What I find interesting about that last scene is that Cain, who's been painted as the evil hardass, uses the euphemism "relieve Adama of his command," while Adama, the kind paternal commander, is the one to spell out "shoot Admiral Cain in the head."

I think Starbuck has the better mission here -- Adama knows that Cain's current XO was promoted via her killing the last one, so at least on Pegasus, shooting someone in the head has precedent as a method for demoting them.

---

The clown reference logic going: He's referencing Send in the Clowns! It's from a musical! John must watch musicals! Therefore he's gay!

Oh, no. No misusing the Sondheim like that. Just...no.

---

What I find interesting about that last scene is that Cain, who's been painted as the evil hardass, uses the euphemism "relieve Adama of his command,"

Didn't she say "terminate Adama's command"? Still a euphemism, but a lot clearer as to intent.

---

Didn't she say "terminate Adama's command"?

Oh yes, you're right. (And in the podcast, Ron Moore actually makes a point of saying that, yes, it's an Apocalypse Now homage, so I feel like I should have remembered it more accurately.)

The podcast, btw, is terribly spoilery about Part 2. He tries not to be, but he can't help giving away at least one major plot point.

---

Cain thinks that Adama's people are weak and will follow her. Adama thinks that Cain's people are oppressed and unhappy and will follow him.

I would describe it this way. Adama's people are loyal out of love for their commander. Cain's people are loyal out of fear for their commander. Once the source of the fear is gone, the loyalty is likely gone as well. Once the source of the love is gone, people will be, if anything, more loyal to their commander.

btw, I don't think Cains ever understand Adamas, but Adamas understand Cains.

(I don't think I'm disagreeing with Jessica, just putting a slightly different spin on it.)

---

Once the source of the fear is gone, the loyalty is likely gone as well.

I don't know -- drop your loyalty to a particular person, sure, but a system or culture is harder to shed. There are a lot of people on that ship who are scared into submission, but there are a lot of others who benefit from the screwed-up culture of the ship -- ego-strokes, privileges, the power to be a sadist and get paid for it. (Well, if they do get paid. Economics is awfully vague in this universe.)

If removing the head, or even the head-and-shoulders command structure, of the organization were an easy way to excise the loyalty of the followers, then Iraq would currently be a lot less messy, don't you think? And Communism would have ended after Lenin's death (or definitely after Stalin's).

When you create a culture of fear, you're not just oppressing people your lone self -- you're convincing a bunch of people to help you do it, and any one of those people might see himself as your successor in the endeavor. (Which would also explain why oppressors are so often paranoid.)

---

Teal'c and Bra'tac have excellent senses of humor, but their dialogue with other Jaffa is all "We, we men of honor, doing serious and honorable things, speak with the seriousness of our noble ancestors ... and use no contractions, that we may show ourselves to be more serious."

I found myself thinking, "I liked Teal'c better when he didn't talk so much."

---

If you live in an environment where the method of ascension involves killing those above you in the tree, Adama wins if he offs Cain. Also--self fucking defence. Cain's going to be a lot better at killing Adama than anyone else on her side.

Plus, he just has to reveal it's Roslin's idea, and the Pegasus people will bow down to the hardass.

---

Ummm, which one is Sebastian Spence?

The Starbuck-equivalent on Pegasus. He's the one playing chicken with whichever-brunette-that-was in the teaser.

Adama's going after Cain on the assumption that she's going to try to kill him. And we know that's a correct assumption. As for what happens afterwards, he knows for a fact that at least a portion of Cain's crew is there only because it's that or die. But I don't think he cares if they wind up supporting him or not. If they say "screw y'all" and leave, I think he'd say, "Go ahead," since that was his reaction to the fleet's split. If they attack, he's not really any worse off than he already was.

And Cain's assuming that she has the might to convince the Galacticans to obey, one way or another. Because she's done it before successfully.

None of it is a totally rational decision, of course. But I don't expect people in drama to behave more rationally that people in the real world do. A show All About Vulcans wouldn't be very entertaining.

And in the podcast, Ron Moore actually makes a point of saying that, yes, it's an Apocalypse Now homage

Aw. I was wondering, 'cause I filled in, "You're confusing me with Martin Sheen."

---

When Tealc had that talk with Garek I was shouting "About damn time!" Daniel and Mitchell have been going about things ass-backwards trying to tell everyone that the Ori aren't really gods, then having to admit that they're really just... vastly powerful all-knowing immortal beings... that can heal the sick... and raise the dead. But not gods. Yeah, that's the ticket.

All along they should have been arguing that they're gods all right, EVIL GODS that want to enslave everyone and kill anyone that doesn't bow to them. The live free or die mission statement is about 6 episodes late.

All I have to say is, OMG Joe Flanigan's HAIR! ::flails::

Joe Flanigan's? Look at Garret Wang—he has Kate Beckinsale's hair!

---