Classic BBC Sci-fi Series Blake's 7 To Return On Syfy Channel

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Classic BBC Sci-fi Series Blake's 7 To Return On Syfy Channel

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday April 9, 2013 @06:23AM from the what's-old-is-new dept.

Zaiff Urgulbunger writes "According to the BBC, 'Cult classic sci-fi series Blake's 7 is to be remade for the Syfy network, it has been announced. FremantleMedia International said 13 hour-long episodes will be written by Heroes writer Joe Pokaski.' Here's hoping the special effects budget will be higher than for the original series! Also, I'm hoping that the Liberator is of similar design and includes Zen — the ships computer."

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I'll miss the old school special effects by VAXcat · 2013-04-09 06:29 · Score: 3, Insightful

It always looked like they could make it to the next starbase, if they didn't run out of steam and iron filings.

--
There is no God, and Dirac is his prophet.
1. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by MickyTheIdiot · 2013-04-09 06:42 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I recently re-watched Blakes' 7 while down recovering from surgery, and it has good stories. It has good stories probably because they didn't have to rely on the effects.
  The new Doctor Who now has a good budget, but they have gotten over reliant on the imagery at times. All newer sci-fi has.
  I'm looking forward to a new series (even if it is on SeeFee) and I hope they keep with the gritty, amoral feel they had in the old series. Better effects... sure, but it won't be any good without good writing.
2. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by Zaiff+Urgulbunger · 2013-04-09 06:54 · Score: 2
  
  A "special effect" from the first series that I was particularly amused by was the doors; they had doors that swung on hinges and had handles used to "operate" them.... but get this.... they make a kind of whooshing noise! - Skip to about 40 seconds in, and marvel at the future tech!
3. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by fermion · 2013-04-09 07:03 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  If they blow the entire budget on fx then all will be lost. Blake's 7 was arguable about Avon and Servilan, the force in which Paul and Jacqueline played those characters. It is kind of like bones and spock. Sure Blake and Kirk were important, but the melodrama kind of made the show, and the fx were of little consequence.
  It is going to be interesting to see what SyFy does with it. A lot of their stuff lately is industrial fashion or magics, which does not really lend itself to Blake. Battlestar Galactica is more in line, but they even that included unnecessary magics. The social commentary in Blake is subtle and morality ambiguous, something that is hard to do on and American TV show.
  
  --
  "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
4. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by snookerdoodle · 2013-04-09 07:06 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Around our house, we call SyFy "The Wrestling Channel". :)
5. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by geekoid · 2013-04-09 07:25 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  " It has good stories probably because they didn't have to rely on the effects."
  no ,it has a good story becasue it was written well. I could list many, many bad show that also didn't have effects.
  "The new Doctor Who now has a good budget, but they have gotten over reliant on the imagery at times. All newer sci-fi has."
  yes, it was the over reliant of imagery that had my daughter crying, and me come down with a sudden case of 'hay fever' at the end of the pond story line.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
6. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by troff · 2013-04-09 09:40 · Score: 2
  
  Not likely.
  The old Doctor Who had the occasional grim-and-gritty (the kind that made Question Time in Parliament complain about it). The new Who is full of "if you hope and feel hard enough, you can overcome alien technology, incomprehensible gods and the laws of physics". Even the last episode was proof enough of that.
  I've met Gareth Thomas. I weep for Blake. The new Avon will probably look like Sheldon Cooper, Vila will be cool and Cally will probably be slutting up to everybody. Remember what Galactica's new producers said in an early interview - we're gonna modernise. That means sex with hot blonde robots.
7. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by Anaerin · 2013-04-09 11:41 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  And you probably won't see it rebroadcast. Fortunately there are some archivally-minded individuals that have made all 4 series available at a certain Privateer's Cove.
8. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by RLiegh · 2013-04-09 12:34 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  At my house, we call SyFy "the reason we cancelled the cable service"
9. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by a_hanso · 2013-04-09 14:27 · Score: 2
  
  I'd love it if they keep:
  1. The gritty, amoral feel and the 1984 style theme
  2. The liberator, zen, orac and the liberator interior
  3. Avon's witticisms (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0026780/quotes) and Servalan
  4. The theme music
  Actually you know what? Just keep the original. Recently, I watched everything up to the point where the liberator was destroyed (I can't stand the Scorpio), and I see no reason to remake it.
10. Re:I'll miss the old school special effects by ericdano · 2013-04-09 16:05 · Score: 2
  
  Its actually a 70s show.
  Avon is really the star of the show. The show got WAY better when they dumped Gaan (the big giant guy) and picked up ORAC.
  Of course Villa was essential in the show as well.
  
  --
  It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
  I moderate therefore I rule!
  --
News implies that it's recent right? by fewnorms · 2013-04-09 06:34 · Score: 2

Cause if so, here's an article from August 2012, pretty much detailing the exact same thing ...
Either way, cool beans!

--
Veni, Vidi, Velcro!
Bring back ORAC! by SuricouRaven · 2013-04-09 06:36 · Score: 5, Interesting

The stuck-up, annoyingly smug computer. It's a billion times smarter than the rest of the crew put together, and doesn't try to hide it. A computer so obnoxious, most conversations ended with someone cutting the power to shut it up. I want to see ORAC again.
How many other computers, when asked if they can perform a video analysis task, announce they just did it - but won't share the result, considering such menial number-crunching beneath them?
1. Re:Bring back ORAC! by Darinbob · 2013-04-09 08:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  How many other computers, when asked if they can perform a video analysis task, announce they just did it - but won't share the result,
  Stop reminding us about Widnows 8!
2. Re:Bring back ORAC! by SuricouRaven · 2013-04-09 09:30 · Score: 2
  
  Marvin did what he was told. He just complained continuously about how underutilised he was. Brain the size of a planet.
But... by Stormy+Dragon · 2013-04-09 06:36 · Score: 4, Funny

Will the remake have BRIAN BLESSED? Because if not, what's the point??
1. Re:But... by h4rr4r · 2013-04-09 06:54 · Score: 2
  
  When did that happen?
  Wiki seems to think he is alive.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Blessed
2. Re:But... by Bacon+Bits · 2013-04-09 07:13 · Score: 2
  
  To be fair, BRIAN BLESSED would be more sonorous dead than most people are alive.
  
  --
  The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
3. Re:But... by snowjest · 2013-04-09 07:22 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  But surely everyone knows that BRIAN'S ALIVE!
4. Re:But... by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2013-04-09 07:27 · Score: 2
  
  Blessed's ALIVE!!
5. Re:But... by bfandreas · 2013-04-09 07:33 · Score: 2
  
  The US is where BBC series go to die. No pining for the fjords.
  They left Basil Fawlty out of their version of Fawlty Towers for crying out loud! It will be horrible. Like an office christmas disco whithout the alcohol.
  
  So please, please do not take Brian's name in vain.
  
  --
  20 minutes into the future
6. Re:But... by Richy_T · 2013-04-09 07:57 · Score: 2
  
  No, you misread. It's "Zombies eat brains". Not "Brians".
Sci-fi on Syfy? by Dracos · 2013-04-09 06:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

Say it ain't so. I wonder when they'll squeeze this into the schedule between all the wrestling and other ratings-chasing dreck.
But we won't know if it's a true SciFi series until it gets unceremoniously cancelled for no good reason.
1. Re:Sci-fi on Syfy? by CanHasDIY · 2013-04-09 06:52 · Score: 2
  
  I wonder when they'll squeeze this into the schedule between all the wrestling and other ratings-chasing dreck.
  Every time I start to wonder if I should have the cable re-connected, somebody says something like this, and it reminds me of why I dropped that overpriced crapfest in the first place.
  
  --
  An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon. by khasim · 2013-04-09 06:42 · Score: 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMxbqyz1VY8
Although I fully expect the US version to be as bad (or worse) than the US version of Red Dwarf.
1. Re:Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon. by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2013-04-09 07:20 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  as bad (or worse) than the US version of Red Dwarf.
  That is not possible. Nothing can be worse than the US version of Red Dwarf. I have a true love of BAD movies and TV, but even I had to shut off the US version of Red Dwarf less than 10 minutes in.
  
  --
  If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
2. Re:Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon. by citizenr · 2013-04-09 07:31 · Score: 2
  
  as bad (or worse) than the US version of Red Dwarf.
  That is not possible. Nothing can be worse than the US version of Red Dwarf.
  US version of Top Gear, not to mention Australian version.
  
  --
  Who logs in to gdm? Not I, said the duck.
3. Re:Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon. by bfandreas · 2013-04-09 07:59 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  They did Fawlty Towers and didn't bother to include Basil Fawlty. But we shouldn't fault them because he was easy to overlook if your bucket-hat didn't have eyeholes cut out.
  I said it before and will say it again: The US is where Brit series go to die.
  After I heard they wanted to do their very own The Prisoner I really wished for shades that go black when approached by danger. But they ruined that one, too.
  
  This is a TV station that renamed themself from SciFi to SyFy cuz misspeeling ur ohn neme iz kool.
  Shouldn't they be filming Fucktopus vs. Turdosaur or something?
  
  --
  20 minutes into the future
4. Re:Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon. by Kittenman · 2013-04-09 09:45 · Score: 2
  
  as bad (or worse) than the US version of Red Dwarf.
  That is not possible. Nothing can be worse than the US version of Red Dwarf.
  US version of Top Gear, not to mention Australian version.
  US version of 'Death at a Funeral'
  
  --
  "The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
My emotions as I started reading... by emag · 2013-04-09 06:45 · Score: 5, Interesting

Classic BBC Sci-fi Series Blake's 7 To Return
*gasp!* *overwhelming joy*

On Syfy Channel
*neutral* "Oh...."

is to be remade
*anger* "... fuck!"

by Heroes writer
*rage* "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!"
Maybe I should just import a Region 2 DVD player and the discs from the UK, since it looks like it never got released here in the US.

--
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H.L. Mencken
1. Re:My emotions as I started reading... by JaredOfEuropa · 2013-04-09 06:49 · Score: 2
  
  Order the R2 discs, then just hit the Pirate Bay for copies you can watch.
  
  --
  If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
2. Re:My emotions as I started reading... by mattack2 · 2013-04-09 07:36 · Score: 2
  
  Actually, maybe this new show will cause whoever has the rights to the original to try to cash in and release the original on DVD/BluRay in the U.S.
  "Blake's 7" is the only other science fiction show I like almost as much as I like "Star Trek". Both have dud episodes, and with there being 52 eps of Blake's 7 airing weekly, I stopped watching at one point after I'd seen them all, then the next times I randomly caught an episode, I think I saw the same dud episode (they're stuck on a planet and 'monsters' that end up being bioengineered humans are trying to break in).. It's probably a quirk of memory, though..
  I think a remake could be good, and could be bad. It may be blasphemy, but I think the U.S. "The Office" is at least as good as the original, though both are funny. Heck, at worst it's "accumulatively" as good as the original since there are tons more episodes, leading to more laughs total.
Re:Shit! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-04-09 06:48 · Score: 2, Informative

Agreed - I think Blake's original backstory is more than good enough for today's audience. The "former soldier who's lost his wife" thing struck me as very odd, and very unnecessary.
However, the description of the reboot that I read did include the "escape while en route to a penal colony (Cygnus Alpha?)" and mention of an alien ship (Liberator.)
Re:SyFy - rhymes with iffy by MickyTheIdiot · 2013-04-09 06:59 · Score: 2

Since it seems to have gone over your head, I *was* making fun of the name.
Summary by someone who never saw the original? by wonkey_monkey · 2013-04-09 07:13 · Score: 3, Informative

Here's hoping the special effects budget will be higher than for the original series!
No, no, no. What we should really be hoping for is that the effects budgets doesn't matter because the writing and characterisation will be so strong.
Still, an American remake of a popular British series - what could possibly go wrong?

--
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
1. Re:Summary by someone who never saw the original? by swb · 2013-04-09 08:26 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  You're generally right, but the American version of Life on Mars wasn't bad on it's own merits, even if it was somehow not as good as the British version.
  At least the cast was decent -- it seemed unusual to have Keitel, Mol, Imperioli all on a network TV series.
2. Re:Summary by someone who never saw the original? by mrbester · 2013-04-09 11:27 · Score: 2
  
  UK Life on Mars tapped into the collective memory of at least two generations of Brits remembering how dismal life was for the average family in the 70s. The country was nearly bankrupt (UK was described as the "poor man of Europe"), inflation was in double figures, there were three day weeks (meaning less pay) because of electricity blackouts, rising unemployment, the Government in thrall of the trade unions calling strikes every other week, Brent crude prices (when oil was a major export revenue stream) were tanking and it was the height of the Troubles with IRA attacks happening with alarming frequency.
  While the US had its own problems, most Brits only saw US life through glitzy imported shows and saw lifestyles that were almost incomprehensible in their luxuriousness. Even Hill Street Blues. That's how much in the shit we were.
  US Life on Mars couldn't tap into despair felt by an entire nation, especially as it is a peculiarly British mannerism to be nostalgic for hard times.
  
  --
  "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
Re:Funny You Should Mention This by Minwee · 2013-04-09 07:22 · Score: 4, Funny

They used to spell it "Sci Fi", but changed it to avoid charges of false advertising.
Fool me 100 times by ArhcAngel · 2013-04-09 07:28 · Score: 2

When Eureka ended so did my need to ever watch SyFy. I lamented FarScape for over a year and watched as SG and its myriad of spinoffs deteriorated but at least I got to see Ben Browder do his one liners again. Then just as I am actually starting to see some potential in the Universe franchise they pull another Fox. It's not like I didn't see it coming but I am a masochistic optimist. Thank you...NO.

--
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
Re:Meh. The change from SciFi to SyFy by kannibal_klown · 2013-04-09 07:41 · Score: 2

I have lots of complaints about the switch from SciFi to SyFy. Revamping a classic series isn't one of them. I mean, really, they've only revamped one that I know of prior to this (BSG).
The Battlestar Galactica show was pretty solid. Sure, it was either "love it or hate it" but a lot of people liked it. Sure, it wasn't the same as the old one... but it had moments.
My biggest complaint is with the brand change, they have been dropping home-brewed science fiction series and favoring reality shows + wresting. And the Saturday evening B-movie fest is still lame.
I'm not saying Blake's 7: The Next Generation (or whatever) is going to be good. But it's at least it's a scripted science fiction show. With Warehouse 13 reaching the end of its contract and some of their other shows dropped... it's a welcome addition. As much as I LOVE the Canadian imports, it would be good for them to do some stuff themselves.
Talking about getting old TV shows back... SG:U by xirtam_work · 2013-04-09 08:21 · Score: 2

Personally, I'd rather they leave Blakes 7 alone, it was great for it's time. If anyone were to bring it back it should be the BBC, like they've done with Doctor Who.
As for other shows that should be back on TV there's Stargate Universe which was cruelly cancelled before its time. Why not help out to get it back on the air again via Netflix and sign the Change.org petition linked below. There's little point asking SyFy as they don't seem to know anything about science fiction anyway.
http://www.change.org/petitions/netflix-save-stargate-universe
The other day there were 3000 signatures, today it's over 4000. With the help of Slashdot I reckon we could hit over 10K in no time. The target is 100K I think.
Re:Funny You Should Mention This by rjstanford · 2013-04-09 08:34 · Score: 2

You have to admit that the final finale was brilliant, though. "You're going to bring us back for another season? Oh, I think not..."
Although it still has the possibility of Avon somehow ducking and letting the circular firing squad just shoot itself, but that's somewhat unlikely given the length of the barrage.

--
You're special forces then? That's great! I just love your olympics!
Re:Meh. The change from SciFi to SyFy by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · 2013-04-09 08:37 · Score: 2

I recall people making exactly the same argument when the Doctor Who reboot was announced.

OK, bad example. I'll still take Tom Baker or Peter Davison over Matt Smith or David Tenant any day of the week.
Re:Funny You Should Mention This by Darinbob · 2013-04-09 08:52 · Score: 2

The set of people who watch SyFy have a lot of overlap with the set of people who thought Heroes had excellent writing.
What we really need on cable is a science fiction channel...
Re:Funny You Should Mention This by dbIII · 2013-04-09 13:26 · Score: 2

Without his 'difficult' relationship with the computer expert Avon (and Orac) it wouldn't have been nearly as entertaining.
In one episode the two of them were in a shuttle that was just too heavy to make it back to their ship. After Avon threw out everything he could find ORAC informed him they still needed to shed 73 kilos, and "Villa weighs 70 kilos". The next scene has Avon walking through the ship, pistol in hand, calling Villa is light tones as if calling a dog for dinner.
Trek never came close.

Another amusing thing is Michael Keating, who plays Villa, is very tall but manages to "act short" and comes across as a little scheming man and not a six foot hundred kilo guy that could have put in a good showing on the football field.
There's some very bad acting in Blakes 7 as well (apparently via the casting couch), a cardboard cutout pilot character that nobody could have done much with and some dodgy writing at times, but we forgive it for the moments where everything just works.