Villordsutch reviews Big Finish Audio Productions’ Blakes 7 – Mirror…
Written by Peter Anghelides
Directed by Ken Bentley
Sound Design by Alistair Lock
Starring Gareth Thomas (Roj Blake), Paul Darrow (Kerr Avon), Michael Keating (Vila Restal),Jan Chappell (Cally), Sally Knyvette (Jenna Stannis), Brian Croucher (Travis),Alistair Lock (Zen/Orac), Bethan Walker (Locklan), Hugh Fraser (The President)
Following on from last month’s episode Drones, we come close to the end of the trail of breadcrumbs left with intent by an unknown player which the crew of the Liberator know is surely a trap. With Orac becoming more and more worried that somewhere out there is a computer that is somewhat better than him – a computer named “FedOrac” – the crew split with the female members going to Planet Vere and the chaps going to Stellidar Four to solve the mystery behind the new computer on the block. However Travis, the old enemy of Blake and Company, makes an appearance to see to it that this doesn’t go easy for the crew of the Liberator.
We have two stories here, the A story with the chaps in the Liberator and the B story with the ladies on the Planet, and it’s the B story that lets down the complete package; not tragically, but enough for you wanting it to hurry up so you can get back to the A story. When returning to Blake, Avon and Vila on Stellidar Four the story picks up a fair bit and it tromps around and we are met with robots, disintegration of all three male leads and the discovery of what FedOrac actually is. The problem is when the B story breaks in it comes to a grinding halt. I feel it may have been better dropping the whole crew in the base on Stellidar Four and expanding that story instead.
What isn’t lost however within both stories is the technical achievement with the sound effects and noise trickery given to voices, rooms and markets etc. The wizards who sit behind the mixing desks at the Big Finish studios certainly need a round of applause when it comes to what they deliver on these discs.
This month’s Blake’s 7 is good but unfortunately not great; still worth a purchase but sadly let down by not having much to do for the female members of the crew.
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 April 25, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
