As I said in the last post Horizon and Pressure Point were where I started watching B7. Which is NOT the ideal place to start but when you're watching it on PBS at midnight you can't be choosy. This episode is where everything changes. It should go without saying that this review will be spoiler heavy. On the off chance that you are just now watching this series I suggest you watch the episode first.
The episode opens with Mutt and Jeff, err Arle and Berg, getting themselves blown up while scouting Control. Worst. Rebels. Ever. Control is revealed to be the master computer of the federation. It controls literally everything across the whole of federation space. Let's just ignore the laws of physics and such and roll with it.
We cut to the bridge of the Liberator. Last time we talked about Blake's growing hubris. This week it comes even more to the fore. Blake has convinced the crew to skirt the edge of the Sol System and check out the defenses. Except that's not really the plan. He intends to attack earth itself and take out Control. Through manipulation he forces the rest of the crew to go along. All except Avon of course. Avon simply wants Blake gone leading the rebellion so that he can have Liberator to himself. Hey, at least he's honest.
Unfortunately while this is going on Blake's partner in crime Kasabi is busy getting her men slaughtered. I'm tempted to forgive a lot of the rebels in this series for being inept. Most of them are not trained soldiers or skilled generals. Kasabi doesn't get a pass however. It's revealed that she was an instructor in the academy. She was even Servelan's instructor. Kasabi's defection instills a deep hatred in Servelan's. Not that she needs much reason to hate. With a little truth serum, courtesy of Travis, Kasabi is singing like a canary about her plans with Blake. Unfortunately a little too much serum kills her and the only survivor is her daughter Veron.
When Kasabi's signal is late in coming Blake almost calls the whole thing off. However, the signal finally comes through. Now obviously Travis and Servelan's are on the other end of the line and the crew is deeply suspicious. Blake can't let it go however and brow beats everyone into moving forward. He and Gan teleport down and meet with Veron who tells them about the massacre. Meanwhile Avon and Vila teleport to Control. They cannot teleport inside, of course, or even right to the front door. Instead to get inside one must cross a field covered in antimatter wires that explode on contact and self repair in a matter of seconds when cut.
Cally and Jenna teleport Vila and Avon to meet with Blake and Gan. As progressive as Blake's 7 was it was decidedly lacking in the use of its female leads. Which is sad. Jenna and Cally were strong female characters who had tremendously more potential than being damsels in distress or left behinds. Although to be fair, Jenna was written as an exceptional pilot. I suppose I wouldn't have wanted to risk her either on land missions.
Typical men, Blake and the boys get suckered by a pretty face and Veron knocks them all out with a gas grenade. I bet they wish one of the ladies had been there to watch their backs now! Of course nothing can keep our crew down so they escape, retrieve their bracelets and escape before Travis arrives to apprehend them. After a nail biting scene where they they cross the mined field one by one they break into Control. Of course there are the obligatory booby traps that don't actually protect anything and serve more as an inconvenience. Finally they break into the control room.
We cut to the bridge of the Liberator. Last time we talked about Blake's growing hubris. This week it comes even more to the fore. Blake has convinced the crew to skirt the edge of the Sol System and check out the defenses. Except that's not really the plan. He intends to attack earth itself and take out Control. Through manipulation he forces the rest of the crew to go along. All except Avon of course. Avon simply wants Blake gone leading the rebellion so that he can have Liberator to himself. Hey, at least he's honest.
Unfortunately while this is going on Blake's partner in crime Kasabi is busy getting her men slaughtered. I'm tempted to forgive a lot of the rebels in this series for being inept. Most of them are not trained soldiers or skilled generals. Kasabi doesn't get a pass however. It's revealed that she was an instructor in the academy. She was even Servelan's instructor. Kasabi's defection instills a deep hatred in Servelan's. Not that she needs much reason to hate. With a little truth serum, courtesy of Travis, Kasabi is singing like a canary about her plans with Blake. Unfortunately a little too much serum kills her and the only survivor is her daughter Veron.
When Kasabi's signal is late in coming Blake almost calls the whole thing off. However, the signal finally comes through. Now obviously Travis and Servelan's are on the other end of the line and the crew is deeply suspicious. Blake can't let it go however and brow beats everyone into moving forward. He and Gan teleport down and meet with Veron who tells them about the massacre. Meanwhile Avon and Vila teleport to Control. They cannot teleport inside, of course, or even right to the front door. Instead to get inside one must cross a field covered in antimatter wires that explode on contact and self repair in a matter of seconds when cut.
Cally and Jenna teleport Vila and Avon to meet with Blake and Gan. As progressive as Blake's 7 was it was decidedly lacking in the use of its female leads. Which is sad. Jenna and Cally were strong female characters who had tremendously more potential than being damsels in distress or left behinds. Although to be fair, Jenna was written as an exceptional pilot. I suppose I wouldn't have wanted to risk her either on land missions.
Typical men, Blake and the boys get suckered by a pretty face and Veron knocks them all out with a gas grenade. I bet they wish one of the ladies had been there to watch their backs now! Of course nothing can keep our crew down so they escape, retrieve their bracelets and escape before Travis arrives to apprehend them. After a nail biting scene where they they cross the mined field one by one they break into Control. Of course there are the obligatory booby traps that don't actually protect anything and serve more as an inconvenience. Finally they break into the control room.
Blake preparing for the big musical number.
Of course there is nothing there. Travis captures them and gives the standard villain monologue. Apparently Control one was moved to a super duper top secret base decades ago. Luckily for everyone involved the ladies are smarter than the men in the crew and save the day. Cally and Veron take Serelan hostage and force Travis to let everyone go. Now, how they got into control so quickly without getting killed by the antimatter mine or booby traps is a great question. But if the writers weren't worried about it then why should we.
This is all your fault.
Of course Travis and Servelan's aren't going to just let someone get away from them and a chase scene happens. Travis' solution to escapees? Freaking grenades. Inside. In an underground base. Brilliance I tell you! Sadly, his plan sorta works and we lose one of our main characters.
No jokes here. This one is just sad.
This was a game changing moment at its time. A main character being killed was an extreme event. But this really changed the tone of the series where it was now apparent that even the crew wasn't safe. Veron chooses to stay behind, because she wants to die I guess, and the survivors escape back to the Liberator stunned by their loss. Supposedly there was a proposed plot where Veron killed Gan without the crew knowing and left with them. I think that would have been an incredibly interesting plot but I don't know why it wasn't pursued.
Final Thoughts:
Despite a few flaws and wobbly sets I loved this episode. It changed the series with the death of Gan and sets up a story arc for the rest of the season where they search for the new location of Control. Blake's descent into obsession and prideful undoing is also nicely shown here. He's becoming someone who refuses to listen to the advise of others and in this episode it costs us dearly.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Favorite Quote:
Vila- I don't want to go.
Avon- You surprise me.
Vila- I don't feel well. I'm going to be a big handicap.
Avon- I'm used to that.
Coffee of the Day:
Folgers Gourmet Supreme. I'm not normally a Folgers man but several of their dark roasts are quite good. My wife and I love the Gourmet Supreme and have been waiting for it to be released in K Cups. Now that it is out we keep it for weekends and special occasions. Of course this episode counted as a special occasion. So go pour a cup of coffee, preferably Gourmet Supreme, and watch Pressure Point.
Despite a few flaws and wobbly sets I loved this episode. It changed the series with the death of Gan and sets up a story arc for the rest of the season where they search for the new location of Control. Blake's descent into obsession and prideful undoing is also nicely shown here. He's becoming someone who refuses to listen to the advise of others and in this episode it costs us dearly.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Favorite Quote:
Vila- I don't want to go.
Avon- You surprise me.
Vila- I don't feel well. I'm going to be a big handicap.
Avon- I'm used to that.
Coffee of the Day:
Folgers Gourmet Supreme. I'm not normally a Folgers man but several of their dark roasts are quite good. My wife and I love the Gourmet Supreme and have been waiting for it to be released in K Cups. Now that it is out we keep it for weekends and special occasions. Of course this episode counted as a special occasion. So go pour a cup of coffee, preferably Gourmet Supreme, and watch Pressure Point.