#50. Power (4x02)
Avon being a full-on misogynist is not a welcome development. Also, this is the only story where Paul Darrow's hamminess gets on my nerves. That fight sequence with Gunn-Sar isn't great, but it wouldn't be nearly as embarrassing if Avon didn't constantly look as if he's about to piss himself. The old Avon would've just shot all the Hommiks and walked back to the base. I think Darrow had a little too much fun with this episode and forgot it has to be fun for the rest of us too.
#49. The Keeper (2x12)
Aside from being barely in it, this episode makes Avon look like an idiot. Travis is a military commander, he's not going to be dumb enough to let the Liberator sneak up on him! I do appreciate that Cally brings him to heel (it's a satisfying shift from his usual dominance), but it's a shame that they had to drop Avon's IQ to accomplish it.
#48. Voice from the Past (2x10)
You know it's a bad day for Avon when Vila holds him prisoner. He spends the episode standing around and grumbling about how suspicious everything is, but not doing all that much about it. Darrow's on autopilot.
#47. Project Avalon (1x09) / Bounty (1x11)
I don't remember him contributing anything other than a few oneliners.
#46. Ultraworld (3x10)
There's some amusing banter between him and Tarrant, and later him and Vila, but for the most part, Avon takes a nap. The promise of a body switch between him and Cally is swiftly tossed aside. It would've been great fun seeing Chappell and Darrow play each other's roles.
#45. Breakdown (1x10)
There's a mildly interesting story arc about Avon considering whether to leave the Liberator, but it isn't really focused on all that much. Gan throwing him around gets a laugh out of me, though, mainly because of Darrow's horrified expressions (it's similar to his comic reactions in Power, but works much better here).
#44. Hostage (2x08)
Avon's plan to draw Servalan to the same planet the Liberator goes to was pretty embarrassing, but I think it was kind of meant to be. I don't think Avon's judgment has to be sound all the time (it certainly isn't by Series D) and I like how he tries to redeem himself by personally keeping Blake safe on Exbar. Proving that he has his own kind of moral code, or at least did at that time. Or maybe he just cares about Blake a lot.
#43. Trial (2x06)
There's some really great interactions between Darrow and Gareth Thomas in this episode, but I think Avon is written to be a little too vicious. Something about the way he rubs Gan's death in everyone's faces doesn't work for me. I get that he wants to drag Blake down to reality, I just wish it was written to be less gleeful and more serious. Have him directly address the crew and say "Blake fucked up, you should follow me instead", leading to a vote. Actually, yeah, that could've been the episode. Scrap the Zil stuff and have Blake and Avon directly compete for leadership. And then when Blake wins, Avon can take the credit for restoring his confidence or something.
#42. Seek-Locate-Destroy (1x06)
Avon only appears in a supporting role, but there's a few moments where he really shines. I like that we get to see him be fallible and fail in his part of the mission. The scene where he and Blake yell at each other leaving Cally is very tense and well acted. There's also a few good lines during the long sequence of Blake explainig who Travis is.
#41. Moloch (3x11)
It's a crap episode and Avon doesn't have anything interesting to do, but I really enjoy Darrow's detached performance. The bit where he eats the suspicious apple just to spite Dayna feels like something that wasn't scripted, it's not really in-character for Avon. Looking cool is very in-character for Darrow though, and I'm a-ok with that.
#40. Animals (4x05)
The slipping scene alone earns this episode a higher spot, but also Darrow just oozes cool in most of Series D, elevating those episodes. Avon drawing his gun wouldn't normally mean much. But in Series D, with the posturing and the Scorpio handguns? Shit, it just looks so awesome. Love the bartering between him and Vila over a glass of wine. It's hilarious.
#39. Children of Auron (3x07)
I enjoy the character development of Avon/Cally in this episode, as well as a good example of the Series C character dynamics. Avon might be nominally the leader, but the crew are all clearly more loyal to Cally than him.
#38. Duel (1x08)
Avon isn't important to the plot, but it's still one of the most revealing episodes about his personality from early on. We see that he does care about what goes on around him, and simply doesn't believe in constantly letting others know how he feels. He's also got better insight into Blake's personality than anyone else on the crew, judging from his reactions at the end of the Blake/Travis fight.
#37. Killer (2x07)
The first episode to showcase the famous Darrow/Keating double-act in all its glory. There's some solid backstory between Avon and the main villain, which perhaps isn't as interesting as it could be (the idea is much improved on in Countdown and Gold), but still adds a little bit of pathos to the episode.
#36. Orac (1x13)
I can't put this episode higher because of how little Avon there is in it, but he's on good form here, pushed to the extremes by impending death. They probably could have done more with that, but it was the most angry Avon had been up to this point, and him shooting Travis's hand off will never not be satisfying.
#35. Mission to Destiny (1x07)
Turning Avon into a detective is a slightly oddball choice, but the role fits him. This is the first episode with a focus on Darrow, making it retroactively a trial run for his eventual takeover. And he completely commands the screen. Although in fairness, there isn't much competition in this episode.
#34. Powerplay (3x02)
Darrow is full of energy in this one, clearly eager to prove his worth as a lead actor. I love seeing him do the Die Hard shtick on the Liberator. The chemistry with Pacey and Simon is great. One of my favourite Avon moments is here, when he gets caught by a trooper and turns around with an extremely frustrated scowl on his face.
#33. Gambit (2x11)
Everything about Gambit is awesome, including Darrow.
#32. Time Squad (1x04)
The first meeting between Avon and Cally, and the first time he goes on one of the missions. Darrow is still fairly low-key here, and I like watching him be more of a team player than a star who has to get the last word every time.
#31. The Harvest of Kairos (3x05)
Avon is very self-serious as a character, so to me it's a lot of fun seeing the show take the piss out of him for a bit. He still gets to be right, and it's his knowledge of sopron that saves the day in the end. But for once, he's a source of humour rather than a major driving force and I think it's a neat change of pace.
#30. Deliverance (1x12)
I think this is a very important episode in establishing how similar Avon and Blake are to each other, and the weight Avon feels when he tries to be a true leader to someone for the first time. Characteristics that will go on to define his later development.
#29. Shadow (2x02)
I love the bit where Blake forces Avon to give him back the gems. Thomas and Darrow are clearly very comfortable in the roles here, and Boucher wasn't afraid to play around with their dynamic a little bit. Darrow also gets to indulge in his cowboyitis on the desert planet, permanently shifting Avon from space nerd to space gunslinger.
#28. Volcano (3x03)
Avon nuking half the Federation fleet all on his own is incredibly badass. He and Vila have a wonderful scene where they have a nice sitdown amidst the wrecked flight deck, sparks flying around them. There's something really human about that, and it's one of my favourite moments of the entire series.
#27. Cygnus Alpha (1x03)
The conversations between Avon and Jenna over whether to abandon Blake or not were very well written. I also enjoyed the infectious enthusiasm Avon had for exploring the Liberator. Scientific curiosity is something that kinda faded away in Darrow's later performances.
#26. Weapon (2x03)
This episode has so many great lines for Darrow. He doesn't even have to try, because he's a fountain of zingers in this one. Continuing on from Shadow, the partnership between Thomas and Darrow is at its peak. It's one of the rare occasions where Blake and Avon actually agree on something and get to roast the rest of the crew together, and you can tell they're both really enjoying it. One can only imagine what a Series C would have looked like if they'd continued on with this approach.
#25. Traitor (4x03)
Avon officially embraces being a freedom fighter! Though he spends the episode on the sidelines, it's still a major turning point for the character. Darrow starts leaning towards madness here with Avon's flamboyant reactions to Orac's deviant behaviour, and Servalan's survival. Traitor was written by Robert Holmes, so of course the Avon/Vila banter is gold, goes without saying.
#24. City at the Edge of the World (3x06)
I love the way Avon and Cally are depicted in this episode. It's the closest they ever become to being a power couple, completely owning the Liberator and being above the rest. Avon's explanation for why he tolerates Vila is genius.
#23. Dawn of the Gods (3x04)
This is one of the last episodes before Avon goes through something of an evolution, into a more unpredictable and emotionally driven person. Of the entire era where he controls the Liberator, this is the one where he feels the most like his old self. Cool, professional, thinking circles around the rest. This is how I imagined he would lead the crew.
#22. Stardrive (4x04)
Avon driving the Scorpio into an asteroid is a standout moment for me, and the direct opposite of what I talked about Avon in Dawn of the Gods. This episode was the wake-up call that the old Avon is gone, replaced by someone with tunnel vision and borderline psychosis.
#21. The Web (1x05)
Series A had a lot of ideological debating between Avon and Blake (before control over the Liberator became the main focus of their relationship), and this episode might be my favourite example of that, since they're involved in the mission together.
#20. Horizon (2x04)
Darrow is the one shining thing about this episode. I really enjoy how frustrated Avon gets with the recklessness of the crew, and that we get to see him carefully think through all the angles before deciding whether or not to steal the Liberator. It's also the first episode to have a lengthy dialogue between him and Orac.
#19. Warlord (4x12)
Avon building the alliance Blake never could is rather surreal, and opens up possibilities that I would have loved to have seen expanded on. It feels like it should've happened earlier. The fact that he has to literally tame Tarrant is very funny, and the sequence of him and Soolin on Betafarl is great too.
#18. Death-Watch (3x12)
The scene between Avon and Servalan is one of my favourites in Blake's 7, certainly their best together. It's incredibly electric. Darrow seems to be enjoying himself more than usual, and with lines like "do you have any tedious scruples about cheating and lying", who can blame him?
#17. Rescue (4x01)
It's a brand new season, with a brand-new performance! Rescue has a very chilled atmosphere as far as the crew's dynamic is concerned, and a lot of that is thanks to Avon's non-reaction to Cally's demise. He is very distant and enigmatic in this episode, making it very difficult to figure out what direction the show will take (the complete opposite of his warm, heroic showing in Aftermath). Darrow has great fun trying to compete with Geoffrey Burridge's scenery chewing.
#16. Assassin (4x07)
The closest the show ever gets to the style of the Paul Darrow novels, which is quite interesting for a connoisseur of that media. Avon's scheming, charming, overall very James Bond-esque in this episode. The slave trade sequence with Servalan is good fun, as are his interactions with Cancer. Lots of glorious shots of Darrow snooping around Cancer's ship with a handgun. Love those.
#15. Sand (4x09)
There's something very amusing about Avon taking the Scorpio to Virn purely out of boredom and a hunch. He really is a workaholic. This episode has some of Darrow's best dramatic speechifying. The resolution where he teases Tarrant about his relations with Servalan is very funny.
#14. Headhunter (4x06)
Darrow is enjoyably flippant throughout, clearly not taking the material very seriously. There are a couple of standout dramatic scenes though, namely Avon's frustration with Orac finally boiling over and his vicious ranting at Tarrant near the end. It's a fun performance.
#13. Gold (4x10)
Avon and heists are a combination that cannot fail. It's great to meet another shady ex-colleague of his (Keiller's personality suggests that he's always liked having a fool by his side), and Darrow clearly has a blast with the action sequences. This is the last time we see Avon and Servalan together, and their final scene does not disappoint. I also love the final moments of the episode, where he completely snaps after realising how he was outwitted.
#12. Games (4x08)
The entire mission is basically a battle of wits between Avon and Belkov, which I thought was very clever writing. Avon gets to be at his scheming best, and has some fabulous dialogue with Orac and Soolin.
#11. Space Fall (1x02)
Avon's first appearance is very economic, quickly establishing his base motives, his iconic dry humour and the spectacular ideological conflict between him and Blake. It's hardly the character's shining hour, but it's a great introduction, paving the way for better things to come.
#10. Pressure Point (2x05)
There's so much packed into this episode that I could talk about. The conversation Blake and Avon have before going to Earth is one of their very best, full of tension and intrigue, setting things up for the future and redefining their working relationship after Series A. We see Avon standing by Blake despite the numerous red flags surrounding the mission, and his obvious monomania in trying to get to Central Control. It's a good example of how he will always be Avon's blind spot. I love the scene in the empty white room, where Avon tries to steady the defeated Blake. Even though he's confronting Blake at the same time, it comes off as protective. It's a very interesting acting choice.
#9. Redemption (2x01)
Probably not a very taxing script for Darrow, but I've always greatly enjoyed how intelligently Avon is portrayed in this episode. He has an answer for everything, and it's fun watching him tear down Blake's defenses with a vicious precision that we didn't really see in Series A. It feels like Darrow and the character both really stepped up their game.
#8. Countdown (2x09)
I think this was the first episode where Paul tried to play the role with sincerity, rather than the ever-present sneer that he usually employs (or the occasional fake innocence). It is a refreshing change to have him be so vulnerable and grounded, and I think the fact that we do get to see him like that adds weight to his regular guarded performances. Because now we know where it's coming from. The dynamic he has with guest star Tom Chadbon is fantastic.
#7. Orbit (4x11)
Darrow is like an excited puppy in the first half of the episode. I don't know if it's because Robert Holmes is writing or something else, but he is in extremely high spirits and hilarious to watch. It's very out of character for Avon, but he's so unpredictable by that point anyway that it works. I like that Avon defends his criminal actions as having been 'in the pursuit of liberty'. And of course, the final act is arguably the best Blake's 7 ever written and performed.
#6. Sarcophagus (3x09)
Avon isn't really in a lot of this episode, so the reason I'm ranking it this highly is mainly due to the final confrontation between him and the Alien Queen. Aside from being a bit of phenomenal acting, I like how there's really no reason Avon could have known his scheme would have worked. He literally dared the Queen to kill him. Does he have a death wish? Did he genuinely believe Cally's love would save the day? It's a very memorable moment for the character. He has balls of steel.
#5. Star One (2x13)
I think the transition from having Blake as the lead to having Avon in that role is handled about as well as it possibly could have been. Feels very natural, especially given that Blake's flaws had really been mounting over the course of Series B. Avon's desire to finally be 'free' of Blake is a lovely bit of writing, conveying both his growing frustration and the fact that Blake was so important to him that he felt so angry to begin with. And of course Avon remains the most loyal of Blake's acolytes, loyal enough to lead the Liberator into potential doom to save humanity. It's possibly his most heroic act in the entire series and it would never have happened without Blake's influence. The stage is set for a whole new era.
#4. Aftermath (3x01)
Continuing on from Star One, Darrow portrays Avon at his most heroic (a trait that he asked the writers not to include in future episodes out of fear of losing the character's enigmatic appeal). The entire episode is centered around the character and what the show's new direction will be with him. And though I have issues with how that ultimately plays out in Series C, it's still very exciting to rewatch this episode and watch Darrow confidently take center stage. We also establish his electric dynamic with Servalan here, which will go on to play a very big part in the last two seasons.
#3. Rumours of Death (3x08)
I have mixed feelings about this episode (too overtly melodramatic for my tastes), but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't one of Darrow's absolute best performances, if not his very best. He puts everything into selling the romance with Anna. And much like in Countdown, bringing out the humanity in Avon.
#2. Blake (4x13)
I could spend hours dissecting the complicated relationship between Avon and Blake (a future article, perhaps), but suffice to say that it's brought to the perfect crescendo here. The final scene is the finest moment of Blake's 7, the culmination of all its storytelling, and it wouldn't be anywhere near as good if Darrow hadn't acted the hell out of it. The horror on his face when he thinks Blake's betrayed him, his subsequent numbness, the iconic smile at the end, it's terrific stuff. But leaving all the obvious things aside, I love seeing Avon wander the hostile landscape of Gauda Prime, with nothing other than Orac for company. It's very evocative imagery. There's also some wonderful final interactions with Vila that harken back to earlier episodes.
#1. Terminal (3x13)
This is my favourite Darrow performance because of two things. One, for how unique it is. Avon is so cold, quiet and focused in this episode that he almost resembles an unstoppable slasher villain. He threatens the crew into submission with a gun instead of wit. It's very eerie to watch. Two, because this is the episode that confirms Avon genuinely cared about Blake more than anything. It was always a great bit of subtext, but to have the show bring it out was something I hadn't expected and made the experience of going through the whole thing feel very rewarding. To me, their relationship was the core of the series and it's at the forefront here more than in any other episode (with Blake being a possible exception, but I prefer Terminal because Avon doesn't have to go to him, he just does for the sake of it). Seeing the two of them briefly reunite was very touching, and Avon's fury at being tricked by that was awesome.
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