User Reviews

"Time Squad" is a pretty strong episode in Blake's 7's run, setting up what resembles more of a format for the series' episodes, while still maintaining the sense of dramatic uncertainty that has distinguished the episodes so far. That continued real sense of danger and unreliability - - from the crew itself towards each other and Blake, from Zen, and from the mysterious capsule in distress, is the best quality of this episode. The character of Cally is given an interesting, brief introduction that piques the curiosity about future development.

There's a double plot here, though, one about the mysterious capsule and one about Blake's attempt to blow up a Federation communications centre. The running time doesn't allow them both enough time to develop, and the terrorist escapade consequently seems more perfunctory than it ought to. Such a dangerous and potentially crippling strike ought to have a fairly huge impact, but it ends up seeming like a subplot.

There are some interesting developments for Gan, but David Jackson didn't impress me with his acting here as much as the rest of the cast; his implant-induced conflictedness about killing came across as a bit forced in performance. It's only second episode for the teleport, but already there have been three dangerous situations created by problems bringing people back over it; it makes one wonder if that will become a stock situation.

The Liberator picks up a space projectile containing some hostile aliens, Avon, Blake and Vila land on Saurian Major to destroy an important Federation communication complex.

Once again the relatively low score surprises me, they have once again successfully had a story with two sub plots, connecting the stands neatly together. I like this episode more so for introducing Cally, and gets a fine debut and shows her worth.

The Alien guards are very good, and very menacing. I wonder if they had decided to make Gan less powerful intentionally here, or earlier on, his almost super human powers were seeming like an easy fix.

I think it's a very good one. 8/10

On the way to federation planet Saurian Major, Blake picks up an unidentified projectile, accidentally allowing three hibernating aliens on to The Liberator.

"Time Squad" is an okay episode of Blake's 7 that frankly isn't up to much other than being a reasonably solid standalone story. The aliens are a bit rubbish and despite some interesting plot twists this isn't much of an exciting episode, but it's to be expected that with Terry Nation writing this ENTIRE first season there will be some less interesting episodes, and this is one of them.

6/10