This is one of the few episodes I remember perfectly from when I watched as a teenager (along with 'Powerplay', 'City at the Edge of the World', and 'Blake') - I remember especially the eerie claustrophobic atmosphere and the sand, which makes a surprisingly good monster because it can be done cheaply. I still like it - Servalan and Tarrant are a bizarre combination, especially as she is always paired with Avon, but for me it works, and I like the way that I can see their relationship as the effect of the sand, a survival strategy, or something which has elements of genuine affection, depending on my mood. (The same is true of Servalan's relationship with Keller - she is obviously exaggerating the 'one true love' thing to get Tarrant's sympathy - but just how much?) I also like that where the others are merely disgusted with Tarrant at the end (especially poor Dayna) Avon seems jealous. It is fun to speculate on how Servalan would have gone about seducing Avon if it had been him she had been trapped with.
I don't like the reference to 'Sarcophagus' and the curse - it's silly, and rather vain on Tanith Lee's part. And I hate the probability square. But I like Vila's speech about how nobody remembers Cally (and his obvious worry that he would be as easily forgotten). It is very easy to imagine that no-one ever speaks about Cally - although I do not for a moment think that this means that they are not thinking about her. And I love the way that Soolin and Dayna respond to Avon saying that he is the dominant male by laughing. One of the pleasures of series 4 is the friendship between these two - understated but real.
And of course the lovestruck ORAC and the crew's reactions - especially Avon's!
I don't like the reference to 'Sarcophagus' and the curse - it's silly, and rather vain on Tanith Lee's part. And I hate the probability square. But I like Vila's speech about how nobody remembers Cally (and his obvious worry that he would be as easily forgotten). It is very easy to imagine that no-one ever speaks about Cally - although I do not for a moment think that this means that they are not thinking about her. And I love the way that Soolin and Dayna respond to Avon saying that he is the dominant male by laughing. One of the pleasures of series 4 is the friendship between these two - understated but real.
And of course the lovestruck ORAC and the crew's reactions - especially Avon's!
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