BSG: Guess What's Coming To Dinner?
May. 19th, 2008 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccatoriaSo last week it was delayed by illness and I was quite critical. Fortunately this week the response has only been delayed by AWESOME and I LOVE IT.
Really, I wanted an extra day to let it all settle in my head. It was just nonstop stuff happening.
We'll start with Lee and Laura because that's the closest thing I have to a 'ship on this show and I miss having something romantic and schmushy to "awwww..." at. So yeah, I've long ago given up any hope (not that I really had any to start with) of this show actually going in an L/L direction, but, after the glory days of season one and early season two, I have, at times, wondered if the writers even remember these two know each other.
And then we get scenes like this.
I can't say I'm pleased that Laura is still icily bitter about Lee's "betrayal." That's a different Laura to the one who respected and admired his "betrayal" in Bastille Day. I can't say that I'm overjoyed that Laura is, in Lee's eyes, forever tarnished - no longer something to love with the passion one reserves for great ideals.
I suppose, though, the most painful part is that it's Laura, not Lee, who's at fault at the moment. Lee might not see her as perfect anymore, but he does still love her (and I don't mean that in a romantic sense but I do mean that). And perhaps from his side of the fence, that's a healthy development. He "knows how this works," but he wants to help her anyway.
But Laura is cutting herself off from a great ally for...what? I don't think it's pride. I think it's pain. I think he hurt her and she thinks she won't have to admit that if she keeps him at a distance.
Who here thinks that Laura has told Adama about her visions? I don't. I was surprised she told Lee, but boy did I love it. That's the sort of surprising awesomeness I expect of this show. That unapologetic honesty I love from Laura. She might not volunteer information, she might manipulate and hide issues, but when you confront her, her instinct is to confess and to stand by her decisions. She didn't lie on the stand, and she didn't lie on the Colonial One, and I'm trying, but I can't remember a single instance of Laura lying to Lee. I think she'd tell him anything, if he stood there, asking her, for long enough.
It's a strange dynamic and I'm so relieved that it's been remembered and remains intact.
Let's also not forget that Lee hears that and doesn't sell her out. We don't see him immediate reaction, but we do know that after hearing that, after Zarek's bitter announcement about the new military operation, his first response is to go find her and talk to her. Just as a friend. Just because he loves her and wants to help.
There's a vulnerability to the advice he gives her that proves its honesty and is, I think, why Laura follows it. You can't lie with that vulnerability, and Lee Adama has always been terribly vulnerable. It's why I find myself wanting to plead with Laura, and not with Lee, to fix this rift. All Lee has ever wanted was to be loved and appreciated for who he is. That's what he's doing, in Laura's hospital cubicle.
"This is me. This is what I think."
I hope he understands how much it means that she agrees, when nearly no one else can reach her now. Except Adama and all he does is enable her. Or, when he goes against her, it's because of things he wants, not because he's trying to talk her out of what she wants. When was the last time he convinced her to change her mind on anything political? The season two finale?
Now if, once Laura gets back from being PresidentNapped, the writers remember this relationship and keep it - not even prominently, but if they remember that Lee cares about Laura and her doing a good job, and that Laura listens to Lee, if they remember that, I will be very happy.
Having discussed Laura's scenes with Lee, I'll move on to Laura's scene with Kara.
Oh holy crap that was amazing. Not only because Laura and Kara rarely get any scenes together but when they do, it's electrifying, because it's about religion and mythology and destiny, but also because look at what just happened.
I love that Kara actually tells Laura about the Hybrid.
I love that Laura - who is half convinced Kara is a cylon right now - asks for Kara's help.
And Kara just says, "Yes."
I have...I have no idea how to parse this scene. I have no idea how to explain how or why that was awesome, but it was.
The way Kara said "yes," made me think she knew something. Except at the same time, I don't think she knows anything. Or maybe she just knows that this is a moment of truth and destiny and determination, and she's not going to frak this one up.
I don't know, but it was awesome.
Speaking of Kara - "Harbinger of death," is now fairly clearly referring to the Cylon. As Natalie says, they need to learn how to die.
I'm a little disappointed on one level because I really, really wanted Kara to be some sort of cuckoo and to be the harbinger of human death. Not because I have any idea how that would end, but just because it's cracktacularly awesome.
HOWEVER, after thinking for a moment, this doesn't go against my dopey BSGMatrix theory where Kara is Neo at all. Since my original thought was Kara, like Neo, is a human but a tool of the machines and a figure in their scriptures. Originally that meant I considered her a weapon against the humans, but since we're going down a more unity-based blurring-of-lines route, it actually still fits, or perhaps fits even better. If we remove "harbinger of death" as a negative idea - as the Cylon rebels themselves seem to - then Kara is still a tool of the Cylon and present in their scripture as the one who will help them learn all about death. Helping the Cylon/Hurting the humans...eh, I can swap that around and it still works. Also, teaching the Cylon about death could be considered similar to Neo's task: rebooting the Matrix. And the way that he went against expectations and also remade the Matrix into a place that was...new and not so mechanically cold and brutal, like a Cylon who has learned mortality.
But now I'm babbling about a film I didn't even LIKE and a crack theory, so I'll move on.
The double-dealing on both sides was really good and really tense. I understood exactly why each side was making the decisions they made and on top of that, it hurt because I didn't think of either of them as the "bad guys" in this particular set up. It was a great way of organically ratchetting up the tension within the episode based on the plot situations they were given. And then Natalie deciding that they had to just trust even though we know she's wrong and right at the same time.
Wow, I love Natalie. Her fragile, brutal, innocent desperation to find something more. Her fear the Final Five are judging them. She's a child trying to learn how to be an adult. But then, I think the same is true of all the Sixes. To an extent, all the Cylon.
I really, really hope she's not dead...
Regarding the final four, watching Tigh dance about to convince them to forget them and just blow the whole thing was mildly amsuing, though honestly he's probably the guy who's changed least since this whole thing started and at least no one will be suspicious of his cranky, "let's blow them all to hell!" ways.
I felt so bad for Tory when Laura turned on her. I mean, to be fair, Tory, sleeping with Baltar is a BITCH MOVE, and I'm still disappointed they went that way. Like, I preferred her when I could at least believe that she only liked Baltar's teachings because they empahsised her specialness. And...to a degree I think that's still true, but she's less manipulative and more, "Yup I fell for it," here. And blergh. I join Roslin in being disappointed in her Nymph Squad ways because if nothing else it's just...demeaning.
I mean, this show, this season, is actually amazing for having so many women in prominent roles doing all the...doing really. And that's awesome. But the Baltar storyline is still really making me uncomfortable because I'm not sure there's ever going to be any explicit condmenation from the show itself. And because it's bad enough that Tory fell into this situation, but worse that she got whored into it. Twice now.
Either way, an observation: it's not being a cylon, or murdering someone, that upsets her. It's Laura Roslin losing faith in her. I suppose her one human piece of identity really was important to her, and it really does mean something to lose it.
When she called her "Laura," and Laura just cut her out...ouch. I felt bad for her.
Tyrol seems to have gone through crazy and found anhedonia.
Sam still seems to be headed towards the eye of the crazy storm.
I still think it was STUPID of Sam to shoot Gaeta and I'm confused as to whether or not he's going to be punished for discharging a fire arm or if the fact that Starbuck succeeded means that retrospectively she was never relieved of command and Sam was helping put down a mutiny or what but...that's one messy situation. And it's nice to see Sam freaked out by the fact someone lost a leg because of him.
The actor who plays Gaeta has a wonderful voice and it made a great backdrop to Lee and Laura's scene. I really hope that this was just the excuse they'd long been looking for to let the guy sing rather than a suggestion that he's the final cylon because the final cylon needs to be more interesting than that and there needs to be a reason s/he didn't show up in the Nebula with the others. The final cylon either needs to be a special model or a more important character.
Anyway, his voice was beautiful and I think if it hadn't been the whole thing might have come off as kind of cheesy, like, look! QUIRKY! But as it is, it was really...sad.
And finally OMGWTFCLIFFHANGER?! HAHAHAAA Roslin, Helo and Baltar are going camping with the Hybrid. This should be AWESOME.
Also: TWO WEEKS?!
Really, I wanted an extra day to let it all settle in my head. It was just nonstop stuff happening.
We'll start with Lee and Laura because that's the closest thing I have to a 'ship on this show and I miss having something romantic and schmushy to "awwww..." at. So yeah, I've long ago given up any hope (not that I really had any to start with) of this show actually going in an L/L direction, but, after the glory days of season one and early season two, I have, at times, wondered if the writers even remember these two know each other.
And then we get scenes like this.
I can't say I'm pleased that Laura is still icily bitter about Lee's "betrayal." That's a different Laura to the one who respected and admired his "betrayal" in Bastille Day. I can't say that I'm overjoyed that Laura is, in Lee's eyes, forever tarnished - no longer something to love with the passion one reserves for great ideals.
I suppose, though, the most painful part is that it's Laura, not Lee, who's at fault at the moment. Lee might not see her as perfect anymore, but he does still love her (and I don't mean that in a romantic sense but I do mean that). And perhaps from his side of the fence, that's a healthy development. He "knows how this works," but he wants to help her anyway.
But Laura is cutting herself off from a great ally for...what? I don't think it's pride. I think it's pain. I think he hurt her and she thinks she won't have to admit that if she keeps him at a distance.
Who here thinks that Laura has told Adama about her visions? I don't. I was surprised she told Lee, but boy did I love it. That's the sort of surprising awesomeness I expect of this show. That unapologetic honesty I love from Laura. She might not volunteer information, she might manipulate and hide issues, but when you confront her, her instinct is to confess and to stand by her decisions. She didn't lie on the stand, and she didn't lie on the Colonial One, and I'm trying, but I can't remember a single instance of Laura lying to Lee. I think she'd tell him anything, if he stood there, asking her, for long enough.
It's a strange dynamic and I'm so relieved that it's been remembered and remains intact.
Let's also not forget that Lee hears that and doesn't sell her out. We don't see him immediate reaction, but we do know that after hearing that, after Zarek's bitter announcement about the new military operation, his first response is to go find her and talk to her. Just as a friend. Just because he loves her and wants to help.
There's a vulnerability to the advice he gives her that proves its honesty and is, I think, why Laura follows it. You can't lie with that vulnerability, and Lee Adama has always been terribly vulnerable. It's why I find myself wanting to plead with Laura, and not with Lee, to fix this rift. All Lee has ever wanted was to be loved and appreciated for who he is. That's what he's doing, in Laura's hospital cubicle.
"This is me. This is what I think."
I hope he understands how much it means that she agrees, when nearly no one else can reach her now. Except Adama and all he does is enable her. Or, when he goes against her, it's because of things he wants, not because he's trying to talk her out of what she wants. When was the last time he convinced her to change her mind on anything political? The season two finale?
Now if, once Laura gets back from being PresidentNapped, the writers remember this relationship and keep it - not even prominently, but if they remember that Lee cares about Laura and her doing a good job, and that Laura listens to Lee, if they remember that, I will be very happy.
Having discussed Laura's scenes with Lee, I'll move on to Laura's scene with Kara.
Oh holy crap that was amazing. Not only because Laura and Kara rarely get any scenes together but when they do, it's electrifying, because it's about religion and mythology and destiny, but also because look at what just happened.
I love that Kara actually tells Laura about the Hybrid.
I love that Laura - who is half convinced Kara is a cylon right now - asks for Kara's help.
And Kara just says, "Yes."
I have...I have no idea how to parse this scene. I have no idea how to explain how or why that was awesome, but it was.
The way Kara said "yes," made me think she knew something. Except at the same time, I don't think she knows anything. Or maybe she just knows that this is a moment of truth and destiny and determination, and she's not going to frak this one up.
I don't know, but it was awesome.
Speaking of Kara - "Harbinger of death," is now fairly clearly referring to the Cylon. As Natalie says, they need to learn how to die.
I'm a little disappointed on one level because I really, really wanted Kara to be some sort of cuckoo and to be the harbinger of human death. Not because I have any idea how that would end, but just because it's cracktacularly awesome.
HOWEVER, after thinking for a moment, this doesn't go against my dopey BSGMatrix theory where Kara is Neo at all. Since my original thought was Kara, like Neo, is a human but a tool of the machines and a figure in their scriptures. Originally that meant I considered her a weapon against the humans, but since we're going down a more unity-based blurring-of-lines route, it actually still fits, or perhaps fits even better. If we remove "harbinger of death" as a negative idea - as the Cylon rebels themselves seem to - then Kara is still a tool of the Cylon and present in their scripture as the one who will help them learn all about death. Helping the Cylon/Hurting the humans...eh, I can swap that around and it still works. Also, teaching the Cylon about death could be considered similar to Neo's task: rebooting the Matrix. And the way that he went against expectations and also remade the Matrix into a place that was...new and not so mechanically cold and brutal, like a Cylon who has learned mortality.
But now I'm babbling about a film I didn't even LIKE and a crack theory, so I'll move on.
The double-dealing on both sides was really good and really tense. I understood exactly why each side was making the decisions they made and on top of that, it hurt because I didn't think of either of them as the "bad guys" in this particular set up. It was a great way of organically ratchetting up the tension within the episode based on the plot situations they were given. And then Natalie deciding that they had to just trust even though we know she's wrong and right at the same time.
Wow, I love Natalie. Her fragile, brutal, innocent desperation to find something more. Her fear the Final Five are judging them. She's a child trying to learn how to be an adult. But then, I think the same is true of all the Sixes. To an extent, all the Cylon.
I really, really hope she's not dead...
Regarding the final four, watching Tigh dance about to convince them to forget them and just blow the whole thing was mildly amsuing, though honestly he's probably the guy who's changed least since this whole thing started and at least no one will be suspicious of his cranky, "let's blow them all to hell!" ways.
I felt so bad for Tory when Laura turned on her. I mean, to be fair, Tory, sleeping with Baltar is a BITCH MOVE, and I'm still disappointed they went that way. Like, I preferred her when I could at least believe that she only liked Baltar's teachings because they empahsised her specialness. And...to a degree I think that's still true, but she's less manipulative and more, "Yup I fell for it," here. And blergh. I join Roslin in being disappointed in her Nymph Squad ways because if nothing else it's just...demeaning.
I mean, this show, this season, is actually amazing for having so many women in prominent roles doing all the...doing really. And that's awesome. But the Baltar storyline is still really making me uncomfortable because I'm not sure there's ever going to be any explicit condmenation from the show itself. And because it's bad enough that Tory fell into this situation, but worse that she got whored into it. Twice now.
Either way, an observation: it's not being a cylon, or murdering someone, that upsets her. It's Laura Roslin losing faith in her. I suppose her one human piece of identity really was important to her, and it really does mean something to lose it.
When she called her "Laura," and Laura just cut her out...ouch. I felt bad for her.
Tyrol seems to have gone through crazy and found anhedonia.
Sam still seems to be headed towards the eye of the crazy storm.
I still think it was STUPID of Sam to shoot Gaeta and I'm confused as to whether or not he's going to be punished for discharging a fire arm or if the fact that Starbuck succeeded means that retrospectively she was never relieved of command and Sam was helping put down a mutiny or what but...that's one messy situation. And it's nice to see Sam freaked out by the fact someone lost a leg because of him.
The actor who plays Gaeta has a wonderful voice and it made a great backdrop to Lee and Laura's scene. I really hope that this was just the excuse they'd long been looking for to let the guy sing rather than a suggestion that he's the final cylon because the final cylon needs to be more interesting than that and there needs to be a reason s/he didn't show up in the Nebula with the others. The final cylon either needs to be a special model or a more important character.
Anyway, his voice was beautiful and I think if it hadn't been the whole thing might have come off as kind of cheesy, like, look! QUIRKY! But as it is, it was really...sad.
And finally OMGWTFCLIFFHANGER?! HAHAHAAA Roslin, Helo and Baltar are going camping with the Hybrid. This should be AWESOME.
Also: TWO WEEKS?!
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no subject
Date: 2008-05-20 07:19 pm (UTC)THE GAY, SHE IS TOO STRONG.
and I still maintain that's the certain je ne sais quoi in the Kara/Laura scene as well... even if you're not ready to admit it. ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-05-21 01:43 pm (UTC)It's less that I don't want to admit it and more 2 things -
1) I'm sure that's not what the writers intended. And while that has absolutely nothing to do with the best or most sense-making way to interpret the scene, it does make me wonder just what in the hell they did intend, and what they were trying to say, or what the director was trying to say, or whether this was purely a choice from the actresses to play it that way or...what? Was there something intentional here, or is it a case of characterisation being so strong it takes on a life of its own?
2) To a degree, I honestly don't think that them being in love is enough. I already believe that they're in love on some theological level that is neither platonic nor romantic but...well, theological linkage. The same way that when I'm trying to see the show's "writerly canon" (which isn't my modus operandi, but I do occasionally), I accept that Lee/Laura isn't canon, but I do think that Laura is one of the people Lee, on some level, loves, because Love ought to be a more expansive and accepted concept than is usually seen on television. But anyway, to get back to the point... There's something in that je ne sais quoi that isn't accounted for by THE GAY, SHE IS TOO STRONG. It transcends that and goes to the theological core of the show.
Though, I know that for you, those two are inexorably linked, and it's a shockingly coherent fanonical view. But also I should probably admit that when Love is treated as something more expansive than a simplistic "I love you as a friend," vs "I want to frak you," binary, but as an expression of deep, abiding connections between characters - an expression of importance and attachment and need that need not have anything to do with like... If we start talking about Love in those terms, then...
Okay, I cede the point.
Because I think that what the je ne sais quoi in that scene really is is the fact that those two characters are the poles around which everything theological and mythical and mystical in this show revolves, and that they are both starting to realise that. Which is terrifying and awesome. And while they may neither like nor trust each other at the moment, I have no better way of verbalising the emotion behind such a powerful, impossible, unbreakable and unchosen connection between two people - or, hell, behind the realisation that such a connection exists - than love.
To steal a quote from my favourite novel, (spoken by a space chicken and regarding two young men, who did not like each other, and were not particularly slashy),
"You need not like someone to love him. Love is nothing more than the recognition that two are one. That all is one. That knowledge is the seed of greatness."
/bizarre and random tangent. Ahem.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-22 04:09 am (UTC)I think that the je ne sais quoi in that scene really is is the fact that those two characters are the poles around which everything theological and mythical and mystical in this show revolves, and that they are both starting to realise that. Which is terrifying and awesome.
COMPLETELY. COMPLETELY GAY. AND THE EVEN GREATER MIRACLE: the writers have apparently started to realize it!
So I accept your explanation. Also (someone?) pointed out: there could be a little of "and the last time we met you tried to shoot me in the head, don't think I've forgotten" in there too.