#and before you ask I haven't watched ds9 yet but I do know there are some maquis in it as well

[jone-slugger]

When I first started watching Voyager and read the word Maquis I almost spat out my drink because, being from Spain, that's the name of the anti-fascist forces that fought against the dictatorship during the civil war. I understand it was also used in France to name the resistance against the nazi but in my mind I always imagine Chakotay and B'Elanna fighting the fascists in the mountains of Spain.

Like, I know the Star Trek writers were probably thinking of France, as their ship is a Les Miz reference, but for a second I allow myself to think that they might also be referencing Spain. After all, many Americans (notably Hemingway) fought in the Spanish Civil War, which was seen in a way as a rehearsal of what was to come just when it ended in 1939.

In any case, I love they used that name for the resistance against the Cardassians.

[nimuetheseawitch]

idk if you're still doing it but if so: top five pre-2000s tv shows

I am still doing these! Also, honestly, even if I weren't, I'd answer it eventually because I am a sucker for ask games. What is a blog if not an excuse to talk about yourself?

Anyway, top five pre-2000s tv shows. This will be fun. You know, that means what I think were the top shows of the 20th century.

MASH (no one is surprised)

The X-Files

The Twilight Zone

Star Trek: Voyager (yes, I like it better than TNG or TOS)

The Avengers (the 60s spy-fi show, specifically the Diana Riggs years - we had all of these on VHS and I adored them)

Yes, some of these continued into the early 2000s, but they started before AND have most of their run pre-2000 (sorry Stargate).

Note: I haven't seen enough Xena or Colombo to put them into consideration. And I'm sure there's something I forgot about. Additionally, I skipped children's and animated shows, but I have a lot of love for Arthur, The Magic School Bus, Wishbone, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and the X-Men animated series (yes, I cheated and essentially gave you two top 5 lists).

Edit: I also have not yet seen Due South, and I've heard good things. So many shows existed pre-2000, but I was a kid and watched what my parents watched and am now slowly catching up.

Edit 2: I have also not seen DS9 or The West Wing (although at this point there are too many shows and there are some I won't get to)

[walkingstackofbooks]

DS9 3x14 Heart of Stone thoughts (I'm re-watching, so there may be future spoilers)

Kira's trying so hard <3

"Next time we are invited out for dinner, I'll make sure you are the one to say no."

Sisko's shrug as he says send him in XD

How does Nog have that much Latinum? Presuming that Sisko will give it back- he only has five bars in season 6

"Nog, if you want to become a Starfleet Officer, you have to attend the Academy." "All right. Where do I sign up?" I love his can-do attitude, like it's just that simple

*Forgetting the handshake* He's sweet :3

Oh is this where she gets trapped by a rock? It's a trap?

If this is an imposter like I seem to remember, she is a very convincing Kira Nerys.

Dammit I'm going to skip to the end, I can't take not knowing if this is Kira.

Alright, yeah, how are changelings this good at acting? Is 'become and thing and you know a thing' really that deep?

"Of course it's your fault. Everything that goes wrong here is your fault. It says so in your contract." Of course it does XD Quark you are so awful!

Even when they're arguing, I still love Nog and Jake as friends. (And this is a much better thing to be arguing about 😅)

The Ensign Vilix'pran conversation is always so cute :3

I love how Nog's hands always close to coming back to the Ferengi begging posture

Nog's insistence on handshakes XD

Jadzia's "...Nog. :o NOG?". (side-note my phone now autocorrects to JADZIA because of how often I am excited to see her)

It's a good test, I like how fair Sisko is in giving him a chance

I'd be all awwww, major <3/ but she's not her

Odo is so cute trying to distract though :3 and trying to think of a plan

"He'd like the manifest on his desk first thing in the morning." "He'll have it tonight, before he goes off duty." Nog is really sweet.

"How long do these boat trips usually take?" "That depends." "On what?" "On how many times we capsize." XD

"Why does he keep doing it?" Now that could be the changeling speaking

I wish these imposter episodes left us a few clues we could pick up on that they're not the right person. It's super weird I can watch this knowing it's not Kira, yet still totally believe it's Kira.

"Tell me how you got your name" - also changeling curiosity?

"Now that you mention it, that is an amusing story."...no, Odo. It's not. It's really not.

"And then I met you. And the others. Sisko, Dax, even Quark. And now, when I hear one of you call me Odo, I no longer think of myself as nothing. I think of myself as me." :3 I'm happy for you Odo

"I don't suppose you have any other ideas?" Man, saying this with tears streaming down her face is pulling at my heartstrings, this is a horrible way to torture him

"Don't you understand? I can't." Odo

"So ... Now you know." He sounds so defeated :'(

"You're just not Academy Material" - this sounded so cruel the first time I watched this, it's slightly better now I know he's trying to goad Nog into saying why - but could you not just ask? You haven't yet??

Sisko is a little bit mad, isn't he? Shouting and grabbing at Nog? Wild.

"He could've been Chief Engineer of a starship if he'd had the opportunity. But he went into business, like a good Ferengi. The only thing is, he's not a good Ferengi, not when it comes to acquiring profit." Nog's so proud of Rom in his own way :3

The hugging and "Whoa whoa whoa don't thank me yet." XD XD

Oh, the plan to kill off Nerys and make Odo come home makes so much more sense than my ponderings that they were trying to observe him and see what his reactions were.

"I forbid it." "No you don't." ROM <3 <3

Rom's little guilty smile over defying Quark and saying "Good luck. I would be proud to have a son in Starfleet." is heartbreaking and I love him.

[bobbyshaddoe80]

Liberated Audio Reviews

Introduction:

The cult Sci-Fi series Blake's 7 has seen great admiration and appreciation in the 40 plus years since its initial broadcast in the UK., continuing to enthrall audience old and new alike. Despite its rather low budget, it possessed some pretty impressive writing and acting from its rotating cast of characters. Despite it being yet another Terry Nation brainchild, the series would evolve beyond the initial proposal/concept of 'Robin Hood in Space' under the direction of Chris Boucher to become something more than just a Star Wars clone.

Over the years, the show's devoted fanbase have poured over the show's 52 episodes and have long clamored, demanded, begged and pleaded with the Powers That Be for some sort of continuation or revival... In spite of the show's rather unorthodox and controversial ending.

After numerous rumors and false starts, which even included a full on audio reboot/reimagining by B7 Media back in late 2007/early 2008, it would be Big Finish Productions that would take up the daunting task of reviving and expanding the Blake's 7 universe starting in February 2012 with the Liberator Chronicles and the Classic Audio Adventures in January 2014.

The Liberator Chronicles are essentially enhanced audiobooks often told in the first person by whichever character is chosen to be the focus of the story. Often they are supported by one or two other cast members in order to help keep things from falling completely into standard audiobook monotony. Before tackling the full cast audios, I shall endeavor to present my thoughts and views on all twelve volumes of the Liberator Chronicles.

Please bear in mind that these reviews are based on my own opinions and no one else's. While I shall endeavor to be as fair as possible, I am not claiming that my opinion is the only one that matters and you are free to agree or disagree with me as you see fit. Just try to keep it civil. So, without further ado, let's get started by examining volume one.

Blake's 7 - The Liberator Chronicles Vol. 1

RELEASED FEBRUARY 2012

Recorded on: 23 September, 11 and 14 October 2011

Recorded at: Moat Studios

Review By Robert L. Torres

The Turing Test by Simon Guerrier

'After evading an attack by Cassini Pirates, the Liberator heads to the rogue moon of Quentil, where Avon and Vila infiltrate a top secret Federation science facility. 

Vila assumes the guise of Dr. Yarding Gill, an expert in digital memory. And Avon is his "creation" - a super-advanced android that could pass for human. In fact, he does...

Can they maintain the ruse long enough to complete their mission? And will the Cassini Pirates catch up with them?'

Chronological Placement:

Series A - set after the events of LC Vol. 7's Disorder, between episodes Mission To Destiny and Duel.

This is a very well written story starring the late Paul Darrow as Kerr Avon, ably supported by Michael Keating as Vila Restal.

I love how the story is structured with Avon recounting these events AFTER the fact, like he was recording then for posterity into a dictaphone. I loved that Guerrier's writing didn't fall into the trap of having Avon try to do other voices or say 'said Blake', 'said Jenna' and so on. Nothing felt disruptive to the narrative and having Vila around never felt intrusive.

Kudos to Michael Keating for slipping back into the role of Vila Restal with relative ease. He will be quite reliable in a support capacity during many of these audios, and even get a chance at the spotlight... Which we will examine in due course. Right now, he lends his exceptional charm in this undercover mission posing as the scientist responsible for "creating" Avon.

Still, this story belongs to Paul Darrow, and he does a great job. It was a great story about what it means to be alive, what it means to be human and even serving as an examination of Avon himself. It was a nice inverse of the usual sort of questions regarding machine life wishing to be more human. Here we have a human considering himself to be more machine than man.

That is the interesting thing about Avon. Most scifi programs that deal with space travel tend to have an archetypical character known as the 'royal smart person'. For Star Trek TOS it was Spock, for Star Trek TNG it was Data, for DS9 it was Dax (and to a certain extent Bashir), for Voyager it was Seven of Nine, for Enterprise it was... Who the hell knows since everyone on that show was an idiot. As for Discovery... I honestly don't know cuz I haven't watched Discovery yet, but that's beside the point.

Avon is exceptional in his characterization only in that his desire to focus on pure logic and suppress his emotions does not come without its own drawbacks. Despite his intellect and skill with computers, he is someone that is also socially and emotionally cut off from others due to an inability to trust. He is also someone that sees the futility in giving over to emotional and irrational hysterics in order to showcase that he cares. Avon's intelligence also comes with a certain amount of ego, as he knows that he is smarter than many of his contemporaries, and much of the logic he embraces stems from a certain degree of self-serving self-interest.

His desire to assist in the situation with the AI android 14 stems from having an affinity with another creature of pure logic, and not wanting such a creature to be exploited and corrupted to further the aims and agendas of the Federation. This story is a great reminder of why Avon is a great antihero, as he is still willing to do the right thing in spite of himself.

Final Score: 8 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Solitary by Nigel Fairs

‘Vila is in solitary confinement. His friends have abandoned him, his only contact with the world outside is Nyrron, a scientist from the planet Auron.

Amnesiac and confused, Vila attempts to piece together recent events... A mission to Dulcimer 4. An important meeting. And a visit to the jungle world of Terrulis Major.

In the depths of the foliage, the truth is waiting. And it's more terrifying than Vila could possible have imagined...’

Chronological Placement:

Series B - between episodes Redemption and Shadow.

I really do not have much to say about this story as it is profoundly unremarkable and is a major clunker in terms of execution of its concept, as well as the first person narration.

It has some interesting ideas, there is a central mystery that is interesting, with Vila finding himself in solitary confinement and abandoned by his friends, and we are introduced to a semi recurring guest character in the form of Auron scientist Gustav Nyrron, played by Anthony Howell ('Dr. David Keel' of the The Avengers: Lost Episodes range). 

Nyrron himself is an interesting character as an ally for Blake and the Resistance, which begs the question why Cally wasn’t involved in this story as well.  Because for an Auron scientist, he actually spends most of the time acting like either a reasonable interrogator or a benevolent psychiatrist for the imprisoned Vila. 

The whole story itself is not executed terribly well.  The Vila character spends a good chunk of the first few moments talking to himself, and then when Nyrron comes into the narrative, Vila spends the rest of the runtime being asked if he remembers certain events, and then goes on to basically recount events that lead up to meeting Nyrron and then goes on to tell Nyrron things that he already knows about. 

As a Vila centric story, its also not terribly good, not even with certain unexpected revelations made. This story does Vila no favors and we don't learn much about Nyrron either.  Fortunately, those are issues that would end up being rectified in later stories.  Definitely give this one a miss.

Final Score: 4 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Counterfeit by Peter Anghelides

‘The Bovee Mining Facility: A Federation slave camp worked by disgraced scientists.

The planet shouldn't be of interest but it is: Avon's investigations reveal that it's rich in Illusium, a mineral that can change from one substance to another. With it, the Federation could be invulnerable...

Blake teleports down to Bovee, but gets more than he bargained for. There's another visitor to the facility - and his presence changes the whole game...’

Chronological Placement:

Series A - set after the events of LC Vol. 1's The Turing Test, between episodes Mission To Destiny and Duel.

This is not a bad Blake focus story, with added support from Avon. However, what we get is a pretty standard adventure with Blake hoping to obtain certain materials and destroy the means of that material being reproduced in another effort to cripple the Federation's power. We even get in an appearance by Travis, Blake's personal nemesis, to lure him into a trap.

There isn't a whole lot to say about the story because of how standard and basic it all is. The fact that the story is done on audio does play in well into certain revelations and surprise twists made within the narrative. Many of which I will not speak on as it goes into spoiler territory. Other than that, the story itself is not bad, it is definitely worth a once-over. Its just unfortunate that it is also pretty average and fairly unremarkable.

Final Score: 5 out of 10 Plasma Bolts

Final score for Volume One of The Liberator Chronicles in its entirety is 6 out of 10 Plasma Bolts.

It isn't the best start to the Blake's 7 audio range as it really only has one story out of three to recommend it. Its great to hear the original actors back again, and thankfully they will be served better stories in the volumes to follow.

Special thanks to Craig Brawley of the Big Finish Listeners Facebook Group for his tireless efforts in mapping out the chronology of the audios and determining how they fit in with the established TV continuity.