Over in my review of the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica there's quite a bit of brouhaha going on amongst the commenters about whether or not Saul Tigh's wife, Ellen, knew she was being poisoned. I will admit, to the casual observer it sure seems like she doesn't know. Though once the debate started, it did create need for pause.In Ron Moore's most recent podcast, the Battlestar Galactica executive producer only managed to fuel the fire by saying: "Does she know? I think she might know." Might? Did? I had to get to the bottom of this, so I asked the man himself. See what he had to say after the jump.
"We intentionally blurred this point so as to be somewhat ambiguous here. It's not entirely clear in the scene whether she knows or not and I liked leaving it for the audience to decide for themselves ultimately whether Ellen participates in her own punishment or dies as Saul wants her to -- peacefully, and unaware of what's happening to her."
So, there you have it -- it's simply up to you to decide. Now stop your biting and scratching and play nice.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-26-2006 @ 3:53PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Thank you Keith. I have no problem with planned ambiguity. Makes for good entertainment.
However in my medical opinion, there is more proof for the "she knew camp" than the other.
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10-26-2006 @ 4:38PM
Tucker said...
Pff, I'd rather have clarification on whether or not Adama knows the half-breed robot child is still alive. At least that has some continuing bearing on the story! C'mon, Keith, help us out man!
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10-26-2006 @ 4:44PM
Franklin said...
I have a feeling she will one day return. Not in a flashback, nor as a Cylon. But revived by the Cylons. (They are, apparently, still fiddling with human DNA. Imagine the storylines if they can revive recently deceased humans.)
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10-26-2006 @ 4:50PM
David said...
There are like two people who don't think Adama knows about the child. Everyone else, everywhere else thinks he knows. I have a feeling in a future episode it will be clarified.
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10-26-2006 @ 5:16PM
Karen said...
I love that Moore left it intentionally ambiguous--but to me there was no doubt whatsoever that she knew, and that she accepted that this was coming at the hands of the man who loved her, who was doing it *because* he loved her. And that may not have been how it was written, but I do believe it's how Hogan and Vernon chose to play it.
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10-26-2006 @ 6:22PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Thank you Karen. An excellent thought on the subject.
I think a lot of the haters out there who think she did not know have no idea what a real relationship with another person is like.
David, I think you will find there are more than just 2 who think Adama does not know about the kid. Please go back and watch that episode again and then watch the relationship Sharon and Adama have this season. Point out to me where you see any proof Adama knows.
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10-26-2006 @ 6:57PM
Ian said...
Good points Karen:(
The point is really is not did Ellen know she was being poisoned (I too think she did as she made the last point careully that she loved her husband) but the point is: Did Ellen know she was really a Cylon? ANd I don't think that she did know it...at that time. SHe does now though.
So will she come back still with the same feelings for her husband (who executed her), or will she be wanting revenge of some kind?
Right now the Producers can play all these mind games with us as she likely won't return immediately. We will have to wait for the right moment.
Overall the message coming across from BSG is that the Vylons are exhibiting all the same behavorial characteristics as humans.
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10-26-2006 @ 7:00PM
Rob said...
Um,.. Ian,.. What makes you think that Ellen is a Cylon?
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10-26-2006 @ 7:54PM
Jimmy said...
Exodus, Part 2 was another exceptional episode of Battlestar Galactica for many reasons, but the death scene of Ellen was so dramatic, so emotional! It really showcased what exceptional actors Michael Hogan and Kate Vernon are; they had a wonderful, dysfunctional, chemistry. I'm actually going to miss Ellen. She was not one of my favorite characters, but her role in these first episodes finally showed us Ellen's true colors: she wasn't a Cylon and she was willing to whatever necessary to save the man she truly loved, even if that decision was not the right one. I'm going to miss Ellen Tigh and Kate Vernon.
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10-26-2006 @ 10:03PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Sorry Ian, in now way can I ever buy that Ellen is a cylon.
If you consider the known cylon types to each be a certain archetypes what then would Ellens be? Drunken slut does not seem to have much credibility. Plus, why would Cavil want to sleep with her if she was just one of them?
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10-26-2006 @ 11:38PM
Ian said...
I believe that there is another Cylon sleeper, yet to be "unmasked".
The way the writers/prods think you know that they have one or two shockers hidden away. Ellen and A N Other are almost certainties (I won't disclose my second candidate, someone who matches the known Cylon Religious beliefs....).
Why Ellen? No word that the actress wanted to be written out, no statement from her being "sorry" her part has ended. She played a pivotal role and for her husband to poison her in such a dramatic conclusion is so so ready for a rebirth with a several ep mini-story around it. Great for writers:)
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10-27-2006 @ 1:03AM
Tucker said...
Akbar, do you want to start taking the money for this bet, or should I? Geeze, if she's a cylon, I'll eat my hat.
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10-27-2006 @ 10:30AM
lp said...
If I've done this right it should be Kate Vernon's posts on the Sci-Fi board
http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?act=Search&nav=au&CODE=show&searchid=9a0afc7e14734588154782892ebeb84c&search_in=posts&result_type=posts
She believes that Ellen did know, and I think she's more than a bit pissed that she got killed but in the 304 podcast Ron Moore says that it was completely necessary for the story to be told properly.
I don't think she'll be back, if she is then they'll have to bring back Billy, Adama's other son, and any other character that might have had some more storylines to tell.
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10-27-2006 @ 11:08AM
Akbar Fazil said...
Thanks for the link lp. Glad to see she thinks Ellen knew since imo that is exactly how she played it.
I will gladly throw down 20 bucks to say that Ellen is NOT a cylon. Making her one would destroy ALL emotion of her death and her tragic character.
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10-28-2006 @ 9:16AM
Tim-1 said...
Just one more stroke of brilliance by the writers on this fine show. A clever twist!
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10-28-2006 @ 9:47PM
Dorv said...
Akbar: I don't disagree with you that it would kill this story arc, but if they did it a season or two down the road, I don't think it would have near the impact that you think it would.
As I've said in other places, I don't think she knew, I think she was too wrapped in herself trusting in Saul's love to see reality. That being said, I love that it was left to our imaginations.
I too, wish we could get confirm on whether Adama knew that Hera was alive. I think though, that it will come out sooner rather than later.
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10-29-2006 @ 10:27AM
Jordan Williams said...
I believe that Ellen is gone for good. That act of Saul killing his wife will haunt him and change the decisions he makes in the future and change the story arc of BSG. If Ellen came back, the character development of Saul could become interesting though.
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10-29-2006 @ 4:43PM
Tim-1 said...
I am just wondering about how the relationship between Saul and Adamma will be affected. These two are such close friends but it seemed that Saul's recent experiences have had the ripple effect of a strain on their relationship by evidence on their difference of opinion on the bridge. I think Saul needs some serious counseling. Can you imagine the pain he must be enduring?
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