Mark here... we're watching episode 10 of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus". This episode aired as sort of a finale of season 2.5 of the show and so this episode was a cliffhanger until 6 months later when the next episode aired. With that in mind, we are going to end this round of Battlestar Galatica reviews on the cliffhanger...
On to the episode...this one was a doozy, one of my favorite as it harks back to the original series. In this episode the Battlestar Pegasus shows up. All the other Battlestars were assumed destroyed when the Cylons attacked but apparently the Pegasus survived. Not only that, but when we meet the crew, Admiral Cain, who commands Pegasus, outranks Adama. I had Laurel take note of the point when everyone meets because Cain shakes hands with Adama and clearly takes the overhand dominant role, however when she meets Roslin they shake hands as equals...Roslin being unwilling to submit and Cain not knowing her/Roslin's role.
In any case, the episode is really an exciting look at the road not taken, had Adama not had Roslin. Cain is a military commander at war. She takes control of the fleet and ignores the civilians. She has a Cylon prisoner who is tortured (a 6 model), clearly as an allegory to the effectiveness of torture (she's recovered no useful intelligence). Pegasus' version of Col Tigh, the XO tells awful stories of Cain's command. Adama, to his credit, dismisses this, saying they also had to make tough decisions aboard Galactica in uncertain times.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger after Helo and Chief stop Pegasus' interrogation officer from raping Sharon, by accident killing him in the process. Cain decides they deserve to die for this and Adama launches fighters against the Pegasus to get them back....
Laurel here...I just wanted to emphasize Mark's point about the road not taken...Both fleets have been under duress for a long time, and you can see the context of how both fleets have gotten to where they are, but they have ended up in such different places. Adama, who would have gone the purely military practical route has ended up in a more humanitarian place because he has had Roslin's opinion to consider the whole time, which I feel like has tempered his decisions (rightly so) to be a little more compassionate than an unchecked military commander would have chosen normally. Cain's decisions have gone unchecked for months so her ship has been run like a military state. The humanitarian concerns have been ignored. I don't blame her because there is a context to why she has gotten to this place...but hence the decision to torture the Cylon prisoner, and execute the two Galactica offers who killed her officer by accident.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Flight of The Phoenix
Mark here... We're on to episode 9 of Battlestar Galactica, Season 2. This episode is called "Flight of the Phoenix". Basically this episode follows up last episode by showing us how worn out the crew of Galactica is. At the same time Galactica is infected with a Cylon virus. The flight deck crew decides to deal with their frustration by building a new fighter. We see the build up with the tension between Chief and Helo over Sharon and Chief decides to focus his issues into something productive. The repair crew has seen many fighters destroyed and they decide to do what they can to build a new one. Problem is they have few materials. In the end, the end up building a stealth fighter out of unconventional materials. The episode is clearly a bit of filler from the main plot line but it's nice to see the crew working together. In the end the also name the fighter "Laura" in honor of Roslin, a nice testament to everyone's faith in her.
Separately, the Cylon virus is dealt with by trusting Caprica-Sharon...who proves herself useful, though the humans are clearly still skeptical...
Hey Laurel here...I'm still not totally sure, but it seems that this episode we learn that The Cylon plants can actually overcome their programming and exert some free will if they are strong enough...we still are not sure whether we can trust her or not, but it seems like the surviving Sharon overcomes her Cylon programming to save the Galactica fleet by "plugging herself in" to the Cylon network and basically hacking the Cylon fleet so that Galactica has the advantage...it remains to be seen if this is actually true in the long run but in this case Sharon seems to have overridden her Cylon directive. Even if this is true though will she ever be able to regain our trust completely?
Separately, the Cylon virus is dealt with by trusting Caprica-Sharon...who proves herself useful, though the humans are clearly still skeptical...
Hey Laurel here...I'm still not totally sure, but it seems that this episode we learn that The Cylon plants can actually overcome their programming and exert some free will if they are strong enough...we still are not sure whether we can trust her or not, but it seems like the surviving Sharon overcomes her Cylon programming to save the Galactica fleet by "plugging herself in" to the Cylon network and basically hacking the Cylon fleet so that Galactica has the advantage...it remains to be seen if this is actually true in the long run but in this case Sharon seems to have overridden her Cylon directive. Even if this is true though will she ever be able to regain our trust completely?
Final Cut
Mark here... Laurel and I are watching the next episode of Battlestar Galactica, "Final Cut". I've made us some Bow Tie Carbonara courtesy of Jamie Oliver. Laurel has made some garlic bread and Broccoli Almondine.
This episode has Lucy Lawless guest starring as a reporter in the fleet covering a story of an incident that happened while Col Tigh was in charge of the fleet. The episode plays out as a "filler" episode at first. It's still interesting but we are lead to believe that D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) is simply an overeager reporter in the fleet. In the footage she shoots we see the overworked soldiers on Galactica and how Roslin and Adama want to show a "warts and all" view of them, no matter what. At the same time we see the guilt Tigh feels over the incident. The catch though is that Biers can't show the pregnant Caprica-Sharon. We think all is good as the end shows Biers' report as a inspirational portrait of Galactica's crew. Fake out! D'Anna Biers is another Cylon! The end of the episode shows another D'Anna viewing the footage back on Caprica with the other Cylons!
Hi Laurel here...nothing to add really, but what a twist! We think Lucy Lawless is a sympathetic human reporter showing the human side of Galactica, but it turns out she's a Cylon?!? She has clearly built some trust with Roslin and Adama by making her piece show Galatica in a positive light, I wonder how she will use her newfound trust?
This episode has Lucy Lawless guest starring as a reporter in the fleet covering a story of an incident that happened while Col Tigh was in charge of the fleet. The episode plays out as a "filler" episode at first. It's still interesting but we are lead to believe that D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) is simply an overeager reporter in the fleet. In the footage she shoots we see the overworked soldiers on Galactica and how Roslin and Adama want to show a "warts and all" view of them, no matter what. At the same time we see the guilt Tigh feels over the incident. The catch though is that Biers can't show the pregnant Caprica-Sharon. We think all is good as the end shows Biers' report as a inspirational portrait of Galactica's crew. Fake out! D'Anna Biers is another Cylon! The end of the episode shows another D'Anna viewing the footage back on Caprica with the other Cylons!
Hi Laurel here...nothing to add really, but what a twist! We think Lucy Lawless is a sympathetic human reporter showing the human side of Galactica, but it turns out she's a Cylon?!? She has clearly built some trust with Roslin and Adama by making her piece show Galatica in a positive light, I wonder how she will use her newfound trust?
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Home Pt 2
Mark here...this episode, "Home Pt 2" is pretty much a resolution of last episode as well as the separation story that's been running so far this season. The storyline of Adama vs Roslin had sort of run its course so its nice to see them reuniting and making amends. Adama takes a team to Kobol and finds Roslin and her team and the all "hug it out". Its a bit more than that, but it's nicely done as Adama admits Roslin has made good decisions and also helps her to not second guess herself. The enitire team then finds the tomb with the arrow that Starbuck has retrieved from Caprica. This in turn gives them a rough map to earth, essentially saying that earth is where all the constellations can be seen in the sky in a certain pattern. Not exactly a map, but a start!
Separately, Caprica-Sharon is not greeted warmly by Adama but she attempts to win trust but foiling a bit of a mutiny by Tom Zarek's associate. Is she truely sincere? We don't know....
Hi Laurel here...so glad the team is back together! I feel like Roslin and Adama are far more interesting as a team versus when they are acting separately.
Also not sure what to think of Sharon. She makes a stand with Adama by killing Zareck's buddy, but what are we supposed to think? Clearly at the moment she is acting with pure intentions and the welfare of the fleet is her priority. But the other Sharon had the best intentions until the Cylons flipped her switch and she shot Adama. Are we supposed to believe that this Sharon is actually good or is she just acting trustworthy until she too flips at a key moment? Time will tell I guess...
Separately, Caprica-Sharon is not greeted warmly by Adama but she attempts to win trust but foiling a bit of a mutiny by Tom Zarek's associate. Is she truely sincere? We don't know....
Hi Laurel here...so glad the team is back together! I feel like Roslin and Adama are far more interesting as a team versus when they are acting separately.
Also not sure what to think of Sharon. She makes a stand with Adama by killing Zareck's buddy, but what are we supposed to think? Clearly at the moment she is acting with pure intentions and the welfare of the fleet is her priority. But the other Sharon had the best intentions until the Cylons flipped her switch and she shot Adama. Are we supposed to believe that this Sharon is actually good or is she just acting trustworthy until she too flips at a key moment? Time will tell I guess...
Home Part 1
Mark here...Laurel and I are sitting down for another night of blogging Battlestar Galactica Season 2. This Episode is called "Home, Part 1" Since both of our apartments are "under construction" today the menu is chinese takeout! Sorry to all those looking for a new recipe!!
On to the episode...Not a whole lot to say here as it's part one of a continuing story. Basically Roslin has left the fleet with several ships to return to planet Kobol in the hopes of finding a mythical tomb that will lead to Earth. The broader story though is that the fleet is divided and it's showing. Adama says everyone is replaceable only to find out he's wrong when he tries to replace Apollo as CAG. He's shocked when he give Lt. Dualla permission to speak and she tells him he's divided the fleet and opened wounds that need to heal. To his credit, by episodes end he decides it's time to put the fleet back together, which means returning to Kobol. Roslin and her team have already landed and been attacked by Cylons. They's reunited with Starbuck, Helo and Caprica-Sharon-Cylon (she is kept alive by promising to lead them to the tomb...also she's pregnant with Helo's baby, the first Cylon-Human fetus)....
Hi Laurel here...nothing new to say really but just wanted to highlight what Mark said about D. She really gives it to Adama, and it's awesome. I always liked her but I don't think we have ever seen her character take a stand this way. You go girl!
Also in this episode they seem to be playing up the chemistry between Starbuck and Appollo. Where are they going with this?
On to the episode...Not a whole lot to say here as it's part one of a continuing story. Basically Roslin has left the fleet with several ships to return to planet Kobol in the hopes of finding a mythical tomb that will lead to Earth. The broader story though is that the fleet is divided and it's showing. Adama says everyone is replaceable only to find out he's wrong when he tries to replace Apollo as CAG. He's shocked when he give Lt. Dualla permission to speak and she tells him he's divided the fleet and opened wounds that need to heal. To his credit, by episodes end he decides it's time to put the fleet back together, which means returning to Kobol. Roslin and her team have already landed and been attacked by Cylons. They's reunited with Starbuck, Helo and Caprica-Sharon-Cylon (she is kept alive by promising to lead them to the tomb...also she's pregnant with Helo's baby, the first Cylon-Human fetus)....
Hi Laurel here...nothing new to say really but just wanted to highlight what Mark said about D. She really gives it to Adama, and it's awesome. I always liked her but I don't think we have ever seen her character take a stand this way. You go girl!
Also in this episode they seem to be playing up the chemistry between Starbuck and Appollo. Where are they going with this?
Sunday, February 16, 2014
The Farm
Mark here... this episode was way better than the last. And it actually moved the plot forward.
On Caprica, Starbuck gets captured in an ambush by the Cylons, while planning a way back to Galactica. She wakes up in a hospital, but something seems suspicious about this hospital. The hospital is very quiet. As it turns out its a Cylon hospital interested in human women. Specifically, the reproductive organs of human women. Starbuck slowly realizes the creepiness of this place and also we get to know a fifth cylon model, Simon. In the end she makes a nice break from the hospital and is rescued by the resistance movement. As she's escaping, she stumbles into a room of women hooked up to...breeding machines? Anyway, she destroys them and it's a creepy sight, and a nice reference to Alien Resurrection...
Back in the fleet Roslin has sent out a message to the fleet that she will be going back to Kobol on a religious mission to find Earth. Adama, who is now back in charge is convinced no one will follow her, but yet half the fleet ends up jumping away.
One point from last episode we didn't address was Cally shooting Galactica's Sharon, so now the only Sharon is the one on Caprica, who is pregnant with Helo's child. She ends up helping with the rescue of Starbuck by stealing a ship to go back to Galactica. Starbuck basically tells Anders, "I'll be back" while he handles the Caprica resistance, but it's a bit shady. I mean, yes they couldn't for everyone on the ship, but the odds of them coming back?
Hi Laurel here...are you guys confused about who is good Cylon and who is bad Cylon and who resistance etc? Me too. I'm like an alzhiemers sufferer asking poor Mark wtf is going on every 10 minutes.
Here's what I do know...the show takes an interesting turn culturally when Starbuck ends up in the Cylon baby farm. Until now she has been doing everything she can do to deny that she is even a woman, acting unbearably masculine all the time, because that is what solders do? Now that she has been a victim of a crime that was specifically designed towards women, how is the show going to treat women moving forward? Until now the show has not dealt with gender equality as an issue because it is the "future"and they are supposed to be so evolved. But they just made it an issue by turning women in to a biological commodity. It will be interesting to see how the show handles this issue moving forward, and how Starbuck handles it as a character.
On Caprica, Starbuck gets captured in an ambush by the Cylons, while planning a way back to Galactica. She wakes up in a hospital, but something seems suspicious about this hospital. The hospital is very quiet. As it turns out its a Cylon hospital interested in human women. Specifically, the reproductive organs of human women. Starbuck slowly realizes the creepiness of this place and also we get to know a fifth cylon model, Simon. In the end she makes a nice break from the hospital and is rescued by the resistance movement. As she's escaping, she stumbles into a room of women hooked up to...breeding machines? Anyway, she destroys them and it's a creepy sight, and a nice reference to Alien Resurrection...
Back in the fleet Roslin has sent out a message to the fleet that she will be going back to Kobol on a religious mission to find Earth. Adama, who is now back in charge is convinced no one will follow her, but yet half the fleet ends up jumping away.
One point from last episode we didn't address was Cally shooting Galactica's Sharon, so now the only Sharon is the one on Caprica, who is pregnant with Helo's child. She ends up helping with the rescue of Starbuck by stealing a ship to go back to Galactica. Starbuck basically tells Anders, "I'll be back" while he handles the Caprica resistance, but it's a bit shady. I mean, yes they couldn't for everyone on the ship, but the odds of them coming back?
Hi Laurel here...are you guys confused about who is good Cylon and who is bad Cylon and who resistance etc? Me too. I'm like an alzhiemers sufferer asking poor Mark wtf is going on every 10 minutes.
Here's what I do know...the show takes an interesting turn culturally when Starbuck ends up in the Cylon baby farm. Until now she has been doing everything she can do to deny that she is even a woman, acting unbearably masculine all the time, because that is what solders do? Now that she has been a victim of a crime that was specifically designed towards women, how is the show going to treat women moving forward? Until now the show has not dealt with gender equality as an issue because it is the "future"and they are supposed to be so evolved. But they just made it an issue by turning women in to a biological commodity. It will be interesting to see how the show handles this issue moving forward, and how Starbuck handles it as a character.
Resistance
Mark here... Laurel and I are back blogging Episode 4 of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica. Laurel has made us Pasta with Pancetta and peas and a kale salad. I've made an accompanying lentil vinaigrette salad.
On to the episode....this episode was a little bit slower paced after the last few although there were a couple of interesting things going on. Basically, while Adama is still recovering, Tigh has declared martial law and President Roslin is still a prisoner in the brig. This causes a great deal of upset in the fleet and several soldiers recognize the problem and devise a plan for Roslin to escape Galactica to the fleet (where she will presumably be able to hide). Tigh meanwhile, recognizing that leadership is not his thing, can't wait for Adama to recover. His wife Ellen is the scheming Real Housewives wife whispering in his ear in an attempt to further his power (power he doesn't seem to want). Once he realizes that Roslin has escaped, and that Lee Adama helped her, he is reluctant to fire upon them. This actually shows a bit of depth in his character. He is doing a terrible job of leading the fleet but seems to recognize this and really doesn't want to be responsible for executing his friend's son and the president.
One key thing we find out is that while Baltar is interrogating the Cylon who shot Adama (Sharon), she admits that there are 8 other Cylon models, bringing the total to 12...we've met Doral, Six, Leoben and Sharon...
Meanwhile on Caprica, Starbuck and Helo meet up with the local resistance fighters, who happen to be the Caprica "Pyramid" team. Essentially, a version of basketball. This leads to a game of pyramid between Starbuck and the leader of the resistance, Anders. Its a bit yawn inducing as they have a bit of sexual tension. Overall, the episode was good but not great. It really felt like a filler and didn't kept the plot status quo from the previous couple of episodes.
Laurel here...I agree with Mark, this seemed like a little bit of a filler episode, more of Tigh screwing up and more of the fleet being unhappy with it, which is a pause from the real issue at hand, the Cylons. Anyway Adama wakes up at the end of the episode. I think we are almost as relieved as Tigh that he is back and will be able to tai some action! Tigh is a great second in command, willing to be the bad cop all the time but being the bad cop all the time doesn't make for a good fleet commander. It also doesn't help that the power hungry real housewife is in his ear all the time.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the presidents escape party now that Adama is awake.
On to the episode....this episode was a little bit slower paced after the last few although there were a couple of interesting things going on. Basically, while Adama is still recovering, Tigh has declared martial law and President Roslin is still a prisoner in the brig. This causes a great deal of upset in the fleet and several soldiers recognize the problem and devise a plan for Roslin to escape Galactica to the fleet (where she will presumably be able to hide). Tigh meanwhile, recognizing that leadership is not his thing, can't wait for Adama to recover. His wife Ellen is the scheming Real Housewives wife whispering in his ear in an attempt to further his power (power he doesn't seem to want). Once he realizes that Roslin has escaped, and that Lee Adama helped her, he is reluctant to fire upon them. This actually shows a bit of depth in his character. He is doing a terrible job of leading the fleet but seems to recognize this and really doesn't want to be responsible for executing his friend's son and the president.
One key thing we find out is that while Baltar is interrogating the Cylon who shot Adama (Sharon), she admits that there are 8 other Cylon models, bringing the total to 12...we've met Doral, Six, Leoben and Sharon...
Meanwhile on Caprica, Starbuck and Helo meet up with the local resistance fighters, who happen to be the Caprica "Pyramid" team. Essentially, a version of basketball. This leads to a game of pyramid between Starbuck and the leader of the resistance, Anders. Its a bit yawn inducing as they have a bit of sexual tension. Overall, the episode was good but not great. It really felt like a filler and didn't kept the plot status quo from the previous couple of episodes.
Laurel here...I agree with Mark, this seemed like a little bit of a filler episode, more of Tigh screwing up and more of the fleet being unhappy with it, which is a pause from the real issue at hand, the Cylons. Anyway Adama wakes up at the end of the episode. I think we are almost as relieved as Tigh that he is back and will be able to tai some action! Tigh is a great second in command, willing to be the bad cop all the time but being the bad cop all the time doesn't make for a good fleet commander. It also doesn't help that the power hungry real housewife is in his ear all the time.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the presidents escape party now that Adama is awake.
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