History Recap / BlakesSevenS1E3CygnusAlpha

* CoolGuns: Well they would be if they didn't look like curling tongs. Once they get fired however, the results are impressive.
* CoolStarship: The Liberator can travel faster than any starship in the Federation, has a sentient computer, an armoury of CoolGuns, a working teleport system, a well-stocked wardrobe and a fortune in treasure -- no reason for the latter is ever given.

* TheSquadette: Kara is the only female priest, while as yet Jenna is the only female member of the Seven.

-->'''Vargas:''' [MilkingTheGiantCow] I was their priest. I shall return to them a god... A god... [DefeatEqualsExplosion]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[HellholePrison Abandon hope all ye who enter here...]]]]

* TheChick: Subverted with Jenna; so far she's the only female member of this RagtagBunchOfMisfits, but she seriously thinks of taking the loot and abandoning Blake, insisting only that they wait for the full four hours he requested so she can tell herself they gave him every chance.

-->'''Blake:''' I'm not sure I entirely trust a [[AIIsACrapshoot computer with a mind of it's own]].

* TeleportationRescue / JustInTime: The first of many in this series.

** When he's first activated, Zen sounds a bit like Orac (Peter Tuddenham would voice both computers).

* ScienceIsWrong: Blake points out that the speed the ''Liberator'' is apparently travelling would "cross the antimatter interface", which is thought to be physically impossible, Avon points out that people used to think the same thing about the light barrier.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The vast fortune on the Liberator only serves as a LeaveYourQuestTest for Avon and Jenna. We never see Blake using it to finance LaResistance (except for a few crystals in "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS2E2Shadow Shadow]]"); in fact several future episodes are based on TheCaper in order to steal for the revolution (or [[IfIWereARichMan make our anti-heroes rich]]).

[[caption-width-right:350:[[HellholePrison Abandon hole all ye who enter here...]]]]

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:

Blake, Jenna, and Avon discover an armory, but still can't really operate the ship. The controls are hit-and-miss, but they discover Zen, the ship's computer. Zen is evasive when questioned, so after telling him where they want to go, they explore on their own. They find a teleport system, but all of the Federation's experiments with teleportation were unreliable, leaving them suspicious of its safety. The ship (now called the ''Liberator'') has stopped suddenly, and the crew are surprised that they're at their destination much faster than expected.

* BBCQuarry: Springwell Lock Quarry in Hertfordshire, making all the talk about how awful Cygnus Alpha is HilariousInHindsight as it looks like half the planets they'll land on in future. There is however an attempt to make it look unfriendly with perpetual night, bubbling mud pools, and sinister steam.

* CoolStarship: The Liberator can travel faster than any starship in the Federation, has a sentient computer, an armory of CoolGuns, a working teleport system, a well-stocked wardrobe and a fortune in treasure -- no reason for the latter is ever given.

** During the climactic brawl, Vila stabs a man to death in self-defense and is deeply upset at having done so. It wouldn't be until the fourth season that he deliberately killed someone again.

* NotWithTheSafetyOnYouWont: The armoury is designed so you can only take one firearm each. Then Blake hands two of the weapons to Jenna, [[FridgeLogic making this safety measure entirely useless]].

* PirateBooty: Jenna and Avon find a room on the ''Liberator'' holding millions of credits worth of jewelry.

* WhatWeNowKnowToBeTrue: When Blake points out that the speed the ''Liberator'' is apparently traveling would "[[TechnoBabble cross the antimatter interface]]", which is thought to be physically impossible, Avon points out that people used to think the same thing about the light barrier.

* RealityEnsues: Blake teleports down to Cygnus Alpha... and promptly stumbles as he's not standing on an even surface.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: When he's first activated, Zen sounds a bit like Orac (Peter Tuddenham would voice both computers).

* AGodAmI: Fortunately God cannot breathe in space.
-->'''Vargas:''' [MilkingTheGiantCow] I was their priest. I shall return to them a god... A god... [DefeatEqualsExplosion]

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Zen displays lights on an octagonal dome on the flight deck when speaking. "Your species requires a visual reference point."

* GalacticConqueror: Vargas is already total ruler of his world, but it's not enough.

* IfIDoNotReturn: Blake decides on four hours for his next trip down to the surface. Avon tries to convince Jenna to leave after finding the PirateBooty, but fortunately Jenna insists on [[IGaveMyWord giving Blake his four hours]].

* IfIDoNotReturn: Blake decides on four hours for his next trip down to the surface.

* YouCanNeverLeave: Blake is nearly killed in the belief that he's a deserter from the cult, and novices are informed that they must take the antidote every day for the rest of their lives if they are to survive.
* YouAreNotReady: Zen refuses to tell our heroes how to work the instruments on the ''Liberator'', but implies that they must learn through experience.

-->"I ruled. I ruled. A small prison planet with never more than five hundred people. But with this... With this I could rule a thousand planets. For that prize, do you think I would hesitate to kill you?"

* NotWithTheSafetyOnYouWont: The armoury is designed so you can only take one firearm each. Then Blake hands two of the weapons to Jenna, making this safety measure entirely useless.

** The presence of Acro and Selman would add up to the Seven, but both are killed during the escape. Turns out the other members are Zen/Liberator, and Cally who appears in "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS1E4TimeSquad Time Squad]]".

* BBCQuarry: Springwell Lock Quarry in Hertfordshire, making all the talk about how awful Cygnus Alpha is HilariousInHindsight as it resembles almost every planet they'll land on in future. There is however an attempt to make it look unfriendly with perpetual night, bubbling mud pools and sinister steam.