All the best Furry stories begin exactly like that.
Posted on 06/03/2019 12:40:36 PM PDT by mairdie
British actor Paul Darrow, best known for his role as Kerr Avon in sci-fi BBC TV series Blake's 7, has died at the age of 78 following a short illness. ... Darrow shared a flat with John Hurt and Ian McShane while studying at Rada.
While best-known for his Blake's 7 role, he appeared in more than 200 television shows, including Doctor Who, The Saint, Z Cars, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Little Britain.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Paul Darrow, cult favourite in Blake's 7, dies aged 78
'Blake's 7' and 'Doctor Who' actor Paul Darrow passes away at the age of 78
Videos showing Paul Darrow:
Paul Darrow - Boston Convention - Message to Gareth Thomas - 30 May 1987
Paul Darrow - Blakes 7 Avon - NYC Creation Thanksgiving Convention - 29 Nov 1986
Paul Darrow - Blakes 7 Avon - Boston Creation Con - 30 May 1987
Song videos made for Paul Darrow because of his love of Elvis Presley
Blakes 7 - Trouble - Elvis Presley
Blakes 7 - Suspicion - Elvis Presley
Videos ABOUT the Avon character
Blakes 7 - Masochism Tango - Tom Lehrer
Blakes 7 - Sweet Survivor - Peter, Paul & Mary
I knew Paul Darrow because of the music videos I made for Blakes 7. He came up to my room at a convention, along with his huge entourage, to watch them, and we corresponded. A loss.
All the best Furry stories begin exactly like that.
I always liked the character Avon.
just wait for the upcoming Furry-themed remake of a Bruce Lee classic: Fists of Furry.
Here is the first episode from “Blake’s 7”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HfzhUadWSA
Darrow’s personality was overwhelming. When he introduced his wife to my husband as we shared an elevator, husband whispered that he was shaking. NEVER heard that from husband EVER before or since!
Favorite Gareth Thomas convention story was when HIS entourage came up to my room to watch my videos. It was well known that Gareth Thomas refused to watch himself perform, but he seemed to think that it was safe to watch the music videos because he’d only see snippets. So when one of the songs got to the part where Darrow shoots Thomas and blood spurts, Thomas backed up in shock. No one else was watching the videos. They were all watching Thomas watching the videos and LOVED Thomas’ reaction.
Never been to a Furry convention. Guess strange is in the eye of the beholder.
Great series, but the first episode is the only one that DOESN’T have Paul Darrow in it. He arrives in the next. I always thought of the show as Shakespearean tragedy.
He was 78??? My gosh, I’ve gotten old.
I've only seen the first episode. I've heard people say that it's a great series, but the first episode left me underwhelmed.
Perhaps i'll give it another try down the road.
It grows on you!
Every so often there is an episode that is very weak, its like they lost every other page of the script but most of the episodes are very very good. (Their fight scenes desperately needed a “fight coach”!)
Yes but to me more a Greek tragedy then Shakespearean Hubris in various forms leading to downfall of planetary societies & characters.
What does furry have to do with SciFi?
Only went to one SciFi convention in my life did it soon after I got out of college and started working. Finally had the money for something frivolous for myself. Never went to another, satisfied my curiosity never felt the need to go back.
You are quite right. It was an underwhelming episode. I might not have gone on myself if I hadn’t been importuned by a friend in Philadelphia who so desperately wanted me to make videos of the show. She handed me her entire first generation tapes on the condition that I make videos, so I had to watch. And fell totally under the spell of the show. There are some massive losers in the series, but not as many as in Star Trek.
It’s a very subtle show. Because I watched so much with the sound off, I kept seeing things that no one talked about. Blake talks care for others, but turns away from people in pain. Avon talks concern only for himself, but HE’S the one that reaches out. Yet the actors remembered only their dialog. They seemed to completely forget the nuances that they brought to the characterizations.
For a while, I ran an analysis letterzine for the series, with invited subscribers who were the best analyzers and artists I could find. It was such a fun period. And the Horizon society distributed my music videos all over the UK, which was also fun.
I was thinking that it might be very like Doctor Who in that regard. The early episodes were cheesy, but when you looked past all that, it got better the more you watched.
Every so often there is an episode that is very weak, its like they lost every other page of the script but most of the episodes are very very good. (Their fight scenes desperately needed a “fight coach”!)
From what I gather, they didn't have much money back in those days. They probably couldn't afford it at the time.
The sets are much much worse then Star Trek: TOS.
Even worse then the original Lost in Space.
Its clear as the series caught on, more investment was made in it.
Furry had to do with humblegunner’s comment. Don’t think it has anything to do with SciFi.
I went to masses of conventions, partly because of my music videos. Back in 1985 I made my first music videos and they were shown in the large auditorium at the Creation Cons. In exchange, I got front row seats for the main star talks. And I was active in the fan community, so went to a lot of the small fan cons and to the Baltimore Shore Leave and Clipper Cons. So many people I loved so dearly, some now gone. But such good memories, and such fun. Fandom is one of the things I bless most in life.
I'll resolve myself to seeing several more episodes. With all the people i've heard during my life telling me how good it is, I must believe they are correct, and I just haven't given it enough time.
I remember Babylon five took awhile before it started getting good. I think it was the second season before I actually started liking it quite a lot.
For a while, I ran an analysis letterzine for the series, with invited subscribers who were the best analyzers and artists I could find. It was such a fun period. And the Horizon society distributed my music videos all over the UK, which was also fun.
That sounds like a very interesting portion of your life. :)
I believe it. I'm recalling seeing something like lawn furniture being used as "seats" on a spacecraft. I understand that we have to use our imagination, but that's really pushing it! :)
Its clear as the series caught on, more investment was made in it.
I look forward to watching it further.
We are bombarded by shows (TV & movie) that are all action and little to no characterization.(and I am as guilty as anybody in liking action!) When we watch a show that is more on character development, at first it’s jarring, maybe boring. If we are a just a little persistent we’re then hooked. I think that’s called theatrical art. Blake’s 7 & Babylon 5 were that way. At least for me!
That’s one of my absolute favorite Blakes 7 videos that gives a flavor of the whole show.
Blakes 7 - Comedy Tonight from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
Avon is insisting that the crew go to this planet, and Vila’s eyes light up. He leans and looks at Avon with a discerning appraisal. “You think you’ve found Blake!” Avon gives that rare and joyful little smile.
There was often such subtlety underneath it all.
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