Line #88 Recap/BlakesSevenS1E8Duel


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blakes_7_duel.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:"You aliens will [[BloodSport fight for our amusement]]."]]
3	[[AC:Written by Creator/TerryNation.\
4	Directed by Creator/DouglasCamfield.\
5	Airdate: 20 February 1978.]]
6
7	On a world destroyed by war, two powerful aliens [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything force Blake and Travis to fight a duel to the death]] ([[Recap/StarTrekS1E18Arena Sound familiar?]]).
8	----
9	!!This episode has the following tropes:
10
11	* AllPlanetsAreEarthlike: Though not a BBCQuarry in this case, but a surface of fused glass from a fusion bomb. The combatants are later teleported to a forest on another part of the planet (filmed in New Forest in southern England).
12	* AmazonBrigade: Mutoids.
13	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Averted; the Keeper (Giroc) says that the Guardian (Sinofar) can do this for both of them, but she believes they must [[TheAtoner atone for the destruction of their world]] by inspiring other races to put aside their violent ways. When Giroc exalts over Travis' determination to continue with his pointless vendetta, Sinofar states it is that which keeps them both prisoners on their dead world.
14	* BadBoss:
15	** It's pointed out that the pursuit ships firing constantly to wear down the Liberator's forcewall leaves them vulnerable to attack (as they're draining their own power banks faster than the Liberator), but Travis regards them both as expendable.
16	** Sinofar offers to resurrect the mutoid with Travis, but he rejects her as [[JustAMachine barely more than a machine]] and irrelevant to his pursuit of Blake. Sinofar resurrects her anyway, but Travis just blames her for his failure to kill Blake.
17	* TheBait: Travis lights a fire to lure Blake in his direction. As further incentive he sends the mutoid to capture [[IHaveYourWife whoever is with Blake]].
18	* BloodSport: Giroc enjoys the thrill of the 'primitive' aggression and violence on display. Sinofar has to interrupt events when she arranges for Travis and Blake to meet up immediately.
19	* BoundAndGagged: Jenna. Fortunately she's still able to grunt a warning.
20	* BridgeBunnies: Subverted with mutoids who although beautiful are FanDisservice due to their feeding habits and cybernetic headpieces.
21	* ContinuityNod: While watching the action, Cally makes comments based on her guerrilla warfare experience.
22	* ConvenientlyPlacedSharpThing: Blake doesn't have time to free Jenna from her bonds, so he jabs his machete in the ground so she can cut herself free while he holds off Travis with a spear.
23	* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: While they're stuck up a tree together, Travis makes an attempt to bond with his mutoid by [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight revealing her name before she had her memory wiped]]. The mutoid is [[ThatManIsDead completely disinterested]] and Travis just gives up in disgust.
24	* DarkIsEvil: Travis and the mutoid wear black, in contrast to their pristine white flight deck.
25	* DeflectorShields: The power banks are so low, the crew have to wait till just before the plasma bolt strikes before activating the forcewall.
26	* DesignatedGirlFight: Jenna fights the mutoid, who is weak from lack of serum.
27	* DramaticThunder: Thunder is heard constantly on the planet, but also sounds at suitable moments in the dialogue.
28	* DuelToTheDeath: Blake and Travis are made to duel to the death by Giroc and Sinofar, and use stabbing weapons to ensure they must get up close to kill one another.
29	* EverybodyLives: This is the only episode of the series where no-one dies.
30	* EverythingInSpaceIsAGalaxy: Travis exalts that the other Federation patrols have pushed the Liberator into this galaxy. One assumes he meant solar system.
31	* ExpositionDiagram: Blake uses a light pen on a DataPad connected to Zen's interface as TheBigBoard, to show the others what his battle strategy is.
32	* FakeKillScare: Travis has a machete at Blake's throat, when Sinofar appears and puts a stop to events.
33	* {{Fanservice}}: Sinofar has visible nipples. No doubt she's rather cold in that thin dress.
34	* FantasticFightingStyle: The mutoid knocks out Jenna with some kind of crossed-arm chopping motion.
35	* FireForgedFriends: Averted; a mutoid is chosen as a 'friend' to experience death with Travis. Travis does make an effort to bond with her, but it doesn't work and the episode ends on him stating that she will be court-martialled for her failure and likely disposed of.
36	* GhostPlanet: The inhabitants fought a ForeverWar, eventually building a weapon powerful enough to destroy their enemy, [[PyrrhicVictory only for the radiation to kill off everyone else]].
37	* GirlyRun: Avon running onto the flight deck in response to the RedAlert.
38	* TheHecateSisters: Played with; we have the Guardian as the Maiden, the Keeper as the Crone, [[ChildlessDystopia but no Mother]].
39	-->'''Sinofar:''' We were left with a planet made barren by radiation. Our children were monsters, or died, or were never born.
40	* HellIsThatNoise: The combatants spend an uncomfortable night in the trees, listening to the roars of the local wildlife.
41	* HoYay: A ScreenShake causes [[SuggestiveCollision Avon to catch Blake]] before he falls over.
42	* HyperspeedEscape: Averted because the Liberator power banks are low.
43	* IgnoredEpiphany: Travis learns nothing at all from his experience.
44	* ImprovisedWeapon: Each male combatant is given a machete as a tool. Blake constructs a spear for Jenna, while Travis makes a SpikesOfDoom BoobyTrap. However the latter fails because the vine rope used to suspend it above a captive Jenna is too tough and takes several cuts before it breaks, giving them time to get away.
45	* InsultBackfire
46	-->'''Avon:''' No, [Vila] was calling me a machine, but since he undoubtedly defines himself as a human being, I shall choose to accept that as more of a compliment than anything else.
47	* JustAMachine: Though when Avon is compared to a machine, he takes it as a compliment.
48	-->'''Blake:''' I get the distinct feeling I offended Zen's professional pride then.\
49	'''Avon:''' It's just a machine, Blake.\
50	'''Vila:''' [[TheSpock And he should know.]]
51	* KillHimAlready: The reaction of those watching on the Liberator during the SwordOverHead moment. Avon just quietly shakes his head, knowing that Blake won't do it.
52	* LetsSplitUpGang: Blake climbs a tall tree to see if he can locate Travis. While he's up there, the mutoid kidnaps Jenna.
53	* MacheteMayhem: Averted despite each side having a machete each.
54	* MonumentOfHumiliationAndDefeat: Subverted in that it was erected by those who lost the war, not the winners. Because there weren't any.
55	* MoodWhiplash: Between the flight deck of the Liberator being battered by plasma bolts, and the flight deck of Travis' ship.
56	* NotSoDifferentRemark: At the end of the episode having learned nothing from these events, Travis is stated to be no different from the race that destroyed their own planet.
57	* OhCrap: Blake and the others look up at the Liberator in orbit, and see the lights of Federation pursuit ships closing in on their vessel with its crew completely unaware.
58	* OurVampiresAreDifferent: The mutoid feeds on blood serum, and is entirely willing to take this [[ImAHumanitarian from a captured enemy]] through a built-in needle in her arm. She even traps vampire bats for the tiny amount of blood in them.
59	-->'''Travis:''' I'm aware of your need for blood serum.\
60	'''Mutoid:''' Most are, but few accept it for what it is -- a functional convenience. Opponents of mutoid modification call us vampires.
61	* RammingAlwaysWorks: Rather than wait till the three ships firing on them have worn down their forcewall, Blake decides to go StraightForTheCommander and ram Travis' ship. Instead of [[GameOfChicken taking evasive action]] Travis decides to fire everything he has at point-blank range. The aliens intervene before we find out [[UnstoppableForceMeetsImmovableObject what would have happened next]].
62	* SarcasmMode: When Blake is asked if his crew are also willing to die for his cause, he says they're here by their own choice. Listening to this, Avon contributes a sardonic, "Really?"
63	* ShipTease: [[GreenEyedMonster Jenna gives Blake a scowl]] when he talks of how attractive Sinofar was.
64	* SlowMotion: When the aliens trap the spaceships in a stasis field.
65	* TheSpock: Avon serves as a {{foil}} to Keera, the EmotionlessGirl mutoid.
66	-->'''Avon:''' I have never understood why it should be necessary to become irrational in order to prove that you care, or, indeed, [[HiddenHeartOfGold why it should be necessary to prove it at all]].
67	* StealthInSpace: The Liberator goes into a close orbit around the planet to hide them from detectors, as [[SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale opposed to hiding in deep space]] while they recharge their energy banks. Travis in turn uses the planet to hide from the Liberator's scanners, though that doesn't explain why Zen doesn't detect them when they make their attack run.
68	* SufficientlyAdvancedAliens
69	* SwordOverHead
70	-->'''Giroc:''' Why didn't you kill him?\
71	'''Blake:''' Too weak? Or maybe I didn't entirely trust your motives. Besides, as long as he's alive, he'll be the one chasing me. And I know I can beat him.\
72	'''Giroc:''' [Laughs] At least you're not stupid.\
73	'''Blake:''' Another reason why I didn't kill Travis -- [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim I would have enjoyed it]].\
74	'''Sinofar:''' Perhaps there was nothing for you to learn.
75	* TemptingFate:
76	** Vila says they'll have the Federation after them until the day they die. Gan points out they've been lucky so far. [[spoiler:Gan is the first of the Seven to die, but Vila's prediction is right too.]]
77	** Travis cruelly dismisses the mutoid who failed, even though she has no purpose outside her service to the Federation. [[spoiler:Travis himself ends up being held TheScapegoat for his failure to capture Blake, and has to go on the run from the Federation he's dedicated his life to.]]
78	* WeWillMeetAgain: The episode ends on Travis ordering his spacecraft to follow Blake's course. "You see he made one fatal error. He should have killed me."
79	* WholePlotReference: The episode was inspired by the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode [[Recap/StarTrekS1E18Arena "Arena"]].
80	* WhyDontYouJustShootHim
81	** Averted; when transported down to the planet Travis tries to shoot Blake straight away, but finds his ArmCannon doesn't work, because the Guardian has deactivated it.
82	** The mutoid could have killed Jenna with a machete, but tries to feed on her instead [[HorrorHunger as she's starving]].
83	* WomenAreWiser: Averted as Giroc is just as prone to the old passion for violence that lead to war.
84	* WorldOfSnark
85	-->'''Vila:''' How can you doubt me?\
86	'''Blake:''' It isn't easy, but somehow I manage it.
87	** Avon too, of course.
88	-->'''Vila:''' How can you sleep with all this happening?\
89	'''Avon:''' With all what happening? Blake is sitting up in a tree, Travis is sitting up in another tree. Unless they're planning to throw nuts at one another, I don't see much of a fight developing before it gets light.
90	* YouHaveFailedMe
91	-->'''Travis:''' Your failure cost me Blake.\
92	'''Mutoid:''' {{I warned you}} that my function would be impaired, Commander.\
93	'''Travis:''' Well, perhaps the court martial will take that into account, but I doubt it. Tell me, what happens to a mutoid that's dismissed the service?\
94	'''Mutoid:''' [[SlaveMooks We exist only to serve.]]\

Context Recap / BlakesSevenS1E8Duel