Villordsutch reviews Big Finish Audio Productions’ Blakes 7 – Drones…
Written by Marc Platt.
Directed by Ken Bentley.
Starring Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal),Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Tim Treloar (Bru Renderson), Sara Powell (Dr Cara Petrus).
It’s been a good few years since I’ve watched Blakes 7 (on VHS tape) and I clearly recall what Blake did at the end of Season 4 (it still haunts me) and what happened to The Liberator (the coolest of all starships) in Season 3. It’s due to this I’m guessing that this episode falls either in Season 1 or Season 2 of the TV series. You may remember the odd ropey episode in those Seasons but they are general considered to be the strongest, which is rather good really when you’re making a full cast driven Audio Production of Blakes 7.
This story continues on from episode 1.2 ‘Battleground’ where The Liberator has taken damage and Orac, to give the ship time to repair itself, has taken control from Zen and has landed the Liberator into the ocean planet used by the Federation for war games. The opposing forces of the Federation in the war games are criminals, which can be for example a benefit thieving chef or a nurse who has commented on more the more influential people receiving promotions. One of the weapons being trialed in these games is a nano-sized robot insect which, once it stings a person, its toxin begins to vibrate the body’s cells until they get hotter and hotter before finally exploding like a bomb. Whilst on the planet Vila is stung by one of the nano insects, and during all of this Avon discovers Orac is growing smarter and a bit more paranoid.
As you can see from the cast list above is that you have nearly all the Blakes 7 cast back here. It’s rather fantastic and the only hint of aging I can hear is in Gareth’s voice (he occasionally reminded me of Colin Baker) but considering it’s over thirty years since Mr Thomas played Roj Blake I can let it go. The supporting cast too are well played, as are the sound effects used on the production; when they were on the planet the sound engineer must have had an “Abandoned Quarry” effect on his mixing as it sounded spot on.
At around an hour long you’re getting a very good Blakes 7 episode here that will easily fit into your Blakes 7 history and as the theme music kicks in you’ll be grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
Originally published March 28, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
