Battlestar Gallactica (S2 reflection)
Jun. 8th, 2008 04:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
falafel_musingsI've been having a heavy-duty writing week. When I'm hardcore writing I often have trouble switching my mind off and falling asleep so I've been ploughing through BSG eps in my insomnia. I've finished S2 now and I only skipped 4 episode which I'm assured are fairly self-contained and fillerish.
I enjoyed S2 more than S1 I'd say, so lets get into some musings...
- My favourite episodes this season were 'Fragged', 'Pegasus', 'Epiphanies', 'Downloaded' and 'Lay down your Burdens'. Mostly I enjoyed the Kobol stories and the altercation with Cain's crew and I'm very absorbed by the glimpse into the grim state of affairs on the New Occupied Caprica. I'm certainly hooked in for S3!
- I have good deal of respect for both Roslin and Adama, even though I often find myself opposing their methods and choices. Pleasingly they also have their human moments of tenderness and affection. I loved Roslin's little giggle fit before her campaign speech. I loved the tension of the election between Roslin and Baltar, especially how Roslin is onto Baltar and knows about his conspiracy with Six. Then ironically Baltar is the one who saves her from her cancer. Man, I'm just relieved she is no longer dying!
- Okay so I'm still a Starbuck fan. The actress is so spunky and charasmatic I'll admit that I have a bit of a girl crush. I really liked her Caprica story at the beginning of the season (she was brilliant in 'The Farm'). I also quite liked the Kara/Lee scenes midseason, though the relationship feels more brother/sisterish than boyfriend/girlfriend to me (isn't it nicer that way?). Well, I've been turning a little sour on them since the quadrangle element has kicked in with Dee and Anders, but that was always gonna happen. Luckily Kara has a strong role outside her shipper stories.
- For better or worse, the character I feel closest to is Baltar. I suppose because we have the biggest insight into what goes on inside his head. He may be warped and despicable, but he is an open book to the viewer (better the devil you know than the devil you don't). Another thing about Baltar that engages me is he is a very emotive character, where as many others seem de-sensitized to the suffering and chaos, his inner turmoil is always very palable. And he makes me laugh. It's hard to hate somebody who makes you laugh. Oh, and I don't think he is a cylon, but I think he wishes he were one.
- I've become a big fan of Boomer this season. I think she has broken her programming and is in control of her own choices now. But she's also being treated like dirt and being made a scapegoat for all the crews frustrations. She has a right to feel enraged over the loss of her child. But I'm excited by her being the first cylon to suggest that the attack on the colonies was wrong.
- I've also been won over by Six in S2. I guess my main problem with her character in S1 was she was one-note, just a slutty head-frakking cylon sprite. In S2 she has shown there are many more sides to her - victim, terrorist, rebel, guardian angel, etc. I also loved the twist that Caprica-Six has her own Head-Baltar. That was a cool reveal.
- Poor Billy. He was only a minor character, but he was sweet and loyal to Roslin. I've heard the actor wanted to leave so what can you do (give him a better death scene maybe?) The way Dee brushed aside his death to fixate on Apollo pissed me off.
- The Chief and Helo came through as good salt of the earth heroes in this season even if they do have their cylon crushes. I think the Boomer/Helo ship and the Chief/Cally ship are nice. They both seem genuine. I'm worried about the Chief's psycho dreams though! I don't think he is a cylon, but I'm starting to wonder which other main characters might be.
- I've felt myself becoming a cylon sympathiser a few times in S2. That said the whole 'peace movement with warheads' thing was messed up. Still I'd like to see more discussion less shooting between the human/cylon forces in future seasons.
- I have good deal of respect for both Roslin and Adama, even though I often find myself opposing their methods and choices. Pleasingly they also have their human moments of tenderness and affection. I loved Roslin's little giggle fit before her campaign speech. I loved the tension of the election between Roslin and Baltar, especially how Roslin is onto Baltar and knows about his conspiracy with Six. Then ironically Baltar is the one who saves her from her cancer. Man, I'm just relieved she is no longer dying!
- Okay so I'm still a Starbuck fan. The actress is so spunky and charasmatic I'll admit that I have a bit of a girl crush. I really liked her Caprica story at the beginning of the season (she was brilliant in 'The Farm'). I also quite liked the Kara/Lee scenes midseason, though the relationship feels more brother/sisterish than boyfriend/girlfriend to me (isn't it nicer that way?). Well, I've been turning a little sour on them since the quadrangle element has kicked in with Dee and Anders, but that was always gonna happen. Luckily Kara has a strong role outside her shipper stories.
- For better or worse, the character I feel closest to is Baltar. I suppose because we have the biggest insight into what goes on inside his head. He may be warped and despicable, but he is an open book to the viewer (better the devil you know than the devil you don't). Another thing about Baltar that engages me is he is a very emotive character, where as many others seem de-sensitized to the suffering and chaos, his inner turmoil is always very palable. And he makes me laugh. It's hard to hate somebody who makes you laugh. Oh, and I don't think he is a cylon, but I think he wishes he were one.
- I've become a big fan of Boomer this season. I think she has broken her programming and is in control of her own choices now. But she's also being treated like dirt and being made a scapegoat for all the crews frustrations. She has a right to feel enraged over the loss of her child. But I'm excited by her being the first cylon to suggest that the attack on the colonies was wrong.
- I've also been won over by Six in S2. I guess my main problem with her character in S1 was she was one-note, just a slutty head-frakking cylon sprite. In S2 she has shown there are many more sides to her - victim, terrorist, rebel, guardian angel, etc. I also loved the twist that Caprica-Six has her own Head-Baltar. That was a cool reveal.
- Poor Billy. He was only a minor character, but he was sweet and loyal to Roslin. I've heard the actor wanted to leave so what can you do (give him a better death scene maybe?) The way Dee brushed aside his death to fixate on Apollo pissed me off.
- The Chief and Helo came through as good salt of the earth heroes in this season even if they do have their cylon crushes. I think the Boomer/Helo ship and the Chief/Cally ship are nice. They both seem genuine. I'm worried about the Chief's psycho dreams though! I don't think he is a cylon, but I'm starting to wonder which other main characters might be.
- I've felt myself becoming a cylon sympathiser a few times in S2. That said the whole 'peace movement with warheads' thing was messed up. Still I'd like to see more discussion less shooting between the human/cylon forces in future seasons.
Well, that's about all for now. I'm looking forward to S3 especially the Baltar/Felix scenes.
Back to work for now...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-06-08 10:02 pm (UTC)After season 3 they aired a movie that filled in more Pegasus back story. Make sure to download that too. You should wait to watch in until you are finished season 3 because there are other important references that need the other season to make sense.
The Baltar/Feelix stuff in season three is good, but nothing beats their bathroom stall chat from season 1.
I think Ephinanies is my favourite episode from that season and maybe the whole series since you do get more perspective on the cylons and see how their past experiences can fragment the hive mind.
Also, the Roslin giggle fit is gold!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-08 11:28 pm (UTC)I agree on Dee/Lee. That couple just leave me cold, especially after Billy's death. I don't think the fat!bastard!Lee that I hear is coming up in S3 is going to help matters.
Aww! The Baltar/Felix toilet talk is my happy place.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-08 11:32 pm (UTC)I liked Lee less and less as the story progresses but he was never a favourite to begin with.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 12:42 am (UTC)ITA. One example that comes to mind is at the end of Lay Down Your Burden when the cylons show up on New Caprica. Everyone is quite stoic (like they knew it was coming) but Baltar is freaking out!! I like that about him.
The actor playing Billy wasn't committed to the show - they asked the actors to sign multi-year contract and when they didn't hear back from him then they knew they wouldn't be able to keep him for very long. Also, when he ditches Roslin in Resistance and refuses to follow her in her escape, it's because the actor had another offer and had to find a way out for him. But I agree, even though they had problems with the actor, they could have given the character a better death. :(
Speaking of actors, I think they play a large part of where their characters is going and if the writers like them, I have a strong impression that they'll be given more character development efforts and screentime. It's neat.
Felix was almost an non-entity for me in the first two seasons... it's really in season 3 that his character started to stand out. The icon you're using for this post is taken from my favorite scene of BSG. I hope you'll get inspired to write about Gaius and Felix... there's a lot of gaps to be covered, especially in New Caprica.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-09 08:06 am (UTC)Right. I think that's something I connect to generally. I like a character who wears their heart on their sleeves. With stoic characters I often feel like I don't really know them or that they might be hiding something. Baltar is laid bare so I know his flaws and weakness, but I also know his compassion.
Speaking of actors, I think they play a large part of where their characters is going and if the writers like them, I have a strong impression that they'll be given more character development efforts and screentime. It's neat.
Thats good. Actors can give a valuable personal insight into the character and dig out things that writers might overlook. If only Lost had that sort of collaboration. They have such a talented cast but it seems they only speak to them on the phone when telling them they are being killed off.
If I do write BSG fic it would certainly be Felix/Baltar. It doesn't really matter too much if they don't have a huge amount of screentime together, because that just means there is more potential to be explored.