Finally caught up on BSG!

Non-spoilery bits first. High point of the show for me was probably the stories leading up to the start of season three. Since then I’ve still quite enjoyed it and I think at least one of the best episodes has come after that point. I don’t think that’s particularly surprising, my favorite Buffy arc was probably evil Angel and that came pretty dang early (after discussing it, I think there’s fair arguments to be made for later ones though). Four seasons is probably about right for the show, season four has been steadily revealing secrets while giving us enough time to process them rather than saving everything to the end.

**SPOILERS** I’m also counting the comments as a spoiler zone.

Anyhow, I think the big question is whether God is going to catch a nuke by the end of the series. I put the odds at 1:4 against, but well worth following.

Here’s my view of the attributes of the monotheistic God of the BSG universe:

• Can analyze people better than even Cylon interrogaters. However, said God may only be able to predict the actions of Cylons with great confidence.


• Has the ability to give visions in dreams and to those in other altered states (unconscious, drug users, being a hybrid, being resurrected, etc).


• Can project self into mind of Baltar. I presently attribute all of Baltar’s visions to ’God’ and think the communications have become increasingly direct over time.


• Set up the programming of the Cylons but aside from some triggers doesn’t control the day-to-day operation.


• Is the one with the plan. The plan involves putting the fleet through a certain set of perils and revelations so that they’re ready to accept or bring about the end-state.

I’m not sure what the end-state is though. Similarly I can’t really interpret what Starbuck’s harbinger of death role is going to mean, maybe later this season. One thing I will say, she makes a terrible commander. With viewer information, I can say the mutiny was a bad call, but knowing what they knew it was totally the right thing to do. I hope she gets back to her more traditional role or finds a better groove, as she’s starting to get annoying. I don’t think that’s because she’s necessarily being out of character, but because she’s not getting a chance to act in her element.

Lastly, Anders makes a terrible Cylon. That’s probably for the best as it keeps him nice and sympathetic.

Comments

[She Whose Game Collection Will Someday Join Yours]

If we assume that s/he is the one with The Plan, and thus behind most of this, then the Cylon God seems to be a mix of Old Testament (the flood and Noah's Ark vs. the Cylon attacks on the colonies and the fleet) and New Testament (the kinder, gentler God that Baltar is, as one friend put it, being John the Baptist for). Although Baltar strikes me as being a mix of John the Baptist and Paul. Who is not Saul, as we've got one of those already. Hm. Biblical Saul *was* struck blind temporarily, wasn't he?

[Greg Sanders]

Definitely agree on the Cylon God.

Why the Paul vibe for Baltar? Popularizer plus rejection of prior beliefs?

[She Whose Game Collection Will Someday Join Yours]

Yeah, that's essentially it. John the Baptist essentially came out of nowhere when he started his ministry, but Paul had a very dramatic and public turnaround. Baltar seems to be combining the traits of herald and populizing minister.