Battlestar Galactica – Building Interest
So did Battlestar Galactica maintain the return to form that last week’s extremely well done episode brought? It was, in my opinion, far more of a mixed bag. The bits with Baltar were very compelling. Further we figure out just how much the humans know about Baltar. The big question was how much more he was going to give up.
To summarize Baltar gives up the fact there are five more Cylon models and that this was the info from the temple. Thus the humans, especially Roslin, know the Cylons are wrapped up in all the prophecies. Which is pretty interesting. Baltar gives a few hints about the mysterious “Other” in his mind. (Probably from whomever created these humanoid Cylon models) But it doesn’t appear the humans caught it. We also learn that, if anything, the Cylons can navigate to Earth better than the humans.
Baltar is almost killed by Gaeta after whispering something we don’t hear. Is Gaeta a Cylon? Probably not but there definitely is some mystery here.
The big negatives. The obvious camera in the prison cell. Come on, wouldn’t all cells have cameras? Sometimes the human’s luddite tendencies go a tad overboard. Come on – we’re on a space ship! Then why don’t they put a recorder near Baltar’s hospital bed. I bet you’d get reasonable intelligence that way.
And of course, the biggest negative was the interminable Apollo/Starbuck saga. Can someone slap Dualla and say this guy isn’t worth it? Dang. The only positive note is perhaps this really annoying subplot is mostly done.
Next week the trial of Gaius Baltar.
Oh, for those of you who didn’t catch the “Watch the extended scene at SciFi.com” messages all through the show, the damn thing is broken. I can’t get it to play. It’s an extended interrogation of Six by Roslin. It looks to give up some interesting tidbits.
Note the scene is working at the link I gave above now.
Basically Caprica-6 tells Roslin that she’ll tell her anything about Baltar that the humans want. If there is a trial she’ll be the chief witness. Given that Caprica-6 was so heavily involved in the initial invasion with Baltar (and Roslin long suspected this, although it’s debatable whether she knows this is the same version of 6) this could be huge.
Comment by Clark — January 29, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
And of course, the biggest negative was the interminable Apollo/Starbuck saga.
Amen. Somebody please put that sorry story line to bed for good. All it it does for me is make me dislike the Apollo and Starbuck characters. If they keep this up I’m going to start hoping they kill these obnoxious characters off so we don’t have to suffer through this hideous “tortured love/not love” crapfest.
Comment by Geoff J — January 30, 2007 @ 11:17 am
Yeah. Before this subplot Apollo was likable, although he took a weird twist during the New Caprica period. Starbuck was obviously dysfunctional but endearing. Now I just dislike both – which isn’t good in a show like this IMO.
I understand what they are going for – trying to play up the effects of the Cylon occupation. But it ultimately didn’t work.
Comment by Clark — January 30, 2007 @ 12:04 pm