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Science fiction, when exploring the human condition at individual and societal levels, fascinates me. The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “The Measure of a Man”, Robert Sheckley’s novel, “The Status Civilization” and the animated feature, “Ghost in the Shell” are personal favourites.
What makes us “human”? What makes them (be they biological, mechanical, hybrid or ephemeral) different? How do we respond -- do we so-called humans accept and embrace diversity or reject and fear it? As a straight, heterosexual, supportive friend-member of Spaced Out, I have discovered a new perspective to those questions -- a queer perspective. I didn’t recognise “The Tomorrow People” as a metaphor for coming-out, imagine R2D2 and C3PO as a possible gay couple or see 7 of 9 as a dykon. In chev’s perspectives, I aim to present a dialogue between straight and queer views of science fiction. This can be an intellectual deconstruction or a tongue-in-cheek dig at a book, movie, series/episode, character or theme. In this, the first of hopefully a regular column, Steve and I take a look at one of our favourite Blake’s 7 episodes. |
Blake’s 7 - Orbit
The crew of the Scorpio is lured to the planet Malodaar by the (in)famous scientist Egrorian, who offers to trade the ultimate weapon, the Tachyon Funnel, for the ultimate computer, Orac. Avon suspects Egrorian has done a deal with Servalan. The action focuses on Egrorian, his assistant Pinder, Avon and Vila, with Servalan watching from the wings. After a series of double-crosses and betrayals, Avon and Vila finally escape. Having failed to get both the Tachyon Funnel and Orac, Servalan abandons Egrorian and Pinder to their fate.
Steve: What makes this episode interesting for gay audiences is the question mark over the relationship between Egrorian and Pinder.
chev: Their behaviour is certainly eccentric; they have lived in total isolation together for 10 years. Sure Egrorian camps it up, but it seems as much for comic relief as anything else.
Steve: In the past, British sci-fi has used camp to show evil and I think that's what's happening here. At first glance, you could say that Egrorian is eccentric and Pinder is the devoted servant, but if you look a little more closely, there's more to it.
chev: Okay, I'll believe the "camp = evil" thing. We have seen it before in Blake's 7, in "Gambit" with Krantor and Toyse. And, yes, Egrorian seems a bit suss, but I'm not sure we're meant to take it too seriously.
Steve: It appears Avon may be aware of Egrorian's sexuality. When Vila suggests he take one of the girls with him to soften up Egrorian, Avon smiles. Does he know what we suspect?
chev: I don't think so. That smile was probably a comment on Vila's cowardice. Besides, Avon was going to send Tarrant and Dayna first, so sending one of the girls wasn't out of the question.
Steve: I don’t think that Avon was aware that Egrorian had an assistant with him when he chose to send Dayna and Tarrant. When Avon and Vila arrive in Malodaar Command, Egrorian introduces Pinder to them as his assistant. Pinder clearly looks offended by this, suggesting that the relationship could be closer.
chev: I took this as being a slight on Pinder's professional pride. When Orac reveals Egrorian's examination grade as beta-plus, Pinder is amused, "only beta-plus!" which implies that Pinder is the brilliant student and Egrorian is taking the credit for Pinder's work.
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If you would like to comment on this chev’s perspective, or have an idea for future chev’s perspectives, contact the club by email or snail-mail with “chev’s perspectives” as the subject. Naturally, I’ll need to be able to contact you and read/watch whatever it is you’re interested in. We’ll also need to get together for a chat and to take a few notes.
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chev: You mean like Alan Turing*?
Steve: Exactly! Egrorian is stroking Pinder's head when explaining that Pinder was a mere youth when he took him under his wing, and while Pinder is 28 he looks 72 because he was accidentally exposed to Hoffal's radiation. Egrorian is clearly upset at losing his golden-haired youth for a silver-haired old man.
chev: Egrorian is touchy-feely in a camped-up sort of way. I see him as someone obsessed with power and beauty, so he could be attracted to Pinder's youth and powerful intellect - as possessions. To me, Egrorian seems upset by Pinder's lost long-term career as a scientist. But Egrorian is also attracted to Servalan, a beautiful and powerful woman.
Steve: In later scenes, we do see Egrorian showing affection to Servalan. This does seem false and we know that Egrorian wants to have some of Servalan's power. He gains nothing of the sort from Pinder.
chev: True enough. Power is his thing and he'll do anything to gain that power.
Steve: We see Pinder's messy pile of paperwork being constantly left lying around, aggravating Egrorian. In one scene, Pinder is seen touching a control on the Tachyon Funnel. Seeing this, Egrorian slaps his hand camply. They are behaving almost like a married couple.
chev: Not necessarily. I've lived in shared accommodation, single sex and mixed, where there haven’t been any romantic or sexual relationships involved, and you still get those sort of “domestic” behaviors.
Steve: Egrorian is seen leading Vila to a seat arm in arm, as though they were lovers walking through the park. As Egrorian explains why he wants to trade the Tachyon Funnel for Orac, he is seen stroking Vila's arm up and down. Egrorian later tells Avon that Vila has a wonderful sense of humour and one “could grow fond of that young man”. Whilst Egrorian is showing Vila some attention, Pinder can be seen in the background, and appears to be upset.
chev: Egrorian is trying to win over Vila as an ally, snd so he pays him attention. Egrorian also lavishes attention on Servalan. Pinder does show signs of jealousy, not only towards Vila but towards Servalan as well. Pinder has had Egrorian's undivided attention for 10 years (60 years by his perspective), and now he has to take a back seat role. Whether he's now a student, assistant or lover, I'm not so sure.
Steve: This episode hints that there is at least some emotional relationship between Egrorian and Pinder that is more than scientist and assistant. I believe there's a suggestion it's a homosexual relationship.
chev: I'll agree there is some emotional relationship there. After all, they have been together and alone for a long time. Whether this means that they are a gay couple is still, as you said, a question mark. The “evidence” could easily be seen as either camped-up humour or as gay sub-text.
*Alan Turing was a brilliant British mathematician. He did a lot of work on code breaking at Bletchley Park in WWII. The "Turing Test" - the ability, or not, for a human operator to distinguish whether responses on a computer terminal are from another human or are computer generated - is named after him. He is regarded as one of the founding fathers of computing. A homosexual, he was convicted of Gross Indecency in 1952 and forced to have estrogen injections to "cure" him. He committed suicide in 1954, no longer able to live with the persecution for his homosexuality.