One of the biggest questions going into this episode was whether or not Boomer was acting on her own or on Cavil’s orders. That was finally put to rest late in this episode, though I’m not sure it was a surprise to many. What was a surprise was the very alienesque Cylon colony “ship” — for lack of a better word — that Boomer made her way to. I find it pretty incredible that we got our first look at this thing so late in the series. With that in mind, what fate is in store for it? Will it be a final home for all of the survivors in some way, or will it go boom in some kind of final battle royale in the finale?
I vote big, big frakking BOOM.
Again we got to see Baltar get back to his sciencey ways, braking out the blood slides and the microscope old school-like. But was he onto something when preaching about “everlasting life for all,” or was he just talking complete craziness? With Baltar, it’s hard to tell.
The whole scene after the funeral was really odd, actually, with Kara slapping him and Lee giving him the evil eye. What did Kara expect when she handed him the dogtags? Why was Lee any more disgusted with Baltar than he already was? It’s possible he was thinking, “by gods, this is the man the quorum wants to consult before we decide to abandon ship?!”
Ellen Tigh continues to get on my nerves, and her lack of reasoning and general getting in the way is making her give a bad name for the final five/six Cylons. Again, if she’s supposed to be a brilliant mind of the past couple thousand years, then how can she act so irrationally? I really hope this gets addressed in some way by the end.
Something that now seems oddly out of place now is the Cylon goo that was painted onto Galactica. If everyone’s about to abandon ship, why did the storyline involve the goo at all if it didn’t help? Perhaps it was just there to serve as the conduit for Anders’s hybrid-like ramblings or it’s yet to be seen. And speaking of Anders’s scene, someone needs to make me an animated background of that Matrix-like red lettering around his room.
Boomer’s story’s not over yet. I sense she’ll turn on Cavil in the final hours of this show, though what she does to turn against him is anyone’s guess.
Once again, Olmos turns out a fantastic emotional scene of flipping out, this time with a poor paintbrush. What’s different this time is that, unlike other times he’s gone off the deep end, I really get a sense that things are incredibly dire and going to hell in a hand basket quickly. The decision he ultimately makes is one that even Cylon Saul (hey, that’s catchy) can barely stand behind. And much booze is had.
And now, let me leave you with one of my favorite parting shots of this series to date….
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Mar 06, 2009 @ 23:49 EST5EDT
EJO did a great job directing this episode as well. This episode was very good, but I did expect things to pick up a little than it did.
I agree. Although I felt this was another fine installment, I expected events to heat up a bit more. Still, it was good stuff.
I am fine with Ellen’s characterization. As a scientist who is surrounded by other scientists on a daily basis, I can inform you that they are in fact human and as such, make plenty of stupid irrational choices every day. Being brilliant never stopped Baltar from being crazy either.
She did seem too serene and Zen-like after her resurrection but I feel that was simply because she was amongst her “children”. Many parents put on a nice face to their kids to humor them but once alone or amongst coevals, they can be themselves again. Which in this case is a drunk, horny and selfish woman.
I guess my issue with Ellen is that after 2,000 years of memories and trial and error, she would show some wisdom and maturity.
Agreed. There is something primal to Ellen to me. As a spider only knows how to be a spider, Ellen can only be Ellen. I’ve known plenty of amazing minds who are complete social freaks.
Also that “2,000 years” figure she likes to throw in Saul’s face was mostly spent in relativistic time. The five lived and aged normally on Earth, spent an unknown but much shorter amount of time in transit (part of which might have been in coldsleep), and have only been among the Thirteen Colonies for what, fifty years?
And as we’ve seen on just about every other sci-fi/fantasy show, immortals are usually drunk, horny, immature self-pitying wrecks anyway.
I am raising my glass of protein shake – toasting with Adama and TIgh, saying, “To Galactica, the best ship in the fleet!”
This episode is not what I expected, and I enjoyed it completely. I am glad that Baltar outed Starbuck’s otherworldliness, it relieved all the pressure of her secret, she can now rid herself of the old damaged Kara. The scene between Lee and Kara was wonderful, there seems to be understanding between them now.
Is Baltar crazy? I think yes. But even crazy people can be right. Think “Hand of God” where Baltar points to a random structure to be blown up, and he was completely correct about the target. The “hand” is moving him, even if he is a nut.
I have lots of questions about the Colony! A space station imbedded in rock? Is that where the apples come from? I’m completely with you Keith. BLOW IT UP! After all this time, I want these people to breathe fresh air and see blue skies.
So excited for next week.
So say we all!
And where’s Tyrol?
bsgfan, I would bet he is hiding from Helo and especially Athena.
As he should be!
It wasn’t his fault!
(I mean, ok, he was responsible and all, but still ;)
Don’t mess with me on this Dorv. If I see Tyrol, I’m gonna claw his eyes out myself.
And just for that, you have to skip this round!
Just sayin’. ;)
I respectfully disagree. Yes, Tyrol played a role, but he thought he was saving the life of his (hack cough, spew) “love.” Especially when he’s seen deference given to many, including Athena, who’d betrayed the Cyons, but just to a different enemy.
But he was completely unaware of Boomers endgame. He was manipulated into helping. He’d lost his own wife and obstensibly the boy he’d thought to be his child. Hell, he was with Helo when the ashes of the child they thought was Hera.
I think you can find blame for this unwitting pawn, but the real blame goes to Boomer. I can understand Tyrol blaming himself, and Athena/Helo, but I think your wrath is unjustified.
Respectfully :)
Dorv, don’t you know that hell hath no fury then a woman scorned? LOL.
There has been a number of criticisms of late of the way the writers have handled the story direction, especially this past season. I have had my own issues from time to time, but each of us have had our moments of discontent in some form or another. But for the lions share of the time, most of the fans, especially the hardcore fans, will forever embrace this show. All kidding aside, the fun bantering with Dorv and bsgfan is a great example of how this show brings out the passions of how they think. Professors could write a thesis on this. The “choosing sides” of the characters by the fans is exactly a goal any writer would want to accomplish with their work. Bsgfan’s fury at what happened to Hera reflects her love of babies….Dorv’s emphasis and perception of loyalty influences his distain for Boomer. It is a tribute to the writing that can involve a fanbase thus. Forgive me for getting too profound here but eh….it’s almost the end anyway. I think it is going to be a fantastic final.
“Bsgfan’s fury at what happened to Hera reflects her love of babies…” Too right you are Tim-1. Now stand back while I kick my friend Dorv in the groin. ;)
My friend Dorv, you are rationalizing criminal behavior. (Assuming the rule of law is similar.)
For Tyrol: Accessory before the fact. a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony. In this case kidnapping.
Also, was it o.k for Tyrol to cave in worker 8’s head with a wrench, under any circumstances?
I realize what he did, he thought he was doing for love, but that does mitigate the “endgame” (abduction of child), nor can it mitigate the punishment he deserves and hopefully will receive.
How will the defense of, “Feel sorry for me, because I was manipulated, and my wife died, and the kid ain’t mine” make any of the injured parties whole again?
Okay, I feel better. ;)
That should read “not mitigate”. And sorry for the double post.
“Bsgfan’s fury at what happened to Hera reflects her love of babies…” Too right you are Tim-1. Now stand back while I kick my friend Dorv in the groin. ;)
My friend Dorv, you are rationalizing criminal behavior. (Assuming the rule of law is similar.)
For Tyrol: Accessory before the fact. a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony. In this case kidnapping.
Also, was it o.k for Tyrol to cave in worker 8’s head with a wrench, under any circumstances?
I realize what he did, he thought he was doing for love, but that does not mitigate the “endgame” (abduction of child), nor can it mitigate the punishment he deserves and hopefully will receive.
How will the defense of, “Feel sorry for me, because I was manipulated, and my wife died, and the kid ain’t mine” make any of the injured parties whole again?
Okay, I feel better. ;)
I would like to know why Kara didn’t get the piano moved into Sam’s tub room and play out the tune for him. Tap right back into that source and wake him the hell up.
This whole episode moved me again in how wonderful I find the mythos of this show.
“This whole episode moved me again in how wonderful I find the mythos of this show.”
Me too.
I read elsewhere, that other folks are not happy with these last episodes, but I have to say, they speak to me.
Hi. My name is Boomer.
I staged a break out for Ellen.
Tricked a man into sneaking me out of jail and off ship.
Slept with a married man in front of his wife (whom I’d beaten to a bloody pulp and stuffed into a closet).
Kidnapped a child.
Drugged a child.
Stuffed a child into a small metal box.
Escaped from Galactica in a manner that caused seemingly irreparable damage and loss of countless life in attempts to repair it.
Turned child over to the machine version of a sociopath.
I figured I’d stop by and introduce myself because it seems no one around here has heard of me. I’m a pretty big deal!
Ha Ha …..Dorv, I have to admit, that was a unique delivery of your point. But by now I think it is safe to say how each of us feel about which character we favor and of course, our position on the conduct attributed to them. In brief, I agree with you that Tyrol was manipulated by Boomer, but remember, Boomer was manipulated by Cavil as I posted last week, so it all falls back on Cavil. So it is safe to say that Boomer AND tyrol were co-manipulated. The case against the chief is that he assaulted the innocent eight. I know you are not partial to the eights, but even if it were not an eight he injured or killed, it was still unexcusable. Boomer will come through however. I know my eights.
I was going to post a review over at TVS, but the mood over there today about how a lot of people was knocking the show made me pause. I know it is their perogative but just because a few episodes are not as explosive as others does not mean the content is any less interesting. The whole thing just killed my mood. Maybe I’ll post tomorrow.
Meanwhile you and bsgfan kiss and make up!
Ah….before I retired tonight I did a last minute check over there. Thank you Dorv, for sticking up for me….that was a real lift!
I just read that mess over at TVS. I will not be reading any of their finale posts.
Good job Dorv!
If Boomer’s actions fall back on Cavil, then Cavil’s fall back on Ellen, Saul and the rest who “made him this way,” and on and on all the way back to the Lords of Kobol. At some point, “just following orders” is not a defense, and one must be held responsible for one’s own actions. This applies to Boomer, but also to Tyrol, Gaeta and all the rest. We can pity them, but we must not excuse them.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I totally hold Boomer accountable for her actions.
Rememer what I wrote last week.
“Boomer – you pernicious, depraved 8! I can’t wait until Athena gets her hands on you!”
and
“If memory serves she said, “I can’t do this without you.” Since I’m done thinking charitably in Boomer’s direction (visualize drugged little girl in Boomer’s luggage) my speculation about this statement will have a darker bent. “I can’t do this without you” means – “I need more help getting off this ship, so that I may carry out my nefarious mission”.”
I just think Tyrol will have to carry his share of the blame too.
I really hope you understand why. ;)
As for the Cylon goo, unless it’s wasted foreshadowing, I foresee Anders hooked into the bones and guts and nerves of the Galactica, pulling the ship back together during the final battle. Maneuvering at full thrust, firing all guns simultaneously with righteous accuracy and fury, and effecting damage control on every corner of the ship through instant self-healing. I hope we get something at least that cool.
As to why Lee was even more disgusted with Baltar than usual, perhaps it was coming off of a moving, beautiful, joint memorial service for those lost in service to Galactica, respectful to both Cylon and Human religions, only to have Gaius Baltar of the Baltarites step in and crap all over it with his self-aggrandizing proselytizing for his nascent religion, practically before the air had left the airlock. It was crass and offensive and possibly blasphemous, and I was hoping the whole time for that human repair chief to sock him one right in the mouth.
Starbuck urinating right behind Baltar in his private time? Now that was delightful.
Tyrol is in the brig.
Taylor: Yes, there was probably a good deal of material that had to be cut. I say “probably” because it’s a long time since I wrote the script, and I am too lazy to revisit it now. I know that there were scenes, or at least one scene, of Tryol in the brig, and I think my sense there was that he had confessed and put himself in there out of guilt.
https://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1671#more-1671
https://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/03/battlestar-galactica-island-stream-stars-taylor-.html
I’m so excited for Sam’s “miracle” from No Exit to take place!
Keith, you must not know many scientists or otherwise “rational” people because they can be a total mess emotionally, making decisions that are anything but rational! I think Ellen is pretty dead-on imo.
After watching this episode I feel more and more like everyone is going to die except for Baltar, Hera and Caprica Six. The opera house scenes that they have been showing over and over should have lead me to that conclusion before, but with the talk of “we can only have a strong society if Cylon and Human come together” then with them in the vision walking into the room filled with light holding Hera. It makes total sense, they are the Adam and Eve of Earth/New Earth whatever they end up on.
Rick, of course you may be right, but I soooo hope not in this case. Wouldn’t it be the cruelest irony, to reward, of all people, Baltar-the harem-girl user, manipulative, iresponsible, self-loving, king of creeps-with the mantle of being the last man….the Adam of the new race? Ahhhhhhh!!!