I just watched it. Given that I am largely in agreement with what dangermousie wrote in her review, I don't see the need to duplicate it
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Well, I don't think any side has a moral "clean slate" -- certainly not the Cylons who gave us "The Farm" -- and I wonder how much of what was done by Baltar with the Cylon blood was with Roslin's consent? None at all, if I read this right -- she learns about what they've done only as she recovers?
Baltar's motivation was clear if conflicted: he saw this as a way to keep Sharon's baby alive, he seems not to have wanted to become president (turned off by Six/Pegasix suggestions of what he could do) and he was driven by the scientist's urge to discover and tinker (Gauis is the Deus in deus ex machina?). Adama's was the clearest -- he wants to keep Roslin alive and he believes in none of these prayers and prophecies. Sharon? It keeps her baby alive.
I like Roslin, here. Her position in the Colonial politics beforehand was great and I don't believe she is without ethics, although the storywriters here really dropped the ball -- they should have indicated why Roslin was so worried about this baby NOW and not earlier (Cottle's mumbling about "strange" results didn't really help): was it her lack of trust in Baltar? Was it those results? Was it the hallucinatory pressures of near-death?
Anyway, must go get dressed and take Mike to work, but thanks for the thoughtful post that got me going!
I really like Roslin, too. She's always struck me as being the moral compass of sorts, the sane voice of reason, humanity, civilisation and compassion. The dove to temper the hawk.
The problem is there have been too many things that make it look as though she has crossed to the dark side and become even more ruthless than the Cylons. Leoben, her general airlockhappiness, ordering the hit on Cain, the forced abortion on Sharon's baby ... the statement that the president answers to no one. The president is not God and for her to say things like that even if she later on 'takes it back', is very disturbing. It makes her as ruthless and 'goal oriented' as Cain in her own way - right now she wishes to keep humanity alive and to get to earth and it's almost as though nothing else matters so long as she reaches that goal.
I would probably be less harsh in my judgment if as you say, there had been some explanation of the urgency of why she suddenly feels the danger NOW of allowing Sharon's baby to be born. The episode hinted at it very hazily - Baltar and the flashbacks. I'm hoping that this is part of her character's development and that eventually she comes to a self-realisation of how much she has changed and returns to the compassionate, 'gentle' but strong Roslin I like so well.
oops typos... fixedkiaforrestJanuary 22 2006, 20:32:40 UTC
if as you say, there had been some explanation of the urgency of why she suddenly feels the danger NOW of allowing Sharon's baby to be born. The episode hinted at it very hazily - Baltar and the flashbacks.
Goooood points - we had so many 'flash & jumps' in this ep that it was like one giant Hand Wave : take this on the faith they're mocking in the next 'flash & jump'.... ::sigh:: I soooooooo want to get beyond the hideous disregard for women & their bodies & choices and be all 'intellectual' about it but I'm still mentally throwing up about it..... what a woosie I am.
Re: oops typos... fixedkoalathebearJanuary 22 2006, 20:50:03 UTC
Not woosie at all. I"m actually more startled by the people who seem unfussed by it all. :P
Perhaps I'll join you in wusshood.
By the way as to turnips ... have you ever seen this user icon before??? It was made by someone named lordessrenegade. Who knew turnips were also reviled in the Firefly-verse?
Baltar's motivation was clear if conflicted: he saw this as a way to keep Sharon's baby alive, he seems not to have wanted to become president (turned off by Six/Pegasix suggestions of what he could do) and he was driven by the scientist's urge to discover and tinker (Gauis is the Deus in deus ex machina?). Adama's was the clearest -- he wants to keep Roslin alive and he believes in none of these prayers and prophecies. Sharon? It keeps her baby alive.
I like Roslin, here. Her position in the Colonial politics beforehand was great and I don't believe she is without ethics, although the storywriters here really dropped the ball -- they should have indicated why Roslin was so worried about this baby NOW and not earlier (Cottle's mumbling about "strange" results didn't really help): was it her lack of trust in Baltar? Was it those results? Was it the hallucinatory pressures of near-death?
Anyway, must go get dressed and take Mike to work, but thanks for the thoughtful post that got me going!
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The problem is there have been too many things that make it look as though she has crossed to the dark side and become even more ruthless than the Cylons. Leoben, her general airlockhappiness, ordering the hit on Cain, the forced abortion on Sharon's baby ... the statement that the president answers to no one. The president is not God and for her to say things like that even if she later on 'takes it back', is very disturbing. It makes her as ruthless and 'goal oriented' as Cain in her own way - right now she wishes to keep humanity alive and to get to earth and it's almost as though nothing else matters so long as she reaches that goal.
I would probably be less harsh in my judgment if as you say, there had been some explanation of the urgency of why she suddenly feels the danger NOW of allowing Sharon's baby to be born. The episode hinted at it very hazily - Baltar and the flashbacks. I'm hoping that this is part of her character's development and that eventually she comes to a self-realisation of how much she has changed and returns to the compassionate, 'gentle' but strong Roslin I like so well.
Reply
Goooood points - we had so many 'flash & jumps' in this ep that it was like one giant Hand Wave : take this on the faith they're mocking in the next 'flash & jump'.... ::sigh:: I soooooooo want to get beyond the hideous disregard for women & their bodies & choices and be all 'intellectual' about it but I'm still mentally throwing up about it..... what a woosie I am.
Reply
Perhaps I'll join you in wusshood.
By the way as to turnips ... have you ever seen this user icon before??? It was made by someone named lordessrenegade. Who knew turnips were also reviled in the Firefly-verse?
Reply
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