(S04E17) Before I go all spoilery on tonight's episode, what was the tattoo on Starbuck's back? It looked like a temple of some sort. Was it the Temple of Five?Tonight's episode had its share of "what the frak" moments. It had some revelations, but it created more mystery than it solved. I was a little annoyed at the tease of learning the secret behind Starbuck's resurrection that ultimately didn't happen.
It's official. Boomer is a manipulative, evil bitch. Bad enough that she tricked poor, vulnerable Tyrol (who has lost both his wife and son this season) into releasing her, but she also manipulated Helo into cheating on his wife with her while her fellow model Eight, Athena, was watching. Then, to win the Ultra Mega Bitch Gold Medal, she kidnaps Athena's child. If you didn't hate Boomer before, you do now.
While Boomer was sexing it up with Helo, did anybody notice the creaking sounds of the ship? It was a great metaphor comparing the dissolution of the crew's cohesion with the similar situation of the Galactica's hull (shown with greater effect near the episode's end).
Tyrol is probably feeling like crap right now. The only comfort I can give is that when Athena and Helo find out, he'll feel worse. You'd think he'd be a little suspicious and ask "what's in the crate," but love makes you do some crazy things.
The Cylons now likely have Hera. This means that the only thing protecting the fleet from an all-out human-hating attack by the Cavil-led Cylons is gone. Oh, and only Battlestar in the fleet is falling apart.
A model Six has now become the Cylon equivalent of Harvey Milk by being the first publicly-elected out-of-the-closet Cylon in the history of the 12 colonies. And we know what happened to him.
As mentioned before, I felt kind of cheated that we didn't learn more about the mystery of Starbuck's resurrection. We did, however, learn the secret of her issues with men and why she treats any man that loves her like crap (*cough*Apollo*cough*). It's always about Daddy, isn't it? I knew once Hera gave her that paper that it meant something. At least we now know the "stars" were a Cylon mating call or some equivalent. I'm surprised it wasn't the sheet music for "All Along the Watchtower."
Tonight's episode seemed to revolve around the theme of loss. Starbuck's loss of hope (hence her redundant life), the ship's loss of structure, and the fleet's loss of protection from the Cylons.
This episode still leaves all too many questions unanswered, particularly with only three episodes left. What is Starbuck? She has memories of a childhood, but are they real or were they fake like Cylon projection? Also, since this Cylon projection thing is possible, wouldn't that explain the connection between Baltar and Six? So, who's the Cylon here? Are both Baltar and Starbuck? Are neither?
All I can say is that it's keeping me tuned in. Expectations are sky-high for this series. I wonder if any climax will satisfy the masterful story Ron Moore and company have built. One can hope.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
2-28-2009 @ 4:46AM
Eric said...
No mention Dreilide Thrace as perhaps being Daniel, the artist Cylon #7?
Kara could be the first half-Cylon.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 9:40AM
Mr A said...
I had the same sentiment regarding the possible connection between Dreilide and Daniel.
2-28-2009 @ 6:26AM
Wii60 said...
This is 100%, without a doubt, the BEST show on TV right now.
Bar none.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 6:42AM
Blue said...
"You'd think he'd be a little suspicious and ask "what's in the crate," but love makes you do some crazy things."
Tyrol would have assumed that the crate was full of food for the six day mission. You can see a montage of pilots loading them up in Raptors during Starbuck's debriefing.
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2-28-2009 @ 8:55AM
andrew said...
I thought the music Hera handed Starbuck *was* All Along the Watchtower? It seemed to be the bassline. Ellen and Saul indicated that much in the scene after Saul questioned Starbuck at the piano.
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2-28-2009 @ 12:58PM
Dorv said...
2nded. It WAS the music for Watchtower.
2-28-2009 @ 9:07AM
Usama said...
Hey, last episode when Boomer brought Ellen onto Galactica, did they ever explain HOW Boomer and Ellen found Galactica?
Eric: I agree!
Andrew: I think it was the song as well.
Please don't die Galactica.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 12:59PM
Dorv said...
Boomer's plot lends more credence to what a lot of us said last week, that Cavil has known where the fleet was all along, and just wanted to hatch a plot.
3-02-2009 @ 3:14PM
donkey23 said...
Awful big risk though, letting one of the final five go on what has to be a longshot--that boomer could get Hera and escape. But yeah, it makes sense that Cavil and boomer already knew. And, let's face it, with the end nearing, the writers on this show have painted themselves into a lot of corners.
2-28-2009 @ 9:17AM
Ronny said...
Don't know about you guys, but for me it was just another dragging episode like last week.
I certainly hope things will pick up. We have 4 hours (yes, I know it's 3 episodes...) left, and I'm starting to get this weird feeling that it's not going to end right...know what I'm sayin'?
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2-28-2009 @ 10:13AM
Jimmy said...
I was that way for about the first 45 minutes, but then like the previous episode, they hit you with the last 15 minutes of major events. For me, it made up for the boring parts.
3-01-2009 @ 9:10AM
kenm said...
I completely agree. There's only a few episodes left and I'm not at all thrilled with the quality of this season and the direction the show has taken. BSG has really gone downhill since the beginning of season 3. I'll probably go back and watch seasons 1 and 2 again someday but I don't think I will bother with 3 and 4. Of course, I'll keep watching until the finale but really, I'm just not looking forward to it anymore.
2-28-2009 @ 9:18AM
John Heltsley said...
Starbuck's tattoo is a pyramid, with a ball on top - likely a reference to the sport (Pyramid) she and Sam played.
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2-28-2009 @ 1:01PM
Dorv said...
IIRC, its been around since at least New Caprica, and thus prior to the temple.
2-28-2009 @ 9:59AM
Christina said...
That song was indeed Watchtower, and if you doubt me, go read Mo Ryan's interview with the writers at the Watcher blog.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 9:57AM
HVLong said...
I love Boomer and Athena. I do feel bad for Helo though. He will eat himself alive for what happened, particularly that Athena was forced to watch.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1519033/battlestar_galactica_someone_to_watch.html?cat=39
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2-28-2009 @ 10:28AM
Jimmy said...
I was really starting to hate this episode. I wanted to know more about what was going on with Starbuck, but I think the writers gave us more than we think. To my thinking, the piano player was Cylon #7 Daniel and Starbuck is either a transgender Daniel or his daughter. It would be just like Cavil to turn the weak artist into into a kick-ass, female fighter jock complete with implanted memories. Ron Moore has said in a couple of interviews that Daniel will not play a large role in the final episodes but then he also said Starbuck was dead and gone for good a couple years ago. These guys love throwing out red herrings to keep the viewers from figuring out what's going on.
When it finally dawned on me how much Tyrol was getting played I was actually on the edge of my seat. Hera in the hands of Cavil cannot be a good thing, but sets up the final three episodes for something big to happen. Obviously Hera is key to whatever is going to happen.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 10:47AM
Kronos said...
The only issue I had with last nights episode was the prison switch. I mean, I know the lights were out and all, but how did Tyrol:
1. Drag an Eight out of the hangar and down to wherever the brig is located
2. Sneak past the guards with an unconscious Eight in tow
3. Get Boomer out of the locked brig cell
4. Get HER past the guards and out of the brig
5. Return to the brig to tap a telephone on the glass and proclaim the power is fixed
Help from the inside?
On the other hand, I readily accept and don't have a problem with:
1. FTL drives
2. Cylon resurrection
3. Artificial gravity on all ships
4. Hearing large explosions from other ships in the vacuum of space
Oh who cares, it's a great show and I've enjoyed it since day one. I'll be sad to see it go, but I'd rather have it end this way rather than it simply being cancelled years down the road due to horrid story lines and lack of viewership.
Think they'll explode the old girl at the end? She was museum quality when the show started, so it might be a good bookend for the series.
Reply
2-28-2009 @ 11:43AM
Jussup said...
"On the other hand, I readily accept and don't have a problem with:
1. FTL drives
2. Cylon resurrection
3. Artificial gravity on all ships
4. Hearing large explosions from other ships in the vacuum of space"
LOL
3-02-2009 @ 3:14PM
donkey23 said...
GREAT post, Kronos.