The final pieces in the puzzle start to slot together…

There’s a moment towards the very end of this audio which – particularly if, like me, you’ve been a fan of Blake’s 7 from the start of the BBC One broadcasts – is likely to bring a lump to your throat. It’s based on something that Paul Darrow told producer John Ainsworth, and it’s the perfect capstone to these full-cast audios set on board the Liberator.

The story leading up to it has to service so many different elements that it’s a credit to Ainsworth, writer Trevor Baxendale and all involved that it doesn’t feel like a hotpotch of plot strands. We find out exactly what the President has been up to all this time, and Selene’s true loyalties are revealed. Avon’s status is unveiled – with some surprising moments – and “the Zen computer” is set straight. And on top of all that, Sheila Ruskin returns to reprise the part she played back in the original series… However, I don’t want to spoil the many plot twists within this story that get us to the status quo for Terminal.

Big Finish – under various different producers – have expanded the Blake’s 7 universe in many and varied ways, and these recent box sets, stretching Series C out, have generally been of very high quality. I’m pleased to hear that different full-cast audios are being considered – I’ve always enjoyed stories in whatever fictional universe that focus on aspects that aren’t part of the main story as depicted on film – and think they’re absolutely right in not trying to continue without either Gareth Thomas’ Blake or Paul Darrow’s Avon.

Verdict: A suitably epic conclusion to this strand of one of British science fiction’s best small screen series. 10/10

Paul Simpson

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