Blake's 7 : Travis The Final Act

(5 stars; 2 reviews)

Blake's 7 Travis - The Final Act Part 1 : A Federation Man  (43'18") Part 2 : Outlaw  (43'47") A documentary style tape exploring Travis's background, career and motives. Features interviews with both Brian Croucher and Stephen Greif, as well as Chris Boucher (script editor), and producer David Maloney. Narrated by Peter Miles, who played Secretary Rontane. A drama-documentary based upon the life, times and creation of the character who was the second deadliest enemy of the Liberator crew. Combines actual sections of dialogue from the TV series and new contributions from individuals who had a part in the creation of Travis and from the two actors who played him. Presented in two parts, it opens with the character of Rontane (played superbly once more by Peter Miles) setting out information about the origins of Travis following Supreme Commander Servalan's decision to choose the unorthodox officer to hunt down Blake. Rontane accesses a Federation computer, which proceeds to give him the facts that he requires, via a series of interviews with producer David Maloney, script editor Chris Boucher, and actors Steven Grief and Brian Croucher. It traces the history of Travis, from both a factual and fictional point of view. David Maloney discusses the ideas surrounding the casting of the actors and the general production of the series, but Chris Boucher's contribution is by far the most interesing part. Boucher talks about what made Travis Travis, and looks at his motives and beliefs. One of the main points highlighted by Boucher is that Travis's main reason for being is that he is a soldier. He has been trained to be a soldier, and this is all he knows: his only family is the military. Another interesting idea concerns his relationship with Servalan - for despite all of the disagreements and conflict between the pair, Boucher tells us that Travis could never have killed the Supreme Commander, because he simply could not kill a superior officer due to the type of person that he was. Both Steven Grief and Brian Croucher talk about playing the role, and it is the latter who makes the largest contribution of the two, probably because more happened to Travis in Season Two than in Season One. Croucher seems to have enjoyed playing Travis, and gives some interesting anecdotes about his time in B7. During the second season the incompetance of Travis leads to his dismissal, his trial, and his eventual short-lived alliance with the Andromedans. Boucher likens his removal from the service to losing one's family, and suggests that his ultimate betrayal of humanity is merely a sure way of destroying himself.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.