I largely agree with this. The "who's a Cylon" thing went out the window for me once we learned that the Final Five were "different." We'd been given all these rules and principles by which we could exclude certain characters from suspicion, and that was effectively tossed out the window with the finale's revelations. It has a bait-and-switch feel to it.
Exactly.
Originally Posted by Yoda
Can't agree with this. The Lee lawyer turn was well in keeping with his character's personality and history. His grandfather's law career was mentioned frequently, and Lee was certainly in the habit of going against the grain. He'd exhibited lots of rebellious tendencies, and was one of a handful of characters who consistently exhibited a grasp of nuance; many others took a black-or-white approach to Cylons and other issues facing the fleet. Anyway, I loved his speech. It was eloquent, passionate, and extremely perceptive.
Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that Lee's turn as lawyer was out of character. It wasn't. My issue with it stems from the fact that the writers seemed to inadvertantly write Baltar into a morally unquestionable situation, where the blame could fall to no one or nothing else but Baltar himself, lest reason be thrown out the door completely. But the trial would have been quite swift and boring, to say the least, if opposition to the status quo hadn't appeared from somewhere. Zareck's support of Baltar was a given, but Zarek himself was used too sparingly to carry any weight alone. So the writers put Lee in Baltar's defense, because we all know the struggle between father and son on high has always been a surefire factory for drama and tension. But this one just felt wrong, and you'll have to correct me: I don't recall Lee's grandfather's law history being mentioned prior to the "trial" episodes of Season 3 ("trial" meaning any episodes concerning or leading up to the trial, as well as the depiction of the trial itself). It's just the sudden characterization of Lee as a lawyer that seems too convenient to me; but then again, Lee wasn't privvy to the horrors of Cylon occupation, or was too pre-occupied with his scorned love for Kara to notice. I don't know.
I'm also at odds with the "Last Supper" picture suggesting that Lee will no longer return to flight status. More than anything on this show, Lee has always been a pilot. It's in his blood. For me to believe that he will willingly reject his role as pilot from now till the end is going to take some crafty and sensible writing.
Originally Posted by Yoda
As for Roslin's cancer; I concur, with the caveat that there might be a logical reason for its return. The fact that the human-cylon hybrid blood offered her only a temporary reprieve could be significant, which would make this more than just a cheap shock. So, I'll wait and see on that one.
Agreed. I'm confident that it can be qualified logically, or that it might simply be a lie on Roslin's part for some reason (juicy!). But at the time that it was revealed, I felt like it was just a flat-falling cheap shocker, and WAY too convenient.
Originally Posted by Yoda
I don't think the duration has caught the writers off-guard, but I don't know for sure. They're wrapping the show up after one more season, and they haven't needed many filler episodes.
Not many, but more than enough. In Season 1 and 2.0, there were little or no filler episodes: instead, the filler plots were integrated into episodes of significance. But late Season 2 and post-"Exodus" Season 3 were almost entirely made up of filler episodes, to one degree or another. Not a big gripe on my part, though. They were still good episodes.
Originally Posted by Yoda
With the exception of the new "rules" for the Final Five, I think everything has felt pretty smooth. Regardless, I'm glad they're setting an end date. More shows should emulate BSG and Lost in this regard.
Definitely agree.
Originally Posted by Yoda
I don't like some of the choices, either, but I'm surprised that so many people are talking about Tyrol's development being "thrown away." I think it's changed and taken on a new meaning, but nothing's been lost. The fact that he agonized over it so much adds a new facet to his character: a degree of foresight and deep-seeded self-knowledge that has been trying to push its way to the surface.
I smelled trouble when they introduced Brother Cavil after Tyrol beat the snot out of Callie in late Season 2. He was asking all these "Cylon" questions - and being a Cylon himself, obviously - I was afraid the writers might take a turn. But nobody can really argue that Tyrol
hasn't been a major focus (and rightfully so, as Aaron Douglas is a formidable actor). His grief over Sharon's betrayal and death, as well as psychological turmoil of having a relationship with a turncoat Cylon, only to be re-introduced to a copy of her later (for the long haul), building the Blackbird Viper, acting as the voice of the working man on New Caprica (one angle I really wanted to see expanded), and also playing a crucial part in the religious discoveries in Season 3 prior to all the "final five cylon" nonsense... and after all that, to just make him a Cylon with no explanation seems not only a kick in the teeth of those who have invested time, thought, and emotion into the show, but also to forego prior characterization and exploit that connection to illicit a cheap "no, not Tyrol!" effect on fans. I can see through it.
Originally Posted by Yoda
Anyway, his arc isn't done yet. Lots of things could happen that would make for a satisfying culmination. What it he commits suicide, as he did in his dreams? What if he becomes self-loathing, and tries to kill his own hybrid child? These may not be the sorts of things any of us anticipated, but they all strike me as plenty interesting in terms of personal narrative.
Perhaps, but the turn still bothers me because it just didn't make any narrative sense. It's like the writers needed to return to the paranoia of Season 1 (who's a Cylon?) to keep the show interesting, even though that angle had understandably run its course.
Originally Posted by Yoda
I'm hoping against hope that they have a clever, interesting reason for the Final Five being so different from the "Significant Seven." I've read some rumors that may account for the difference. I'll just say that if the rumors I've read are right, and account for the totality of the explanation, then label me disappointed. But, again, I'll withhold judgment until I see where they go with it. Anything which doesn't somehow counteract or make up for the aforementioned bait-and-switch will bum me out pretty badly, though. I want a show that gives me the rules, and still surprises me without changing them.
Amen.