(S03E12) I think I said this the last time I posted about this episode, but it felt very much like a season premiere or finale, even though it technically isn't a premiere. So many plot points are either semi-resolved or introduced, leaving me to thank the gods that this is just the beginning of another whole half-season of goodness.
Let's go over what I think are the main plot points of the episode, based on the quotes I teased you with last week...
Athena (to Helo): "I'm begging you to do this. Find the courage to do this for both of us, OK?"
I was surprised at how quickly some of you guessed what this quote was referring to -- good call! When I first saw this scene I was taken by surprise, just as I believe the writers were hoping for. If there was any question before that their love for their daughter was true, this certainly settles it.
Tyrol: "Welcome home, Mr. President."
Here again I was surprised at how little this caused a stir with readers. It was pretty obvious that Tyrol encounters Baltar here, though no one questioned why he seemed to be welcoming him home? Maybe you all thought it might be a dream?
Anyway, I can't wait to see how this all plays out with Baltar back on board the Galactica. My guess is that Tyrol hid him in a body bag to show Tigh si they could have a bit of "fun" with him before Adama caught wind of his capture. I think we haven't seen the last of Baltar's bouts of torture just yet.
D'Anna: "You. Forgive me, I ... I had no idea."
I think many of us assumed this would happen eventually, but even still, this is huge! The speculation that'll be tossed around as to who D'Anna could be talking to here will last for quite a while. However, the one quote I didn't add to my list, and one that could possibly considered just as important, is what she says to Baltar: "You were right." And now we all have to wonder just what Baltar's wondering: "Right about what?"
Remember, D'Anna was among the ships of Galactica for quite some time under the guise of a reporter, so she knows quite a lot of that crew. But who could she have thought she'd have to apologize to once she realized that person was a Cylon? Remember, also, that D'Anna looked at at least three of the other Cylons before seeing a face she recognized, so I guess we could assume they are ones we really haven't seen before.
Another observation: Why are there six white tapestries and only a "final five" Cylons? Does D'Anna now take that sixth spot?
Athena: "Don't shoot! She helped us escape!"
Not as huge a plot point as the others, but still a story changer. Another Cylon on board the Galactica, and although she did help Athena escape the Base Star, I'd be pretty disappointed if she suddenly became so quickly trusted as Athena has become. But now with Athena knowing that her baby was hidden all this time from her by humans, will she work with Six to do some damage in retaliation? Lots to look forward to with this.
Brother Cavil: "Your model is fundamentally flawed."
I thought it was pretty obvious all along that D'Anna's model would be the one to be boxed, as many spoilers had indicated would happen. What's surprising now, though, is what her model has taken to the, er, box with her: the knowledge of who at least several of the unrevealed Cylons are.
While these weren't the only advances in the story, it seems everything else is vastly overshadowed by those mentioned above. Though there's some advancement in the Galactica's search for Earth, it's almost a little insignificant here.
What were your thoughts on the show airing on Sunday night? Personally I like it a lot better, though luckily I didn't have to contend against football tonight with having the DVD ahead of time.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-21-2007 @ 11:37PM
bamberluvr said...
Overall, a good episode - nothing particularly earth-shattering, other than D'Anna's apology to someone she knew as part of "The Five" and Starbuck's painting back in her apartment on Caprica (how very "Babylon 5" to return to something that seemed almost inconsequential and realize it is important). If anything, this episode starts the ball rolling toward the wild things the producers promise.
The only problem I had with BSG on Sunday is that I have to be up at 5 a.m. on Monday's. I guess I'll be one tired puppy for the next ten weeks.
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1-21-2007 @ 11:38PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Keith, Sometimes a tapestry is just a tapestry ;)
I am still 90 mins away from seeing this. (I was bad, I totally shouldn't have read this yet)
I will defintely be back to discuss more after i've seen it.
Tim-1, hope that scene is not too tragic for you.
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1-21-2007 @ 11:44PM
David said...
The Athena death wasn't that big, it was kind of obvious, fealt rushed in the beginning, but still had amazing depth and feeling.
Welcome home, Mr. President has been shown on numberous commericals for the new episodes. That's why it wasn't shocknig when you said it last week, most have already seen it.
XENA, which I will call her because I can and it pisses people off, part was HUGE. It kind of shows that 3-4 of the Cylons left are not ones we have seen, which is somewhat of a letdown. Of course this can change, but at least one of the final five will be someone very shocking.
The Earth thing was minor. The whole point was to find food, then the Eye and by the time they figured out what it meant it was like "Oh yeah, they are still looknig for Earth... whatever."
And talk about the Pats falling apart. Damn!
A few problems I have... Adama should have shot down the one ship, killing Baltar, but I guess that's not good for the storylines. And why are the humans in the ridge when they can gaurd the temple from the hilltops? A super nova takes millions of years to form and only one hour to blow up?
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1-21-2007 @ 11:45PM
David said...
bamberluvr no need to worry, after tonight's episode it is only 8 more weeks of new episodes. :)
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1-22-2007 @ 12:06AM
Vijay said...
Six banners... Five spaces in between the banners. The final five stand in between. Did Baltar ever speculate that Starbuck was a Cylon? Or Anders? Or Tyrol? Or Tigh?
Speculation speculation speculation...
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1-22-2007 @ 1:40AM
Tim-1 said...
How may I begin, to put such a powerful episode in a proper prospective. This was an academy award performance by Grace Park, and will rank among the elite episodes of BSG.
Can you possibly imagine the poignacy and sheer emotional trauma of seeing not one, but two of the most beloved characters in history die in the same episode? Even though expected, the ordeal of watching our treasured Sharon die is beyond my poor powers of description. Brave Sharon demonstrated her depth of character and courageous soul as a devoted mother and brilliant determination.
Then to watch Boomer suffer another violent death was almost too much to bear. Ordinarily,(in anyone else), Boomer's curious unsympathetic attitude towards Sharon and Hera would elicit criticism from me. However, as it is virtually impossible for me to put any of Grace Park's characters in a negative light, I will explain why our long-suffering Boomer behaved as she did.
Boomer's world has been stolen from her much as Hera was stolen from Sharon. Boomer sees in Hera and Sharon the hope and freedom that she feels has been denied her. She does not really hate Hera as much as she hates what has befallen her. Even her fencemending with the humans was a failure. Could anyone blame her for being bitter at the universe?
The more we observe the conducts of both human and cylon societies, the more we understand how tragically similer they are, singularly and collectivly.
The pioneering of societies is built with the hardiness of men with the patience of lifetimes. It is the will that sustains and the grudging acceptance to sacrifice the dear for the dreams of tomorrow. In the end, the coolness of the intellect is king over what is the composition of progress. But it is within the hearts of men (and women) that eventually defines the essence of what he wants to be.....and what he ultimately trys to become.
Finally....finally.....somebody told Rosepin off!
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1-22-2007 @ 2:26AM
Akbar Fazil said...
Well I guess it is good her character is boxed then David so you wont have the opportunity to continue to act like a child.
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1-22-2007 @ 2:30AM
Glenn said...
Good episode...but I'm beginning to have the beginnings of a bad feeling in the back of my mind. I'm starting to worry about the mythology/mysteries of the show. We saw it with the "X-Files", and we are living through it with "Lost" again now. I fear the great unknown has no answer and/or somehow the series will drag on for too many years/get canceled before a satisfactory resolution of these issues. I'd *like* to believe that they have far too much respect for this show to EVER let anything like that happen, but TV in general has such a bad track record with these things I can't help but be a little worried.
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1-22-2007 @ 5:55AM
Wisconsin Kow said...
I have a theory that the six white tapestries might help bolster. Given that we know seven of the Cylon models so far, and the final five were unseen - until D'Anna saw at least three of them in this episode... I suspect that five of the white tapestries represent the five unknown Cylon models. The sixth must represent their creator: their god, the person who programmed them.
Or what if it is intended to represent 13 models of Cylons?
I admit, this its a long shot, but we've got twelve colonies represented on the ships' Exodus, in search of their long lost 13th colony. What if the Cylon's unknown quest is to search for their 13th lost Cylon model?
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1-22-2007 @ 8:44AM
Discosis said...
As far as the tapestries go... the final five were standing in the spaces between the tapestries. Six tapestries, 5 spaces. Don't think there's anything more to it than that (other than the fact that it looked pretty).
So who could D'Anna have seen? Either of the Adama boys is too easy a guess (also, its been hinted at so probably misdirection). Maybe Laura Roslyn?
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1-22-2007 @ 9:19AM
Tim said...
I think they had Baltar in a body bag to prevent people from retaliating - sort of like how Cally killed Sharon. They probably want to interogate him before they do anything else.
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1-22-2007 @ 10:29AM
Misty said...
I'm torn between Starbuck and the Chief for Mystery Cylon. My husband is calling it for Laura.
So I guess we'll see who's right. If either of us...
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1-22-2007 @ 11:02AM
Akbar Fazil said...
Here is a thought. What if the mystery cylon that D'Anna saw is NOT a human we know but one of the other 6 cylons? You could easily play Brother Cavil in that role and resurrect a Count Iblis like plot with him. Even with D'Anna at the end telling him he will look for them too. I don't think she quite remembered everything from that encounter.
My take on the episode:
Again, the story keeps on moving and we get a great ride. However, I felt once again they overshot the story on this episode and most got left on the editing room floor.
-A Brother Cavil with D'Anna and Baltar. WTF? (and look at the promo shots for this episode, we were supposed to see a Leoban on the surface as well)
-Starbuck and Dee: They should have had a bit more of a conversation over the whole "my husband ordered me to save Starbuck" thing, but looking at the preview for next week we may get more of that.
-Roslin and Adama at total odds from the previous episode. I saw none of the rift that started between them last time present in this episode.
However, this was still a rocking episode. Helo shooting Sharon. For those of us who guessed this based off of Keith's spoiler quote, I salute us! I will admit, I did not expect it to come that quick. But a gut shot? Wouldn't that be a long way to die?
Glad we actually got to see Starbucks painting and the temple glyph snyc up. Even if it is a retcon-foreshadow it was nicely played.
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1-22-2007 @ 11:46AM
Lacey said...
See, here's what I think and it could be a super super super long shot, but I've been trying to think about the humans that D'Anna had direct contact with, enough to get an apology out of her.
What about Gaeta?
D'Anna and the other cylons put Gaeta through A LOT when they were down on new Caprica. It could be a long shot, but I wouldn't rule it out.
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1-22-2007 @ 12:51PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Lacey, the theory of Gaeta being a Cylon has been around since the mini series IIRC. Your additional points about his treatment on New Caprica definitely adds more fuel to that fire. Plus, if the final 5 are 100% against the actions of the 7, he being the source of info to the resistance would be perfectly inline.
I personally kind of wish we didn't have to worry about who is a cylon. I personally feel that storyline should be done.
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1-22-2007 @ 1:16PM
Derek said...
I think its obvious who D'Anna would have to apologize to: The guy whose eye she removed.
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1-22-2007 @ 1:55PM
jessie said...
Tigh is the cylon - million bucks. He was tortured on New Caprica-hence the apology, he has never been shown as to question whether he is or not.
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1-22-2007 @ 4:32PM
Cat said...
I don't see how Tigh, one of the Adamas, or Roslin could be a cylon.
A) Tigh, Admiral Adama, and Roslin are too old. Considering how the first cylons were machines and the skin models were developed later, I really don't think these three could be cylons, even you wanted them to be, if you're sticking with the show's timeline.
B) That also means that neither of the Adama boys could be a cylon, because one of their parents would have to be (or something), and supposedly Hera is the 'first of the new generation' so it doesn't make any sense continuity-wise.
My money's on Gaeta or Baltar.
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1-22-2007 @ 4:38PM
Keith McDuffee said...
What I wonder is what did D'Anna mean when she told Baltar he was right? I guess we'd have to go back through everything he said to figure out what's meant there. Is he right about thinking he's a Cylon, maybe?
As for Adama and Roslin being "too old," what would stop the Cylons from, say, kidnapping Roslin at some point in the past, creating a Cylon model in her image and then just terminating her?
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1-22-2007 @ 6:17PM
The Jay said...
Keith, I'd like you to come on to my internet radio show for an interview on Battlestar: Galactica. I couldn't find you contact info on the site, so I'm hoping you read this. My show is called PopLoad and is aired through the website NowInLa.com.
If you're interested in being interviewed, please contact me at jasonamatthews@yahoo.com
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