entire season. He's the only one Avon is truly willing to follow and for just one moment, it's like everything makes sense again.
It's only a brief scene and to be fair, Blake isn't actually in it, but it's a terrific, vital part in the development of his relationship with Avon. Besides, it's really the only time we get a taste of the classic Thomas/Darrow banter after Series B. I love how Blake immediately feels like the dominant figure again despite having been gone for an entire season. He's the only one Avon is truly willing to follow and for just one moment, it's like everything makes sense again.
#10. Cygnus Alpha (1x03)
With the setup being in the first two episodes, this is the first time we see Blake on a proper away mission, establishing the real format of the series. We continue to get insight into his nature as he clashes with every form of totalitarianism (in this case, religious) and puts in the effort to try and rescue as many people as possible. In his absence, Blake also helps Avon and Jenna's character development along as his idealism starts to affect them. Great stuff.
With the setup being in the first two episodes, this is the first time we see Blake on a proper away mission, establishing the real format of the series. We continue to get insight into his nature as he clashes with every form of totalitarianism (in this case, religious) and puts in the effort to try and rescue as many people as possible. In his absence, Blake also helps Avon and Jenna's character development along as his idealism starts to affect them. Great stuff.
#9. The Web (1x05)
Yes, this one is indeed a top 10 Gareth Thomas performance. Blake is trapped, but he has a way out - all he has to do is sacrifice some genetic experiments that he feels no attachment towards. His willingness to risk literally everything to do the right thing in this case is arguably the most moral and selfless (well, almost selfless since he does risk his crew alongside him) moment for him in the series. I also really enjoy watching him investigate and work alongside Avon to try and find the best solution possible.
Yes, this one is indeed a top 10 Gareth Thomas performance. Blake is trapped, but he has a way out - all he has to do is sacrifice some genetic experiments that he feels no attachment towards. His willingness to risk literally everything to do the right thing in this case is arguably the most moral and selfless (well, almost selfless since he does risk his crew alongside him) moment for him in the series. I also really enjoy watching him investigate and work alongside Avon to try and find the best solution possible.
#8. Seek-Locate-Destroy (1x06)
Although the backstory he gives is somewhat inconsistent with the events of The Way Back, Gareth's monologue about Travis is such terrific acting and wonderfully sets up their relationship. But mainly it's a great piece of acting. There's no flashbacks or anything, our attention is entirely held by Blake just telling a story. I love that. And I love seeing him outwit Travis in the end and come back to rescue Cally. It's one of those episodes that really makes me cheer for the character.
Although the backstory he gives is somewhat inconsistent with the events of The Way Back, Gareth's monologue about Travis is such terrific acting and wonderfully sets up their relationship. But mainly it's a great piece of acting. There's no flashbacks or anything, our attention is entirely held by Blake just telling a story. I love that. And I love seeing him outwit Travis in the end and come back to rescue Cally. It's one of those episodes that really makes me cheer for the character.
#7. Space Fall (1x02)
Blake meets Avon, Blake gets the Liberator, Blake defeats Raiker, Blake puts together the crew - this episode's a list of iconic Blake moments. The speech he gives to Avon about bringing power back to the honest man is arguably the character's most defining moment as the show establishes what the actual plot of the series is going to be about. Perhaps an underrated scene is him, even at this late stage, insisting that Captain Leylan report Raiker for his crime. I kind of wish that his attempts to bring out the best in Federation people would've remained an aspect of the character in later stories, but it's also rather obvious why it didn't, after the experiences he had.
Blake meets Avon, Blake gets the Liberator, Blake defeats Raiker, Blake puts together the crew - this episode's a list of iconic Blake moments. The speech he gives to Avon about bringing power back to the honest man is arguably the character's most defining moment as the show establishes what the actual plot of the series is going to be about. Perhaps an underrated scene is him, even at this late stage, insisting that Captain Leylan report Raiker for his crime. I kind of wish that his attempts to bring out the best in Federation people would've remained an aspect of the character in later stories, but it's also rather obvious why it didn't, after the experiences he had.
#6. The Way Back (1x01)
I'm gonna be honest - if Gareth Thomas wasn't in The Way Back, I might not have seen another episode of Blake's 7. It's a clunky story that's not very visually appealing. But boy, does Gareth put in the work to sell the horror. Watching Blake go from drugged and ignorant, to outraged (ironically by acts taking place now and not what was actually done to him in the past), to grimfully determined to return to Earth is a hell of a journey. At this point, I was purely onboard for Blake's arc. By default, this episode has to be this high.
I'm gonna be honest - if Gareth Thomas wasn't in The Way Back, I might not have seen another episode of Blake's 7. It's a clunky story that's not very visually appealing. But boy, does Gareth put in the work to sell the horror. Watching Blake go from drugged and ignorant, to outraged (ironically by acts taking place now and not what was actually done to him in the past), to grimfully determined to return to Earth is a hell of a journey. At this point, I was purely onboard for Blake's arc. By default, this episode has to be this high.
#5. Redemption (2x01)
Script editor Chris Boucher has spoken in interviews about how he wanted to make Blake's character less of a clearcut hero and more of a Che Guevara type, and I think this episode really marks the start of that. Not that Blake does a lot of shady business here, but it's where he transitions from the Robin Hood figure to a more obsessive and worn-down figure, who is much more vulnerable to Avon's criticisms. For now he is still in command however, and watching him defeat Space World is glorious fun.
Script editor Chris Boucher has spoken in interviews about how he wanted to make Blake's character less of a clearcut hero and more of a Che Guevara type, and I think this episode really marks the start of that. Not that Blake does a lot of shady business here, but it's where he transitions from the Robin Hood figure to a more obsessive and worn-down figure, who is much more vulnerable to Avon's criticisms. For now he is still in command however, and watching him defeat Space World is glorious fun.
#4. Star One (2x13)
And now let's talk about the endpoint of Blake's madness as the Star One storyline (and the rivalry with Avon) reaches its culmination. Hearing him justify the deaths of millions of innocents just for the hope that destroying the Federation will do any good is a sobering change from the heroic figure of the early days. Blake isn't about giving power back to the honest man anymore - he's about destroying power totally and seeing who and what is left to rebuild. Avon can see it, plain as day, and yet he's obviously still enamoured (deep down) by the ideals Blake has imprinted on him. It's so layered, peak television as far as character work is concerned.
And now let's talk about the endpoint of Blake's madness as the Star One storyline (and the rivalry with Avon) reaches its culmination. Hearing him justify the deaths of millions of innocents just for the hope that destroying the Federation will do any good is a sobering change from the heroic figure of the early days. Blake isn't about giving power back to the honest man anymore - he's about destroying power totally and seeing who and what is left to rebuild. Avon can see it, plain as day, and yet he's obviously still enamoured (deep down) by the ideals Blake has imprinted on him. It's so layered, peak television as far as character work is concerned.
#3. Shadow (2x02)
I love this story for Blake, because seeing him try to ally with the Terra Nostra (a blatant allegory for the mafia) is like a slap in the face, both for us and the crew. The scene where he justifies it in front of Gan says it all. Blake has clearly lost sight of the objective and is now more focused on the vague concept of winning rather than doing the right thing. Ironically, he himself acts quite a bit like a mafia boss in this episode, casually sitting back whilst letting his underlings handle the business. And then nuking an enemy's turf.
I love this story for Blake, because seeing him try to ally with the Terra Nostra (a blatant allegory for the mafia) is like a slap in the face, both for us and the crew. The scene where he justifies it in front of Gan says it all. Blake has clearly lost sight of the objective and is now more focused on the vague concept of winning rather than doing the right thing. Ironically, he himself acts quite a bit like a mafia boss in this episode, casually sitting back whilst letting his underlings handle the business. And then nuking an enemy's turf.
#2. Pressure Point (2x05)
I think this episode encapsulates Blake's personality the best. It has everything - his desire to do the right thing, his obsessive need to see things through his way or the high way, the symbiotic relationship he has with Avon, the rivalry with Travis and finally the conclusion to The Way Back's cliffhanger. It just feels like the show taking itself and all its characters to the next level, the first step into a whole new ballpark.
I think this episode encapsulates Blake's personality the best. It has everything - his desire to do the right thing, his obsessive need to see things through his way or the high way, the symbiotic relationship he has with Avon, the rivalry with Travis and finally the conclusion to The Way Back's cliffhanger. It just feels like the show taking itself and all its characters to the next level, the first step into a whole new ballpark.
#1. Blake (4x13)
Gareth Thomas wishes he could've always been like this. And while I don't agree with him entirely (the impact is so great precisely because he was different in the past), I can easily see why as the enigmatic and cynical Blake is by far the most interesting version of the character. We don't even know if he's still on the good side or not until the end, and by then it's too late for him. Gareth brings his full acting chops to this episode, and I would argue that Blake doesn't truly become iconic until this final performance. The confrontation with Avon is the show's single best scene.
Gareth Thomas wishes he could've always been like this. And while I don't agree with him entirely (the impact is so great precisely because he was different in the past), I can easily see why as the enigmatic and cynical Blake is by far the most interesting version of the character. We don't even know if he's still on the good side or not until the end, and by then it's too late for him. Gareth brings his full acting chops to this episode, and I would argue that Blake doesn't truly become iconic until this final performance. The confrontation with Avon is the show's single best scene.
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