BSG recap 5/2 – “The Road Less Travelled”
Spoilers below the fold:
*No podcast for this week’s episode, or last week’s, even (or for that matter, the first couple of episodes). But there are podcasts for “The Ties that Bind†and “Six of One.†Here are some tidbits from what we do have:
1. Ron Moore feels that he focused too much on Cally and Tyrol’s story in “The Ties that Bind.†He said that it should have been the sub-plot instead of the main plot.
2. Expect more from Helo, since the Sci-Fi network told Moore & Co. that they weren’t doing enough with him, and Moore says he feels the network is right.
*Aaron Douglas seems upset with last week’s episode (not really): Tigh gets to kiss Six and once again the Chief just goes and gets loaded… tell me how that is fair?
* Check out Bear McCreay’s blog. He’s the composer for the series. He occasionally drops interesting hints and insights for the show as well. However it’s best if you’re into the geekery of film and TV scoring. For example, here’s his discussion of how he scored Baltar’s “we’re all perfect just as we are†speech at the end of the episode: At it’s climax, the music suggests we’re approaching a euphoric religious epiphany, but the score hesitates. When Baltar finishes his speech and the audience erupts in fanatical ovation, the music does not join them. Instead, the perceived tonic of C# resolves to an unexpected and dark Bbm. The yialli tanbur, duduk and zhong hu sneak in, playing Baltar’s Original Theme, which is more menacing than it’s Spiritual Theme counterpart.
* Mark Verheiden, co-executive producer, says that Head Six apparently lifting Baltar off the ground in last week’s episode may not have been all that remarkable:
I would argue that Baltar’s gyrations were still him contorting himself, as if Number Six were hoisting him from the floor. I am reminded of Church services where people, in the throes of religious fervor, can evidence remarkable physical contortions, â€Âspeaking in tongues,” etc. But feel free to interpret the scene in other ways if you’d like.
* A sort of not really spoiler about when the Galactica will find Earth can be found here.
My (and My Wife’s) Random Thoughts on Tonight’s Show:
-Those “stars†in Kara’s painting look a lot like the Ships of Light from the original series.
- Baltar says belief in the Gods is “pandering to our own ignorance.†But if we’re perfect just as we are, isn’t our belief in the Gods just fine? (I’m not being totally serious here).
- Tyrol shaved his head!
- Starbuck has serious Cylon issues.
- “This is not all that we are†– that’s the most Basic truth? Did a Deepak Chopra write their scriptures? (That’s it! Baltar’s not Joseph Smith or Mohammed. He’s Deepak!)
- If we’re all just perfect just as we are, then strangling Baltar is perfect, no?
- Why does Baltar need to ask forgiveness if he’s perfect just as he is? (Sorry – I’ll stop with this now).
- Between Leoben and Six, I’m convinced Cylons see violence as foreplay.
- My wife points out that Starbuck’s speech about life and death represents the polar opposite philosophy of Baltar’s teachings.
- My wife’s summary of this episode: “Too much angst, not enough action.â€Â
- My summary: Nothing happened that was unexpected. No shocking turns, no real revelations. I learned nothing, really. I still get the sense that the creators are moving their characters around and putting them in place for the endgame. But I’d rather the story actually went somewhere instead. The previews keep saying “all will be revealed†– but we’re short on revelations and long on wheel-spinning. (These are of course, initial impressions and are subject to change upon reflection).
- And finally: Arby’s as the sponsor for “an exclusive look into Starbuck’s massively screwed up relationships†– that’s quite disturbing.
Posted on May 2, 2008, in Television. Bookmark the permalink. 16 Comments.
Steve Evans
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Scott B.
John C.
Susan M
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ninemoons
arandomjohn
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Kyle M
Brad
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Ivan
Geoff J
btdgreg
Clark Goble
Aaron R.
Tim J
Ben
I think my wife was right last week — they are obsessed with close ups on bloody noses in that show.
Wheel-spinning indeed. And in rather unwelcome directions.
I just had a thought about why the show isn’t doing it for me so far this season. I drew up the list:
Mildly admirable characters:
Adama
Lee Adama
Helo
Athena (i.e. the Boomer who sided with the Humans)
Gaeta
Unadmirable characters:
Main 7 Cylons
Baltar
Starbuck
Roslin
Tory
Neutral (neither admirable or undadmirable):
Tyrol
Zarek
Tigh
Interesting Story Arcs:
Cylon Civil War
Search for Earth
Non-interesting Story Arcs:
Starbuck’s search for Earth
Screwed up relationships
Characters sleeping around
Now, which characters and story arcs above are getting the most screen time?
Weird. My comments ended up in bit land.
Anyway, I’d just give a hearty amen to what Ivan said. This season might be better directed than last season but I’m enjoying it far less. The main reason is that there are no sympathetic characters. Plus the way the religious angle is going seems unoriginal. It’s more like what Moore did with that HBO series he did. (Forget the name – it took place in the 30′s in a sideshow carnival)
What made the show so enjoyable the first two seasons is gone. Instead we have messed up borderline insane people doing illogical things.
PS – I agree they should be using Boomer more. She’s a Cylon and ought have some insight into them. They are making her just a token human. And it’s annoying.
Look, I’ll still take it — it wasn’t the best episode and is a little sluggish, but it’s still great TV and I love it. Thanks for the link re: the music, Ivan — that’s a great insight. I am not sure where this is all going, but I think it’s creative and interesting (if a little plodding).
Clark, you’re thinking of Carnavale.
That’s it. I was watching Carnivale off of NetFlix. But it had a real similar feel to what is going on now. But it never seemed to go anywhere. I think Moore’s falling into his worse excesses.
I like that he focuses in on the characters. I dislike the way the plot seems to be secondary. That is it feels ‘contrived’ in a way.
The big problem last year was that he wanted to do a bit on the minor workings of the fleet. i.e. manufacturing and so forth. Unfortunately he didn’t quite know what to do with it. And then he backed off but had these episodes that didn’t go anywhere. Then, as Ivan noted, we had Starbuck being this main focus when she’s really an unappealing and frankly boring character.
It seems like Athena (call her Athena – “Boomer” now refers to the Cylon having the affair with Brother Cavizel and who split with the other models over the vote on lobotomizing the raiders) is tragically underused. Why didn’t anyone consult her over Leoben or how a Cylon Civil War would go down?
Ivan, agreed — weird how Athena is seemingly the one leading the mutiny on the Demetrius.
The question is how many set up shows must we suffer through and will the writers deliver for us in the end. Are they going to totally blow it like the Heroes chumps did? I have this sneaking suspicion that we may not be going anywhere interesting.
Even if we are going somewhere interesting, I would prefer not to go there with Starbuck who has become an exceedingly annoying character. Can’t they just kill her off again or something?
I think Leoben nailed it. Starbuck has been through the refiner’s fire and is now an angel. Her former conflicts and destructive personality are gone — the rest of the world just can’t imagine it.
If Starbuck’s an angel then I don’t want to go to that heaven.
Plus how can you say her self-destructive streaks are gone? Remember when her husband came in? She was more whacked and self-destructive.
I hope they get back to the Cylon civil war next week. Other than finding Earth, it’s the plot point I’m most interested in right now.
Yeah I’m with Clark. Starbuck is more of a flailing head case than ever now. I want to fast forward all of her scenes lately — way too obnoxious for me.
What, the endless scenes of her grasping her head, moping and blankly staring at charts doesn’t excite you Geoff?
hehehe