Canonical Touching

compiled by the observant Cami; Nicola C., who traveled across the sea; the inimitable Penny Dreadful of FINALACT; Alicia Ann Fox, she who comes up with weird nicknames; Deneb in the sky with diamonds; Mistress Pat Jacquerie; the insightful Lisa L.; the knowledgeable Jessica Leenstra; Harriet M., always classic; Tiger M., burning bright, the stars her destination; the Ripley-esque Alison P.; the dedicated Helen Patrick; the extraordinary Catharine R.; the amazing Tashery S.; and DJ Wight of the snows.

Looking for a canonical basis for relationships in your story? The following is a list, by episode, of occasions when the Blake's 7 characters touched each other in a meaningful way.

SERIES A

"The Way Back"

  • While sitting next to Blake in the holding cells, Jenna puts her hand in Blake's hair, then gives him a little shove for emphasis.

    "Space Fall"

  • Blake shoves both Jenna and Avon away from Zen's autodefenses.

    "Cygnus Alpha"

  • Jenna hugs Blake after he has been safely retrieved from the planet with teleport.

    "Time Squad"

  • Gan touches Jenna after she has been attacked by the Guardians.

    "The Web"

  • Avon shoves Blake out of the way of Cally's bomb; they land in a heap together and Avon continues to hold on rather longer than necessary.

    "Seek-Locate-Destroy"

  • Jenna puts her hand on Blake's shoulder when he is upset over losing Cally.
  • Servalan caresses Rai's arm but moves away when she is not pleased by what he says.
  • Blake puts his arm around Cally's shoulder after she has been rescued from Travis.

    "Mission to Destiny"

  • "Duel"

  • When the ship rocks under plasma bolt impact, Blake and Avon lose their balance; Avon grabs Blake round the waist, and doesn't let go until quite some time after they recover. (And they've been standing very, very close before the impact :->)
  • Remaining crew on flight deck watching the scene on the planet as the contest is restarted. Shot of Gan and Avon sitting on the flight deck couch with Gan's arm along the back of the couch behind Avon as Gan says "It doesn't matter, Blake's in trouble."
  • Morning in the woods--Jenna holds Blake's hand as she checks the bat bite.
  • Final scene on Liberator flight deck--Gan holds Blake's hand as he applies the healing pad.

    "Project Avalon"

  • Cally is knocked out by the android, so Avon checks her over; his hand lingers longer than necessary on Cally's face.

    "Breakdown"

  • Avon grabs Jenna's arms and shakes her, in a "listen-to-me" way. Blake tells him to stop.
  • Jenna and Blake get very close and smiley over her console after they get through the forbidden zone.

    "Bounty"

  • Several shots of Blake and Cally huddled together during the first scene.
  • Jenna and Avon stand close enough to touch as they discuss whether the distress call is a trap. Jenna pats Avon's upper arm as she walks away.
  • "All cram together" shot as Blake and Sarkoff meet for the first time.
  • Blake finds Jenna after the group has teleported back to the ship, and puts an arm around her to comfort her as she explains that the others are dead.
  • When Blake wakes up in the locked room, Vila is kneeling behind him working on his ties. Cally and Avon are in shot behind them, sitting close enough to touch.
  • Tarvin stands behind Jenna and puts his hands on her waist as they discuss the others. Jenna walks away.
  • Gan puts a hand on Blake's shoulder and helps him stand up after Vila has freed his hands.
  • Blake and Jenna overpower an Amagon, with Jenna grabbing the gun. Jenna puts her hand on Blake's shoulder as he takes the gun from her afterwards. As they move through the corridor towards the flight deck, Blake puts his hand on Jenna's upper arm.
  • After Tarvin is killed, Jenna says "The Amagon is dead." Blake smiles and puts his hand on her face, shaking it slightly, as he says "Take us out of here, Jenna."
  • As Tyce and Sarkoff say goodbye to the crew in the teleport room, Sarkoff puts his hand on Blake's shoulder.

    "Deliverance"

    1. "Orac"
    2. Cally holds Jenna after she collapses, and touches her forehead to check for fever.
    3. Avon and Blake stand shoulder to shoulder on the flight deck while discussing Orac.
    4. Travis takes Servalan by the arms after the phibian attacks her--at least that's what it looks like from the back.
    5. Cally and Blake sit shoulder to shoulder on the beach, and stand close to each other in the "transporter."
    6. Blake touches Cally's shoulder when looking for Ensor. He touches her back and possibly her arm in the tunnels.
    7. Jenna shakes Gan awake, and pats him on the shoulder.
    8. Avon hands Vila a gun and pills before they teleport down.
    9. Blake helps Cally up after she is attacked by a phibian.
    10. The entire crew sits close together on the couch. Left to right: Blake, Jenna, Vila, Gan, Cally, Avon.

    SERIES B

    "Redemption"

  • When the ship is first attacked, Blake and Avon are thrown to the floor; Avon puts his arm over Blake's shoulders.
  • On the second attack run by the Spaceworld pursuit ships, Jenna is nearly thrown from her flight seat; Blake grabs her to steady her.
  • After most of the crew have been knocked out, Jenna is last to recover. Gan and Vila help her up and off the flight deck.
  • Blake touches Avon's elbow after telling him how to prioritize his repairs.
  • Blake is cornered by a live cable in the sub-control room. Avon distracts it while Blake runs out. When escaping the killer cable himself, Avon rushes out of a door and into (and out of) Blake's arms.
  • While in a cell awaiting execution, Jenna rests her head on Avon's shoulder. His arms are crossed and he looks disgruntled.
  • After coming to rescue Avon and Jenna, Vila touches Avon's chest to interrupt what he's saying.
  • Avon puts his hand on Vila's shoulder before they leave the cell.
  • While Avon, Vila and Jenna are running around loose looking for the others, Avon pushes Vila behind him as the guards approach, then Jenna stands behind Avon with her hand on his elbow, which she holds there for a fairly long time. She slides her hand across his back as they turn and run.
  • On the flight deck, as Liberator is escaping, Blake is standing next to a seated Vila, and appears to put his hand on Vila's back; although it could be the chair back instead. Second opinion: it is the chair back.

    "Shadow"

  • In Largo's office, when Blake is forced to contact Liberator and uses Zen's name to warn Cally, Blake and Jenna are sitting close enough to be touching. (Seen most clearly when Gan and Avon come bursting in to the rescue.)
  • A seriously hungover Vila finds Cally unconscious in the corridor after she's been attacked by the whatever it is that's taken over Orac. He holds her while trying to see if she's all right.
  • When Orac kills Hanna, Bek makes for Orac, and Vila grabs Bek to stop him.
  • Do we want to count Cally getting covered by cute, adorable moondisks?
  • Blake and Avon have been killing guards on Zondawl, Jenna runs up behind them, and puts her hands on their backs as she says, "There's two more over there."

    "Weapon"

    1. "Horizon"
    2. Opening scene--Cally hands Blake a glass.
    3. After the Liberator goes through the magnetic barrier, Vila is collapsed on the couch in agony. Cally goes over to treat him, and puts her hand on his shoulder to soothe him as she opens up the medical kit. Then much groping of Vila's arm ensues as she rolls his sleeve up and administers adrenaline and soma.
    4. Blake and Jenna move off just after landing on Horizon; Blake puts his hand on Jenna's elbow as he says, "Come on."
    5. Ro is watching Blake and Jenna on the viewscreen as they talk about being out of condition; Jenna has her hand on Blake's shoulder.
    6. Cally, Gan, Vila and Avon are in the teleport room discussing what to do about Jenna and Blake's disappearance. Gan takes a teleport bracelet that Cally is holding out to him.
    7. When Gan and Vila land on Horizon, Vila (as usual) has a bad landing and slips, so Gan catches him.
    8. During the scene in the mines, Blake and Vila are in a line moving baskets. Vila says "This is what I've been trying to avoid all my life." Blake has his hand on Vila's shoulder.
    9. Cally materialises, then the view goes back to Blake and Vila; as Blake says, "You've got thirty time units. This stuff's radioactive," he puts his hand on Vila's shoulder.
    10. Jenna, Cally, Vila and Blake are working in the mine. Blake moves off down the tunnel to find a scanner and demand to see the Kommissar. As he leaves the others, he pats Vila on the shoulder.
    11. When the entire crew teleports back to Liberator, Blake pushes Avon's gun to one side so that he can get past as he leaves the teleport bay.

    "Pressure Point"

  • Jenna, Cally, Gan and Vila tell Blake that they'll back him, if he agrees to pull out if the risk are too high. Blake tells Gan and Vila to get kitted up, and Gan brushes against Blake as he leaves.
  • When Blake and Gan find Veron, they spend a lot of time touching and holding her, first to give her a medical examination, then to reassure and comfort her after she regains consciousness. Gan puts a hand on Blake's shoulder as he says "This is Blake." Veron holds onto Blake and cries, then does the same with Gan.
  • Gan and Blake discuss the situation. Blake puts an arm around Gan's shoulders as he says "Even with Kasabi's people, there were no guarantees."
  • Avon and Vila teleport down to the edge of the Forbidden Zone, and stand touching as they discuss the Zone. Avon puts his hand on Vila's chest to stop him walking into the booby-trapped area.
  • The four men wake up after being stunned by Veron's gas grenade, and try to break through the door. The group are standing on the steps. Vila says "It won't budge," and Blake pulls him out of the way in order to try himself. Gan moves Avon out of the way as he says "Let me try."
  • Gan catches Avon as Avon flings himself over the last few feet of the radiation grid, and holds on to him for a few seconds, swinging him around slightly and moving so that he's safe.
  • Travis holds Kasabi's neck while questioning her.
  • Servalan swats Travis' chest when he tries to grab the Truth Serum from her.
  • Veron claws at Travis' chest after he tells her that her mother is dead.
  • Travis karate chops Veron's shoulder.
  • Servalan slaps Travis in the face. ("You hesitated!") She tries to slap him again but he grabs her wrist. Later she grabs his arm to try and stop him chucking the grenade.
  • Servalan runs her hand over Veron's shoulder in a rather possessive fashion as she waits for Travis to report in.
  • Blake is about to walk through the booby-trapped corridor when Avon says "Hold it," and uses the barrel of his gun to block Blake's movement. Couldn't see on the broadcast whether it's just the gun barrel or Avon's hand as well, but it's pretty clear that it would have been Avon's hand flat on Blake's chest if he hadn't happened to be holding the gun.
  • Gan picks Vila up by the waist and lifts him so that he can reach the overhead bars.
  • Vila is having trouble with the lock on the final door. Blake grabs him by the front of his shirt as he says "You can do it."
  • Avon holds Blake by the arm and shoulder as Blake sinks to his knees, as he says "There's nothing here." Blake grabs at Avon's tunic and clutches it as he says "It was here".
  • Servalan comes in, followed by Jenna and Veron. Jenna puts her hand on Servalan's shoulder as she says "I also found someone else."
  • In the corridor after Gan has been crushed by falling masonry, Blake supports Gan's head and shoulders as he checks for a pulse.

    "Trial"

  • Avon overhears Blake planning a trip to an uninhabited planet, and verbally attacks him. AVON: Why not? After all, I don't get them killed. BLAKE: [Rests a hand on Avon's shoulder] True.
  • The crew are discussing whether Blake has deserted them and what to do next. (Shortly before Vila triggers the stored message from Blake.) Jenna and Vila are sitting at their stations. Avon walks to stand next to Jenna, and then Vila, during the discussion. Not clear from camera angle whether he touchs them or not.
  • Travis grabs Trooper Par's arm when Par is reaching into his pocket for the little flask of Benylin.

    "Killer"

  • There's a fair bit of Avon-Vila "All cram together in shot" in this episode, especially when they're making their way onto the base and into Tynus' office. It's not deliberate touching as such, but they certainly don't seem bothered by physical contact.
  • Tynus shakes Avon's hand as he greets him, and seems remarkably reluctant to let go.
  • Blake decides to go down to Fosforon, and Jenna is concerned. As Blake says "I'm sorry, I will be very careful," he puts his arm around Jenna's shoulders.
  • After Tynus has shown Avon and Vila the A-line room and they return to Tynus' office, Tynus says that he can't give them any more than ten minutes alone in the room. Avon grabs Tynus by the shoulder to swing him round as he says "Tynus, you will give us all the time we need."
  • Avon and Vila are alone in Tynus' inner office after refusing the food packs. Vila wants to leave because of the plague reports. Avon grabs Vila's elbow and says "Not so fast."
  • All back on the Liberator, having heard Bellfriar's last message. Blake says that he's going to send out a plague warning. Avon asks "Are you crazy?" It looks like Avon grabs Blake's arm, although it's just below camera view.

    "Hostage"

  • Servalan shakes hands with Joban.
  • Avon is being fidgety about Blake insisting on going down to the planet's surface, and Cally obviously has some idea why. As Vila says to Jenna "What's that all about?" Vila and Jenna are standing close enough to touch.
  • Travis puts his hand on Blake's back ("Ah, Blake, come in, sit down.") then pulls Blake's blindfold off.
  • Blake and Ushton embrace as they greet each other, then they walk off with Ushton's arm over Blake's shoulders. Blake then picks up a bundle of wood and carries it as they walk to Ushton's dugout. Ushton claps Blake on the shoulder twice, as he says "good to see you," and again as he says "come on."
  • It looked like Avon had his arm around Vila's shoulders as he told Vila to freeze in silence, but I'm not certain.
  • Avon and Vila are shoved into the locked room with Blake after they've been captured. As they talk, Avon and Blake are standing close enough to touch. Vila is hauled out for interrogation, then thrown back, whereupon Avon knees him for talking. They talk about the situation; Blake and Avon are standing together again.
  • After Inga and Ushton free Blake, Avon and Vila, there is a scrum at the door. Blake touches both Avon and Inga to get their attention when he's talking to them. Inga then goes to look after Vila, and holds him while she examines him.
  • Avon is shot by Travis and falls to the ground. Blake lies down on the ground with him, one arm around him, the other over him in a protective fashion. Blake's hand is just above the wound.
  • Ushton, Blake and Avon return to the tower. Inga realises that Avon is hurt, and holds him while she examines him.
  • Blake and Inga discuss Inga's plans for the tower supplies. Blake takes hold of Inga's hands. They kiss shortly afterwards.

    "Countdown"

  • The tunnel door opens and Ralli falls into the room. Blake and Cauder rush over and each put an arm around her as she tries to sit up.
  • After checking the tunnel, Blake and Cauder realise that Provine is still alive and loose on the base. Cauder goes to organise a search party; Blake puts his arm around Ralli's shoulders as he says "Come on, you need some rest." Avon and Grant start discussing Anna; Blake can be seen in the background leading Ralli away, still supporting her around the shoulders.
  • Blake puts his hand lightly on Grant's chest as he says "One more thing: if anything happens to Avon, I will come looking for you."
  • Avon and Grant have dressed in the thermal suits, and Avon is instructing Grant in their use. He points at the control on Grant's suit, apparently touching him as he says "You adjust the temperature with this." Camera angle makes it unclear.
  • Near the end of the countdown, Blake offers to take some of Caulder's people on Liberator. Caulder and Ralli refuse; Blake leaves the room and pats the rebel standing guard in the corridor on the shoulder as he passes him, to go with him.
  • Avon is burning through the ice, with Grant leaning over him, saying, "Careful, you'll trigger it." Avon looks at him and Grant moves off. It isn't clear from the camera angle used, but it appears that there's some physical contact as Grant straightens up and backs off.
  • As Avon and Grant work on disarming the bomb, Avon says, "I was unconscious for more than thirty hours. I need to hold this flap back. Get your hand in here." Grant complies.They have a long meaningful conversation while they stand chest to chest, working on the bomb.
  • The corridor outside the rocket silo, after Blake has shot Provine: Blake holds onto Provine's shirt throughout the brief conversation before Provine dies.
  • Just before Grant teleports down to Albion in the final scenes, he offers his hand to Avon to shake. Avon looks at it for a second, then shakes.

    "Voice from the Past"

  • Scene in rest room: Blake is saying "Renounce." As he abruptly sits up, Avon grabs hold of him to restrain him and Cally applies the tranquilliser pad, with her other hand on Blake's shoulder. They continue to hold him until he settles. It appears to be to soothe Blake as well as physically restrain him.
  • New scene in rest room, discussing how to treat Blake. They have removed the tranquilliser pad briefly. Cally replaces the pad, with her other hand resting on Blake's shoulder.
  • Orac suggests Jenna for the link; she sits on the couch and Cally puts her hand on Jenna's head to lower her to a lying position.
  • During the treatment, Blake becomes distressed and sits up. Avon chops him twice across the shoulder to try and restrain him, then grabs him and physically pulls him back. Cally pulls Jenna back down. Vila sedates Blake and helps Avon hold him down until it takes effect. Cally holds Jenna, then puts her arm around the back of the couch once Jenna has recovered.
  • On the flight deck, Blake is in a padded chair under restraint. The chair back goes higher than Blake's head. Avon is standing with his hands on the back of the chair, then folds his arms and leans on the chair. His posture suggests that he would be in physical contact with Blake if the chair back was lower.
  • Cally has her arm round Jenna's waist, while doing her "matron will get you a nice cup of tea" bit.
  • Blake asks Vila for water. Vila has his hand on Blake's shoulder as he offers him a glass. Vila frees Blake from the restraints, leaning across Blake's body to undo the second strap.
  • On the asteroid, Blake exchanges a formal kiss of greeting with Shivan (who is really Travis in disguise!).
  • After Blake refers to "Deputy Leader Vila," he pats him on the shoulder as he leaves the flight deck.
  • Three way hand clasp between Blake, Le Grand and Shivan, at Le Grand's instigation. "The triumvirate, my friends."
  • Avon and Cally are alone on the flight deck when Nagu staggers in, dying. They go to hold him.
  • Glynd is wounded in the shootout on Atlay. Jenna and Blake support him as they run for cover.
  • The tone generator causes Blake to pull off his bracelet and curl into a ball while they wait for emergency teleport. Long sequence with Jenna trying to force his arm out where she can wrap the bracelet round his wrist.
  • Jenna supports Blake as they teleport. As they appear on Liberator, Cally goes to help her. They hold him for a few seconds.

    "Gambit"

  • Vila and Avon shake hands.
  • Vila slings his arm over Avon's shoulders.
  • Jarriere touches Travis' forehead with his fingers as Travis is lying unconscious. And then sticks said fingers in his mouth! (I wonder what the Jarriere fans make of that?)
  • Servalan reaches down inside the front of Travis' jumpsuit and pulls out that bug-medallion he's wearing around his neck.
  • Servalan has her hand on Travis' hand on the bed when Krantor calls to say he's caught Docholli.
  • Travis grabs Chenie's wrist when she shakes her finger at him, when he's looking for Docholli.
  • Travis grabs Docholli's upper arm when he's asking Docholli to fix his arm.
  • Blake holds Travis' arm and examines it closely; mind you it is not attached to Travis at the time.

    "The Keeper"

  • Travis takes Gola's hand in his and presses it against his forehead by way of greeting.

    "Star One"

  • Servalan runs her hand down the front of Durkim's chest as she reminds him that Lurena is on Star One. Sexual harrassment as a management tool....
  • Throughout this conversation, Blake and Avon switch between facing one another and facing the viewscreen, and are standing close enough to touch when facing the viewscreen.BLAKE: I'm glad you're enjoying it.
  • AVON: The nearest large galaxy to our own is Andromeda.
  • BLAKE: So?
  • AVON: So, this is the nearest point to Andromeda. If anyone could cross intergalactic space in less than a lifetime we are now precisely upon the route that they would take.
  • BLAKE: What are you trying to say, Avon?
  • AVON: I directed the detectors toward the Andromeda galaxy.
  • There are thousands of satellite generators out there, beyond Star One.
  • BLAKE: What?
  • Blake turns and moves back to the flight positions, putting his hand very briefly on Avon's upper arm as he turns away from the viewscreen. Vila then joins them, standing close enough to touch.

    Blake, Cally and Avon teleport to the surface of Star One, and see what they take to be the Federation crew. "All cram together" shot with them crouched behind a small ridge for cover.

  • Cally has her arm across Blake's shoulders in this scene: BLAKE: One door.
  • CALLY: As requested.
  • BLAKE: Well done, Cally.
  • AVON: It isn't marked 'Entrance'.
  • CALLY: Nobody's perfect.

  • Avon grabs Lurena's shoulder forcefully when questioning her.
  • Jenna and Vila stand close enough to touch while watching Andromedan ships on the detector screen.
  • Star One control room--Blake kills two aliens, then Avon, Cally and Lurena burst in and Avon kills Travis. The three kneel down to check on Blake. Cally touches Blake several times, Avon looks as if he'd like to. Blake tells them to get the bombs out of the base: Cally raps Avon on his upper arm with the back of her hand as she runs from the room. Avon goes after her, leaving Lurena to look after Blake. Lurena supports him by putting her hand on the back of his neck as she examines his injury.

    Series C

    "Aftermath"

  • Dayna kisses Avon.
  • Avon touches Dayna's arm after her father is killed, then her shoulder in a sympathetic manner when they find Lauren dead.
  • Avon kisses Servalan, then throws her to the floor.
  • When Cally and Vila are reunited, she clasps his forearms.Cally drops her hand on Avon's chest as she says "He's out, cold."
  • Vila leans over and puts his arms around Avon, protesting Cally's instructions with "I've only got two arms!"
  • I didn't count touches for the two short-lived Federation soldiers. They make contact a few times while they're scrambling around trying to delay being killed, but it all happens pretty fast, and nothing looks significant.
  • One of Chel's warriors climbs on top of Avon, half over him, half strangles him left-handed and is about to stab him right-handed when Dayna gets him in the chest with an arrow.
  • Dayna runs over, drops down at Avon's right side, leans over him on her right hand, and slides her left under his head, pulling it up.
  • In the cave scene, Dayna sits down at Avon's right side, leans forward and applies water to his forehead with the side of her left hand. She shifts from a side-of-hand to fingertip stroke as the touch moves up to his hair, turns her arm to repeat the gesture with the back of her hand. She turns her hand again, going back to a palm-to-fingers stroke as she brushes his hair, and he starts up, and she rocks back.
  • As he complains of blinding headache, she comes back to do another left-handed palm stroke across his forehead, then leans over and kisses him. She still has her hand at the top of his head, and may be steadying his head with it--one can only just see this at the end.
  • Outdoors, as they're crossing a grassy spot, Dayna grabs Avon's right forearm with her left hand, pulling him to cover.
  • While Avon's retrieving Orac, a warrior charges him from his right, and he deflects so the attacker somersaults over his back. He steps back, and as the warrior comes to his feet and starts to rush him again, steps in again and boots the guy (out of shot)--approximately a right roundhouse kick, low enough to be head or chin level.
  • The warrior tries to pile on top of Avon, rolls down onto his right side.
  • As they're coming up, the warrior attacks with a knife, right-handed. Avon gets a grip on his arm and does an approximate shoulder throw, but goes down after him in the sand.
  • Last round, we see Avon get up, the warrior gets up and charges him again--he doesn't move to cut his attackable area--does an approximate right-cross punch and takes the guy out.
  • A bit later, walking down a path of sorts, Avon falters and sets Orac's case down hard. Dayna comes back and puts her right hand around his left shoulder as she asks if she can help him.
  • Servalan comes up at Avon's right side and pokes a gun muzzle into his cheek, bracing her hand on his shoulder.
  • Hal Mellanby and Avon shake hands.
  • As they're sitting at the table, Hal hands Avon an earphone receiver.
  • Hal reaches out and drops both hands enthusiastically over Avon's right forearm.
  • Servalan pats Dayna's cheek, left-handed.
  • When she enters, Lauren comes in really close on Hal's left side. She could be touching his arm--she's so close she'd be off balance if she weren't--but we don't see it in the shot.
  • When they're arguing, Hal comes up similarly close on Dayna's left side. Again, he could be holding her arm, but it isn't visible.
  • When Avon sits down next to Servalan on the couch, her crossed legs come almost under his left leg. Her right knee is almost up against his thigh. When he gets up, she follows extremely closely, but isn't actually touching. And they get closer and closer, nose to nose, and she turns, and they kiss.
  • And Avon slides his right hand up and gets Servalan by the throat, and bounces her on her backside across the floor.
  • Later, we see Dayna standing really close at Avon's left, working on the teleport bracelet he's holding.
  • Announcing she's off to bed, Dayna walks up to Hal, drapes her left arm casually up his right, hand going over his shoulder. She leans over to kiss him on the cheek, and rocks back, sliding her arm down into a shifting around-the-waist/around-the-arm hug, which he returns around her waist. She still has her hand on his shoulder when as it finishes.
  • Hal grips Dayna's left arm, right-handed, and kisses her on the cheek.
  • [Tone of both these moves is casually father-daughter affectionate, looks like long habit in action.]
  • After Hal is shot, Avon runs in, kneels on his right side long enough to check for a carotid pulse, then leaps up to stop Dayna rushing in. He grabs both her arms to stop her.
  • She wrenches loose, dives over to Hal's right side, leans on his shoulders as she puts her hands to his head, and collapses gracefully, weeping.
  • While Dayna's reacting to finding Lauren, Avon comes up and puts his right hand around her shoulder from behind. [Initially this seems to be intended as comforting, but as he speaks, in context of what he's saying it becomes controlling; he has to keep her pulled together in order to get what he wants, here, and that's clearly his priority.]
  • One of Chel's warriors sweeps down on Servalan, catches her by the throat and knocks her on her back.
  • Next time we see Servalan, he's hustling her along, both hands on her upper left arm.
  • When Chel indicates he's done with Servalan, a warrior grabs her by her right arm, hauling her up and away out of scene.
  • During the fighting, a warrior grabs Avon from left rear, putting a hand over his mouth, and pins him on his back. He has his left hand at Avon's throat and has reached over right-handed to pin down his right wrist with his arm extended.
  • As a second attacker rushes in, Avon kicks out with his right foot, and the guy does a neat backflip down the dune.
  • Next time we see Avon, he's got up somehow, and is landing a double-fisted swing across his (first?) attacker's face, knocking him downhill.
  • Chel grabs this warrior between the shoulders and pushes him into pursuit.
  • Avon takes Servalan right-handed by her left arm, and steers her into the mouth of Dayna's cave.
  • Back on the beach, Servalan steps forward, left hand pushing aside the gun that Dayna's holding on her, and slaps Dayna right-handed.
  • A minute or two later, Dayna gets her right arm around Servalan's neck, goes for her teleport bracelet left-handed, gets it, and dodges back.
  • And out Dayna and Avon go...aboard Liberator, their hands brush as Avon takes her teleport bracelet and puts it in the rack. He puts an arm around her, and keeps it there as he asks if she still feels the same way about pleasure and danger.

    "Powerplay"

  • Avon takes Dayna's hand when he's trying to convince Tarrant and the death squad that she is his wife.
  • Tarrant punches Avon on the jaw and clobbers Dayna across the back of the head to prevent Avon speaking to Zen and Dayna from choking Klegg.
  • Lom takes Vila's wrist gently to examine it. Mall touches Vila's shoulder gently and then holds him still as Lom sets his arm.
  • Dayna pushes the dead trooper over.
  • On the hospital ship, the nurse touches Cally's upper arm.
  • Lom takes Vila's arm to lead him to safety.
  • Avon helps Dayna out of the access tunnel.
  • Two troopers drag a dead third out of the tunnel.
  • Zee and Barr touch Vila's arm when the apply the regeneration unit.
  • Mall helps Lom up and keeps an arm across his shoulders.
  • Two of the death squad members drag Dayna by her wrists.
  • Zee and Barr are touching Vila's upper arms just above the elbows as they walk through the forest.
  • Avon scuffles with Harmon.
  • Barr touches Vila's arm as they say goodbye.
  • Cally joyously grabs Vila's arms above the elbows as they meet in the city.
  • Dayna strangles Klegg with her forearm as Avon and Tarrant knock out the other troopers.

    "Volcano"

  • Hower passes his hands gently over Tarrant and Dayna's faces to wake them.
  • Hower takes Dayna's hand as he explains his methods of conditioning and control to keep the Pyroans docile.Vila bandages Avon's arm after he has been shot.
  • Troopers tie up and gag Cally and Vila.
  • Troopers drag Cally into the teleport with them as they leave and manhandle her again down on Obsidian.
  • Dayna lays her hand on Tarrant's arm to restrain him when she picks up Cally's telepathic message. She grabs his arm and pushes him to safety when the troopers start shooting at them and he is hit.

    "Dawn of the Gods"

  • Tarrant and Avon have hands at each other's throats when Avon is trying to get into a spacesuit.
  • After going through the black hole, Tarrant wakes up first. He goes to Avon--seemingly concerned--and puts a hand to his chest while calling his name. Avon wakes, and makes a move to hit Tarrant. Tarrant raises an arm in defense. But they don't touch each other. Avon goes to examine Vila, helps him stand. Tarrant goes to Dayna and helps her stand up. Tarrant goes to Cally. He touches her, examines her, and picks her up to carry her to medical. Dayna touches Cally's legs as if she is going to help Tarrant lift her, but her help isn't needed. Avon follows Tarrant-Cally and Dayna out of the room but he isn't in the med unit with them; he's back on the flight deck with Vila.
  • Later, a recovered Cally returns. Dayna goes to her, puts her arm around her and her other hand on her, says, "Cally, we were worried about you."
  • Cally blanks out, getting mental messages from Thaarn. Again, Dayna puts her hand to her, concerned. "What's the matter, Cally?" (Note: Lots of Dayna-Cally closeness in this ep, except near the beginning when both Tarrant and Dayna appear to be suspicious of Cally.)
  • Caliph zaps Tarrant with the neuronic whip. Cally helps Tarrant regain his feet.
  • When Vila appears hypnotized by the mechanical shark at the end, Cally takes his arm and guides him to the ship.

    "Harvest of Kairos"

  • Tarrant claps Vila on the shoulder.

    "City at the Edge of the World"

  • Vila and Kerrill embrace twice on screen, and offscreen have sex.

    "Children of Auron"

  • Vila seems to touch Cally's arm when he asks "Does it have to matter why?"
  • Two troopers help the Auron pilot to the bridge on Servalan's ship. Servalan puts her hand on the back of his head and helps him drink the tainted liquid. Deral takes his arm to lead him from the bridge.
  • Vila sits close enough to touch Tarrant on the couch.
  • Servalan brushes Deral's arm as she walks around him.
  • Dayna puts her hands on Cally's shoulders and helps her sit down when Cally senses the deaths on Auron.
  • Cally and Dayna help Patar rise and Dayna supports him as they teleport.
  • Tarrant touches Avon's arm as they sit on the floor after they've been captured.
  • Franton draws blood from Servalan.
  • Dayna puts her hand on Vila's back when they find out about the Federation. She grabs his wrist and pushes him gently towards the teleport console to give Servalan their message.
  • Dayna disarms Deral.
  • Tarrant, Avon and Cally scuffle with a trooper.
  • Cally and Zelda hug each other enthusuiastically when they finally meet.
  • Dayna picks Cally up and carries her to medical when she collapses.
  • Avon puts a bracelet on Deral and drags him to the teleport.
    1. "Rumours of Death"
    2. Vila gives Avon a "corpse reviver," some kind of alcohol, after Avon returns from five days of torture.

    "Sarcophagus"

  • When Cally begins to walk away from Avon, saying that she is all right, he gently places his hand on her arm. (The hand is visible on the extreme bottom of the screen.) It remains there until after the "demonstrably" line, when Cally smiles, pats him on the chest and heads to the door.

    "Ultraworld"

  • Avon lifts Cally's arm after her mind has been drained and notices her bracelet is missing.
  • Dayna and Tarrant are shoulder to shoulder while hiding from the menials under the stairs.
  • A menial clobbers Avon, knocking him unconscious and drags him off to have his mind drained.
  • Two menials grapple with Tarrant and Dayna and take their bracelets.
  • Tarrant and Dayna kiss several times in the course of initiating the "human bonding ceremony." Dayna pulls Tarrant back onto the bed. He blocks the Ultras' view with his body while she retrieves the tiny explosive.
  • Tarrant and Dayna grapple with menials while trying to keep Cally's body from being fed to the core. One of the menials throws Tarrant to the floor.
  • Tarrant gently touches Avon's shoulder while the latter is unconscious after having his mind drained.
  • Dayna grabs Avon's shoulders to move him to the sleep cells.
  • Tarrant touches Avon's forehead while the latter is still unconscious.
  • Tarrant holds Cally's arm to help her walk to the table so she can lean on it after her mind has been restored.
  • Dayna puts her arms around Cally and asks if she's all right.
  • A menial grabs Cally by the throat and Dayna grapples with him to fend him off.

    "Moloch"

  • One guard grabs Poola's arm and another slaps her across the face. He drags her away and she is gang-raped off screen.
  • Lector shoves Chesil and she falls to the floor.
  • Tarrant grabs Vila's arm and drags him off to the teleport when Vila refuses to go on the mission.
  • Doran taps Vila on the shoulder and puts his arm around him, the pushes him into the room with the other convicts.
  • Grose slaps the woman serving dinner on the behind.
  • Vila touches Doran's shoulder and props him up with an arm under his shoulders after another convict knocks him to the ground.
  • Tarrant scuffles with Vila and Doran.
  • Lector grabs Chesil under her chin from behind.
  • The guards grab Servalan's arms, but she shrugs them off after Moloch announces, "Give her to your men!"
  • Doran takes Vila's arm, puts an arm around him, and pushes him into the cave where Servalan has been taken.
  • A trooper beats up on Vila.
  • Avon scuffles with some troopers and gets hurt.
  • Tarrant touches Vila's shoulder.
  • Vila's and Tarrant's shoulders touch as they discuss their relative cleverness.
  • Lector bends Avon's injured wrist to torture him.
  • Tarrant grabs Vila's wrist and pulls him along when the latter hesitates and picks up his dropped gun.
  • Doran and Vila hug each other when they meet again in the complex.
  • Vila frees Avon's hands.

    "Deathwatch"

  • Karla stumbles into Deeta and he catches her before she falls.
  • Dayna brushes against Tarrant's arm as they are arguing about whether or not to chase the Federation ships.
  • When the entire crew is seated on the couch on the flight deck, Tarrant has his arm across the back of the couch behind Cally, and Avon's arm is behind Dayna.
  • Tarrant and Max shake hands when they meet.
  • Avon grabs Servalan and kisses her rather brutally. She then caresses his mouth with a finger.
  • Deeta shakes Max's hand just before he leaves for the duel.
  • Dayna shakes Tarrant by the shoulders and rips the sensornet disc off his forehead when Deeta is killed.
  • Avon touches Dayna's shoulder to prevent her for going to get the new gun, as he tells Vila to get it.
  • Avon touches Tarrant on the arm above the elbow twice.
  • Max shakes Avon's hand, much to Avon's dismay, and claps Tarrant on the shoulder as he leaves to make arrangements for the second duel.

    "Terminal"

  • Vila stands behind Dayna and grips her shoulders while coaching her at Galactic Monopoly.
  • Avon stands close enough to Vila to touch, and brushes by Tarrant's arm in the teleport.
  • Tarrant grabs Avon's arm while confronting him.
  • Tarrant puts his arm around Vila's shoulder, and grips.
  • Tarrant touches Cally's back to indicate that she should hide; Cally touches Tarrant's forearm while stalking the Federation people.
  • Vila and Dayna stand shoulder to shoulder on the flight deck as Zen dies.
  • Vila brushes against Avon on his way out after they watch Liberator explode.

  • Series D

    "Rescue"

  • Avon throws his arm over Dayna when Servalan's ship blows up.
  • Dorian touches both Dayna and Vila on the shoulders after rescuing them.
  • Vila puts his arm around Dayna and squeezes, while teasingly flirting.
  • Tarrant holds Dayna when she is terrified in the cave.
  • Avon grabs Soolin by the elbow to prevent her going for Dorian.

    "Power"

  • The Hommiks cosh Avon over the head and drag him off to their lair.
  • Nina is rubbing Gunn-Sar's back when Avon is brought before him. Gunn-Sar gives her a shove when he tells her to fetch food and ale.
  • Pella examines and then applies a salve to Vila's bruised hand.
  • Nina polishes Gunn-Sar's boots. He grabs her arm and hauls her roughly to her feet when she makes a mistake. Avon grabs his arm to keep him from punching her.
  • Vila grabs Pella's wrist to keep her from leaving; she telekinetically pushes him away.
  • Luxia touches Pella's arm when they meet.
  • Tarrant and Dayna grab Vila's arm to get him to slow down and explain what's going on.
  • Two Hommiks march Avon to the arena, holding his arms.
  • Avon scuffles with Gunn-Sar.
  • After the fight, another Hommik coshes Avon over the head again. He's dragged away and dumped in a dungeon.
  • Pella puts her arms around the other Seska.
  • The Hommiks ambush the Seska and quickly subdue them. Pella and Luxia are put into catchpoles with bags over their heads.
  • Nina surgically removes Luxia's necklace.
  • A Hommik grabs Pella's arm and she telekinetically repels him. Avon hits him across the back of the neck and knocks him unconscious.
  • Pella grabs Nina's arms when they meet.
  • Avon grabs Pella's wrist to force her to give him Luxia's necklace; she telekinetically repels him. He does it again with the same results. He grabs her wrist and hand and forces her to the floor and takes the necklace. He then picks her up by her arms and forcibly kisses her. Then he drops her on the floor. [Pella, why didn't you slap this creep?] [Wait for it...]
  • Nina puts her arm around Gunn-Sar and tenderly kisses the top of his head.
  • Avon touches the dying Cato. Pella knocks him out by telekinetically dropping a keyboard on his head. [thud!]
  • Tarrant, Vila and Dayna are captured and brought before Gunn-Sar. Tarrant steps forward to support Dayna in her challenge to Gunn-Sar and a Hommik pulls him back.
  • Dayna wallops Gunn-Sar across the face.
  • Kate grabs Nina, then they embrace joyously. Nina turns the unconscious Avon over.
  • Dayna fights Gunn-Sar and Kate and Pella help her win. The Hommiks gather round the dead Gunn-Sar.
  • Tarrant touches Dayna's wrist as the three crew members quietly leave the arena.
  • Nina weeps over Gunn-Sar's body.
  • Vila catches Tarrant as the energy wave from the door knocks him backwards.
  • Tarrant puts his hand on Dayna's shoulder.

    "Traitor"

  • Avandir crouches close enough to Hunda to press against his arm.
  • Tarrant taps Dayna's propped up leg on Scorpio when it's time to teleport down to Helotrix.
  • Hunda shakes a soldier's hand and claps him on the shoulder as he is leaving to go swim under the reactor.
  • Dayna bumps Tarrant's arm as they scramble into the teleport.
  • A trooper pats a Helot on the shoulder after he's been adapted.
  • Hunda shakes Leitz's hand.
  • Tarrant takes out a trooper with what looks like a nerve pinch.
  • There is a pitched hand-to-hand fight between Tarrant, Dayna, Helots and Federation troopers. I won't go into details. Suffice to say that it becomes obvious which actors know something about fighting and which ones don't.
  • Leitz caresses Servalan's shoulders and kisses her. She puts her arms around him, kisses him and zaps him in the back of the neck with the lethal icicle.

    "Stardrive"

  • Vila reaches out to Soolin while "drunk"; not sure if he makes contact.
  • Vila touches Dayna under chin while explaining his motive for acting drunk.
  • Tarrant puts his arms under Vila's shoulders and hauls him up out of his seat when they reach Caspar (slash moment!).
  • Dayna pulls Vila out of being stuck on Caspar.
  • The Space Rats seem to be generally comfortable with each other... :)
  • Vila grabs Dayna's arm to speak into her bracelet when Avon tells them theteleport's not working.
  • Dayna touches Vila's arm and back very lightly when they talk abouthiding--this seems like an unconsciously protective gesture.
  • Bomber pushes Dayna and Vila around several times.
  • Atlan grabs Dr. Plaxton's neck and kisses her; she tries to pull his hand offthe drive controls.
  • An unnamed Rat goes to pick Vila up when he falls into their rec room.
  • Dayna fights with Bomber.
  • Avon and Tarrant bounce off each other a bit before they enter the Space Rats'hideout.
  • Atlan grabs Dr. Plaxton again and pulls a gun on her.
  • Atlan grabs the front of Vila's jumpsuit.
  • Dayna takes Dr. Plaxton's hand and brings Vila forward to introduce him; Vilashakes Dr. Plaxton's hand.
  • Atlan kicks Tarrant and uses Soolin as a shield (but drops her when it looks like Tarrant might just shoot through her anyway).

    "Headhunter"

  • Avon touches Vena's shoulders sympathetically.
  • Soolin and Dayna half-carry Vila and Tarrant when they are unconscious.
  • Avon goes up to frozen, half-dead Tarrant and touches him.
  • Avon touches injured Dayna's chin but pulls his hand back when she flinches awake. Then he helps her stand up.
  • Soolin and Vila touch several times while running from the android with Orac.
  • Soolin holds Avon's wrist for rather a long time while he is unconscious.
  • Tarrant and Vila carry unconscious Avon.

    "Animals"

  • Dayna is chased by Og and the other animals.
  • Justin takes Dayna's arms and pulls her close when they meet. They embrace inside his bunker.
  • He holds her elbow as he talks fondly about his "little pupil."
  • Og scuffles with the other animals.
  • An officer takes the blind Artis's arm to lead him out of the room afterhis interview with Sleer.
  • Justin touches Dayna's hands as he talks about his work.
  • Dayna touches Og's shoulder as she tries to persuade him to return to his cage; he tosses her off the ridge.
  • Dayna is tortured by Servalan.
  • Justin takes Dayna's arms and kisses her neck when she returns. She shrugs him off and turns away.
  • The mutoids capture Og and tie him up. the later tie his leg to a post.
  • Justin tries to embrace Dayna again.
  • After Dayna and Justin have been captured, the captain forces her into the chair where she was tortured by Servalan.
  • After she is reconditioned, she runs to Justin and hugs him.
  • Dayna tries to free Og during the firefight and pets him after he is shot.
  • Dayna embraces Justin's dead body and weeps hysterically.

    "Assassin"

  • "Games"

  • Tarrant is supporting the injured Garon as they teleport aboard Scorpio. Dayna helps him get Garon to one of the deck chairs. Tarrant keeps his hand on Garon's shoulder as Soolin treats the injury.
  • Servalan's guards restrain Belkov.
  • Vila is holding Garon's arm when they teleport down to Mecron.
  • A trooper searches Vila after he, Tarrant and Garon are captured, and finds the Mecronian knife.
  • Tarrant scuffles with a trooper and knocks him into the machinery.
  • Tarrant knocks a trooper across the back of the head.
  • Another trooper steps on Vila's fingers.
  • Servalan's troops scuffle with the Mecronians.
  • Tarrant grabs Dayna's arm when she stumbles and pulls her to safety.
  • Troopers capture Garon and Servalan questions him while caressing him around the face with her gun.
  • On the orbiter, when it's Vila's turn to "play," Avon grabs him twice, forcefully, by the sleeve.
  • On the orbiter, Vila grabs Tarrant's foot and brushes the dust off his boot to have something to dust for fingerprints with.

    "Sand"

  • After Reeve announces they should make camp, Servalan places her hand on her assistant's knee to help herself up.
  • After they check the assistant's body, Reeve takes Servalan by the hand to help her up.
  • When Dayna flinches after being shot by Reeve, Tarrant puts his hand on her arm.
  • As he checks Dayna's wound, Tarrant holds her wrist and upper arm in his hands.
  • Soolin touches Dayna's arms as she sits her down to tend the wound.
  • Servalan slaps the body of Don Keller, causing it to fall from its chair.
  • Tarrant must have touched Keller's body to know that it is still warm--any actual contact is obscured by the body.
  • When Servalan is startled by the alert from the food machine, she grabs Tarrant by the arm. She continues to hold his arm as they walk towards the food.
  • As Servalan and Tarrant deduce the nature of the sand, she places her hand on his.
  • Servalan takes hold of Tarrant's hand as he gives her the cube of water. When Servalan appears to be about to cry, Tarrant strokes her cheek; they tenderly kiss. She rests her hand on his side.
  • Dayna and Soolin take Vila by the arms and half-lead, half-drag him to a couch. Tarrant and Servalan have sex, offscreen.
  • After pouring the water on the sand, Tarrant places his hand behind Servalan's head and kisses her passionately; she runs her hand up his chest on to his shoulder. We learn that they had sex, offscreen.
  • Soolin takes Vila's pulse.
  • Tarrant shoves Servalan's shoulder to push her aside so he can shoot out the windows.
  • As Dayna tends Vila, she wipes his brow, gently pushes him onto the couch with a hand on his chest, and touches his chin.
  • When saying good-bye, Servalan shushes Tarrant by placing her fingers over his mouth.
  • Servalan grasps Chasgo's shoulder to shake him awake.

    "Gold"

  • Soolin frisks Keiller.
  • Keiller puts his arm around Avon in greeting. Avon places his hand on Keiller's back as he draws him aside. Keiller puts an arm around Avon as Avon realises the significance of Zerok.
  • Keiller cuddles up to Soolin while explaining the processor plant plan.
  • Tarrant grasps unconscious Keiller's arm as he demands to know what happened at the underground processing plant.
  • Tarrant appears to hold Dayna (below camera) as they look into the radiation chamber.
  • Avon and Soolin stand back to back as they check for guards.
  • In the purser's office, Tarrant places his hand on Soolin's hand to stop her from shooting the guard.
  • Avon wipes killers from Keiller's chest with a cloth.
  • Tarrant touches Dayna's shoulder as she lies on the doctor's couch.
  • Dayna flails weakly at the doctor and Tarrant as they wheel her to the lift. Begging Avon for the antidote, Dayna flails her arms at him, knocking his gun from his hands.
  • Doctor grasps Keiller's arm as he warns of a "holdup."
  • Tarrant taps Keiller's chest as he rebukes him for killing the doctor.
  • Dayna chops Keiller between the shoulder blades.

    "Orbit"

  • Egrorian slaps Pinder on the shoulder to get him out of the seat in front of the view screen.
  • Avon grasps Vila by the shoulders during the conversation where Vila is trying to persuade him to take one of the others to Malodaar, and pats his cheek.
  • Egrorian pinches Pinder's shoulder when re-explaining the function of the weapon scan.
  • When Avon and Vila enter the biodome, Egrorian taps Pinder's leg to make him stand up to be introduced. He then pushes him forward, and later strokes his hair while extolling his mathematical talent. Egrorian takes Vila's arm to lead him to a seat. When Pinder reaches for the destruct button, Egrorian slaps his hand away. Egrorian strokes Vila's arm when explaining why he is offering them the tachyon funnel.
  • When Vila responds enthusiastically to Egrorian's desire for revenge, Egrorian pats Vila on the shoulders and cheeks.
  • Egrorian attempts to break Pinder's arm when he catches him cheating at the board game.
  • Declaring his loyalty, Egrorian clasps Servalan's hand to his heart. She clasps his shoulders as she promises to make him her Chief Minister for Science. Servalan strokes Egrorian's hands as the conversation ends. He places his hand over hers--she taps him smartly on the cheek.
  • Pinder gently places his fingertips on Egrorian's shoulder when Egrorian expresses unease.
  • Egrorian pats Vila on the shoulder while laughing at Vila's suggestion that Egrorian would break his slanderer's arms. Egrorian grasps Pinder's ear when Pinder laughs at his thesis mark.
  • Egrorian taps Avon on the chest as he concludes his explanation of Pinder's accident.
  • As Avon hands Egrorian Orac's key, Egrorian brushes his fingertips across the back of Avon's hand. As they laugh and walk to the exit, Egrorian places his hands on Avon's shoulder and back.
  • While assuring Servalan that the shuttle fire will not harm Orac, Egrorian places his hands on Pinder's shoulders.
  • Avon yanks Vila's arm to pull him to his feet as he orders him to strip the shuttle. He shoves his shoulders to propel him towards the door.
  • Egrorian strokes Servalan's shoulder and cheek as they discuss abandoning Pinder.
  • Servalan runs a fingernail down Egrorian's cheek as she contemplates his punishment.

    "Warlord"

  • Tarrant is shown kissing Zeeona.
  • Avon grabs Tarrant with both hands and shoves him out of a room when he is angry about Tarrant's assignation with Zeeona.
  • Dayna stands close to Vila and touches his arm.

    "Blake"

  • After Vila has been knocked on the head, Dayna teases him and at the same time ruffles his hair.
  • The crew gathers around an injured Tarrant and touches him.
  • Blake grips Avon's arms as Blake is dying, and vice versa.
    Comments

    To whomever it was (I can't recall) who said Avon was touchy...what examples can you give to support that? (Lisa L.)

    Avon frequently puts his hand on somebody's arm while talking to them. Not to mention his penchant for grabbing Blake round the waist whenever there's a bit of turbulence. I hadn't thought about it until I heard of the myth that he doesn't touch, then I noticed it all the time. (Kissing doesn't count, as he doesn't have any choice but to touch then.) (Harriet M.)

    I wouldn't call Avon touchy, exactly, but he does frequently touch people on the arm or shoulder...I can't recall a specific instance, because they're scattered all through the episodes. It's possible that it's a dominance thing as much (or more) as an expression of intimacy. I believe there's some sort of study that says that supervisors touch the people under them more than vice versa. And, going back to the other discussion, Avon usually does things for more than one reason, so it could be both. (Pat Jacquerie)

    Avon touching? Look for him to touch people when they're hurt, especially.

    This isn't a full catalog, only some that come to mind immediately. In "Project Avalon" when Blake, Jenna and Avon find Cally unconscious on the floor, Blake and Jenna stand there looking. Avon goes past them, goes to Cally and touches her tenderly. In "Breakdown," when he and Blake put the tranquilizer pads on Gan, compare the way Avon does it with the way Blake does it--Avon's touch belies his harsh tone and words. In "Redemption" when Liberator is hit and he and Blake fall, he falls in a way so as to protect Blake with his arm. (This and the earlier pushing Blake out of the way of the explosion in "The Web" so as to end up tangled on the floor with him are lovely seizings of the moment--Avon's such a quick thinker under pressure!) He catches Blake in his arms when Blake sinks down in despair in the empty Control Central headquarters in "Pressure Point" in an interesting moment of mingled sadism ("Nothing!") and tenderness. He continues to touch Cally, and in third season when Dayna comes along, often touches her ("Aftermath," and when she's been unconscious and is going up the flight deck stairs in "Dawn of the Gods"). On the other hand, Tarrant has an impulse to touch Avon when Avon, after 5 days of torture, is about to take Shrinker down to the cave in "Rumours of Death," but Tarrant doesn't quite have the nerve, and stops a little short. Avon has no trouble touching Tarrant, though, when he's being sleazy and pleased with himself in "Deathwatch" ("lying and cheating").

    About others touching Avon--though Tarrant seems a bit too intimidated, Jenna touches him easily enough at the beginning of "Bounty," and so does Blake on several occasions ("Redemption," when telling a hostile Avon how to prioritize his repairs, and of course catching Avon in his arms when he runs out of the subcontrol room explosion--too bad he lets him go so quickly. Looks to me like this is Blake letting go, not Avon pulling away.)

    Even in 4th season, Avon's impulse is to touch others in comfort. Dayna, after she's been knocked by Muller's android in "Headhunter." Muller's lady when he tells her Muller is dead. But he jumps like a cat when Dayna moves, instead of just touching her as he used to, and though he offers the comfort of a touch to Muller's lady, she seems too uneasy of him to accept it. She folds her arms around herself protectively and moves away from him. He realizes this, looks hurt, accepts it, and looks at Soolin, who then moves to Vena and comforts her by putting her arm around her.

    I don't remember offhand whether he does any touching in comfort, or for any reason other than sex (Pella--I do not see this as tender in motivation or feel, even though his kiss is very lovely; Servalan in "Gold") or threat, during 4th season, as he does earlier. Unless you count catching Blake as he's dying as 'comfort'--yeeps. (Tashery S.)

    "Sarcophagus": as far as I remember, he doesn't actually touch Cally when he goes to see her in her room, but I get the impression it's from not wanting to intrude, rather than dislike of physical contact. There's certainly a great deal of emtional intimacy in that scene. Later, he kisses the alien and hugs her--and then kills her. He seems to do a lot of that.... (Helen Patrick)

    I remember Soolin taking Vena's arm in a sympathetic (but still distancing) manner in "Headhunter." The more I think about it, the more I'm guessing that Avon imparts more warmth with his touches than Soolin does. Something to ponder....

    Oh, Soolin touches Tarrant on the leg in "Blake" when they are all hovering about Tarrant (on the floor) in the tracking gallery. Dayna also touches Tarrant (on the head). Vila might even touch him. And Avon is saying "I'm glad you made it." I'd never seen the crew show such collective concern before.

    Tashery wrote:

  • Avon has no trouble touching Tarrant, though, when he's being sleazy and pleased with himself in "Deathwatch" ("lying and cheating").

    I always thought Avon was being genuinely sympathetic (and atypically sweet) at that moment. He isn't even gloating (as well he might) as he manipulates the moral Tarrant into agreeing to "lie and cheat."

    On the other hand, Tarrant has an impulse to touch Avon when Avon, after 5 days of torture, is about to take Shrinker down to the cave in "Rumours of Death," but Tarrant doesn't quite have the nerve, and stops a little short.

    Oh, I like this observation: that Tarrant might be reluctant to touch Avon. It certainly fits in with his touching him (when he is unconscious) in "Ultraworld." It's only the conscious Avon who stays his hand? Though I'll have to check other episodes to make sure this is fairly consistent before putting it into my canon.

    But why is Tarrant reluctant to touch Avon? I don't really think it is because he's intimidated. He isn't afraid of Avon or afraid to stand up to Avon. Is it some carry over from his military days, when one has to show respect for a senior officer? Is it shyness? Is he reluctant to touch Avon because he cares about him more than he'd like Avon to know? More things to ponder.... (Cami)

    Helen Patrick wrote:
  • Maybe people just listen to the words, and don't watch the body language. If you watch what they do, rather than what they say, Avon is the one who's always touching people... Blake is more open verbally, but is far less physically demonstrative.

    Ah, but there is a world of difference between touching and being touched. The toucher is in charge, he decides when and where and how long to make contact, and can have any motive from offering comfort to congratulations to lust.

    A touchee is leaving themself vulnerable. I don't think Avon was afraid of being touched, but he was always aware of the dynamics of the situation. (Susan Cutter)

    There are actually quite a few episodes where Avon is being nice and subtly comforting to people, something which surprised me when I realized it. (I'd actually read a lot of mean-crazy-Avon fanfic before I'd seen a lot of the episodes.) There's Dayna, Hal and Veron, there's the widow in "Headhunter." Cally in "Sarcophagus." Maybe Blake at Control, depending on how you interpret it.

    I like the way he doesn't offer sloppy platitudes, just a simple "I'm sorry" or a quiet touch. Understanding without pity.

    I've also noticed that Servalan seems to get thrown around and knocked down far too often for one of her position! (Sabrah n'ha Raven)

    I wouldn't actually buy the notion that he doesn't like being touched. As long as he can see it coming and knows what it's about, he seems to be fine with it. (DJW)
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