Lee "Apollo" Adama (Battlestar Galactica)

[inlovewithnight]

Title: Not The Hero You're Looking For
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Character: Lee Adama
Author: inlovewithnight
Spoilers: All episodes to date; miniseries through the end of season 2
Notes: Thanks to karabair and romanticalgirl for AIM discussions that really helped clarify a lot.

Comments

[likeadeuce]

Very nice job of polishing this up -- it was great to start with and you've really tightened it nicely! I particularly like the explanation for why he might have gravitated back to the military, away from Roslin, after the Cain debacle. . .

The military, while it has problems of its own, at least has a very obvious and rigid structure that doesn't produce sudden surprises the way Roslin can.

Yes! Just one tiny thing . . .

"Working with the terrorist to protect the President"

Don't you mean FREEDOM FIGHTER, h0r?!!!

Seriously, am working the Zarek thing now; yours will be a tough act to follow!

[inlovewithnight]

He blew up a GOVERNMENT BUILDING! ::dramatic pause::

:)

[inlovewithnight]

(::icon love!::)

Definitely ties back to the Heroines essay, hee! The stuff I actually agreed with.

I think one of the best things about BSG is that we are never sure exactly who we should be cheering for...or why.
Word.

[selenak]

Excellent essay. I admit I lost interest in Lee post-Resurrection Ship II, but I liked him a lot before that, and found him intriguing; you're reminding me of many reasons why. And I, too, hope for a resolution for his relationship with Roslin and more scenes with Zarek (not just because I'm a fan; methinks the writing for Lee gets immediately better as soon as he's involved in a political storyline).

[inlovewithnight]

Thanks. I agree, they seem able to do more complicated/interesting things with him when they go the political route.

[anonymous]

Yay for mentioning the dinner scene! His facial reactions are so much fun to watch.

Great essay

[lilminlj]

Lee is my favorite BSG character and your essay hits upon many of the reasons why. I love that he's an idealist; he has enough pragmatism to survive, but each compromise *hurts*.

He's fiercely loyal to his principles and to the people he considers his, and if those loyalties come into conflict, he doesn't make the decision lightly.Couldn't agree more. I also think that, of the main characters, he's possibly the only one that makes the distinction between loyalty to a principle and loyalty to the person. His mutiny in KLG2 was not against his father, it was against the military commander of the fleet who had wrongfully attacked the civilian government. He didn't choose Laura Roslin, he chose the rule of law/democracy. I think that KT and WA especially have trouble distinguishing between approval/loyalty to the person and the action or the principle that person may represent. They're very much "love me, love all of me, no exceptions." When Lee disagrees, they take it personally and withdraw, leaving him even more isolated than he

[asta77]

I meant to respond to you the other night, but LJ was acting up, so here is my belated response:

I think that KT and WA especially have trouble distinguishing between approval/loyalty to the person and the action or the principle that person may represent. They're very much "love me, love all of me, no exceptions." When Lee disagrees, they take it
personally and withdraw, leaving him even more isolated than he already is.

I agree. Lee can seperate the person from the principle whereas the other two cannot. Though I do think Adama's stance has softened since his near death. Of course, it has less to do with his son then his fixation with Sharon and the Cylon ideology.

I do hope that they do more with his character in S3; it was a shame to keep him out of the election arc in S2.5, it was a natural thing for him and the writers just skipped itI kicked up a fuss after the season finale and Lee's lack of presence during the election. It made no sense to me. But after rewatching the mini recently I wondered if there was a specific

[lilminlj]

Yeah, what was up with LJ a few days ago? I heard something about a DDoS attack but wasn't sure. In any case...

Though I do think Adama's stance has softened since his near death. Of course, it has less to do with his son then his fixation with Sharon and the Cylon ideology.

I do agree, but I'm not sure about the Cylon angle*g*. His stance has softened since his near death definitely. Part of it was simply wanting both his children back because he decided he really does love his family. Part of it was maybe some behind the scenes thing where he made up with Roslin and got exclusive custody of Lee (makes as much sense as anything as to why there's this amnesia bit going on about the fact Lee and Roslin were friends and close allies*sigh*). Part of it may be that except for RSII and the assassination order, which Adama himself had misgivings about, the two of them just have not been in conflict at all.

It's a striking image of him by Roslin's side as she's sworn in. It's just as noticeable that he's absent during Baltar's swearing

[lilminlj]

PS Thanks for your comments, they really made me think about the Adama/Lee dynamic especially. Still not sure what to make of Papadama's Cylon fixation, but that's part of what makes BSG interesting.

Cheers,

Lil