Blake's 7 poster

Blake's 7

★ 8.0 5K votes 1978–1981 4 seasons · 52 episodes Ended BBC One
CynicalDeeply distrustful of institutions and human motives.This show: 9/10DystopiaOppressive imagined societies and the people caught in them.This show: 8/10Morally grayNo clean heroes or villains anywhere in sight.This show: 8/10British TVThe British television sensibility: tone, restraint and format traditions.This show: 8/10Lo-fi charmA low budget worn proudly.This show: 7/10Space & sci-fiSpace, aliens and grand-scale science fiction.This show: 7/10Antihero leadA protagonist doing bad things you can't stop watching.This show: 7/10Dark toneShadowy mood and subject matter, a shade short of outright bleak.This show: 7/10
Rate this series
Starring
Michael KeatingPaul DarrowPeter TuddenhamJan ChappellJacqueline PearceGareth Thomas
Written by
Terry Nation
Starring
Michael KeatingPaul DarrowPeter TuddenhamJan ChappellJacqueline PearceGareth Thomas
Written by
Terry Nation
Ratings per Episode
246810
Votes per Episode
0125250375500

Blake's 7 Episode Ratings Heatmap

AvgE1E2E3E4E5E6E7E8E9E10E11E12E13
S17.37.98.17.06.86.77.77.27.47.67.06.77.07.8
S27.47.87.46.96.88.17.57.86.87.96.47.56.38.7
S37.47.98.06.56.36.78.17.48.57.16.76.57.88.6
S47.27.46.36.95.95.27.16.96.97.77.88.37.28.8

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About

"Cynical space rebellion that refuses easy heroes"

A political prisoner named Blake escapes a totalitarian Federation and gathers a crew of criminals and outcasts to fight back, commandeering a powerful alien ship. What starts as clean rebel-versus-empire adventure quickly curdles into something murkier: allies betray each other, victories cost more than they're worth, and the line between freedom fighter and terrorist blurs. The budget is visibly thin, the sets wobble, but the writing is sharp and cynical, carried by prickly, self-interested characters rather than heroics. It's talky, morally grubby, and builds toward one of British television's bleakest, most talked-about endings.

Watch it for

the morally compromised characters, especially Avon, who never let the rebellion feel noble or safe.

Maybe skip if

you need slick effects or optimism, since the budget is dated and the tone turns increasingly bleak.

Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.

All Seasons

Series 11978
7.34K1311h 3m
Series 21979
7.43K1310h 56m
Series 31980
7.43K1311h 25m
Series 41981
7.23K137h 30m

Full Cast & Crew

Cast

Michael Keating Vila Restal
Paul Darrow Kerr Avon
Peter Tuddenham Zen, Orac, Slave
Jan Chappell Cally
Jacqueline Pearce Servalan, Supreme Commander Servalan, President Servalan
Gareth Thomas Roj Blake
Sally Knyvette Jenna Stannis
Steven Pacey Del Tarrant, Deeta Tarrant
Josette Simon Dayna Mellanby
David Jackson Gan

Crew

Terry Nation

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