Just been watching The Web. This episode has a lot of problems. It strikes me as if someone came up with the plot, they got the costumes and the base together and forgot all about dialogue until the last minute and then just wrote it really quickly. The decimas are OK as aliens as are the two humanoids defrending the base.
The last of the Lost is a really naff special effect, but I don't care about that; it works for what it is meant to be. As I said, my main problem is the lack of any good dialogue. This epsidoe is noted for its Avon-Blake interaction and has been used by many to hint at a closer realtionship between the two, but though the actions portray trust and comradeship, the dialogue doesn't. Even the last scene talking about change and so on had none of the hallmarks of later conversations between the two.
I've always thought it a dull episode, but on re-watching I see, with a bit more thought and work, it had the potential to be up there among the best. The basis was a good idea. Research to modify people genetically accidentally creates a new race of thinking beings. Blake put in a dilemma of giving them the power to save the Liberator also gives them the power to destroy the decimas. Avon is typically very clear and can't understand Blake's reluctance. All good stuff. An opportunity wasted.
-- cheers Steve Rogerson http://homepages.poptel.org.uk/steve.rogerson
Redemption 03, 21-23 February 2003, Ashford, Kent Celebrating 25 years of Blake's 7 and 10 years of Babylon 5 http://www.smof.com/redemption
--- Steve wrote:
Just been watching The Web. This episode has a lot of problems. It strikes me as if someone came up with the plot, they got the costumes and the base together and forgot all about dialogue until the last minute and then just wrote it really quickly. The decimas are OK as aliens as are the two humanoids defrending the base.
I don't know about the costumes and sets (recycled or new ?) but the plot predates the dialogue by about 15 years.
1963 - The Daleks
The Doctor and his companions are trapped on an alien planet. In order to escape they must intervene in a war between two races, beautiful humanoids versus blobby things in machines. The nasty race wants to irradiate the planet but the nice race breaks in and trashes the Laboratory wiping them out.
1978 - The Web
The Liberator is in Orbit around an alien planet. In order to escape they must intervene in a war between two races on a planet, mechanised beautiful humanoids versus blobby things. The nasty race wants to irradiate the planet but the less nasty race breaks in and trashes the laboratory wiping them out.
I've no evidence whatsoever, but despite it's early place in the series history I am certain that 'The Web' was written in a hurry to get the episode quota up to par. I'd be interested to find out if I am wrong.
'The Web', like 'The Daleks' also begins the transition of the programmes anti-hero into a more sympathetic character. As this is B7 the transition is less marked.
Stephen.
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From: Steve Rogerson steve.rogerson@mcr1.poptel.org.uk
This epsidoe is noted for its Avon-Blake
May I formally present the motion that in future the word 'episode' be replaced throughout fan discussion with the word 'epsidoe', with a view to reducing wear and tear on 'delete' keys right across the globe? This could save the planet, you know.
Neil
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Neil Faulkner -
Stephen Date -
Steve Rogerson