Hmmmm. Guess I'm doing the Battlestar Galactica posts now. Well, I know that Dean's enthusiasm for the show has waned of late so I guess it's up to the next generation.
With the show on at 10 PM on Sunday's that means I don't often watch it until the following Monday. To be honest the new day doesn't work for me at all. For example, I have a bi-weekly game I attend. It typically gets done at 11 PM. I need to get to bed afterwards for work the next day. It's a bloody pain in my posterior.
However, as these posts are coming up after the episode airs it allows me to give my thoughts (albeit via hidden text) on the post on the front page! Go me.
So, what did I think of this latest episode?
Stinking wonderful, that's what!
I was honestly expecting this to shape up to be a rather weak bit of television given last week's promos. I really didn't care all that much about Starbuck and Apollo's love life. But the way it was broached, and how much of the episode had to do with Baltar, was a wonderful surprise.
I know a lot of people have complained how dark the show gets sometimes. Like they can never catch a break and it can almost get tiring. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to see Kara and Lee keep with their respective partners. I'm glad to see that they're each going to make their marriages work. Though, one could argue that Lee alone made the decision and Kara just kept what she had knowing Lee wasn't up for grabs.
So, I happy with how that turned out.
I adored Mary McDonnell's performance in this episode. Seeing her and Baltar screaming at one another was a joy. And seeing Adama pushing Baltar to the brink of death was interesting too. I'm glad too see that Baltar has seemingly given up his quest for a Cylon identity. He's resigned himself to the fact he's human and the baggage that comes with it. He's a villain I never have a problem feeling sorry for.
I'm interested in seeing how his trial turns out. I hear Lee defends him. I think he should get a strong defense. Baltar's argument with Gaeta was dead on. Baltar had a gun to his head. How could he, or anyone else for that matter, have done any differently?
I hope in his defense more is brought out on how Baltar allowed information to get out to the resistance. I think it's very possible we'll learn that Baltar did more to resist the Cylon occupation than we've yet seen.
I'm very pleased with the episode. I think it bodes well for the rest of the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQh1jEvLcDs
Intro...FF....watch Baltar hang himself....FF through relationship crap....more Baltar....FF more relationship crap....watch Baltar get medically waterboarded...FF more relationship crap....
It's starting to get annoying, I think they are trying to bring in a broader audience and try to get away from it being a sci-fi show to a show in a sci-fi setting.
Having Apollo and Starbuck not end up together blew me away, and it earned the show massive points in my book. I also liked how Starbuck made fun of the idea that she had a "destiny."
One thing caught my attention: a lot of the less-major actors were missing from this episode. Cally, Helo, Athena, and the Cylons other than Caprica Six were nowhere to be seen. I actually think that's a good thing: when you have a large cast it can be hard to work everyone into every episode, and so giving them a break heightens my anticipation for seeing them again (as they tend to be my favorite characters).
What I want to know is what will happen with Gaeta. He tried to kill Baltar because he believed Baltar would convince others that he'd been a traitor. I'd be very upset if Gaeta were executed, committed suicide, or somehow turned into a bad guy.
Of course, the big question is this: now that Baltar and Caprica Six are on the same ship, what then? If you watched the extended bonus scene on SciFi's website, she seems to want to testify against him. However, is there a chance that, like Slobodan Milosovic, the trial may be inept enough that he is found Not Guilty?
Did he say MOFO when he was being dragged away?
anyone pickup on this? Just curious.
There was definitely a "motherfrakker" in there
A number of shows do this and it's usually due to budget constraints. Actors are contracted to appear in a certain number of episodes per season, and are paid accordingly. So for all except the majors, there are bound to be episodes in which they don't appear. Usually they sneak 'em in one at a time so you don't notice so easily, but occasionally they do 'em all in a bunch. That's usually a good sign that those people have an important role to play later in the season -- they're giving them an episode off now because they know those characters are needed later.
There's nobody to root for... Apollo went from being a noble prig to a prig and Starbuck went from being a noble ho to just a ho, Roslyn's nothing but a smug look and the Admiral figures a saboteur's are teh awesome.
Still, I watch.
Besides which, I agree with Aristotle.
What, you think Baltar honestly believed he had a choice in any of the matters he signed off on? Do you think Baltar thought he did?
What about what Baltar said to Gaeta about allowing him to bring information to the resistance? That's a damned fine point. Why wouldn't Batlar know? He's not dumb.
I think you're too quick to judge him harshly.
Everyone seems to agree that Gaeta made the best of a bad situation by feeding information to the resistance from within the Baltar Administration. Indeed he's a hero for doing so. Why is Baltar any less a hero for allowing Gaeta to work unmolested? Indeed, how do we not know that Baltar could have ensured certian vital details made it across Gaeta's desk? Or that Baltar went to lengths to protect Gaeta's work from Cylon eyes?
Surely Baltar knew that if he were killed another person would simply take his place. Perhaps, well, someone not better suited for the situation.
You're too quick to judge. And Aristotle's opinions aren't relevant here because there's is a lot we do not know. We don't know because we've only seen one side of the story. And the one decree we did see Baltar sign we saw the Cylons had to put a gun to his head. How do we not know this hadn't happened before? Or, how do we not know if the Cylon's didn't threaten anything worse for the Colonists if Baltar didn't sign X decree?
Baltar is damned right to demand a trial! Thank the gods none of you serve on the jury.
Just kidding, Kevin. ;-)
Without question Baltar (portrayed exquisitely by James Callis) has been my favorite character all along. But I like him because he's so obviously a villain, and the worst sort of villain in my eyes; not someone who is intentionally a mustache-twirling sadist (he is not) but because he is so utterly craven and self-absorbed that he can't see anything else most of the time. This is what true everyday villainy usually consists of, in my opinion. This is why it's only natural to me that at some point he'd hope to be a cylon; the tiny shred of conscience he actually has would practically demand such a desire.
And let me be clear: when I say I "like" him, I don't mean "admire" or "want to emulate." Hannibal Lecter is without a doubt one of the best characters to ever appear out of Hollywood, and I certainly don't admire him. I don't admire Scarlett O'Hara either. I merely admire the craft, the art, that goes into breathing life into such characters.
Baltar to me is like a flesh-and-blood Wile E. Coyote. Brought to operatic levels.
My argument with Kevin goes thusly: you remember, don't you, that Baltar blew the highest of high level security clearances, gave away humanity's entire defense grid, in exchange for some red hot pooty-tang with long legs and bleached blond hair, right?
The funny thing to me is, I can actually sympathize a little with him as President; it would be easy under an occupation to be convinced that doing one evil thing would amount to less evil later. It would be easy to rationalize that. The gun to the head now and then would also help.
It's the before part that I can't forgive. His honorable answer has long been to confess and face execution. It's what I like to think I'd do in his shoes.
Ah, but that's the thing...he's going to be tried for something he may be able to beat and may not be tried for what he actually did do.
And I knew Gaeta was in trouble the first time he glanced up at the camera (stupid! stupid! stupid!), and Baltar caught him at it. He should have been able to brazen it out, say, "Well, after you tried to hang yourself did you seriously think they wouldn't put you under surveillance?"
And letting Baltar accuse him of being the betrayer, that was bad. Gaeta wouldn't make a very good spy, apparently -- maybe he did need Baltar protecting his work on New Caprica after all.
I think she's a real blond. That changes the entire dynamic!
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.