How Blake’s 7 was massively ahead of its time when it first aired – and why it fits perfectly in the modern TV landscape

by

When Blake’s 7 first aired on BBC One in 1978, it looked quite different from the polished, high-budget science fiction shows we see today. It was made on a shoestring budget, so the sets weren’t always stable and the limitations of production were clear.

Even after almost 50 years, the show doesn’t seem like a relic of the past. Instead, it appears surprisingly forward-thinking – almost predicting the direction television dramas, especially science fiction, would eventually take.

Okay, so Blake’s 7 is getting rebooted, and honestly, it’s not just a nostalgia play. This show was groundbreaking back in the day, and it still feels surprisingly modern. While a lot of sci-fi at the time offered simple heroes and happy endings, Blake’s 7 dove headfirst into shades of gray. We’re talking real anti-heroes, tough moral choices, and actions that actually had consequences. It was a bold move then, and it’s why this show still resonates today. It’s exciting to see it coming back, because that willingness to challenge viewers is something we could really use more of.

Terry Nation, the mind behind Doctor Who’s iconic Daleks, famously compared Blake’s 7 to “The Dirty Dozen in space,” and this comparison really hit the mark.

The show isn’t about heroes or perfect revolutionaries. The main character, Roj Blake, starts as someone fighting for freedom against a controlling government, but over time, the series reveals his flaws and questions his principles.

Blake’s fixation grows increasingly dangerous, leading him to make rash decisions with devastating consequences, including the deaths of innocent people – consequences the show didn’t shy away from. Instead of learning from his mistakes, he gets worse, which was a surprisingly bold move for a BBC drama of the late 1970s.

Blake’s second portrayal of Kerr Avon, played by Paul Darrow, is particularly noteworthy. Avon is a truly uncompromising anti-hero – one of the best science fiction TV has ever seen. He’s incredibly intelligent, often sarcastic, and keeps his emotions hidden. He frequently wonders if it’s worth striving to do what’s right, and isn’t afraid to decide it isn’t.

What made Blake’s 7 stand out was its refusal to quickly turn its anti-hero around. Avon was consistently flawed – selfish, cowardly, even cruel – with occasional bursts of heroism. Long before characters like Tony Soprano and Walter White, the show challenged viewers to follow and sometimes even support someone deeply flawed at its core.

The rebellion in Blake’s 7 wasn’t presented as a heroic or morally justifiable struggle. Instead of glorifying resistance like many later science fiction shows, it realistically portrayed the rebels as disorganized, lacking resources, and often making things worse for themselves.

The team members turn against each other, give up on their goals for selfish reasons, and even question if their side is worth defending. When they do win, it’s usually short-lived, highlighting that systems of power don’t easily fall apart.

The show didn’t shy away from complex villains, most notably Servalan, played by Jacqueline Pearce. She was a clever, self-assured, and incredibly resourceful opponent to the heroes. Instead of simply being beaten, she frequently outsmarted them, relying on her wit and charm to survive. Compared to the typical science fiction villains of the time, Servalan felt strikingly realistic and contemporary.

The show was particularly known for its shocking deaths. Characters, from early exits like Olag Gan (David Jackson) to the eventual fate of Blake himself, were killed off abruptly, often without a satisfying explanation, and their deaths were permanent. Important characters could be eliminated in the middle of a storyline, with the narrative simply continuing as if nothing had happened.

The series ended with its famous final episode, a violent shootout and a confusing, unsettling climax. It left viewers unsure if the characters’ sacrifices had been worth it, or if good had truly triumphed.

Blake’s 7 had a significant impact on science fiction television. Even if many later shows don’t specifically mention it as an influence, you can see its mark in series featuring groups of flawed characters and storylines that explore the lasting effects of their choices. Examples include Babylon 5 (creator J. Michael Straczynski was a fan), Deep Space Nine, Farscape, Firefly, and The Expanse.

These stories all reflect the core themes of Blake’s 7: a gritty rebellion lacking idealism, flawed heroes, and wins that always come with a heavy price.

Want to see this content?

We can’t display this content because of a security measure called reCAPTCHA. If you’re signed in to Contentpass, please sign out to see it.

The team bringing back Blake’s 7 recognizes the spirit of the original show. Director Peter Hoar, a key figure in the revival, has explained that the original series wasn’t a success because of a big budget, but because it resonated with viewers. He points out that audiences happily overlooked the show’s limitations – even wobbly sets – because they were invested in the story.

Hoar has drawn a comparison between Blake’s 7 and Andor, suggesting Andor’s success came from its smart, well-written story, not just visual effects.

It’s interesting to compare these shows. The themes in Andor – like difficult moral choices, political control, and the sacrifices people make when they fight back – don’t feel new. In fact, they echo ideas that Blake’s 7 was already tackling decades ago, suggesting Andor builds on earlier explorations rather than inventing them.

With today’s popular TV shows featuring complex, ongoing stories, flawed characters, and ambiguous morality, Blake’s 7 doesn’t seem so groundbreaking anymore. It actually fits right in. What used to be considered dark and challenging is now typical of high-quality, critically acclaimed dramas.

Authors

Morgan JefferyDigital Editor

Morgan Jeffery leads the editorial content for TopMob across all its digital platforms as the Digital Editor. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a TV Editor at Digital Spy and has appeared as a television expert on programs like BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Sky Atlantic.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-01-21 22:35