Duel (20 Feb. 1978)

On a world destroyed by warfare, two powerful aliens force Blake and Travis to fight each other to the death so their ships will survive.

Director:

Douglas Camfield

Writers:

Terry Nation (creator), Terry Nation

Stars:

Gareth Thomas, Sally Knyvette, Paul Darrow

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Gareth Thomas	...	Roj Blake
Sally Knyvette	...	Jenna Stannis
Paul Darrow	...	Kerr Avon
Jan Chappell	...	Cally
Michael Keating	...	Vila Restal
David Jackson	...	Olag Gan
Peter Tuddenham	...	Zen (voice)
Stephen Greif	...	Space Commander Travis
Isla Blair	...	Sinofar
Carol Royle	...	Mutoid
Patsy Smart	...	Giroc

Storyline

Blake and the crew of the Liberator are pursued by a group of Pursuit ships commanded by Travis. But Blake and Travis find themselves on a barren planet and are chosen to fight each other in combat by two alien women, who interfere in Blake and Travis's space fight.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Release Date:

20 February 1978 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Hazel Hill, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

[the tired crew are watching the screen. Avon, bored, activates a tool for moment to break the silence, then gets up to leave.]
Vila Restal: Have you thought of another plan?
Kerr Avon: Yes: I'm going to get some sleep.
Vila Restal: How can you sleep with all this happening?
Kerr 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.
Olag Gan: You're never involved, are you Avon? You ever cared ...
[...]

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Connections

Edited from Blakes 7 (1978)

User Reviews

A captivating Duel

Space Commander Travis tracks The Liberator to an uncharted planet where Blake, Jenna, and Gan are exploring the surface and the ruins of ancient civilization present there. As Travis closes in for attack, the trio make their way back to the ship but with the energy reserves low Blake decides to face his enemy rather than attempt an escape. A powerful anti-war being Sinofar cripples the ship, however, and forces Blake and Jenna to enter a duel with Travis and his pilot, a duel meant to show them the meaning of death.

"Duel" is Blake's 7's imaginative and triumphant take on an old science fiction concept and quite possibly inspired by the same Fredric Brown short story which inspired Star Trek's "Arena". The planet is exceptionally well-realized and the atmosphere the episode creates is palpable, thanks in no small part to the music and the direction from Douglas Camfield. What makes this episode so successful is its emphasis on character, it plays with big concepts but doesn't reduce them to pulp sci-fi, maintaining the sort of character-driven quality that makes Blake's 7 such a distinctive and special series.

10/10