BSG 4.08 Sine Qua Non
May. 28th, 2008 02:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakYou know, sometimes there is this character-centric episode which you're sure will result in most of the audience feeling the love for that particular character even stronger than before, and in theory, it should at the very least leave you with actor admiration? But instead, you come to the realisation that you actively despise the character in question now, which definitely hadn't been the intention of the writers? That happened to me with Bill Adama and Sine Qua Non. Though in a very different way from stopping to care about Lee between Resurrection Ship II and Maelstrom; Lee simply got badly written and basically had no storyline except for stupid love triangles and quadrangles, and as soon as that changed, the affection was back. Adama doesn't get badly written, on the contrary, all his actions are in character, tie to all we know about him, and so forth; I've just come to realize that he's not someone I either like or respect anymore, and probably hasn't been for a good long while, but Sine Qua Non really brought it into focus.
In this specific case, to bitchslap Adama like no one's business. Because no, I didn't think it touching that he loves her so much he screws up all his responsibilities and risks everyone's lives. When he and Lee pulled that kind of stunt for Kara back in season 1, Roslin rightly called them out on it, and lo and behold, they listened. No such luck here, though at least Adama comes to the conclusion he's disqualified from leading the fleet on his own. But not before expressing his utter contempt for democracy by ignoring the legitimate government more than Tigh ever did in early s2 when Adama was in a coma, and Tigh had the excuse of being an alcoholic who had never been in command of a fleet before. And thus we get another military coup. Because Zarek was right: not only was he the legal successor to Roslin in the event of her sudden absence or death, he was also elected to office. By refusing to acknowledge this and not coming to terms with the goverment until a candidate for interim president could be found whom Adama approved of, Adama did what he swore in the miniseries never to do (and attempted once before in Kobol's Last Gleaming). He used the power of the military to depose a legitimate goverment he didn't approve of and install one to his liking.
Now, I'm not saying Lee shouldn't have taken the job. He was right in his conversation with Zarek, they needed to come up with a compromise Adama would accept because Adama did own the guns and another showdown between goverment and military was something the fleet couldn't take at this point. Also, I've speculated Lee would eventually end up as President before the show is over all the way back in season 1 (as opposed to succeeding his father in the military), so I could see this coming, and the series is winding down. But it definitely killed what respect I had left for Bill Adama. Not because I couldn't see his reasons - between the one time he put democracy over personal loyalty, when Roslin attempted to steal Baltar's election, and the outcome of that, and his utter refusal to face the possibility that Roslin could be dead, there were enough from his pov - but I still find them slapworthy.
Also, allow me to roll my eyes at the scene of manly fisticuffs as emotional outlet leading to realisation and renewed bonding. Sometimes I am a sucker for that kind of thing (see also: being enamored by Casualties of War: Rubicon when Tony Stark and Steve Rogers did it), but instead of being moved by the Saul and Bill variation of the principle, I rolled my eyes. Oh, and I wanted to say "Bill, tell me I didn't just hear you say you'd have prefered it if Saul had tortured Six to having had sex with her". Not that the consensuality issue with a prisoner/captor sex scenario isn't massively skeevy at the best of times, but that wasn't what Adama was worried about. Clearly, the possibility Tigh could have done what the men on the Pegasus did didn't even occur to him, he just assumed it was consensual sex. Which he ranked as a worse offense on Tigh's part than if Tigh had tortured a prisoner. Lords of Kobol.
Speaking of offenses: naturally, "breaking your promise to me" is a worse one on Athena's part than committing murder. But at least Adama calls it murder this time. I hope that means we won't get a repeat of twenty days for the unallowed discharge of a weapon punishment. Not that I want to see Sharon back in the brig where she was locked up for so long in the second season, but on the other hand, I think I need to, because I want to see murder treated as such.
Natalie actually dying came as a nasty surprise after they teased us at first with the possibility of her surviving when she was transported to medlab, but it was narratively fair, as I said in my review of the last episode, given what she had said about mortality. Her death scene moved me more than all of Adama's emoting over Roslin. (I am so watching The Cylon Show...) Another use of the reaching hand/holding hand imagery, this time with Cottle taking it. Natalie seeing forests when dying reminded me of Caprica Six telling Baltar this is her favourite environment to see back on the basestar, when she explained to him Cylons basically can see whatever they want. (Explains a lot about the way they're emotional children.) And of course it ties in the way Tigh keeps projecting Ellen on Caprica Six. (While blaming her for it. Men.)
Romo Lampkin: you know, the one scene that felt completely artificial was his breakdown with head!cat and survivor guilt reveal, which I felt was simply there so Lee could prove his presidential qualifications and compassion by talking Romo down. (Unnecessary, since if Crossroads didn't sway you on the Lee/ethics OTP front, this won't, either.) Otherwise his return was welcome.
In conclusion: if Adama weren't in the credits, I'd hope he gets blasted away while waiting for Roslin to reappear in his raptor. My current dislike is that strong. I also really hope that once they are reunited, she will be anything but pleased by his devotion at the expense of the fleet, and hit him over the head with that book.
In this specific case, to bitchslap Adama like no one's business. Because no, I didn't think it touching that he loves her so much he screws up all his responsibilities and risks everyone's lives. When he and Lee pulled that kind of stunt for Kara back in season 1, Roslin rightly called them out on it, and lo and behold, they listened. No such luck here, though at least Adama comes to the conclusion he's disqualified from leading the fleet on his own. But not before expressing his utter contempt for democracy by ignoring the legitimate government more than Tigh ever did in early s2 when Adama was in a coma, and Tigh had the excuse of being an alcoholic who had never been in command of a fleet before. And thus we get another military coup. Because Zarek was right: not only was he the legal successor to Roslin in the event of her sudden absence or death, he was also elected to office. By refusing to acknowledge this and not coming to terms with the goverment until a candidate for interim president could be found whom Adama approved of, Adama did what he swore in the miniseries never to do (and attempted once before in Kobol's Last Gleaming). He used the power of the military to depose a legitimate goverment he didn't approve of and install one to his liking.
Now, I'm not saying Lee shouldn't have taken the job. He was right in his conversation with Zarek, they needed to come up with a compromise Adama would accept because Adama did own the guns and another showdown between goverment and military was something the fleet couldn't take at this point. Also, I've speculated Lee would eventually end up as President before the show is over all the way back in season 1 (as opposed to succeeding his father in the military), so I could see this coming, and the series is winding down. But it definitely killed what respect I had left for Bill Adama. Not because I couldn't see his reasons - between the one time he put democracy over personal loyalty, when Roslin attempted to steal Baltar's election, and the outcome of that, and his utter refusal to face the possibility that Roslin could be dead, there were enough from his pov - but I still find them slapworthy.
Also, allow me to roll my eyes at the scene of manly fisticuffs as emotional outlet leading to realisation and renewed bonding. Sometimes I am a sucker for that kind of thing (see also: being enamored by Casualties of War: Rubicon when Tony Stark and Steve Rogers did it), but instead of being moved by the Saul and Bill variation of the principle, I rolled my eyes. Oh, and I wanted to say "Bill, tell me I didn't just hear you say you'd have prefered it if Saul had tortured Six to having had sex with her". Not that the consensuality issue with a prisoner/captor sex scenario isn't massively skeevy at the best of times, but that wasn't what Adama was worried about. Clearly, the possibility Tigh could have done what the men on the Pegasus did didn't even occur to him, he just assumed it was consensual sex. Which he ranked as a worse offense on Tigh's part than if Tigh had tortured a prisoner. Lords of Kobol.
Speaking of offenses: naturally, "breaking your promise to me" is a worse one on Athena's part than committing murder. But at least Adama calls it murder this time. I hope that means we won't get a repeat of twenty days for the unallowed discharge of a weapon punishment. Not that I want to see Sharon back in the brig where she was locked up for so long in the second season, but on the other hand, I think I need to, because I want to see murder treated as such.
Natalie actually dying came as a nasty surprise after they teased us at first with the possibility of her surviving when she was transported to medlab, but it was narratively fair, as I said in my review of the last episode, given what she had said about mortality. Her death scene moved me more than all of Adama's emoting over Roslin. (I am so watching The Cylon Show...) Another use of the reaching hand/holding hand imagery, this time with Cottle taking it. Natalie seeing forests when dying reminded me of Caprica Six telling Baltar this is her favourite environment to see back on the basestar, when she explained to him Cylons basically can see whatever they want. (Explains a lot about the way they're emotional children.) And of course it ties in the way Tigh keeps projecting Ellen on Caprica Six. (While blaming her for it. Men.)
Romo Lampkin: you know, the one scene that felt completely artificial was his breakdown with head!cat and survivor guilt reveal, which I felt was simply there so Lee could prove his presidential qualifications and compassion by talking Romo down. (Unnecessary, since if Crossroads didn't sway you on the Lee/ethics OTP front, this won't, either.) Otherwise his return was welcome.
In conclusion: if Adama weren't in the credits, I'd hope he gets blasted away while waiting for Roslin to reappear in his raptor. My current dislike is that strong. I also really hope that once they are reunited, she will be anything but pleased by his devotion at the expense of the fleet, and hit him over the head with that book.
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 11:28 am (UTC)Averting my eyes, since I haven't seen the ep yet (Canada for the win, I presume?), but just wanted to say I get where you are coming from. I think I haven't liked Adama since mid-Season 2 or so.
But now off to, er, pine for the new episode!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 11:41 am (UTC)And yes, I think for me it was mid-season 2 as well, looking back, with Home II as the last episode when I did.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 05:39 pm (UTC)With mere three episodes I genuinely liked this season and two already that I hated, I'm currently feeling very much out of love with the show. The annoyance.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 11:29 am (UTC)I'm thinking that his raptor will mysteriously reappear in a later episode, and the only way we'll be able to identify the dried out corpse in the pilot seat as him will be by the book. :)
Natalie dying was a big shock, but nicely done. I also appreciated the final scene between Athena and Hera, even if I still can't help feeling that in trying to protect Hera from the Sixes, Athena has actually set of the train of events that will lead to Athena being separated from her for good.
Tigh's goggle eyes when Adama said something like "You've learned a lot about yourself since New Caprica" was hilarious.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 11:40 am (UTC)*g* That would be priceless, and I'm not feeling guilty at all for hoping against hope.
I also appreciated the final scene between Athena and Hera, even if I still can't help feeling that in trying to protect Hera from the Sixes, Athena has actually set of the train of events that will lead to Athena being separated from her for good.
Probably. Natalie genuinenly didn't have any intentions of taking Hera, but who knows who'll succeed her in leading the Sixes (and the rest of the Cylon rebels, if they'll still follow a Six)? And while before they would have taken Athena's feelings into account, now she committed fratricide (is there a sisterly term for this), and I doubt they'll care anymore.
Tigh's goggle eyes when Adama said something like "You've learned a lot about yourself since New Caprica" was hilarious.
Yes. And you know: as far as Adama knows, Tigh in recent weeks has
a) had a nervous breakdown in the middle of Baltar's trial, raving about voices from the walls, drinking again and crying for Ellen
b) started an affair with a Cylon prisoner
c) shown some unexpected knowledge when the basestar jumped in front of him.
But yes, by all means, dump the responsibility for the fleet on his shoulders.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 05:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 07:29 pm (UTC)Clearly, the possibility Tigh could have done what the men on the Pegasus did didn't even occur to him, he just assumed it was consensual sex. Which he ranked as a worse offense on Tigh's part than if Tigh had tortured a prisoner. Lords of Kobol.
... which is ick because for the LIFE of me I cannot imagine Caprica!Six wanting to sleep with Tigh.
I assume from this there's no Baltar + Roslin on the basestar? :(
no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 02:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 05:59 am (UTC)And just to chip in: I don't like Adama either. Or at least, I think he's seriously blinded by love, only the icky bits come when his love turns on you. But at least it's a realistic portrayal of one of the real ways that human beings suck towards one another...
no subject
Date: 2008-05-28 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 06:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-29 05:09 pm (UTC)I've been out of love with Adama for quite some time too. "Unfinished Business" very nearly did the job completely, but putting a gun to Cally's head in "Dirty Hands" for, yet again, Tyrol's personal betrayal put me over the top. That said, you're right that this episode was totally in character for him - it makes perfect sense that Bill Adama in love would be the greatest danger the fleet has faced since the original attack.