thoughts on Bastille Day

[plumsnickety.livejournal.com]

Because when serialkarma pokes, I listen...



After re-watching Bastille Day, which I haven't seen since November as I was one of the impatient ones that downloaded the Brit feeds, certain things really struck me harder than before:

- I love how they've introducing us to the characters and the problems of the Ragtag Fugitive Fleet in media res, just as they should. Thank you for not pandering to the audience, PTB. We're thrown into this situation, much as the Colonials are thrown into their refugee status, and we're expected to pick up and follow along. I can't tell you how much I freaking love that simple, logical idea.

- I'm an avowed history and poli sci geek, so watching Zarek go off on his tirades again had me thinking of Lenin and Robespierre and all those other French guys that I really should remember from my uni lectures. I just wanted Lee to smack him upside the head and tell him, "Hey, dumbass, we're talking basic survival here." Granted, that's exactly when civil liberties can be, and often are, suspended and/or taken advantage of, but gah...Lee witnessed the attack that brought his civilisation to this precarious point and all Zarek can (understandably, if not rightly) see, is an opportunity to play the ego maniac that we all know Richard Hatch to be. (Sorry, a bit more personal commentary there than I had intended.)

Anyhoo, no one is throwing any punches with regard to these hard questions and no matter what happens to this series, that's one thing I hope it will be remembered for.

Other, older and less serious, comments can be found here.

Comments

[serialkarma.livejournal.com]

an opportunity to play the ego maniac that we all know Richard Hatch to be. (Sorry, a bit more personal commentary there than I had intended.)

haha! Tell us what you really, feel, sweetie, don't be shy!*g*

I love how they've introducing us to the characters and the problems of the Ragtag Fugitive Fleet in media res, just as they should. Thank you for not pandering to the audience, PTB. We're thrown into this situation, much as the Colonials are thrown into their refugee status, and we're expected to pick up and follow along. I can't tell you how much I freaking love that simple, logical idea.

I am so with you there. The one thing this show has not done so far is pander to the audience. Not only does it not pander, but they throw out all these bits and pieces of things that are probably going to end up being significant later on and just assuming that we'll actually think about it.

You know, I'm wondering if there's any significance to be found in the humans being polytheistic and the Cylons being (apparently) monotheistic.

[plumsnickety.livejournal.com]

humans being polytheistic and the Cylons being (apparently) monotheistic.

Yeah, that is interesting, isn't it? Especially since at least Six acknowledges that the humans are, in effect, their parents. One from many, many from one, many from many...makes me want to have actually paid attention in Latin.

Okay, not really. :)

[runningwave.livejournal.com]

You know, I'm wondering if there's any significance to be found in the humans being polytheistic and the Cylons being (apparently) monotheistic.

Wow, that's very perceptive. I hadn't really thought too much about the femme-Cylon's religious comments. Now that you mention it, there may be something the writers are working on. Or it may be a red herring. The polytheism is a factor not at all dealt with by the classic BSG series, but I do hope they explore the religious elements a bit more. We've seen a "minister" or "priestess" or "religious leader" whatever you call her in several key scenes like the President being sworn in and the funeral for the Galactica crew who died in Water. Ah, her character's name is Priest Elosha. So I want the writers to deal more with this, especially since Number Six keeps bringing up her monotheism.

I wonder if the writers haven't dealt with the RagTag Fleet folks as major characters yet because there were almost too many episodes in the classic BSG where they did deal with civilians. It got kind of out-of-hand and distracting to the "core" story of the show.

BTW, I'm totally with plumsnickety on the Richard Hatch ego-trip thing.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

I have much to say after I rewatch, on the nature of political violence and how seductive it can be - when Roslin said Zarek had been offered everything he wanted if he would renounce violence and he'd refused, I wasn't surprised in the slightest. It's typical of those who decide that they can harm innocents in their quest for "freedom".

[plumsnickety.livejournal.com]

I turned off to Zarek a lot quicker this time than the first time I watched it. It seemed that as soon as he found out that Lee had read his book, well, it was like the evil cat playing with the mouse.

The fact that I'm kinda grrr when it comes to The Hatch probably doesn't help my view of the larger situation either.