tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post7157553088731899132..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Battlestar Galactica, "Hub": It's about timeAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-45276150495223554072008-06-12T05:15:00.000-04:002008-06-12T05:15:00.000-04:00Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but after this ...Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but after this episode I don't really think Roslin is going to die. It seems silly that they would waste their emotional thunder on a dream sequence only to have it repeat in real time a few episodes later.<BR/><BR/>Anybody else get this feeling?<BR/><BR/>------------<BR/><BR/>Alan the thought had occurred to me as well and I was wondering if we might see something akin to Love in the Time of Cholera-where Roslin and Adama stay w/ the bay ship (somehow that keeps her alive or at least the cancer from spreading?) or their raptor and travel the stars rather than go to earth. But I am probably reaching as well.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00945724279839256635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71137594433435647612008-06-12T00:06:00.000-04:002008-06-12T00:06:00.000-04:00I loved it. McDonnell is just so consistently stel...I loved it. McDonnell is just so consistently stellar. Callis's ability to make me laugh and hold my breath is amazing. (Every time Baltar is on drugs, I get nervous.)<BR/>My one complaint wasn't how easy it was to take down the Hub. I don't want to watch people put together a plan anymore than I already have to. (Thank you 2-D board for 3-D maneuvers on Galactica!)<BR/>I was more confused by how Helo has consistently gone along with this plan after he <I> shot his wife </I> and essentially <I> committed treason </I> when a similar genocide was suggested during the virus arc last season. Did I miss the part where these feelings were reconciled? And doesn't the resurrected wife thing complicate not falling in love with the "production line"?<BR/>Otherwise, this was BSG at its best. Beautiful and spiritual and logical and... is Laura Roslin a metaphor for the show?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-760096377968603022008-06-11T20:23:00.000-04:002008-06-11T20:23:00.000-04:00Alan,I don't know the connection, but check out th...Alan,<BR/>I don't know the connection, but check out the Old 97's/Battlestar Gallactica video for "Dance with Me"<BR/>http://stereogum.com/archives/video/new-old-97s-video-dance-with-me_010357.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-52837037891708837092008-06-10T10:12:00.000-04:002008-06-10T10:12:00.000-04:00Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but after this ...Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but after this episode I don't really think Roslin is going to die. It seems silly that they would waste their emotional thunder on a dream sequence only to have it repeat in real time a few episodes later.<BR/><BR/>Anybody else get this feeling?Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04117068608723797935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-42333841303400999992008-06-09T05:54:00.000-04:002008-06-09T05:54:00.000-04:00"I don't think so; Deanna saw five grown people in..."I don't think so; Deanna saw five grown people in the temple. How could she know the identity of an unborn child, a child who had not even been conceived at the time she went tripping?"<BR/><BR/>I thought the same thing at first, as well as that in her vision they all appeared to be full size adults. But if my memory is correct (and it probably isn't) she was only supposed to see their "faces" at the temple-identifying them is something the rebels/humans think she can do because the raiders turned back at the nebula and said the 5 (or at least one of them is in the fleet-the scan of Anders supposedly revealed that). <BR/><BR/>So it is possible that she saw the face of the tigh-caprica child but as an adult. I know a stretch of a theory and it doesn't fit in well with the constant statements by Caprica during season 2 about the "first of god's new children" in reference to Hera. Although she did once scold Baltar that because she was talking about bringing a child to life-it wasn't necessarily "their" child. So it could be done and still be consistent with previous episodes. But it would seem to make some sense to have full human children, cylon-human, and cylon-cylon. <BR/><BR/>I had another thought after posting, which was we have been told that cylons have been unable to procreate with each other (they believe b/c love is the missing component). What if the 4 (Anders, Tigh, Tory and Tyrol) are human/cylons like Hera and Tyrol's child. Also offers an explanation (other than programming) as to why they became "activated" at such a late stage, and another reason why they are different (or at least 4 of them are). <BR/><BR/>Probably putting way too much thought into this, but I have just been trying to figure out why the last model hasn't come forward, unless there is a final trigger (like the nebula-maybe at earth?) Or maybe that model has just been too busy or not in the moood (my explanation for why Doc Cottle didn't join the other 4 in the hatch-since he is apparently the only physician left in the fleet and can't be bothered to train anyone else!) <BR/><BR/>OK back to work.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00945724279839256635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17628383220094139322008-06-09T00:17:00.000-04:002008-06-09T00:17:00.000-04:00Fantastic episode! Comedy and drama rolled into on...Fantastic episode! Comedy and drama rolled into one and a great fakeout. <BR/>I really wasn't sure if Baltar would die in this episode and absolutely did not want that to happen, at least not with so many episodes left. No one on this show does humour and drama with such equal capability like Callis.<BR/><BR/>Of course the Adama/Roslin reunion was sweet, but it's probably a brief respite in what is sure to be more pain in the future. (unless Roslin really is a Cylon and that the fakeout was a double blind)Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87066047638463242042008-06-08T23:09:00.000-04:002008-06-08T23:09:00.000-04:00I honestly never thought that we'd get this scene....<I>I honestly never thought that we'd get this scene. I thought the Adama/Roslin relationship would just be implied. I was okay with that idea. After seeing this scene, and realizing that the ability to connect with the human race she's been trying to save, and the ability to love, was a necessary part of Laura's character development, I can't imagine the series ending without it.</I><BR/><BR/>Beautifully put, MJ. <BR/><BR/>I agree -- I always thought it was kind of cool that the status of their relationship was left vague. Like, did they have to define it? Could they just have whatever it was that they had? <BR/><BR/>But yeah, what a big hole that would have left, to have *not* had that scene, to have not have that connection made so deeply. It was absolutely necessary to her journey, and ultimately to the meaning of the show. <BR/><BR/>Need to go watch the episode again.Mo Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01685367085407381479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67712044310230017942008-06-08T22:40:00.000-04:002008-06-08T22:40:00.000-04:00So any chance that the last model literally is the...<I>So any chance that the last model literally is the offspring of two other models?</I><BR/><BR/>I don't think so; Deanna saw five grown people in the temple. How could she know the identity of an unborn child, a child who had not even been conceived at the time she went tripping?<BR/><BR/>Then again, anything is possible.<BR/><BR/>I deal with SciFi's previews by forgetting them asap -- they lie. They always lie. They are edited to tease and distort, and they are not worth the airtime they consume.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06093453920666892035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50779816505575235872008-06-08T22:32:00.000-04:002008-06-08T22:32:00.000-04:00While Mary McDonnell deserves all the praises and ...While Mary McDonnell deserves all the praises and accolades she's received for this episode specifically and the entire series in general, I would like to shower some love on Edward James Olmos. Adama governs his emotions so strongly that when we do glimpse his feelings, be it anger, rage, compassion, loss or love, it is much more affecting. In Laura's vision, I felt his despair at losing the woman he loved and his relief that she wouldn't have to suffer any longer. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.<BR/><BR/>And, really, the reunion scene between these two has to go down as one of the best of the series. This has been such a wonderfully developed relationship. An adult relationship, something that is so rarely given respect let alone screen time on television. There was no manufactured angst. No tortured star crossed lovers. I honestly never thought that we'd get this scene. I thought the Adama/Roslin relationship would just be implied. I was okay with that idea. After seeing this scene, and realizing that the ability to connect with the human race she's been trying to save, and the ability to love, was a necessary part of Laura's character development, I can't imagine the series ending without it. <BR/><BR/>This show isn't being deleted from my Tivo anytime soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-73366450904065234392008-06-08T21:34:00.000-04:002008-06-08T21:34:00.000-04:00Loved the episode overall but had one complaint. I...Loved the episode overall but had one complaint. I couldn't help but giggle when Roslin ripped off and then (eventually) reapplied Baltar's gauze - the idea that a lightly, applied strip of cloth would keep Baltar from bleeding out! It kind of ruined an otherwise, perfectly acted scene for me. I am pretty sure you need to apply some pressure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58281677705984431292008-06-08T15:57:00.000-04:002008-06-08T15:57:00.000-04:00Oh, man, I really loved that scene with Baltar and...Oh, man, I really loved that scene with Baltar and the Centurion. The way Callis looked up, almost flirtingly, through his long lashes as he stirred the pot--that Baltar can't resist another potential follower, can he?<BR/><BR/>I"m so pleased everyone here loved the episode as much as I did. The TV Squad folks seemed pretty lukewarm, which shocked me. (This is a much smarter crowd here, anyway.)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288100796201737845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-35757936598215920662008-06-08T15:01:00.000-04:002008-06-08T15:01:00.000-04:00Loved the episode as well-although it quality real...Loved the episode as well-although it quality really seemed to put last week's in sharp relief-how uneven last week's was for this season and this one seemed to fit right into the rest in terms of quality across the board. That being said I have also noticed that there always seems to be one "stinker" episode in each half season (some have pointed out "black market" as an example but I actually don't mind that episode whereas, "Final Cut" I personally loathe and not a fan of "Colonial Day" either.)<BR/><BR/>The Hub did seem to be lightly guarded but I have decided if they are going to have a single point of failure for something as important as resurrection then sure don't guard it either. But I liked that it had come full circle with the devastation of the colonies with the help of other cylons (as the cylons took advantage of humans wittingly or unwittingly to destroy the colonies).<BR/><BR/>Like everyone else loved MM this week-can't say enough nice things about her as an actress and the writing (and acting) has allowed BSG to do some really great things with the character. Loved the scene by the hybrid pool toward the end.<BR/><BR/>Also liked Baltar's interaction with the centurion-nice comic relief from another tension filled episode-refreshingly free of a lengthy jump countdown-and Baltar's screaming at the Hybrid. I have really enjoyed the tension and competition between the Baltar and Roslin characters for a long time now and that was played well. So MM is doing great work with both Olmos and Callis almost every episode.<BR/><BR/>I am also consistently amazed by Callis's work on the show-the shift from comedic to drugged out and injured-to begging and pleading as he bled out. Amazing how he can turn on a dime and from the beginning what I really liked about the show were the interactions of him and the "ghost 6". <BR/><BR/>That being said, it brought to mind last week's episode and how underutilized the Zarek character is and I have often thought that the limitation is Hatch (not to harsh on him but he's not a stellar actor)-it seems like so much more could be done with that character but never is,whereas because of Callis's range they have transformed what should be loathsome character into one that is multi-layered and multi-faceted and who is not only sympathetic but with Roslin and Olmos is a centerpiece of the show. Wondering if anyone else felt that <BR/><BR/>Also wanted to throw out a pet theory I posted late last week again-any chance that the final model is in fact a child-specifically the Tigh-Caprica 6 child with the difference from other cylon models that Tigh is one of the final 5 (of course with the caveat that it is his). I haven't been watching the episodes in the US so have missed the scifi spoilers (thankfully) but was told by a friend that there was a final five spoiler but not what it was. Glad that didn't turn out to be the case and that it is not Roslin (at least not for now). So any chance that the last model literally is the offspring of two other models?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00945724279839256635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51559164601371493392008-06-08T11:58:00.000-04:002008-06-08T11:58:00.000-04:00My problem with "spoilers" in previews isn't neces...<I><BR/>My problem with "spoilers" in previews isn't necessarily that they give something away; you'd learn it eventually anyway. It's that it changes the way you watch everything going up to that point. There's no fear of certain characters dying or even being injured because you know at some point later in the episode they're fine. You start watching actions of certain characters and saying "hm, I wonder how that's going to lead to what I saw in the preview".</I><BR/><BR/>It's funny - I've heard a few people use this reasoning for their criticism of Lost Season Four (Where, even if I don't agree, I can understand it), but this is a different situation because this isn't an actual creative choice of the show itself. The promos are network creations, not creative ones - it wasn't Moore creating that different way of watching an episode on purpose, but rather a network wanting to...well, whatever their reasoning was, I can't think of anything close to justifying that one.<BR/><BR/>In Lost, I found it fascinating because it was the whole point of the season - here, it flew in the face of how the episode actually worked and how the moment was supposed to operate.Myleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05935433249935469070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20488787000184105462008-06-08T11:12:00.000-04:002008-06-08T11:12:00.000-04:00I'm glad that the apparent major spoiler as seen l...<I>I'm glad that the apparent major spoiler as seen last week's preview for this week's episode that we just saw, was a little bit of tricky editing. I can't believe that they would let the biggest secret of the season be spoiled like that.</I><BR/><BR/>While I agree with this (though I didn't see last week's spoiler, I've seen similar stupid trickery in the past), I still think any kind of spoiler, trick or not, is bad for the viewer.<BR/><BR/>Even if they were throwing you a curveball, it changes the way you watch the episode. If you go into that ep believing Roslin is a cylon, you see her actions in a completely different way. Not to mention that just showing that scene shows that they're successful in reviving and capturing the Deanna.<BR/><BR/>My problem with "spoilers" in previews isn't necessarily that they give something away; you'd learn it eventually anyway. It's that it changes the way you watch everything going up to that point. There's no fear of certain characters dying or even being injured because you know at some point later in the episode they're fine. You start watching actions of certain characters and saying "hm, I wonder how that's going to lead to what I saw in the preview".<BR/><BR/>I hate that. I like seeing things without some preconceived notion of where it's going.Bobmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604050338240551711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40783940465604123692008-06-08T02:06:00.000-04:002008-06-08T02:06:00.000-04:00During the whole Baltar/Centurion scene, I started...During the whole Baltar/Centurion scene, I started thinking about cool it would be if the Cylon, with its newfound independence, actually decided to befriend Baltar. I considered the comic and dramatic potential of not just a skinjob, but a Centurion walking down Galactica's corridors, and how it would effect the show if the Centurions became a third, truly independent faction in the war.<BR/><BR/>And then he blew up.pgillanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08627255978843800751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-63360309861059659842008-06-08T01:55:00.000-04:002008-06-08T01:55:00.000-04:00I agree with anonymous 11:03 PM. In fact, for a mi...I agree with anonymous 11:03 PM. In fact, for a minute there, I thought they might be going in a direction where Baltar ends up as the leader of the centurions. As in this has all happened before and will happen again...<BR/><BR/>I'm glad they didn't. Plus that centurion looked pretty cool blowing up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-27718520142857069492008-06-07T23:03:00.000-04:002008-06-07T23:03:00.000-04:00Re: Baltar and the Centurion. I think that scene ...Re: Baltar and the Centurion. I think that scene was puposly intended to create false tension. They wanted you to think, "Oh crap, now he's he's gonna stir up *this* pot! so the real payoff of the setup (the explosion) was a shock. It worked perfectly. Excellent episode all around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46479563664289945922008-06-07T20:26:00.000-04:002008-06-07T20:26:00.000-04:00I'm glad that the apparent major spoiler as seen l...I'm glad that the apparent major spoiler as seen last week's preview for this week's episode that we just saw, was a little bit of tricky editing. I can't believe that they would let the biggest secret of the season be spoiled like that.<BR/><BR/>Anyone catch the continuing Baltar-as-Christ reference? There he is, laid out on the table with his arms stretched out in a cross-shape, with a gaping wound to his belly from which he's bleeding out. I thought for sure that he was going to die in this episode and then somehow be "resurrected".Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15001530336692435773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87018928187141696972008-06-07T19:12:00.000-04:002008-06-07T19:12:00.000-04:00Now this is Battlestar Galactica the way I know an...Now this is Battlestar Galactica the way I know and love it. It is outstanding how this one episode manages to provoke every possible feeling there is. I even thought the Centurion was kinda cute...the way he moved his head like a puppy;)<BR/><BR/>Apart from McDonnell´s awesome performance I am glad to see that I am not the only one who thinks McCreary has done a wonderful job on this episode. I just love the different versions of Gaeta´s song.<BR/><BR/>What else? I basically loved everything about this episode. D´Anna was just totally hilarious, I really missed her. It´s great how different the Cylon models are. I am not spoiled so I actually thought Laura Roslin was the final five. "You should have seen your face!" was a great line for all the viewers out there.<BR/><BR/>Baltar´s attempts to calm down the Hybrid was funny. And Helo...he´s my Hero. I think Tahmoh Penikett is underrated. My heart broke when he looked at all the Eights in the hub right before it exploded.<BR/><BR/>I have to watch this episode again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-11759059904152473162008-06-07T18:01:00.000-04:002008-06-07T18:01:00.000-04:00Can't the Cylons rebuild the hub? I mean, they had...<I><BR/>Can't the Cylons rebuild the hub? I mean, they had to have built the original, right?</I><BR/><BR/>they might not actually have built the original. it's pretty clear, from the way they know nothing about the five, that the cylons know very little about their own evolution or origins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88529762346384663842008-06-07T16:26:00.000-04:002008-06-07T16:26:00.000-04:00But this is the one that really bugs me. No charac...<I>But this is the one that really bugs me. No character talked about the Cylon inability to reproduce. No one knows about Tigh-Caprica, and they haven't been able to recreate Athena-Helo, so wouldn't destroying the Cylon ability to resurrect effectively end the Cylon race?</I><BR/><BR/>While it certainly remains implies as opposed to spelled out, Natalie's doctrine at the very least seemed to indicate that the Cylon willingness to destroy the Hub was in part designed to make them more human; perhaps, they believe that if their immortality is wiped out that their issues of integrating with humanity (The reproduction issue in particular) could disappear.<BR/><BR/>What I really want to know, however, is whether your observation about the Hub's questionable mythology (That it can't be the only thing keeping resurrection alive) ties into both a lack of perspective and the misinformation the Cylons could have provided. We still don't know exactly what Natalie's plan for the Hub attack, but we also have not spent enough time with the Cylon Civil War to know whether the rest of their race is so decimated that the Hub was the last remaining vestige of power.<BR/><BR/>Without a definitive answer to that question, I guess we're waiting for next week to find out - I felt that Athena 2.0 and D'Anna sold it pretty well, though.Myleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05935433249935469070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41635664014035660982008-06-07T16:09:00.000-04:002008-06-07T16:09:00.000-04:00Fantastic episode as always (at least lately), but...Fantastic episode as always (at least lately), but I did have a few quibbles<BR/><BR/>What is the hub for all the Cylons doing out int he middle of nowhere? Shouldn't it be back in old Cylon space, or at least in the original colonies, where it would be better defended?<BR/><BR/>Can't the Cylons rebuild the hub? I mean, they had to have built the original, right?<BR/><BR/>But this is the one that really bugs me. No character talked about the Cylon inability to reproduce. No one knows about Tigh-Caprica, and they haven't been able to recreate Athena-Helo, so wouldn't destroying the Cylon ability to resurrect effectively end the Cylon race?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80927554728474353912008-06-07T15:40:00.000-04:002008-06-07T15:40:00.000-04:00I, for one, am not convinced MM isn't a cylon. Mo...I, for one, am not convinced MM isn't a cylon. Moore is capable of doing a fake out and the DeAnna character is perfectly suited to do that kind of mind-frak.Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623422545436294378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85733854197471689532008-06-07T13:48:00.000-04:002008-06-07T13:48:00.000-04:00It's interesting how little we've seen of Starbuck...It's interesting how little we've seen of Starbuck recently.<BR/><BR/>And how little it's bothered me.<BR/><BR/>I love the feeling of realizing you're watching a great episode while it's still in progress. Sometimes it doesn't hit you until later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-5559793184165155882008-06-07T13:07:00.000-04:002008-06-07T13:07:00.000-04:00J.A.R.V.I.S.! I had to wait for the credits to be ...J.A.R.V.I.S.! I had to wait for the credits to be sure, but that was Paul Bettany's voice. Yeah, their back-and-forth was great.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com