bold narrative choices -- oh, wait, the opposite of that

[dianora2]

Battlestar Galactica and I broke up tonight. Which doesn't mean I'm not going to keep watching. But we've decided that it's for the best if we just remain friends.

Be warned, there is ranting ahead. I pulled back a little, so it's not my full capability of ranting. ;) It's funny, during the episode I was just kind of meh and bored. It wasn't until I wrote this up that I realized I actually disliked the episode this strongly.

I've been wanting to distance myself emotionally from BSG, because I sense myself getting too fannishly invested in it and I don't really want to go down that road. I want to keep it at Prison Break/24 levels, where I really really enjoy it, but there's still a wall there. And so the combination of tonight's episode and the big spoiler have, I think, finally accomplished that for me. Because it's now going down Chris Carter Road, and I've been DOWN that road, and am not traveling it again, kthx.

I just...didn't even understand the point of that episode. Any of it. I'll start with the non-Lee/Kara stuff so that most of you can tune out when I get to that part. *g* First of all, extended weird fantasy-type sequences always bore the shit out of me, no matter what show it is, so that stuff was just...irritating to me. Gaius in the regeneration tank. Gaius floating. Gaius with creepy children. Wake me up when something actually happens. I guess we were supposed to be seeing Gaius come to the realization that he's a human being and a flawed human being, yadda yadda, but did we really need an entire episode for that? With weird psychotropic drugs (gee, never seen that before) and more floating in the water, what is it with this show and floating in the water? Because nothing else changed. I liked the initial interrogation stuff with the yelling and the dragging and Gaius grabbing the photo off the wall, but after that....zzzzzzzzzzz. And stupid Gaeta looking up at the camera, like Gaius wasn't supposed to think from the very beginning that he was being recorded? What person being interrogated doesn't think they're being recorded? Gaius set up the fucking Cylon room with the two-way mirror, he's not going to assume he's being watched? WTF?

I don't know, man. Callis and McDonnell in particular did a good job, and obviously interrogating Baltar was going to have to be part of the story, but the way they choose to do it left me distinctly underwhelmed. The ending scene with Roslin and Adama was nice, but otherwise...meh.

Did Kerry Norton get a paycheck for her "work" this episode, or was she just on-set hanging out with Jamie so they stuck her in there? LOL. Also, it amazes me how they manage to make a man as fine-looking as James Callis look so ugly and scary. Hee. What I wouldn't give for that man to shave.

OK, so the rest: a BAR? Really? Oy. Dear writers, I love when I can tell that you're geeks who never actually partied in school. I kind of liked that Chief was having problems with the missus off camera, that felt nice and real. The rest of it...sigh.

So we open with Lee getting drunk every night because he's in a sham of a marriage and he knows it. Oh wait, maybe that's just my deluded interpretation, because I actually watched the past few weeks, which I suspect tonight's writer did not. And then Dee, the Joey Potter of Battlestar Galactica, only without the personality, actually grows a spine for a moment and says the marriage is over seeing as how her husband is in love with another woman (and going out and getting drunk every night), even though, you know, she knew that when she married him but decided to take what she can get because she's pathetic. And goes on about how madly in love with Lee she was, and I was scratching my head wondering when THAT episode happened, since I never saw any evidence of this supposed great love on my television screen. And Sam comes running for a quickie with Kara, but then tells her to go be with Lee. OK. Guess I can't begrudge the man what he thinks is a goodbye fuck.

So then, Kara actually goes to Lee and asks if he'll leave Dee if she leaves Sam, which, is surprisingly pro-active of her in the emotional health department, so good for her. And Lee's response was one of the only parts of this episode that made any sense, except, it doesn't make nearly as much sense for him to be saying it after 3x11. If he had said it in 3x10 I would have totally bought it. I can buy him pushing her to make a decision and then when she finally does, wondering if she's sincere, seeing as how she jerked him around on New Caprica. But now, after pushing Kara to get a divorce two episodes ago, he's suddenly all "These are our marriages waah waah" and is, like, upset with her for making the decision? Errr....okay. And I'm so aggravated that that scene was clearly cut, I guess we needed more shots of Gaius floating in a tank, but I'm really wondering what Kara handed to Lee at the end of the scene. Sigh.

So then Lee gets drunk and loses his wedding ring....and that makes him decide he wants to stay with Dee. Um. Huh? (And what a dumb, dumb scene that was, too.) And the intercutting with him and Gaius, was it because they were both deluding themselves (and if so, was Lee deluding himself about Kara or Dee?), or because they were both coming to accept an ugly truth about themselves, or what? I was too bored and aggravated to expend the deeper thought, so someone should just fill me in.

So at the end....exactly nothing has happened. After everything that went down in the past few episodes...everything is back to the way it was before. Wow. That's...that's great, really. That's narrative structure at its finest. I'm in awe. They should write a book. Also, Dee, that teeny tiny shred of respect I had for you at the beginning of the episode? Totally gone, now. You are a loser. Well, I guess at least being a loser is a character trait. And Sam, I had thought better of you. But, your wife had basically made the decision to leave you, but now because the guy she wanted is staying with his wife, she'll stick with you, and you're going along with it. You're really hot, so I'm pretty sure you could do better.

And what annoys me is that going in tonight I was TOTALLY OKAY with them not "getting together" or whatever, but I was looking forward to delicious angst and pining and emotional messiness. And instead we got...this. Like carrielh said in her LJ, it's not that they did it, it was that it wasn't even done well.

Whatever. I'm over it. Which is probably a good thing, considering.

It's especially a shame since oeilade came over this weekend for some more BSG marathoning and we watched a big chunk of season 2. Although we ended with "Black Market," which I suppose was a timely reminder of how bad this show can be sometimes. All that said, Jamie Bamber still needs to call me, as he is unspeakably beautiful. Sigh.

Dresden Files, however, was enjoyable, with echoes of...Grave Peril? Is that the one? Liked Murphy more in this episode, especially when she showed up all sloppily dressed. That's the Murphy I know. ;)

And more importantly, I saw the nephew yesterday, and he can now finally say Aunt Dia which made me very happy. :)

I originally had political stuff to say too, but I'm so aggravated that if I contemplate the current state of American politics right now my head will explode. I'm sure you're all relieved.

Comments

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

The show is a lot better when you don't give a shit about Lee Adama. Even his own father and the writers don't care, so it's OKAY not to care.

'Cause I liked the Gaius stuff and I actually don't think they did go full-circle with him.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

See, I didn't even like the Gaius stuff. I wish I had, because that might have salvaged things for me.

And I cannot let go of my Lee love. It is a part of me. ;) Fact of the matter is I watch shows for characters, not plots, so if they're fucking with my characters, I don't even give a shit what's going on with the plots. Although I thought the plot tonight sucked, too, so I just lose all over the place.

Whatever, I'm cool with going back to not caring that much about this show. I'm relieved, actually.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

I like it because although some of the execution was a little meh, it's that next step. I expect Gaius to be even creepier from this point on, because now there's nothing holding him back.

Yeah, I know that feeling. I just wish you hadn't attached yourself to a character who isn't going anywhere. :(

[oeilade.livejournal.com]

It is so SO painfully difficult for me not to read this post. It's testing my moral fiber like hardcore, yo.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Don't read it. Ignorance is bliss.

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

The scene with Roslin yelling at Baltar and them dragging him through the corridor was incredible, though. So incredible it actually left me with "um, what baby stealing?" feelings towards Roslin.

Which is nice.

Otherwise yeah -- narratively, it was weak. And the subtitle of the entire episode should have been "It's Hard Out Here for A Lee Fan", because he pretty much sucked.

I also have no idea what the hell is up with their editor these days -- I nearly beat my head against the wall when I saw that their "bonus scene" (which I couldn't watch in its entirety because the Sci-Fi site both sucks *and* blows) was actually a potentially fascinating exchange between Roslin and Six.

We couldn't have sacrificed something else in the episode for the chance to see Tricia Helfer and Mary McDonnell go at it? The hell?

I also think something was permanently damaged by the "Gaeta is a Cylon" anvils falling so fast and thick last night. They better be able to do something really interesting if that's the route they're going.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

As I said, I did think the yelling scene was cool, yes, although my favorite part was Gaius grabbing the picture of his lab assistant off the wall.

And I agree re: the Roslin/Six scene: THAT was what they decided to cut? Considering everything else in this episode? As you said: the hell? *g*

I also think something was permanently damaged by the "Gaeta is a Cylon" anvils falling so fast and thick last night.

You know, I didn't even think of that. I was so bored most of the time that my brain was not fully engaged. *g* Hmmmm.

[telaryn.livejournal.com]

Um...yeah. Would you believe I really was agreeing with you? *grabs 'though' and hastily stuffs it out of sight*

That was an awesome moment for Gaius -- and damn necessary under the circumstances. We needed to see *something* to reconnect him to the human race. Since Baltar is precisely the kind of boss I'd imagine never learning the names of his subordinates, the fact that he was able to recall so much detail about the woman and her life was narrative gold.

Gaeta is a Cylon has been a popular theory for a while now, picking up steam since this whole "Final Five" snore-fest began. I'm hoping last night's anvils were just the writers messing with us, because as far as I can see making him a sleeper agent is a dramatic negative at this point.

[bexatious.livejournal.com]

Does the Nephew actually call you Aunt Dia or Aunt Real Name?

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

LOL. Aunt Real Name. :)

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

I kind of liked that Chief was having problems with the missus off camera, that felt nice and real.

Yeah, best part of the episode. What. the. FRAK?

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I think the best part of the episode was my Dee/Joey Potter reference above. Come on, you know you love it! *G*

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

HEE! I did totally love the reference.

Except maybe I think she might be Dawson. *g*

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Heeeee. I was thinking about spinal issues, but yes, the Dawson argument is quite compelling. *g*

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I guess it's not clear that L/K is not the only reason I watch the show, not by a long shot. I was lukewarm on the ship until a few weeks ago, so it's usually not a factor. I just thought the writing last night pretty much sucked ass, in every storyline, and didn't particularly serve any of the characters well. (As I said: my problem isn't what they did to Lee/Kara, per se, it's they did it so badly.) The Roslin/Adama scene at the end was nice (although I spent most of the ep being annoyed by their set-in-stone preconceived notions about Gaius, not that I can entirely blame them for being that way), but it wasn't enough to salvage the rest of the episode for me.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Since I don't like people who make proclamations about how an episode was, I should probably qualify that this is all clearly my opinion alone, and quite frankly, I'm not even entirely sure why this episode rubbed me the wrong way so much. I partially blame watching some of the crappier S2 eps earlier that day, it set me down a bad road. ;)

*singing* Breakin' up is hard to doooo...

[tonycaselli.livejournal.com]

Awww...Sorry to hear about your break-up. Those are hard.

For what it's worth, I know many women who, at times like this, can find solace in Ben & Jerry's and a nice red wine. (I myself lean towards a giant cheeseburger from the nearest bar, but whatever works.)

Hope you're off the couch and back on your feet soon.

Re: *singing* Breakin' up is hard to doooo...

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

LOL!! Ben & Jerry's would be comforting right now, if it weren't so damn cold out. :)

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

Did Kerry Norton get a paycheck for her "work" this episode, or was she just on-set hanging out with Jamie so they stuck her in there?

I listen to the podcasts so you don't have to!! *g*

There was a subplot that got cut about Ishay taking care of Baltar and then getting pissed when they started being all torturey with him, so she refused to help them. And then she leaked the information about Baltar being on Galactica to the press so he'd have to have a trial.

Also they cut some Kara/Sam stuff, because apparently this season Ron Moore is all "hey, if there's a scene that makes a lot of sense to leave in, but Kara's in it, we can cut it for time anyway."

And, furthermore, please note that not only does Ron Moore call Kara "Kahra", but he calls Kerry "Kahrry." WTF?

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I listen to the podcasts so you don't have to!! *g*

And I really appreciate your taking one for the team like that. *g*

And then she leaked the information about Baltar being on Galactica to the press so he'd have to have a trial.

Well gee, it's not like that might have been relevant or anything. Oy.

And, furthermore, please note that not only does Ron Moore call Kara "Kahra",

Reminds me of George Lucas calling Leia "Leah."

but he calls Kerry "Kahrry." WTF?

That's bizarre. I know people who would pronounce Carrie as Kerry, but not the other way around.

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

And I really appreciate your taking one for the team like that. *g*

It's usually 39 minutes of egotistical blathering for the thirty seconds of information I actually care about--like last week I learned that Katee Sackhoff did the EoJ painting in Kara's apartment. Although, this week I found it incredibly, hysterically funny in light of the episode content that Ron Moore's wife came in during the podcast to yell at him about smoking. heeheeehee (And if I can't stand him, that goes double for her. Geez.)

I can start posting the relevant info (since I think we have similar definitions of "relevant" here) in my LJ, if you'd like.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I've had that long roundtable discussion mp3 sitting on my hard drive forever....I really want to hear Jamie and James, but Ron Moore gives me Mary Hart seizures, so I have to work up the nerve.

I, personally, would love it if you did that. :)

[em-meredith.livejournal.com]

Actually, Ron Moore is less annoying in that roundtable than usual--which, granted, is not saying much. I will give him credit for not just talking about what he thinks are the show's weaknesses (DEE, Fat!Lee), but he also has no problem with Jamie (and, to a lesser extent James) being critical of the show. (Cause Jamie really goes after him on some of the Cylon stuff.) He really seems interested in what they think are the things that are wrong with the show, and it made me respect him more because he was open to it.

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

Breaking up is hard to do, but think of it as getting an hour of your life back. Remember just a few days ago when you said television was trying to kill you, maybe this is its way of trying to ease up.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Oh, it'll still be getting my hour a week, I'm just going to try to spend less of the rest of the week thinking about it. *g*

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

Losing real estate in your head is often the first sign that it's really over.