Episode Thoughts: Horizon

[zephron1]

Before I talk about Horizon, I'm going to say that my interest is mainly in Gan and Vila. I know the episode is 'of its time' and is very un-PC in the way the natives of Horizon are shown/treated. Even when I rewatched in the 80s, before being more aware of the issues myself, I hated the way Blake took charge at mealtime and organised the 'savages' - it just feels so wrong on so many levels, and that's just one instance. But I won't go into all of that. I'm sure there are others far better than me to discuss that side of 70s TV shows.

So, watching Horizon, I realised that in the scene where Gan outmanoeuvres Vila into going down to Horizon, he actually sounds a bit sharp with him. If this was straight after Shadow, I could perhaps think Gan's still a bit annoyed at him for his actions in that episode (though I'm not sure how annoyed Gan actually was, I'll have to rewatch that ep again soon), but this is after Weapon, so that seems odd.

Then I remembered that everyone is stressed out, that's what Cally has been saying. Also, Jenna snapped at Gan earlier over the comms, presumably as a sign of stress on her part. So, Gan's feeling stressed and poor Vila is all happy and content due to (presumably) the soma still in his system, which I guess doesn't help! Someone being all unstressed when you are stressed out can be very annoying!! So, Gan is a bit more snippy than normal.

Then again, it's a while since I've watched any episodes. I think it's time for a rewatch, to remind myself of Gan and Vila's interactions. Re-explore their friendship. Make sure my remembered feelings about that actually match the show, so as to speak. I know that my head canon about Gan's background (from Zephron, a farming world), is based on a Blake's 7 annual and isn't in the show itself. A friend pointed that out to me recently! I'd really thought it was in the show, lol! So it's not actual canon, but I do like the idea, so that's that!!

Back to Horizon and oh, poor Vila!! He looks soooo unhappy about the idea of work!! I like how he claims to be a common thief (lol, right, nothing 'common' about his thieving skills!!) and to have no technical information about the shield (which might be true, but I always think this is more Vila playing on his Delta classification so as to not give anything away - this may be in part due to 30 Pieces of Silver by vilakins!).

He's even less happy when he finds out the mineral is radioactive. But look, naked chest Vila, all dirtied up nicely!! Well, that's a plus for this episode if nothing else!! *shallow fangirl is shallow* Though no naked chested Gan :( I guess we can't have everything!

I love Avon talking to Orac about whether he needs the others or not, and Orac not knowing when it's a question or when it's not!! Orac's confusion always makes me smile! And I notice that, having made the decision that he doesn't need the others, Avon doesn't appear to be in a rush to leave!! And those pursuit ships would take two hours to arrive, surely with the Liberator that is ample time to get away?! Ah, Avon, I think you just needed an excuse to stay! :D :D So does Vila in Take Enough by sallymn!

The ending seems naive. Oh yes, they will fight the Federation if (when, more likely) it comes back, but how? Without help, Ro and his people are in big trouble I think. Oh well, this is Blake's 7, you're not really supposed to think about things like that!! :D

Very clever Blake at the end there with the pursuit ships, but also cruel not to say anything until after the barrier destroys the ships. The crew are already stressed out, that's not exactly helping their stress levels any!!!

Oh well, at least it beats work - or so Vila thinks! :D

Comments

[vilakins]

I've also seen scans of the publicity the BBC put out about the characters before the series was screened, and Gan was described as a gentle giant from Zephron; no mention of farms though, but it does fit him.

Ah yes, Vila (and Blake) naked to the waist! Now, I've seen a photo of Michael Keating on a beach and he has a hairy chest, yet Vila doesn't. I still kick myself for not asking him if they made him shave for the scene - and why - when I met him. If they wanted to make Vila look more wimpy, it still seems a lot to ask. And did Gatreth have to shave too?

[zephron1]

I'm not sure where I get the farming bit from, that could be a fanfic I read once or just something I made up, lol!! :D Good to know Zephron was mentioned in the BBC publicity, thanks!

And lol! I haven't seen that pic! But it wouldn't surprise me if they made him shave, and quite possibly Gareth as well! Chest hair might have been considered a bit too much for the kiddies ... then again, thinking about some of the adult themes in the show, maybe not!! :D I have a friend of a friend who goes to the UK conventions - you never know, she might ask him if I ask her too! Though who knows when the next con will be, and if she'd remember. Ah, if only I could attend one myself, but RL doesn't allow :(

[vilakins]

I think several people have made Gan a farmer; it does seem to fit him.

I've only been to one con, and I travelled further than anyone else to get there, as a new fan. It was worth it though as I met pretty much everyone including David Jackson, had afternoon tea with Michael (and about 12 others) and dinner at his table - so very cool! He's a lovely, friendly guy.

[zephron1]

I went to a couple of cons way back when they were a new thing, but can't remember who was at them exactly. Gareth and Paul definitely, but my memory is not as good as it was *sigh* I know I used to go to and see Paul when he was in a theatre play near by, and stalk the backstage! I've met him a few times actually, and Gareth once that way too. Even Colin Baker, who quoted Bayban to me even though it was many years later!! I think he got a lot of Vila fans turning up somehow, lol! I know I saw Glynis in a play, but I don't think I was able to catch her afterwards :( I wish I could remember better *sigh*

But it's mainly Paul I remember, and he was great with his fans. I've seen Michael on a quiz show (on TV, not in the audience) a couple of times (Pointless Celebrities), and he does seem a nice chap. Though the time he was on with Paul, he kept rubbing in that he was there from the first episode, unlike Paul, lol! But they seemed like great friends. The first time he was on the show, he partnered Jacqueline, and was very gracious to her as well.

If only RL was different :(

[vilakins]

The con I went to was in 2004, the first one in a long time that Michael was a guest at which was why I decided to go in case it was the last (I think he got put off them for some reason - stalking maybe, no idea). I did a con report here. Michael and Paul were very funny together.

Colin Baker also slightly misquoted Bayban to me too which wildly impressed me, but he obviously did it a lot. That was at the Inside the TARDIS show which came here; I also have a report here.

[zephron1]

Love the photos!! I've not read all the reports (yet), but it sounds like it was a lot of fun! Michael does seem a nice guy, and funny too. I love the banter between Paul and him. :D

[watervole]

The pre-publicity didn't always match what they wrote later.

I always wrote Gan as being from Earth - why else would he be a passenger on the London?

Have you read my Gan fics? I had quite a soft spot for him. I've noticed someone left kudos on a couple recently on AO3. Was that you? I'm Watervole there as well.

[zephron1]

I think, for those who have the headcanon of him being from Zephron, the assumption is that he is on Earth for some reason - presumably people can move within the Federation, maybe he and his woman are there as tourists? But none of this is in canon. It's most likely that he is from Earth. That makes the most sense, after all! Yet the Zephron thing is so embedded now, it's probably where I'd be more comfortable if writing fic myself - though reading fic where he's from Earth is great! I am not at all opposed to that idea! :D

I've read so much fic recently, I can't remember, though the name watervole sounds familiar, so yes, it could have been me! I have an account there now, so any future kudos won't be left as a guest (unless I forget to sign in)!

I remember your actual name from when I read fanzines, I think. Or somewhere, anyway, from when I was an uber fan - before my looong break from this fandom. Possibly filk songs, I remember having at least one tape of them! Ah, memory! It's not always the best, I'm afraid!

[watervole]

I wrote and sung a lot of B7 filks, including at least one for Gan.

I was also chair of Redemption for quite a while.

[zephron1]

It'll most likely be the filk songs that I recognised you from! :)