Line #81 Recap/BlakesSevenS4E11Orbit


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blakes_7_orbit.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:With hair like that, he's got to be a MadScientist.]]
3	[[AC:Written by Creator/RobertHolmes.\
4	Directed by Brian Lighthill.\
5	Airdate: 7 December 1981.]]
6
7	A renegade scientist called Egrorian has invented the ultimate weapon, and is willing to give it to the Seven in exchange for Orac. But Avon suspects that Servalan is behind it all, and so an intricate game ensues with both parties trying to outsmart the other. Before the episode is over, Avon will have to decide just how much he's willing to sacrifice for his own self-interest.
8	----
9	!!This episode has the following tropes:
10
11	* AbhorrentAdmirer: Egrorian drops a serious hint that [[WeCanRuleTogether he'd like to be Servalan's consort and co-ruler]]. Servalan, who's been entirely willing to [[FemmeFatale play along with such suggestions]] in the past, ''really'' isn't interested in having a balding middle-aged MadScientist with facial warts as her HotConsort.
12	* AllAccordingToPlan: Avon reprograms the autoshuttle so they can [[PlotDemandedManualMode pilot it manually]] but Egrorian takes this entirely in stride, pointing out to Servalan that it's a countermove he'd expect from any competent pilot, let alone a computer expert like Avon.
13	* AllPlanetsAreEarthlike: Averted; Egrorian and Pinder are hiding in a [[DomedCity domed survival station]] due to the hostile environment. Not that Earthlike planets [[BBCQuarry are any more appealing]].
14	* AmbitionIsEvil: Though not to Servalan, who approves of Egrorian's plotting, even if it was against her.
15	* AndThenWhat: Avon says that with his new superweapon Egrorian could destroy the Federation himself, but Egrorian points out that would only leave a power vacuum, which a RebelLeader is needed to fill.
16	* AnOfferYouCantRefuse
17	-->'''Avon:''' Oh, that sounds [[IsThatAThreat unpleasantly like a threat]].\
18	'''Egrorian:''' [[BluntYes It is a threat.]] Like you, I have a [[PriceOnTheirHead price on my head]]. So, having revealed my little sanctuary, [[YouKnowTooMuch I cannot allow you and your colleagues to leave]]. Not, at any rate, until we've reached an agreement.
19	* AppliedPhlebotinum: The shuttle is being weighed down by a tiny speck of material from a neutron star.
20	* BittersweetEnding: Our heroes have survived to fight another day, but the GameChanger that could have brought victory is destroyed, and Avon's relationship with Vila is permanently damaged.
21	* BlatantLies: [[ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre "Vila? Vila, I need your help..."]]
22	* BottleEpisode: Takes place on Scorpio, Egroian's base, and the shuttle, with Egrorian and Pinder being the only guest characters. It's also the only episode to, apart from model shots, be shot entirely on video.
23	* BraidsOfAction: Soolin
24	* ChekhovsGun: Two in the same scene. Although told not to bring weapons, Avon [[HiddenWeapons hides a pistol behind a hatch]] on the autoshuttle taking them down. Also behind the hatch is a trolley. Both the pistol and the trolley become important during the episode's climax.
25	* ChekhovsLecture: Egrorian discusses Hoffal's radiation and neutron material with Avon.
26	* ChewingTheScenery: LargeHam is expected of a MadScientist, but Egrorian goes all out when groveling before Servalan.
27	-->'''Egrorian:''' Servalan, my Steel Queen, my Empress! ''[drops to his knees]'' The only reward I crave is a place in your affections.\
28	'''Servalan:''' ''[OhCrap look]'' But you already ''have'' that, Egrorian! Ten years ago [[YouOweMe I risked my position to help you continue your work]].\
29	'''Egrorian:''' ''[MilkingTheGiantCow]'' And not a DAY has passed since then that I have not YEARNED for the time, when I would be able to repay your trust by laying ''all the world'' and the galaxy at your feet!\
30	'''Servalan:''' Oh, get up!
31	* ColdEquation: Inspired by the TropeNamer.
32	** Avon and Vila are on a shuttle desperately trying to achieve escape velocity. They throw out everything they can but are short seventy kilos. It turns out that the shuttle is being weighed down by a piece of super-dense matter. Once Avon finds it all he has to do is push it out the airlock - if he can, because it's so damn heavy. Trouble is, he can't get Vila to help him because he's scared Vila into hiding.
33	--->'''Avon:''' Not enough, not nearly enough! ''DAMMIT! What weighs 70 kilos?!''\
34	'''Orac:''' [[WithFriendsLikeThese Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon.]]\
35	'''Avon:''' ''(pulling out a handgun)'' Vila...
36	** Servalan pulls her own version when she tells Egrorian that her spacecraft only has room for two and a limited fuel capacity, so Pinder will have to be left behind. Egrorian is considerably less bothered about it than Avon.
37	* ComeAlone: Egrorian insists that Avon come alone, unarmed and without a teleport bracelet so he won't try and steal the MacGuffin. Given that Egrorian has someone with him, Avon is able to bargain for an extra person to come along. [[WithFriendsLikeThese He volunteers Vila.]]
38	* ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre: Avon and Vila are on a shuttle that can't reach escape velocity because it's too heavy. They strip the shuttle of everything they can throw out the airlock, but are short 70 kilos. [[ColdEquation Which happens to be just under Vila's weight.]] As Vila crouches terrified behind a hatch, Avon stalks through the shuttle with a handgun, calling softly, "Vila? Vila, I need your help..."
39	* CrazyPrepared: Avon had [[FakinMacGuffin built a fake Orac]] months before. Justified given the amount of times Servalan has tried to get her hands on it. "Contingency planning, Vila. And the contingency arose."
40	* CruelMercy: Servalan makes it clear to Egrorian that she doesn't tolerate failure. However when the plan does fail, Servalan decides it would be a more fitting punishment to leave him alive, knowing [[EmperorScientist what he might have been]].
41	* CryingWolf: Egrorian tries to kill Avon and Vila by overloading their shuttle so it won't reach escape velocity. They strip the shuttle of everything they can throw out the airlock but are still short 70 kilos. The computer then helpfully informs Avon that [[ColdEquation Vila weighs 73 kilos]]. Vila promptly hides himself while Avon stalks him with a gun in his hand saying, "[[ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre Come out. Vila, I know how they did it, but I need your help.]]" Then Avon really does discover how they weighed down the shuttle -- by hiding a speck of super-dense matter on board -- and needs help pushing it out the airlock. Vila of course refuses to come out of hiding, and Avon barely manages it in time.
42	* CuriosityKilledTheCast: Egrorian points out that having come all this way to find a scientist who's been missing for ten years, Avon is hardly going to leave without finding out what he's got to offer.
43	* DeadpanSnarker
44	-->'''Egrorian:''' Now, then, Avon. What would you say if I offered you mastery of the galaxy?\
45	'''Avon:''' Oh, I would say thank you.
46	** Not that [[WorldOfSnark Vila is left out]].
47	--->'''Pinder:''' I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am.\
48	'''Vila:''' ''[To Avon]'' I think he's talking to you.
49	* DeathGlare: Vila stares coldly at Avon throughout the final scene on ''Scorpio''.
50	* DepravedBisexual: Although initially he's very closely attached to his one-time student Pinder, Egrorian has no problems blowing him off in favour of a relationship with Servalan.
51	* DestructiveRomance: Now that Pinder has aged far beyond the beauty of youth, Egrorian just gets his kicks through bullying and tormenting his former lover. Pinder goes along with it because he has no-one else, being something of a {{Hikikomori}} and having run away with Egrorian to live in isolation. When Pinder realises that Egrorian [[UngratefulBastard intends to abandon him]], he snaps and kills them both.
52	* DoNotGoGentle
53	-->'''Orac:''' Remaining flight time -- ten minutes.\
54	'''Vila:''' And another five minutes before we hit. How do you spend your last fifteen minutes?\
55	'''Avon:''' Working. ''Working like we have never worked before, Vila!''
56	* DoomsdayDevice: The Tachyon Funnel.
57	-->'''Egrorian:''' It destroys things. Instantly and completely and at any range. It is the ultimate engine of destruction.
58	* EvilGloating: Servalan expresses disappointment that there isn't a video link to the autoshuttle so she can watch Avon die.
59	* EvilIsPetty: Once he thinks he has his hands on Orac, Egrorian's first priority is getting revenge on the people who compiled his Central Security file!
60	* ExactEavesdropping: Pinder and Vila both discover [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness they're about to be disposed of]].
61	* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Our heroes lose another GameChanger MacGuffin, and the only consolation is that power-hungry villains like Servalan and Egrorian [[NoMacGuffinNoWinner don't get it either]].
62	* FalseReassurance: While this is often remembered as the episode where Avon went back on his word (something he's typically [[IGaveMyWord very reluctant to do]]) he didn't actually promise Vila that he would keep him safe. His {{exact words}} to Vila were sarcastically quoting Vila's own sarcastic claim that he (Vila) ''felt'' safe (see IronicEcho below)
63	* FixingTheGame: Egrorian and Pinder are playing VariantChess. When one gets checkmate, the other is suspicious and has the computer replay the last few moves, revealing that the 'winner' cheated.
64	* FoeRomanceSubtext:
65	-->'''Vila:''' You're thinking of Servalan again.\
66	'''Avon:''' She...is never far from my thoughts.
67	* {{Foil}}: Egorian and Pinder to Avon and Vila, respectively: the egomaniac genius with clearly a few screws loose, and his much-abused, disposable, assistant.
68	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
69	** Before handing over Orac, Avon turns on a switch on the computer's side that we've never seen before.
70	** In "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS4E8Games Games]]" there's a continuity error in which Orac is shown in two different places at the same time. Fans have speculated that one is the fake Orac that Avon was building.
71	** When Vila is told to throw out the trolley he says, "It's plastic, it doesn't weigh anything." Then Avon comes across a cube of high tensile plastic that's very heavy...
72	* GigglingVillain: Egrorian and Pinder.
73	-->'''Servalan:''' And you say both Orac and the Tachyon Funnel can survive such a crash?\
74	'''Egrorian:''' Yes, even the shuttle will be reusable after a few repairs. Avon and Vila won't survive, of course. They'll be j-j-jellified-- ''[Breaks off [[EvilLaugh laughing]]. Pinder joins in. Servalan rolls her eyes.]''
75	* GoMadFromTheIsolation: Lampshaded by Vila, though it looks like those two were [[MadScientist well on the way beforehand]].
76	* HealthyGreenHarmfulRed: Egrorian's weapon detector.
77	-->'''Egrorian:''' Red is dead. Green is...?\
78	'''Pinder:''' Clean.
79	* HeavierThanItLooks: Egrorian weighs the shuttle down by planting a small plastic cube containing a fragment of a neutron star aboard.
80	* HomoeroticSubtext: Egrorian and Pinder. Although the standards of the time meant that they couldn't actually be called lovers on-screen, scriptwriter Creator/RobertHolmes made it as obvious as you can get without outright saying the G-word.
81	* HopeSpot: Avon and Vila appear to have outsmarted Egrorian and Servalan with the fake Orac. Then the real Orac reveals they'll never reach escape velocity.
82	* IfIWereARichMan
83	-->'''Vila:''' All we have to do is [[SacrificialPlanet knock out a few planets]] for target practice, then name our own terms. We can have whatever we want! Think of it.\
84	'''Avon:''' Yes...\
85	'''Vila:''' I'll have an imperial palace with solid diamond floors, and a [[BodyguardBabes bodyguard of a thousand handpicked virgins]] in red fur uniforms. Vila's Royal Mounties.\
86	'''Avon:''' You're dreaming again.\
87	'''Vila:''' [[AllMenArePerverts A man has a right to dream.]] Anyway, what's to stop us? I suppose it will get boring after the first fifty years, eh?
88	* IronicEcho:
89	** Done for a RuleOfThree. Avon is looking for volunteers to go down with Tarrant. [[DirtyCoward Vila would prefer to remain]] on ''Scorpio'' with Avon. "You know I like to stick with you, Avon, where it's safe." Then Avon has to go down instead, so [[GotVolunteered he picks Vila to go with him]], quipping, "After all, you always say you feel safe with me." Finally it's PlayedForDrama after Avon tries to kill Vila to save himself.
90	--->'''Vila:''' [[ThisIsUnforgivable It's a trip I won't forget, Avon.]]\
91	'''Avon:''' Well, as you always say, Vila -- you know you are safe with ''me''. [cut to credits]
92	** A simple rhyme "Green is clean, red is dead" is used when Pinder is manning the scanner. Later Pinder pushes a BigRedButton and the room is flooded with Hoffal's Radiation. "Red is dead, remember? [[ReverseThePolarity I reversed the fields!]]"
93	* KneelBeforeZod: Egrorian grovelling before his Steel Queen. It becomes too much even for Servalan.
94	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Orac is just a box of flashing lights!
95	* LockedInARoom: Darkly subverted.
96	* MadScientist: Egrorian, right down to being [[TakeOverTheWorld power-mad]].
97	* MadeOfIndestructium: The plan is for the autoshuttle to crash in a [[SoftWater marshy area]] after it runs out of fuel. The impact will kill Avon and Vila but Orac, the Tachyon Funnel and even the shuttle will be repairable.
98	* MilkingTheGiantCow: Egrorian on [[ChewingTheScenery two separate occasions]].
99	* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: Pinder puts up with Egrorian's petty sadism, yet when he finds that Egrorian was going to abandon him [[MurderSuicide he kills them both]].
100	* MutualDisadvantage: Both sides have to take precautions at every stage against the other betraying them, especially when it becomes obvious [[ProperlyParanoid that's exactly what the other side is planning]].
101	-->'''Egrorian:''' You are a cautious man, Avon.\
102	'''Avon:''' Well that's a habit I hope to live with.
103	* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Servalan could have been ruler of the galaxy if she'd just taken the Tachyon Funnel, but she loses it for a chance of killing Avon and getting her hands on Orac.
104	* PullTheThread: [[NoSocialSkills Pinder]] greets Avon with "Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma'am", which is PlayedForLaughs until Avon thinks it through afterward.
105	-->'''Avon:''' He said it as though it were a phrase he had been taught.\
106	'''Vila:''' Maybe Egrorian gives him lessons in etiquette as well as judo.\
107	'''Avon:''' Or maybe he has been taught that that is the way to address a ''stranger''. [dramatic chord] ''Servalan'', for instance.
108	* RapidAging: Hoffal's radiation turns Pinder [[StrippedToTheBone into a skeleton]] and Egrorian into a white-haired corpse.
109	* RebelRelaxation: Avon and Vila with their feet up on the console of the autoshuttle.
110	* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: Egrorian says he wants Avon to have the weapon because he will crush the Federation ruthlessly.
111	-->'''Egrorian:''' Surprisingly, you [[ExpectingSomeoneTaller don't look like the ruthless desperadoes of legend]]. But you have, of course, killed a great many people.\
112	'''Avon:''' Only in the pursuit of liberty.\
113	'''Egrorian:''' ''O Liberty! O Liberty! What crimes are committed in your name!'' Do you know the source?\
114	'''Avon:''' No.\
115	'''Egrorian:''' No, why should you? Natural leaders are rarely encumbered with intelligence. Greed, egotism, animal cunning, and viciousness are the important attributes. Qualities I detect in you in admirably full measure.\
116	'''Avon:''' I didn't come here to be... [[IResembleThatRemark flattered]].
117	* SayingTooMuch:
118	** Egrorian namedrops Servalan, who would be assumed dead by anyone who didn't know otherwise.
119	** After Egrorian lectures Avon about neutron matter, Avon says it must be related to the Tachyon Funnel. Egrorian flusters his answer, as it's actually his EvilPlan to bring down the shuttle.
120	** Played for laughs during Egrorian's test question to Orac, who reveals that Egrorian's thesis got TheBGrade and his degree was later revoked for gross misconduct.
121	* ShoutOut: Egrorian quotes Madame Roland. "Oh Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name."
122	* ShowSomeLeg: Vila says that Avon should bring one of the women (instead of him) as it might ease things with Egrorian. Turns out Egrorian finds Vila quite appealing.
123	* {{Sideboob}}: Servalan provides some {{fanservice}} in her black gown.
124	* SmartPeoplePlayChess: But that doesn't stop them cheating at it. Given that they're {{Mad Scientist}}s, perhaps that should be CrazyPeoplePlayChess.
125	* SpotTheImposter: To confirm he's really getting Orac, Egrorian asks the computer a question about his degree thesis (the answer turns out to be TooMuchInformation). But this Orac is indeed a fake, as Avon has installed a relay to the real Orac that's hidden in the shuttle.
126	* TeleportationRescue: Averted; Dayna wants to teleport over with extra bracelets to rescue Avon and Vila, but Tarrant says it's too difficult to teleport between two fast-moving points (they did it in [[Recap/BlakesSevenS4E10Gold "Gold"]], but presumably that was because they had time to line up with the other spacecraft first).
127	* TemptingFate:
128	** Vila should know by now not to [[IfIWereARichMan plan his retirement before it's happened]].
129	** Egrorian boasts to Servalan that his plan is infallible.
130	** "You know I like to stick with you, Avon, where it's safe."
131	* TheyCalledMeMad: Egrorian claims he wants revenge on those in the Federation who belittled him and forced him into exile. Turns out he had a far more serious reason for going into hiding, like a failed conspiracy to [[TakeOverTheWorld take over the Federation]].
132	* ThisCannotBe: While MilkingTheGiantCow too.
133	-->'''Egrorian:''' How? HOW? There's no way for them to escape!
134	* ToThePain: Egrorian twists Pinder's arm after catching him [[FixingTheGame cheating at chess]].
135	-->"Can you feel your extensor muscle tearing? Can you feel your humerus grating against your radius? Hmm? Just a little more... a little more... now you're feeling it, aren't you?"
136	* TrapIsTheOnlyOption: PlayedForLaughs at first. Avon: "Why do you think I'm sending Tarrant?" As it becomes obvious that Servalan is involved, our heroes have to go along as [[AnOfferYouCantRefuse Egrorian has made it clear]] he'll destroy them with the Tachyon Funnel if they just try to leave.
137	* TrillingR: Egrorian. "This is a grrrreat honor for us."
138	* {{Troll}}: Avon after volunteering Vila for the mission. "Vila, if I didn't know you better, I would think you were trying to get out of this." Later when Egrorian says he'd be [[HomoeroticSubtext really interested in seeing Vila again]] after all this is over, Avon gleefully says he'll pass on the message.
139	* VariantChess: Egrorian and Pinder are playing with chess pieces that look like identical plastic cylinders. Avon wants to know how they tell the king from the queen (given their HomoeroticSubtext, that might be a StealthPun).
140	* VideoPhone: Avon insists on a video transmission to verify that he really is speaking to Egrorian (justified given how Servalan lured him with a fake audio message in [[Recap/BlakesSevenS3E13Terminal "Terminal"]]). Egrorian complies though he's not happy as the [[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou Federation monitors such messages]].
141	* WeCanRuleTogether: This time Servalan is on the receiving end, and she's not happy. For once she gives an honest answer -- [[ItsAllAboutMe she doesn't have to share power with anyone]].
142	* WhamLine: Orac drops two of them.
143	** "The escape velocity of this vehicle is now confirmed at Mach 15. ''[beat]'' And unattainable!" ''[dramatic chord]''
144	** "Vila weighs 73 kilos, Avon."
145	* WhatYouAreInTheDark: Avon unfortunately shows his CharacterDevelopment is not enough to outweigh his self-preservation.
146	* WholePlotReference: Inspired by ''Literature/TheColdEquations'', though not JustForFun/RecycledInSpace this time as the TropeNamer was in space too. Creator/RobertHolmes avoids the contrived circumstances of the original story by having it be the result of sabotage rather than NoOSHACompliance.
147	* YouFool: The Orac swapped for the Tachyon Funnel turns out to be a fake with a transmitter relay to the real Orac.
148	-->'''Servalan:''' You pathetic fool. That isn't Orac! [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall It's just a box of flashing lights!]] I warned you about Avon, and he still tricked you. [[IllKillYou I will kill you for this!]]
149	* YouHaveFailedMe: Lampshaded
150	-->'''Servalan:''' Just remember, I punish failure as quickly as I reward success.

Context Recap / BlakesSevenS4E11Orbit