Vila Restal

Vila Restal is character in Blake's 7. He was portrayed by Michael Keating.
Vila is an unapologetic coward and often the butt of jokes. Vila fans find him appealing because of his (often hidden) cleverness and resourcefulness and his sense of humour, often expressed through asides and pithy one-liners. 
Other Blake's 7 fans, focus on his negative aspects, find him to be a lazy, sneaky, and immature. 
Many fans seem to be drawn to Vila also via his relationship with Kerr Avon whether in slash as Avon/Vila or in gen fanworks, though appreciation of Vila on his own also exists. 
From a fan in 1993: 
 
==In Canon==
He was portrayed by Michael Keating and is the only character to appear in all episodes of the show (due to the absence of Kerr Avon in the pilot episode). 
A professional thief, Vila is the first of the central cast that Roj Blake meets upon his imprisonment in 'The Way Back'. After briefly separated from Blake, Jenna and Avon, Vila ends up on the Liberator after being rescued from Cygnus Alpha by Roj Blake along with Olag Gan. A revolutionary mostly through lack of choice, he quickly becomes responsible for getting the crew into (and out of) anything that is locked and mans the weapons console, though he has an aversion to direct violence and is an unapologetic coward. 
Ostensibly a Delta grade (lower class), Vila later claims to have bought that grade classification to avoid conscription ('Volcano'). 
Later in the course of the show, he passes off an opportunity of a happily-ever-after to return to the crew, because he couldn't be a thief anymore.
Sometimes played solely for comic relief (and suffering from somewhat inconsistent characterisation on this aspect), Vila also has moments of genius, particularly around locks. Fans have argued that some of Vila's apparent buffoonery (and drunkenness) is a facade, which is born out by several instances in the show that display his cleverness, such as when Vila pretends to be drunk to supply the crew with a solution to their problem in 'Stardrive': 
 
Vila is shot on Gauda Prime during the events of 'Blake', though fans have speculated that he survives, as he seems to fall towards rather than away from the shot, making him a player in Post-Gauda Prime stories. 
Vila's closest relationships with the regular cast in canon are those with Olag Gan (up until Gan's death) and Kerr Avon (though some fans have argued that their sometimes sharp-edged banter is a sign of mutual or particularly Avon's dislike; see Avon/Vila). He actively dislikes Del Tarrant, at least initially, though he later saves Tarrant's life, and has a brief, one-episode affair with single-appearance character Kerril (see Vila/Kerril). 
Popular Vila-centric episodes have him as part of the Avon-Vila (or Avon/Vila) double act ('Killer', 'Gambit') or give him a spot in the limelight ('City at the Edge of the World') or are an unlimited source of angst ('Orbit'), which is the equivalent of 'Blake' for Vila fans.
===Expanded Universe===
Michael Keating continues to be heavily involved in the Blake's 7 (Big Finish Series), featuring in numerous audio plays (both full-cast and individual). The Big Finish universe also expands on Vila's personal background, introducing, through the course of a primary plotline of 'The Liberator Chronicles', Vila's estranged father.
==Fandom==
Vila was a popular character in print zine fandom. 
Vila continues to play a more minor role in online fandom, though he seemed at times more popular due to a focus on the Avon/Vila pairing, particularly on Tumblr. 
Though Vila is third to only Avon and Blake in characters tags for fics archived on AO3, he is a more minor character in many fics, particularly those that feature pairings that do not include Vila, such as Avon/Blake, if he appears at all. 
Nonetheless, among the fans of the character he is discussed to a depth that is rivaled only by Avon and Blake.
==Pairings==
Vila is part of a number of pairings, but by far the most popular (also as it is second only to Blake/Avon in general fandom popularity) is Avon/Vila. Het pairings are less common with Vila, though they do exist, as well - of these, the most frequent seems to be Vila/Kerril, which has a canonical basis, followed by Vila/Soolin. 
Other pairings include:
* Tarrant/Vila
* Vila/Jenna
* Vila/Cally
* Blake/Avon/Vila
* Blake/Vila
There are also some fics that pair Vila with original characters, both male and female.
===Fiction===
Some fans of Vila that are/were active as authors and/or artists include:
 
* Ann Wortham
* babel
* foreignobjecticus
* hadescavedish
* i-fought-space
* Jaelijn
* Kathy Hintze
* Leah Rosenthal
* Nicola Mody AKA Vilakins
* padmesigma
* Phoenix
* Van Donovan 
== Fanon and Tropes==
Fanon tends to emphasise either the clever or the buffoonish side of Vila, mirroring the inconsistent writing in the show. Most fans who give Vila a more active role, however, tend to portray him as more than the butt of the joke or a useless drunk, tending towards exploring the perceived complexities or towards emphasising either his emotional intelligence or his skill as a thief/cracksman. 
The fanon Vila is shown to have nimble fingers, has a lower-class accent, is a good cook, was abused in prison, and needs to sleep with the light on. 
While the story is almost universally reviled, Vila starred in possibly the first mpreg in media fanfic, Comfort, a series begun in 1983. 
===Backstory and Pre-Canon===
Vila's background is cause of speculation among fans, as there is very little known about it from the canon. Typical tropes include explorations of Vila's previous criminal career or experience in juvenile detention, past trauma during previous imprisonment or while growing up Delta grade, or meeting crew characters before 'The Way Back' (primarily Kerr Avon, whom Vila introduces to the others, or Gan). 
 
===Avon/Vila Pairing===
Avon/Vila stories tend to emphasise either Vila's criminal skill or his cleverness in commonality with Avon or cast him as the innocent to Avon's darkness. While these stories are also often heavily concerned with Avon, many also feature explorations of Vila himself or Vila's narration. For a full discussion of the pairing, see Avon/Vila.
Sometimes, possibly due to Vila potentially knowing Avon before the events of 'Space Fall', they have a long-standing professional/romantic/friendly relationship or familial relationship.
See Avon/Vila for examples.
===Alcoholism===
Vila's drinking and his other vices are either downplayed or exaggerated in fan works. Some works follow the example of 'Stardrive' in making Vila's vices more of a facade than real flaws. Other works seek to explain and/or justify his tendency to drink by various traumas (for instance, Vila is frequently drinking after the events of 'Orbit'). 
Others (frequently those less generous to Vila's character) use his drinking as a way to portray his character as useless to the rest of the crew or as cause for mistakes. 
In 1986, Michael Keating was asked in an interview about what Vila would have done if he'd survived the final episode: 
===The Episode: Orbit===
The episode 'Orbit', in which Avon threatens to kill Vila, has generated many stories dealing with the fallout. AUs seen Vila actually dying or flipping the tables and killing Avon. 
Typical story lines include: Vila disavowing himself from Avon, sometimes even leaving the crew; Vila reconciling himself with Avon or reaching an uneasy accord or failing to reconcile; Vila taking action prompted by 'Orbit' that do not involve leaving, such as telling other characters off the events or drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
Examples:
* Eccentric Orbit by Marian Mendez ("An alternative universe version of the episode "Orbit," with Tarrant taking Vila's place on the doomed shuttle from Malodaar.") (printed in Southern Seven #11) (1998)
===Post-Gauda Prime===
As Vila may have survived the shoot-out on Gauda Prime, he frequently features in PGP stories. In some, he is the sole survivor, in others, some or all of the crew survive alongside him. Some survival-Vila fics use the experience of Gauda Prime to have Vila shed his perceived foolish facade to become a more overtly assertive or independent character.
Examples:
* The Bondstone by Sheila Paulson (1984)
* Last Stand at the Edge of the World by Cath Knowles (Vila becomes a leader in the revolution) (1990)
* Vila Restal’s Emails, a series of stories by Nicola Mody (early 2000s)
* Solstice by Sally M (sallymn) (2002)
===AU Fiction===
Some fans have taken Vila's hidden cleverness as indication that there is far more to the thief, even to the point of giving him a role as Federation plant, professional agent or even psychomanipulator. This is not to be mistaken for character bashing, as it is generally done out of appreciation of the character rather than to paint him in a bad light. 
 
Examples:
* Comfort (possibly the first mpreg in media fanfic, an almost universally reviled story) (1983)
* Hellhound Universe (written in Dallas/Disney style, with a cast unblushingly based on half the popstars and TV stars of the eighties) (1980s)
* Fragments from a Shattered Life (What if Vila Restal were a Pshyco-Strategian? -- a Puppeteer?) (1990) 
* Fortuneteller by Ann Wortham and Leah Rosenthal (Vila gets to save the day for a change) (1991)
* Renaissance, where he is transplanted to Renaissance-era Italy (1999)
===As a Character Avatars in Pro Books===
Vila is loosely portrayed in Tanith Lee's book, Kill the Dead (as Myal Lemyal), in P.N. Elrod's book "Art in the Blood" (as Evan Robley), and in Jean Lorrah's book "Empress Unborn" (as Wicket).
See Blake's 7 Avatars in Pro Books.
==Fan Comments==
===1990===
===Mid-1990s===
===2011===
==Zines With a Vila Focus==
* Delta Blues (1993)
* Quicksilver Rising (1984-86)
* Vila, Please! (1989)
* Vilacon (1984)
* Vilaworld (1981-at least 1995)
==Fan Clubs==
* World of Vila
==Communities==
* "Vila Restal Protection Society" is Tumblr blog dedicated to reblogging exclusively Vila content (inactive as of March 2021, not updated since approx. December 2019). "Reasons Vila Restal is Smiling" is a tumblr blog dedicated to collecting Vila's smiles (inspired by an Avon blog with the same goal).
==Some Vila Fanart Examples==
===1982===
File:B72-10.jpg|from B7 Complex #2, artist is Mary D. Bloemker (1982)
File:B73-8.jpg|from B7 Complex #3, artist is Deb Walsh (1982)
File:B74-2.jpg|from B7 Complex #4, artist is Mary D. Bloemker (1982)
===1984===
File:Bondstone.jpg|from The Bondstone, artist is Paula (1984)
File:Interface5.jpg|from Interface #5, artist unknown (1984)
File:B7complex67-9.jpg|from B7 Complex #6/7, artist is T.J. Burnside - portrays Vila in a fetching pose as "Playrebel of the Month," complete with a teddy bear fig leaf (1984)
===1985===
File:Downandunsafe3back.jpg|from Down and Unsafe #3, artist is Kathy Hanson (1985)
===1986===
File:Southernseven1-4.jpg|from Southern Seven #1, artist is T.J. Burnside
File:Downandunsafe4-4.jpg|from Down and Unsafe #4, artist is Kathy Hanson (1986)
===1987===
File:Horizonnewsletter18.jpg|from Horizon Newsletter #18 (1987)
File:Southernseven2-14.jpg|from Southern Seven #2, artist is Michelle Rosenberg
File:Last stand back karen river.jpg|from Last Stand at the Edge of the World, artist is Karen River (1987)
File:Laststand.jpg|from Last Stand at the Edge of the World, artist is Leah Rosenthal (1987)
File:Last stand int deb walsh.jpg|from Last Stand at the Edge of the World, artist is Deb Walsh (1987)
===1988===
File:B7 flotsam.jpg|from Blake's Doubles #1, artist is Leah Rosenthal 
Image:southernseven4.jpg|from Southern Seven #4, artist is Leah Rosenthal
File:Southernseven4-13.jpg |from Southern Seven #4, artist is Laura Virgil
File:Eleventhsector.jpg|from Eleventh Sector #1, artist is Shann 
File:Whatyoufancy1-5.jpg|from What You Fancy #1, artist is Gin (1988), artist is Fliss Davies
===1989===
File:Morgan vila 1989.jpg|artist is Adrian Morgan
File:Southernseven5-1-1.jpg|from Southern Seven v.5 n.1, artist is Leah Rosenthal
File:Halflife.jpg|from Blake's Doubles #4, artist is Laura Virgil
File:Southern5-2-20.jpg|from Southern Seven v.5 n.2, artist is Theresa Buffaloe - the Hellhound Universe Vila
File:Southern5-2-28.jpg|from Southern Seven v.5 n.2, artist is Leah Rosenthal
File:Southern5-2-12.jpg|from Southern Seven v.5 n.2, artist is Laura Virgil
File:Blakesdoubles2-4.jpg|from Blake's Doubles #2, artist is Theresa Buffaloe
File:Sonicscrew5-9.jpg|Art from The Sonic Screwdriver #5 by Pat Cash (1989)
===1990===
File:Blakesdoublesdreamers-1.jpg|from Blake's Doubles, artist is KK
File:Circlesb7-2.jpg|from Circles, artist is Stephanie Stoddard
===1991===
File:Seven6.jpg|from Southern Seven #6, artist is Laura Virgil (1991)
===1992===
File:Southernseven7-4.jpg|from Southern Seven #7, artist is Adrian Morgan
File:Rabble3.jpg|Blake, Avon, and Vila, cover of Blake, Rabble and Roll, artist is Phoenix 
===1993===
File:Deltablues-1.jpg|from Delta Blues
File:Deltablues-5.jpg|from Delta Blues, artist is Marla Fair
File:Deltabluesback.jpg|from Delta Blues, artist is Marla Fair, portrays Vila and his friend Gan
 
File:Southerncom7-5-3.jpg|from Southern Comfort #7.5, artist is Adrian Morgan (1993)
File:Southerncom7-5-15.jpg|from Southern Comfort #7.5, artist is Adrian Morgan (1993)
File:Southerncom7-5-10.jpg|from Southern Comfort #7.5, artist is ORmaC (1993)
===1994===
File:Southernseven8-6.jpg|from Southern Seven #8, artist is Adrian Morgan
File:Southernseven8-1.jpg|from Southern Seven #8, artist is Judith Kitzes
===1995===
Image:river vila 1995.jpg|by Karen River
===2006===
File:Chron70-2.jpg|from The Chronicles #79, artist is Andrew Williams
==Meta==
* by Nicola Mody (January 2002)
* Vila Restal - character, Myers Briggs personality, some answers by Vilakins (January 2002)
* In Defence of Vila, or Teamwork is Overrated Anyway by Sally Manton (part of The hermit.org B7 essays series)
* Some Questions and Answers about Vila by Nicola Mody (January 2002)
* Live Forever or Die Trying - Vila Restal by the_summoning_d in idol_reflection (2007)
* I want to talk about Vila, Wayback link, meta by babel (the ways in which Vila's flaws may be influenced by childhood poverty)
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Characters