Why I Love Genre Shows

This is ostensibly my review of the fantastic new television show based on the graphic series The Walking Dead

and I promise that the review will be in here, but I also wanted to talk about the reason shows such as this,

Star Trek,

 and Battlestar Galactica

are so amazing on more than just a "they're so cool and exciting" level.

I think that a lot of people view genre shows in that vein.  Science Fiction and Fantasy based television shows aren't always given the credit that many of them deserve, credit for being about real issues and taking a hard look at those issues.  They take a hard look at issues that we often have a hard time looking at objectively, either because we disagree so vehemently on them as a society or because they are issues that are just uncomfortable to talk about.

Battlestar Galactica is still the best show ever on television in my opinion.  It is a show that might have taken place in space, far away from our world in both space and time, but that isn't really the point of the show at all.

The show was about what it means to be human, about religion and what religion has the power to make us do and believe, about war and the lengths that we will go if we believe we are faced with our own end, and about all of the social issues that we are dealing with in this place and this time.

Sure, it was a Science Fiction television show, but if you really look at what they were saying, there are deep issues being discussed.

For instance, the show was aired during the Bush era, while we were embroiled in a war that many felt was unjust in Iraq.  The show had a President who got the job through questionable means, who was a religious fundamentalist, who believed that personal liberties could and should be put aside for the "greater good", and yet the President was portrayed as a very likable character, and is generally considered good.

On the other hand, the show has the human characters acting against an occupying force that has a different religion, an occupying force that is ostensibly there for the benefit of those being occupied.  The humans rise up in insurgency and terrorism against the occupiers, and the viewers root for them.  Remember, this show was on the air during the time of the Iraqi war.  The show actually has the viewers rooting for the Iraqi insurgents against the American occupiers!

So the show basically has you sympathizing with Iraqi insurgents as well as sympathizing and rooting for President Bush.  It allows you to look at the other side and perhaps understand where others are coming from regardless of where you stand politically.

Sure, Star Trek is pretty cheesy in a lot of aspects if you go back and watch it now, but look at what the show was saying in the time in which it was on the air.

The show made a real effort to show people from different cultures all working together on the crew of the Enterprise, and the First Officer wasn't even from the same planet!

War and money were outdated concepts for the people of Earth and the other cultures that were a part of the Federation of Planets.

The show featured the first interracial kiss on television!

Meanwhile, in the world at large at the time, we were engaged in the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.

Sure, Star Trek was a cheesy sci-fi western/adventure show, but it was also very much in response to these issues that the world was dealing with at the time.  As great as The Andy Griffith Show was, they weren't dealing with these issues, and wouldn't have been allowed to if they wanted to.

Sci-Fi and fantasy get to side-step the fact that television that is supposedly for entertainment shouldn't be dealing with those types of troubling issues because genre shows are so otherworldly (for lack of a better term) that there is enough distance from the issues being examined, that it isn't as uncomfortable.

And that brings me to AMC's new television show, The Walking Dead.

There have been three episodes so far, and there are three more until the first season is over.

AMC has already picked up the show for a second season.

Sure, it is a show about Zombies, and if you're into that, you will not be disappointed, but I would argue that it is also about much more.

Obviously it is about survival, but also about what we (as a species) are capable of doing to each other in order to survive.  What horrible, monstrous things are we humans capable of when pushed?

Ultimately, are we really any better than the zombies?

These are some of the issues that the show has posited thus far.

Add to these interesting questions and issues, the fact that the show is exquisitely shot (the pilot was directed by Frank Darabont, he of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile), superbly acted, and the writing is pitch perfect.

I can't think of another time when I was so emotionally invested in a television show, that a moment in the first act of the third episode had me crying.

If you haven't checked out The Walking Dead yet, I hope that you'll consider it.

If you weren't going to watch it because you don't like genre shows, I hope you'll reconsider that as well.  Genre shows might be the only shows that really get to examine the issues, situations, and realities that we need to examine and we discuss, and they do it in a way that allows there to be unbiased and rational discussion, which seems to be impossible in the world as it is stands right now.

Until Next Time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One in 36 hours as of this writing!

The Spoiler Free Post on Why I Loved BSG

And why you should too.

Television is so often spoon fed to the audience.  The characters are morally obvious.  you know who the good guys are, you know who the bad guys are, and you connect and root accordingly.  The plots are redundant and obvious, you know exactly what will happen and exactly who it will happen to.

And there is nothing wrong with this.

After all, television is supposed to be escapist fare.  It is supposed to make us forget about the everyday.  It is supposed to be brain candy.

For the most part anyway.

But too much candy isn't good for anyone.  Not even brain candy.

Sometimes we need to get something healthy, something substantial, and Battlestar Galactica was that.

Ultimately Battlestar Galactica took a good, long, hard look at what it means to be human.  What it means to experience life.  The show took real looks at what lengths humanity would go to to survive.  Sometimes painful looks, but in a way that wasn't one sided or judgmental, but revelatory.  The show studied the ideas of violence, love, sacrifice, freedom, loss, and even terrorism just to name a few.  Through the strength of its characters, characters that were never easily defined as good or evil, we came to know ourselves.

The show took a look at various events that could be related to things occurring in our world at this very time.  Politics were ably covered, including the ramifications of stealing a presidency because the person believed that they were destined in a very real fundamentalist religious sense to be president.  War was examined, a people (ostensibly our heroes) were living on a world occupied by the enemy.  Our heroes staged an insurgency and we rooted along with them for their freedom from the unlawful occupiers.  An interesting take on events occurring right now on our world.

The show had much to say on the idea of religion and theology.  The humans believed (or at least grew up in a society that recognized) a plurality of gods, sharing many characteristics of our Greek and Roman gods.  The Cylons (ostensibly the enemy), on the other hand, recognized only one true God.  As the series developed so did this idea and ultimately religion and what exactly God is played a huge role in everything.

Some people might be turned off by the idea that this television show was set in space aboard ships, by the fact that this was a Science Fiction show.  They shouldn't be turned off by that.

I understand that some people (for whatever reason) just don't like Sci-Fi as a genre and I can respect that (even if I feel that they are missing out on some great stuff).  But I don't really think that Battlestar Galactica is a regular type of Sci-Fi show.  Sure it takes place on a spaceship, but the stories very rarely require that that be the case.  Like I said earlier, the show is ultimately about what it means to be human.  Science Fiction is just an easier way to tell stories that otherwise might be considered far too controversial.  If the audience is already accepting a genre that is fantastic, then their brain is also more open to the ideas that they might otherwise be unwilling (or even unable) to accept.  Cultural, political, and socially unpopular ideas often find their arguments first made in pop culture through genre story telling which helps lead to more acceptance further down the line in the general population.

I truly believe that science fiction was the only way to get across a lot of the ideas that BSG propagates.  And like I said, the show doesn't feel fantastic, its genre but it is handled in such a way that it doesn't shove that genre in your face.  It's a story about survival and humanity that just happens to take place in space.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you are someone who just feels that you can't handle sci-fi, you should give this show a chance before writing it off because it takes place in space, I think that doing so would be well worth your time.

For everyone else who for whatever reason has avoided this television show, I hope that you give it a chance as well, because this series is ultimately the greatest show that television has ever given us and it would be a shame if you missed it.

Until Next Time, I find it hard to come to terms with the fact that this incredible and powerful television show has come to an end, but I take solace in the fact that there are so many people out there who can discover this show for the first time and come to love it and be challenged by it as I have.

Battlestar Galactica So Say We All

Baltar-

There's another force at work here.  There always has been.  It's undeniable, we've all experienced it.  Everyone in this room has witnessed events that they can't fathom, let alone explain away by rational means.  Puzzles deciphered in prophecy.  Dreams given to a chosen few.  Our loved ones dead.  Risen.  Whether we want to call that "God" or "gods" or some sublime inspiration or a divine force that we can't know or understand, it doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter.  It's here.  It exists.  And our two destinies are intwined in its force.

Cavil-

If that were true, and that's a big if, how do I know this force has our best interests in mind?  How do you know that God is on your side, Doctor?

Baltar-

I don't.  God's not on any one side.  God's a force of nature beyond good and evil.  Good and evil, we created those.  And we'll break the cycle.  Break the cycle of birth, death, rebirth, destruction, escape, death.  Well, that's in our hands and our hands only.  Requires a leap of faith.  Requires that we live in hope... not fear.

I'm still processing the finale.  It was beyond all I could have hoped for.

I have no doubt that it was the greatest series finale of all time, but then, that is fitting since Battlestar Galactica was without doubt the greatest television series of all time.

I loved so many things about it, so many little moments made me smile or laugh.  So many others made me cry.

But I loved most of all that the show is true.  I believe it.  The ending didn't feel at all forced, but felt RIGHT.

Like Starbuck says right before she disappears, "I just know that I'm done here.  I've completed my journey, and it feels good."

So, has the cycle been broken?  Or are we once again doomed to repeat our past?  All I can do is hope that we continue to live in "hope... not fear."  And maybe this time, what happened before will not have to happen again.

Battlestar Galactica.  You will not be forgotten.

SO SAY WE ALL

BSG Finale Watch begins

Tonight is part one of the two part finale of television's greatest show ever, Battlestar Galactica, and I have to admit, I am not ready for it to be over.

In fact, I'm in a bit of denial that there are only two hours left (less when you take out the commercials, damn you advertisers!) of the greatest show ever.

Thankfully, despite there only being two hours left, another two hours will be coming soon in the form of The Plan a direct to DVD movie that will fill in some of the pre-destruction activities of the Cylons on the Colonies.

But starting tonight, we begin to get answers.  Especially to three major questions, what exactly is the significance of Hera, what is up with the "Angels" (as Baltar started putting it in last weeks episode) that are in Baltar and Caprica's heads, and what is up with the death/resurrection of Starbuck?

Those are the three biggest questions that I have remaining, and those are the ones that the show itself has been building towards for the finale.

The only other thing I wonder is if the show will end setting up everything to happen again (because as we are all aware by now, "All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again") or if somehow through Hera they are able to break away from the circular time line they are in and start something completely new.
Also, I figure that the 7th Cylon will play some role in explaining both the "Angels" of Baltar and Caprica and Starbuck's rebirth.  Especially since two weeks ago when Starbuck saw an "Angel" in the form of her father.  I wonder if Starbuck's father was the 7th Cylon and if he is also Baltar's father, meaning that somehow Starbuck and Baltar are both (like Hera) half Cylon/half human.  (Although that would make a first season liaison between Starbuck and Baltar pretty frakking disturbing.)

While part of me desperately wants to know the answers to all of these questions, a larger part of me would be very content waiting another four or five seasons to see what occurs as long as I kept getting my 20+ episodes of BSG every season in the meantime.

Until Next Time, let's enjoy television's greatest show in the short time we have left with it... SO SAY WE ALL.

BSG Deadlock, first thoughts

Just a few things, and sorry how late this post is, but being out of town this weekend coupled with the Oscars and all the coverage that entails kept me pretty busy, and I didn't even get a chance to watch the episode until Monday.  So, here we go, as always there are *SPOILERS* if you aren't caught up with the greatness that is BSG.

Phantom 6 is back in Baltar's head, which I am glad to see, this is the biggest thing in the story for me and I want to understand it.  I definitely think it has to do with the female that warned Anders and the male that warned Tory so long ago on the Earth that was.  Now that Caprica has lost the baby I wonder if she'll start seeing Phantom Baltar again.  I wouldn't be surprised.

Speaking of the death of Caprica and Tigh's baby Liam (named after Adama, nice), the importance of Hera is back at the forefront of the series.  In the last few episodes, they have systematically removed any threat to Hera's importance.  No longer is Nicky half-Cylon, turns out Hot Dog is his dad, and now the only baby born to two Cylons is out of the picture, although the fact that Liam was ever conceived is proof that the Cylons can once again recapture the ability to reproduce on their own and survive without humanity.

So, that brings me back to my thoughts on where the show could ultimately be headed.  It could easily end after a final confrontation with Cavil and his group with the surviving humans and Cylons deciding to head back to Kobal to try and live in peace.  Of course, we all know how that would end, the Cylons would end up heading to repopulate Earth while the humans would spread out to the 12 colonies and we would once again be headed towards a future that has happened before and would happen again.

What I think is very interesting about the show, though, is the idea of the One True God.  In that religious difference that was brought to everyone's attention by the centurions, there is, I believe, hope to break out of the cycle of the Pythian prophecy "All of this has happened before, all of it will happen again."

While Liam gave the Cylons hope that they could once again live separately and reproduce like they once did on Earth, Hera gives another future, a peaceful coexistence with humans where Cylons and humans become one race and the cycle ends forever.

Can they take that step and break out of that which Pythia foretold, moving away from the gods of Kobal and towards the God of the centurions?

Until Next Time, there is only a few more episodes until the picture is clear, and then we'll get more of the backstory to fill it in with things like The Plan on DVD and the new series Caprica.  Part of me can't wait to know it all, but most of me wishes that the greatest show ever on TV wasn't about to end.

BSG No Exit, first thoughts

Wow, huge episode, lots of information, not sure where to start.  As always, *SPOILERS* ahead if you aren't caught up...


So, Ellen did resurrect on the original resurrection ship right after being killed by Tigh and she resurrected with all her memories in tact.  The reason that none of the Final Five knew about themselves was that Cavil (aka John) wanted them to experience humanity as humans in order to agree that humanity was worthless. 

However, considering that all of their problems stem from Cavil himself, I'm not sure his plan will succeed.

Due to the bullet in his brain, Anders remembers everything as well and fills the other four in as much as he can before his surgery.

A few of the main things I found interesting from this episode,

1.  The Centurions came upon the idea of the One True God on their own and Ellen used it in the programming of the skinjobs.  It even appears that Ellen has come to believe in the One True God herself.  I would assume that the humans who created the Centurions wouldn't have programmed them with religious thoughts (and if they did, they would have used their gods) so this is something they came up with own their own when they became sentient.  Very interesting.

2. Number 7.  I've always thought it was strange that there wasn't a Number 7.  I hypothesized that maybe that meant the Boomer/Athena model (number 8) was tied to the final 5 in some way, but instead it turns out that the Final 5 in fact created 8 models and number 7 has been boxed, supposedly even more completely and permanently then number 3 was, however somehow I doubt that.  The question clearly is who is number 7?  There are really only two possible answers in my mind, either Starbuck (which would be possible, because it reappearing as a female would answer why no one recognizes it, and it being Starbuck would answer her resurrection, plus there is the fact that 7 was an artist and Starbuck kept painting the eye of jupiter) or Baltar (which is what I'm leaning towards because Anders talked about seeing someone no one else could see, he saw a woman, Tory saw a man, very similar to the 6 that Baltar sees and interacts with and the Baltar that 6 sees and interacts with).

3. Galactica will become alive.  I'm very interested to see what ramifications this will have on everyone's relationship with her.  Especially considering how important the ships are to everyone's identity.  Lee's new Quorum uses ships for the representatives instead of the now extinct colonies.  The other thing is, while the ship is getting fixed, it can't jump, but with Ellen finding them from Cavil's group, whose to say Cavil won't find them too before Galactica is ready to jump away?

Until Next Time, This season is everything I had hoped for so far and I can't wait to get more answers and see what will happen next!

BSG Blood on the Scales, first thoughts

AS ALWAYS *SPOILERS* if you aren't caught up yet!

Great conclusion to the mutiny storyline that had been building since the webisodes.

I'm sad that I was right about Gaeta, but I appreciate how the episode with his death was handled.  It was clear that he was beginning to recognize his mistakes.  He gave in at the end to the inevitability of his death and perhaps even welcomed it.  He has clearly not been the same since losing his leg and then you add in the complicity that he had with many people's deaths on New Caprica (again, watch the webisodes if you haven't) or at least the complicity that he was made to feel, and it's understandable that Gaeta hasn't been thinking clearly.

I like how the show tied in his unclear thoughts with his bothersome leg and when his thoughts finally cleared and he knew that what he had done was handled wrong (if perhaps not for the wrong reasons, more on that and Zarek in a minute) his leg finally stopped bothering him.  Great finish to the episode and the character.

As for Zarek, one of the most interesting points of the episode (and the series thus far in my opinion) was the scene with Zarek and the Quorum.  Zarek tries to justify his and Felix's actions to them citing all the illegal and undemocratic actions taken by President Roslin and Admiral Adama and we are reminded once again (as we often are by this show) that the actions taken by our Heroes are often wrong as well.  Sure their motives are almost always good, but their actions are often not and Felix and Zarek recognized that and in many ways were reacting to that.  But, much like our heroes, the actions that they took in regards to the illegal and undemocratic actions were just as and in some cases (the murdering of the Quorum) even more illegal and undemocratic.

Felix came to terms with that at the end, I think.  But I'm not sure that Zarek did fully.  Tom Zarek has always been a complex and well drawn character and he remained so to the end.  There is no question that he believed that what he was doing was right and for the good of the whole, but at the same time he had a desire for power that clouded his judgement.  I'm not sure if he realized how much his need to be in control jeopardized everything else that he wanted.  And ultimately helped bring him down.  In a way it was Zarek's actions that finally made Gaeta see clearly and stand down at the end.

I'm interested to see what happens next.  There are a few repercussions from this episode that we haven't seen, mainly whether or not Anders is okay, but I wonder if this unsuccessful coup will bring the fleet back together with a purpose after the disappointment of a devastated Earth or if there will still be those who feel the current leadership is not what they desire.  At the very least, it has given the President the will to once again serve.

Also, I'm glad I was right about Hot Dog.

Until Next Time, this was definitely an exciting episode that at turns had me excited to the point of cheering and saddened to the point of tears.  What a great show.

BSG The Oath, first thoughts

Wow.  It really ramped up the action this episode.  I don't really have too much to add this week, just a few things, as mainly I really want to see the second half!

1.  I have no doubt that Gaeta will die, and that saddens me greatly.  He has always been one of my favorite characters and the episode where the tribunal wanted to shoot him out an airlock for collaborating is one of my all time favorites because I so badly wanted him to survive.  I hate the actions that he's taking, but the show has done a good job making me believe that he would take them.  (again if you haven't already, try and see the webisodes The Face of the Enemy, it helps explain these actions in much better detail.)

2.  Was there any doubt that the President would be getting back involved.  It was almost a LOST like moment for me when she said she wouldn't be involved.  Say something like that on The Island and you are guaranteed to be doing whatever it is you swore you would never do.  Looks like Galactica isn't that much different.  So, as bad as Gaeta's little rebellion is, it might have an unintended consequence that will be extremely important.  It appears to have given the survivors (another term I use regularly in my LOST posts)  back their president.

3.  Thank the gods for Starbuck getting some action (not the kiss between her and Lee perverts, like gun type action).  I loved how she said that she was finally feeling alive again.  She is truly in her element and since she and Lee stayed on the ship (along with Tigh and Adama) I don't like Gaeta's chances here.

4.  I know a lot of people don't like Lee, but I do.  I just wish that he didn't constantly get played by Zarek all the time.  Of course, I think that Zarek understands Lee better then most people do (which is funny because the actor playing Zarek played Apollo in the original series, so he has spent some time in Lee's shoes as it were), and therefore is able to do and say the things that he knows Lee will react to.  I love how throughout the show, the President and, or his father would play on his honorable nature when it helped them but rail against it when it was contrary to what they wanted.  Zarek knows how constant Lee is and always seeks to use Lee's nature to his advantage.  Roslin and Adama only do that if Lee happens to agree with them.  I wonder if Lee realizes that his enemy knows him better then his father and the president he has served so long and so faithfully.

5.  Of all of the minor characters who we saw involved in the coup, only Race Track was one we know well.  I guess I'm glad it was her and not Hot Dog.  Based on who Gaeta called to destroy the Raptor with Baltar and Roslin on board, I'm totally holding out hope that Hot Dog remains one of the good guys.

Until Next Time, for more on the psyche of Felix Gaeta read this outstanding post.

BSG A Disquiet Follows My Soul, first thoughts

Battlestar is always at it's best when it focuses on the small things.  Sure, the majority of the episode dealt with how humanity (aka the majority of the fleet and a few members of Galactica) is handling the realization that everything they had placed their hopes and dreams in were false, and that's certainly not small things, but the episode was grounded with the relationship of Roslin and Adama and her finally taking her life into her own hands as opposed to being what everyone else needs her to be, and the discovery that Tyrol is not, in actuality, the father of Cally's baby.  (I thought for sure that it was going to be Baltar, but it turns out it was Hot Dog).

Taking away the other Half Cylon, the show added some intrigue to the full Cylon being born to Saul and the 6, as 6 acknowledged the importance of the baby saying, "This means we can survive without resurrection." 

There will most certainly be more on this as the show finishes.

Meanwhile, bigger picture, Zarek and Gaeta are planning a revolution, upset with the way things have turned out, and very suspicious as to any further alliance with the rebel Cylons.  For those confused as to why Felix is so adamantly anti-Cylon these days, check out the webisodes at SciFi.com.

Ultimately, I think that there are only two ways the show can end.  The humans and rebel Cylons end up destroying Cavil's fleet and ultimately decide to resettle Kobal, leading to a future in which the humans head to resettle the 12 colonies and the Cylons head to resettle Earth as the 13th colony (something that was hinted at in the Cylon's price for their technology, they wanted to essentially be the 13th colony), proving once again that all of this has happened before and all of it will happen again.  Or, the characters will realize that and somehow break free of the circle landing on a new home and finally ending the cycle for good.

At least that's how I see it.

Until Next Time, sadly only eight episodes left, but BSG: The Plan (a movie written by the great Jane Espenson and directed by Edward James Olmos) is finished with production and moving into post and Caprica is set to air next season, so at least the universe will continue.

BSG: Sometimes A Great Notion, first thoughts

Wow.  Holy Frak and Wow.  Those were my first thoughts.

Some thoughts during the episode?  HOLY FRAK! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

I was shocked and dismayed by Dee's death.  I had no idea that it was coming and the manner in which it occurred blew me away.  I was a little surprised that she was capable of it, and it just didn't seem like something that would occur to her right at that moment.

As I've reflected on it, however, I've come to realize that she was preparing herself for it the whole day. 

Watching Hera and playing with her, then going on a date with Apollo and reliving the happiness that they shared for too short a time.  She was soaking up the good and refusing to live any longer with the bad.  It was heartbreaking and it was powerful.  She will be sorely missed.

Earth was inhabited by Cylons.  This was a bigger reveal to me then the idea that Earth has been decimated by a nuclear holocaust.  The show has told us over and over that "All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again."  Clearly that is the case if the thirteenth tribe were Cylons.  I suppose that the remaining humans and Cylons are ultimately supposed to return to Kobal and settle there.  Then, when the tribes leave Kobal, the Cylons will go separate from the humans and go to Earth, the humans will go back to the twelve colonies.  Then thousands of years later, the humans will end up creating Cylons having no memory that they once lived with Cylons and the newly created Cylons will evolve and start a war with the humans. 

Meanwhile the original Cylons will somehow have destroyed themselves on Earth two thousand years earlier. 

Everything has happened before, everything will happen again.

Except I take some hope from something Apollo said in the mid season finale.  He answers D'Anna saying that it doesn't have to happen again.  They can change it.  As of now, they don't seem to be headed in a "let's change things" direction, but there are 9 episodes left.

What is really interesting was the realization by our Final 4 that they had lived on Earth and been there when the devastation occurred.  Why are they back and amongst the fleet that was headed towards Earth?  And how are they back?

We got a little clue at the same time we discovered the Final Cylon.  Ellen Tigh (and unlike what seems to be a lot of people I like this revelation) tells Saul (who had both eyes, ah, good times) that everything is in place. 

They'll be reborn and live again together.

This tells me a couple of things.

One, that at least the two of them had some idea that this holocaust might occur, and probably Anders, Tory, and Tyrol knew as well.

And two, by reappearing in the right time when it would be necessary to return to Earth, the reappearance of the Final Five either caused the Cylon War or it was actively planned by the reborn Cylons.  Ellen always seemed to know a little more then she let on.

So, will Ellen be back?  After all, Tigh killed her long before they blew up the Resurrection Hub.  And she was somehow privy to a way to bring her and Tigh back to life nearly two thousand years after they died many, many light years away.  I think that she will be.

I'm always fascinated by the Cylon numbers.  Why are the 7 known Cylons (excluding the Final Five) numbered 1 (Cavil), 2 (Leobon), 3 (D'Anna), 4 (Simon), 5 (Doral), 6, and then 8 (Boomer, Athena).  Why is 7 skipped?  We know the Final 5 are different then the other Cylons, and I'm wondering if 8 might actually be one of them.  From the beginning, 8 has shown herself to be different from the other Cylons.  Athena is an accepted member of the humans, and it was an 8 that broke the tie by severing herself from the rest of the 8s and siding with Cavil.  I don't know, but it certainly bears thinking about.

As for Starbuck, I honestly have no idea what to think.  She found herself and her ship destroyed and dead on Earth.  It was the signal from her destroyed Viper that her new Viper was able to follow.  What the frak does that mean?  Is Starbuck a clone of some kind?  Was a duplicate Starbuck created by traveling through some sort of wormhole?  Is Ellen somehow behind all of this?  Or is the Cylon God?  I really don't know what to think yet.

But I'm way ready to find out.

Until Next Time, I was blown away by the episode and am excited about the start of the final 10 episodes.  This is without a doubt the best television show I have ever seen and for my money is the best television show ever produced.  What'll they throw at us next?

The Return of BSG

The greatness that is Battlestar Galactica returns tonight on the Sci-Fi Network and I am extremely pumped (although also a little sad that this is the beginning of the end).

I now can say with some certainty that this is the greatest television show ever on television, and I will be extremely heartbroken when it ends.

However, we still have ten episodes to go until that happens, so let's not get too far ahead of ourselves and instead bask in the glory that is the final season while we have it.

IF YOU AREN'T CAUGHT UP ON BSG, READ NOT PAST THIS POINT FOR THAR BE SPOILERS!!!

Sorry about going pirate there, don't know where that came from.

Anyway, the rumor is that we'll know the final Cylon by the end of this episode, so we have one more chance to try and figure out who it might be.  My money is on Tom Zarek.

Here's what I wrote in an earlier post and I'm sticking by it...

Speaking of the Final Cylon, I think I know who it is.

Tom Zarek.

I actually have very little doubt.  Here's why.

1. He's certainly one of the most important characters not on the Last Supper photo.

2. He's the Vice President of the Fleet, but isn't really in the Roslin camp.  The Cylon's have the four we know about in important places, Tigh is Adama's right hand man, Tory is Roslin's closest confidant politically, Anders is along on the Starbuck mission, and the Chief (up until this week) was in charge of maintaining all of the ships, the humans best weapon against the Cylons.  Outside of Adama or Roslin (which would invalidate the need for Tigh or Tory) Zarek is in the most important position in the fleet, especially with Roslin dying.

3. His first name is Tom.  Seriously, that's my argument.  Think about it, what do we know about the newest four Cylons, what do they have in common?  Saul Tigh, Galen Tyrol, Samuel T. Anders, and Tory Foster.  First of all, why do we know Anders's middle initial at all?  Is it just a nod to Star Trek (after all, it could stand for Tiberius)?  Maybe, but I think it is also a clue.  Of the four we know, there are two whose last name starts with a t, one whose middle name starts with a t, and one whose first name starts with a t, I think ultimately it will be two whose first names start with a t, two whose last names start with a t, and one whose middle name starts with a t.  Not that I think they'll make a big deal of the T thing or that it has any meaning, but I do think that it is a clue pointing to Tom Zarek.  If we find out Felix's middle name starts with a t, though, I might switch to him.

I'm still liking all of that logic.  Felix Gaeta is still a possibility, of course.  Some other interesting theories I've heard include Zach Adama and Ellen Tigh.  Those two made me think of Adama's wife as well.

Luckily, we won't have too much longer to wait.

Other burning questions...

What happened to Earth?  (not to mention us, it's inhabitants)

Who or what is up with the 6 in Baltar's head and the Baltar in Caprica 6's head?

What happened to Starbuck when she died? (and how is she back)

What does the prophecy of "Harbinger of Doom" mean?

How did Tigh get 6 pregnant when they're both Cylons?

And What will be the resolution of the Cylon Civil War and Cavil's Cylon's beef with humanity?

Until Next Time, soon we will know the answer to these and any other lingering questions, but mainly let's enjoy the ride of the last ten episodes of Television's Greatest Show Ever.

BSG Sine Qua Non & The Hub

So, it's been two episodes since I last talked about what's happening on the greatest show on television, and I have a few thoughts based on the last two episodes that I would like to share before the mid-season finale airs on Friday.

1. Lee Adama = Barack Obama

Many people throughout the years have talked about the parallels between Laura Roslin and George W. Bush, and I agree with them.  Roslin was never actually elected President by the people, which correlates to the controversy regarding Bush's right to the White House, and Roslin making decisions based on what might be a misguided faith, which again could correlate to W. and his God that is a little Old Testament for my tastes.

Well, with the move bringing Lee to the big chair on Colonial One, there are some definite parallels to Barack Obama, primarily brought out by the conversation that Lee had with Romo Lampkin (of Firefly and a season one episode of X-Files), where Lampkin accuses Lee of relying on HOPE and not having any real solutions.  I thought for a moment that Lampkin might call Apollo a Hopemonger.  Alas, the writers were not that direct, but then that's why we love them.

2. Roslin's Visions during the Jumps

I found it interesting that the visions were attempting to re-humanize Roslin.  In the past she wasn't as ruthless as she has become, and while I didn't always agree with her decisions (and certainly with how she sometimes arrived at them) I felt that she was a good choice for President given how she was a voice for the common people while The Old Man was completely out of touch with the civilian fleet.

No longer is that the case.  Roslin and the elder Adama are both coming at things from the same place (more or less) and somehow, Adama is the more human of the two.  (This of course is an interesting way to look at things, since a major theme of the series is of course about discussing exactly what it means to "be human" as often, it is the Cylons that portray this the best.)

Roslin decided to save Baltar's life and admitted her love for Adama ("About time," he says, very Han Solo of him), but I feel like she still has more to learn.  I wonder if her visions are quite done.  As idiotic as Baltar sometimes is, I feel like he is doing a good job of spreading the word of the Cylon God, who in the beginning of the series was also very Old Testament, but through Baltar has been increasingly more familiar to many of the monotheists of today, I wouldn't be too surprised if at some point Roslin finds herself a convert despite herself.

3. Caprica 6 is Pregnant?!?!?

Tigh is a Cylon, Caprica 6 is a Cylon.  The two should not be able to procreate.  Of course it is always possible that one of the guards is actually responsible for the baby inside 6, but I doubt that very much.
Way back in the beginning of the show, we were told that the reason that Cylons couldn't procreate was because they couldn't comprehend love, they needed a human to help complete them.

We've seen that often Tigh sees Caprica 6 as Ellen (his deceased wife) who, as odd as their relationship often was, he loved very much.  I'm betting that it is his love for Ellen that has allowed him to impregnate Caprica 6.

4. The Cylons are mortal

This is big, and I can't wait to see the ramifications that it has.  Cylons now can no longer resurrect.  If they die in battle they are dead forever, just like the humans against whom they fight.

This is what will lead to a final and real pact of peace between the Cylons and Humans.

My theory is that ultimately they will work together to find Earth and populate it together long before our time.
Although I was thinking the other day, wouldn't it be something if only Nicky and Hera survive and all of humanity as we know it comes from the two half-Human/half-Cylons.

5. Previews for the mid-season finale

Well, it looks like the cat's out of the bag (metaphorically speaking, not meant to represent the 6th Sense cat of Romo Lampkin) and that in the next episode at least a couple of the Final Five will become known to the fleet.  I can't wait to see what that will mean, although I dread the cliff hanger that will force us to await the last half of the last season of the greatest show on television.

Until Next Time, at least the pilot for Caprica is being filmed, meaning that we will have a little more from the BSG Universe to look forward to.

BSG Faith, first thoughts

I was right, Deanna will be unboxed in order to unmask the Final Five, although I'm not sure that Anders is as excited about that.

How about the revelation that the Final Five are from Earth, though, that's interesting.  Where they created there or did they go there separately?  And I'm still confused as to why the Boomer/Athena model is number 8, meaning one of the Final Five is a number 7.

We know that 8 is a different Cylon, able to buck programming easier.  Athena has left the Cylons to join the side of the humans, and Boomer left the rest of the 8's for Cabal's side to vote against 6's group, breaking the tie.

Is it possible that the first 6 Cylons are different then the last 6 Cylons, but that number 8 broke ranks with the last 6 making them 5?

I think that it is.

A couple of BSG posts ago I mentioned how strategically placed the four we know of the Final 5 seemed to be.  President Roslin's conversation with Torry at the beginning of the episode confirmed that.

Speaking of President Roslin, her arch in this episode interested me.

I never imagined that Roslin would buy into the One True God concept simply because it was Baltar that was preaching it, and she will always be unable to see past her hatred (as much as that hatred is probably justified) of him.  But through the character Emily on this episode, Roslin got to see that faith from a different angle.

And the concept of One True God is probably important to her understanding of the Opera House Dream, considering everyone involved in that vision except for herself is Cylon or half-Cylon, and thanks to the Hybrid we know now that Roslin (the dying leader) will soon know the truth of that vision.

Which is good, because I'd like to know the truth of that vision as well.  Especially since it started roughly at the same time four of the crew started hearing All Along the Watchtower and we saw where that lead.

We got more of the "Harbinger of Death" and "lead them all to their end" about Starbuck that we got in Razor, but if I've learned anything from reading fantasy extensively since 6th grade, it's that Prophecies never turn out exactly how they sound.

I'm wondering more about what all of this "Children of the one reborn" is all about.

Until Next Time, did anyone else watch Smallville last week?  It was Sci-Fi Doctors Guest Appearance Week as Robert Picardo (formally the Doctor on ST: Voyager) played Mr. Teague (the father of Jensen Ackles's character and the husband of Jane Seymore's character) and Donnelly Rhodes (Doc Cottle on BSG) played the antique expert helping Lex figure out the significance of the item he discovered in the Zurich safety deposit box.  I kept expecting to see Dr. Crusher.

BSG The Road Less Traveled, first thoughts

I'm intrigued by the direction the series is taking.

To be honest, I thought that there would be a lot more action then the last couple of episodes have offered.
Is that a bad thing?  I don't think so, but it's hard to tell since I'm not entirely sure where the show is going at this point.

I think that the last two episodes are going to be extremely important when it comes to our understanding of our newest Cylons.  I wrote about Tory, the Chief, and Tigh last week (and the Chief got some more screen time this week with his new Lex Luthor inspired look), but this week belonged to Anders.

It might not have seemed like it on the surface, but when I think about the episode I keep coming back to Anders.

Is it his humanity (the part of him that believed he was human) that trusts Starbuck so completely when everyone else on the ship thinks that she has gone batty (if they even admit that its really her), or is it his Cylon nature that is causing him to follow her.

With the other three new Cylons we've seen definite deviations from their normal selves as they deal with the news that they're toasters (hope I didn't offend anyone with that pejorative) but since the premiere, Anders has just been Anders.  Is he dealing with it better or is he doing exactly what he's been programmed to do?

That's the question that I have after this episode.

Until Next Time, I've been rewatching X-Files season 1 through the power of Netflix and the early episodes have a distinct connection to BSG, primarily episodes 12 and 13, "Fire" and "Beyond the Sea".  In "Fire" our favorite lawyer not named Adama, Romo Lampkin, is the pyro-able baddie Bob.  In Beyond the Sea, we learn that Scully's nickname from her father is none other then Starbuck.  Awesome.  (He of course is referring to the Melville character, but it's awesome nonetheless.)

BSG Escape Velocity

It seems that a lot of people think that Friday's episode was slow, boring, and pointless.

I completely disagree.

It wasn't action packed as some episodes have been, sure, but it was necessary and plot packed.

The episode was about the new Cylons coming to terms with who and what they are.

Tory started it off last week killing Cally, and that action spurned the other two into a direction where they are coming to terms with their new understanding of why they are.

The death of Cally caused the Chief to regret his decision to leave Boomer, especially since he knows now that like Boomer he is a Cylon.  I don't think he had really accepted it until now.

Tigh was reminded of his wife dying (by his own hand).  He killed her because she had collaborated with the Cylons, but now he knows that he is a Cylon, meaning that she didn't have to die (or at least that it shouldn't have been by his hand.)

Each of them are coming to terms with their newly discovered identities, and that should lead to a change in their strategy soon.

For those who think that Six knew or recognized Tigh as a fellow Cylon in their shared scenes, I disagree.
She said to him that her brain was based on his, meaning Cylon brains were based on Human brains, and that they had figured out far more about the brain's abilities then human's had.  All of which means she thinks that he is human.  She doesn't realize that he is one of the Final Five.

Meanwhile, Baltar was pushed further towards his role as religious leader, and I do find this story line very intriguing, and can't wait to see where exactly it leads, but far more important is the reality of Invisible Six.
There is no way that Baltar (even in his diseased head) could pick himself up off of the floor like that.
Whatever the Six/Baltar being inside of the heads of Baltar and Six is, I don't think we can consider it imaginary anymore.

(I was already having a tough time doing so the moment I discovered that Six had an imaginary Baltar.)

Even more then the last Cylon, I think that is the question I want answered most.  What the frak is up with the Vision Baltar/Six.

Speaking of the Final Cylon, I think I know who it is.

Tom Zarek.

I actually have very little doubt.  Here's why.

1. He's certainly one of the most important characters not on the Last Supper photo.

2. He's the Vice President of the Fleet, but isn't really in the Roslin camp.  The Cylon's have the four we know about in important places, Tigh is Adama's right hand man, Tory is Roslin's closest confidant politically, Anders is along on the Starbuck mission, and the Chief (up until this week) was in charge of maintaining all of the ships, the humans best weapon against the Cylons.  Outside of Adama or Roslin (which would invalidate the need for Tigh or Tory) Zarek is in the most important position in the fleet, especially with Roslin dying.

3. His first name is Tom.  Seriously, that's my argument.  Think about it, what do we know about the newest four Cylons, what do they have in common?  Saul Tigh, Galen Tyrol, Samuel T. Anders, and Tory Foster.  First of all, why do we know Anders's middle initial at all?  Is it just a nod to Star Trek (after all, it could stand for Tiberius)?  Maybe, but I think it is also a clue.  Of the four we know, there are two whose last name starts with a t, one whose middle name starts with a t, and one whose first name starts with a t, I think ultimately it will be two whose first names start with a t, two whose last names start with a t, and one whose middle name starts with a t.  Not that I think they'll make a big deal of the T thing or that it has any meaning, but I do think that it is a clue pointing to Tom Zarek.  If we find out Felix's middle name starts with a t, though, I might switch to him.

Until Next Time, next weeks episode looks good, I always enjoy Leoben and Starbuck scenes.

BSG The Ties That Bind, first thoughts

By now, I hope everyone has had a chance to view the episode, if not, read on at your own risk.

We'll start with the Cylon civil war, move onto Starbuck, touch on Apollo's new job, and leave the other big story line to end the post with.

So, I really thought that we were going to get Lucy Lawless back this week, but I guess it makes sense that we'll have to wait, because she knows who the final Cylon is and we have no frakkin' idea.

The second that the number 8 (not Boomer as she split ranks, interesting how different that model is, Boomer breaks ranks and Athena lives as a human even though she knows, as does everyone around her, that she's actually a Cylon) said the resurrection ship didn't make the jump I was yelling for them to jump the frak away.  It astonishes me how much the Cylons are becoming everything they claim they were trying to destroy by killing the humans.  I wonder how that's going to play out.

Starbuck's crew, for the most part, doesn't seem too excited to be on this mission.  I'm glad that Gaeta is on the mission to Earth, because I always feel like his character is best when he's out of the CDC, I want to see if he's suffering any guilt for having lied on the stand in Baltar's trial.

Starbuck is by far my favorite character, but Anders is really growing on me (and I've always enjoyed the times when they're on screen together).  It used to be when Starbuck screwed him over (usually literally) I just felt like he was an idiot for putting himself in the position.  Now, I feel really bad for him, knowing what he's got to be thinking, and knowing that he can't tell his wife, because she's already told him that if she found out he was a Cylon she'd put a bullet in his head without a second thought.  I believe her (and figure that at some point it'll actually happen, and that's not to say she won't feel bad about it afterwards, but she won't hesitate.)

So, Lee is the new Caprican representative (and the original Lee, Tom Zarek, is now the Vice President) and it appears he will do the right thing again despite the fact that it will further destroy his relationship with the President.  I love how everyone uses Apollo's sense of duty when it works to their advantage but get so pissed at him when it's used against them.  Oddly enough, Zarek, the former terrorist, is the only person who has had a fairly consistent relationship with him, one of mutual, but cautious, respect.

Finally, let's take a moment of silence for Crewman Specialist Cally Tyrol.



I'll miss her, I've always liked Cally, ever since in season one when she bit that prisoners ear off, ("That's my girl," says the Chief).

I had the feeling when she overheard them that we were in a "Smallville moment".

"Smallville Moment"- when a character discovers a life changing secret, that character will most likely die soon afterwards.  It happens often in Smallville (hence the name) as when a character finds out Clark's secret, you know their death is imminent.

In fact, that very thing happened this week on Smallville when Lex's assistent witnessed Clark in full Kal-El mode.

It was way too early for anyone else to find out about these Cylons, therefore, Cally had to go.

That being said, the writer's took the Smallville moment and kept it suspenseful.  That isn't easy to do.  If you notice, on Smallville, a character finds out Clark's secret and they're dead about 30 seconds later, the show knows they're going to die, the viewers know the characters going to die, so they don't frak around, they just kill off the character.  On this weeks BSG, the writer's found a way to keep it suspenseful, sure, you probably figured Cally was going to bite it, but when it looked like she was going to take Nicky with her, it got suspenseful.  I was freaking out, hoping Tory would talk her out of it, but wondering if Cally might just take her out the airlock with her (in fact I began to expect it, wondering if there was a spare body waiting for Tory).  It was handled extremely well.

Until Next Time, I'm not surprised, of course.  A show doesn't earn the honorific of Best Show Ever unless they handle moments like that well.

BSG He That Believeth In Me, first thoughts

What a great start to the last season of Television's Greatest Show.  And those that are leery of such an honorific, know that I was just as leery of it myself until I watched it and realized that it is the only honorific with which to describe this show.

Recently the thought about what is the most Religiously Themed television show on right now has been raised.

Obviously the new show on ABC, Eli Stone, would have to be considered.

The show it follows (duh, people, LOST, stay with me here) has lots of religious themes (often pointed out by yours truly every Friday following a new episode).

Last Thursday was the return of My Name Is Earl, and the show has always had an underlying idea of religion, but it became more blatant last week with one of the finest episodes the show has ever had.  (Paris Hilton notwithstanding.  She was horrible, even playing herself.  It wasn't funny and was completely unnecessary, making me even more impressed with the Britney Spears performance a few weeks ago on HIMYM.)

But I think that the actual answer to the question is none other then BSG itself, and the premiere episode looked like it will continue that into the fourth season.

Dr. Baltar (the best and most complicated "bad guy" in television history) is now the messenger for the One True God amongst the religious pluralist human survivors and their gods of Kobal.  As I've rewatched the earlier seasons recently I've come to the conclusion that the 6 in Baltar's head and the Baltar in 6's head are some manifestation of God, or Angels of God as imaginary 6 said earlier in the Series.

That being said, I don't think that the Cylons have a good handle on what it is that God is or wants, as often Baltar and Caprica 6 are at odds not only with the survivors, but with the Cylons as well, following a separate path all together.  They get points for recognizing that Zeus, Hera, Apollo, et al. are mythical and that there is only one true God, but they're understanding of that God (and actions because of it) are very Old Testament (with the understanding that the God of the Hebrew Bible is actually misunderstood, so there really isn't an Old Testament and New Testament God, they are the same, and the characteristics of God are consistent in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, but that is a post for another time, and probably my other blog).

How odd would it be if Baltar gives the Cylons a New Testament understanding?

Meanwhile, Starbuck has returned from the dead (wow, resurrection, what do you know) setting up an interesting quandary, who are we going to side with, President Roslin or Starbuck?

The scrolls tell us that a dying leader (President Roslin) will lead humanity to safe haven (Earth) but not live to see it (Moses, see why this show is the most Religiously Themed yet?).  Her belief is that the reappearance of Starbuck is somehow a Cylon trick.

The fact that Apollo saw Starbuck's ship explode and that the Chief has shown that Starbuck's Viper is not actually the one she left in but a completely new version seem to back the President.

It's Starbuck, though, and Leobin (I know he's a Cylon, but still, he seemed to know what he was talking about) said that Starbuck had an important destiny in regards to Earth.  Starbuck also has pictures and remembers Saturn, although she has no idea that the planet was called Saturn and seeing that no one else has been to Earth, no one else has an idea that seeing Saturn means Starbuck was likely actually at Earth.

I personally think that Starbuck has been to Earth and that the fleet does need to follow her.

That being said, I can't agree with her decision to try and make the President listen to her.  I don't think Laura Roslin will respond very well to a gun in her face.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Until Next Time, I think that it was funny who sponsored the episode when it was shown early online.  The episode was brought to us by Intel Inside and Iron Man.  The Intel commercials were about computers becoming alive and Iron Man is about a robot looking thing that kicks butt, both of which totally reminded my of Cylons.  I wonder if that was intentional or not.

All Along the Watchtower, People Get Ready for the Return of TV's Greatest Show

It's hard to feel too upset about no LOST last night when we're getting blessed with the return of Television's Greatest Show Tonight, Battlestar Galactica.

Here are the big questions heading into Season 4...

Who is the Final Cylon?

What is up with the return of Starbuck? Is she back from the dead? Did she not really die to begin with? Is she a Cylon?

Why did the four most recent Cylon's hear All Along The Watchtower?  (Is Bob Dylan a Cylon? There is a
similarity in the names, Dylan-Cylon, something to think about.  Just kidding, but weird nonetheless.)

Will they find Earth?

Why does Caprica 6 have a Baltar in her head and why does Dr. Baltar have a 6 in his head?

What is the importance of Hera?  And now that we know the Chief is a Cylon, is there something important about Nicky also or is only Hera important since she was the first Half Cylon/Half Human?

How did President Roslin's cancer come back and will it be cured or will the prophecy (think Moses, leading them to the promise land but not actually reaching it) finally be realized?

We are mere hours from finding out.

Until Next Time, tomorrow I will give you my first thoughts on the return of Television's Greatest Show.

Just A Little Taste to Get You Excited

* Spoilers * if you aren't caught up on Battlestar Galactica you might not want to watch this clip....

Also, tomorrow on SciFi, at 9:00pm CST is Battlestar Galactica: Revisited to catch you up on all the preceding moments of the greatest show on television (possibly ever), and at 9:30pm is Battlestar Galactica: The Phenomenon which allows some famous people to comment on why this is the greatest show on television (possibly ever).

April 4th is the season premiere for the final season.

Until Next Time, I'm going to give you one more taste of something to get you excited, Chris Carter talking about the upcoming, still untitled, X-Files Sequel.

Do You Want the Good News or the Bad News First?

I suppose that the question is actually rhetorical considering that by the time you read the title, I'll already have written the post and therefore have also already made the decision on whether I will proceed with the good news or the bad news and follow with the other.

Let's start with the bad news since that way we can end the post on a positive note (sorry if you chose the other way around, like I said the title was rhetorical.)

JERICHO CANCELLED BY CBS (AGAIN)

That's right, everyone's favorite post apocalyptic most of America has been nuked type of show has been canceled.  Again.  Luckily there are so many other shows of this type for us to fall back on... oh wait, you mean this is one of the most original shows in the history of television?

Yes, it is, and I have no doubt that many of my readers have never seen it (hence the second canceling in as many seasons) despite it being second on last year's Josh's Choice for Best New Show of the Year list, but that is their loss.  Unfortunately the low ratings due to the fact that most people haven't seen it is resulting in its canceling which is a huge loss to those of us that have watched this outstanding show.

Of course, there is small hope that someone else will take a chance on this show with its small but fiercely loyal fans, after all it was canceled last year too and we still got seven episodes this year thanks to the rabid fans.  Surely some cable network would be interested in getting some loyal viewers.  (Are you listening SciFi?  The show would be perfect on your network, and Battlestar is coming to an end this year.)

Which brings me to the good news (see aren't you glad we did it this way, it led to a perfect segue.)

PREQUEL TO BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GREENLIT BY SCIFI

That's right, CAPRICA, the prequel to the best show on television ever (with the possible exception of The Wire which I'm about to start watching on the magic of Netflix, but haven't seen yet so I can't say for sure which truly deserves the title, sad though that they both end this year) has been greenlit, so even though we're losing BSG, we will still have stories set in that world.  With Adamas.  I can't wait.

Also in the good news category, it appears that Scrubs will in fact be returning, but on ABC, according to Variety.  Also in that article is the long rumored, but still unofficial news that FNL (last year's Josh's Choice for Best New Show of the Year winner) will be back next season with some help from DirecTv, that would be among the best news possible.

Until Next Time, I'm back to CBS (despite their canceling one of my favorite shows) for some more March Madness.