Account 2 - If You Were the Only Boy in the World...

[Title of this account supplied by Harriet Monkhouse and the ever brilliant denizens of Space City.]

At first glance, this account seemed to share a great deal in common with account 1. Comparable ratings included:

+5/+4 Rumours of Death (rated +5 by account 1)

+4 Star One and Terminal (both rated +3 by account 1)

-5 Animals (rated -5 by account 1)

-4 Stardrive (rated -4 by account 1)

Those respondents who loaded significantly on account 2 also praised episodes in which strong characterization is prominent:

'I like excellent ensemble pieces where all the characters feel right.'

'[Rumours has] superb characterization and scripting.'

'What sets the best episodes apart is terrific character interaction and good dialogue (with lots of memorable lines).'

Again, in line with account 1, 'character moments' are referred to which redeem unpopular episodes, and poor depiction is criticized:

Ultraworld (-2): 'at least it has some good characterization of Tarrant.'

The Harvest of Kairos (-3): 'I like Jarvik, but I don't like the way Servalan reacts to him - it's out of character for her.'

Beyond these broad-brush similarities, however, some interesting differences emerge. Firstly, much more explicit prominence is given to Blake's character.' Typical comments included:

'My top two favourites were Terminal and Blake for similar reasons... both are very intense, and Blake appeared in them both (I think I missed him as much as Avon did.)'

'I eventually chose Shadow over Rumours and Sarcophagus because Shadow has Blake in it and I really like Blake.' Here we can contrast the rating for Sarcophagus in account 1 (+4) and account 2 (+2). Although Sarcophagus is a character piece, the lack of Blake is considered something of a flaw.

'If you don't watch The Way Back you will never understand Blake and you will never understand what he is fighting against.' Again, the contrast between ratings for The Way Back in account 1 (-2) and account 2 (+5 !) are illuminating! For Avonophiles, the lack of the hero in the first episode is a significant failing.

Account 2 rates several episodes very differently from all the other accounts:

Pressure Point receives the highest rating across any account, primarily because of the prominence given to Blake. For a viewer whose main concern is not necessarily Avon-angst, the pay-off in Orbit is not worth the plot machinations: 'This one would have been ranked higher if the plot wasn't quite so contrived.'

In the light of this account being articulated by Blake fans, it is surprising that the episode Blake receives such a low rating. One explanation is given: 'I think this is one of the best episodes but cannot bear to watch it because of the final 5 minutes.'

Perhaps most noticeably, The Web receives the only positive rating, contrasting in particular with the mostly very negative ratings. This shows another key part of this account: the primacy placed on the interactions between Blake and Avon. Whereas the respondents in account 1 judged episodes primarily in terms of the portrayal of Avon alone, respondents articulating account 2 shift the focus to the depiction and development o the Blake/Avon relationship. As one respondent put it: 'My favourite episodes usually involve some great interactions between Avon and Blake.'

Blake distracts Avon's attention towards the football.

Typical responses to other episodes included:

On Star One and Blake: 'The two easiest decisions. The twin climaxes of B/A.'

On Terminal: 'principally for the few minutes of B/A.'

On Redemption: 'Beautiful setting out of B/A's battleground for the second season.'

On Aftermath: 'It's nice to note Avon is concerned about Blake's whereabouts.'

A clue to people's preference for The Web is given: 'Because there is lots of lovely interactions between Avon and Blake - enought to make any slash fan drool.'

In summary, this account, in common with account 1, places primacy on strong characterization across the cast. 'Character moments' are also enjoyed, across all characters. However, a great deal of emphasis is placed on Blake and, more particularly, on the Blake/Avon relationship, which is seen as pivotal to the series.

Nicked from Judith Proctor's website, designed by Richard Proctor

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