I still think this is commentary on Abu Ghraib
Interesting. I can see that, definitely. It's still a Thing, though.
I didn't mind how the Pegasus crew was written. I don't think we're meant to assume that they've always been that way. (Which also ties into the Abu Ghraib parallel -- soldiers under enormous pressure doing unforgiveably inhuman things. Of course, in this case, the enemy really isn't human, and how much the Cylons deserve to be treated like people is a question the show hasn't answered for us yet. Which I love to pieces.)
Jesus.
The music at the beginning was weird, but I think it was "Look, this is a light, fun episode with pop-ish music playing. Join us, won't you? It'll be fun!" Because they're EVIL.
I was spoiled, because I have no self control. And I got chills at the reveal of Six and started clapping like a jackass when Adama got ready to engage. Man oh man.
For the first time, I just don't think I can rewatch this one right away.
Yeah, I have a friend in the UK and it's killing me that I have to wait months to talk to him about it. But I just emailed to say that the minute it's done over there, there's going to be a phone call. And I may not watch it again until then.
And what Jessica said. The Pegasus is just Galactica's shadow. They kept making the point that from the outside, a lot of what Adama's done is extremely questionable. And they've been alone, without any civilian influence or any authority other than Cain. I have no problem believing that a culture that's already 100% military would tip over the edge that way. And I don't mean that as a condemnation of the military in general, but in isolation, with no outside perspective? Bad Things happen.
The music at the beginning was weird, but I think it was "Look, this is a light, fun episode with pop-ish music playing. Join us, won't you? It'll be fun!" Because they're EVIL.
Heh. That music was so. Weird. Like it didn't belong on this show at all.
And they've been alone, without any civilian influence or any authority other than Cain. I have no problem believing that a culture that's already 100% military would tip over the edge that way.
Oh, that's an interesting point. I hadn't thought of that.
I have no problem believing that a culture that's already 100% military would tip over the edge that way. And I don't mean that as a condemnation of the military in general, but in isolation, with no outside perspective? Bad Things happen.
Yeah.
In the commentary, Moore points out that Pegasus has been through things equally as bad as Galactica (loosing 800 men) - he implies that this is has sorta pushed Cain over the edge.
If you look at WWII and Vietnam, you can find many cases of American soldiers committing atrocities after they've been through horriffic experiences themselves.
Also from the commentary - this ep will be the first one to have a DVD directors cut, as they had to cut 15 minutes from the version that Moore thinks is better (it still ran two minutes long).
My impression was that he had been "enlisted" at gunpoint and it was another indication of how things were on the Pegasus. For example, the Pegasus may have stripped a civilian vessel of what it needed, then abandoned it.
My take, as well.
Adama really has played fast and loose with regs, but the situation requires extraordinary measures. And yes to the theory that without a civilian influence, the military can tip "that way."
It was really difficult to sit through the smack-talking about "robot girls" and watch Tyrol's and Helo's reactions. It was gratifying, at least to me, personally, to see them twig to what was going on right then, and rush--together--to protect Sharon. It was a grueling scene to watch, and yes, I do believe it was prompted by Abu Graib, as well as other topical and political subjects.
There's no way the Pegasus' personnel's behavior could be approved or condoned, and I do think that doesn't give them any redeeming qualities. I was going to say "dehumanizes them," but that's not true. I think rather it exposes their--our--basest humanity at its worst.
I don't think the subject of rape was used lightly or without due thought and seriousness. It was harrowing, but an integral part of what the Pegasus has become in the time they have spent alone in the galaxy against an invincible and overwhelming enemy.
I admire Adama's attempting to adhere to protocol. But I cheered when he was forced to decide protocol was going to damn them all.
Michele Forbes has made a career of playing strong and often disagreeable women. She was also the ME for a couple of years on H:LOTS.
January? Damn. Can't come soon enough.
Finished the commentary. Moore stays away from politics - except for one little detail. In the scene where Cain and Adama are talking in Pegasus's meeting room, there are no chairs. In a bit that was cut, Cain explains that this is to make meetings go faster. Moore says that he took this bit from - now get this - our UN ambassador, John Bolton. Bolton also has no chairs in his meeting room in order to get meetings with his staff to go faster.
Moore says that he's not going to get into Bolton's politics at all, but you can tell that Moore does not like our UN ambassador - the one who Congress did not approve.
Also, Callis played the scene with the abused Six beautifully. The authority with which he ordered the guards out of the cell was authentic, not his usual bluster at all.
Yeah, Beverly. It was, "I need to be alone." Not, "Ooh, I can make them leave me alone!"
Good morning, all. Although I napped through much of this past evening's TV -- don't EVEN ask what happens when I sleep through the first inning of a Red Sox game -- I managed to watch that 10 o'clock edition of
Crimson Tide.
And you know, call me a dummy, but the admiral's strategy was not all that and a bag of chips, you know? I mean, blah blah culture of besieged paranoia, blah blah discipline, blah blah cruelty and crappy ethics -- that stuff is higher-level thinking, and clearly admirals don't ever take psychology classes. Whatever. But, admirals kind of don't become admirals without assessing their strategic situations, you know?
Strategy #1: if you're a female admiral, you don't make rape an accepted tactic. Because, it seemed pretty clear that the men had generalized "rape a not-human" to "rape a human", and I'm thinking, it's a Bad Idea to offer your subordinates the socially-acceptable fantasy of assaulting their boss. I expect this part to figure in the plot's outcome, next January.
Strategy #2: if you absorb and consolidate a large new contingent of crew,
get a better debrief.
That way, you will know in advance that these new people will dislike you, and you'll be able to plan in advance for how to quell them. Like, if you're going to do Bad Things to somebody, go ahead and arrest that somebody's boyfriend
before
he kills someone. I mean, you've got martial law on your side, right?
(I was willing to see the whole "Lee gets transferred" thing as subtle hostage-taking, until nearly the very end, when it became clear that this admiral isn't smart enough to be that subtle.)
Strategy #3: Don't leave the means of rebellion in your rival's hands. That way lies Denzel Washington's Resolved Face. Don't you
watch
movies? Also, see #2 for why you should be able to guess that rebellion was going to be the outcome.
Strategy #4: Go to video store. Rent
The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.
Go home. Change own name. Take cover to avoid anvils.
For dramatic purposes, I think the whole higher-level stuff is good -- that kind of bad culture does happen, and dealing with it is difficult, and wars have been won/lost via OTT-cruel tactics and the handling of same. But, you know, it's kind of stupid to treat your direct-reports in a manner to which they are unaccustomed, and then be surprised when they turn on you.
Also, and I know this is a chronic problem with that show, what are all the not-military people thinking, when they look out their windows? I mean, obviously, they don't matter (except when they do), but I should think they'd be in a tizzy right now.
