I'm just going to start off with a word about the ep's writer, Michael Angeli. It's pretty interesting, actually, because the guy gets kinda massacred on places like TWOP for being far and away the worst BSG writer. And when you consider 'The Woman King'....alright, fine. A lot of people seem to think he's far too literal with his dialogue, and that characters often say things in ways that people, well, don't. That was one of the criticisms of 'The Son Also Rises', but it was still considered a solid episode because of the stellar performances. Seems like it's the same sort of situation here, and maybe I was just so blown away by the actors that some of the clunky dialogue didn't really bother me all that much. Ironically, the Kara/Lee scene (to be discussed in much more depth below) was beautifully subtle, so maybe Angeli just has trouble with certain characters? And even so, I have to admit that sometimes I like the characters saying what they're actually thinking once in a while. So I liked this one quite a lot.

Kay, enough babbling about that. Onto the episode itself...

Kara/Roslin Showdown

This may be the most intense scene of the series so far. IMO it was another Emmy moment for Katee, but I'm biased. I'm amazed that the poor girl did that much screaming and didn't lose her voice (that we know of). And when you're doing a scene like that, you better be damn good at what you do or you can so easily fall into the realm of overacting. Katee walked that line amazingly well, to the point where I felt very uncomfortable but wasn't taken out of the moment. It was bizarre.

First, I totally called the fact that Kara was going to turn her gun over to Roslin and say, "Shoot me". And despite the promos, I still don't think I quite believed that ROSLIN WOULD ACTUALLY SHOOT. Holy crap. Madame President, you're on my list! >:( Thank goodness, she misses at close range (thank you, diloxin) and shoots a picture of her and Adama instead. Alright, one mark off for lack of subtlety there, Angeli.

I was so thrilled to hear Kara call Laura out on her hypocrisy. I know some people will disagree with me for using that term, but I'm sticking to my guns. Kara risked her ass because she believed in the president's VISION, and here is Kara saying she saw Earth with her own two eyes. Why can't Laura make that same leap of faith in return? Is a return from supposed death really all that more bizarre and suspicious than hallucinations and following scripture as though it were literal? Is she unwilling to give Kara a chance because she's desperate to protect the fleet, or because she can't bear the thought of her death not having a purpose?





What was absolutely heartbreaking in this scene though and amazingly delivered by Sackhoff was Kara really just plainly stating why she's fighting so strongly for this:

"I've put my life on the line for this frakkin' ship. I have ate, slept, and fought next to the people that I love. I have pissed off my friends, I have broken more rules than I've followed! I frakked up! OK, I messed up! But it's all that I have. Those people are my family - and none of us belong here."

Wow. Here, Kara is basically summing herself up in a nutshell. She's fucking loyal. She's the hotshot pilot whose high-wire stunts have saved the fleet several times over, who fights tooth and nail to protect her loved ones. And yet in the same turn she's again acknowledging that she thinks of herself as a screw-up, a cancer, someone who has hurt the people that she loves time and again. But in her mind she's been given a chance to try and rectify that. She can find them a new home, a new future. Maybe she can be more than just Starbuck. Maybe Kara Thrace and her Special Destiny isn't just the name of a bad cover band.

 

But really when you think about it, are Kara and Roslin's motivations for sticking so strongly to their guns all that different? They're both looking for validation, for a sign that they're meant for something greater. Maybe they're both going the wrong way.

****

New Divisions: The Cylons

"Transformation is the goal. They will not harm their own."



I'm really not very interested in the cylon/basestar stuff to be honest with you, so I won't have too much to say about it. It's a little too "sci-fi" for me and tends to take me out of the realism that I feel surrounds the Galactica. I did want to comment briefly on the Hybrid, though. Most of the thoughts on her babbling from the ep have focused on the words, "They will not harm their own" and it seems like most people have assumed that's a reference to the raiders choosing not to harm the Final Five (i.e. The raider that flipped around and called off the attack after identifying Sam). However, my initial take on those words was that she was talking about the Final Five not harming their own. Sam, Tyrol, Anders, and Tory won't harm the humans.

I could be pulling that out of my ass, but there you go.

Also pretty interesting are the new alliances we have developing here. But also seems like they're pretty obvious. The more traditionalist/religious models are on one side while the pragmatic/practical/coldblooded? models are on the other. I like Natalie so far, but I thinks she's dangerous at the same time. Another religious fanatic, methinks.



****

Kara and The Admiral

"I saw Earth! The shape of it, the smell of it, the-the feel of it on my skin, in my pores and I swear to you it was like I'd been there before. Like I never left."





What a heart-wrenching description from Kara. How can you doubt what she's saying when she seems to remember her journey so vividly? 

Adama: You're too stupid to figure out you just screwed over the one ally you had. You didn't have the guts...to hold on. Tell me, who's gonna help you?
Kara: Yeah, frak me, huh? Sure as hell isn't gonna be you.







OK, this scene was harsh. I mentioned this on TWOP I think, but it was almost like it was the completion of the scene from Act of Contrition, wasn't it? At least it had some major echoes from that scene, with each word that comes out of Kara's mouth building the tension coming off Adama in waves except unlike the S1 episode where he tells her to leave before he freaks the fuck out, this one does culminate with him freaking the fuck out. Seems like she struck a serious nerve with that wet nurse remark, hmm? I can't believe he threw her down like that, and it sounded like he hit her head against the floor before he got up to leave. I hope not. 





"Nice to know you still care, Admiral". GAH!

But yeah, another example of Sackhoff being amazing. She starts to laugh/cry, almost hysterical, at the absurdity of the situation. How the hell is it possible that this man she's considered a father is staring at her like he wishes she were still dead? Incredible scene.



****

The Final Four and Baltar

"She's crazy as a latrine rat. If anything, she's more like Starbuck than ever!"




What's very cool about this scene is that our Dylan Four are pretty obviously convinced that Kara is not a cylon, and yet to save their own asses they're choosing to keep the fingers pointed at her. Tigh says she's too nuts to not be Kara, and Tory acknowledges that she didn't join their Watchtower party and concludes that they're still missing one. I understand their fear, considering how Kara's being treated, but it's also very disappointing to see characters that have history with Starbuck (Sam in particular, obviously) letting her take the fall so they can stay in hiding. It certainly makes a lot of sense, though.



Tory: There is no way.
Tigh: You don't have to get on your back for him, but...
Tory: Oh, gee, thanks.



I'm really beginning to get my hate-on back for Tigh. Especially with his implication that Tory get down and dirty with Baltar so that they could get some information. Ugh.

And while we're on the subject of Baltar, that sex scene with Tory was kind of hysterical because I completely flashed back to Kobol's Last Gleaming. Gaius must be horrible in bed! But it was also pretty shocking to see those two together. Nice turn of events, though I also didn't expect Tory to be swayed so easily by preaches of the One True God. She always struck me as an atheist.

Baltar on Baltar was also hilarious. James Callis really does rock my socks, even when his storylines kind of bore me.



****

The Pilot Party




Overall, I'm not a fan of this scene because it was just way too strange going from Kara screaming on the brig floor to the pilots having a grand ol' time playing strip triad and doing shots. Especially considering that Adama, Lee, Helo, and Sam were all there laughing it up. Do not like. So to help me not get pulled out of the plot, I will agree with fellow shippers that those closest to Kara have already been made aware that Adama's planning to send her on her own mission to look for Earth. Doesn't exactly fit with the sequence of events, I know, but just let me have this delusion please.



Though I did really love that Lee was the one to bring up Kara, though not by name. He starts off his toast all cute and happy!drunk, but quickly turns solemn and holds up his glass: "To absent friends". Wonderful touch having Adama stare at a photo of Lee and Kara from back in Hand of God. It was fitting, because there was something very familial about that scene with the three of them and the lighter (from Adama) and the cigar (from Kara but originally from Adama), and it's all connected. You get what I'm saying, right? Oh, Family Adama. Plz get yer shit together, kthx!







****

The Parents

I usually like Roslin/Adama scenes quite a bit, but I absolutely loved this one. The acting was phenomenal for one, and I actually loved the non-subtlety of the dialogue. What I found almost amusing was that the way the two interact at the beginning of the scene was kind of reflective of Kara's description of their relationship. Adama comes off as kind of wrapped around Laura's little finger. He's puttering around like a drunk and she speaks to him almost as though he were a child, "You gonna keep waltzin' or you gonna sit down and talk? What's goin' on? Sit!" I'm probably reading too much into it, but that's how it came off to me.





When they get to the heart of the matter, Adama basically calls her on her shit and I kinda love him for it:

Laura: You're so afraid to live alone.
Adama: And you're afraid to die that way. You're afraid that you may not be the dying leader you thought you'd be. Or that your death may be as meaningless as everyone else's.





And the amazing thing? After he said that and Laura broke down? I felt so much for her and I HATE THAT. Damn you, Mary McDonnell!

****

Kara and Lee and The Kiss of Destiny

I....don't think I can even describe how much I loved this scene. I think it may be my favouritest favourite. I think it's definitely my new favourite kiss. But let's start from the beginning.

Can I just mention the fact that Kara's demeanor is completely different when she's around Lee than with anyone else?? When they pan in on her face as he walks into the cell, she has this adoring, sweet expression. She actually looks kinda peaceful, which is pretty much a miracle given what's going on.







And the easy way these two interact with each other...they're just being themselves. She teases him and he tells her to shut the frak up. It's absolutely perfect. And Jamie is so good at selling the lost-little-boy look for Lee, the way he folds his ankles and looks at his shoes. Nice touch.

Lee: Besides, I never really could say no to anything.
Kara: Except me.
Lee: Especially you.





Oh, Kara. I hope you really and truly understand what he's saying there. And judging by your expression I think you do. The entire rest of this scene hits this really sad and bittersweet tone and IT HURTS SO GOOD. 







I love that she smiles when he says he finally gets what she meant about destiny, because she knows Lee and she knows how big of a statement that is for him. And then she gets up and once again shows how much she's grown up, and there's echoes from Maelstrom:

Kara: Good luck on your journey, Lee Adama.
Lee: ...You too, Kara Thrace.





What's fascinating is that neither is quite sure where they stand with each other in that moment. Kara goes for the handshake because she still doesn't get how much has changed for Lee in the two months since she's been gone, and she feels like it was just yesterday that they were talking underneath her viper about how they're right back where they started. What she's really saying when she holds out her hand is, "I love you, Lee Adama, and I'm letting you go."



I've seen some interesting commentary on why they use their full names here. I love the interpretation that they're finally letting go of "Apollo" and "Starbuck" but a part of me wonders if maybe they're acknowledging that they never really were those people to begin with. They've always been so much more than those callsigns. They've always been Lee and Kara.





Anyway, back to the handshake. Which Lee returns sadly, because he's still not quite sure where he stands with her, either. At least in this case they both know and are accepting of how they feel themselves, even though they're reluctant to admit it to each other. But they hold hands for a few beats, and neither wants to let go but they do and there's this stinging goodbye between them as Lee turns to go with one last look at Kara, a sad/sweet smile on his face.







But she's been barely holding it together throughout the entire scene and suddenly she's overcome with this terror at the thought of him leaving and she knows she shouldn't but she calls out for him, steps toward him, and he pauses. And her face breaks because she just doesn't know what to say or how to say it, but Lee knows and he gives her the affirmation that she's craving (and goodness knows he needed that moment of connection just as much).





What's so great about their kiss is that, even though there's not much of a focus on their lips and the freakin' camera is focused more on the back of Bamber's head and shoulders (damn you, mister director!) you can feel that passion and desperation between them.







And I honestly can't even describe the happy tingles I get when he kisses her all over her face, her temple and pulls her in and whispers, "I believe you."  The LOOK on her face, OMG. Indescribably beautiful. There are so many conflicting emotions at play and she's so torn up inside, and so overcome with feeling  at his actions and words, but by the end of that scene she looks like she's at peace if only for a moment, and what greater gift could Lee give her than that?









A lot of people have been talking about whether this scene was "closure" and a "goodbye" and in many ways, yes, it was. Maybe neither of them believes they have even a chance of having a future together. But really, that wasn't the point of this scene. All you need to know when watching them here is that they have reaffirmed their bond and the fact that they love each other unconditionally. That's all that matters.



Thank you, Katee and Jamie, for an awesome freakin' scene! And a big shoutout must go out to the master, Bear McCreary, who put together some absolutely incredible score music here. Just amped it up another 10 notches for me.

****

Lee Says Goodbye to the Big G

"Well, it looks like you got the house."




I liked this scene just fine, and I don't know why everyone's bitching about it. He deserves to get some freakin' praise for once! My poor emo kid. Let him have his moment! It was sweet, and sad and HOLY HALLELUJAH LEE/DEE IS OVER. Ehem. Sorry, erm, my caps lock button was uh...stuck.

And yes, it does bug me that Lee's leaving the ship while Kara's still in the brig, so I am fanwanking that he's taking this plushy government job in part to help Kara out of her precarious situation, and to make sure that she's got friends in high places.



****

Kara Thrace and Her Special Destiny Goes On Tour

I think the fact that I obviously knew Kara wasn't going to be airlocked made me less receptive to the fact that they were trying to play that last scene in that way. And I really didn't understand until Kara said it out loud that she essentially thought she was on her death march, but it definitely explains the stink eye she gives Helo, hmm?



It was still a wonderful final scene, though, and I love the look Starbuck gives the Admiral when he signals the marine to uncuff her. So great. The hug, I thought, was a bit lacking on Adama's side, which I'm thinking is an indication that he's still not completely sold on the idea that she's telling the truth. He's just acknowledging the fact that he can't lose her, regardless.



This should be interesting, folks! And I'd love to hear your thoughts on the episode.

[+] awesome caps from the even more awesome starpollo!