The Official Battlestar Galactica Thread : SPOILERS

[mkrishnan]

I'm wondering if Kara will fess up to the fact that this is at least the second time she's been warned by a hybrid of her role in the apocalypse....

 

[Ryan1524]

I think Ron Moore is going to have Earth setup as 24th century. When BSG and the cylons arrive on Earth, the Federation thinks it's a Borg trick, and Picard destroys them all.


I really hope they have more tricks up their sleeve than turning everyone into Cylons. that particular plot twist is getting really old.

 

[TBi]

I think Ron Moore is going to have Earth setup as 24th century. When BSG and the cylons arrive on Earth, the Federation thinks it's a Borg trick, and Picard destroys them all.

I think the Kirk era would be better, then there could be a romance between one of the cylons and el capitán!

 

[Ryan1524]

As a womanizer, Picard > Kirk. He's a renaissance man, whereas Kirk is a cowboy. Some of the best, darkest TNG, Voyager and DS9 episodes are written by Ronald Moore. ie. Most of the Borg ones. Any idea where he might get the whole swarm of machines linked to a hive mind idea from? lol. 😀

I just saw Eps 6. This is getting interesting. I really can't even figure out who the missing 3 leading to the 5. One of them has to be Tori for sure. She's in such a position of trust by the president now, that she's bound to have an important role later.


Could the final two be the children?? 😱

 

[Queso]

The "Missing Three" is Cylon model #3, the currently boxed D'anna. I was more interested in talk of the 13th, which might not mean the 13th tribe but an extra Cylon, perhaps the creator of all the others.

 

[Ryan1524]

Oh, she's #3. I can never keep track of who's who. I only know Six. Yes, she knows at least one of the final five from the Eye of Jupiter Opera house.

 

[HydroMan]

I'm just watching BSG for entertainment value and a true end to the storyline (as opposed to the original series) and don't wish to dissect each episode but just take it in and enjoy (or not) which I did this episode. Looking forward to the conclusion.

 

[benmrii]

BORING?? Wow, seriously. What do you do in your downtime of not watching or critiquing BSG? I'm sure it must involve private yachts, exotic sports cars, beautiful women, skydiving, and hanging out with James Bond...

Yes, seriously. You're entitled to your opinion. You simply like a different kind of entertainment than what I like and what initially drew me, and everyone I know that watches it, to this show.

the tension of the FTL countdown...

Here's a free writing tip: Get over the ZOMG COUNTDOWN! gimmick. How fantastically lame. "ONOES! DO YOU THINKS THEY'LL MAKE IT BACKS IN TIME!?" "I DON'T KNOW!!!!!11!!11!!ONE!!" There are few occasions when this overplayed contrivance works anymore, and this was certainly not one of them. Reality is if you have to rely on something like that so intensely, you're probably reaching.

major character development from the President and fine acting to boot..

Major character development? Any psychologist will tell you that if you spend all day doing something intensely your dreams will likely reflect that in some way. In other words, play a specific video game all day and you will probably dream about big events about to happen and remembering to "save your game" before you encounter them, or maybe you are interacting with characters in the game, or maybe literally just playing the game in your dream. Another example: if you spend all day talking to someone about their dream there's a pretty good chance you'll dream the same thing.

So what you call character development I call taking the asinine Saint Baltar story line to depths I didn't even think possible in my moments of greatest pessimism. Remember who Roslyn is? She is the prophesied one, the dying leader. She more than anyone else both believed and had reason to believe everything that Baltar is teaching against. The choices she made, the things she's seen, the Tomb of Athena... then she spends most of the day talking to a dying woman with bad teeth, has a dream and she's ready to renounce it? That's absurd.

And good acting? Eh... I think if I put on a skull cap and looked sad you'd say I was a good actor if that's your idea of it.

Yes... like a children's action toy commercial the last episode was exciting. There were fights and a few people got shot, there was a big-bad countdown, there was a half naked woman in a murky hot tub with wires. But if you wanted anything more than that, like say theme or relevance or development or a hint of resolution, it was boring.

 

[hulugu]

...

And good acting? Eh... I think if I put on a skull cap and looked sad you'd say I was a good actor if that's your idea of it.

Yes... like a children's action toy commercial the last episode was exciting. There were fights and a few people got shot, there was a big-bad countdown, there was a half naked woman in a murky hot tub with wires. But if you wanted anything more than that, like say theme or relevance or development or a hint of resolution, it was boring.

This episode is problematic, but the scenes with Roslin had me captivated. Mary McDonnell is a fantastic actress and I'd be much happier if the show had spent more time exploring the relationship between her and Adama rather than meandering prophecies.

Frankly, I wish the show had stayed with the Season 1 and 2 archs and just stayed there. Shows that explored the problems of a fleet surviving in deep space, combat, and the darker impulses of the human fleet were far better than those with the cylons. Season 3 had a few moments of brilliance (BSG jumping into atmosphere, launching her vipers, and then jumping away was awesome), but generally the show has lapsed into what crazy thing can Baltar (an over-wrought character who has become increasingly unbearable) will do next.

I'm bored because the show has sent everyone into different directions, rather than allowing the build-up of each show accumulate. At this point, I find myself hoping the Centurions mow down most of the primary cast.

 

[benmrii]

Aside from Roslyn = captivating in this particular episode (and granted my concerns have more to do than with the writing/character than her ability), I couldn't agree more with your post.

The BSG jumping into atmo is indeed one of my favorite images of the entire series. And since early in the first season (or was it at some point during mini-series before that?) and increasingly ever since I've been hoping for Baltar to die off or get killed. The fact that he hasn't is one thing, the fact that he hasn't and is a keystone in one of the more ridiculous directions probably has me more riled up than I should be. 🙂

 

[hulugu]

Also, Cylon model numbers:

Number One: Brother Cavil (creepy priest, sometime leader)
Number Two: Leoben (the one who just won't leave Starbuck alone)
Number Three: D'Anna (appeared as a journalist, saw final five, boxed)
Number Four: Simon (doctor on Caprica, some kind of fertility doctor)
Number Five: Aaron Doral (was an aide to Roslin, suicide bomber, wears teal suit)
Number Six: multiple versions, including Gina, Natalie, Caprica Six, the Six in Baltar's head, Shelley Godfrey.
Number Eight: Sharon "Boomer," and Athena.

What's interesting is the complexity in Six, wherein multiple versions are completely different. This was partially addressed in the last episode, wherein one Six was obviously traumatized by her death (deaths?). Note, this was also supposed to be the reason that Scar (the Cylon Raider that picked apart the Fleet's pilots for a time) was so dangerous and cunning.

The question for me is, which Six is which. Aside from "Virtual" Six who inhabits Baltar's squirrelly mind and Caprica, who now resides in the BSG brig, the others aren't very clear. Who did Anders shoot?
Also, what happened to Shelley?
And, for that, what happened to D'Anna Biers?

 

[hulugu]

Aside from Roslyn = captivating in this particular episode (and granted my concerns have more to do than with the writing/character than her ability), I couldn't agree more with your post.

The BSG jumping into atmo is indeed one of my favorite images of the entire series. And since early in the first season (or was it at some point during mini-series before that?) and increasingly ever since I've been hoping for Baltar to die off or get killed. The fact that he hasn't is one thing, the fact that he hasn't and is a keystone in one of the more ridiculous directions probably has me more riled up than I should be. 🙂

I don't mind the character, in fact earlier I liked the tension between his obvious failures, his own treasonous behavior (and the ways in which he tried to hide it while Six tortured him), and the possibility that he might be truly important to the Cylon's own plans. When his own arch started to become the "right" arch, and when he suddenly accumulated a harem, his freaking out has become less and less interesting. I think they broke the character when he went with the Cylons and spent a few episodes wandering the neon hallways of a basestar.

What bothers me is each character had an interesting place and character and each has been required to go completely batshi*t crazy in order to fulfill their roles.
For instance, Lee's constant flip-flopping between duty and his conscious would be interesting if it weren't also buggered by his relationship with Kara and D. Note, Dualla has vanished into the background.
So, instead of a leader, trapped between his office as CAG (and Captain) and his sense of right, we get a dithering Lee who ends up as a somewhat impotent politician.

I could go on and on about Starbuck, but suffice it to say, Lee's character is endemic of the problems in the show.

 

[benmrii]

Well said. I've really never been interested in Baltar's character, personally. It isn't impossible for someone to be so intelligent and yet so stupid, but it is an annoying characteristic nonetheless. And so many times, particularly earlier on in the show, just being honest for once and not taking solipsism to new 'heights' would have ended a particular situation or problem that, instead, was explored over episodes (and at some times "drawn out" would be a better description).

The first blood test of Boomer comes to mind... I understand not telling her to her face when he discovers her as a cylon, but it makes no sense to not tell anyone else afterwards. Even his own private Six didn't discourage him from speaking with Adama or others. So he doesn't. Why? It puts the ship at risk which directly puts himself at risk. Self-preservation is this guy's MO. He finds a cylon and doesn't report it, continuing to live under the same 'roof' with her. The only reason that decision was made was to keep that story arc going, period... regardless of logic.

What bothers me is each character had an interesting place and character and each has been required to go completely batshi*t crazy in order to fulfill their roles.

In the same vein, amongst an earlier post/rant I wrote:

One of my biggest pet peeves are story lines that rely on suspended logic, drastic and immediate changes contrary to historically defined characters, and phenomenally stupid decisions made over and over.

That is the true pitfall of the show, in my opinion.

 

[DISCOMUNICATION]

Where are you Hulu? It's 7:30PM and still no new episode posted!

 

[~Shard~]

Quite enjoyed last night's episode - definitely sets things up quite nicely for the next few episodes I'm thinking. Looking forward to seeing what happens now with the Basestar (and all aboard) and consequently the fleet and their plans for the Resurrection Hub.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I too find this season thus far lacking the powerful delivery & well thought out plot of multiple storylines the blend seemlessly together. I've already missed some 4 episodes already and have not cared enough to watch the rerun the following nite.

However the season premiere was quite gripping. Kept me glued to the channel the entire time. I'm wondering if the next few episodes as we get closure to the end of the final season will begin to have more substinance and bind the previous shows, just like the previous seasons. Here's to hoping.

 

[hulugu]

Quite enjoyed last night's episode - definitely sets things up quite nicely for the next few episodes I'm thinking. Looking forward to seeing what happens now with the Basestar (and all aboard) and consequently the fleet and their plans for the Resurrection Hub.

I liked this episode too. Nice setups and actual plot development that felt aimed towards something. I especially liked the tension created when the Basestar jumped away and the Demetrius did not. See, tension can be created without a running clock. I also liked the Tigh almost betrayed himself.

And, hey even 'D' showed up for just a moment.

I have to say, however, that Gaeta's character is probably getting the rawest deal. Originally a bit of a background secondary character, nearly thrown out the airlock as a collaborator, and now he's suffering the trauma of a lost limb. I just feel bad for the guy.

 

[Queso]

I have to say, however, that Gaeta's character is probably getting the rawest deal. Originally a bit of a background secondary character, nearly thrown out the airlock as a collaborator, and now he's suffering the trauma of a lost limb. I just feel bad for the guy.

I was wondering if all that stuff was leading up to him being the last Cylon, but weighing it up I still think it will turn out to be "The One True God", sat secretly on Earth being all worshipped in Mosques and Churches the world over. That has a nice ring to it 🙂

 

[Marble]

Huh. This last episode was the first part of the two parter "Guess What's Coming to Dinner," yet didn't get an annoying and gratuitous "To be Continued" like the last two did. Good for them.

And good for them letting Athena shoot the wrong Six, and bringing BACK a lot of the plot threads that were ongoing in seasons one and two. I'm talking about visions in the opera house, Six/Baltar reclaiming the Hera thread, and the President's role in prophecy. This writer knows what he's doing. Even if it didn't blow my socks clean off, like some episodes of BSG have done, this Part 1 is a great specimen of screenwriting a bridge. It develops some themes, puts characters in interesting places, and many of the scenes serve dual purposes. Yeah, howzat!

I guess when you're working with a staff of writers, there's no way to guarantee consistency and still pull off so many episodes. Some of the writers are going to rock, and some will be green. Same goes for the directors. When you get both running full tilt, it's hard to bring it down.

Director or writer, "Guess What's Coming" uses parallel imagery in a way that the previous one could only weep at. Back-to-back shots of the bloody cylon Basestar and Gaeta's festering leg, or Athena struggling through the corridors of the Galactica as if it was the Opera House. All of it gets interspersed with Gaeta's singing, which elucidates a general sense of permanent loss that fits well with the Cylon's plight. I have to say, though, that Six's debriefing in front of the command staff and the president shows just how stupid the cylon plot seems in summary. Ah well, on to better things.

Some devices get used that could have been cliches in other hands, but turn out really well:

1) Hera whispering "bye-bye" to her mother to top off her dream was the perfect close to act 4, even though the event itself never gets revisited.

2) Athena shooting the wrong Six (this works so well because it's 'audience superior' yet also subtle).

3) Athena discovering that all Hera can draw are smiling pictures of Six.

4) The contingency plans that the cylons and the humans dream up because they can't trust each other would be stale if they weren't parallel devices. The parallel emphasize that both sides are equal -- equally flawed, while still pushing the plot where it needs to go. It encapsulates a grain of what all writers seek: thematic truths that reach out of the screen and into common experience.

It helps that we are treated to some really creative cinematography, with changing focus and dirty zooms, skipped frames and harsh segues between scenes. We got a lot of them, too: actors on the basestar hangar, the viper rush, centurions pushing pilots out of the way, and lots of space time for jumping and swerving ships. It was dramatic and cinematic both.

I touched on this, but I want to point out how well-handled the act breaks in this episode were: pulling back to reveal Gaeta's missing leg, Adama's glance at Tigh after making the right call about the Demetrius, Hera's whisper, and that last lingering shot of Gaeta's mug.

I ended up making more lists than I planned, but it just shows how much there is to like in this one. It was gold from the beginning, with Roslyn challenging Lee about whether he knows what it's like to have the world turned upside down, black to white. Of course, that is exactly the scenario, and probably the theme, of this episode! Yes!

(By the way, I've got to agree with hulugu about how they handled their characters after S2. I don't think they'll ever recover from that, but they might still pop the plot if they work it hard enough by Ep.20)

 

[hulugu]

...This writer knows what he's doing. Even if it didn't blow my socks clean off, like some episodes of BSG have done, this Part 1 is a great specimen of screenwriting a bridge. It develops some themes, puts characters in interesting places, and many of the scenes serve dual purposes. Yeah, howzat!...

I really enjoyed this last episode. The dream of the Opera House was a much needed return to the narrative thread of the show. Also, the crew of the Demetrius are back from time-out and can now operate within the framework of the show. Hopefully, we can see the consequences of Athena's action, especially if it's through Helo's eyes.

I loved the scene with Tigh and Adama, there's so much tasty dramatic tension in Tigh's "we got lucky" line. Also, Lee's part as a kind of conscience of the fleet's leaders also fit within his character and helped moved the show just a little forward. Sackoff and Calles had a chance to rest, giving the other actors some real moments, and I felt like the plot was really moving forward using the characters as motion rather than fuel to be consumed.

 

[SDLSteve]

Don't want to wait two weeks for the next episode though. Come on May 30.

 

[Tilpots]

Great ep. I get the feeling Lee will be the only one left standing to lead the humans when they make it (if they make it) to Earth. Roslyn's dying, I'm sure Adama will sacrifice himself somehow, and then Lee will be left holding the bag. Seems he's been getting groomed for the role the entire show, but much more in recent episodes. Nobody else seems ready to take the lead. It sure as heck won't be Starbuck or Helo. Most people think she's a cylon, and Helo's married to and the father of one. Not the current VP cause he's too crooked. And definitely not Jesus, err, I mean Baltar. I can just see Lee making some sort of stirring speech to close the show, teary-eyed and patriotic. Kinda Lincoln's Second Inaguralish.

I'm also thinking only one of the two Battlestar's will make it. I'll put my money on Galactica, but I won't be suprised if it gets destroyed by some kind of "Adama Selfless Act" to save the fleet. Hope it's the Pegasus though.

My Gaeta being the final cyclon prediction seems to be shot.😛

Anyways, just wasting time at work... anybody else have any hybrid type visions?

 

[~Shard~]

I'm also thinking only one of the two Battlestar's will make it. I'll put my money on Galactica, but I won't be suprised if it gets destroyed by some kind of "Adama Selfless Act" to save the fleet. Hope it's the Pegasus though.

Being that the Pegasus was already destroyed back at the beginning of Season 3 by an "Adama Selfless Act" of sorts, I wouldn't hold your breath. 😛 😎

 

[Queso]

I'm also thinking only one of the two Battlestar's will make it. I'll put my money on Galactica, but I won't be suprised if it gets destroyed by some kind of "Adama Selfless Act" to save the fleet. Hope it's the Pegasus though.

Are you sure you weren't watching a re-run? 😀

 

[Tilpots]

Better do my research before posting...😱

But c'mon. The Pegasus was destroyed back in '06. Guess that's why it hasn't been in the storylines.😀