He That Believeth in Me (401)

[gravityStar]

That's pretty much what they were trying to protray. If you also notice, I believe most of the scenes showing large shots of his followers -- or, you might say, disciples -- showed twelve of them huddled around him. He was also persecuted and put on a virtual cross via his trial, but after everyone assumed he was going to be a dead man... he survived and began what's shaping up to be a new life as a messiah.

It's all a red herring, though. If anyone on the show is going to be a Christ figure, it's going to be Kara. She's the one who's returned from the dead and has been gifted with an ability to lead the survivors to their view of heaven. She's pulled off miracles time and again through the series and has been persecuted and tested at every turn. Recovering the arrow of Athena, surviving the perverse Cylon experiments on Caprica, escaping from the grasps of death by "converting" an enemy Cylon Raider, etc. Now she's struggling to find people to believe in and follow her despite the established status quo, because she's "seen" her God -- Earth -- and knows she can lead everyone to him.

Think back to were Baltar comes from. Hedonistic, selfish, no faith. Back in the mini-series on Caprica, he desperately wanted to take that old woman's number and get in the transport. He was trying to think of something to do or say that would get him saved.

Now, in this episode he is willing to make a deal with God and give up his life. That deal doesn't mean much, because face it; people make deals with God all the time where they don't intend to keep up their part of the bargain. But here is Gaius Baltar, willing to actually go through with it, and give up his life. He has become a man of faith. I'm not calling him a saint, or a savior, or whatever. But one thing is certain; he believes.

As others have said, the time descrepency is likely due to the means of FTL she used to travel so far so quickly. Einstein for the win. The ship is definitely a mystery, but if you think about it... why would anyone who could recreate both Kara and the ship in exacting detail not bother to ding the ship up like it was when she left? Especially since that would be such an obvious thing to notice? My only guess is that whatever method of travel was employed, it functioned sort of like the transporters in Star Trek; cleaning up a few obvious errors when it rebuilt the ship on the other end. Pretty lame guess, admittedly, but it's all I have at the moment.

The brand-new viper is a statement itself. Whoever built it, this was the _first_ one. Think about that, somebody built a Viper, their _first_ Viper and it's perfect. It isn't just a copy, or a bad replica. No, it's perfection.

Oh, and as a final note, it's easy to answer why none of the Seven ever recognized Tigh or anyone else. Six explained it quite simply. They were programmed to never think about them, even when they could obviously feel their presence. The question is: Why where they programmed that way?

Spoiler:

The Cylons have a plan. But I think only a select few of them know what it is. All the others Cylons have been manipulated into executing it.

[ArthurKing]

Think back to were Baltar comes from. Hedonistic, selfish, no faith. Back in the mini-series on Caprica, he desperately wanted to take that old woman's number and get in the transport. He was trying to think of something to do or say that would get him saved.

Now, in this episode he is willing to make a deal with God and give up his life. That deal doesn't mean much, because face it; people make deals with God all the time where they don't intend to keep up their part of the bargain. But here is Gaius Baltar, willing to actually go through with it, and give up his life. He has become a man of faith. I'm not calling him a saint, or a savior, or whatever. But one thing is certain; he believes.

Ah, one thing you may be overlooking is Baltar's genius ability to manipulate and control a situation. I'd encourage you to watch the scene again. Pay very close attention to Baltar's facial expressions and where he puts his eyes.

A very plausible interpretation is that he saw the boy getting better and then orchestrated the scene so that he could play up the 'prophet' role while simultaneously ensuring his stability in this temporary refuge. Notice earlier, he didn't say one way or the other in terms of whether the boy would ultimately die (they ended the scene with the woman's trailing voice). Then, as he sees him recovering, he realizes it's 'safe' to make his prayer, etc.

In Ron Moore's mind, Gaius Baltar is about one thing and one thing only: Gaius Baltar. I remember a while back I thought he was having a 'redepmtive' moment as well (I think in the episode where the nuclear weapon went off in the fleet?). It didn't pan out.

Also consider: Baltar is in a very precarious position! He has nowhere to go! He's with a cult whose protection of him will only continue if he appeases their sense of him being some great religious figure! Danger is on all sides, even from his supposed protectors! (I'd point to the start of the bathroom scene where the woman removes the razor. Look, the camera work was clearly playing up the dangerous ambiguity in that first moment: is she going to harm him?) Baltar's mind is working the whole time to save his #1 priorty: Baltar!

Good first post, btw, and welcome to the boards!

[Night Marshal]

As so beings the first ten episode teaser that will leave us hanging for at least six mouths. I have to say I really not sure why they felt they had to end with such a fake cliffhanger. Everyone knows there not going to kill Roslin, But they sure as hell pushed that Drum as loud and has hard as they could to make you think something bad was going to happen. And if you have learned anything from BSG if there going to surprise you there not going to have two minutes of drums before they do the deed.

I think the reactions to Kara coming back are as you would expect there no reason to listen to her. I also liked how four Cylons are fighting with who they are. And I hope that leaving the Viper will finally make Lee less Emo.

But all that said BSG is still kinda Meh it just doesn't have the same hold on me it once did. I think that will change as this season goes on and next week show looks much better than this one. But I will wait and see. I just found out I'm going to be nelson house for this may sweeps and I haven't decided if BSG has earned my vote yet.

[jenks]

Another snooze fest wrapped around some high quality CGI, can't say I'm surprised. This 'intense' way they all try to speak now is really getting beyond a joke, they all sound like they've got a sore throat, BSG is on the verge of turning to cheese they're trying so hard.

[Zamboni]

Gaius Baltar = Jesus Christ.

I didn't know Jesus was so popular among the ladies...

I mean, he's banged pretty much every cylon, human, and imaginary chicks in the entire show!!!

What's his power, turn water into Viagra?!

And I can't believe yet another "to be continued"... Dammit I want more... NOW!!!

*clutches head and screams like Starbuck... but in a manly manner*

[LoneStar1836]

didn't like the Baltar storyline though, those people remind me too much of the telepaths in s5 of B5

Missed this on my first read of the thread. Yeah, they do kind of remind me of them. And I really disliked that storyline on B5. I couldn't stand Byron or the actor that played him.... Luckily I like James Callis.

I do think the Baltar stuff in this ep did drag it down. His story is not my favorite, though I do find he and his part in the story of BSG interesting.

The brand-new viper is a statement itself. Whoever built it, this was the _first_ one. Think about that, somebody built a Viper, their _first_ Viper and it's perfect. It isn't just a copy, or a bad replica. No, it's perfection.

Interesting take.

The Viper is obviously a key to understanding what's going on with Kara.

Welcome to the board.

[frakurface]

great season premiere!

[Andy_Actual]

This is my first entry...I thought that last night's episode was great, especially the first 10 minutes! Watched it with my wife (both of us are fans) and when the first commercial break came on we just looked at each other, opened mouthed and wide-eyed! Of course, I wasn't expecting anything in Episode 1 in terms of answers, of course not...it's a season-setter, an opener, a bloody tease is what it is! As for the speculation on the whole situation, I think the writers have done a great job in creating a show that spurs people into discussion and guessing what is going on. My take on Starbuck's return is that she DID die, (the gun-camera shows it, Apollo saw it and she'd been gone for ages). Now she's back with a brand-new Viper, and she was gone for 6 hours "and change" so she reckons. So I think that the power at work over the whole story (the one that could be God, or the Gods, or the Cylon God or whatever it is) has Starbuck unknowingly 'working' for them, and I think she really will lead the humans to Earth. It would fit in with her whole drawing circles business and what the hybrid and Leoben cylons have been saying all along. I also disagree with the 'anti-Baltar' guys: he's brilliant and he will play a pivotal role in the story as it progresses, probably playing a 'Jesus' type role to the Cyclon God? I love this show!

[Dusk]

Yes, a very satisfying season opener, no doubts there. I gasped loudly when those missiles struck the Space Park - it's my favourite ship!! Thank goodness it is only battle scarred. And I think one struck the bow of the Astral Queen too. No loss there really. This sequence in particular was riveting, because the Cylons have never been able to launch a strike on the entire fleet before, and there were tens of thousands of people just sitting helpless whilst the battle raged around them. The opening population figure looks to suggest that almost 2000 perished during the conflict.

I really have little or no interest in the Baltar storyline, however. Especially suggestions that he has healing abilities or at least some divine connection with the Cylon god.

I'm also a little perturbed by Roslin's intense disbelief of Kara, and her mounting paranoia about the final five. I have my bets who the unrevealed Cylon is, just speculation I admit, but it would certainly make for an interesting revelation.

[Andy_Actual]

I agree with the Roslin thing. She seems to have 'turned' a little bit. First there was the moment at the end of Season 3 when the final 4 were 'activated', the fleet lost power and she was definitely AFFECTED. Now she's being all chummy with the Six after all their visions together. I was also interested in her facial expressions in this episode. She seemed to smile in a knowing way when the Cylon fleet appeared. But I have real difficulty in believing she's the 12th (my wife is CONVINCED of it!!) because surely the final cylon would be someone who has been manipulating the whole situation? How can she have been doing any manipulating when she was ready to be shot by a cylon firing squad back on New Caprica with Richard Hatch? And she was SO keen on having the cylons wiped out by the disease in Season 3 that Helo put a stop to. I don't know. Maybe the 12th cylon will be someone new and totally unexpected like Dirk Benedict! LOL!

[somedude]

Is this the first episode where we've seen a Raider destroyed and spray blood on a Colonial fighter? I just thought it seemed like a weird moment when Starbuck flew thru that cloud of Cylon blood.

[scorp76]

All I got to say is that the brand new Starbuck and her new Viper are proudly sponsored by the Ship Of Lights Inc.

Sam didn't shoot the Raider was because in his head something said, "Dude, I can fix the situation. Let me contact the Raider and tell it that the revered final 5 is on Battlestar. The 7 are trying to kill us!"

Finally, Roslin is accusing Starbuck as being a Cylon may be due to the fact that she does not want to admit she is leading the colonials the wrong way since she is 'the dying leader that leads the humans to Earth.'

[Actionhank]

Great Episode. That's why I love this show.

Now into medias res:
What do you think of the theory that the raiders are with the final five? I mean they have painted the pentagon (which's "penta" stands for the number Five in greek) on their wings + now they backed off after exchanging red glows with Anders...

[the fifth man]

Great Episode. That's why I love this show.

Now into medias res:
What do you think of the theory that the raiders are with the final five? I mean they have painted the pentagon (which's "penta" stands for the number Five in greek) on their wings + now they backed off after exchanging red glows with Anders...

Very interesting theory. I'll give you that.

[Lady Snow]

Finally, Roslin is accusing Starbuck as being a Cylon may be due to the fact that she does not want to admit she is leading the colonials the wrong way since she is 'the dying leader that leads the humans to Earth.'

That's an interesting take that I hadn't previously considered. Could Roslin's mistrust of Starbuck be a factor of Roslin's sheer desire to fulfill the prophecies? If there's one thing I've learned from Harry Potter, it's that prophecies are what you make of them - interesting.