televisionary

The Final Five (dun-dun-dun!)

Before the end of this season, we should find out the identity of one of the final five Cylons. As the producers mentioned, this is someone familiar to us. So who’s that nasty Cylon? Dun-dun-dun……

The candidates are as follows:-

Adama – unlikely. Boy, that would be a nightmare to write about. It would mean Lee is half Cylon as well, and I’m not sure how the writers could tackle Adama being a Cylon at all. And it would be too soap opera-ish for him to be a Cylon.

Roslin – maybe. With all her trippy dreams, she could possibly be a prime candidate for this. However, her cancer is back, and I’m not sure if Cylons get cancer all that much. Unless the cancer is an indication of something else - for e.g., the final five Cylons are all ‘dying’ or some weird crap like that. Plus I’ve often wonder after the Hylon transfusion – is Roslin changed from that at all? But Roslin as a Cylon would pose the same problems as Adama as a Cylon.

Baltar – unlikely. He really shines as a shady human as supposed to a shady Cylon. And we kind of went through with all that in his previous Jesus Christ episode.

Tigh – likely, coz it’s so unfathomable it would be totally awesome. It’s almost as earth shattering as Adama being a Cylon, without it being completely ridiculous and a blow to all sorts of continuity. He’s hearing things now, right? Plus, he was one of the most scarred people from the occupation. (imprisonment in New Caprica, loss of an eye, loss of a wife by his own hand, being in the Resistance) Perhaps Three was apologizing for that? Would be kind of cool to see Cylon Tigh kick Cavil’s ass for sleeping with Ellen. “Brother Cavil, you’re boxed, you adulterer!” Hee!

Lee – unlikely. Adama’s the dad. But I think it would be pretty cool if he were to be one. Helo can get all chummy with Dee in their my-significant-other-is-a-Cylon support group.

Starbuck – maybe. But unlikely because too obvious with all her paintings and destiny, especially with her recent (maybe)death. (Hylon!)

Helo – hm, nah. He’s Helo, for fuck’s sake. Could be interesting given Helo is the moral compass of the Galactica these days. Brings a whole different spin to Hera, who would be the first natural born Cylon.

Anders – maybe. He did hear those weird radio stuff. And he was one of the key players in the Resistance. Plus, this character is pretty undeveloped. This could give him loads more storylines.

Gaeta – maybe. Baltar did allude to something secretive before Gaeta tried to kill him (Hi, Butterfingers!). Again, his character is pretty undeveloped as well.

Dee – unlikely. I just don’t see Dee as a Cylon; nor do I think it would be interesting. But her character is pretty undeveloped as well.

Tyrol – unlikely. He’s the Chief, man. He’s the union guy. I’d imagine his storyline would stick with the class struggles/ social currents of the fleet. And how about little Nicky? That would make him the same as Hera. But, he was the one to have found the algae tomb/eye of Jupiter stuff, and I thought it was weird that he of all people found that damn religious site.

Cally – unlikely. She’s boring. And she’s a semi fan of Baltar’s book/mantra. Again, how about little Nicky? And how crushed would the Chief be to find out he's once again fraking a Cylon? (Hi, Boomer!)

Dr. Cottle – unlikely. Come on, he’s the coolest doctor yet. Ok, his name is here purely because I really like this guy.

Zarek – unlikely. Similar to the Chief, his character deals mostly with the socio-political structures of the fleet, and I think his role is integral to a lot of those types of storylines. Plus when was the last time I saw his face? Aw, I do miss Zarek.

Tory – maybe. Well, she’s featured in this episode. That’s something. Her character is pretty undeveloped as well, but man, I would feel cheated if she were. She’s not anyone I care all too much about. I guess I still kinda miss Billy, who died for no frakkin’ reason.

So I guess for me the frontrunners (one with a maybe or above) are:-

Tigh (likely), Roslin, Anders, Gaeta, and Tory (all maybe’s)

With Starbuck or Baltar as the possible too obvious choice.

Who is it?? Who’s a Cylon? Guess we’ll all know in a week.

Funny how two of the fronrunners Tigh and Anders are incidentally hearing weird things in the ship, and Roslin with her trippy dreams.

But of course, they’re probably going to reveal some dude/gal I’ve forgotten to put in the list. Like Hotdog. Evil, duplicitous Hotdog.

Nice Suit, Lee

3x 19 Crossroads, Part One

They must have some pretty rockin’ tailor in the fleet. Anyway, how could I concentrate on Lee’s awesome suit when this is the second to last episode of the season? We’ve been building up to this point all season, and piles and piles of questions left to be answered in the final 42 mins of Season 3. I’m guessing it’s going to be one hell of a cliffhanger. And of course, we won’t see BSG until next year or so. This is the time when I wish they didn’t waste all the episodes on filler materials such as the Chief’s union thing, Helo’s racial discrimination thing, and Lee and Starbuck’s affair thing. That’s three episodes right there. Not to mention last week’s, which wasn’t bad, but wasn’t great either. We wasted half the episode on Baltar’s lawyer, for fuck’s sake. Not that he’s not a cool guy or anything. I just wish we could’ve seen some progress in the people we already know, and all the hanging questions.

So, Laura’s sick again. Oh no! Maybe I was spoiler free for this, but I really had no idea and was muchos surprised.

It does fit with all the previous storylines:- the whole setup of the scriptures and why all those religious freaks like Roslin was because she was supposedly the (namely sick) leader who will lead them to Earth. Ever since she was cured by Hera, Roslin no longer fit the description. But voila – she’s back as your cancer ridden president. Pure heartbreak from that one line – “Please don’t do this” to Lee – I’ve always liked their relationship; he was the first person of the military to give a shit about her and her presidency, and now Captain Apollo no more, but Mr. Adama. Certainly doesn’t have the same ring to it. I still don’t buy Lee’s sudden interest on Caprican Law. It feels forced, and as I’ve said on last episode, it’s just to force the Adama vs. Adama thing. But Dee gets a point on finally leaving her husband. (Though out of EVERYTHING he’s done, Dee decides the worst thing is he revealed Roslin’s secret? I didn’t know Dee was so close with Laura. Heh.)

Btw, how funny was Laura, telling Tory to comb her hair? We haven’t seen Tory in a while, and I think I agree with Laura. Why’s she so unnerved all of a sudden? It’s nice to see Tigh still reeling from the loss murder of Ellen, since we haven’t been seeing much of Tigh. I love that Tigh was the one to talk with Six, and the slapfight they had. So what’s with the I killed my wife music emitting from inside the walls? Given that Tigh, Anders and Tory (what’s with the long glances?) all heard them. What does that mean? Are they all Cylons? Heh. Frak.

And speaking of the Cylons, they’re back! At least we know now that the Cylons have been following the fleet, albeit less closely, but WAY more in numbers. What are they planning to do this time around? I’m wondering who the Cylons ‘leaders’ are now. With Three boxed and Six on the Galactica, it makes for a strange inner circle:- we have Boomer, still pissed off at the humans, Cylons, and now Hera, Leoben with his strange ties to Starbuck, Brother Cavell, and Kevin Spacey. Doesn’t look like they’re going to give the humans a hug, that’s for sure. And though that doctor Simon seems to deal with nin military things, I find it annoying that we never see him or his copies at all on the base stars. But yes, the Cylons ARE back. I hope it means some fantastic fight scenes and showdown next episode. This half season have been pretty action free, and I’m ready to see some ass kicking action.

Finally the trippy dream sequence. It’s already established that both Laura and Sharon are incredibly concerned with baby Hera, though from this dream sequence it would appear they come from different directions. Anyway.

Meow!

3x17  The Son Also Rises

Dumb title, y’all.

Don’t you hate it when they pit Lee against Adama? I can understand why they would want to do so, for its possibly compelling drama and character growth, but the situation was pretty unnatural. Out of all the people we know on Galactica, Helo would have been my first pick to be a part of Baltar’s defence team. Helo, as annoying as he sometimes can get, has taken over Lee since Season 2 to be the moral centre of the show– it would make much more sense for him to back Baltar’s ‘fair’ trial more so than anyone else. Especially with Baltar’s New and Improved! Image of the people’s people and everything. But not Lee. Not that he’s not a straight up guy or anything, but wasn’t it a bit too convenient to get Lee against his dad?  So Shakespearean, which is fine, but it’s too darn forced.

Yay! I like cats, so I’m glad they are one of the few animals living amongst this tiny population. I have no idea why they chose to put a cat in though – just so they could see the bomb? I mean, it could have been debris or leakage or anything for the Chief and others to check the ship’s bottom. So why a cat? Funny how the first cat on Lost also appeared.

If I’ve been talking about cats for this long, it must mean this episode wasn’t very good. Hm.

Old posts

It's been more than a month since the insanely vague season finale of BSG, and I have yet to write my comments on it. Heh. It's coming, for those who give a crap. But hey, dug up some writing I made on the two episodes before the finale, and a now pretty pointless assessment on who could be one of the final five Cylons. Considering I didn't know four would be revealed instead of just one, I wasn't that far off the mark.

Except that damn ol' Chief. Why'd you have to be a Cylon, Chief?

Anyway. Here they are, Crossroads Pt.1, The Son Also Rises, and my guide to the final five...

Kara Thrace and her Special Destiny

3x17 "Maelstrom"

Hmmm. So (attempted) suicide is Starbuck’s special destiny? What’s so special about that? I’m furious that they (might have) killed of one of my favorite characters of all time. Not that it was unexpected – given all the rumors of Katee Sackhoff not being in the rest of the season. But still! I almost wish she IS a Cylon now, just so we could see Starbuck again in all her frakked up insane glory. Anyway, traumatic episode for sure – who wouldn’t have smashed up that nice boat  - but one with a lot of questions unanswered. Kara Thrace and her Special Destiny. I almost wish it really was a cover band. And her backup singers could be three Leobens decked out in Dreamgirls-like attire.

So what was/is Starbuck’s destiny, if not suicide? I hardly think Leoben would have spent so much time with her – during the Cylon occupation and in her dreams as Leoben/Not Leoben– for her to frakkin kill herself! I still don’t get it. Her mother obviously had a lot to do with Starbuck’s crazy ass personality, and it was interesting to see a slice of her childhood to explain all that. Through the flashbacks and Leoben, Starbucks is no longer fearful of it – it being death I presume. And so commits suicide? Huh? Sharon described death for Cylons as a ‘learning experience’, am I to deduce that Starbuck really IS a Cylon now, because she is learning through her stupid suicide? Hm. I think I’m trying to justify Starbuck’s suicide as a legitimate response to her realization of her “Cylon-inity” as supposed to a nutty response from her emotions being all fried up from Leoben and her mother. She could be really dead. Or she did press that eject button (yeah, right. That would be one wussy stupid way of bringing Starbuck back. Why pretend to kill her then?)

But there has to be more, right? What’s up with those bull’s eye paintings? Is Starbuck really dead? Is she a Cylon? What is her damn special destiny? Does Starbuck have a map of Earth in her brain or something? What? I need to know!

With three episodes left, I guess we will find out soon enough.

I can’t remember anyone else from this episode other than Starbuck, too traumatized from seeing her Viper blow up. But it would be real interesting to see the aftermath of her death. Boy, the entire fleet is going to be changed by that. And us viewers too.

P.S. After a day of so of shock of the death of Starbucks, I had some less pissy and annoyed thoughts on Starbuck:-

Supposing that Starbuck is NOT dead and will appear on the show again (because she will have to. Or else...Frak you, Ronald D. Moore)...what if Starbuck is NOT a Cylon as I said above but a Hylon (half human, half Cylon), like Hera?

Clue 1: They alluded to the fact that Hera was also having trouble recovering from the Occupation/Abduction, like Starbuck. They also visited presumably the same psychiatrist person.

Clue 2: The mother as with Leoben, mentions Starbuck being special. The mother was also in the military during the first Cylon attack and war from way back. Hence, it IS possible for her to have hooked up with the enemy and bore Starbucks – hence treating her in a less than gentle manner while raising her. She was ‘preparing’ her, as well as punishing her for being a Hylon at the same time.

Clue 3: Starbuck’s paintings. They still had no explanation as to how Starbuck knew of this 3000 or so year old marker for Earth. If Starbuck’s father is a Cylon, he could have ‘transferred’ some of his memories of this marker to her.

Clue 4: Perhaps Leoben’s interest in Starbuck is less romantic, but more …familial? Maybe Leoben is ….Starbuck’s FATHER? That would make sense on why Leoben (or his many copies, which would make more sense. Do Cylons age?) was so interested in her during the Occupation, and wanted her to LOVE him. And look how he tried to make her love him – by giving her a DAUGHTER. But, if Leoben is her father, how gross is that dream sequence Starbuck had at the beginning of the episode now? Heh.

Clue 5: When Cylons die, it's a learning experience. When humans die, well, they die. Leoben was adamant on Starbuck going through to the place between life and death. Given neither humans nor Cylons go there when they die, perhaps Hylons can. I remember Three also wanting to experience the same thing earlier, with less luck (she was killing herself over and over again in trying to get to that place). So that would make sense on why Not Leoben was trying so hard to get Starbuck to off herself.

Counter point: Of course, all of this would make Hera much less special – she isn’t the first Hylon. Which makes Six’s, Three’s and the rest of the Cylons’ interest in Hera illogical. Especially the scenes with Baltar and Head Six. Why were they so interested in this “first child of the future” if Hera is in fact, the second? Hmm.

All I got to say is, boy, Starbuck better not be dead, be it she's a Cylon, Hylon, or escaped. Just look at all these trains of thought and theories going to waste if she is.

Battlestar Galactica 3x12 “Rapture”

Ok. This was the aftermath and kind of conclusion to last year’s mid season finale. I’ll be honest here, I thought 3x11 was one of the weaker finales of BSG; but then again, it was probably very difficult to top itself, especially the Season 2 mindfuck of a finale. But anyhoo, highlights of this episode:-

- Helo and Sharon totally rocks as a couple. In order to get Hera, their supposedly dead baby, Sharon made Helo shoot her so she could go back to the Cylon basestar when she gets resurrected. I guess it all makes sense, because despite all the betrayal to her species, Sharon was the mother of the first hybrid miracle baby – they obviously would let her be reborn and all.  So anyhoo, Sharon appears to be pissed off at the humans hiding her baby long enough to convince Caprica Six to let Hera and herself go back to Galactica. I suppose all the trust Helo and Adama had for Sharon was rewarded. Kiss their asses, Laura Roslin! (I didn't mean that, Laura, Love ya!)

- Loved how Helo throws everything back in Laura’s face, and how Laura throws it right back. They’re both right, and with the baby back in Galactica, I’d be curious to know if Laura turns part Cylon because of Hera’s cancer curing blood/DNA/fluid. I think Laura of all people would be the one most at odds with herself if she were to ‘become’ Cylon. She’s really the only one who hasn’t forged any relationship of any kind with a Cylon.

- I feel really bad for Boomer’s death. (Again). She never got over the fact she’s a Cylon, and the pathetic experiment down in New Caprica only proved that she can never go back to being human again. It’s no surprise she didn’t get along with Sharon’s kid – while Sharon is a mother to Hera, Boomer is just a machine to this baby. How jealous Boomer must be of Sharon, who is living the human life that Boomer had lived as a faux human, as a Cylon.

- But Caprica Six didn’t have much of a choice. It’ll be very interesting to see Caprica Six on board Galactica. It’ll be one awkward moment in the brig with Caprica Six and Gaius Baltar.

- Baltar, who’s back on Galactica. I’m a bit confused though; for the ‘chosen’ one, he sure didn’t get ANYTHING out of the whole eye of the Jupiter shrine place. I can see why he got so pissed. Is he really the chosen one? Only time will tell. But I find it pretty unlikely he’s one of the five Cylons. It’ll be too easy for him. But loved how the Chief bagged him in order to transfer him to the Galactica. And Ty’s all like “is he alive?”. I’m guessing there will be a torture scene of some kind next episode. Yay!

- Is Number 3 really gone? Boxed away, as the Cylons put it? I guess all that baby talk made her appear crazy to the others. But I thought it was pretty stupid of them to box her before getting to her visions. Who were the final five Cylons. From Number 3’s reactions, there’s at least one who was a familiar face to Number 3 – which means it’s one of the humans from the Galactica fleets. My guess is Starbuck. (Along with her rumoured exit soon. If she ain’t dead before the finale, she’s going to be a Cylon.)

- And why? Well, those damn paintings from a million episodes ago. Who knew they will play a part in this? Why was Starbuck drawing the Eye of Jupiter? Is she a Cylon? Is she a key to finding Earth? And remember her faux husband Leoben was always saying how ‘special’ she was. Special to which race? Hmmm.

- Oh, there was a really tedious storyline about Anders and Lee trying to the woman they love. Lee even got his wife to help out! Get a spine, Dee. But I did feel bad for her. Hello, all she got for saving Lee’s mistress is a hug? Gee. But anyhoo, I think Dee’s time is almost up in the Galactica. I wouldn’t be surprised if she kicks the bucket this season.

- The rest of the crew? Well, they were going to nuke some ships, but didn’t. The star went super nova, and the Chief finally figured out that was the eye.(Sheesh, I could have told you that.) and they’re off again to look for Earth. Boring. But now Baltar, Six, and Hera are all on the ship! Can’t wait for next episode.

is a mother to Hera, Boomer is just a machine to the baby.  How jealous she must be of Sharon, who is genetically identical to Boomer but lives the human life Boomer misses so much.

appears to be pissed off at the humans hiding her baby - enough to allow her to convince Caprica Six to let Hera and herself go back to Galactica. I suppose all the trust Helo and Adama had for Sharon was rewarded. Laura Roslin, in your face! (I didn’t mean that, Laura. Love ya!)

FRAK

“The Cylons were created by Man.
They Rebelled.
They Evolved.
They Look and Feel Human.
Some are programmed to think they are Human.
There are many copies.
And they have a Plan.”                                                      -BSG

As some of you might know, I am completely immersed in Battlestar Galactica land. It’s so frakkin’ good! This is, no doubt, an A grade show. All those critics who have said great things about this show, they’re right. One of the most compelling and exhilarating show on TV right now. Huge (but logical) twists and turns that made me want to watch it all (and I did.) Please watch it. You will NOT be disappointed. No, really. It’s that good. I didn’t think a Scifi show could be that good, but oh, it is. It is.

I’m so looking forward to when Season 3 returns on Jan. 21 (goosebumps!)