It's hard to figure out where to start, because this episode has had alot of turning points. I believe it brought the most intruiging aspects that we, the fans, hold dear to science fiction and drama television. I love this episode not solely based on the content of the dialog but how Ronald D. Moore can play with our emotions in such a delicate way. In Season 1, he made episodes that created alot of excitement and wonder on which direction the series would follow, then around Season 3 we all felt despair and depression and the sentiment was that the series wasn't as invigorating as its past counterparts, then he delivers again! Coincidence? Not really, more so passion for suspense. The people that should be frowned apon are the people who had laid doubts at any point in the past of this series that it wouldn't recover from any down state of being. What we must all say now is that "I believe". I believe this series will keep delivering the quality viewing we value most and I will never doubt in the ability of the writers to maintain the integrity of the story we know as Battlestar Galactica.
As for the story of the episode, someone earlier posted a quote of "All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again" and how a species like the Cylons could have came about way before the Cylons existed (another "evolved" species). It gave me a notion of the possibility of a plot twist where the Cylons completely die from the disease and it's all unexpected then the humans head for Earth, thinking all is well because the Cylons are dead and that is it, but when they arrive to Earth they find this higher evolved species enslaving the humans of the thirteenth colony and then a new story/goal arises.
The call name Athena is alright I guess, but it doesn't have the catchy wittyness as Hotdog or Starbuck. I like it, but it's kind of a copy off of Apollos name (naming each main character after a god of the twelve colonies).
The character development between Colonel Saul Tigh and Starbuck is a bit wierd. Season 1 and Season 2 they hate each other and now they are friends or atleast like each other now (they were drinking with each other and aren't down each other throats with comments and dirty looks). Throughout the whole time on New Caprica, they never seen each other once (even during the rescue) so the bond is a bit awkward. Starbuck wasn't really tortured, atleast not on comparison to the others, she went through alot of psychological drama, but I wouldn't really call it torment, maybe..
And in regards to everyone saying "this scene is like <Insert Science Fiction scene>", I think you're not giving enough credit where credit is due. If we play a little Devil's Advocate, can't we say that each and every television show, regardless of the genre, is a rip off of every other television show or visual concept. One could say Television Show A is a rip off of a show broadcasted 20 years ago and then a biographical novel could dispute the real origin was from a play 300 years ago then another person can dispute the origin of the concept came from 10,000 years ago from some ambiguous citation of the bible or whatever. The cycle is never ending and to say the least, petty.
I'm not too worried about Apollo being sent back to the cockpit and the Cag. Originally I expected him to be sent as the XO of Galactica because his rank of Commander of the Pegasus would definately outrank Colonel Tigh, even though Colonel Tigh would have senority. I then wondered where Colonel Tigh would end up if that would happen so the conflict would have to pick one over the other. Also, even though this isn't my sexual preference, I think it's easy to agree that Apollo is seen as a sex symbol throughout the series and with his recent weight gain in Season 3, there was alot of emphasis on it and I think it was only fitting that he lost it to restore his sex symbol status, which correlates with him becoming a pilot again. As an XO he would not have as much reason to get into shape as he would as a pilot. I think we all enjoy Apollo in the air then on the ground, even though this is a character driven series a little action doesn't hurt either.
I think sustaining the rank of Admiral for Admiral Adama is suiting. One, he has no real reason to demote himself as he has done nothing wrong, rather, the opposite. Two, it also serves as a type of insurance incase another incident where they meet up with another rogue battlestar (Example: Battlestar Pegasus) and possesses an Admiral who tries to outrank Admiral Adama, but since there is not higher rank then he can no longer be outranked and therefore no future conflict.
As for the final five cylon models, I am really leaning away from huge cliches such as Admiral Adama (or any Adama, even Zach Adama),Starbuck, or Colonel Tigh being a Cylon. Why? Ronald D. Moore has quoted more than once that he insists staying away from typical Science Fiction cliches. Any fan knows, He doesn't want to be another Star Trek or Star Gate or something that would devalue the series quality and that's why we love what he writes. Gaes Baltar being a Cylon is interesting but I think he introduces this concept to us as a ploy to throw us off and when he does introduce one or all of the final five, we will even be more surprised.
Lastly, I do kind of like the idea of how Athena got infected (or we assume she has) and the possibility of her dieing then being ressurected to destroy the rest of the Cylon race. I believe there will be a correlation with her infection (and how she spreads the disease) and the lie of Adama telling her that her child is dead. Maybe she cures herself before she infects the rest of the Cylons? Who knows. Anyways that is my two cents for today. Thanks to all who have listened.
As for the story of the episode, someone earlier posted a quote of "All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again" and how a species like the Cylons could have came about way before the Cylons existed (another "evolved" species). It gave me a notion of the possibility of a plot twist where the Cylons completely die from the disease and it's all unexpected then the humans head for Earth, thinking all is well because the Cylons are dead and that is it, but when they arrive to Earth they find this higher evolved species enslaving the humans of the thirteenth colony and then a new story/goal arises.
The call name Athena is alright I guess, but it doesn't have the catchy wittyness as Hotdog or Starbuck. I like it, but it's kind of a copy off of Apollos name (naming each main character after a god of the twelve colonies).
The character development between Colonel Saul Tigh and Starbuck is a bit wierd. Season 1 and Season 2 they hate each other and now they are friends or atleast like each other now (they were drinking with each other and aren't down each other throats with comments and dirty looks). Throughout the whole time on New Caprica, they never seen each other once (even during the rescue) so the bond is a bit awkward. Starbuck wasn't really tortured, atleast not on comparison to the others, she went through alot of psychological drama, but I wouldn't really call it torment, maybe..
And in regards to everyone saying "this scene is like <Insert Science Fiction scene>", I think you're not giving enough credit where credit is due. If we play a little Devil's Advocate, can't we say that each and every television show, regardless of the genre, is a rip off of every other television show or visual concept. One could say Television Show A is a rip off of a show broadcasted 20 years ago and then a biographical novel could dispute the real origin was from a play 300 years ago then another person can dispute the origin of the concept came from 10,000 years ago from some ambiguous citation of the bible or whatever. The cycle is never ending and to say the least, petty.
I'm not too worried about Apollo being sent back to the cockpit and the Cag. Originally I expected him to be sent as the XO of Galactica because his rank of Commander of the Pegasus would definately outrank Colonel Tigh, even though Colonel Tigh would have senority. I then wondered where Colonel Tigh would end up if that would happen so the conflict would have to pick one over the other. Also, even though this isn't my sexual preference, I think it's easy to agree that Apollo is seen as a sex symbol throughout the series and with his recent weight gain in Season 3, there was alot of emphasis on it and I think it was only fitting that he lost it to restore his sex symbol status, which correlates with him becoming a pilot again. As an XO he would not have as much reason to get into shape as he would as a pilot. I think we all enjoy Apollo in the air then on the ground, even though this is a character driven series a little action doesn't hurt either.
I think sustaining the rank of Admiral for Admiral Adama is suiting. One, he has no real reason to demote himself as he has done nothing wrong, rather, the opposite. Two, it also serves as a type of insurance incase another incident where they meet up with another rogue battlestar (Example: Battlestar Pegasus) and possesses an Admiral who tries to outrank Admiral Adama, but since there is not higher rank then he can no longer be outranked and therefore no future conflict.
As for the final five cylon models, I am really leaning away from huge cliches such as Admiral Adama (or any Adama, even Zach Adama),Starbuck, or Colonel Tigh being a Cylon. Why? Ronald D. Moore has quoted more than once that he insists staying away from typical Science Fiction cliches. Any fan knows, He doesn't want to be another Star Trek or Star Gate or something that would devalue the series quality and that's why we love what he writes. Gaes Baltar being a Cylon is interesting but I think he introduces this concept to us as a ploy to throw us off and when he does introduce one or all of the final five, we will even be more surprised.
Lastly, I do kind of like the idea of how Athena got infected (or we assume she has) and the possibility of her dieing then being ressurected to destroy the rest of the Cylon race. I believe there will be a correlation with her infection (and how she spreads the disease) and the lie of Adama telling her that her child is dead. Maybe she cures herself before she infects the rest of the Cylons? Who knows. Anyways that is my two cents for today. Thanks to all who have listened.
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