Man of Iron

Man of Iron is a 1981 never-used script for Blake's 7's fourth season. It was written by Paul Darrow, the actor who portrayed Kerr Avon. 
Fans have been highly critical of the script, citing its poor writing and characterization. Fans also thought it was boring as well as silly with its inclusion of pump action shotguns, robots, and bubble baths. 
While the script generates almost universal negative comments, fans have turned it into a highly popular convention activity in the form of dramatic turkey readings. These have taken place since 2001 at the con Redemption.
Fans of Avon/Vila also appreciated what they felt to be Darrow's promotion of that pairing.
Not to be daunted by negativity, eight years after he wrote, "Man of Iron", Darrow wrote a backstory for his character in the for-profit novel, Avon: A Terrible Aspect. That story, like "Man of Iron," was also highly panned by fans.
==The Script's Plot==
The plot of the script loosely concerns an attempt by Servalan to regain power using androids created by the scientist Algor on the planet Epsilon. It includes Vila saving the day, which Darrow referred to as a bit of fan service for his fellow actor, Michael Keating. "I also gave Michael Keating plenty to do otherwise he would never have forgiven me! In fact, Vila saved the day - which didn't happen often." -- quoted at 
==Sold With Darrow's Permission==
Darrow gave the fan club Horizon permission to sell the script. 
It was also offered for sale in 1989 at the auction at Scorpio, an auction that was moderated by Paul Darrow himself. It fetched $560.
==Origins of the Script==
Shortly before the production on the fourth and final season of the show, Darrow said:
In 1991, Darrow recounted this script to a group of fans at Visions: 
While Darrow described submitting the script and getting a rejection, according to script editor, Chris Boucher in 1992, this script was never officially commissioned: 
Darrow was disappointed that the script was never used: 
==Does an Actor "Know" a Character Best?==
The reactions to "Man of Iron" by fans and by Darrow himself explores the topics of do actors have special insight into the characters they portray, who "owns" characterization, as well as other topics such as audience, close reading and authorial intent. 
In an interview with "Starburst," conducted shortly before production started on the fourth season of Blake's 7, Paul Darrow discussed the possibility of writing a script for the show: 
The belief that an actor knows their character "better than anyone else" also touches upon, at least in Darrow's case, this actor's statements about "being" Kerr Avon. See Darrow and Avon.
==Related Fanworks==
* Foes by DarthRushy ("The Scorpio crew escape from heavy fire only to become stranded on the desolate moon of Hostis. There, Avon and Vila come face to face with an old enemy... A full 45-minute Blake's 7 episode, written in the same script style as Paul Darrow's "Man Of Iron".")
* an undated excerpt, with fan-added screenshots: SERIES D: MAN OF IRON; archive link, does not include the screencaps; archive link, with screencaps
===Similar Endeavors===
Some other examples of fans submitting scripts to TPTB, and after rejection or other brush-offs, turning them into zines: 
* Remote Control by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (Star Trek: TNG) (1968, 1975)
* Man of Iron by Paul Darrow (1981)
* Letters, printed in Double Natural by Howie Weinstein (M*A*S*H) (1981)
* The Course to Destiny by Raelene Wenzel (Star Trek: TOS) (1984)
* Steele in My Heart, printed in Tuesday Night by Kathy Dunn, Elizabeth Ford, and Debbi De Angelis (Remington Steele) (1986)
* Blood and Fire by David Gerrold (Star Trek: TNG) (1987)
* Works of Steele by Elaine Gustainis and Jill Hargen (Remington Steele) (1987)
* The Bane by A.C. Langlinais (The X-Files) (1997)
==Fan Comments ==
===Unknown Date===
===1989===
===1992===
===2003===
===2005===
===2007===
===2009===
 
===2013===
===2014===
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Fanfiction
Category:1981 Fanfiction