Battlestar Galactica: Thoughts on 2.17, The Captain's Hand

[dangermousie]

I seem to be in the minority of the fandom because I adore the second season. This episode is no exception, as I loved it.



First, and completely randomly, it was great to see Chief Tyrol again.

Now, on to the discussion. I love that BSG had the cojones to go into the abortion issue and to take the position it did. I am strongly pro-choice but in the situation they are, I would have taken the same decision Roslin did. Heck, they should count their blessings there aren't forced breeding programs. Society is a balance between individual freedoms and the good of the society as a whole and it's clear that when part of the calculus is the disappearance of the human race, individual freedoms will become secondary. But how clever of Baltar to use that issue to announce his candidacy (and I love Six clapping slowly when he does so. They surely are the most twisted political couple ever). I wonder if the data Baltar gave Roslin is accurate. But it doesn't matter either way, it's not as if Baltar cares for the survival of anyone other than Baltar.

In other ways, this ep was all about being in your proper place, doing what you do best. Kara, who sucks being a trainer or a CAG, finally gets back into the cockpit and she is brilliant (and fulfilled). Pegasus' commander goes back to his machines and he is good at it. And Lee? Lee, it appears, is good at command. And that makes sense, because despite Adama's trying to groom Kara for command in "Hand of God" when she is the one who came up with the plan, frankly, she isn't suited. To devise battle plans? Yes, she is good at that. But as a leader? I would HATE to have her as a leader. She hasn't changed even after shooting Apollo (and I love that, it would be as unrealistic as for Tigh to give up booze), and she rebels for the sake of rebelling. Apollo, OTOH, might not be as good a pilot as Kara but he is a consummate professional, and if he rebels it will be a proper mutiny for a really big reason, not just mouthing off for grouchiness' sake. Of course, now he went against a superior officer twice :)

I do love his being promoted and Adama making him Commander and the increduility on Lee's face and pride of Papadama's. One of my favorite scenes, and he does seem to be most qualified.

I also loved Lee and Dee together in the beginning. They are at ease with each other and happy enough and there is a lot to be said for an uncomplicated and un-angsty relationship. I guess I am fickle, but I love them together.

Lee's relationship with Kara is the opposite of easy and angst-free though. I love that he brings up the shooting (and then looks horrified), I love that he loses patience with her insubordination (they have fundamentally very different approaches to ther duties. In most ways, Lee is a lot more 'military' than Kara who is a gifted amatuer in her attitude), I love that at the end she congratulates him and he explains why he was so curt (because he saw her get away with stuff that cost him his career, almost, and his life). And I love that they shake hands and just keep holding each other's hands. And she asks him if they are OK and he retorts "do you have a brain?" Their relationship is beyond frakked-up, but they are, in most ways, the most important person in the world to the other (with tons on UST to boot) and whether they ever get together or not romantically will never change that. I wouldn't want to be a significant other of either of them for that reason.

Comments

[weissman.livejournal.com]

I am getting worried for some of the Sharon/Helo fans. Its been close to ten episodes with one happy moment for our favorate two characters and I think people are getting discouraged. I want some happiness, at least a little for these two, if for no other reason to keep people interested.

Bob

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I thought the scene where he pulled the gun on the marines and Adama to rescue her was really cool. :) So as long as there is more of that sometimes, I will be happy...

[weissman.livejournal.com]

Yes that scene was an inspiration for all Hidden Elysians

I think reprob8 (Jeff) is getting depressed/impatiant with the pace of all things Sharon and Helo, I believe he missies at least one or two happy moments. I am also a little bit. I am hopeful though for LDYB because of the spoiler photos.

Bob

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

I LOVEEEEED THIS EPISODE... and apparently my caps lock key did as well :P... I just can say "I agree, I agree, I agree" to your post! :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This is the kind of ep capslock was devised for. It was soooo good. And not just because of having a lot of Apollo :)

[syliasyliasylia.livejournal.com]

Apollo? Who is Apollo? That name does not ring a bell... *hee*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You know, the really built, the really intelligent and professional new commander. I think his first name is Lee or something :P

[kitsah.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm in that minority with you! The eps have been uneven but for the most part they've really only suffered from the same flaws BSG has always suffered - ambition and trying to do too much. they should plan like they do for an hour show and then suddenly get two hours. :)

I like that they took a stance on abortion given their circumstances - it was a tough call whichever side of the issue you're on and its one that makes sense. I like that Baltar used it to betray her and I like the fact this is going to be one HELL of a race for the presidency.

I do wish it weren't the same abortion story practically I just saw on ER - young girl fleeing too restrictive parents, without the parent's point of view being represented and with vague allegations of abuse. *sighs* This is an intense and complicated issue and I wish someone on TV would show both sides of the issue evenly. Oh well, BSG did it well for all of that, I suppose.

This Baltar scares the crap out of me without all the silly robes and strange pyramid chairs of the "classic" Baltar.

Cheers.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This is an intense and complicated issue and I wish someone on TV would show both sides of the issue evenly.

*enters controversial waters*

But see, I don't think it's an even-handed issue, Trying to control others just...doesn't work for me, and I can't see it as right so I can never buy the pro-life position, not really. Because I am all for doing what you like and not getting an abortion for yourself, whatever, but it's forcing others to your way of thinking that just doesn't work for me.

But yes, Baltar IS creepy.

[kitsah.livejournal.com]

wade away, but i won't follow you, as i am still figuring things out but have some different views. yes, i guess i expect my tv shows to be braver than i am LOL!

i guess i just feel if they're going to tackle the issue, a different story line would be nice from what ER did. if i hadn't seen ER I probably would have been all impressed. still, otherwise it was very nicely handled.

creepy and really fascinating. and funny.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

See, I watch very little TV (Veronica Mars and BSG are the only shows I watch), so I didn't have the ER hangover :)

[weissman.livejournal.com]

Hi DM
Wouldn't this make Roslyn a Hipocrate for being Pro-Choice and then ordering the murder of Sharon and Helo's daughter. I know they "presently" don't consider Cylons are living beings, and I have a feeling that assumption is going to change very soon, but shouldn't it have erked her more than it did.

Bob

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Well, she doesn't think Cylons are humans, but more importantly, as her making a law banning abortion shows, she is clearly willing to override the choice of the mother when she thinks it's a threat to humanity as a whole, which is what she thought Sharon's baby was...

[jenah.livejournal.com]

I LOVED this episode. And what's more I agree with everything that you said - except for the Lee/Dualla relationship. Mostly I find it forced because we haven't truly seen any development there and they had to sacrifice a great character [yes I know the actor left the show] in order to get together. So that doesn't sit well with me.

I wrote a rather lengthy review but I too, would have made the exact decision that Roslin did. And I would have hated doing it just like she did.

I also happen to adore Helo and have had many leanings towards Helo/Sharon. But I can't let myself totally go there since I can't 100% trust her :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

But I can't let myself totally go there since I can't 100% trust her :)

I can so see that, but to me that relationship is precisely fascinating because of all these uncertainties and mess-ups. Kara and Lee think they have it tough? Just wait till you get to Helo and Boomer level of messed up. I have no idea where Boomer's loyalty ultimately is (I think it's personal to her and her 'family'), but no matter what, I don't think there is any question that she loves Helo.

Re: Lee/Dee. It's very in the background which makes sense as it's not inherently interesting. The sense I get is that they are both attractive people who like each other well enough, and that is the beginning and an end of it, not much dramatic potential. Lee's interaction with Starbuck even though not overtly romantic is so much more conflicted and interesting to me (and I suspect to the writers).

[jenah.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree that she does love Helo. But there is so much still that we don't know about her. Is she truly free of any "programming" or "triggers"? She might think she is....

Or is she still loyal? There has to be some truth to that since she told Adama that she would not tell him about other cylons.

Interesting.

I love all of the Lee/Kara scenes. I don't 'ship them per se - but I love their relationship. It's hard to peg it into one category. But they are close and loyal to each other - as well as brutally honest. And it makes for great stuff.

[danceswithwords.livejournal.com]

I love that BSG had the cojones to go into the abortion issue and to take the position it did. I am strongly pro-choice but in the situation they are, I would have taken the same decision Roslin did.

Eh. I also think the show has taken on the issue in an interesting way, by presenting it as the intractable argument it is. For people who believe that it's morally wrong, there is no way of reasoning them out of that stance. For people who believe that a woman has the right to control her own body, sexuality, and reproduction, I think it's often more complicated (i.e. "safe, legal and rare") but there's no persuading them of a morality that they simply don't believe in. That said, I've seen the argument raised elsewhere that there are plenty of things the fleet can and should be doing to encourage safe live births--providing incentives to conceive and carry pregnancies to term, encouraging adoption if the mother does not want the child, making sure that people feel that there is enough food and hope for the future that bringing new children into the world seems like a good option--before they go restricting existing rights. And I agree with that; it seems like they skipped over a lot of affirmative options to get to this place.

I also think that Roslin's strength in the past has come from carrying out her convictions, and that turning her back on a strongly held conviction to take a political position is going to put her in a place of weakness. Baltar was certainly able to exploit it.

Their relationship is beyond frakked-up, but they are, in most ways, the most important person in the world to the other (with tons on UST to boot) and whether they ever get together or not romantically will never change that. I wouldn't want to be a significant other of either of them for that reason.

I get the sense that Dee would always come third for Lee, after Adama and Kara. And hopefully she's all right with that, or if she isn't all right, she'll walk away, because I don't think it will change.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Re: breeding.

turning her back on a strongly held conviction to take a political position is going to put her in a place of weakness.

Yes, and while she had the luxury of no viable alternative to her earlier and a certain impatience and need for shortcuts because she was dying, she has yet to adjust to a more daily, mundane pace and problems.