And was Anders in uniform? It looked like it was. If he enlisted I’m sure they’d have told us.
I think he's enlisted - what else is he going to do? He's a jock with no place to ply his trade. Time to enlist. A lot goes on in this shoe that they don't actually show but you have to assume.
And what’s with Tigh and Anders hearing that music?
Tigh and Anders. Tara is clearly got something going on as well. And Helo (welcome back to the XO billet) implied he could smell a change to the air. That's four - was there a fifth? Was Helo being metaphorical?
Just imagine how wigged out Tigh would be if it could be demonstrated he was a Cylon ... like a Kluxer finding out he has sickle cell but much worse.
But yes - I know it's a good show when they get to the top of the hour and I can't believe it's already over.
I haven't seen it yet. I'll probably see it tonight.
The cancer being back is interesting. But yes, I do suspect that they did it because they realized what an enormous mistake they'd made, and how much it hurt the storyline. You can plot the show's enormous ratings plunge to that episode. The writers did something enormously stupid there, but hey, we all make mistakes.
So, what, the show runners now expect the viewers to come flooding back because Roslin has cancer again? Are you daft?
No, it's far more likely they always intended to give the character a reprieve but that since she is the prophet her cancer would have to come back.
Really, think it though for a moment, would you? If she died when you thought she should have then she wasn't the leader that would bring them to Earth. Who then? And how would you, Dean, having killed your character that had all these visions that only the prophet should have, filled that role? And if you did find someone then why bother with Roslin at all? You just wasted a season and a half on a character that didn't really matter.
And you essentially just lied to all your viewers by making them think for a season and a half that Roslin was the prophet when she really wasn't. And it would be a lie because you offered absolutely not hint that she wasn't. You gave her visions she couldn't have if she wasn't. Visions that confirmed things she couldn't possibley know. You wrote a frickin' religion around her. Had religious elders agreeing she was the prophet and more!
Dude, the show runners just did something you didn't like. That's fine. But leave it at that. Don't now say that the fans or what have you pressured them into reversing it. The show was already renewed for a fourth season before this episode even aired. This, in the midst of a number of their weakest episodes.
Roslin getting cancer back had nothing to do with fan protest. It had everything to do with the story. I knew the cancer was coming back. Why? Because she's the prophet and it had to.
No, I wouldn't think they would do it because they thought viewers would flood back. I would expect them to do it simply because they recognized a mistake.
From my perspective she fulfilled the prophecies when they found the map to Earth. That was all that was needed.
And the show cop-out appeared to be "Well she was dying at the time. Then she was cured, which the prophecies said nothing about."
Perhaps if Ron Moore had given more hints in his podcasts back then I would have had more faith. As I say, that was just the tipping point for me though. All sorts of other problems with weak plots and dangling threads got to me.
We'll see if they can pull it out in the next season. At least I'm still watching...
Fans left because Cylon/Human blood saved the President?
Come on...
If fans left, it's because the show lost something. I've been rather disappointed with it for awhile. It hasn't been quite clear that there is a story there... like there has in the past.
In fact, many of the recent episodes are irrelevant. If they didn't exist, it would change very little.
I'm also disappointed in the Starbuck story. It's obvious we haven't seen the end of her. Why do it like that? I just thought it was dumb.
Fans didn't leave because of Clyon/Human, cancer-healing blood. It's been a general decline in story-telling.
The general decline in storytelling happened right there if you ask me, and the ratings dive corresponds pretty closely with that episode.
It was that moment which signalled, for a lot of folks, that this show which set itself up to be different from other science fiction dramas wasn't so different after all.
I'm not going to keep obsessing on this because there are obviously other problems with the show. All I've said was that that episode was the tipping point where the decline became quite noticeable, and I'm far from the only fan who thinks so.
I like BSG a lot, and there are definitely episodes where it feels like its old self.
Personally, I think the show's problems started when they needed "filler" episodes. When Sci-Fi rampped up their order to 20+ episodes I think the writers had to struggle to find something to write about!
Think about how tight the season would have been if there had been only 12.
I agree with you Jesse. That's why I'm glad to see season four will only have 13 episodes.
The general decline Dean notes (and it is there, don't think I feel it isn't) can be, in my view, largely attributed to the larger episode order. The kind of story they're looking to tell simply doesn't support that. It doesn't make them bad writers. It's just that the story doesn't need it. Clearly, each season they have points they want to hit and those points leave a number of episodes up in the air. You end up with a lot of filler then. This past season really demonstrates that. I'm glad that SciFi sees it as well and has lowered their episode order.
That also frees up the actors to do other things. Like Tricia Helfer on last week's episode of Supernatural. She was really, relly good in it and you got to see more than just a blond bombshell. You got to see her actually act! Kinda like her Gina persona on BSG. Something darker and more desprate. It was a real treat.
So, I have high hopes for season four. I know Dean thinks it should end that season but I don't see why it must from a strictly story perspective. If the story stays strong then it should be on for however long it needs to be.
If the ratings improve with the lower episode count, and I suspect it well, then I think there's no reason not to expect a fifth season. Maybe more.
I didn't get to see the beginning of this episode, I was out. But to me it should have been entitled Resonance.
By the way I guess this contains spoilers of a type, so read at your own risk if you haven't yet seen the episode.
There are of course two possibilities regarding the radio.
First, the radio may very well be a transceiver rather than merely a receiver meaning that it is both receiving and transmitting the peculiar frequency broadcasts allowing the Galactica to be tracked.
Secondly, since the radio is an old analog receiver it is also possible that it is picking up subdigital modulations which would be occurring as the ship itself is resonating to the frequency which is allowing the Cylons to track the Fleet. This would imply a number of things in and of itself.
1. The Cylons are not digital machines and very well understand that humans are analog creatures, and that this is the way our minds function, and so the New Cylons (The New Men) are also analog and making use of analog technology. (By the way I've often wondered how the mechanical units so often miss when firing at humans with their weapons. Were they digitally controlled they would rarely miss at all. Even the mechanical units, or toasters, seem to fire before prepared, miss their targets, misfire, or attack more like inexperienced troops or like animals than like a digitally controlled targeting apparatus. Which means that their control functions are probably analogical as well. Maybe they were created that way originally but there would be little advantage to such a machine as a servant, unless the original critters intended them to mimic biological creatures, or to eventually exceed their digital programming. Which might explain their original revolt. But I can't help but wonder if their imperfections, and cunning and cleverness - for a digital machine can be an extremely accurate calculator but it can never be either biologically clumsy, or clever, are not the result of whosever modified them later.) They crippled the Colonial Military fleet by exploiting that Fleet's reliance upon digital and interlaced/multi-interfacing technological systems and networks. But since then they have learned that Galactica (assuming they were not already aware of this fact) is not such a beast and that humans have begun to revert to basic, or what might be more accurately described, as fundamental technologies which require and rely upon fine tuning between obvious frequency stages. In other words they are using the analog technology of biological systems and creatures and reverse resonance so that those technologies themselves become in effect a biological system of (re)transmission, or an active (not a passive) transmitter of signal, data, and information. Of course by use of such systems this means that the Cylons will always face an inevitable time delay and therefore it would take awhile for them to analyze and then calculate by projection the future and likely course of the Fleet. Analogical systems are far less precise and more nebulous, but give away far more "hidden or fuzzy" information. Once the Cylons discover a way to calculate and exploit such information however they could slowly catch up and slowly reduce the time lag differential and thereby predict and project likely future movements. This would well and logically explain the failure of the cylons tracking efforts in recent past episodes.
2. Since they are relying upon an analogical system to track the Fleet then the ship itself is more than likely the transmitter and tool of resonance. Such resonance would not likely be directional though, unless further modified by supplemental devices, meaning that the signal would be weak and omni-directional. It would still be traceable with the proper equipment which may be sensitive enough, but it would take time to isolate and project courses due to that fact. They would need an extended period of tracking to make such determinations.
3. Since they are apparently relying upon analogical and resonant technologies to establish tracking this could very well imply that biological systems, or partially biological systems such as cylons, could be producing a resonance signal which the ship's equipment, the hull of the ship, or even several ships may be producing, amplifying and transmitting. This means that any cylon, overt or covert, could be the ultimate source(s) of the resonance. It could also very well mean that Hera is the source of the resonance. Given the previous writing of the show I would expect the resonance to be mechanically produced, but given that it is analogical, that the ship itself (or the Fleet itself) seems to be transmitting it then it very well could be biological or partially biological in nature. I find it interesting that the signal itself is produced or perceived, or both, as music (or at least rides on a "musical" carrier wave), though that would be an excellent disguise (assuming it doesn't serve other functions as well). in any case the first action to be undertaken is to deduce how the ship, and or Fleet, has been turned into an active signal transmitter. How was it accomplished, by whom, and in what fashion?
4. You will recall that a young woman from the Press asked Baltar to bless her child. And Six mentioned several people being sick. Later we discover the President's cancer has apparently reactivated. I suspect this is a result of the fact that the resonance field, depending upon the source and intensity of field strength may very well be having wide-scale effects. The President has been aboard the Galactica and therefore would be close to source transmission and bathed in the full effects of the field strength. Hence the reactivation of her malignancy may very well be the result of continual exposure to this field. That being the case it may reactivate permanently given exposure and intensity limits, or it may regress and remit spontaneously if they can discover the source of the signal and dampen or eliminate it. It is however an extremely clever sub-plot. I strongly suspect another religious overtone to the show related to God Technology here because the employment of analogical systems, the transforming of the ship or Fleet into what is essential and entrained resonance field, the use of biological or cyborgin agents to generate or create the field, the reappearance of cancerous mutations, all of these things imply God Technology and the use of Biology and Life rather than mere mechanics to derive their formula for functioning operations. That is God creates Life and "Biological Machines" as the instrument of his technology, Man creates Mechanical Automatons as the instruments of his technology (in imitation of God, but being machines they are soul-less) and then the Mechanical automatons are recreated in the Image of Man and begin to employ biological Technology to both track man and explore God, love, and their own proto-souls. A fascinating plot turn in itself. I wish I had written it. It's very clever if you think about it a moment. God Technology yields Man, Man Technology yields Cylon, something unknown happens to Cylon to produce what is in effect New Man, and then that leads right back to God Technology being used to reshape both Cylon (New Man) and Mankind (Old Man, or Original Man, symbolically, the Adamas). The Galactica, and the Fleet, is an Ark carrying all of the different kinds of man, but it resonates with a frequency which allows it to be traced by a different kind of man. I don't know then if this implies that the Galactica and the Fleet are the real seeds ships for both the Humans and Cylons, or if it means that in some way both Fleets will merge, or the Human Fleet will eventually fully absorb the New Men. They already have 3, and possibly more cylon models absorbed or assimilated into the Fleet already, not counting the half-breed Hera. If this continues then the Human Fleet may become the Cylon fleet. It is also interesting the number of base ships which always seem to be in pursuit. What with the significance of numbers in all other respects. You would expect the Cylons to mass all of their resources (assuming they have other ships and resources, that is another sub-plot with interesting hints) to completely reduce the Human Fleet but they never seem to ring full guns to load in the most effective manner possible. They have dispersed a hunter/tracker party, not a pursue and kill fleet.
I am rather doubtful given this that the Cylons intend a purge of man if they can catch the Fleet. They are tracking the Fleet for other, more subversive and covert reasons. Surely some of the Cylons, as has already been demonstrated, must have at least guessed what has likely happened to them, what it implies, and how it relates to humans. It will depend upon who is in charge as to how the attack goes, if it goes, but I suspect it will not be an attack of annihilation, but of diversion and misdirection. I suspect that they are not simply following the Fleet as they are to learn the location of Earth, which they must already know a good deal about from their own explorations and experiences, but also to herd the Fleet. I suspect I may know towards what but it may be too early in the series for that and I don't know how long the writers intend this show to last.
One could deduce much about immediate and median term events if there were a time-frame available of how long the writers intend the show to run.
Still, I can't believe non-one on the Fleet, much less on the Galactica itself has deduced why they are moving towards a nebula and what that implies. No-one on the ship, or even in the Fleet seems to have much of a grasp of strategic affairs or the implications of the motives and actions surrounding the events transpiring. They all seem to be tactical in nature operating on a purely reactionary basis. Little to no effort ever seems to be employed by any of the humans, including Adama, to analyze motivations, to project future actions, to anticipate and redirect Cylon operations, to undertake any type of strategic endeavor or enterprise. There seems to not be even any recognition that if they find Earth it could be either a trap, that the Earthlings would be of no help, that even if they were then it would also bring at least potential War upon the Earthlings (for which what, the Earthlings will be grateful? -there is every possibility that the Earthlings fled not the cylons, but the other humans), or that the haven they seek may be of a very different nature than they suspect. They seem totally unprepared for any contingency other than for the one they hope and desire. Even Baltar is nothing more than a prototypical modern scientist, completely surrounded by forces, actions, and events of which he does little more than observe, he lacks all moral resolve and strategic capabilities. Much less the type of original and creative scientific genius that is required in order to "see-scale and purpose" and to comprehend and understand. Rather he is just a typical modern scientist, making discoveries as events unfold, totally blind to any implications and showing little to no ability to comprehend, anticipate, or understand. Modern scientists are merely accidental discoverers, they cannot imagine Design of any type and so they have only a juvenile grasp of real understanding, and modern man is merely a sort of wanderer, he cannot see the road along which he travels, nor does he understand what it implies, or even why he travels. He knows only that he flees what he fears and wanders a stranger in a strange land.
In many ways this show is as much a dissertation on Modern Man, a sort of parable of what so easily paralyses and cripples modern man, of his self-inflicted weaknesses and limitations as it is about any external threat. The Colonists have been at the mercy of the Cylons and their mechanizations Since the beginning of the show precisely because the survivors are really Modern Men, really us, and as such they are blind to everything that is not explicitly explained to them. They have no comprehension, no grasp, no strategy, they are merely impelled to survive and make use of the tools available without any real understanding of what this implies about them. They are unable, or even interested, in perceiving design in anything around them, so they are helpless to develop a real plan of their own.
Scientists are merely mechanics, although Six keeps trying to explain to Baltar that he is, like it or not, a type of religious figure with a likely spiritual destiny for good or ill, Adama keeps trying to be an Admiral, yet he leads his Fleet in whatever direction the tide turns - he does not chart his own course, the President misses opportunity after opportunity to exploit the resources around her, human and cylon, and the whole Fleet flees when it should be hunting reasons and motivations and answers. Almost everyone is like that. The characters seek everything except an answer.
It is a good fable about Modern Man, and how little he knows, and of how small the things he attempts when the circumstances keep demanding Great Things.
I think that's one reason I enoy the show so much.
The writers aren't afraid to show how small a creature Modern Man is compared to how brilliant in his ignorance he flatters himself to be. I like that.
It makes me laugh.
I think Roslin's temporary cure was written in from the start as a simple red herring. A big part of the show's style has always been misdirection, carefully revealing certain shockers while allowing the viewer to assume "obvious" things that later turn out to be completely wrong. The producers put plot threads on hold for a while and pick them up later when they can use it to best advantage. If Roslin's going to die it'll have far wider consequences now, among all the fallout from New Caprica, than it would have had last season.
3.22.2007 10:14am
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
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.
I think he's enlisted - what else is he going to do? He's a jock with no place to ply his trade. Time to enlist. A lot goes on in this shoe that they don't actually show but you have to assume.
And what’s with Tigh and Anders hearing that music?
Tigh and Anders. Tara is clearly got something going on as well. And Helo (welcome back to the XO billet) implied he could smell a change to the air. That's four - was there a fifth? Was Helo being metaphorical?
Just imagine how wigged out Tigh would be if it could be demonstrated he was a Cylon ... like a Kluxer finding out he has sickle cell but much worse.
But yes - I know it's a good show when they get to the top of the hour and I can't believe it's already over.
The cancer being back is interesting. But yes, I do suspect that they did it because they realized what an enormous mistake they'd made, and how much it hurt the storyline. You can plot the show's enormous ratings plunge to that episode. The writers did something enormously stupid there, but hey, we all make mistakes.
No, it's far more likely they always intended to give the character a reprieve but that since she is the prophet her cancer would have to come back.
Really, think it though for a moment, would you? If she died when you thought she should have then she wasn't the leader that would bring them to Earth. Who then? And how would you, Dean, having killed your character that had all these visions that only the prophet should have, filled that role? And if you did find someone then why bother with Roslin at all? You just wasted a season and a half on a character that didn't really matter.
And you essentially just lied to all your viewers by making them think for a season and a half that Roslin was the prophet when she really wasn't. And it would be a lie because you offered absolutely not hint that she wasn't. You gave her visions she couldn't have if she wasn't. Visions that confirmed things she couldn't possibley know. You wrote a frickin' religion around her. Had religious elders agreeing she was the prophet and more!
Dude, the show runners just did something you didn't like. That's fine. But leave it at that. Don't now say that the fans or what have you pressured them into reversing it. The show was already renewed for a fourth season before this episode even aired. This, in the midst of a number of their weakest episodes.
Roslin getting cancer back had nothing to do with fan protest. It had everything to do with the story. I knew the cancer was coming back. Why? Because she's the prophet and it had to.
I don't know why you didn't see it.
From my perspective she fulfilled the prophecies when they found the map to Earth. That was all that was needed.
And the show cop-out appeared to be "Well she was dying at the time. Then she was cured, which the prophecies said nothing about."
Perhaps if Ron Moore had given more hints in his podcasts back then I would have had more faith. As I say, that was just the tipping point for me though. All sorts of other problems with weak plots and dangling threads got to me.
We'll see if they can pull it out in the next season. At least I'm still watching...
Come on...
If fans left, it's because the show lost something. I've been rather disappointed with it for awhile. It hasn't been quite clear that there is a story there... like there has in the past.
In fact, many of the recent episodes are irrelevant. If they didn't exist, it would change very little.
I'm also disappointed in the Starbuck story. It's obvious we haven't seen the end of her. Why do it like that? I just thought it was dumb.
Fans didn't leave because of Clyon/Human, cancer-healing blood. It's been a general decline in story-telling.
It was that moment which signalled, for a lot of folks, that this show which set itself up to be different from other science fiction dramas wasn't so different after all.
I'm not going to keep obsessing on this because there are obviously other problems with the show. All I've said was that that episode was the tipping point where the decline became quite noticeable, and I'm far from the only fan who thinks so.
Personally, I think the show's problems started when they needed "filler" episodes. When Sci-Fi rampped up their order to 20+ episodes I think the writers had to struggle to find something to write about!
Think about how tight the season would have been if there had been only 12.
The general decline Dean notes (and it is there, don't think I feel it isn't) can be, in my view, largely attributed to the larger episode order. The kind of story they're looking to tell simply doesn't support that. It doesn't make them bad writers. It's just that the story doesn't need it. Clearly, each season they have points they want to hit and those points leave a number of episodes up in the air. You end up with a lot of filler then. This past season really demonstrates that. I'm glad that SciFi sees it as well and has lowered their episode order.
That also frees up the actors to do other things. Like Tricia Helfer on last week's episode of Supernatural. She was really, relly good in it and you got to see more than just a blond bombshell. You got to see her actually act! Kinda like her Gina persona on BSG. Something darker and more desprate. It was a real treat.
So, I have high hopes for season four. I know Dean thinks it should end that season but I don't see why it must from a strictly story perspective. If the story stays strong then it should be on for however long it needs to be.
If the ratings improve with the lower episode count, and I suspect it well, then I think there's no reason not to expect a fifth season. Maybe more.
By the way I guess this contains spoilers of a type, so read at your own risk if you haven't yet seen the episode.
There are of course two possibilities regarding the radio.
First, the radio may very well be a transceiver rather than merely a receiver meaning that it is both receiving and transmitting the peculiar frequency broadcasts allowing the Galactica to be tracked.
Secondly, since the radio is an old analog receiver it is also possible that it is picking up subdigital modulations which would be occurring as the ship itself is resonating to the frequency which is allowing the Cylons to track the Fleet. This would imply a number of things in and of itself.
1. The Cylons are not digital machines and very well understand that humans are analog creatures, and that this is the way our minds function, and so the New Cylons (The New Men) are also analog and making use of analog technology. (By the way I've often wondered how the mechanical units so often miss when firing at humans with their weapons. Were they digitally controlled they would rarely miss at all. Even the mechanical units, or toasters, seem to fire before prepared, miss their targets, misfire, or attack more like inexperienced troops or like animals than like a digitally controlled targeting apparatus. Which means that their control functions are probably analogical as well. Maybe they were created that way originally but there would be little advantage to such a machine as a servant, unless the original critters intended them to mimic biological creatures, or to eventually exceed their digital programming. Which might explain their original revolt. But I can't help but wonder if their imperfections, and cunning and cleverness - for a digital machine can be an extremely accurate calculator but it can never be either biologically clumsy, or clever, are not the result of whosever modified them later.) They crippled the Colonial Military fleet by exploiting that Fleet's reliance upon digital and interlaced/multi-interfacing technological systems and networks. But since then they have learned that Galactica (assuming they were not already aware of this fact) is not such a beast and that humans have begun to revert to basic, or what might be more accurately described, as fundamental technologies which require and rely upon fine tuning between obvious frequency stages. In other words they are using the analog technology of biological systems and creatures and reverse resonance so that those technologies themselves become in effect a biological system of (re)transmission, or an active (not a passive) transmitter of signal, data, and information. Of course by use of such systems this means that the Cylons will always face an inevitable time delay and therefore it would take awhile for them to analyze and then calculate by projection the future and likely course of the Fleet. Analogical systems are far less precise and more nebulous, but give away far more "hidden or fuzzy" information. Once the Cylons discover a way to calculate and exploit such information however they could slowly catch up and slowly reduce the time lag differential and thereby predict and project likely future movements. This would well and logically explain the failure of the cylons tracking efforts in recent past episodes.
2. Since they are relying upon an analogical system to track the Fleet then the ship itself is more than likely the transmitter and tool of resonance. Such resonance would not likely be directional though, unless further modified by supplemental devices, meaning that the signal would be weak and omni-directional. It would still be traceable with the proper equipment which may be sensitive enough, but it would take time to isolate and project courses due to that fact. They would need an extended period of tracking to make such determinations.
3. Since they are apparently relying upon analogical and resonant technologies to establish tracking this could very well imply that biological systems, or partially biological systems such as cylons, could be producing a resonance signal which the ship's equipment, the hull of the ship, or even several ships may be producing, amplifying and transmitting. This means that any cylon, overt or covert, could be the ultimate source(s) of the resonance. It could also very well mean that Hera is the source of the resonance. Given the previous writing of the show I would expect the resonance to be mechanically produced, but given that it is analogical, that the ship itself (or the Fleet itself) seems to be transmitting it then it very well could be biological or partially biological in nature. I find it interesting that the signal itself is produced or perceived, or both, as music (or at least rides on a "musical" carrier wave), though that would be an excellent disguise (assuming it doesn't serve other functions as well). in any case the first action to be undertaken is to deduce how the ship, and or Fleet, has been turned into an active signal transmitter. How was it accomplished, by whom, and in what fashion?
4. You will recall that a young woman from the Press asked Baltar to bless her child. And Six mentioned several people being sick. Later we discover the President's cancer has apparently reactivated. I suspect this is a result of the fact that the resonance field, depending upon the source and intensity of field strength may very well be having wide-scale effects. The President has been aboard the Galactica and therefore would be close to source transmission and bathed in the full effects of the field strength. Hence the reactivation of her malignancy may very well be the result of continual exposure to this field. That being the case it may reactivate permanently given exposure and intensity limits, or it may regress and remit spontaneously if they can discover the source of the signal and dampen or eliminate it. It is however an extremely clever sub-plot. I strongly suspect another religious overtone to the show related to God Technology here because the employment of analogical systems, the transforming of the ship or Fleet into what is essential and entrained resonance field, the use of biological or cyborgin agents to generate or create the field, the reappearance of cancerous mutations, all of these things imply God Technology and the use of Biology and Life rather than mere mechanics to derive their formula for functioning operations. That is God creates Life and "Biological Machines" as the instrument of his technology, Man creates Mechanical Automatons as the instruments of his technology (in imitation of God, but being machines they are soul-less) and then the Mechanical automatons are recreated in the Image of Man and begin to employ biological Technology to both track man and explore God, love, and their own proto-souls. A fascinating plot turn in itself. I wish I had written it. It's very clever if you think about it a moment. God Technology yields Man, Man Technology yields Cylon, something unknown happens to Cylon to produce what is in effect New Man, and then that leads right back to God Technology being used to reshape both Cylon (New Man) and Mankind (Old Man, or Original Man, symbolically, the Adamas). The Galactica, and the Fleet, is an Ark carrying all of the different kinds of man, but it resonates with a frequency which allows it to be traced by a different kind of man. I don't know then if this implies that the Galactica and the Fleet are the real seeds ships for both the Humans and Cylons, or if it means that in some way both Fleets will merge, or the Human Fleet will eventually fully absorb the New Men. They already have 3, and possibly more cylon models absorbed or assimilated into the Fleet already, not counting the half-breed Hera. If this continues then the Human Fleet may become the Cylon fleet. It is also interesting the number of base ships which always seem to be in pursuit. What with the significance of numbers in all other respects. You would expect the Cylons to mass all of their resources (assuming they have other ships and resources, that is another sub-plot with interesting hints) to completely reduce the Human Fleet but they never seem to ring full guns to load in the most effective manner possible. They have dispersed a hunter/tracker party, not a pursue and kill fleet.
I am rather doubtful given this that the Cylons intend a purge of man if they can catch the Fleet. They are tracking the Fleet for other, more subversive and covert reasons. Surely some of the Cylons, as has already been demonstrated, must have at least guessed what has likely happened to them, what it implies, and how it relates to humans. It will depend upon who is in charge as to how the attack goes, if it goes, but I suspect it will not be an attack of annihilation, but of diversion and misdirection. I suspect that they are not simply following the Fleet as they are to learn the location of Earth, which they must already know a good deal about from their own explorations and experiences, but also to herd the Fleet. I suspect I may know towards what but it may be too early in the series for that and I don't know how long the writers intend this show to last.
One could deduce much about immediate and median term events if there were a time-frame available of how long the writers intend the show to run.
Still, I can't believe non-one on the Fleet, much less on the Galactica itself has deduced why they are moving towards a nebula and what that implies. No-one on the ship, or even in the Fleet seems to have much of a grasp of strategic affairs or the implications of the motives and actions surrounding the events transpiring. They all seem to be tactical in nature operating on a purely reactionary basis. Little to no effort ever seems to be employed by any of the humans, including Adama, to analyze motivations, to project future actions, to anticipate and redirect Cylon operations, to undertake any type of strategic endeavor or enterprise. There seems to not be even any recognition that if they find Earth it could be either a trap, that the Earthlings would be of no help, that even if they were then it would also bring at least potential War upon the Earthlings (for which what, the Earthlings will be grateful? -there is every possibility that the Earthlings fled not the cylons, but the other humans), or that the haven they seek may be of a very different nature than they suspect. They seem totally unprepared for any contingency other than for the one they hope and desire. Even Baltar is nothing more than a prototypical modern scientist, completely surrounded by forces, actions, and events of which he does little more than observe, he lacks all moral resolve and strategic capabilities. Much less the type of original and creative scientific genius that is required in order to "see-scale and purpose" and to comprehend and understand. Rather he is just a typical modern scientist, making discoveries as events unfold, totally blind to any implications and showing little to no ability to comprehend, anticipate, or understand. Modern scientists are merely accidental discoverers, they cannot imagine Design of any type and so they have only a juvenile grasp of real understanding, and modern man is merely a sort of wanderer, he cannot see the road along which he travels, nor does he understand what it implies, or even why he travels. He knows only that he flees what he fears and wanders a stranger in a strange land.
In many ways this show is as much a dissertation on Modern Man, a sort of parable of what so easily paralyses and cripples modern man, of his self-inflicted weaknesses and limitations as it is about any external threat. The Colonists have been at the mercy of the Cylons and their mechanizations Since the beginning of the show precisely because the survivors are really Modern Men, really us, and as such they are blind to everything that is not explicitly explained to them. They have no comprehension, no grasp, no strategy, they are merely impelled to survive and make use of the tools available without any real understanding of what this implies about them. They are unable, or even interested, in perceiving design in anything around them, so they are helpless to develop a real plan of their own.
Scientists are merely mechanics, although Six keeps trying to explain to Baltar that he is, like it or not, a type of religious figure with a likely spiritual destiny for good or ill, Adama keeps trying to be an Admiral, yet he leads his Fleet in whatever direction the tide turns - he does not chart his own course, the President misses opportunity after opportunity to exploit the resources around her, human and cylon, and the whole Fleet flees when it should be hunting reasons and motivations and answers. Almost everyone is like that. The characters seek everything except an answer.
It is a good fable about Modern Man, and how little he knows, and of how small the things he attempts when the circumstances keep demanding Great Things.
I think that's one reason I enoy the show so much.
The writers aren't afraid to show how small a creature Modern Man is compared to how brilliant in his ignorance he flatters himself to be. I like that.
It makes me laugh.
The fifth Cylon is (drum roll)
Galactica.
It doesn't. It just compounds the first sin.
I kinda suspected as much...
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.