Streaming Sci Fi TV: Tracking down sci fi and fantasy shows of interest available on the streaming services. Note that these shows can be pulled from the services at any time with little notice.
What Is It?
Seven hundred years in the future, the authoritarian Terran Federation has taken control of much of the known galaxy. Former rebel Roj Blake had his memories wiped, but his spirit of resistance returns when he witnesses a mass slaughter by police, which is subsequently covered up. Framed by the government, Blake is sent away on a prison ship, but he and several other convicts escape and commandeer a powerful alien vessel they name The Liberator. Together, they become a resistance force against the Federation, inspiring others to stand up against its totalitarian rule.
Aired: BBC, 1978-81, 4 Seasons Totaling 52 Episodes
Starring: Gareth Thomas, Michael Keating, Sally Knyvette, Paul Darrow, David Jackson, Peter Tuddenham, Jan Chappell, Jacqueline Pearce
Created By: Terry Nation
Why Watch It?
Blake’s 7 started airing on the BBC in 1978, riding the boost of popularity to sci fi after Star Wars became a big hit in theaters. The show borrowed liberally from other genre entries (primarily Star Wars and Star Trek), but it also charted its own course as it delivered a darker take on sci fi with morally ambiguous characters and some rather downbeat stories. It also developed a notable following and would go on to have an influence on later sci fi TV shows like Babylon 5, Farscape, the Battlestar: Galactica reboot, Dark Matter, and more.
Blake’s 7 was produced on a shoestring budget, getting less money per episode than Doctor Who was at that time, so it is certainly a very cheesy affair. And because of that, it does descend into bad camp at times. But at its best, the show delivers a notable example of what sci fi TV can accomplish, and it did have an excellent cast (which went through multiple changes across its four seasons) that helped make up the slack when the budget and scripts were lacking. This one definitely requires an adjustment of expectations when you sit down to watch it, but it is worth your time to seek it out (you can read more about the show Cult-SciFi.com).
Where Is It Streaming?
The entire series is available for streaming on BritBox. That is a British streaming service that focuses primarily on movies and television shows available in the UK. Other sci fi series streaming there include Classic Doctor Who (up to the 7th Doctor), Red Dwarf, Life on Mars (the British version), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and more. You can get it as an add-on channel through Prime Video for $8.99 a month, or if you subscribe directly to the channel for $9.99 a month that includes all of the Apple TV+ originals which is a pretty good deal. The first season of Blake’s 7 is also available on Blu-ray.
Stream or Purchase VOD
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