From: grohol@novavax.UUCP (John Grohol)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re^4: B7: Orbit (SPOILERS) (was "Yet Another Blake's 7 Question"
Date: 9 Sep 92 22:00:51 GMT
Organization: Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

ekho@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (amanda rothman) writes:

>grohol@novavax.UUCP (John Grohol) writes:
[much deleted about my claims that Avon and Vila were no more friends
 than a cat is to a mouse...]

>  I am one of those insufferable soft-hearted sods who are of the opinion 
>that Avon _did_ care somewhat for his companions in misery (within 
>reason, of course! ;)  Why else would he have stayed with them at all 
>after finding Orac?  He could have jumped ship at any time with the super 
>computer and lived in the lap of luxury on some (hopefully) moderately 
>civilized planet.  All he would have to do is erase any computer 
>knowledge of the planet/ system/ sector (take your pick) he chose to 
>reside in!  His personal honor was a large factor in his decision
>to stay ("I want it finished.... I want to be free... of him!"), as is 
>his desire for Liberator, but Avon is a very patient man (look at how 
>long he waited for a chance of revenge for Anna!).  He could wait as well 
>in a much less stressful situation and then call the Liberator to him via 
>Orac.  Instead, he chooses to stay on Liberator, even though it means he 
>"chooses to follow" Blake's orders.

This is all dependent upon one's point of view. Avon has often said that
as soon as "it is all over," Avon gets the Liberator. Meaning, that when
Blake crushes the Federation, which is kind of silly really... The only
reason he hung around for as long as he did was because he was relatively
safe on the Liberator (as opposed to trying to hang out in hiding) and
that it would guarantee that Avon would indeed get it after Blake was
done (either finishing off the Feds or have them finish him off!). If
Avon didn't hang around, there would be no guarantee whatsoever Avon
would ever see the Liberator again... Orac may be powerful, but if he
could command ships to fly whatever patterns he wanted, they would've
used *that* tactic eons ago with all those Federation pursuit ships!

>  As to his relationship with Vila, I believe that they are the closet 
>two of all the crew.  Both of them being thieves (of a sort), they 
>understand eachother, especially Vila's understanding that Avon will not 
>show sentiment (which he always speaks against) in public.  The badinage 
>between the two are one of my favorite elements in Blakes 7!  And about 
>That Shuttle Episode, it only was a shuttle; there aren't a lot of places 
>to hide on a shuttle which has just been stripped to the gills!  Plus the 
>fact that Avon did not move one piece of metal (such as ventilation shaft 
>covers...) in his search; he just kept calling to Vila in that voice 
>which he would never normally use.  (Until, as mentioned, he found 
>another way to solve the problem without threat to Vila's life)

No, I would *never* characterize their relationship as one of friendship.
Avon was never kidding with Vila. He was quite dead serious when he
was "joking" about the regard he paid to Vila's intelligence and motives,
and vice-a-versa, I'm sure. This was not a friendship by any normal
measurements of the word, which connotates mutual trust, admiration,
understanding, and similar purposes. The only which is vaguely fulfilled
is "similar purposes," but even there, they are not on par. Granted,
they are both thieves, but Vila's thievery is of the pick-pocket
type while Avon's is of the take-over-the-universe type. Big difference.
Avon looked upon Vila as an idiot savant almost. Vila often looked
up to Avon as a level-headed, logical, ruthless compatriot. I wouldn't
say he admired Avon, but he knew he wasn't to be toyed with or gotten
on his bad side. In "Orbit," there was a very real danger to Vila. Avon
may not have made many physical moves to locate him, but then again,
he counted on Vila being stupid enough to fall for what he was saying;
you see, WE all know that Vila overheard Avon and Orac, but AVON didn't
know...

>  Finally, as to his "relationship" with Servalan, I am of the opinion 
>that her respects her ability and cunning (he stated as much), but as for 
>caring for her (more than the crew?), I find it hard to believe.  If not, 
>he could have jumped ship and gone to be with her instead (although he 
>knows that any safety and/or comfort in that situation would be temporary 
>at best. And they both know it...).

Avon would have had Servalan if he could guarantee his own survival in
her empire. He knew as soon as she was bored or his usefulness to her
was over, he would be killed, and so never fell for that obvious trap.
But given different circumstances, a different time, whatever, Avon --
if he could guarantee he would survive it -- would have gone to
Servalan long ago. As equals. He would never have had stood for a        
subserviant position...

Just more ramblings.... Because....
  
  "We're having fun, fun, fun
   In the sun, sun, sun..."

-John


-- 
  John M. Grohol, M.S.    grohol@novavax.nova.edu     Nova University
--::--::--::--::--::--::--  the indigo girls:  --::--::--::--::--::--::--
   "Dark and dangerous like a secret that gets whispered in a hush,
    When I wake the things I dreamt about you last night make me blush." 	
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv