Islanded In a Stream of Stars (418)

[HAL2100]

Heh. Actually, the smashing of that model ship was completely ad-libbed by Olmos. And the ship wasn't some cheap replicate - it was on loan from a museum and was apparently worth several thousand dollars. I can't imagine the O_O on set right after he did that. Slapping around some paint is much cheaper.

When did he smash the priceless, one of a kind, you break it you buy-it model? I honestly don't recall it.

[Berg417448]

When did he smash the priceless, one of a kind, you break it you buy-it model? I honestly don't recall it.

He did this in the Maelstrom episode. RDM discussed it int his podcast.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sazerac/3207216095/

[entil2001]

With only a handful of episodes left, and so many loose ends to resolve, time is of the essence. So it's hard not to feel like this prelude to the series finale wasn't a wasted opportunity. There were some vague hints as to the resolution of the series as a whole, but most of the time was spent on lingering character vignettes. As satisfying as they can be, and as in keeping with the style of the series it might be, it's still hard to temper the disappointment.

This episode was essentially the combination of character reactions to the Galactica situation, the abduction of Hera, and Kara's odd status quo. The net effect is a laundry list of the implications of the past few episodes and what the writers will need to tackle at the breaking of the day. As already mentioned, this almost works at cross-purposes. It's good to know that the writers have a grasp on the loose ends, but it's a also a reminder of just how much they'll need to cram into the finale.

A lot of time is spent on Adama's growing realization that saving Galactica is not a viable option, and the recent efforts have merely been delaying the inevitable. That process is painful, to say the least. For all that the Cylons have agreed to hand over military authority to Adama in exchange for a voice on the new council, it's still the loss of the most potent symbol of Human autonomy. Defense of the remnants of Humanity will now be dependent on outside cooperation, and a former enemy at that.

The previous episode tied Roslin's condition to the "health" of the Galactica, and that metaphor continues. The flashes of the Opera House, and the suggestion that Caprica Six is once again sharing those dreams and visions, point to an explanation for those elements since the first season. But the emphasis is on the notion that Roslin will probably die before the human race finds its new home (if, in fact, that prophecy still holds any meaning), and how that becomes a compelling impetus for Adama's decision to move people off Galactica.

In essence, Galactica is only good for one more mission anyway, and that's where the abduction of Hera comes into play. Hera represents the future for both the Human and Cylon people, and in that respect, she is a symbol of hope. The Cylons don't see a future without her, and The Humans don't see a future without the Cylons. Cavil is forcing a confrontation that he assumes he will win. For Adama and the Cylons, there is only one mission left: retrieve Hera by any means necessary or die trying.

Ander's situation has the potential of giving Galactica an unexpected edge. It could allow Adama to run the impending mission with a skeleton crew. It also had the benefit of reminding the audience that Kara has been termed "the harbinger of death", which I still believe is meant more in the classical sense of change. In other words, survival through mergence of the Human and Cylon people into a self-propagating population.

At least, that's how it's appeared to be shaping up; with the mystery of Kara's resurrection still on the table, it could really mean anything. The "Kara is a proto-Hera" theory is still viable, but this episode lends credence to those who see an outside agency as being the connective link between the Final Five activation, the Roslin/Caprica connection, Kara, and Hera. I'm still not particularly pleased with that notion, because it has a great deal of potential to fall into deus ex machina territory.

Some have speculated that this outside agency could be the Lords of Kobol. If the Lords of Kobol were, as speculated, the surviving Cylons of a previous cycle, it would at least fit the overall foundation for the series. Another offered possibility is the "beings of light" theory, referring to a story from the original "Battlestar Galactica". If that were true, it would be unfortunate, because while the effect has been explored in relative detail, there hasn't been much evidence of someone else beyond the Humans and Cylons lurking in the background.

Unfortunately, all of these plot and character threads, right down to Boomer's wavering faith in her actions and Baltar's little speech about Kara, could have been compressed into a lot less time. It feels like this episode was a bit too methodical for its own good. It's hard to tell, however, because it all comes down to the finale. If three hours of finale is enough to cover all the bases sufficiently, then this episode will be vindicated.


John Keegan
Reprinted with permission
Original source: c. Critical Myth, 2009
All rights reserved
Link: http://www.criticalmyth.com

[Corona]

I'm rather surprised that we have gone this many pages and nobody mentioned Laura and Bill getting stoned smoking that fatty. That was no Caprica Cohiba.

I am happy that the acceptance of medical marijuana has made this a non issue. Roslin could use a week of the munchies. She looks so thin.

[wontgetfooledagain]

I want to know how it is that Adama is able to do his job effectively while being in a chemical haze all the time.

[Harkonnen]

I bet the reason why the "Cylon goo" isn't working is because it needs the hybrid. I thought of this because when Ander's gets plugged in the metal starts to groan. So keeping him plugged in may be the way to save Galactica.

[atlantis-abydos]

A great episode, but when it ended all I could think of was *aaaaaand...????*
They have SO much explaining to do, and only three episodes are left.
And being a little selfish, I wish for more Sam Anders dialogue... at least Kara didn't get to shoot him, I still hope for his return ¬¬

[Bruman]

Kara is the harbinger of death FOR THE CYLONS - since she is a key element in the destruction of the hub, which made Cylons mortal. I take this as the warning that hybrids made about Kara Thrace.

She will lead humanity to its end. Well, that doesn't necessarily mean to it's doom. The end may be simply a new beginning, probably along with cylons and cylon interbreeding. Humanity may end, but not in a destructive way.

My sense is that Kara is from a cycle that is even earlier than the Final Five cylons. I know that I'm not the only one who thinks this, but that's where I stand on the issue for now.

[garhkal]

He got slimed!!

[bfldworker]

Kara is the harbinger of death FOR THE CYLONS - since she is a key element in the destruction of the hub, which made Cylons mortal. I take this as the warning that hybrids made about Kara Thrace.

She will lead humanity to its end. Well, that doesn't necessarily mean to it's doom. The end may be simply a new beginning, probably along with cylons and cylon interbreeding. Humanity may end, but not in a destructive way.

My sense is that Kara is from a cycle that is even earlier than the Final Five cylons. I know that I'm not the only one who thinks this, but that's where I stand on the issue for now.

I won't deny she is from something. It's just finding out what she is from.

[Mongoletsi]

I re-watched and am now a little more appreciative. But this episode should have been so much more. The last episode was massive, intense, important - up there with S1 and S2 quality. This one however would've been at home in S3.

I did like some bits, especially Lee Adama's laughing-shouting-disbelief... "G-g-Gaius BALTAR?!" I liked how Starbuck slapped Baltar, rather than beat the crap out of him. I also like how the Rebel Cylons are repeatedly being shown as oath-keepers, not breakers. Saving human lives during the blow-out was a win.

I just don't buy the whole Anders-controlling-Galactica crap though. Sure, it's been explained away, but it's a bit of a convoluted way to insert some tired scifi cliches. I'm bored of Roslin now, but I suspect that's the point. Oh and when I saw that massive "colony" thing I just cringed basically. It was like a big Hive ship, but BSG has always been lo-tech scifi (if you see what I'm getting at).

We'll see...

[HAL2100]

I did like some bits, especially Lee Adama's laughing-shouting-disbelief... "G-g-Gaius BALTAR?!" I liked how Starbuck slapped Baltar, rather than beat the crap out of him. I also like how the Rebel Cylons are repeatedly being shown as oath-keepers, not breakers. Saving human lives during the blow-out was a win.

I sort of miss the in-your-face, kicking-your-ass Starbuck, but I can see how the slap could be taken as her beginning to take things a bit more seriously than before - basically her coming to a deeper and mature state of being (for lack of a better way of putting it.)

I just don't buy the whole Anders-controlling-Galactica crap though. Sure, it's been explained away, but it's a bit of a convoluted way to insert some tired scifi cliches.

I didn't take it that way. Give that he was setup as a Cylon, I readily accepted it. If it had been Ellen as soon as she came back, then I'd be having some problems. But the setup brought me to the point where I was able to accept it without a second thought.

[HAL2100]

Given that RDM used write/produce for Star Trek, what if he's going to play a really big practical joke on us and reveal that its the Borg behind it all? In the quest for perfection, they stumbled across the Colonies and Earth and decided that the Cylons would be the perfect adaption for them.

[Espeon1962]

I just had the opportunity to read the interview posted on the Chicago Tribune site with the episode writer, and one issue I felt should have been addressed in the episode was left on the cutting room floor

Spoiler:

The Chief is in the brig - his scene was cut

Lots of interesting commentary in this episode thread plus some rehashing of old theories. I believe we have consensus that the old girls final mission is going to involve potentially the rescue of Hera and some explosive pain for Colony, should be exciting to watch.

Only a little more then 72 hours till we get some answers and direction. I think we are going to see some major space porn (ie space battles) - it would be sweet to see kara and the pilots doing so good old kick ass in their fighters again - one can only hope!

[bmadiuk]

RE Spoiler above: That would have been nice to know... there was plenty of room to fit it into the episode since it moved so slowly.