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Jun
13
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Posted by battlestar
June 13, 2008 |
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Got to watch the mid-season finale early today while at work. My thoughts are hidden behind the “Read more” link so as not to spoil anyone who hasn’t seen it yet and doesn’t want details early.
Likes:
• Kara and Lee talking about how strange it was to be in Adama’s quarters without “them” (Laura and Bill) being there. They are all such a family that it kills me with cuteness.
• Lee talking about the scariest thing he ever heard as a kid being “Your father is waiting for you in the study.” Bill would be a terrifying father to have; he’d probable be the kind who would never yell at you, just give you the “I’m disappointed in you” speech, which hurts even more.
• Yay for the return of Gaeta. It great to see him on his… foot again.
• Oh, how I love Saul’s crazy eye. That one alone does so much more than the two most people have its insane.
• I love the fact that the whole time the Chief is being arrested and put into an airlock to be sucked out into space that he’s grinning his “Bring it on” smile. Just one of the many quirks I love about his character.
• Bear McCreary killed the soundtrack this week; everything about it was amazing.
• I think we got a great glimpse of what President Gaius Baltar could have been as President had the situation, specifically his personal circumstances and demeanor, had been different when he was negotiating with D’Anna about Lee would do.
• The Return of Admiral Adama was so quick and strong it was almost comical and unbelievable, but I still loved every second of it.
• First thought that came to mind when Lee jumped up on the light table in CIC when they found Earth: Is he going to pull a Brandy Chastain?
• The series of little scenes we saw as they reached Earth: Tyrol finally showing some emotion towards Nicky, the Agathons all together, Kara talking to Kat’s picture on the “In Memoriam” wall. They were all so sweet, touching, and simple that it let the stories behind them do all the wonderful talking.
• Even though as soon as I heard the Geiger counter clicking when Adama was picking up that fistful of dirt and knew exactly what it meant, I’m still psyched to see where they take it from here.
Dislikes:
• Was it just me, or in the scene where D’Anna announced they were taking hostages and everyone was pulling guns on each other, did Helo have two different lengths of hair. When they went to the really tight shots of him looking over his shoulder, his hair was so much longer, not only was it noticeable, but it distracting me from what was going on, including the awesome shot of the Admiral pulling out his sidearm. Shame on them for that.
• Those four were the worst secret-keepers ever. Tory: “Umm… I need to… go give the President her meds. Yeah, that’s it.” Saul: “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Toaster, I mean, Tory.” Ugh.
• Speaking of ughs, I liked this show so much better the past few weeks when Tory wasn’t on it. Her speech to Roslin when she revealed herself to be a Cylon just made me want to beat my head against a wall. If they are the one big family I think they are, she was totally whining that Mommy doesn’t give her as much attention as she does the other kids. Well, when the kids are Starbuck and Lee, they deserve more attention then you do. Stop whining, recognize that you were very much in the background until they ran out of names to make a Cylon and part of the Final Five and get over it. I still maintain that if Billy was still alive, and he were made a Cylon, I’d feel so differently about this whole thing. For one, he probably wouldn’t be sleeping with Baltar. And two, the effect it would’ve had on Laura would’ve been far worse than what Saul could do to Bill, in my opinion.
• I did like the continuity with the four of them hearing the radio signal or whatever again, but I just wish we could understand what it means.
• How is it that the three of those guys could just walk away from whatever they’re doing in the CIC or mission briefing to go inspect Kara’s Viper and no one notices or cares?
• I made it a dislike last week when Mary McDonnell, whom I love, decided to do the violent shaking at Baltar’s confession. As I rewatched it, I understood it better, but I’m going to make a similar complaint this week. When Bill was having his round of convulsions when Saul told him about his true nature, all I could think of was, “Is he trying to turn into the Hulk?” The reason I complain about it this week (and last) is because Eddie and Mary are capable of conveying so much with so little. Last week, when the rebel baseship jumped in at the end where Bill was waiting, his face told you every single one of his mixed emotions at that moment. To have them do such big actions like that, and yes I know it was big news to hear, just seems unnecessary to me when I know they can pull of subtlety like no one’s business.
• I hate what’s been done to Dee’s character this season. The only good scene she’s had so far was talking with Lee about how she got the house. We’ve seen her about half a dozen times so far, and that’s just not good enough in my opinion. I was kind of getting mad at Kandyse McClure (who plays Dee) this week and last week because she wasn’t as in tune emotionally as she was in previous seasons and I think it’s just because she’s hardly been seen at all so maybe she’s just as unsure as to what Dee’s role is currently. Almost everything is said in this panicky tone of voice, which may have fit in Season 1, but it doesn’t work now. I don’t know, just my personal rambling.
• Please don’t put Bill in a ballcap ever again. It covers up his hair which, just like the mustache before it, is evolving into being it’s own character.
Questions I Now Have:
• Are we going to have a new opening theme for the last half of the season now that the four are no longer living in secret?
• As soon as the episode finished I had the opening line of Evita’s “You Must Love Me” in my head: “Where do we go from here?”
• Will these people ever get a happy ending?
• How on Earth (no pun intended) am I supposed to wait till January for this to start up again?
Comments
The reason I complain about it this week (and last) is because Eddie and Mary are capable of conveying so much with so little. Last week, when the rebel baseship jumped in at the end where Bill was waiting, his face told you every single one of his mixed emotions at that moment. To have them do such big actions like that, and yes I know it was big news to hear, just seems unnecessary to me when I know they can pull of subtlety like no one’s business.
I love the subtlety that EJO and MM bring to Battlestar (especially in regards to the long-repressed relationship between Laura and Bill). However, I don’t think Laura would react to hearing about Baltar’s complicity in a subtle way, and I don’t think Adama would react to Saul being revealed in a subtle way. This is the man who threw things when Cylons invaded New Caprica and crushed a model ship when he thought Kara was dead. This isn’t an anger problem or a case of over-acting, they’re extreme reactions entirely in proportion with the grief that the character is experiencing! Watching Bill like that was heart-wrenching and to have the scene to on so long was relentless, but I don’t think it’s unrealistic.