#bsg 1x01

[syfysource]

Battlestar Galactica "33 Minutes"

[gainesha]

BSG rewatch notes, cont'd and ended (spoilers, obviously):

it was so nice to watch the whole thing again, once again being reminded why I fell in love with these characters

the second half of Season 4 is much stronger overall as the first one, but the Tigh-Six baby plotline is awful. dumb and ludicrous. gave lots of fantastic acting moments for Hogan and Helfer, at least

Michael Nankin was the GOAT for directing Sometimes a Great Notion

I had loved the piano man story from Someone to Watch Over Me, so I was looking forward to rewatch that, but I completely forgot that the other main plot of the episode is going to be Boomer kidnapping Hera, and jfc, the locker room sequence with Helo and Boomer as Athena and Athena watching them is probably the most horrifying scene of the whole show, genuinely disturbing

I really like the finale. the flashback structure works very well for showing us how far all these characters came, and also crystallizing their story arcs, the stakes of their present-day choices. the last mission is intense and satisfying. the big showdown between Cavil and the Final Five / colonials and the Opera House reveal is a bit bumpy, but I still love the anticlimax of Cavil just saying ah fuck this shit. the ending always made emotional sense for me, and because the emotional farewell was the more important expectation for me (rather than getting a wholly satisfying mythology and precisely worked out plot machinery), and I feel good about the exodus part, too, I can more easily let go of my quibbles of explaining how the people of the fleet actually went along with throwing all their technology into the sun and going into the wild which would realistically mean quite a low life expectancy for them - like, I would not last outside modern civilization at all, but considering the rate with which we have been destroying our planet in the years since the show ended, their choice to have a clean slate is all the more wishful and heartfelt. (also a nice sentiment to forego colonizing the natives of Earth). Kara's "poof" is jarring, but I find her narrative arc complete and wonderful. I don't need to know exactly what she was after she returned from Earth-1. I even didn't mind the epilogue! like, the dancing robots would probably be AI if they remade the show today, but otherwise, the all of this has happened before... message of the show, with all its cheesy directness, still stands. except maybe it's more difficult to share HeadSix's optimistic prognosis

"You know, I know about farming" is the best line reading of the whole show

I wish we got at least one more Leoben-Kara scene after the one in Sometimes a Great Notion. that was a huge turning point in their relationship, but it should have been followed up, and I am sure it would have if not for the unavailability of Callum Keith Rennie. that is the only part of the show that feels incomplete.

I was ranking all the episodes for myself alongside the rewatch, so here's my bottom 5 and my top 10. I still need to rewatch The Plan, which in my memory is barely more than a glorified clipshow with some nice acting, so that could possibly be in the bottom five as well. and yes, that is a 7-parter in the second place, sue me.

Black Market (2x14)

The Woman King (3x14)

Hero (3x08)

Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down (1x09)

Deadlock (4x16)

10. The Passage (3x10) 9. Someone to Watch Over Me (4x17) 8. Downloaded (2x18) 7. Pegasus (2x10) 6. The Oath / Blood on the Scales (4x13-14) 5. 33 (1x01) 4. Scar (2x15) 3. Unfinished Business (3x09) - non-extended version 2. New Caprica arc: Lay Your Burdens Down 1-2., Occupation, Precipice, Exodus 1-2., Collaborators (2x19-3x05) 1. Maelstrom (3x17)

[whatsaweekend]

The Rings of Power 1x01 thoughts:

A bit of a slow start in the first episode, but it’s literally setting everything up so I forgive. They show Laurelin and Telperion being consumed, Galadriel at least has one of her brothers (Finrod Felagund). She is NOT with Celeborn at the moment (although she’s probably married, maybe has Celebrían). Elrond and Gil-Galad are around. I spotted the actor that plays Celebrimbor but he didn’t have any lines.

I had issue with them not knowing the word for death in Valinor, because Míriel very much died because infant Fëanor consumed so much of her spirit when she birthed him, which is the whole reason Galadriel actually exists (Finwë remarrying and having other children). It very much gave Fëanor a complex lmao. Also, they definitely hunted in Valinor.

I know the guard elf is named Arondir (very beautiful man??? His eyes?!) apparently has an interesting relationship with this human healer woman. I didn’t catch where he’s stationed at. The humans do not like the elves though. Also someone’s poisoning something. Black ichor came out of the cow’s udder.

Primitive hobbits? I like that they show how good at hiding they are. Obviously pre-Shire.

I definitely need to watch with subtitles next episode so I can actually catch everything.

The costumes are good and the settings look great. AGAIN my only complaint is that like 3 inch space between hairline and ears lmao. WHY. It’s giving Nic Cage in the National Treasure sequels (not the first, where he notably has sideburns). It doesn’t look good. Please fix for s3. The actor for Gil-Galad is very handsome but it’s like they made him less so. FOR AN ELF.

Music is good so far but I already like Bear McCreary’s scores (BSG). I think Howard Shore should always be an influence for anything musical with the Legendarium. He cannot be beat.

I know s1 is shaky but all I’m hearing about s2 is really good things but I’m trying not to judge s1 too harshly until I watch it.

[blue-mint-winter]

[1x01] Kara gives Lee “You’re the CAG, act like one” talk.

Bonus:

[1x02] And he did.

[malefiquinn]

Best Battlestar Galactica scenes [3/76] - 1x01 33

The Olympic Carrier has been infiltrated by Cylon agents.They’ve been tracking the ship all along.

[ishvaria-sansara]

BSG 1x01

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[deelylah-sedai]

8 Screencaps:

Laura Roslin + Random Episode (1x01 “33”)

[syfysource]

Battlestar Galactica "33 Minutes"

[syfysource]

Battlestar Galactica "33 Minutes"

[blue-mint-winter]

Roslin-Adama phonecall in 1x01

I really love this scene because it’s full of delicious subtext.

It starts with a panning shot of the ships - Galactica and Colonial One.

Interestingly enough, from this camera angle Colonial One is positioned above Galactica, which is a stylistic choice as in the void of space up and down are all relative.

Then we get both Roslin and Adama in their surroundings.

Cylons didn’t attack after 33 minutes like they did during the past 5 days, so she’s calling to ask why. Meanwhile, people around them are catching a nap when they still can because everyone’s beyond exhausted. The leaders figure out that it can have something to do with losing one of the ships which didn’t arrive at the rendezvous point.

There’s a lull in conversation, when Adama looks up.

It looks like they’re looking at each other, referencing the positioning of their ships, as well as their governmental status, president above the commander.

And then we get this

A small human moment, a little smile, like it’s just a normal phone call and they’re just Laura and Bill. He looks down again when he replies with reassurance. Then they get back to discussing business. Their talk still seems very intimate, not only because of the focus on their faces, but also because they talk in a whisper. There are practical reasons - secrecy and simply consideration for those sleeping around them.

Except there’s one witness listening in - Tigh, and his inclusion brings the need to restore the professional distance. In the end, Roslin tells Adama to thank his people for her and he thanks her back, but really - she was thanking him without actually saying it. But he gets it since instead of conveying her thanks he orders his pilots to get some rest, which is more appreciated than words.

[blue-mint-winter]

Sam Witwer just wants to gossip about human-looking Cylons, but Sharon is having none of that.

[blue-mint-winter]

BSG 1x01 33 rewatch

spoilery talk under the cut

man, this show is insanely quotable, ahhh I love it.

Baltar operates on two levels - the normal with the rest of characters and the meta level with Head Six. Also his parts are so chock full of symbolism. Seems that he really might be a representation of sinful humanity being tested by the God.

Head Six’s role is interesting because she’s enigmatic, also it’s hard to say whether she’s a devil or an angel on Gaius’ shoulder, whispering to him.

This episode made me question if the writers already decided on the identities of the Final Five because the clues are here, in first episode!

Again, Baltar’s and the fleet’s survival depends on destruction of others because the same ship carries a Cylon agent tracking the fleet and a doctor that knows the truth about Baltar.

To be saved from death penalty for treason, Head Six gives Baltar, the rational scientist man that scorns religion, ultimatum - he must accept God. He must repent. And in his desperation, he gives in. He betrays his own system of belief to save his own skin.

Sam Witwer!!! is replacing Helo as Boomer’s partner and she is not pleased.

Dualla visits the corridor with the pictures of dead and missing people :(

Roslin is concerned with the number of people they are losing (already said in miniseries they will need to start making children to continue their species) and Head Six brings up that she wants to have children with Gaius. This is going to come back...

Tigh gives up his 10 minutes of rest to Adama... everyone’s so tired they’re making mistakes.

Kara doesn’t want to take stimulants as ordered, than rants at Lee that his command style is too friendly and he should just force his problem pilot -her- to take the pills. Then she takes her own advice XD

I covered Roslin and Adama phonecall, it was good.

“Sharon’s a Cylon” joke lololol

Tigh feels more alive than he’s been in years and that’s because he has only two modes of function - the son of a bitch XO and the bastard drunk.

Helo is still alive and kicking on Caprica and he runs quite fas for somoene with injured leg. Aaaand first Athena appearance on the show!

Lee and dad share a moment of guilt for the destruction of Olympic Carrier and doing nothing to save the passengers onboard.

[blue-mint-winter]

BSG 2x01 Scattered rewatch

Season 2 opener is reminiscent of 1x01 “33″ with the Fleet running from Cylon attack. Unfortunately Gaeta screwed up the coordinates, so Galactica jumped somewhere else and the only way to find the Fleet is to go back into Cylon arms to calculate the jump again. Similar to “33″ the ship is under time constraints and the stakes are high as Adama is in critical condition after being shot, but the doctor is with the Fleet.

The episode focuses on 3 characters: Tigh, Gaeta and Tyrol.

Tigh is in a pinch - the old man, his best friend, his commander, is critical. He doesn’t want the command and he frequently flashbacks to their younger days. He was a sad drunk brawling in bars after the first Cylon war. It’s Adama who got him back to the Fleet. Tigh owes his life to him.

His loyalty is tested. Tigh has to compromise. To get back to the Fleet in time and save Adama’s life, he allows something the old man would never - to connect ship computers into a network for Gaeta to quickly calculate the coordinates. The other compromise is to let Lee out of the brig so he could pilot in the battle.

Meanwhile, Ellen is already thinking ahead how Tigh’s command could be permanent. That one is always looking on the bright side...

The saga of Lee following his instincts continues. He kind of regrets siding with Roslin, he did it for principle, but he feels it wasn’t worth it. He can’t even stay by his dying father’s side :(

Gaeta. He’s one of those amazing minor characters. He’s got some little moments scattered through s1, like his admiration of Baltar, playing cards, friendship with Boomer (that funky dancing in Colonial Day lol), that little headshake in disbelief when Adama orders president’s arrest. His friendship with Dee gets spotlight in this ep, when she reassures him when he mopes in the bathroom. Gaeta messed up, but he managed to make up for it, so all’s good :)

On Kobol, once again Tyrol has to clean up after Crashdown’s lack of foresight. They run from the Raptor without taking a medkit, so Tyrol takes Cally and Tarn to retrieve it so they can treat their injured buddy. Unfortunately Tarn gets shot and dies. All of this could have been avoided if Crashdown listened to Tyrol’s suggestions in the first place and made sure they took everything before they ran. Tyrol’s much better under pressure.

Funny how Helo argues on Sharon’s behalf with Kara. Just recently he was very harsh on Sharon himself. Kara’s unforgiving attitude must bring things into perspective to him. But it doesn’t stop Sharon from escaping in Kara’s raider.

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