BSG updates
I am having one of those zero-inspiration nights where I cannot make anything I like. Ergo, I talk about TeeVee... Turco asked my thoughts on recent BSG and as I was not yet caught up I didn't post. But I am now, so...
Honestly, with the exception of a few beats, I found "Deadlock" unbelievably boring. I mean, I get that it's a setup episode, much like the "did anything actually happen?" episode immediately proceeding Gaeta's revolution. "No Exit" was great for sheer exposition-y goodness, but it also had two notable acting bits: Michael Trucco was great in his hybrid-like telling of the origin of the Final Five. And also Kate Vernon showed us the more mature side of Ellen. I have to say, I really, really dislike Ellen, through no fault of the actress. And as soon as she ran into Saul in "Deadlock", she immediately reverted to the Ellen I can't stand. Which is kinda the point, I guess, but it really got in the way of the real interest of the episode: Saul Tigh really loved Caprica Six. I mean, wrap your head around that for a second. It's sort of like an alternate universe, and yet it worked. Tricia Helfer and Michael Hogan sold it. Tyra Banks, all of your aspirations as an actress have been solidly pwn3d by the former host of Canada's Next Top Model. You have been served.
Interesting question raised: Is true love necessary for Cylons to procreate? Given that Athena and Helo have been the only couple with successful offspring, signs point to yes, though I really can't swallow that Tigh and Ellen and their 2,000 year old dysfunctional eternal love wouldn't qualify in some way, too. Maybe Tigh was only successful with Caprica because she reminded him so much of Ellen?
I am really, really happy that we got a lot of answers in "No Exit." I think an overload of tv shows like Lost where the mysteries are dragged out as long as possible to preserve *mystery* have caused me to be like "OMG GRAH ANSWERS NOW TIRED OF WAITING FOUR SEASONS KTHX." Ron & Co. did it right-- they answered about 75% of the Cylon timeline questions to satisfy the audience while not completely giving away the hand, and raised a bit of interest with the Daniel/#7 tidbit. (Is he Kara's father? Is he related to the new Caprica show? Is Kara a corrupted version of Daniel?) Ron & Co. have been pretty open about the fact that there's never been a master plan, and they usually do a pretty damn good job of tying up loose ends and unifying things... well, except the whole Nicky Tyrol thing which I thought came out of left field. The revelation that #1/John/Cavil has known the Final Five all along creates really interesting new layers... echoes of Oedipus get stirred into his obvious power and vengeance issues. And also, the revealed backstory may explain why Leoben, as #2, might have some special knowledge of Kara, as he had knowledge of Earth. (Though Tyrol/Tory? Yech. Can the series please end with Tory out an airlock?)
In general, though, characters I really love have not been getting enough screen time. Helo and Athena have disappeared. Where is Romo Lampkin? What happened to the lower-ranking mutineers? So on and so forth. Though the final beat of Cylons adapting to human habit in the hall of pictures was really touching. Anyhow, my feeling is that with so much mythology being slung about, a lot of the character beats have been overlooked to the show's detriment, I think. And I've never liked the Baltar's cult storyline. At all. It seems to me a total waste of screen time and I just don't get it being so drawn out.
The good news is that I think the next episode is going to rock. Looks like we will get more on the Kara mystery, and maybe some resolution between Boomer and the Chief. Especially since they both presumably now know that Tyrol had a hand in creating Sharon... which, again, now has an oddly incesty vibe, along with Cavil/Ellen and Caprica/Tigh.
Of course, there's a few other things to look forward to-- the final showdown with Cavil's fleet, the revelation of the Head!Characters, the inevitable death of Roslin and ascendancy of President Adama, the Opera House, the breakdown of Galactica.
Anyhow, that's all I got right now. I'll check in after this week's ep.
ETA: Though now I'm caught up and see others have differing opinions. Man, that thread is gold and
inviere is pretty much the biggest asshole I've seen in BSG fandom. And not because she has an unpopular opinion, but because she cuts almost immediately to personal attacks that are gender-based just... 'cause? "You disagree with me so you must not be able to get a date!" Lulz. And for someone all het up about Strong Female Characters, she certainly has a lot of Patrick Bateman icons. Annnnyway. I bet she's just delightful.
Also I am sad that J & I are coming to the end of Deadwood. It's truly one of the best-written shows I've ever seen. So fucking clever. It's a travesty it was canceled so early. Hearing the cast (including Jim Beaver!) talking about how it was the best experience of their careers reminded me a lot of Firefly, except Deadwood didn't get its movie. Anyhow. I very much recommend it.
Honestly, with the exception of a few beats, I found "Deadlock" unbelievably boring. I mean, I get that it's a setup episode, much like the "did anything actually happen?" episode immediately proceeding Gaeta's revolution. "No Exit" was great for sheer exposition-y goodness, but it also had two notable acting bits: Michael Trucco was great in his hybrid-like telling of the origin of the Final Five. And also Kate Vernon showed us the more mature side of Ellen. I have to say, I really, really dislike Ellen, through no fault of the actress. And as soon as she ran into Saul in "Deadlock", she immediately reverted to the Ellen I can't stand. Which is kinda the point, I guess, but it really got in the way of the real interest of the episode: Saul Tigh really loved Caprica Six. I mean, wrap your head around that for a second. It's sort of like an alternate universe, and yet it worked. Tricia Helfer and Michael Hogan sold it. Tyra Banks, all of your aspirations as an actress have been solidly pwn3d by the former host of Canada's Next Top Model. You have been served.
Interesting question raised: Is true love necessary for Cylons to procreate? Given that Athena and Helo have been the only couple with successful offspring, signs point to yes, though I really can't swallow that Tigh and Ellen and their 2,000 year old dysfunctional eternal love wouldn't qualify in some way, too. Maybe Tigh was only successful with Caprica because she reminded him so much of Ellen?
I am really, really happy that we got a lot of answers in "No Exit." I think an overload of tv shows like Lost where the mysteries are dragged out as long as possible to preserve *mystery* have caused me to be like "OMG GRAH ANSWERS NOW TIRED OF WAITING FOUR SEASONS KTHX." Ron & Co. did it right-- they answered about 75% of the Cylon timeline questions to satisfy the audience while not completely giving away the hand, and raised a bit of interest with the Daniel/#7 tidbit. (Is he Kara's father? Is he related to the new Caprica show? Is Kara a corrupted version of Daniel?) Ron & Co. have been pretty open about the fact that there's never been a master plan, and they usually do a pretty damn good job of tying up loose ends and unifying things... well, except the whole Nicky Tyrol thing which I thought came out of left field. The revelation that #1/John/Cavil has known the Final Five all along creates really interesting new layers... echoes of Oedipus get stirred into his obvious power and vengeance issues. And also, the revealed backstory may explain why Leoben, as #2, might have some special knowledge of Kara, as he had knowledge of Earth. (Though Tyrol/Tory? Yech. Can the series please end with Tory out an airlock?)
In general, though, characters I really love have not been getting enough screen time. Helo and Athena have disappeared. Where is Romo Lampkin? What happened to the lower-ranking mutineers? So on and so forth. Though the final beat of Cylons adapting to human habit in the hall of pictures was really touching. Anyhow, my feeling is that with so much mythology being slung about, a lot of the character beats have been overlooked to the show's detriment, I think. And I've never liked the Baltar's cult storyline. At all. It seems to me a total waste of screen time and I just don't get it being so drawn out.
The good news is that I think the next episode is going to rock. Looks like we will get more on the Kara mystery, and maybe some resolution between Boomer and the Chief. Especially since they both presumably now know that Tyrol had a hand in creating Sharon... which, again, now has an oddly incesty vibe, along with Cavil/Ellen and Caprica/Tigh.
Of course, there's a few other things to look forward to-- the final showdown with Cavil's fleet, the revelation of the Head!Characters, the inevitable death of Roslin and ascendancy of President Adama, the Opera House, the breakdown of Galactica.
Anyhow, that's all I got right now. I'll check in after this week's ep.
ETA: Though now I'm caught up and see others have differing opinions. Man, that thread is gold and
inviere is pretty much the biggest asshole I've seen in BSG fandom. And not because she has an unpopular opinion, but because she cuts almost immediately to personal attacks that are gender-based just... 'cause? "You disagree with me so you must not be able to get a date!" Lulz. And for someone all het up about Strong Female Characters, she certainly has a lot of Patrick Bateman icons. Annnnyway. I bet she's just delightful. Also I am sad that J & I are coming to the end of Deadwood. It's truly one of the best-written shows I've ever seen. So fucking clever. It's a travesty it was canceled so early. Hearing the cast (including Jim Beaver!) talking about how it was the best experience of their careers reminded me a lot of Firefly, except Deadwood didn't get its movie. Anyhow. I very much recommend it.