#b7 cast

[jaelijn]

I made a gif of Michael Keating for no real reason other than because this is cute, so I guess tumblr might as well have it, too.

From Unicon '89.

[jaelijn]

Paul Darrow in Port of Secrets (NRK, 1974)

A bit of a break from regular Blake's 7 today because it was about time I made some PoS gifs! (Hey, I'm allowed at least one non-B7 Darrow thing every year! ;))

One of the most exiting things this year was the re-release of an old TV serial featuring a young Paul Darrow. You can view it all for free on the NRK website!

If you like mystery/detective-y stuff, "Mission to Destiny" or even just Paul Darrow - it's well worth it.

GPD Calendar Masterpost

[jaelijn]

So... story time. Today’s gift is was something I talked about a couple of days ago already, but then I decided I wanted to do a transcript, and well - it turns out there is no way I will finish the transcript while this Calendar is running, as I am not even managing to carve out enough free time to watch it all, so without further ado, you are getting it today:

The tapes of the Unicon Convention 1989 that I found on Internet Archive, featuring, clearly, Paul Darrow and Michael Keating but also Terry Nation. Whoever filmed it clearly was in it for PD, as the camera tends to focus on him a lot, but you get to see the other guests, too.

Gauda Prime Day Calendar 2020 Masterpost

Two remarks to begin with:

1) I haven’t watched/listened to all the tapes yet, so below I’m only commenting on the bits that I have watched (some of the first two hours or so). And perhaps I am the last person to find these, given how long I take to look for behind the scenes stuff, but if you haven’t seen them, there is definitely stuff there to be enjoyed. I also think they are invaluable as historic fandom material for B7.

2) There is definitely some stuff said in these / stuff said in ways that today would be... politically questionable. There’s also a lot of smoking. I won’t discuss these things except to say that they are there, and that this is a historic document, even if it is “only” 30 years old, and should be viewed in that context. If you want to talk about how inappropriate these people may be / may have been, please do it in your own post.

My personal highlights, as far as I have watched it, under the cut for length:

Paul Darrow is astonishingly touch-y (I really do understand now why the Fanlore article on A/V alluded to fans maybe have been shipping the characters more because of the actors’ easy con relationship even before I edited any of it). In fact, his entire body language is fascinating, also because of the ways in which it differs from Avon’s. He also sounds nothing like Avon, or very rarely. I don’t know if that’s the quality of the mic / vid, but it’s astonishing - especially compared to Michael Keating, who sounds entirely like Vila.

Their banter is inspirational and MK gives as good as he gets (better).

Michael Keating talking about Sir Patrick Stewart as if he were nobody and not being able to remember his name (ST TNG had only just started airing).

“Has anyone seen Red Dwarf?” - MK: “No, but I saw a pink elephant this morning.”

The first panel’s theme is “Heroes and Villains” and the question for MK whether he considers Vila a hero or villain is both fascinating, also because it leads into a discussion of “Orbit”, and incredibly entertaining.

FAN: Since you both survived, do you think the character of Vila could forgive the character of Avon?

[...]

MK: I think Vila would be forgiving, but weary.

PD: Right at the end of that episode you did something – right at the end of “Orbit” I mean Michael became quite hard as Vila on Avon

MK: I mean, you know, he was, this man who he sort of trusted and needed, you know, was going to kill him. Yes. (to PD) Wouldn’t you?

PD: What?

MK:        Feel a bit… hard, suspicious, worried, because of who… [indistinct]

PD:         But it was nothing personal, it was strictly business.

MK:       Well, I know. Horrible thing to be thinking of, how could you. You’d’ve lost all your fans. (to the fan) That’s why you’re a Vila fan.

FAN: That’s one reason, anyway.

PD: What’s the other reason?

MK: I’m better looking.

*laughter and applause*

MK: And I’ve got my own hair.

The second panel is called “Liars” (starts at about 50min into the vid) and its entire premise is that everything the people say and the ways questions are phrased is a lie of some shape or form, “lie” being somewhat loosely defined (TN is addressed as Gene Roddenberry, for instance). This is hilarious and should be brought back for modern con panel. I also learned that MK can lie with an utterly straight face while every “lie” PD utters gains a sarcastic undertone, so perhaps it’s not just “Assassin” that made fan writers claim that Avon doesn’t lie well. 

There is a question on whether Orac could control Gan’s limiter (oooooh) and, I kid you not, TN answers it with "Interesting you should ask that. Interesting. It actually… we have to lie a little, because Gan was a sex maniac. And the limiter was there to try and stop him doing all these terrible things.“ If this LIARS panel is the origin of that nonsense uh, very interesting interpretation, I might just die laughing.

[jaelijn]

And Michael Keating! :D

Unfortunately, you practically can’t hear him at all, but I’ve left the sound in for the snippets you can make out. Also, look at this! :D

[jaelijn]

More of Paul Darrow!

Sharing this one primarily because even though my camera picked up the music way louder than it was you can actually hear what he’s saying. And well, because I love Maine Coons. They are beautiful cats. If a bit hairy. ;)

[jaelijn]

Blake’s 7: Roj Blake

Er cof am Gareth Thomas (1945-2016), gorffwys mewn hedd.