Blakes 7: The Web

May 18, 2016 1:50 AM - Season 1, Episode 5

Aka The One With The Mud Men. The crew get new outfits, including Gan who chooses a lovely macrame vest. But one of the crew is a traitor! Who are The Lost? What's the deal with the mutant baby in a jar? And what is the secret of The Space Web that has ensnared the Liberator? And, can Blake make the ultimate decision?

Fun facts:
This is the first time we learn The Liberator has guns.
This forest location turns up in multiple episodes.

posted by Mezentian (10 comments total)

I have to go to work so am just dropping a brief comment: this really felt like a 1970s Dr Who episode.
posted by marienbad at 3:23 AM on May 18, 2016

The 'genocide' angle was more modern Who, except modern Who borrowed from Genesis of the Dalek's "Do I have the right?" speech, so you are probably on the money there.

And Saymon reminded me of the 'lil creature from The Doomsday Weapon.
posted by Mezentian at 4:26 AM on May 18, 2016

I have to go to work so am just dropping a brief comment: this really felt like a 1970s Dr Who episode.


When the Decimers showed up, my husband said, "It's baby Zygons!"

Also, I have a hard time imagining that the shrunken dude in a jar was plausible even in 1978.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 5:22 AM on May 18, 2016

I got the Baby Zygons vibe too... and the timing checks out.

Also, I have a hard time imagining that the shrunken dude in a jar was plausible even in 1978.

It really was.
posted by Mezentian at 5:44 AM on May 18, 2016

I should add to that: State Of Decay's Vampire melting, Full Circle's Marsh spiders and Scaroth from City of Death and a scene from the B7 second series (Children of Gods) *and* several, yes, Buck Rodgers episodes were terrifying as a kid, and I can pay them as believable as an adult, compared to regular TV.
posted by Mezentian at 5:48 AM on May 18, 2016

It really was.

No, it wasn't. I mean, compared to the Giant Rat of the Talons of Weng Chiang it was par for the course, but no.
posted by Grangousier at 6:20 AM on May 18, 2016

YES, IT WAS!
If you were the right age.
And I was.
posted by Mezentian at 7:14 AM on May 18, 2016

At any rate, it's not just the Baby Zygons. The episode plot and structure just don't really fit with the B7 vibe. It's not a 'mystery of the week' show at it's core, and I think episodes like The Web feel like a digression.

At least we get back on track in the next episode!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 3:42 PM on May 18, 2016

I think tonally it does work. There are the Federation stories, and then "space is really weird, man" stories.
And 'Duel' contains them both.

At least we get back on track in the next episode!

Your wit is most dry.
posted by Mezentian at 3:06 AM on May 19, 2016

This is an interesting episode even though it is slightly "motw-ish" as there are a few interesting things going on. Firstly the control of Cally and how that impacts upon the crew, with some feeling she can no longer be trusted. The Auronar people who have become one little man in a jar, and can control her, and their link to the overall Cally arc and what became of her people; and Blake refusing to sanction the genocide of the Decimers.

After the first few episodes, this was the first one where the plot was something not related to the Federation and Blake's quest to inflict damage on it. I think this was a good idea, but just not very well executed. The space seed side was weak and the characters acted out of character, and the planet side, well, the Decimers were just laughable.
posted by marienbad at 7:32 AM on May 19, 2016