'Battlestar Galactica': Mutiny on the trash ship
Last week on Battlestar Galactica, we got a cameo from Starbuck and the not-so-merry crew of the Demetrius. This week? We get a longer look, and if you thought the Earth-scouts were unhappy before...
(You don't need to go searching for spoilers.)
Starbuck, our favorite girl with a Destiny, has done some nice touch-up work on her mural to Earth, but her sanity's still lacking. With just two days left until the Demetrius has to jump back to the fleet, Starbuck accompanies Hotdog on a scouting run. Want to guess how thrilled the crew is? Only Helo stops a possible mutiny.
While on patrol, Starbuck and Hotdog run across a battered, drifting heavy raider. Probably flashing back to the raider that originally maybe led her to Earth, Starbuck refuses to open fire. Who should open comm but Leoben, her old tormentor? Ugh. So slimy. So very slimy. Still, Starbuck somehow sees him as a way to find Earth.
Once on board, Leoben reveals a hybrid has described Earth to the rebel Cylons. Unfortunately, that was before the ambush of a couple of episodes ago. His basestar limped away from the battle, but it's not doing well. Before he can do much more than incite more talk of a mutiny, though, Leoben's raider explodes and takes out Sgt. Mathias. Starbuck beats Leoben almost to death buts stops, prompting him to say she's changed and is a right angel, she is.
Yeesh. We get it. She has a Destiny. Could she maybe fulfill it?
Anyway, Leoben wants an alliance between the humans and rebel Cylons, but the crew isn't keen on jaunting over to the crippled basestar and maybe providing them a map to the fleet. Doesn't matter, Starbuck's in charge and she is ka-razy. She insists the Demetrius head to the basestar instead of back to the fleet.
You can probably guess how well that goes over. Admiral Adama? Okay, he could pull off that order. Even Apollo could sell it. But Starbuck is bug-eyed crazy most of the time, and this crew especially is disinclined to trust her. After much clenching of his jaw, Helo relieves Starbuck of command, Sharon behind him like Lady Macbeth. Argh! What I'd give for some forward momentum in this story!
There's even less in the B-plot, in which Chief tries to figure out what Cally saw in Baltar's teachings. Baltar's still doing the self-help shtick, but much as he tries, Chief can't buy in. Finally, Baltar comes to Chief's quarters, and in a nice human moment, talks about how despite his hideous crimes, Baltar really and truly sees this as redemption. A truce is called.
So, was I dreaming that this is the show's last season? I feel like the pacing is drastically slow considering the myriad storylines to resolve. Sure, next week promises to give us at least a few answers, but right now I'm worried about how well we'll be able to appreciate the fleet's final push to Earth.
Oh ye of little faith.
I believe that Moore knows where this ship is headed, and knows what stories need to be told before it gets there. I don't think think of the pace as glacial at all. I think they are trying to give us more character depth, before they plunge us headlong into the endgame.
I think they are trying to sell how fractured and desperate Starbuck and the rest of humanity has become since New Caprica. These are people who have experienced the worst case of PTSD imaginable, and they are all hanging by a thread. Humanity will arrive at Earth, but will there be anything worthwhile left of them when they get there?
HOLY FRAK , I WANNA TOSS STARBUCK OUT THE NEAREST AIRLOCK...oopps must be the toaster in me
The character of Helo has to be one of the my favorites on TV, for no apparent reason. I don't know, I guess I like the honorable, loyal individual who tries to do what's right.
Aaron Douglas gave one of the better performances I've seen an actor this year. Made me think a bit of Michael Chiklis.
Callum Keith Rennie did a nice job as well.
I'd like to see Kara develop a bit. She's a bit limited.
This whole man of science going to man of faith thing with Gaius is, eh. I like the fact that they are discussing religion, something many shows are wary of. But it seems, awkward. I feel like I know what the end game might be, and the end game I've envisioned makes some sense (although no spoilers suggest what I am thinking) but the route there is so ... awkward.
That said, with their budget, the top episodes are usually at the beginning, middle, and end, and these episodes are often pacing.
Sorry, this episode was miles and away filler and the worst so far. Please, less of Starbuck and Baltar! They are the least interesting and most cartoonish characters!
Out of all of the story arcs left hanging at the end of Season 3, the fate of Baltar was probably my least favorite. It's unfortunate that its the one that has gotten the most screentime since Season 4 started :\
The only thing, for me, that keeps it interesting is that Baltar's teachings are tied in to the Final Five (the whole singular-God thing), first Tory and now Tyrol starting to buy into it as they come to accept their Cylon natures.
And speaking of that, I would have loved to see more interplay between Leoban and Anders. It's a unique situation that they both have feelings for Kara, and they're both Cylons. I wondered more than once last night if Leobon knew if Anders was one, and I kept expecting Anders to stand up for Kara at the mutiny.
Anders kinda did stand up for her and i suspect will do so more forcefully next week. Personally, the pacing isn't bothering me at all. I was under the impression they were doing 10 now and 10 later for the final season, so they still have time to give us a satisfying conclusion. I have complete faith in the showrunners they will not disappoint us either.
For some reason, "skinjobs" can't tell who the final five are, but the mechanical Cylons can. I really am looking forward to next week when they meet up with the baseship. Also this has to be the first episode that i can recall without Adama, Apollo or Roslin in it at all. Still, i enjoyed it.
I guess they were trying to get across the parallel storylines b/w the 4 new cylons and existing 7 cylons (in fighting amongst them) and they used the Demetrius crew to p*** along that story while attempting to move along the journey to Earth.
"Oh ye of little faith.
I believe that Moore..."
Yeah, yeah. Always the same schtick from the uberfans; the creators of the show can do no wrong. I remember reading the same thing with Alias, with the Wheel of Time books, with BtVS, the list goes on and on.
It's basically an admission that, yeah, this episode was slow, but with "I think things will get better" tacked on at the end.
BSG has been slowing down since the last season. It may be sci-fi network's fault, since it started when they demanded more stand alone episodes. This season has been very weak so far.
I'd argue that BSG remains one of the best dramas currently on television, well into its fourth season. The quality of the writing and acting elevates it beyond the standard fare, and even when it moves slowly, it moves with a purpose.
You know, Kublai, someone disagreeing with you doesn't mean they're so blinded by their fandom that they can't see the shining truth that you can. It just means they disagree with you, that's all. Variety is the ****e of life.