Battlestar Galactica 2.6 — "Home, Pt. 1" (open spoilers)

Cafe Society
21

Yes, the new-style viper has been Apollo’s ride for the series. It was retrofitted very early on to harden it against Cylon tampering.

Also, James Remar, playing Zarek’s #2, had a high-profile role a couple of years ago as the wealthy financier type on Sex and the City with whom Samantha had the closest thing she ever did to a long-term relationship. If he seemed familiar, maybe that’s where from.

As HPL says, they haven’t rejoined the people who will be mad at them for this stuff yet. Given the show’s attitude toward not dropping major plot threads (so far), I don’t expect this to go unremarked. However, seeing Adama’s newfound conciliatory attitude, it may not occur the way we expect it to.

(And how surprising is it to see a lead character in a series like this simply change his mind? Basically, recognize he’s going down a dead-end path, and reverse course? The standard hero model is to have the protagonist stay the course and bulldoze through difficulties and obstacles and triumph after all. This is a fascinating insight into Adama’s character, that he’s willing to admit, in public, when he’s wrong about something. I bet Roslin wouldn’t.)

Per Starbuck’s interrogation of Leoben last season, meat-toasters have some additional physical resources regular humans don’t.

Minor nitpick about the Hotdog-Racetrack asteroid snafu: When Racetrack found herself staring into an expanding debris field, why wouldn’t she back up and match the velocity of the rubble, making it easier to dodge, rather than flying straight into it and playing chicken with all the tumbling rocks?

22

Good point.
Perhaps there was random movement in the debris field so that it didn’t all follow the same path.

23

When did that happen? How did I miss that? I knew Apollo arrived on the Galactica in his new Viper, but I don’t remember it ever being retrofitted.

24

cause shes a rookie?

cant wait for next week, as usual. this show is like crack for tv, the last time I would go out of my way to watch a tv show was X-Files.

you have to suspend some disbelief here, its not like they can constantly take a crew of disposable extras everywhere they go…its not in the buget. you have seen it thousands of times in movies and tv its not going away any time soon unfortunatly.

25

You sound like Nero Wolfe.
Did you edit this?
I didn’t see that before.
I bet Starbuck can edit posts.

26

They threw a lot of ordnance up there.

One would think that Cylons would have infrared, radar, sonar, and other aiming methods. They shoot like Mrs. Plant plays Doom: hold down the trigger and spray in the general direction of the bad guys. I do my best to stand behind her. The safest place.
:slight_smile:

27

Every four weeks or so, Adama will be shot by a different copy of Boomer, just as he’s starting to recover from the last one.

It seems to be a pattern with Adama that he makes a major decision based on pride and rage, but then overcomes his own emotions to do the right thing. At least, he’s done it twice: first with accepting the necessity to have the fleet turn tail and flee the known space of the Colonies, and now to try and reunite the fleet. Every leader needs somebody to criticize him to his face, like Duella did. (Only a fool and bully would think that leadership means never having to account for your decisions.)

28

Apu: “Ah, the sweet kiss of hot lead! How I have missed you!”

Yes, I know the toasters can’t be allowed to kill every regular on sight, but Moore *could * be just a little more subtle about it.

29

Gotta agree there. Even a shot from the Toasters perspective showing flitting images, or trouble getting a lock because of humidity…something.

Does anyone think that Sharon’s red jumpsuit was a purposeful bit of misdirection? :smiley:

30

It wouldn’t surprise me, Ron Moore seems pretty savvy about stuff like that.

Anyway, I wasn’t too afraid he’d kill off this Boomer. We don’t know if she’s truly different or not, except that she’s pregnant, which makes her special. Also, the original Galactica Boomer was a sleeper agent with conflicting motivations and in the end, it seemed she couldn’t overcome her programming. Pregnant Boomer wasn’t a sleeper, and it appears she’s consciously overcome her programming, which makes her important. If she really has overcome her programming, that is.

I feel really bad for Adama. Apollo and Starbuck are about as insubordinate as you can get, and it’s pretty clear they’ll only follow orders they feel like following. Tigh & Adama are both smart and perceptive enough to know Roslin didn’t escape without a lot of help, probably from Dualla & Gaeta & who knows how many others. Doc Cottle’s story about Apollo forcing him at gun point is ridiculous. Adama knows he’s surrounding by a crew that will mutiny whenever they feel like it, yet he’s got no choice but to rely on them. Next week he has to swallow his pride, go to Kobol and make nice with his three biggest disappointments. That’s got to be about the worst position a military commander could find himself in.

31

Well, so much for my theory of Priestess Lady being a Cylon.

Back to the drawing board…

After she was killed and the camera cut to Roslin I said to the little woman, “I’ll bet she’s pissed that now she’ll have to read the bible for herself”.

levdrakon - who is Starbuck supposed to be in trouble with regarding stealing the Raider? Roslin who told her to do it or Lee who went ahead and did something worse?

Also, what’s wrong with Hot Dog? I thought he was fine. Why he’s out there blowing up asteroids as a training exercise (seeing as he’s been in actual combat with Cylons a whole bunch of times by now) is a whole other matter?

Regarding the new vipers - well, they’ve had a bunch of them they didn’t dare use, right? I’d imagine that either Gaeta or Baltar has de-networked them. If everyone is lucky, it’ll be Gaeta…

Speaking of Baltar - when he had his scene with Six did anyone else have a very hard time understanding the conversation? Or were my speakers just acting up?

Regarding Metal Toasters shooting like crap…here’s a crappy WAG-theory. They’re on Kobol. Sure, Six said that God turned his back on Kobol and all that…but maybe it wasn’t voluntary. Maybe weird stuff happens to Cylons on Kobol that affects their electronics - something like Ragnar Station? Sure, it’s a half-assed theory, but you never know.

-Joe

32

Now that would be a neat twist. :smiley:

33

Starbuck should be in trouble with at least, Tigh & Adama for stealing the Cylon Raider, as well as collaborating with Roslyn, who had her presidency terminated for inciting mutinous actions. I realize neither of them would be in any particular trouble this episode. I was basing that on the scenes for next week, where it appears Adama Sr. shows up and forgives & forgets with everybody.

Hotdog, it’s just personal preference I guess. He’s Ed Almos’ real life son, and I figure the only reason he’s there taking up screen time is because dad said, “give my son an acting job.” I doubt he got the job because he was the most promising actor out of all the actors that tried out for the part. Actually, it probably wasn’t even a part until Almos said “make a part for my son.” Almos seems to throw his weight around this show quite a bit. He’s made it pretty clear since the show debuted that if at any point he didn’t like what they were doing, or he wasn’t satisfied with the ratings, he’d ditch the show. Seems clear to me the reason he got shot and spent the first three or four episodes more or less in a coma, was because he wanted an out. Hey, maybe he’s a good actor, but I don’t like it when actors think they’re that special. He’s not financing this show, and he’s not the reason the show is so popular. It would suck if he did die and leave the show, but it wouldn’t make or break it for me.

As for the Vipers, I remember reading way back last season on the “ships” section of the BSG website that the new Vipers were some kick-ass machines, but were so sophisticated they needed this new software (networked?) fly-by-wire technology to fly without turning the pilot to mush. After they were retrofitted, only the most experienced pilots (Apollo/Starbuck) could fly them, and even then they’d be tricky to control.

I just figured retrofitting the Mark VII Vipers was a big enough deal that it would have been remarked upon during the show, but I don’t remember them ever saying, “the Mark VII’s have been successfully retrofitted, Commander Adama.” From what I can remember, both Apollo & Starbuck still mostly fly the older, Mark II Vipers. Isn’t that what Apollo was flying during the episode when he attacked the Cylon tyllium refinery?

And yeah, you’re not the only one who had to rewind the Baltar/six scene a couple times, and I’m still not sure I got all of it. I’ll have to rewatch it with CC on.

34

Good point. I quit watching Andromeda, and would have quit Star Gate if I’d been watching it because actor’s control made them suck. One of the many Bad Things about ST Voyager was dating the help and it becoming ST: Seven of Nine. :slight_smile:

35

If you’re abbreviating, shouldn’t that be ST:7/9? :slight_smile:

36

Given Moore’s long relationship with Trek you know the red jump suit was a nod to ST fans and used for misdirection. I like Helo just fine although once everyone is back together it will be hard for him to get much screen time. I wouldn’t be surprised to see helo by it because there’s not enough screen time to go around and I think Tyrel is a more popular character. Can’t wait to see his reaction to the new sharon who just happens to be carrying Helo’s baby. Also, how much of GBoomers experience and knowledge does CBoomer now possess? Based on this episode I gather they are not all in constant communication, but when GBoomer died shouldn’t she have been transferred to a new body and made a report or whatever?

37

It sounded like CBoomer possesses none of GBoomer’s memory.

I imagine there’s a GBoomer Mach 2 undergoing serious debriefing on a basestar somewhere.

38

I started to hate Roslyn’s “let’s all calm down and talk nice with the Cylon” and then laughed when they stood down and she said, “Throw her out the air lock.”

I also liked Zarek’s willingness to “play the religion card” and do whatever it takes, along with Roslyn’s version of that. Too many times shows don’t want a character to take a stand (religion, patriotism, morals, etc.) and also have a dispassionate business-like approach to getting the quest done.

The only thing that didn’t fit was when Starbuck pulled out the Arrow and Roslyn took it reverently - then Roslyn had to deal with the continuing situation and handed it back to Stabuck. Now, Roslyn couldn’t just keep holding it, and Starbuck is a trusted warrior, so it’s in the best hands, but I would have liked Roslyn to pause, and struggle internally, and give it back reluctantly. Not to have that 3 second moment seems to accentuate the “role” Roslyn has adopted. The dual prophet/president persona. It’s very intriguing. It leads me always to ask, “What is her primary driving factor?”

Apollo and Starbuck’s kiss at gave me a soap opera feel. It’s as though every scene Kara is in has to have her fall for the nearest male. But, the Apollo/Starbuck relationship has already been established, so this is just a continuation. Made me smile though.

It struck me while they walked through the jungle that most shows don’t want to let their stars get wet or appear disheveled and I appreciate not falling into that trap. And so it seemed odd that Eloha wasn’t covering the Bible more as they walked to keep the rain off. Maybe the sheets have slicks? :slight_smile:

I really appreciated the Dee/Adama private speech. Her reticence and his steadfast disapproval. He wanted an ear and she wasn’t being what he wanted. He had to put the fleet backk together, but I appreciated not having his epiphany right there with Dee. Too many times the character is is not allowed to remain incalcitrant when “the good speech” is given. They must see the light immediately and change because they are a good person. Adama is really of the mind that these assholes have jumped and good ridance, but he has to think of the bigger picture and think beyond his feelings of betrayal. He’s not now all sweetness and light. He’s still pissed, but he knows he has to focus his passion and his nut-cracking rage in a more constructive direction.

Cool idea.

39

This speech was a fun bit of misdirection, too. When I saw Adama and Dualla in the room together and heard Adama intone, “Betrayal…,” I assumed at first he had discovered the scrambled communications that she was permitting to come and go from Galactica in the hours immediately preceding the President’s and Lee’s escape. Gaeta confronted Dualla about it, and she denied knowledge – I thought that maybe Gaeta had gone to Adama after the escape and that this was his way of accusing her. Made the denouement of the speech much better.

Also, “Put that thing out the airlock. We don’t keep Cylons around here, Lieutenant.” Fantastic delivery and deception on Roslin’s part. I love Mary McDonnell more and more each week.

Other good scenes –

“Now, tell me what I’ve lost,” and the press conference scene, where he basically threatens the press corps with imprisonment. This is not the Adama we had all gotten to know, which I appreciate. Characters that change and grow and let life influence them are very few and far between on TV.

The talk between Baltar and Six, where Six starts talking to and about Baltar as a non-human. I think Baltar may start trying to throw Six’s plans in a little bit. I see the seeds of a rebellion in their interactions.

The behind-the-President’s-back plotting of Zarek and his cohort. I was starting to like and trust Zarek a little bit, and I see I may have been mistaken.

I cannot wait until Friday for the next one.

40

Nit picking if futile.