BSG 3.01: "Occupation / Precipice"

[annathepiper]

Well now, that was intense, wasn't it?


mamishka's very apt observation that one does not so much enjoy Battlestar Galactica as survive it is definitely still holding true as Season Three gets underway. spazzkat along similar lines compared it to reading The Jungle, wherein you find yourself thinking that things just can't get any worse--and then somebody falls into a meat grinder. This time around it was particularly intense, what with a 2-hour premiere. I mean, damn, one hour of BSG is intense enough, but two?! Yow.

Random reactions, in no particular order:

Part of me is rather impressed that they actually porked Apollo out--I mean, how many TV shows would actually take the handsome dashing former CAG turned battlestar commander and have him pack on a lot of weight once he can stand down from a wartime footing? And even show the same viewers who presumably were ogling the hell out of his buff towel-wrapped bod the previous season what he looks like shirtless and with a paunch now? It's quite believable. But part of me is also whining, "But, but, but, Lee!" (Not that I think he's going to stay porked, mind you, especially given that in the glimpse of what's to come for the rest of the season he looked thin again. I'm still kind of impressed that they did that to him in the first place even if I'm sure it won't be permanent.)

Ellen Tigh literally in bed with a Cylon to try to spring her husband out of detention--nicely fucked up. The same Cylon cheerfully then blackmailing her to get her to get data on the insurgency to him lest he have Tigh hauled back in--also nicely fucked up.

Tigh as one-eyed crufty terrorist leader--very effective.

Former Caprica!Boomer now sworn in as an officer of the Fleet--YAY! It's about time that happened. Also good to see that she's apparently now officially married up with Helo, if her new name--Sharon Agathon--is any indication.

I loved seeing Starbuck kill her Cylon captor only to have him download right into a new body and come back. Very, very creepy--and it would have been funny if they'd done what Paul suggested and shown a brief glimpse of prior Leoben bodies stacked up in the corner. >:) However, I am troubled that she seemed to fall so quickly for the "show her a child and claim she's her mother" trick. Especially given that I am not yet convinced that that ever so conveniently timed accident was accidental in the slightest, or that they couldn't grow another cute little Kacey if they needed to.

Very nice that Gaeta is the insurgency's super-sekrit Source--especially given the argument he had with the Chief, and how the Chief snarled at him about collaborating with the Cylons. I do wonder how much longer Gaeta's going to get away with this, though.

Very, very interesting that Caprica!Six and Galactica!Boomer are rapidly losing control of this cozy little occupation. Especially neat that Six got plugged right in the head in the scene where they're trying to make Baltar sign the execution order, and that as soon as she was 'dead', Baltar suddenly had Hallucination!Six talking to him again. Any bets on whether we're going to go in the direction of this Six and Boomer actually eventually helping the insurgents flee the planet? And wouldn't it be neatly fucked up if the incoming Sharon teams up with them to help the rescue efforts?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Bill. Please. For the good of the Fleet, LOSE THE MUSTACHE. I'm BEGGING YOU.

solarbird has pointed out quite rightly that the Cylons have absolutely NO, repeat, NO grounds for getting snooty about suicide bombings, given that they did one themselves back in Season One. Like her, I am not entirely sure whether this is a case of the characters being hypocritical, or whether this is a lapse in continuity. We'll have to see what happens with that.

Last but not least, one little throwaway line towards the end of the episode about how the Cylon Centurions can't distinguish Sharon from any other Cylon made me go 'hrmm'--specifically, that line about how the Cylons ever so ironically presumably wanted to avoid their own robot rebellion. My immediate response to that was 'so any bets on whether the insurgents will try to figure out how to reprogram the Centurions to make them self-aware?' 'Cause really, if you take the Centurions out of the equation, the humaniform Cylons will take an interesting hit in their firepower.

Comments

[genkitty.livejournal.com]

"However, I am troubled that she seemed to fall so quickly for the "show her a child and claim she's her mother" trick."

I made the same comment when watching last night, and Baba said, "Who says she's actually fallen for it? Starbuck's the most cunning woman ever."

This was actually the first episode I've sat and watched, the guys usually watched them while I was drowsy/sleeping and I have just one question: How the HELL do viewers keep track of who is who? I have a hard enough time doing that in a 'normal' large cast show, but here there's doubles and triples all over the place.

[fleurdelista.livejournal.com]

Bill. Please. For the good of the Fleet, LOSE THE MUSTACHE. I'm BEGGING YOU.

THANK YOU.

And the description of the show is accurate. I am literally on the edge of my seat every episode. I'm still pissed about the previews though, spoiling a lot of what happens after the firing squad that we hear at the end.

Like I said in my small sad recap, there are a lot of interesting storylines that this season is developing. We're speculating that perhaps Starbuck is not as sincere about the child as it seems, but I'm not entirely convinced. When she thought it was her fault, she seemed sincerely upset. Since he's obviously trying to manipulate her, I doubt Kacey's accident was an "accident." This reaction was deliberatley provoked though, no doubt about it.

And I'm waiting for Tigh to accuse Sharon Agathon of betraying the plan. And I can't believe I'm saying this but, gods I feel sorry for Ellen.

[annathepiper]

I'd love to believe that Starbuck is aware she's being played and is trying to play Creepy Obsessive Cylon Guy in return--and if this were first season BSG, I'd totally expect that. However, I have been thrown a bit off kilter by the quality hit of the latter half of Season Two. So I'm not sure if I trust that the writers are totally on top of it anymore, at least enough to buy that that's actually what's going on.

But I'll be totally willing for them to prove it to me. ;)

For most of the Cylon characters, it's generally pretty easy to keep track of who's who by the context of the scenes they show up. For example, the two main "Sharon" Cylons for the longest time were presented only in distinct places--the one on board the Galactica and the other on the surface of Caprica back in the Colonies. Once we got familiar with the storylines involving each, it was easy enough to tell who was who later on.

[annathepiper]

Oh, I don't disagree that the kid's presence in general is logical--I'm just kind of bugged that Kara seems in general to be falling for that trick too easily. It also establishes the idea that "all Kara really wants is a baby", an idea which annoys me, and I'm really hoping that she doesn't lose her edge because of it. If she does, I'll be really pissed off at the show.

Though yeah, the state the Fleet's in was really effectively portrayed, wasn't it? That was deeply mortifying. I fear for how fast they'll be able to get their collective shit together.

And I'm definitely still a member of Why The HELL Did Dee and Lee Get Married?! Club.

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

I think the baby IS genetically Starbuck's, and her reactions make perfect sense if that's the case.

I loved the parallels to the US war in Iraq (and to any similar occupation), but with our heroes in the role of the insurgents. Gutsy, gutsy move. It doesn't surprise me that some cylons would be hypocritical about suicide bombing, or would have conflicting motives. That seems very human of them, actually. I'm just glad the writers didn't pull that punch. Our guys are capable of ANYTHING in order to survive and continue to resist, even though some have more qualms about it than others. I really can't fault the actions of any character we've seen, even the collaborators like Jammer or Gaeta. People are doing the best they can in a deeply messed up situation. The one exception is Baltar, whose actions are understandable if both cowardly and despicable.

I hate to admit it, but I'm starting to like Adama's mustache. But no fear--it's clear from the teasers that it's going away soon.

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

I think she really feels protective toward the child, but there's no way she's fallen for Leoben. She's looking for an out for both herself and the child, and is willing to play along in the meantime. I could also accept that she's putting on a show of giving a crap about the child. But she's definitely up to something.

Though, how old is that child? Does the timing actually make sense, given the age and the amount of time that passed since The Farm?

[llachglin.livejournal.com]

This episode actually gave me an insight from her perspective, when she said that Lee and his father were so similar. It makes sense to me that Dee would fall for Lee if she saw Adama in him, given how much she respects the Admiral.

There's no chemistry there, but I can see her making a connection despite that. What doesn't make sense to me is why Lee would see anything in her other than a pretty face. On the other hand, their relationship seems to be on the rocks, and my guess is they're headed for a divorce soon.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, we'll have to see what happens with the whole Starbuck/Leoben thing. I really, REALLY hope she's playing him. Our girl is too clever to let the guy get at her with a ploy like this.

And yeah, I'm with you on the feeling sorry for Ellen thing. She's grown kind of amazingly as a character, hasn't she? When we first saw the glimpses of her going at it with the Priest Cylon, I was certain she was in bed with Zarek--but what they actually showed us rather surprised me. That she'd be in bed with the enemy I could cynically have bought, and would certainly have been a logical progression of the behavior we've seen out of her before. But that she's actually doing it to try to protect her husband--that's actually really cool character growth on her part.

[annathepiper]

Oh, I don't dispute at all that the baby is genetically Starbuck's, and I'll even give you Starbuck's own ethics demanding that she not hold a child accountable for the actions of the Cylon adults. The part that concerns me is just that right now she seems to be letting that blind her to Leoben ingratiating himself to her. But I'm hoping I'm wrong!

Yeah, the political parallels were indeed very gutsy. And I like that so far we're getting a pretty evenhanded portrayal of everything everybody is doing.

*grins* I missed the mustache's absence in the teasers, but yay! ;)

[annathepiper]

I need to see a timeline of the events in the show so far, but given that we had a whole year's jump in the Season Two closer and then another four months since then... plus several skips that could add up to several months all through season two... hrmm. The kid looked at least three years old to me, but I'm not a solid judge of such things. Paul and Dara think she may still be around the right age though.

[annathepiper]

...... ooh, yeah, that's a point about Dee going for Lee if she sees echoes of Adama, who she admires so ardently, in him.

Hrmm, trying to think about this based on what we've seen of Lee so far... I could totally see him eager to jump into their relationship just because he's eager to have a stable relationship in general. (As evidenced by his desperate attempts to see a relationship he wasn't actually having with that prostitute in "Black Market", for example.)

She did indeed seem rather cold and distant to him. We'll have to see where this goes.

[framlingem.livejournal.com]

Okay, managed to get my hands on a copy at last :)

That was possibly the most relentless two hours (minus commercial breaks) of television I've ever sat through. There needs to be catharsis some time soon, or I don't think I can take any more :p (Dear Messrs. Moore and Eick; please let one of those threads you keep winding tighter unravel soon!)

As one of those people who totally replayed the First Towel Scene somewhat more than once (to... ah... admire the camerawork and the artistry of the lighting. Yeah. Thassit.), I do admit that I was somewhat disappointed with Lee, but that moment of shallowness passed. Good metaphor, well done, gutsy, etc.

One thing I'm curious about, though - will Sharon's baby still be so important? She's not the only hybrid anymore (and I totally buy it. They put that much effort into creating hybrids, and a lot of them seem to be trying to imitate what they see as the good aspects of humanity, and family is one of those. I find it easy enough to believe that there was a success. I'm not sure if I believe she's Starbuck's, though - that the material that was saved just happened to include hers seems a bit too fortuitous.).

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I love the politicisation of the show in these two eps, and the angles they're playing with - it's fantastic stuff. And Roslin and Zarek both wishing she'd stolen the election - squee! Zarek's use here is really logical, since we know he's a fanatic, someone who'll go to jail or die or kill for a cause without hesitating, and that's about to make him one of the 'good' good guys ::cough:: I really adore the way BSG's been playing with morality and shades of grey.

The big downer though was Starbuck in part two, yeah. WTF? The first ep established psychopath-trait!Starbuck, all the barriers up, knowing exactly what was going on around her and not falling for any of it. But show her a kid and they've got her inside half a day? Blergh, retch. We've seen no signs of maternal instinct from her, she knows what they're trying to do. The only logical reaction to the kid was to ignore it. It wasn't there - it could talk to her, move around, and Starbuck should have stared straight past it and completely disregarded it, just gone about her routines. She was in the right place mentally to do it, and she didn't even try it. I just hate the implication that an incredibly strong, single-minded woman can inevitably be broken by a curly-haired brat.

But you know, the one with the real pathology in that relationship is the Callum Keith Rennie cylon - this is the woman who tortured him, personally, and he declares himself in love with her? Repeatedly, after she repeatedly murders him? Damn, I'm glad I don't have his brain!

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I'll even give you Starbuck's own ethics demanding that she not hold a child accountable for the actions of the Cylon adults.

Agreed. But you know, the Cylons were so invested in that baby farm, and in reproduction, I don't believe they'd ever have let the kid pay either. If Starbuck had held out, ignored the kid bleeding on the stairs and curled up with a cup of tea and a book, the Cylons would have given in. Couldn't Starbuck figure that out?

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

Just got the chance to watch this last night.

Oof. 1 hour and 20 minutes of oof.

Fat Lee. I saw the first belly shot and said: "Oh my god... Starbuck would be so disgusted with him... and rolling on the floor the moment he was out of sight!" I loved the line it cut between Lee and Bill. Lee didn't know what to do with command and he let it go to his... belly. Bill's still fighting the war internally and externally and so has only gotten harder.

I love the growth of Sharon Agathon. She started as the weakest character they had, failed in an attempt to kill herself... got herself killed, and this variant has grown into that uniform the hard way. I was very pleased to see her ceremony and the edge placed on the words she echoed only cemented the thought that she's learned and she's learned hard. It's interesting to note that she's taken the role of the Advisor and Confidant, too... even going so far as to chastise Bill for not forgiving himself... something Rosalyn would have done.

Rosalyn. Not sick. Yay Cylon miracle blood. Wonder if it will heal gunshot wounds? Maybe Zirek will be her savior. If anyone can get out of that situation, it will be Zirek. (After they caved to put him in the show, do we think they have the guts to kill his character off??)

I wasn't surprised at all to see Caprica get popped in the head. Caprica herself admitted that she'd dropped a rock on the other's head. (Loved the look on Baltar's face too!)

Starbuck. When she used the chopsticks to kill Leoben, I almost died. When she sat down to eat, I lost it again. My husband just looked at me and I remarked: "The back of my brain is saying: 'That's classy!'" He said "Sociopathic." When Leoben #6 walked in, and made the 'we've done this five times now' and she ran to the barred door, I reiterated my 'Classy' comment. Nothing else to do after you kill your Cylon captor, so you may as well eat.

I was disappointed that she didn't slice his neck and leave two bodies, but there's still hope. I figure she's biding her time at this point. Now that she's out of that cell and in a 'hospital' she might have a higher chance of getting free... especially if the kid gets stable. Hybrid child healthy enough to be grabbed = shield and freedom. I think she's making him drop his guard by pretending that she's dropped hers.

As for Dee and Lee? I think Dee was in love with the illusion and not the man. After all, Billy got shot protecting her. Thing is, Dee doesn't strike me as the type to waffle and prattle about it. She'll stick with Lee until she's had it, and she's going to tell him off most gloriously before she leaves.

[howlinhobbit.livejournal.com]

I was amused to find that Jon Swift (http://jonswift.blogspot.com/) has a post on BSG (http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2006/10/on-battlestar-galactica-heroic-cylons.html) today.

As another (now ex) blogger said about Mr. Swift, "he has his tongue so far in his cheek it must get cramps."

[annathepiper]

Yeah, we really need to have something pleasant happen to outweigh some of this relentless grim!

Right. Ahem. Yes. Artistry of the lighting! *nodnodnods firmly* ;)

I too am curious about what'll be going on with Sharon's baby. I notice we didn't get a glimpse of what's going on with that kid in this premiere.

[annathepiper]

Yeah, those bits with Roslin and Zarek were very, very fine. :) I continue to admire Richard Hatch's portrayal of him.

I just hate the implication that an incredibly strong, single-minded woman can inevitably be broken by a curly-haired brat.

Exactly.

And oh my yes, that particular Cylon is deeply, deeply screwed up. Something I just realized--I don't think we saw any of his model in on the core group of Cylons who were bullying Baltar. Just about all of the other models we've seen on camera to date (of which there are seven, I just tallied 'em up), but none of him.

[annathepiper]

I would totally expect her to. I fear that this might not be what we're getting, though. Feh.

Good point about not putting the kid at risk! Oooo--which raises intriguing questions. solarbird is flat refusing to believe it's a real Cylon baby at all. It also leads me to wonder if this one particular Cylon may be acting on his own, too, and psychotic enough that he would put a kid at risk. Whether it be a human they've conveniently captured, or even a child they've actually managed to create.

[annathepiper]

Psst. The character's name is Zarek, not Zirek. You're thinkin' Two Moons here, dear. ;) But it'd be hysterical if he manages to spring Roslin out of the group slated for detention, wouldn't it?

I like the possibility of Starbuck trying to snatch the kid as a shield and making a break for it. That sounds way more like her.

And ooh, that's a very astute observation about the Dee/Lee relationship. If that's actually what's happening, I'll respect that relationship a lot more as part of the overall storyline.

[annathepiper]

Bwahahaha! Okay, that guy's post is hysterical, I must admit. ;) Thanks for the link!

[eveshka.livejournal.com]

*innocent look* Alas, I'm caught out reading old logs while at work!! Thankye for that. ;)

Do we know how long they've had Kara? I was trying to remember, and I can't picture when it was?

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I was assuming the kid's genuine. If the Cylons were just going to pluck one out of anywhere to use against Starbuck, they could have done it months ago and skipped all the hassles. I was working on the theory that this was a last ditch attempt out of desperation, that they would put the kid at risk, since there was never a guarantee Starbuck in that frame of mind wouldn't have killed the Cylon kid too.

But if this isn't a Cylon strategy, if this is just cracked in the head!Cylon making stuff up as he goes along, then all bets are off on everything, yeah. Interesting thought.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Hey, I hadn't noticed that either, but you're right. Maybe all that model are prone to psychological disaster, so they don't get to make policy!

[hesperos-dawn.livejournal.com]

I just hate the implication that caring about a kid to the point of stupidity is being broken. *coughs*

[annathepiper]

And see, that's the thing. The entire scenario of Starbuck being locked up alone with Psycho Cylon Boy and her being cold as ice up until the point he presents her with a child who ever so conveniently gets injured (and therefore rouses her tenderer emotions) leads to the inevitable conclusion that the Cylon has decided that that is exactly how to break Starbuck to his will.

I'm not saying that it's bad that Starbuck cares about the kid. Like I said in an earlier comment on this thread, I'm totally cool with her personal ethics demanding that she not hold an innocent child accountable for the actions of the adults around her. The part that concerns me is that I really don't want to see Starbuck up and decide that Psycho Cylon Boy is okay after all just because he presented her with a child. Or to lose sight of the fact that her top priority is to get the hell out of there.

Much will depend on how Part 2 of "Exodus" plays out tomorrow night. Last week's episode, on which I have not yet been able to post comentary, didn't put my mind at each much about this plotline. But we'll see what happens.

[annathepiper]

Except now though, as of last night's episode, we have a piece of evidence that suggests otherwise. I noticed how the vote as to whether Baltar gets to stay on the base ship was three in favor, three against, and the deciding vote would be with the Sixes... which suggests that all seven of the known models were involved in that little vote.

HRRMRmRmRmmRmRmRMRMmm.

[annathepiper]

And now we know what was up with that, of course. Psycho Cylon Boy must in fact have just swiped a random human kid. I'm assuming still that it was his own action, though, and not a group effort.

We'll have to see if he makes another appearance.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I must be missing one, I can only count to six - Six, Lucy Lawless (Three), the Sharon model, the Brother Cavil, the guy with the long face and dark hair, and psycho!Callum. Who've I forgotten?

[annathepiper]

Whoops, late comment but I'll answer this anyway. The one you're missing is the doctor model, the one who introduced himself as Simon to Starbuck in "The Farm". He's played by an African-American dude.

[annathepiper]

Whoops, late comment here, but going ahead and answering this one.

I believe I remember a reference Kara being missing for four months, first time her capture got mentioned on camera in the season opener.