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13thcolony2005-03-20 12:12 am
leadensky.livejournal.com) wrote in 13thcolony2005-03-20 12:12 am
Speculative comment/question on BSG
Concerning Kara Thrace and the men in her life - no spoilers past 'Colonial Day.'
Okay, trying to suss out the influences on Kara's life, and who she was and who she is becoming. What I really want to know is not exactly about Kara, but about Zack, and what she saw in Zack.
(The last thing I want to do here is get into a bashing contest on any of the characters. Let's take as given that all characters have their flaws and virtues, and accept that Kara really loved Zack.)
Lee, as we have seen already, is just a bit tightly wound, and tightly reserved. Someone else made the observation that (esp compared to Kara) Lee is a prude. Or - inhibited enough by his (new) command position and (on-going) position as the son of the great William Adama so that tumbling into the rack with any gal who walked by is just not in the cards. I tend to think that if their positions were reversed that Lee would not have put the moves on a superior officer/training instructor, even if he felt deeply for her.
(I'm going to default to him/her and het relationships. If, for the purposes of this discussion, it pleases the reader to assume the possibility of a same-sex relationship in this universe for Kara or Lee or, hell, Col Tigh - feel free.)
We've had a hint that Zack took after his father a bit more than Lee did, but also a broader indication that Lee and Kara are friends from way back.
So what I'm wondering what was the difference, that made a spark between Kara and Zach but not Lee and Kara?
Lee is (obviously at this point) a highly gifted pilot, if a far more cerebral one than Starbuck (or his father?) I think it's possible that Zack inherited the attitude but not the skills to back it up. Or that Zack (as younger sons sometimes do) faced less scrutiny growing up, and so was more self-confident than his older brother. I could certainly see a cocky young pilot propositioning his flight instructor on a bet, or just to try his luck.
On the other hand, it could be that Kara was the aggressor, even though that kind of unprofessional behavior - oh, what the hell am I saying? This is Kara Thrace, born to not toe the line. It probably *was* her, and quite possibly after she got a wave-off from Lee. (Or maybe not the instant "Sure, how bout right now?" that she was expecting in response to her "Hey, good-looking, wanna frack?") So little brother comes along, with much of what she likes about Lee, but hey! A bit more aggressive, if sloppy around the edges. And willing to take her up on the offer.
And then, of course, there maybe no telling what made her go from thinking "hot stick, fun frack" to "I want to spend the rest of my life married to this man." Love is strange.
Of course, I have *completely* let alone the relationship between Kara and Adama, and Kara and Tigh. I'm pretty sure both are strongly affected by the aftermath of Zack's death, but I feel pretty confident that neither is (much) a romantic/friendship relationship - in other words, the niches Lee and Zack fill/filled in Kara's life are very different than those filled by Adama or Tigh, while Lee's and Zack's positions re: Kara are similar.
Your thoughts?
Update - via![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kerlin, there was a discussion of the same topic a few weeks back in another lj. No spoilers after "Colonial Day", but watch the comments, as more could have been added. (Downloaders. I swear. *shakes head*)
Update to update - comments [in the discussion linked above] do have spoilers for the whole season thus far. (not huge, more character building than plot, if that makes a diff. Frack.) (edited for clarification
Okay, trying to suss out the influences on Kara's life, and who she was and who she is becoming. What I really want to know is not exactly about Kara, but about Zack, and what she saw in Zack.
(The last thing I want to do here is get into a bashing contest on any of the characters. Let's take as given that all characters have their flaws and virtues, and accept that Kara really loved Zack.)
Lee, as we have seen already, is just a bit tightly wound, and tightly reserved. Someone else made the observation that (esp compared to Kara) Lee is a prude. Or - inhibited enough by his (new) command position and (on-going) position as the son of the great William Adama so that tumbling into the rack with any gal who walked by is just not in the cards. I tend to think that if their positions were reversed that Lee would not have put the moves on a superior officer/training instructor, even if he felt deeply for her.
(I'm going to default to him/her and het relationships. If, for the purposes of this discussion, it pleases the reader to assume the possibility of a same-sex relationship in this universe for Kara or Lee or, hell, Col Tigh - feel free.)
We've had a hint that Zack took after his father a bit more than Lee did, but also a broader indication that Lee and Kara are friends from way back.
So what I'm wondering what was the difference, that made a spark between Kara and Zach but not Lee and Kara?
Lee is (obviously at this point) a highly gifted pilot, if a far more cerebral one than Starbuck (or his father?) I think it's possible that Zack inherited the attitude but not the skills to back it up. Or that Zack (as younger sons sometimes do) faced less scrutiny growing up, and so was more self-confident than his older brother. I could certainly see a cocky young pilot propositioning his flight instructor on a bet, or just to try his luck.
On the other hand, it could be that Kara was the aggressor, even though that kind of unprofessional behavior - oh, what the hell am I saying? This is Kara Thrace, born to not toe the line. It probably *was* her, and quite possibly after she got a wave-off from Lee. (Or maybe not the instant "Sure, how bout right now?" that she was expecting in response to her "Hey, good-looking, wanna frack?") So little brother comes along, with much of what she likes about Lee, but hey! A bit more aggressive, if sloppy around the edges. And willing to take her up on the offer.
And then, of course, there maybe no telling what made her go from thinking "hot stick, fun frack" to "I want to spend the rest of my life married to this man." Love is strange.
Of course, I have *completely* let alone the relationship between Kara and Adama, and Kara and Tigh. I'm pretty sure both are strongly affected by the aftermath of Zack's death, but I feel pretty confident that neither is (much) a romantic/friendship relationship - in other words, the niches Lee and Zack fill/filled in Kara's life are very different than those filled by Adama or Tigh, while Lee's and Zack's positions re: Kara are similar.
Your thoughts?
Update - via
kerlin, there was a discussion of the same topic a few weeks back in another lj. No spoilers after "Colonial Day", but watch the comments, as more could have been added. (Downloaders. I swear. *shakes head*)Update to update - comments [in the discussion linked above] do have spoilers for the whole season thus far. (not huge, more character building than plot, if that makes a diff. Frack.) (edited for clarification
no subject
I think Kara is very driven to be the best at something; we know she was a Pyramid player on a scholarship until injury put a stop to that, and she kind of fell into piloting. I actually see her as being a pretty damn good student on the theoretical side too simply because having the great grades would get her wings that much faster. But because of her upbringing (mostly inferred, though) I think there's a severe lack of confidence with other people. She connects best with people that share her skills: other pilots.
That's probably where I see her relationship with Lee beginning. He's a good pilot, and even if they weren't in the same class or rank or anything, I think they both would be looking for worthy competition. Lee and Kara would push each other, compete. Lee's competetive with everyone (especially dad) and the rivalry that he and Kara could develop would be a great boost to both of them, a goad to their ambitions.
Where Zak comes in is that Lee is all about his career to prove himself to everyone, where Kara is simply finding a place to be the best, a comfortable niche where nothing gets close. The attraction she and Lee have for each other is probably sabotaged by her casual flings and his seriousness before it gets off the ground. But Zak, who is following his father and brother into the only career that's worthwhile, is probably not hugely driven to be the best, just to live up to the standard and earn his wings.
I think that as Lee's brother, Kara gets to know and get close to Zak, but eventually falls for him because he is willing to accept whatever she has to offer, unlike Lee who is a deep-thinking, analysing type. Given her past, I'd even postulate that Lee's emotions are something that scare Kara pretty deeply, so maintaining their friendship while being involved with Zak would probably give Kara everything she needed: competition and acceptance.
I could be pissed at Lee for letting her get away with keeping him at arm's length; I can only guess that she did the casual relationship thing with other people often enough, and at hurtful enough moments, to really fuck with his confidence.
Eek, ramble. Sorry!
no subject
(Man, we're just chewing this to peices, aren't we? But I think it's important - we've seen what loosing Zack did to Kara, and I wonder what having him meant to her.)
I could see Lee only letting Kara 'get to him' on the flying level, and choosing himself to not open up too much to her rather...chaotic nature. And yeah, if Lee wasn't the type to do casual, the thought of being another of Kara's casuals might have not appealed.
- hossgal