However it also gave us a marvellous finality to the entire series with Gareth Thomas' best performance as Blake. The restoration of the Federation (in a slightly different way). Desperation - the odds were stacking up against the crew now that they had lost the Liberator. Real tragedy for Vila in "Orbit".

Hammy characters:-
Cato's character is good, but he just looks like the "It's" man from "Monty Python". All Space Rats (how did that get on air?), Og (though it is appearance rather than acting that lets him down - not to mention his name) and Chalsa (is he reading from giant cue cards?).

Great characters:-
Justin (he always gets a bad press but he is rather a rounded character), the actor Cancer (forget the twist - let's just keep him as the main villain), Belkov (wonderfully enjoying his schemes), Reeve (real sadist that one), Keiller (crafty and untrustworthy), Egrorian & Pinder (the best supporting character double act in the series) and Arlen (you really can't help hating her).

I'm afraid this is my least favourite series, though I believe it is a matter of taste, not quality. The series does struggle to find its feet, but once it does the programme is very strong indeed from "Games" to the very end. I just don't like the way the main crew seems to have lost all warmth. Vila suffers, Dayna is suddenly very moody and aggressive all the way through, Soolin is cold and Avon really is rather a different character from the Liberator days. Surprisingly it is Tarrant who mellows and is rather likeable. Servalan/Sleer doesn't get a lot of good material - a pity, since Jacqueline Pearce knows the character so well and does her best with what she's got. Also the Scorpio's flight deck is rather embarrassing. Still it is sad to see the series finish, though I feel that Blake's death is the perfect end for it. Despite Avon becoming the star, it is Blake who really is the key to the entire thing.

Favourite episode: Blake
Least favourite: Stardrive