Why would Avon target a base that simply provides propaganda to help Servalan’s cause?

Una McCormack’s clever script kicks off this third boxset as the civil war between Servalan and the old President of the Federation continues to wage. There’s lots of meta dialogue in the story, particularly when referencing the propaganda serial that the base is producing (Series C Episode 11!) as well as plenty of exploration of the purpose of propaganda and its failings.

Of course, we know from the start that there has to be more than just propaganda being produced – why else would Servalan send someone to check on it (you can’t quite see her kicking off her high heels and relaxing with an episode on the vidscreen!), and indeed why are Avon, Tarrant and Cally there? The revelation that there’s a traitor to Servalan’s people on the base is also not that much of a surprise, but the way in which they’re identified works well – and allows for a conversation between Avon and Cally regarding what’s justified.

One of the elements that works best in this is the dialogue between the Liberator crew – unlike in some recent audios (not in this range), the banter feels natural and unforced, almost unscripted (something that’s very hard to get right, and does need the actors to know their characters as well as the B7 crew do!).

Verdict: Plenty of lovely touches in a clever tale. 9/10

Paul Simpson