Is Blake's cause thus a disguised attempt to legitimize and restore patriarchal authority? Discuss.
Una
Cally-as-warrior, in her first depiction, was going to try to singlehandedly destroy a complex staffed basically by the male Federation troopers. Vila, in City, unites with a woman to fight Babin, a perfectly macho man. Macho men are hardly portrayed sympathetically in the 'hairy barbarian' storylines. Avon, as a thin, quiet, intellectual, is in the 'effeminate' role according to past cultural biases. He is often referred to on this list as a Geek, which has only been considered a good thing for one decade. Tarrant is perhaps the most 'masculine' figure, yet he is also frequently abrasive and the crew does not choose him to lead them. Blake has no love interest ever mentioned, alone of all the men. He does not seek to take power when he overthrows the Federation, but rather wishes worlds to have independent rule. He works with Avalon and Le Grande.
I think Blake's 7 consicously tries to *not* be a sexist, patriarchal show, although it is difficult. Should a show be written with no vilianesses? Do that, and you show no strong women in antagonistic roles, and the Federation becomes in itself a sexist organization. Shold a show never put the female protagonists in danger? Do that and there's a problem with predictablilty as well as believability. Of course, Cally and Jenna should have had better roles with more leadership. Dayna should have had a dramatic, solo death as her desire to kill Servalan pushed her beyond the bounds of sense. Soolin might have not rejoined the other rebels on Guada Prime and had a spin-off series of her own. That's what I'd do to get rid of the bias that was inherent in the series-- the main one being that the nice girls let the boys be leader instead of pushing their own agendas.