(S04E03) At the conclusion of last week's episode, I made mention of how quickly things were moving along, specifically with the Cylon Centurions' evolution. I thought for sure things would settle down this week, but they gave me a surprise. Hell, I think they gave everyone a surprise. Sorta.
By "sorta" a surprise, I mean the death of Cally. As I was taking notes watching this episode, I was going to mention how obvious it was that Tory would eventually get rid of Cally. She had some newfound Cylon-ish motive to take Cally out of the picture, and she just seemed ... suddenly evil. What surprised me was how quickly Cally was done away with, as I figured for sure it would happen in a future episode. You just knew what was going to happen when Cally so foolishly handed Nicky over to Tory.
Speaking of Tory's evilness, if we keep seeing Cylons taking such pleasure in harming or killing humans, how are we ever expected to sympathize or side with them, if that's what's meant to happen when all's said and done? They seem to be the embodiment of evil, whereas I don't recall humans enjoying killing Cylons (with the exception of Starbuck.) Could it be that there are just some "bad apples" to the bunch, just as there are with humans?
From a half-naked Sharon last week to a fully-naked Cavil this week. Yeesh. Y'know, even though Cavil had a half-naked Sharon dancing for him last week, I was still surprised at the kiss in this episode. That Number 8 is sure turning out to be the slut model of the Cylons. Or is it Number 6? Who can tell.
Maybe it was mentioned last week that the ship Starbuck would be on was named the Demetrius. I guess I should have made the connection, as it was a ship we saw being built during the BSG set visit last year. What surprised me most was the crew that was on-board with Starbuck. Anders was a surprise, even though he has a relationship with Starbuck. He mentions that "some" of them volunteered to accompany her on the ship, but Gaeta?! Doesn't he hate Starbuck? Isn't he crucial to the operations of the Galactica, especially should it come under fire? Maybe someone can explain to me why that made any logical sense at all.
I thought for sure we were going to get more answers regarding the final Cylon tonight, as I swear the promos said "all will be revealed" for this episode. It's possible to overanalyze Cally's death and how the Resurrection Ship wasn't with the Cylon Basestars. Was it transported somewhere closer to the Galactica fleet? I doubt it. Cally is gone for good, though every time I saw Doc Cottle ... I'm keeping my eye on him.
I need to rant one last time about this -- they use "frak" way too much. In fact, I'd be less offended if they used the honest to gods, Earthly curse word "fuck." Every time they say "frak," I cringe just a little, because it's silly. And when they say it ten times in one scene? I have no problem suspending disbelief for most everything else on this show, but this one gets to me. I'll get over it.
There's not a whole lot to say about Starbuck's journey right now. Her conversation with Anders makes you wonder how long she's going to be kept in the dark about what he is. Clearly she seems nuts to everyone, and there's a lot of foreshadowing of a mutiny. I suspect that as soon as they are within range of Earth, the crew will be on the verge of taking over the ship when, suddenly, "what's that on the screen? It's a gas giant with rings!"
Some final thoughts:
- How does Tory, a presidential aide, know how to operate what should be a complicated (and guarded!) airlock? And what are her plans for little Nicky? Remember, she still knows about Hera too.
- Baltar was totally absent from this episode. It's interesting how people either hate or love the guy, usually nobody in between.
- Lee is already showing his strength in his new position, though is he more of a puppet for Zarek? Roslin seems to be overstepping her bounds and is going to have a little mutiny of her own soon.
- Could it be that some of the Cylon models are now dead at the hands of Cavil? It's as though Cavil is the Roslin of the Cylons; his way or the highway, bub.
- Some commenters keep bringing up the "ship of lights" from the original series, and I'm starting to wonder if that might hold water, after seeing Starbuck's vision. Please, please Ronald D. Moore, make it not suck.
Current fleet population: 39,675 (-1 for Cally)
Quote of the episode:
Cavil: "We're machines dear, remember. We don't have souls."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
4-18-2008 @ 11:15PM
Wii60 said...
In these days it is rare to be surprised by a TV show. It is so easy to get spoiled on the internet. I can't remember the last time I was shocked by a TV death.
I did not see this one coming.
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4-18-2008 @ 11:17PM
fthg42 said...
I think the "all will be revealed" comment refers more to this season as a whole, as it's been in pretty much every other promo for the fourth season. Of course, at this point they're raising more questions than they are revealing answers, so there's a whole lot of revealin' to be had come the finale....
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4-18-2008 @ 11:23PM
Frank Wrench said...
You know, I saw the final scene coming from last week's promos, but I still felt shocked by it. Maybe it's because Cally really didn't deserve that at all.
Anyone notice how Anders was staring at Starbuck's back after they did it? Maybe it was turning red. Probably not, but who knows?
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4-18-2008 @ 11:24PM
mayorjimmy said...
It's fun to guess at what's going to happen. sometimes you're right, and sometimes you're wrong. i was wrong on my wild theory that Cally was the final cylon.
Here's a new theory. What if the cycle repeats itself? By that, i mean what if the cylons revolt again? The newfound "intelligence" given to the centurions might just backfire on the skinjobs. what if the toaster versions were ALWAYS meant to revolt and upset the order of things?
While I'm with you on the whole "frak" thing, i don't blame the show. I don't even blame the FCC for putting the rules in place that say you can't say "fuck". i blame this entire country of lazy parents who can't be bothered to monitor what their kids watch and figure it's just easier to let the government practice censorship. you pathetic bunch of fraks sicken me.
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4-20-2008 @ 8:18PM
JimmyPie said...
This is a common misconception, and I want to nip it in the comment bud: the FCC has NO AUTHORITY to censor or fine cable, satellite, or internet video. NONE. They are only allowed to label TV broadcasts and radio broadcasts indecent and fine them.
The lack of many "Fucks" on cable television is a result of network policy, so the blame should be placed squarely with SciFi.
4-21-2008 @ 5:01AM
mayorjimmy said...
***sigh*
let me explain how it works in the corporate world for someone obviously slow on the uptake.....
fines = censorship
the idea behind them being: make saying unapproved language or showing "inappropriate" visual images so costly that a TV show would rather make up a similar sounding word and roll with the awkwardness of how it sounds rather than add an extra hundred thousand or so into the cost of making a show.
4-21-2008 @ 10:24AM
Astin said...
The FCC's jurisdiction is over the air broadcasts (ie.- networks), NOT cable. Hence why the Sopranos, Deadwood, Sex and the City, etc, etc, are able to say "fuck" as much as they want as well as have sex and nudity.
Sci Fi is cable, and therefore doesn't fall under FCC regulations or fines. The decision to go with "frak" was either a corporate one (so it could be watched by younger audiences without parental complaints) or creative one, NOT governmental.
4-21-2008 @ 11:02AM
mayorjimmy said...
so let me see if i understand.....
- the scifi channel. a channel with a core viewership of nerds and geeks.
- they have a show in which they have featured at least a dozen or so sex scenes, tons of side-boob, and naked from the shoulder-up chicks.
- in the beginning they used the sex appeal of Tricia Helfer, a woman who has appeared in Playboy thus showing there doesn't seem to be an actress issue with nudity, as one of the primary marketing tools.
- there doesn't seem to be any changing of "naughty" words that ARE allowed to be said (ass, bitch) words that wouldn't bring about fines.
and you actually expect us to buy that they've been holding out on nudity and fuck for what? the goodness of their hearts? artistic integrity? i'm supposed to believe that they sat around and said "ok people. we're going to show genocide. we're going to have physical and emotional torture. there's going to be lots of death. a man is going to poison his wife. a woman will almost commit suicide and bring her child along for the ride. BUT..... i simply cannot abide us using the word 'fuck' or showing any nudity. dammit we have to hold ourselves to a better standard than anyone else."
i'd like a hit of whatever you're smoking please.
4-18-2008 @ 11:39PM
Josh said...
Anyone notice the number of the weapons locker where the cylons on Galactica met?
1701D
Anyone recognize that number? :)
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4-19-2008 @ 12:58AM
Wii60 said...
totally saw that
4-19-2008 @ 10:32AM
Ronny said...
The "1701D" was so cool.
I stopped my Tivo and stared at it for 2 minutes, thinking about the day RDM was a TNG writer :)
4-18-2008 @ 11:43PM
Major Otis said...
felgercarb!
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4-18-2008 @ 11:46PM
eastbayguy said...
I had a bit of a different take on Tory and her actions. I didn't see her as "evil" necessarily. She didn't allow herself to be sealed in the launch tube expressly to kill Cally. She put herself in danger of being ejected into space in order to save the baby, a human/Cylon hybrid. She was willing to sacrifice herself in order to prevent Cally from killing the child. That was what Cally was in the launch tube to do, remember ... to kill herself and her baby.
Once the baby was safe, then Tory removed the threat that Cally would continue to pose if allowed to live. You know how dearly some Cylons want to be able to reproduce like humans. Tory would do nearly anything to save a human/Cylon child ... including murder in order to protect the child.
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4-19-2008 @ 1:52AM
Michael said...
or cylon/cylon love child; the first of it's kind? perhaps that's nicky's true importance?
though how tory would know that i don't know ... but still, that baby's important, i have a feeling
4-19-2008 @ 9:20AM
LC said...
Exactly Eastbayguy. I didn't see her as evil either. I too saw Tory as removing a threat. If Cally were to tell anyone about what she knew, it would be lights out for the three that she discovered. Add to that that she was about to kill herself and the baby, she wasn't too stable to begin with. It was cold and calculated, but I didn't see her as taking pleasure in it.
4-19-2008 @ 6:02PM
Oneiroi said...
While I'm sure that she wanted to rescue the baby, there's no reason for these cylons to obsess over hybrid children yet.
4-18-2008 @ 11:55PM
Picviewer said...
Gaeta was probably along on the Demetrius since he was continuing with Baltars' research so he'd a logical candidate to help find earth again.
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4-19-2008 @ 12:12AM
eugene said...
the cally death was shocking for me as well. And I hate cally, I've wanted to see her die for a while now but to have her killed right after her character was redeemed... wow.
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4-19-2008 @ 12:23AM
SJ said...
They gave away the death in the promos. Her watching the meeting...Tory standing outside the airway holding the baby...I was extremely positive that Cally was going to be killed. I decided not to watch the promos anymore but I can't resist!
It doesn't make sense to send both Gaeta and Helo on the mission. Haven't both of them been crucial to Galactica?
I am someone who is in the middle about Gaius...I just sort of find him intriguing...don't hate him or love him.
I am liking the new political aspect of this show (though obviously there has been always a political element to this show). Roslin is supposed to be the "good gal" but she seems more like a benevolent dictator at this point.
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4-19-2008 @ 12:37AM
1iPete said...
Not sure if Tory is evil or merely cold and efficient when she had to be to protect the 4. Frankly that could be a practical trait she learned from Laura Roslin instead of her newfound Cylon-ness.
I do sympathize with the Cylons and have hated "frak" since day 1 of the miniseries.
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