06.16.08
Posted in Reviews at 10:39 pm by Administrator
Written by Bradley Thompson and David Weddle
Directed by Michael Rymer
This episode takes everything since the third season finale and brings it to a fever pitch, tossing out several assumptions about the direction of the story in the process. In other words, it is exactly what the doctor ordered for a season that has been uneven at best. The more serialized structure of the season has not always worked to the series’ favor, but the fruits of such labor are indeed sweet.
I’m not sure if the season arc always included an early discovery of Earth, though it’s certainly possible. There was a great deal of concern just before the writers’ strike that the series would not return for the second half of the final season, and that this episode would be the end of the show. That makes me wonder if the arc was designed to bring the series to the doorstep of Earth, just in case the series came to an abrupt end (though some indications are that the final episode would have been the conclusion to the cliffhanger). After all, even if so many other mysteries remained unsolved, at least the journey could have ended just before that final scene, right?
Perhaps not. Because as celebratory as those first moments in Earth orbit were, the promise of 12 more episodes (thanks to a slight expansion to allow the finale to have necessary scope, ala “Lost”) tells us that there’s plenty of story left. And the final scene itself is a grim reminder of the “grass is always greener” principle. It fits the Galactica mythos rather well, for the ragtag fleet to find Earth, only to discover a nuclear wasteland instead of a homecoming.
Of course, it’s not that simple. That nuclear wasteland was giving off a Colonial beacon signal, and that nuclear wasteland apparently saved Starbuck, gave her a shiny new Viper, and knew how to send the signal by interconnecting it to the Cylon activation signal for the Final Five. The weather nuclear remains of New York City (or possibly the Temple of Aurora?) are a great cliffhanger, but also seem a ruse. Had the alliance found Earth without help, the state of the planet might have been a crushing blow, but there’s too much evidence that there’s much more to it.
The process of getting to that moment of revelation was some of the best material of the season. The tension hit a fever pitch, and the writers managed to convey the sense of chaos throughout the standoff. Ironically, despite setting himself apart from Roslin on several occasions, Lee seemed to resort to her brand of tactics when dealing with D’Anna’s gambit. It wasn’t necessarily wrong, but it was a calculated attempt to demonstrate his strength. At the same time, I’m not convinced that Roslin would have avoided the agreement with the Cylon Rebels that came after Kara’s moment of realization. And something tells me that alliance will be necessary, because the rest of the Cylons are still out there.
As everything seemed to smack heavily and messily into the fan over the course of the episode, the authentic character moments made it all work. Roslin seems committed to the path of truth, wherever it might lead, even when it means giving Baltar the chance to speak on their collective behalf. Adama’s reaction to Tigh’s confession was very well done. A number of character reactions to the unveiling of the four new Cylons were postponed by the jump to Earth, but they will most certainly be coming.
There are some serious issues to be resolved in the second half of the season. First and foremost, there is the revelation of the final Cylon, which should be interesting, to say the least. D’Anna specifically said that the final Cylon was not with the fleet at the top of the episode, and at that point, a number of very important characters (notably Adama, Roslin, and Baltar) were all on the basestar. It plays into the notion (at this point, very well supported) that Baltar is the final Cylon. But I still think it would be too obvious to take that direction. Wouldn’t it be a huge moment to discover that Leoben was right all the way back in the first season, and Adama really has been a Cylon? It would play into the theory that both Humans and Cylons were meant to come to this mutual moment of transition.
The arrival on Earth will eventually tie into Kara’s visions and her resurrection, just as this mysterious signal from the ruins of Earth is connected to everything that has happened since the beginning of the series. I’m left with the notion that the signal is not, in fact, a Colonial signal per se, just as the activation of the Final Five was not typical. The signal may tailor itself to certain individuals in a certain way, with the signal intensifying at the various markers along the path. For some, it may be visions. To others, it may be music. To Kara’s special viper, it may be a Colonial beacon. And it could be something automatic, something meant to draw the rest of Humanity and its children to the memory of Earth. (In fact, it’s possible that the idea is for both Humans and Cylons to see the ruins of Earth and choose a different path, ala “Babylon 5”.)
There’s also two other small matters. Roslin wasn’t supposed to live long enough to get the fleet to Earth, and there’s no other leader who died along the way who would fit the profile. So is it possible that the Earth that was found is not, in fact, Earth? From the visible land masses, it’s hard to say for sure. But after tossing that prophecy out so many times, the writers will need to close that loop. There’s also the continuing threat from the rest of the Cylon fleet. It’s hard to imagine that those models would just choose to live and let live.
The bottom line is that there’s plenty of story still left to be told; the only question is when the Sci-Fi Channel will allow it to air. Current estimates give the beginning of the final 12 episodes around the first quarter of 2009, which probably means March 2009, given how the network parses words. In effect, it’s the same wait that “Lost” fans are currently enduring, and far less annoying than the long hiatus of shows like “24”. We can blame the writers’ strike, but this is all about the network and their need to string out their one non-reality critical hit as long as possible.
In the meantime, there will be “Caprica” and perhaps another “Battlestar Galactica” TV-movie, similar to “Razor” last November. It will be a long wait, but at this point, I’m happy just to know that the series will come to a definitive and creator-driven end. Much like “Lost”, the establishment of an endgame scenario long before the writing of the finale is just what the doctor ordered.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 4/4
Final Rating: 10/10
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06.09.08
Posted in Reviews at 10:13 pm by Administrator
Written by Jane Espenson
Directed by Paul Edwards
All things considered, the previous episode was poorly received by the majority of the fans, with many elements considered over the top or simply out of character. This episode is equally challenging, but the forward momentum of events and the improvement in characterization should help overcome the oddities of the format.
Covering roughly the same period of time as the previous episode, the focus of the story is on the Human-Cylon Rebel alliance and Roslin’s personal journey. The alliance was never going to be an easy sell, and the sudden jump away from the fleet and Natalie’s reported death make things a lot worse. Roslin, still operating in “survival at any cost” mode, wants to take down the resurrection hub, grab D’Anna, and grill her for information before letting the Cylon Rebels see her. What that might cost anyone else is simply not her problem.
Except, of course, that every time the basestar jumps, Roslin finds herself having visions of her own death, with a bit of scathing commentary from Elosha, the priestess who previously helped Roslin with matter of faith and who was killed in “Home: Part I”. Elosha chastises Roslin for losing sight of her own humanity, in turn threatening the survival of the species. The implication is that her decisions could risk everyone around her because she has lost the ability to care about anyone else. This, in effect, makes it impossible to see what is best for those in her charge.
It may seem a reach, but this ties back into one of the ongoing themes of the series, introduced right back in the miniseries. One important question has always been: is Humanity worthy of survival? Have they sown the instrument of their own destruction because they deserve to be destroyed? The argument for Roslin is that her methods and choices undermine any argument for Humanity’s continuance.
From a certain point of view, this has already been demonstrated. Destroying the hub and leveling the playing field wouldn’t have been possible without Adama’s decision to trust Kara, something Roslin vehemently opposed. Roslin has often been stubborn, and to some extent, Adama’s conversion to her side over the course of the series has given her a sense of superior entitlement. One can only imagine what her reaction will be to Lee’s position when she returns. (A turn of events that, at this point, seems to have been incredibly preemptive. since the appointment was decided in two days!)
Elosha’s message was a simple one: Roslin needs to find a psychological and emotional lifeline to keep her humanity intact. Her understanding and resolve is put to the test when Baltar, in a dubious plot twist, reveals his guilt over his role in the destruction of the colonies. Roslin’s first reaction is to let Baltar bleed out and die for his monumental crime against humanity. Elosha guides her differently: with the survival of Humanity at stake, every life is worthy to be saved.
I’m not sure I believe that Roslin would convert so quickly, in a sudden panic to save Baltar’s life, but it does represent a small turning point. She still betrays the alliance with the Cylon Rebels, but she saves Baltar’s life. It’s a foregone conclusion that his survival, perhaps in tandem with his conversation with the Centurion, will be an important piece of the resolution puzzle.
And while the process wasn’t necessarily pretty, it’s the final step for Roslin and Adama’s relationship. Watching the final moments of the episode, I was reminded of the political and personal tension between Roslin and Adama in the first season. This episode harkens back to “Resurrection Ship: Part II” on several levels (the circumstances of the battle, the discussion on why Humanity should survive, etc.), and that was a huge turning point for the two of them. In that respect, this episode gives us a sense that the journey really is coming to an end.
I liked the return of D’Anna, who has defied any attempt to make her little more than a pawn in the game now that things have changed, and I like the idea that Humans and Cylons are now more similar than ever. It continues to point to the possibility of the two species merging for survival. Elosha’s presence seems to indicate that the connections to prophecy continue to be meaningful, and recent visions and prophecies have been in line with the concept of a combined future.
I must also give kudos to Bear McCreary for the score, especially during the impressive battle scenes, and similarly, the effects team. I recently made a belated switch to HD and this episode was visually stunning. It’s good to have an episode where the underlying drama rivals the presentation. With the season hitting a lengthy hiatus after the next episode, I can only hope that the momentum continues in the right direction.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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06.02.08
Posted in Reviews at 11:55 pm by Administrator
Written by Michael Taylor
Directed by Rod Hardy
Now that the introductory phase is well and truly over, complication must inevitably settle in, tossing pieces around the board in a seemingly random fashion. One problem with a deeply serialized format, particularly when a roadmap to resolution has been set, is filling in the blanks in sufficient depth. Motivations need to be established, and they must be tenable.
This episode, on the surface, is a bit boring and pretentious, and there will be a number of fans declaring it “horrible” or “filler” as a result. Some of that is a reaction to the approach, not the content. The content itself is grounded convincingly in the continuity of the series, even in instances where it doesn’t seem to be the case.
Zarek has always been a dangerous figure, a political rival to Roslin with complex subversive motives. This makes him a fun character to have around, but in realistic terms, not someone that should necessarily be in the presidential role. It’s not surprising that Adama would stonewall Zarek and push him out of favor, denying the Quorum any cooperation while he stands in Roslin’s place. What is surprising is how well Zarek takes that opposition.
Perhaps Zarek saw where the wind was blowing, and recognized that he would have someone more pliant to his manipulations in Lee Adama. I noted in an earlier review that Zarek seemed to be grooming Lee for this role, and sure enough, now he’s President Adama. His entire personality fits into the prototypical and idealistic notion of what a president should be, after all, and the writers spend a great deal of time making that case.
Oddly, they use Romo Lampkin as the messenger to the audience, and for the most part, it works. Lampkin was an interesting mentor to Lee already, so why not continue in that fashion? He’s also a bit mad, so there’s always a question of where the demented brilliance ends and the madness begins. The bit with the cat doesn’t quite add up, but it does play well with Lampkin’s style of manipulation. Forcing Lee to recognize and justify his fitness as president under gunpoint doesn’t seem all that outlandish for him!
So generally speaking, while Lee continues to be a bland character (even when striking a supermodel pose in red civilian threads), his character progression fits what has come before. The same is true for Adama, though the writers seem to take his personal quest to retrieve Roslin over the line of rationality.
That Adama would risk everything, including the fleet, to find someone he loves is not in question. This is the same Adama who would not give up on Kara in “You Can’t Go Home Again”, and that Adama will do nearly anything. It’s incredibly dangerous to have a military commander with such attachments, but under the circumstances, other options simply don’t exist. Which is why, in the end, it’s so interesting to think of Adama setting forth on this personal quest. He continues to risk, but he’s decided not to risk everyone else in the process.
Of course, that’s from his point of view; in reality, he’s just placed a Cylon in control of the entire fleet (and one with an admitted history of bad command decisions). Things seem on the verge of going horribly, horribly wrong without Roslin and Adama at the helm, and yet that may be deceptive. Lee is far more likely to listen when it comes to the idea of accord with the Cylons, and this new responsibility might finally push Tigh out of his post-revelatory funk.
That said, did Adama need to resign to make this story work? I’m not sure that it was necessary, because he could have placed Tigh in charge without the additional drama. Much like the over-the-top farewell for Lee earlier in the season, it seems like the writers elected to skip the subdued approach and went for the overkill. It was particularly odd with respect to their previous argument (and fistfight) regarding Caprica Six.
Tigh’s relationship with Caprica Six continues to be an odd plot point. I’m not sure that I’m sold on the idea just yet, but it’s clear that this situation is meant to distinguish the known Cylons from the Final Five in a fundamental way. This must be true, because the known Cylons were unable to reproduce; that was one key component of why they had to keep some of Humanity alive. Without that factor, the Cylons could feel justified in wiping out the rest of the Colonials.
On the other hand, if my theory regarding the origins of the Final Five are correct, then Tigh’s ability to impregnate Caprica Six makes sense. According to the theory, the Final Five are more software than hardware, a kind of genetic meme seeded within Humanity in each new turn of the wheel. If so, then Tigh has the right biology, since he is effective what is meant to be created. (This also means that the Final Five could, potentially, have origins older than the previous cycle.)
The main issue with this episode is not necessarily what happens, but how far the writers went to justify those choices. I personally think they oversold some of the plot turns, making them feel forced and unnatural, where a more subtle approach would have been in keeping with what has been seen. With this being the final season, and with expectations so high, maybe it’s a product of a desire to make every moment count.
Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 6/10
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