BSG 19 Crossroads I
Mar. 19th, 2007 05:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakAwesome.
From the get go. The first Laura Roslin vision since eons, and it is the opera. The one on Kobol, in its visionary glory, last seen by Gaius Baltar that way in Kobol's Last Gleaming. Laura looking for Hera, the shape of things to come, with Athena (or is it Boomer?) as her opposite number on the other side of the opera, and Hera goes the middle way, to neither of them, but is swept up and embraced by Six. Not just any Six. The one in Baltar's head, the one in the white dress she wore in his vision.
(We don't need further proof that Roslin's visions and Baltar's visions (and visitations by Head!Six, and add to that Caprica Six' vision of Head!Baltar) come from the same source, do we? As do those of the oracles.)
I loved the episode already, even though I didn't draw the obvious conclusion - which Lee later drew, smart him - that Laura was back on the chamalla.
And Lords of Kobol, may we get a Hallelujah? The first episode since Home, Part II, all the way back in season 2, which doesn't just address the fact Laura and Lee used to have a close relationship but uses it as an essential plot point. And oh, lovely continuity, because of course Lee who saw Laura Roslin at her chamalla addicted most when locked up with her would spot it at once.
Lee crossexamining Laura rocketed instantly to a favourite scene of all time. I loved that she was, in her soft-well spoken, affectionate way, absolutely merciless with him by pushing every button she could, from asking him not to ask her (and when did Laura Roslin ever beg mercy from anyone?) to her deliberate quote of one of the earliest things she said to him, after they started bonding: "Captain Apollo has such a nice ring to it..." And a pro to the last, turning the weakness he had revealed to her advantage as much as she was able to by making him ask her that last question which made her instantly go from drug addict to martyr leader again in the perception.
She's so smart and ruthlessly manipulative (and cold when needed - see also her words to Tory), and I love her.
Lee continues to be great for the third episode in a row, proving that the end of the Quadrangle of Doom was the best thing that ever happened to him as a character, and that non-romantic storylines really work best with him. Aside from the cross-examination of Laura, the other stand-out was his scene with his father. In which Adama came across as a complete jerk, of course, but then, Adama did that throughout the episode except for his scene alone with Saul Tigh. (Which was sensibly put before the Lee scene, showing us where Adama came from emotionally when playing his strong contender for worst father AND superior officer in the fleet card later.) Talk about continuity: trying to adjourn the court when Lee asked the chamalla question made me think of two other precedents - all the way back in season 1, Litmus, and of course the Cain episodes. Now, during those episodes the audience was meant to sympathize with Adama because obviously we didn't want Chief (and later Chief and Helo) dead, plus both the Tribunal and Admiral Cain were presented as prejudiced and/or untrustworthy. Whereas here, the fellow judges are (rightly) shocked at his behaviour, and he doesn't succeed with it, either.
As for the Tigh subplot: lovely. Incidentally, the fact that Caprica Six' Head!Baltar steered her towards asking about Ellen ties in my vision-origin-theory as well. (It also reminded me again that Caprica Six, who like all the Six models is can be manipulative if she chooses, projects all her manipulative ability on Baltar, which parallels Baltar seeing Head!Six as the source of manipulation who gives him all the tips in this regard.) Her punching back after Tigh punches her? Perfect. (Also, great contrast to poor Boomer in the season 2 opening episode.)
Now, obviously something is up with those radio waves and that song both Tigh and Sam Anders hear at various points, probably connected to the radiation signature the Cylons use to track Galactica, but what it is, I have no idea. (At a guess, Tigh and Anders currently have the alcohol and the grief for their wives in common; how this heightens their receptability for those waves, I don't know, either.) We'll see more next week.
Romo Lampkin continues to be a fabulous new character. So far, they're playing fair in presenting the trial, giving both sides good arguments, not arguments the audience is meant to reject as studid or flimsy. Incidentally, I wonder whether Baltar told Lampkin just how he came to sign those 200 something names to be executed list, because that's one of the few cases where he has a genuine excuse for and definitely did refuse to do; having a gun pressed to your head after your lover got shot in front of you if you don't sign is a circumstance anyone would have to admit as extenuating. Guess we'll find out next episode when Caprica Six gets in the stand, because obviously she's the only one who could confirm this. Also, I wonder whether Lampkin will bring up Adama and Roslin usedtorture "unorthodox interrogation" methods on Baltar?
The blessing request is another set up where I'll wait to see the results before I go into analysis, but it ties into the Baltar-and-Roslin parallels/contrasts that have been going on all season. As the episode brought up Baltar saving Roslin's life via Hera's blood: he also saved Hera's on that occasion, as Roslin had already ordered a forced abortion at that point. Other than his original help for Gina when he first saw her in the cell, it's the only other instant where Baltar did something for someone else that did not benefit himself at all.
From the get go. The first Laura Roslin vision since eons, and it is the opera. The one on Kobol, in its visionary glory, last seen by Gaius Baltar that way in Kobol's Last Gleaming. Laura looking for Hera, the shape of things to come, with Athena (or is it Boomer?) as her opposite number on the other side of the opera, and Hera goes the middle way, to neither of them, but is swept up and embraced by Six. Not just any Six. The one in Baltar's head, the one in the white dress she wore in his vision.
(We don't need further proof that Roslin's visions and Baltar's visions (and visitations by Head!Six, and add to that Caprica Six' vision of Head!Baltar) come from the same source, do we? As do those of the oracles.)
I loved the episode already, even though I didn't draw the obvious conclusion - which Lee later drew, smart him - that Laura was back on the chamalla.
And Lords of Kobol, may we get a Hallelujah? The first episode since Home, Part II, all the way back in season 2, which doesn't just address the fact Laura and Lee used to have a close relationship but uses it as an essential plot point. And oh, lovely continuity, because of course Lee who saw Laura Roslin at her chamalla addicted most when locked up with her would spot it at once.
Lee crossexamining Laura rocketed instantly to a favourite scene of all time. I loved that she was, in her soft-well spoken, affectionate way, absolutely merciless with him by pushing every button she could, from asking him not to ask her (and when did Laura Roslin ever beg mercy from anyone?) to her deliberate quote of one of the earliest things she said to him, after they started bonding: "Captain Apollo has such a nice ring to it..." And a pro to the last, turning the weakness he had revealed to her advantage as much as she was able to by making him ask her that last question which made her instantly go from drug addict to martyr leader again in the perception.
She's so smart and ruthlessly manipulative (and cold when needed - see also her words to Tory), and I love her.
Lee continues to be great for the third episode in a row, proving that the end of the Quadrangle of Doom was the best thing that ever happened to him as a character, and that non-romantic storylines really work best with him. Aside from the cross-examination of Laura, the other stand-out was his scene with his father. In which Adama came across as a complete jerk, of course, but then, Adama did that throughout the episode except for his scene alone with Saul Tigh. (Which was sensibly put before the Lee scene, showing us where Adama came from emotionally when playing his strong contender for worst father AND superior officer in the fleet card later.) Talk about continuity: trying to adjourn the court when Lee asked the chamalla question made me think of two other precedents - all the way back in season 1, Litmus, and of course the Cain episodes. Now, during those episodes the audience was meant to sympathize with Adama because obviously we didn't want Chief (and later Chief and Helo) dead, plus both the Tribunal and Admiral Cain were presented as prejudiced and/or untrustworthy. Whereas here, the fellow judges are (rightly) shocked at his behaviour, and he doesn't succeed with it, either.
As for the Tigh subplot: lovely. Incidentally, the fact that Caprica Six' Head!Baltar steered her towards asking about Ellen ties in my vision-origin-theory as well. (It also reminded me again that Caprica Six, who like all the Six models is can be manipulative if she chooses, projects all her manipulative ability on Baltar, which parallels Baltar seeing Head!Six as the source of manipulation who gives him all the tips in this regard.) Her punching back after Tigh punches her? Perfect. (Also, great contrast to poor Boomer in the season 2 opening episode.)
Now, obviously something is up with those radio waves and that song both Tigh and Sam Anders hear at various points, probably connected to the radiation signature the Cylons use to track Galactica, but what it is, I have no idea. (At a guess, Tigh and Anders currently have the alcohol and the grief for their wives in common; how this heightens their receptability for those waves, I don't know, either.) We'll see more next week.
Romo Lampkin continues to be a fabulous new character. So far, they're playing fair in presenting the trial, giving both sides good arguments, not arguments the audience is meant to reject as studid or flimsy. Incidentally, I wonder whether Baltar told Lampkin just how he came to sign those 200 something names to be executed list, because that's one of the few cases where he has a genuine excuse for and definitely did refuse to do; having a gun pressed to your head after your lover got shot in front of you if you don't sign is a circumstance anyone would have to admit as extenuating. Guess we'll find out next episode when Caprica Six gets in the stand, because obviously she's the only one who could confirm this. Also, I wonder whether Lampkin will bring up Adama and Roslin used
The blessing request is another set up where I'll wait to see the results before I go into analysis, but it ties into the Baltar-and-Roslin parallels/contrasts that have been going on all season. As the episode brought up Baltar saving Roslin's life via Hera's blood: he also saved Hera's on that occasion, as Roslin had already ordered a forced abortion at that point. Other than his original help for Gina when he first saw her in the cell, it's the only other instant where Baltar did something for someone else that did not benefit himself at all.
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 04:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 06:21 pm (UTC)(I find the whole Lee leaves the military plot to be long overdue, but damn if Dee leaving him in this episode doesn't smack of arbitrary reboot. They have to spend a little more time on this next season.)
I'm so glad that Tigh got called out for Ellen's murder, since the irony of having him as a chief witness against Gaius Baltar of all people is pretty funny. I think Ellen's murder was necessary as a character/plot point for Tigh, but I also don't think what she did would have given him leave to kill her in the real world. In the real world, he would be just as likely to go on trial for murder as anyone else.
(Which brings up an interesting point: if they're having so much trouble with the justice system now, what did they do with all the various murderers prior to this? I actually can't really remember a time when the show let a murderer live that wasn't a main character.)
Now, obviously something is up with those radio waves and that song both Tigh and Sam Anders hear at various points, probably connected to the radiation signature the Cylons use to track Galactica, but what it is, I have no idea.
I do and I'm confused about it.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 06:45 am (UTC)With Baltar and Kara in the "extraordinary stress" corner, and Laura and the oracles in the other. Yes, it seems to work that way.
I'm so glad that Tigh got called out for Ellen's murder, since the irony of having him as a chief witness against Gaius Baltar of all people is pretty funny. I think Ellen's murder was necessary as a character/plot point for Tigh, but I also don't think what she did would have given him leave to kill her in the real world. In the real world, he would be just as likely to go on trial for murder as anyone else.
True, but Roslin gave everyone a general amnesty at the end of Collaborators for what they did on New Caprica, remember? I'm assuming that covers Tigh's murder of Ellen as well.
I actually can't really remember a time when the show let a murderer live that wasn't a main character.)
Cally? Recurring, but not main - minor, I'd say. And of course everyone involved in the Circle, with executing/murdering (depending on how you define it) the collaborators until Gaeta.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 05:48 pm (UTC)We should probably include a category of 'crazy' as well, for visions. Since I'm not sure Leoban is either under extraordinary stress /or/ taking Chamallah, and his prophecies come from the same source as the oracles. I'm not sure he's crazy either, but we can call it that for now.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 06:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-19 07:50 pm (UTC)The "change in the weather" scene between Helo and Gaeta was weird, too, because I wondered why Gaeta wasn't on the stand. Possibly they're saving him for next week.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 06:04 am (UTC)Gaeta: I'm assuming he and Caprica Six will be the two star witnesses, as they were the ones actually present and with Baltar during the relevant time, and hence did not expect them to show up in the first part of a two parter already.
Tory and Anders look: am puzzled about that, too, and am going with the red herring about them being Cylons theory which will lead to nowhere.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 02:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 05:40 am (UTC)Now, obviously something is up with those radio waves and that song both Tigh and Sam Anders hear at various points, probably connected to the radiation signature the Cylons use to track Galactica, but what it is, I have no idea.
Tory seemed to be able to hear it, too; her scared look at Anders in the bar, remember? And how disheleved she is later? I think the show is trying to make us wonder if Anders, Tory and Tigh are Cylons. I think Tory suspects it, and is scared about it. (In fact, I felt like they were flogging it so hard that I wonder if it's a red herring. Still, I think Tigh is an interesting choice for a Final Five reveal, given that he hates the Cylons so much. It also makes Three's, "I'm sorry, I had no idea" statement make sense, if it turns out that she's the one that removed Tigh's eye (and we've seen Threes use violence and torture before, so...) Anders and Tory, much as I like them, however, aren't the most thrilling Final Five reveals, I don't think. If that's what's going to happen.
I really hope they do bring up the circumstances under which Baltar signed his name. I was shocked he didn't bring it up during the episode. Also, like you, can't wait to see Caprica Six on the stand. Eee! I loved this episode. I love my show.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 06:13 am (UTC)Tory: definitely red herring, I agree.
Anders: am on the fence, but I don't think so, either. I suspect all three to be red herrings, in fact.
I really hope they do bring up the circumstances under which Baltar signed his name. I was shocked he didn't bring it up during the episode.
I think the problem here is that it sounds like a self-excusing lie - he would say that, and so on - because no other human (notably Gaeta) was present. Caprica Six was for most of it (before they shot her), and could at least testify that he originally refused and had a gun pressed to his head, but would they believe her? Not if she's a defense-friendly witness, I think, only if she pulls a Witness For The Prosecution vengeful woman act and pretends to let herself be cornered by Romo L. or Lee into admitting Baltar did in fact sign only unter direct threat of his life.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-20 05:54 pm (UTC)I have the fear that TPTB are going to reveal that Tigh is in fact a Cylon and the Cylon/Human breeding project extends further back than we previously knew. And that the Cylon models age, even though they're clones, so that Tigh and Brother Cavil are Models One and Two.