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| “ | I've come here for the mark to see me.. I was punished for trying to escape Efrafa. The council was merciful. The council was merciful! | „ |
| ~ Blackavar being threatened by Vervain in the film |
| “ | My Frith, did the Efrafans do this to you? | „ |
| ~ Blackavar meeting Holly in his debut in the Miniseries |
| “ | You don't know these Efrafans. My mother used to tell me what happened at Nutley Copse. It would be better to go now. | „ |
| ~ Blackavar to Hazel in the Novel |
Blackavar is the overarching protagonist of the Watership Down franchise.
He serves as a major character of the original 1978 animated film, Watership Down. a posthumous character in Watership Down the 1999 animated TV series and a supporting protagonist in the 2018 Netflix miniseries.
In the 1978 film, he was voiced by Clifton Jones, in the 1999 animated series by Nigel Pegram and Stephen Gately and in the 2018 miniseries by Henry Goodman.
Overview[]
Blackavar is a former member of Efrafa, constantly being punished for his escape attempts. He finally manages to escape with the Watership Down rabbits. Likewise, he is a strong rabbit who is good at tracking.. Bigwig rejuvenates Blackavar and gains his unswerving loyalty.
Story[]
Blackavar is a rabbit with dark fur who tried to escape from Efrafa when he was prevented from joining the Owsla. However, he was apprehended by Campion and as punishment his ears were torn to shreds and he was kept in solitary confinement. When he was liberated by Bigwig, he quickly proved himself as an expert tracker and ranger, and Hazel came to trust and rely upon him. In the book, Blackavar is given some backstory and it is revealed that his mother came from another Warren that Woundwort had conquered and moved back to Efrafa. As such, whilst proud of his father as an Efrafan officer, he harbors some of his mother's resentment, which grows when he is not introduced into the Owsla because of prejudice towards his mother's blood. He shows himself to be quite resourceful as he is being brought back to Hazel's warren, able to detect the presence of a fox when Bigwig himself - an Owsla officer - cannot. In the book, he survives the climactic battle with the Efrafans, but in the film he is shown being brutally killed by Woundwort himself in an anticlimactic attempt to hold back the general's advance in a run.
In the TV Series, he and Primrose make their escape from Efrafa alone, unlike in the other adaptations where there were many more rabbits. He appears to be skilled in his debut when he's running from Vervain and Campion. He is caught after Kehaar scares him. He helps during the final battle and although surviving he disappeared in season three other than some cameo appearances.
In the Netflix series, Blackavar makes his debut while encountering Holly after he escapes the destruction of Sandleford, and warns him right away about Efrafa, which he himself was escaping. During this time, his ears have already been shredded. He is paraded around the marks by the Owsla after he is recaptured (off-screen). He is later liberated by Bigwig and Hyzenthlay before they free the does. After joining Watership Down, he is seen teaching one of the hutch rabbits, Haystack, how to sniff. When Haystack smells "Lots of strange rabbits", he and Holly get up before realizing she smelled Efrafan warren, which is nearby. He later helps Hazel and Fiver lead the Nuthanger farm guard dog to the warren to attack the Efrafans. He is the last in the relay, but the dog nearly catches up to him. He manages to hide, Bob nearly attacks him, until Hazel regains its attention and leads it the rest of the way.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Blackavar survives the attack on Watership Down in the book, miniseries and the TV series, but dies in the film adaption.
- Since the moment Blackavar is killed, Woundwort has his lips covered with blood for the rest of the film.
- In the TV series, Blackavar bares a resemblance to his voice actor, Stephen Gately.
- Blackavar is greatly respected by Hazel and Bigwig.