Battlestar Galactica 1.10 - Hand of God
Mar. 24th, 2005 11:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ravenMish-mash of ideas in this one, but again, there's that recurrent theme of faith. I liked the way Adama "convinces" Starbuck, with the weights, that she's not ready, and I like the juxtaposition of her faith in herself (unshaken) with her faith in Apollo (doubtful at best). Whether the outcome of the episode will change either is probably unlikely - I get the feeling Kara Thrace doesn't like trusting anyone except herself.
More faith, this time with Roslin as a prophet, and grant me mercy but I like this plot twist very much. I remember the story of Pythia very well - she was Apollo's priestess at Delphi, and she inhaled the vapours and provided the answers for the future. Apollo's priestess - I call that suggestive. I like Roslin, myself - it was an interesting idea using a former education secretary who is, basically, a bleeding-heart liberal among the military types. And I particularly love the way she doesn't let any of them walk all over her. Could have done without the snakes, though - my phobia is so pronounced that I literally couldn't watch that sequence.
The main plot, the attack on the base, could have been terribly hard to follow - space battles always are, for some reason - but using the board with its models was a stroke of genius. Admittedly, it's plot-holey - where did they get all the cute models, and why do they need them anyway, as besides Gaius and Roslin there are no civilians to explain things to - but it shows us what's going on very clearly. The music that accompanies the battles and indeed most of the show is haunting and wonderful; I love the harsh drumbeats mixed with strangely Middle Eastern melodies.
I love the Vipers more and more. That truly funky backflip they can do makes me really, really want one. Admittedly, I'm bad enough at driving a car. My piloting anything would probably result in hasty death for everyone in the vicinity.
And, lastly and possibly most importantly - was it all a coincidence? Or is Gaius Baltar the hand of God? There are points on either side - for one thing, you can't deny that Gaius pointed randomly and somehow got the exact right spot on the map that would destroy the base. But he's got such an enormous ego, it's hardly surprising he would believe Six when she claims he is the instrument of God, when up until now he's denied the existence of God entirely.
Also, someone explain BSG religion to me. The Cylons believe in the monotheistic worldview, and possibly Gaius is beginning to. The Galatica crew, meanwhile, believe in the many gods of Ancient Greece (witness Starbuck praying to Artemis and Aphrodite). Is that right?
How does the BSG universe fit in with Earth? Did they leave Earth many millennia ago, etc., etc? Are they human, or merely humanoid? And someone please explain how they can be so hi-tech in some ways and low-tech in others - they have faster-than-light travel but use old-fashioned phones with curly cords?
I quibble. Good episode, particularly the the end. I'm really enjoying this show.
More faith, this time with Roslin as a prophet, and grant me mercy but I like this plot twist very much. I remember the story of Pythia very well - she was Apollo's priestess at Delphi, and she inhaled the vapours and provided the answers for the future. Apollo's priestess - I call that suggestive. I like Roslin, myself - it was an interesting idea using a former education secretary who is, basically, a bleeding-heart liberal among the military types. And I particularly love the way she doesn't let any of them walk all over her. Could have done without the snakes, though - my phobia is so pronounced that I literally couldn't watch that sequence.
The main plot, the attack on the base, could have been terribly hard to follow - space battles always are, for some reason - but using the board with its models was a stroke of genius. Admittedly, it's plot-holey - where did they get all the cute models, and why do they need them anyway, as besides Gaius and Roslin there are no civilians to explain things to - but it shows us what's going on very clearly. The music that accompanies the battles and indeed most of the show is haunting and wonderful; I love the harsh drumbeats mixed with strangely Middle Eastern melodies.
I love the Vipers more and more. That truly funky backflip they can do makes me really, really want one. Admittedly, I'm bad enough at driving a car. My piloting anything would probably result in hasty death for everyone in the vicinity.
And, lastly and possibly most importantly - was it all a coincidence? Or is Gaius Baltar the hand of God? There are points on either side - for one thing, you can't deny that Gaius pointed randomly and somehow got the exact right spot on the map that would destroy the base. But he's got such an enormous ego, it's hardly surprising he would believe Six when she claims he is the instrument of God, when up until now he's denied the existence of God entirely.
Also, someone explain BSG religion to me. The Cylons believe in the monotheistic worldview, and possibly Gaius is beginning to. The Galatica crew, meanwhile, believe in the many gods of Ancient Greece (witness Starbuck praying to Artemis and Aphrodite). Is that right?
How does the BSG universe fit in with Earth? Did they leave Earth many millennia ago, etc., etc? Are they human, or merely humanoid? And someone please explain how they can be so hi-tech in some ways and low-tech in others - they have faster-than-light travel but use old-fashioned phones with curly cords?
I quibble. Good episode, particularly the the end. I'm really enjoying this show.
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no subject
on 2005-03-24 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-03-24 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2005-03-24 11:34 pm (UTC)I wonder if it will ever be on terrestrial?
no subject
on 2005-03-24 11:37 pm (UTC)Something about this disc is wonky, I guess. Which reminds me - would you mind if I started copying these discs to send to
no subject
on 2005-03-25 12:20 am (UTC)Will try to send you a copy when I burn them for other people, but I'm working full days for a while now so may take some time. :S
no subject
on 2005-03-25 12:08 am (UTC)That was my dad's main question about the miniseries - why are they so low-tech yet capable of space travel, and why if they are capable of space travel is they Galactica such a hefty, ugly and basic thing (personally I have grown fond of it!).
The phones have to be wired because they won't allow any networked/advanced systems on the ship (the Cylons can interfere with these in a big way) and I guess wireless systems are a part of this.
no subject
on 2005-03-25 12:14 am (UTC)The one explanation I could think of for the Galactica itself is it was due for decommissioning, wasn't it? It's a relic of the last Cylon war many years before, and doesn't really represent the height of their civilisation. But still, the point stands - it's sometimes hard to tell that they are particularly advanced in what technology thet have. I wonder if this is because the show deals so heavily in themes and metaphor and isn't as fixated on the technical details as perhaps the Trek series were?
Maybe I should make an effort to get hold of the miniseries. Is it worth the price?
no subject
on 2005-03-25 12:26 am (UTC)£8.99 for three hours?
Hell yeah!
My copy is priceless to me now, with it's kisses from Jamie Bamber on it n'all. :P Heather has it at the moment though, gah!
no subject
on 2005-03-25 12:30 pm (UTC)The chunky tech is built that way so Cylons cannot take it over remotely, and also because if things are going to get beat up and blown up then you need them chunky.
You are right about the religion.