BSG: Crossroad Part 1.

[beccatoria]

The bulk of my reaction can be summed up in this open letter to Lee & Laura. That reaction in a little more detail is explained in the rest of the letter, i.e. the post scripts, behind the fake-cut.

Dear Lee, and Laura,

I WISH I KNEW HOW TO QUIT YOU!

Love,
Me.

PS. Laura if you keep this up I will have to change my OTP from you and Maya back to you and Lee. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

PPS. I hope you were as unimpressed as I was with Adama's Glasses of Hypocrisy (asta77 is totally right - that NEEDS to be on an icon!). If you're not familiar with the way he accused his son of knowing about Tigh's UberSecret killing of his wife, you know, what with him being in orbit at the time, just ask Lee. I'm sure he'll fill you in. It was...I just...by now I'm used to Adama behaving in ways I find reprehensible, but now I can't tell how anyone else could possibly justify it. Perhaps you can explain it to me, Laura? Because you and he seem awfully friendly lately; care to explain exactly why that is?

PPPS. Well done for not perjuring yourself. I find that very telling and wonderful; you could have lied and you didn't. And it was heartbreaking. Because you believe in this system too; don't tell me you don't. If you didn't, you would have lied. Could you tell me why it is you feel so sorry for Lee? Because I believed you, and I even believe that you, unlike Adama, understand exactly why he's doing it - so why are you sorry? That his principles have landed him in this mess? That he looks so young, and beautiful, and lost in that white shirt and solemn suit? You weren't talking to him as if you were angry, just sad and resigned. Perhaps that's what watching someone grow up and grow away from you is when you don't take it personally because you don't have an insane, drunken friend to blame on him? Except, you failed to make me believe you aren't totally and quietly in love with him, no matter how hard you've been trying to convince yourself you're in love with Adama Snr because you think it would be more useful and appropriate.

PPPPS. This bit is for Lee: I suppose at least your wife is consistant in her contempt for the current civilian system of government; she did, after all, try to rig an election (sorry for dropping that on you if you didn't know...) I don't really know what happened there, though. I mean, how could she not see you? I almost want you to get back with her because her leaving you like that was so weird. Except we all know that you and Dee and Laura and your dad would be sooo much happier if you swapped girlfriends. But you looked so lost and broken when she left, I just. I want to give you a hug, because I can't get my head around this plot development.

PPPPPS. Laura, don't die on me, but feel free to keep on having awesome, trippy Cylon-related visions. Lee, don't go back to the military. Leave your dad with his now literally insane best friend (which I totally called), and take Tory's place when she also goes totally brain-splody.

PPPPPPS. If either of you are wondering why I'm not going on and on and on about the politics and the trial and the visions and the insanity of Tigh and the music and the rest of everything, it's not because I'm so blinded by my love of both of you (well, okay, maybe a little), it is, in fact, because I'm not sure I want to draw any conclusions until I've seen the second half of the episode. But I just couldn't help myself when it came to you two crazy kids.

Comments

[mymatedave.livejournal.com]

terrific post.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

God, I love Lee/Laura. :D

Also, I was going to say that my take on Laura's comment to Lee was a mixture of a threat and also a comment on his relationship with her going forward, i.e. one of an enemy. I also thought it was a comment on his relationship with his dad, and how this particular tack was going to affect Lee in his personal life, period, making him an enemy of many people on the ships, etc.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Also, I was going to say that my take on Laura's comment to Lee was a mixture of a threat and also a comment on his relationship with her going forward, i.e. one of an enemy. I also thought it was a comment on his relationship with his dad, and how this particular tack was going to affect Lee in his personal life, period, making him an enemy of many people on the ships, etc.

See I agree that it was probably a comment on his life and how he's making himself many enemies and squarely putting herself on the opposite side to her. But I'm not sure I agree it was a threat. Laura gets very quiet and very cold when she threatens, and all I saw here was love and grief. And yes, I stick to "love" even without the shipper goggles (which we apparently share! Woot!) because love doesn't have to be romantic. And there were times in this series where Lee was the closest person to Laura and I think she loved him - probably platonnically if we stick to authorial intent, the way she loved Billy - and I think he loved her in an awkward, confused, quiet kind of way.

Aaah, babbling. :)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I love how you formatted this post!

It's safe to say my Lee/Laura love has been rejuvenated. First the con and now this! =)

That he looks so young, and beautiful, and lost in that white shirt and solemn suit? You weren't talking to him as if you were angry, just sad and resigned.

I think she's a little sad that she didn't frak him every chance she had. But, yeah, I didn't sense any anger from her either. It was an odd moment. Why would she feel sorry for him? She knows him well enough to know that he believes that this is something he has to do. How is it different than promising Zarek elections? Or putting that gun to Tigh's head? Or refusing to make that tape to denounce his father? Once more he is letting his conscience guide him. Maybe her sympathy is the fact that she sees him losing everything and everybody by siding with the defence. She must know he's on the outs with his father again and the suit would tell her he has resigned his position in the military. I'm sure she's aware of what the fleet is saying.

But I also think she was hurt personally that he did open up that line of questioning, exposing her, after they were so close. I suspect the way she felt in that moment will not last. That once they are through with the trial and back to fighting the cylons and looking for earth and she'll need him again for some reason that they will, once more, be close...and preferably naked. ;)

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

I think she really was sorry for him because perhaps she understood exactly what he hoped to do and was going through, but she had to turn that upside down by revealing the cancer, which pretty much leveled his argument. I don't think she wanted to reveal the cancer to the world just yet of course, but she certainly didn't want it revealed this way. Lee forced her into a choice: reveal it and destroy Lee's attempt at Doing the Right Thing, or keep it quiet and allow Lee's questioning bring her credibility into question. She couldn't afford the latter. She is still the president.

Poor Lee. He needs to break away from Daddy's hold and be the man he ought to be and he thought this was the place to do it, but I think it's all backfiring on him, at least for the moment. He knows he couldn't count on his dad to understand, but now he's lost Dee, who never understood in the first place (had he tried to explain before?), and Roslin will have to alienate him at least on a professional level, more so than has already occured after her return.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I think she really was sorry for him because perhaps she understood exactly what he hoped to do and was going through, but she had to turn that upside down by revealing the cancer, which pretty much leveled his argument.

Interesting interpretation. I quite like it - because of course her reveal did much to regain her poise and turn attention onto her and sympathy towards her instead of condemning her for being a druggie. Though it does also bring back the accusations of religious fundamentalism which split the fleet previously, so I'm not sure where the judges would stand on that.

He needs to break away from Daddy's hold and be the man he ought to be and he thought this was the place to do it, but I think it's all backfiring on him, at least for the moment.

I'm honestly and completely not sure how it's going at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't going so well - that Tigh's testimony didn't sound that bad and that Roslin managed to turn attention and sympathy back to herself. But on the other hand, the prosecution's first witness was drunk and clearly biased and admitted committing murder - let's not forget, most people weren't actively involved in the resistance, and even among resistance members, Tigh's tactics of death for traitors and suicide bombings weren't really approved of. And then, the next star witness admits to taking hallucinogenic drugs. If I were a judge, no matter how much I might sympathise with these witnesses, based solely on the facts, I guess I would have to consider the source of the testimony.

I guess I'm currently reserving judgement on how it'll turn out and whether the ultimate verdict is believable.

One thing that's certain, though, at the moment, Lee might well be wondering if it's all backfiring on him. The trial isn't going in a stellar fashion and he's literally losing everyone. So I find it fascinating that he really does seem mostly okay. I'm sure he's upset but he also seems more focused and grounded and sure of himself. Dualla was wrong that Lee needed a "war" but he does need moral integrity; something to champion. He has that. And he's so much more healthy now than he was during Resurrection Ship. Which is when he still had good relationships with Adama, Roslin, Kara and was flirting with Dee. Yet he was suicidal because he couldn't get his head around all the moral ambiguity in his world.

In terms of his mental health, weirdly, this is absolutely the best place to make his stand. Huh. Maybe I should try defending an insane, genocidal doctor... ;)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

So I find it fascinating that he really does seem mostly okay. I'm sure he's upset but he also seems more focused and grounded and sure of himself.

That struck me as well. He's seemingly lost everyone close to him and yet he's not falling apart. Yes, he trashed his quarters when Dee walked out, but I don't think that had anything to do with the reasons she stated for leaving. His 'you don't understand' was his realization that she doesn't understand *him* and never did. It's hit him that after all the torture he put himself through over the shaky start of their marriage and his infidelity with Kara, that he did that all for someone who claimed to love *him*, but apparently married an image, Apollo, instead.

Hmmm, and Laura bringing up 'Captain Apollo' creates some interesting questions too. I still believe Laura gets Lee better than anyone, but is she still a bit hung up on the image of Captain Apollo, the young pilot who showed up to save her and defend her to his father? Did she just expect thatcontinued admiration and devotion no matter what she did?

And he's so much more healthy now than he was during Resurrection Ship. Which is when he still had good relationships with Adama, Roslin, Kara and was flirting with Dee. Yet he was suicidal because he couldn't get his head around all the moral ambiguity in his world.

Did I say that to you? I said the same thing to somebody!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yes, he trashed his quarters when Dee walked out, but I don't think that had anything to do with the reasons she stated for leaving.

I totally agree. Also his anger was very much active as opposed to his depressed behaviour which was always very exhausted, passive and focused on just letting himself get carried along. Even his more active investigation in Black Market seemed oddly passive to me. The exhausted way he just fell into it because he'd fallen in bed with a hooker. It was only at the end when he stood up to Adama and Roslin that he seemed more aggressive and alert. Before that he was active but not...invested?

His trashing of his quarters was frustration that she didn't understand not the self-doubt and despair that sometimes cripples him.

Hmmm, and Laura bringing up 'Captain Apollo' creates some interesting questions too. I still believe Laura gets Lee better than anyone, but is she still a bit hung up on the image of Captain Apollo, the young pilot who showed up to save her and defend her to his father? Did she just expect thatcontinued admiration and devotion no matter what she did?

Interesting question. No easy answers. I think that perhaps she is buying into an image. I think her image of him is more accurate (because it encompasses his unwavering moral conscience and a knowledge that he's willing to cross taboo boundries rather than break his own moral code) but yes. Perhaps you're right. Did she perhaps cast herself as one of his moral ideals, not realising that she'd destroyed that when she ordered the assassination of Cain? Was it therefore a shock, or a slow, cold, sorrowful realisation when she found out she'd become something he was fighting against?

Did I say that to you? I said the same thing to somebody!

You might very well have! It sounds like the sort of smart Lee-related thing you'd say. CURSE ME FOR MY INADVERTANT THEFT OF YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY! ;)

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Also his anger was very much active as opposed to his depressed behaviour which was always very exhausted, passive and focused on just letting himself get carried along.

I really think he has grown emotionally. He allowed himself to lash out, show his frustration (even if was the only witness to it), and be angry at Dee rather than himself for failing to live up to the image he created. This new ability to show what he's feeling builds nicely on his mourning for Kara. His grief was not as showy as Anders, but I really expected him to bury his feelings deep and try to ignore her absence and what ot meant to him and, instead, he allowed himself to think about her and feel whatever it was he was feeling. I just hope this new and improved Lee Adama sticks around in Season 4.

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I don't think Roslin will have to alienate Lee. Politically, it would work to her advantage to show she can maintain a realtionship with her perceived advesary. That she can look beyond ideological differences and work with the other side. What she did on the stand was very saavy and I think she'll be just as saavy once the trial is over. Plus, there is something to be said for taking the high road and moving on.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I love how you formatted this post!

Sometimes I feel my whole love for this show is a love letter to Laura Roslin and her relationship with Lee is one of the places where all the things I love about her and her character and the show and what it says about...well...everything, is absolutely clear.

It's safe to say my Lee/Laura love has been rejuvenated. First the con and now this! =)

Ditto. Although I'm kind of honest in my wish that I could quit them because I really feel that I may be getting my hopes up for nothing. It's not like the show will ever go there, you know? :(

I think she's a little sad that she didn't frak him every chance she had.

Haha! Genius!

Maybe her sympathy is the fact that she sees him losing everything and everybody by siding with the defence. She must know he's on the outs with his father again and the suit would tell her he has resigned his position in the military. I'm sure she's aware of what the fleet is saying.

This is the option I like best, I think. Though I agree she was a little personally hurt, I can't believe she knows him so poorly as to take it personally for long; probably not even entirely through that moment. Hmm...how to explain: she was hurt by Lee, and nothing will make the hurt go away, but hurting her wasn't what he wanted; it was something he couldn't avoid in the "line of duty".

I suspect the way she felt in that moment will not last.

I can't see how it would, given her character. *hopes writers agree*

That once they are through with the trial and back to fighting the cylons and looking for earth and she'll need him again for some reason that they will, once more, be close...and preferably naked. ;)

YAY!

[nightxade.livejournal.com]

lol I accept your blind love and patiently await next week's review :)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

lol I accept your blind love

Good! At least someone does! ;)

I hope next week's review is worth the patience. :)

Also - awesome icon.

valium - diazepam

[(Anonymous)]

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Re: valium - diazepam

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Um...what?