Battlestar Galactica 3.16 Dirty Hands
This episode didn't have Lee in it so Boppy's meta will be short for once. :-p
No, actually, I do have a few things to say: surprise, surprise! This episode had me, then lost me for a while, then won me back. In general, I think I liked it, but there were the usual scattering of WTF moments.
Conceptually, I found the idea of Gaius writing subversive literature from his prisoncell rather wonderful. Not to mention the fact that it led to some brilliant Laura snark. I think it's incredibly canny of Gaius to be spreading subversive ideas in the fleet--it's one of the few things that could sway people to have some sympathy for him. And if he's to have a public trial, then that could become important in determining his fate. I'm not saying that his 'farming' background was a complete act, but I do imagine he exaggerated the case. He's a chameleon--he will say or do whatever he needs to to survive, and that's why he's so fascinating.
Cally confirmed herself to me as a complete dill for falling for it hook, line and sinker. The Chief followed suit, but acquitted himself far better. I did find his 'we're on strike' moment ridiculously melodramatic, but if Helo is allowed his hero ep, it seems only fair that the Chief gets one. (Though I'm beginning to feel a gender imbalance here--a hero ep for Athena or even (*gag*) Cally would be welcome...) Still, I felt that moment glossed over the fact that a strike really should be something organised by a union, voted on by the majority. And yes, they had been on strike before, but the new workers hadn't. And somehow Galen just fell into the top job as union leader ... because he was union leader on New Caprica? Um, isn't that exactly what he was fighting against: people being given roles because of who they've been in the past and who they know.
*waves hands* La, la, la... glossing over those minor issues, wasn't Laura FABULOUS!?! \o/ Damn, that woman is wonderful! Her handling of Galen was fantastic--I love that she was really listening all the time to him and when he made a good point, she acknowledged it. She's such a wonderful leader. And I did like her inviting Galen to fight for his beliefs.
Adama... was, well, very militant. I've had a few odd moments with him recently. One of them was in the Helo ep when he was so quick to condemn Helo's suggestion that they should investigate the doctor further. And I had another one in this ep with him threatening to kill Cally. I think it was just taken to an extreme degree and it didn't feel entirely in character. But it served a purpose within the episode.
I like episodes in which we learn a little more about the fleet as a whole, and I like that this episode addressed the fact that people had been working non-stop in drudge-like roles without any breaks. Yes, I agree--they really do need to be rostered off! And I liked the fact that there was a lot of truth in what Gaius was saying. There really is a danger in the development of a fleet 'aristocracy' and an underclass. Put like that, it really does seem as if some of the people in the top jobs have had a cushy time of it compared to the workers. Pilots risk their lives every day, but they also get the occasional party and a whole lot of drinking time. ;-p (I'm in a flippant mood tonight, apparently.)
I'm also interested that they went as far as mentioning the Adamas. Because I've long been uncomfortable with Adama's 'family-style' approach to leadership. It works well to bind the fleet together in emergency circumstances, but it does damage as well. He plays favourites--we've seen that with Kara and Kat. There IS a privileged inner circle. But I love that that's not the whole truth either: I don't believe, for example, that Dualla only got promoted because of her marriage. She's served exceptionally well. Though she's another one who has fallen under Bill's paternal eye, and that may well have worked in her favour. Lee is an extraordinary leader, regardless of his surname, and Kara's an extraordinary pilot, no matter whose daughter-in-law she nearly became. But we've also seen Bill bump loyal officers (Helo) to install old friends (Tigh). And while Bill was joking about 'pissing off the president', in one sense that's exactly what did happen. I love the double layer of truth. And I like the show problematising it's own power dynamics.
Also, long live Laura! *crushes*