Escape Velocity (404)

[GateofDOOM]

I'm glad that we got a little less of Roslin and her ultimate power to hold grudges this week. I actually felt a little bit of the old Roslin somewhere in there today, tempered by her dying paranoia of course.

I'll agree that the whole Roslin/Adama stroll time bit is really showcasing their personal relationship to the crew. They're starting to act like an old married couple everywhere these days, not just in private conversations. I guess since she's dying it doesn't matter anymore what the crew thinks or sees.

Baltar being held up six made me laugh.

[MmmmMcKAy]

Another bizarre and intense episode....bit I loved it.

Chief's outburst was very upsetting. I think it was more than grief talking. I think he just decided "to hell with it", I'm going to say what I really feel. And he is right. With so few people left, I'm sure a lot of folks are settling for someone they are not necessarily in love with or meant for.
I also think Chief said those terrible things to provoke Adama. Tyrol was looking for punishment or reprisal or judgement. He screamed at everyone in the hangar to tell him that he frakked up. He wanted that judgement.
Is Tyrol giving up his old identity(ie the viper mechanic) in order to embrace his new one? He was watching Baltar's display at the end too, wasn't he?

The whole Tigh, Six, Ellen show was weird too. And yes, Ellen does look a lot like an older Six in that blonde wig.

Tigh and Chief are really struggling while Tory is so calm and accepting. We need to see more of Anders and how he's doing.

Boy, Roslin can't go a minute without mentioning that she'll be dead soon.
I don't like her as much as I did during the mini series and first season. She used to be my favorite, but I find her more scary now than anything.

Looking forward to next week and the Leoban/Kara interaction.

[peragrin]

There are times when a benevolent dictator is far superior to a democracy. things can get done faster and with less debate. There is a reason why Monarchy's last like they do, it is because kings can defend their countries faster than others. Stalin was violent, and treated people very badly. but because of it he was able muster an army of peasants to fend off the German invasion of Stalingrad. A Democracy there would have failed, That region overrun, and the USA's D-day would have never have happened, as the German's wouldn't have fought a war on two fronts.

A wise king in times of peace switches back to democracy. Wise kings though are hard to find.

For the episode I was left feeling confused. i really want tigh, to release Six into Baltar's care. That way Tory, Six, and Baltar can keep each other occupied stabbing each other in the back.

[omega431]

Has Tigh been punishing himself his entire life to feel? Has he needed real unselfish love? And what the frak does Caprica think is going on in this conversation, because she clearly doesn't know he's a cylon.

Yes, you have to be pretty masochistic to be married to Ellen, but in what ever that meant to them they did love each other. And the general idea, you hurt the ones you love or pain is love or something, is shown quite a bit. Kara/Momma Thrace, Kara/Anders, Saul/Ellen, Tyrol/Cally. The fact that if you still care you'll hurt or be hurt by those you love(ie "good to know you still care" after 1 hits the other). Kara/Adm. Adama(6 of 1), Saul/Helo, some others maybe just what the obvious I could think of.

And I agree with Galen in the bar, it may have been different when they were on New Caprica(but the situation was too) but once back on Galactica she was in nagging shrew mode big time. Whether she had some inherent sense of entitlement, or thought due to their violent beginning that she was owed some obedience by him.

That was some demotion Tyrol got from Chief Petty Ofc to Specialist? Am I mistaken? Guess Adama didn't like the reminder that he would have killed 10 Callys if he had too.

[Pic]

Chief's outburst was very upsetting. I think it was more than grief talking. I think he just decided "to hell with it", I'm going to say what I really feel. And he is right. With so few people left, I'm sure a lot of folks are settling for someone they are not necessarily in love with or meant for.
I also think Chief said those terrible things to provoke Adama. Tyrol was looking for punishment or reprisal or judgement. He screamed at everyone in the hangar to tell him that he frakked up. He wanted that judgement.
Is Tyrol giving up his old identity(ie the viper mechanic) in order to embrace his new one? He was watching Baltar's display at the end too, wasn't he?

I don't think Tyrol was watching Baltar, I think they just cut to a scene of him watching his son while Baltar was talking about how everyone's made 'perfect' and 'God loves them'.
His outburst to Adama was fantastic! Mean, nasty (boiled-cabbage-smell -- poor Cally) and showed just how pissed off his is. And, yes, I think he feels like someone should be angry with him or blame him for something (being cylon? he mentions Boomer in his tirade).

Tigh's loss of sanity is much less interesting, although I like Caprica Six's responses - kinda funny how she doesn't know he's a cylon even though she said before that she can "feel they are near".

Tory's loss of sanity goes into the Baltar storyline somewhat and is the least interesting of the three to me in this episode. She was the most interesting final-cylon last week, close behind was Anders, who didn't really have much this week - other than about 2 seconds of catering to Kara.

Roslin's political machinations are annoying me as well, as I think they're intended to ~ her wavering popularity before dying gives Lee a firm purpose on maintaining balance politically. Puts him in a clear position to take the reins instead of Zarek when Roslin dies or becomes unable to perform her duties.
Yes, she reminds us every episode that it will be soon. I thought her reminder this time ~ mentioning to Adama that she liked Cally's funeral ~ was touching. I also like the book club scenes.

Still not much of a fan of the Baltar storyline, but at least he wasn't frakking some new chic this week.

[somedude]

I'm confused, did Adama actually say to the Chief "half-breed Cylon, etc...", or did the Chief imagine it?

[rufus789]

Alright, so i'm going to go out on a limb here but am I the only one that thinks that the prophesied dieing leader could NOT be Roslin? I mean just for arguments sake, Baltar could fill that role also. He was responsible for figuring out the roadmap that Roslin is now following as well as the fact that now TWICE he has become a leader of the people. Granted he isn't dieing yet, but thats the beauty of prophesies, they're so vague that they can be interpreted numerous ways. Head-Six's predictions about her and Baltar's child turn out try, in a sense. Theres no reason why they would throw a loop for us like that, and in a way it would work well with the whole Jesus/Redemption thing going on w/ Baltar right now, although it might be too much of a parallel for the writers.

One other thing, I don't remember where but I remember where I heard this, but I remember that the Cylons themselves are each supposed to represent a part of human nature. Just something to think about when pondering the last Cylon.

Spoiler:

My money for the final Cylon is on Zarek. Like I said just above, he is a very strong representation of a part of human nature, both the self serving character he played at the beginning, and the direction he's going now, which I think really has the best interest of others in mind.

[rufus789]

I'm confused, did Adama actually say to the Chief "half-breed Cylon, etc...", or did the Chief imagine it?

pretty sure he imagined it. The admiral didn't have a drink in front of him when he first sat down, and didn't get a drink until after what he said, yet had a drink in his hand when he said "half-breed Cylong"

[rufus789]

One last thing, the prophesy states that the leader will be suffering from a wasting disease. In my book Baltar's insanity (especially if you're looking at him and didn't know about head-six) would constitute a wasting disease.

[nckzvnbr]

I think Tyrol's outburst was part of the mourning process. That being said, I don't think he "settled" for her because Tyrol and Cally had a child together. This is significant because the cylons said they could not reproduce with a human unless there was love involved. So, I think to say that he really hated her simplifies the issue way too much. He is going through the stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance).

[tgmd]

One last thing, the prophesy states that the leader will be suffering from a wasting disease. In my book Baltar's insanity (especially if you're looking at him and didn't know about head-six) would constitute a wasting disease.

Baltar is not insane, Head-Six and Head-Baltar are NOT figments of his imagination. That much we know for sure. He's not insane, he's possibly the most normal character in the series.

[daniel9]

how in the world did the chief hear everything baltar was saying? are baltar's services now being broadcasted to the fleet? was that part of lee overturning rosslin's orders? broadcast rights being put in also? least for the galactica

hm wont be soon til baltar gets crucified lol i wonder how rdm's reimagining of that will turn out

[omega431]

how in the world did the chief hear everything baltar was saying? are baltar's services now being broadcasted to the fleet? was that part of lee overturning rosslin's orders? broadcast rights being put in also? least for the galactica

Baltar probably just arranged for it to broadcast. Attention would be draw by the legitimacy he gains having that exec order overturned, seemingly for him. Or it was just a voice over.

----
This is probably just a stupid nitpicky thing but Tigh was show with admiral rank insignia when the 3 were talking in tyrol's quarters. Only seems possibly significant because of their coming into projection abilities. Tyrol looks to Tigh as their leader due to their human world relationship?

[nckzvnbr]

Crucifiction in BSG is probably tying someone to something in a launch bay then slowly depressurizing the bay.

[Jumper_One]

this ep was...strange. I still don't care for Baltar's storyline, the people remind me of the telepaths in s5 of B5 and I hated those guys. Lee is a lot more annoying than I expected him to be but I did like his disgust with Baltar's speech. the scene with the Admiral and the Chief in the bar was a little distubring, why would he talk about his dead wife like that? I was hoping to see the Cylons and Kara but that'll have to wait until next week I guess. overall a mediocre ep imo