BattleStar-eyed wonder

[Chancellor Valium]

Originally Posted by ijdgaf

And re: "In The Pale Moonlight" -- part of the reason that episode sticks so well is the way it shows the darkest side in all of us. The dirty side of Utopia. The new Battlestar Galactica lives in that dark side. There couldn't be an equivalent for that episode on the show. It wouldn't have an analog. And I have a hard time seeing a fan of that episode not enjoying RDM's new series.

Never said I don't *enjoy* BSG. I just don't rate it as highly as other things. One criticism, however, must be the lack of contrast in the series. There's not even the *occasional* joke. Or even half a joke. There's just dark all the way down.

Don't get me wrong, I like dark, but without light, how can you tell it's dark?

[ijdgaf]

That's not really a fair criticism. The characters on the show joke around all the time, be it Starbuck with her pilots, Adama with Lee... or Tigh... or Roslin... or any of his extended family, really. Doc Cottle makes sarcastic jokes all the time.

And again, the show certainly isn't all dark either. There is a definite contrast, and here it is: a dark, overpowering pessimism makes every victory all the sweeter for the characters. Look at the end of the miniseries. Or "Hand of God". Or "Colonial Day". And now "Exodus, part 2". I hate to bring in the oft-cited argument here, but it many ways it is the opposite of Trek in this respect. Where dark episodes of Trek stood out ("Year of Hell", "In the Pale Moonlight", etc.), the lighter optimistic episodes of BSG stand out in a different way. It gives the show an overall sense that things aren't hopeless in even the bleakest situations. Anyone who says the series is all dark doesn't seem to be paying much attention as far as I can tell.

[Chancellor Valium]

How many actual victories have there been? I don't just mean where they've escaped to fight another day, or not gotten themselves killed for another day, I mean actual, real victories. Where they've actually, really defeated the Cylons. One? Two?

Cottle's remarks are hardly jokes. And in any case, how often does *he* appear? Twice a season?

I'll agree, Trek was too prozac-utopian. But BSG has boxed itself into a corner. It's bleak to the point where it simply can't get that much worse. Soon, they're going to run out of disasters.

[ijdgaf]

Well there are still cylons around, of course. But I can think of three episodes off the top of my head where the cylons were dealt a major strategic blow.

But I wasn't just talking about victories against the cylons. For one, there are a multitude of episodes where a successful mission did not entail major cylon casualties. "Miniseries". "Home". "Scar". "Lay Down Your Burdens".

And its a little silly just to focus on the cylons, since there are many enemies aboard the fleet itself. Does "Colonial Day" not count as an optimistic episode? What about "You Can't Go Home Again."? "Flight of the Phoenix"?

I could certainly add more to these lists. The show certainly depicts a drastic situation and dire actions on the part of the characters. But part of the series' poignancy is that it's not all pessimism.

edit: According to imdb, Doc Cottle has been in eleven episodes so far. Not counting his season three appearance(s?). He was introduced in the fourth episode of season one. That's eleven out of thirty (pre-season three) episodes he's been in. Roughly every third episode.

[Chancellor Valium]

A success doesn't really generate an alleviation of tension. You don't tend to think 'Yes! I've finished one page of the hundred-thousand page form I have to fill in to get my bank card cancelled because someone stole it. What an achievement! I'm proud of myself!"

@Burt: B5 wasn't that dark...In some ways I'd describe it more as...gothic. Particularly the Shadows.

re: The Ship - Starship Troopers...Event Horizon?!

This, young fella-me-spoon is Discovery One!

[ijdgaf]

Did Adama's Earth speech in the miniseries not alleviate tension? Or the reconcilliation of Adama and Roslin and their subsequent return from Kobol with a new clue on the search for Earth? Or Starbuck's return from Caprica with her posse of survivors?

[Chancellor Valium]

Adama's Earth speech reads like someone desparately trying to convince themself of something as much as their audience.

Adama and Roslin - that was just a resolution of their own screw-up.

Starbuck's survivors are just more mouths to feed, and more people to protect. Sure, there's a small amount of hope, but at the same time they're another problem.

[Burt]

You know it's too dark when the viewers start topping themselves. To be honest I found B5 kinda dark. I sort of like it, butsort of not. I like being in the Trek universe. It's so dam happy, and warm and fuzzy. But sometimes it is nice to take a dip in the darkside. More so when the effects are that good.

BTW what is that ship on your logo Chancellor? It looks like....The one from Event Horizen...or the one from Starship troopers...

[JVTruman]

Originally Posted by Chancellor Valium

There's not even the *occasional* joke. Or even half a joke.

I don't know. When they had the episode with the Cylon viewpoint, I found it rather amusing that Six had Baltar in her head.

Additionally, they have a few amusing little things, like the 'NO STEP' under the Viper's cockpit. I don't know why, but I think seeing a standard modern safety warning on a ship made by people who have never even been to Earth is a bit funny.

[ijdgaf]

Jeez, how could I forget Baltar? The guy's hillarious.

[Gatac]

It's a hard knock life.

Gatac

[mudshark]

Heh. Haven't seen that one for a while.

[Burt]

Ok, I've finally brought all the seriesisisis? on DVD, including the mini series, and sat and watched them all. Well, up to the end of series one anyway. The mini series was pretty good. Some nice moral dilemmas.
Of the main lot, I really enjoyed '33'. Made me feel right on edge. That is some good telly.
One question... in the room where the Viper pilots are given orders, when they ever walk in to or out of the room, they all touch a picture on the wall. Is that something important? Is there a story behind it? I know about in real life how aircraft flight crews have certain lucky charms....and things they do before/after flights. This the same?

[ijdgaf]

It's apparently a picture of a guy on his knees seeing the devestation from the attack on Caprica (or maybe some other colony). Sort of a never-forget picture for the colonials to rally around.