(S04E18) I know it's a little late in the game to make this sort of observation, what with the show having only two episodes left, but if I were to compare characters in this show to characters in Gilligan's Island, I would say that Six is Ginger, Eight is Mary Ann and President Roslin is Mrs. Howell. Adama would naturally be the Skipper and Tigh would be Gilligan. I'm still working on Mr. Howell and the Professor.In the beginning of the episode, either in someone's fantasy or projection or reality, Hera is moving the Galactica in a position next to the enemy Cylon fleet. Foreshadowing?
No matter what Adama and Tigh say at the end, I can't see Galactica going down in anything but a blaze of glory against an attacking fleet. Given the coming attractions and Hera's opening chess move, that's likely what is going to happen.
It's nice to see Baltar go back to being a scientist for a moment, since that's how he started before he moved to politician and then religious icon. Perhaps it was the creators' way of noting the similarities between the three. It was also kind of retro to see Baltar and Caprica Six together again since together (along with the Cylon fleet), they are responsible for the destruction of the Colonies. It must hurt to get dissed like that by your inner angel.
Last week, I utterly hated Boomer and now I only hate her slightly less. I should have realized that she had maternal feelings based on last week's Cylon projection of a family and the fact that she and Athena are cut from the same cloth. That's undoubtedly going to be a factor in the series' climax.
Only Starbuck would have the stones to piss in front of a guy like that. Although it was kind of foolish to trust Gaius "me, then women and children, first" Baltar with such important information. Favorite line: "Regularity. That must be important when you're full of crap."
The red motif of the Cylon technology reminds me of the fact that the Cylon spine glows red whenever they have sex. How come they never pursued that earlier as a way of detecting Cylons? Just have sex with everyone on the ship and if the spine glows red, they're busted.
So Sam Anders has now become the crazy Cylon Basestar chick. Was Starbuck serious about putting that bullet in his brain? She's certainly unhinged enough to do so. The scene with her and Apollo was touching and furthers my theory of their re-hooking up.
In the wake of the end of their race, Galactica has become so lawless that they're allowing for medical marijuana. For that matter, how do they still have alcohol?
Overall, a decent episode of Galactica and excellent compared to 99% of the other crap on television at this time. I recall the ending of Babylon 5 (a similar space opera series with a similar sort of fanbase) being rather anti-climactic. I'll say it again: given all the hype behind this series, is it possible to even end it in a manner satisfactory to all the fans? We've got two more episodes to find out.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-07-2009 @ 12:16AM
Scott H said...
Babylon 5's ending was anticlimactic because the 5th season was not guaranteed when its creator was writing the 4th one, and he chose to use up his best material and end the story at the end of Season 4. Then he had to vamp through the inferior Season 5.
I'm finding BSG's last episodes to be disappointing. The show is too full of itself. Every move by every character is full of heavy meaning and significance, every speech laden with portent and supposedly deep philosophical meaning, every musical cue a mournful dirge. It's just tiring.
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3-07-2009 @ 1:06AM
Tom said...
I couldn't agree more. I referred to it in past weeks as a certain sense of grandiosity. But you sum it up here better, only I would say that the writers are coming across as full of themselves.
Do you think the writers realize the are frakking this whole thing up? Do you think they are cracking under the pressure like Galatica at the seams? Or do you think they are popping champagne bottles and patting themselves on the back?
Its been a long time since I've seen Babylon 5, but something about what you said rings true about J. Michael Straczynski having to load up on season 4. (Even so, in my memory Babylon 5 wrapped up with what felt like a full circle). Here, doesn't it feel like they are rushing through plot points to wrap this up in four seasons, when they could probably have gone a fifth? Seriously, all the potential action has just fallen by the wayside, and in its place all we've gotten is conversation and exposition and often times contradiction!
I thought they were heading for a coronation after the powerful episodes up to and including Blood on the Scales. (Someone on the staff has a serious Dylan crush). But these last 4 episodes have sucked! After tonight's episode, I feel like Islanded in a Stream of Shit.
3-07-2009 @ 7:33PM
misguided said...
B5's ending was still great! Farscape also ended nicely.
3-07-2009 @ 1:39AM
Tom said...
And another thing...(I just couldn't help myself)...
In keeping with the fine tradition of harping on the reviewer, Brad, I was wondering, is this really the time to whip out the Gilligan's Island reference? With all the other shit pouring from the seams of this show right now, you pick the "glowing cylon spine" to take issue with? Really??!! Dude, you are like two years late on that one. But, you know, whatever you say--professor.
(1) How many more intimate moments do we have to suffer through with Roslin and Adama? Kill the bitch already, I say.
(2) How much more of "emotional" Tigh are we going to have to sit through?
(3) Where the hell was Chief Tyrol in this episode? After last week's angst? Nothing?
(4) I thought THE DECISION to have Starbuck pissing with the door open was kind of crass (I thought: writer's indulgence, part I). But did you notice they put in the sound effect of her pissing? They practically showed her wipe herself! Are they having a laugh? I know BSG is heralded for its gritty realism, but is this what we get in the third to last episode?
(5) I thought Roslin and Adama getting baked on a doobie was gimmicky at best. (I thought, writer's indulgence, part II). It was just lame, and I thought felt thrown in by writer's who no doubt wanted to include some sort of salute to their favorite creative influence in the waning episodes. I'm surprised it didn't continue in a scene with Saul Tigh...
Saul: Geez, Bill, your toasted aren't you!
Adama: And your a toaster. Frak you. Boo hoo hoo hoo.
Saul: Grandpa WAS a belt sander.
(6) How many times IS Adama going to break down and cry like that? Haven't we seen that, like, twice already?
(7) Are we going to have to sit through another comment from Tim-1 about what a powerhouse performance Grace Park gave in this episode? Tim-1, enough. We get it!
(8) Nothing--NOTHING--was revealed in this episode that we all hadn't seen coming like a late season Brett Favre interception.
(9) Did anyone make it out to see the Watchmen on opening night? At 163 minutes, I was scared away, but after watching this episode of General Galactica--aka The Days of Our Cylons--I only wish I had made it out to the multiplex.
(10) How 'bout that U2 on David Letterman? Those guys can still rock the house. I bought the album, and generally had a lukewarm reaction to it, but its steadily growing on me, no doubt influenced by how awesome they've been night in and night out on the Late Show. Unlike BSG4.5. So if you have an unfulfilled desire to watch something awesome, check out:
http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/
Once more with feeling: u2 = great, BSG 4.5 = SUCKS!
I hereby retract every accolade I bestowed on this show in the past. Now excuse me whilst I go watch U2 on my Tivo.
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3-07-2009 @ 9:56AM
L'Emmerdeur said...
You forgot to review this week's daytime soap episodes. Also, could you recommend a good dishwashing detergent? I wait with bated breath.
3-09-2009 @ 6:34PM
The MediaBlog said...
I agree with you on points 1, 5 and 6. Everything else you say is idiotic.
Kidding. Just kidding.
Definitely right about 1, 5 and 6 though. I don't have a problem with touching moments between Roslin and Adama. I have a problem with touching moments between Roslin and Adama that don't move things forward in some way. They love each other. Got it. Move on. You've established the relationship well enough for us to understand that if/when she dies it's going to rip what is left of Adama's heart out of him. Now you're just stalling for time.
The medical marijuana scene struck me as a ham-handed way of making a political point. I'm fine with political points, even ones I disagree with, I just want them to be subtle and well presented. This was neither.
Finally, agreed on the Adama-loses-control-and-throws-things-and-then-collapses-in-tears scene. It's effective once. It's also effective if it is escalating and we're obviously headed for him going completely off the deep end and doing something foolish (i.e. killing himself). There has to be a sense of forward movement if you're going to keep having the same scene over and over again. Otherwise it just feels like you're stalling.
3-07-2009 @ 1:51AM
Charles said...
Whoa. Big up to Tom, straight outta middle-school sport?
You just dissed all the shows strong points. The pissing was crass? But posting shit all over your crap post wasn't ?
I shouldn't be getting bothered though, after all you just wanna see shit blow up right?
Another episode of solid writing, and building tension toward an ultimate end, thumbs up.
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3-07-2009 @ 2:17AM
Tom said...
I call 'em like I see 'em.
You want good writing, dramatic tension, without a lot of stuff blowing up? The Zarek-Gaeta plot line that culminated with Blood on the Scales was EXCELLENT. Compared to that, this stuff is a nosedive. Compared to where this show should have gone to and what it could have achieved, this stuff is, well...I apologize for my language. Let me just say that I feel the sentiment was appropriate. I stand by my commentary.
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3-07-2009 @ 2:21AM
Malren said...
There's a GULF of difference between "blowing shit up" and *NOTHING EVER HAPPENING*. Which is what most of this last run of BSG has been. People standing around talking and nothing ever *happens." The creed is SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME.
Moore and company have forgotten they are making science-fiction television, not writing bad pulp novels with men in kilts and buxom maidens on the cover.
In like a lion, out like a lamb.
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3-07-2009 @ 3:20AM
Clayton said...
Riiiiight. Anyone can blow stuff up. It takes a special kind of storytell to tell it, not show it.
This season is deep on many levels. Obviously too deep for someone like to to get.
Best season of the show by far.
http://makeasitcom.com
3-08-2009 @ 3:26AM
Malren said...
Oh bullshit. You can keep your ridiculous "It's too deep for you to get" crap, kid. Been around that block before you knew there was a block to go around.
Such a weak argument..."You just don't get it." No, I get it, and it's high school lit class pretentious emo bullshit. Meanwhile season one proves you can have depth AND action together.
33 remains the high water mark. Mostly standing around and talking, waiting for the brief flashes of action, but tightly written and FAR less ponderous than these last few episodes. Things happened, people developed, stories moved along. This season has been one ponderous example of Basil Exposition-ing, Moore & Co. trying to write their way out of the corners they boxed themselves into by making it up as they went along.
3-07-2009 @ 6:29AM
Wano said...
BSG - Razor had production codes of S4 E1 and E2, which I think that means that Adama and Roslin shared the blunt because this episode's production code is s4e20. :)
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3-07-2009 @ 7:48AM
Wii60 said...
Actually, when Hera was playing with the ships, I read it as the Galactica literally "turned into" the baseship.
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3-07-2009 @ 8:07AM
Ronny said...
I may be completely wrong here, but anyone noticed the music at the very last scene?
It is the Adamas (Lee+Bill) theme, but the scene had Tigh and Bill.
Hmmm...
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3-08-2009 @ 5:48PM
Tom said...
I could have sworn it was the love theme from Titanic, when Kate and Leo are reunited on the grand staircase...
3-07-2009 @ 8:17AM
Kel said...
Unfortunately foreshadowing is best when it's subtle.
Not so hard Prediction: Adama & Tigh will go down with the ship as they use the newly discovered destructive powers of Galactica's FTL drives' wake from the interior of the newly discovered evil cylcon colony.
Well, at least we'll get some big explosions. ;)
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3-07-2009 @ 8:36AM
Usama said...
Hey I feel pretty much the same as Scott H and Tom, except I am still hopeful about the series finale. Also I haven't yet seen Babylon 5 so I can't compare.
But I agree that the writers seem to be indulging a bit too much and can write and do whatever the hell the want. The fact of the matter is, THEY CAN, as it's their show, but I just don't feel it's been a good use of the past two episodes. The Zarek-Gaeta storyline left me feeling confident that this show would go out in style, and now I'm a bit wary.
Brad I agree about the foreshadowing. When it became obvious the ship wasn't going to make more than 3 jumps I was pretty sure Galactica would be sent on a suicide or maybe even kamikaze mission.
I mean did you guys see the size of that Cylon .. base ... star.. ship.. giant? The thing Boomer brought Hera too? One cylon base star and a broken down Battlestar are not going to be able to take that down even if they didn't have to deal with other cylon ships.
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3-07-2009 @ 8:37AM
Usama said...
I must be smoking, please forgive the obvious mistakes in my comment including the "suicide or kamikaze" statement.
3-07-2009 @ 10:21AM
bc said...
From the design, it looked to me like they were building a new resurrection ship. Which I think would be a priority for this faction.
3-08-2009 @ 4:55AM
Tom said...
I'm not sure what that was. I'm torn between what appeared to be some sort of asteroid, and what looked like it could be a mountain+base on the surface of a purple-hued planet. I only heard it referred to as "the colony." But it was massive--reminded me of V'ger from Star Trek, the interior of the mothership from "Independence Day," the transwarp hub from Star Trek: Voyager, Endgame, etc., etc., etc.