amanuensis1: (Default)
amanuensis1 ([personal profile] amanuensis1) wrote2006-04-05 04:47 pm

Reactions to Battlestar Galactica, Season One

I finished Battlestar Galactica, Season One on DVD. Holy cripes, they weren't kidding--this series is amazing. I can hardly wait for Season Two to arrive from Netflix.



(Actually, I fell for the series as soon as I heard the percussion background music over the main credit sequence. Or the secondary credit sequence. Whatever that was. Damn, that worked.)

Gaius: Gaius, how much do I love Gaius? Enough to start referring to him as Gaius rather than Baltar, which is significant, because I had a crush on the original Count Baltar fom the original series. (You know me--of course I go for the erudite bad guys.) So it cracked me up that he showed up young and hot and British-accented; totally Zaphod Beeblebroxed, the other kind of bad boy I fall for.

But I love the guy. --No, I don't just love to hate him; that isn't it at all. Gaius is the weasel in all of us. The side of us we pretend we don't have, that we wouldn't succumb to when the chips are down. Ha. I've been Gaius. I've lied by omission, decided to say nothing as long as we weren't talking about that one part for which I actually might have been responsible. Of course he doesn't deserve the moniker of traitor, he thinks, and we'd think that too. He was only doing something a little illegal; the white-collar sort of thing people do all the time in the name of insider trading or tax evasion. Treason's not treason if it's not intentional.

Of course I like to think that I'd have shared everything I knew about the Cylons, once it all came down. Made up an excuse as to why I knew all this info. But would I? Would I have thought I could pull it off? Or would the threat of being executed--worse, the fear of being labeled The Traitor Who Destroyed The Human Race--would it have held me back long enough, until, as it has Gaius, trapped me into being unable to explain why I didn't speak up earlier?

I wavered in my love for the character a little when the Cylon test first ID'd Boomer. Okay, sure, he was right not to tell her, but I couldn't understand why the next episode didn't commence with him sharing the info with the commander. Didn't become plain until he tested Helen Tigh and revealed that he's not going to out any Cylons, since it could lead to messy questions. It's all part of the Things Have Gone Too Far Now of him. Poor weaselly bastard. Yeah, I love him. Still holding out that in the end he'll have done enough on the side of good guys that it helps his karmic balance some (before he dies, as he's sure to).

Six: Heh, I like Six. I don't mind that she's the soft-porn eye-candy of the show; it feels integral for the story. I also don't think for a minute that she's any virus-program in Gaius's head; she's his subconscious. Nothing she's said or done couldn't be attributed to the workings of his own brain, so, nyah.

Boomer: Man, when that final shot of the miniseries stood on the screen, I wailed. I loved Boomer's sweetness right away. I love her romance with what's-his-face, hidden behind pretend public squabbles. I love her terror over her absence fugues. She's the character I invite myself to identify with. I didn't understand until her suicidal ponderings in her bunk just how expendable a character Sharon Prime is. It's like one of Bill Cosby's jokes: "I'll make another one, look just like you." Wah!

Am convinced she was under her sleeper program when she shot Adama. Can't imagine she just...suddenly decided she was a Cylon, and might as well assassinate the commander of the fleet. But I guess I have to see the next season.

Starbuck: I liked her, but now I love her. The episodes that came together for me were her juryrigging escapade with the Cylon Raider (man, had I opened that thing and saw it was one big organ, I would have sat down and cried), and even more, the tylium raid where she can't fly with her team but discovers what it's like to be in command, has to stay back and watch others follow her plan and die because of it. That rocked. Kara rocks.

Adama: He's so solid, it's fabulous. He IS a commander first, no matter how much they try to show us his softer side, which is why all those views of his softer side work. (Just so you know, I freaked so much when he was shot, I had to run to the 'net to learn whether or not he dies. I wasn't up enough on the current seasons to have any idea if he was still around. Won't say what I learned here, as I promised spoilers only for Season 1. ^_^ )

The President: I think I liked her best in the miniseries, when she looked sick as hell. She's a lot...healthier now, and I don't think it's anything to do with the Interferon-whatever she's on. Of course, now I understand that she learned of her diagnosis on the very day of the attack, so, naturally that was gonna have her looking a helluva worse than she felt physically. I guess I have a thing for the "dying leader," dragging herself through her duties despite being on her last legs.

Apollo: Eh. No real emotion for him. Ask me next season.

Oh, and I'm totally convinced "the Arrow of Apollo" doesn't have shit to do with any artifact back on Caprica. It'll mean something like, the viper ship of Lee Adama. Did any watchers think differently?

Don't spoil me for anything further, I beg!

[identity profile] gobsmackit.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! Another! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And now: *zips lips*

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
Hee! Off I go, to watch more.

[identity profile] redwindmill123.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
YES! You are the first person who has felt the same way about Baltar that I do. At least thats how I remember feeling after watching. But yeah, everyone I know is all "eww Baltar? He destroyed HUMANITY" and all I can say to that is "so?" hah. Well, I'm glad I find someone who agrees with me. =)

And about Starbuck: I liked her, but now I love her
AS YOU SHOULD. Seriously, shes one of the best (if not the best) character on the show. Shes not only the most interesting, but at times the deepest because theres a side of Kara that is kind of hidden. Really great acting on her part too, in some eps. People who dont like her should be sent out the frakkin air lock.

hooray for battlestar!! NOW GO WATCH SEASON 2!! =P

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Re: Baltar: I think I must now understand what several HP fan feel when they talk about canon Draco and why they love him just the way he is, without even having to fanonize him.

Off I go to season two!

[identity profile] ladysevsnape.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
I <3 Gaius Baltar. He is sooo confused... poor man doesn't want to admit he is the reason the human race died out... and since I've seen the second season I'll try to not spoil it... only thing I have to say is that I can't wait for the third!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm catching up--halfway through season two now!
prillalar: (kara)

[personal profile] prillalar 2006-04-05 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, yes. And welcome.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! (Yippee!)

[identity profile] fabularasa.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
My brother does the music.
ext_1611: Isis statue (I could stare at CKR all day)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
And CKR plays a Cylon! What else do we need?

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
CKR? Who's that? No--wait, I'm scared for you to tell me; what if it's a spoiler for season two? *hides*
ext_1611: Isis statue (neck porn)

[identity profile] isiscolo.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
No, he was in S1 episode Flesh and Bone - Leoben Conoy. The guy in my icon above (and here too, although just his delectable neck), who I am unreasonably, ridiculously, totally enamored of. I don't have an icon of him as Cylon, though.

I will watch his S1 ep soon. I am resisting getting into BSG because I don't need another television fandom, damn it!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
I watch SGA because I love John and Rodney and, dammit, they were meant to be a couple. But THIS, I watch for everything. Characters and story.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. Except I know you're not, because I know about your brother! Eeeee, I can't believe it! I swear to you, swear, the music was the first thing that made me say, "Whoa. Whoa, I already LOVE this." &hearts

[identity profile] saturn92103.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I love this show. It's the single best show I'm watching these days.

Apollo: Eh. No real emotion for him. Ask me next season.

I'm happy to take care of him until he grows on you. *g*

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Nice of you to give me a second chance! ^_^ Yeah, I don't see the Kara/Lee at all, really. I was cheering for Kara/Baltar a little bit.
amalthia: (Default)

[personal profile] amalthia 2006-04-05 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I love all the characters. Balter and Six really made the show interesting, and I love Starbuck. the music for this show is awesome. :)

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
The music totally rocks. And I like a lot of the minor characters, too! Most of the ones on the bridge.

[identity profile] phantomminuet.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I adore this show. Laura is probably my favorite character, although I admire Lee's willingness to shed his clothes on a regular basis. ;-) And I admittedly found his first-season daddy issues more compelling than a lot of my fellow BG fans did.

Plus, I'm a huge Season 1 Laura/Lee shipper. :-)

Almost everyone on this show is perfect...perfectly cast, (almost) perfectly acted. I don't like Callie, but I don't think I'm supposed to like her. And I love Baltar and Six. I heard Tricia Helfer speak at Dragon*con last year, and she was amazing. So funny and articulate and interested in the show beyond her own character.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I forgot to mention how wonderful the performances are!

I would be scared to see Tricia Helfer in person just because I'm sure that in person she looks like someone you want to throw down on a stretcher and yell, "Ohmigod, get an IV in her stat, we've got to force-feed her now!" ^_^

[identity profile] phantomminuet.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
She's lovely and doesn't look as skinny as you might think. Her hair at the con was a natural soft blonde color, which was much more flattering than the bleach blonde color she wears as Six.

[identity profile] heinous_bitca.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
My husband got to ride in an elevator with her at GenCon last year. He heartily disagrees with your statement, and also thinks she's quite short. He was surprised at her tinyness.

He also managed to get her to laugh with a joke, so he was all geeky happy about it. ;)

And yay for getting into BSG, Amanuensis!!!

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG she looks so tall on screen! Okay, I'm glad to hear she doesn't look terrifyingly thin. ^_^

[identity profile] marksykins.livejournal.com 2006-04-05 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you're into this series. :D And Gaius is my favorite, too. We obviously fall for similar character archetypes.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
He's so much fun. I love watching his conversations with Six and working out what triggered this little subconscious escapade this time...
florahart: (starbuck-ew)

[personal profile] florahart 2006-04-06 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
I have nothing to say; I just want to use my Starbuck icon.

:D

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
That is an AWESOME icon! XD

[identity profile] immora.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
Gaius is totally my favorite, too. I think my parents think he's a schhhmarmy guy, but I think he kicks ass.

And when Dad shows me old BSG episodes and I try to imagine THIS Baltar saying that kind of stuff, hoo boy.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure I could even go back and watch the old BSG now. Oh! You know one of my favorite parts? NO CUTE KIDS!

feeling the Gaius-love here too

[identity profile] cellia.livejournal.com 2006-04-06 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
It only gets better. :D (though I do have to say I agree with you about Apollo) Battlestar is a show I need no fandom for. It gives me everything I need on its own. It's made me cry so, so many times.

Re: feeling the Gaius-love here too

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
OMG I am halfway through season two--it's gone insaaaaane!
florahart: (savior-apparent)

Re: feeling the Gaius-love here too

[personal profile] florahart 2006-04-10 06:02 pm (UTC)(link)
It gets more so.

[identity profile] sinclair-furie.livejournal.com 2006-04-07 09:03 am (UTC)(link)
Season two! [resists urge to spoil]
Gaius is amazing. And James Callis is a funny, funny guy.
Also, you should look up Jamie Bamber's old intervies on the slashiness of Apollo/Starbuck in TOS. Interesting stuff.

[identity profile] amanuensis1.livejournal.com 2006-04-10 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I watched some of the "behind the scenes" stuff with the actors--they look like such fun people! And I think I like Apollo just a bit more now that I've heard Bamber's real accent. XD