#1978-1981

Tell my Troubles to the Eight Ball (Eureka), Ca. 1978–81

A group of criminals discover the most sophisticated ship in the galaxy and resolve to use their new found powers to defeat the Earth federation.

 One of the great things about this series is that the main characters openly don’t pretend to like each other but still care for one another. As a result there is some really brilliant dialogue where they are snarky or sarcastic all the time. That goes just as much for the main villain as it does for the heroes who equal each other in both intelligence and wit.

 The production values aren’t great because it was made by the BBC in the late 70s/early 80s, however the narratives to the episodes make up for this amply. There is a lot of political subtext in the series regarding faux-democratic dictatorships and covering a range of subjects from drugs to industrial espionage and presents them in entertainingly exaggerated ways.

 The characters begin as rough stereotypes but find subtle ways of development as the series continues. For example Vila starts off as a cowardly and greedy person and by the end he is very much the same but in several episodes he is forced into bravery, demonstrates that he is intelligent and identifies the motivations behind his character traits.

 There are occasional lapses in logic throughout the show but it only serves to add to the nostalgically comedic quality of the series. For example there are times when the heroes are running across one of the many quarry-like planets shouting “She’s gaining on us” whilst the main villain, Servalan, totters after them in a ball gown and high-heeled shoes.

 9/10 -They don’t get much better than this!-

 -It was a running joke on the set that Avon’s cynical nature came about because his childhood teddy bear was stolen. This later resulted in a prank in which a teddy was sneaked into the recording of the finale of season 3.

-36 teleport bracelets were originally made but due to tem breaking or being lost, many had to be replaced using a method shown on Blue Peter (1958).

#FlashbackFriday (and Paul Masson) will sell no wine before its time...and Orson Welles will not take direction from a director who calls "action."

Because schedules. And today’s product will sell none of themselves before their time. Continue reading