I love this scene. And I agree with a lot of what astreamofstars said above, except that I don't think Laura is taking responsibility from Lee -- he pulled the trigger, he will always have responsibility for that and it's clear that he still feels that responsibility years later. I've just always seen it as the show's way of acknowledging that there was no good choice in that situation, nothing they could have done that could or should leave them free of regret. They did a terrible thing, and even if anything else would have been worse, Lee - and, to his relief, Laura - can't just forget about the guilt they feel. They won't let it paralyze them, but they will carry it with them as a way of honoring the tragedy of the people on that ship. They won't be forgotten.
Yes, that's true. I think Laura is trying to take responsibility for it, because that's what she does, but you're right that Lee probably wouldn't accept that.
I think, perhaps, this is one of the first inklings that Lee doesn't really respond to things the way most of the military does. His father just moves on. Kara just moves on. But Lee has more in common with Laura, with the civilian leade, and her way of thinking. Which ultimately, later on, leads to him leaving the military behind.
Good point about the seeds of his later development being visible here in hindsight. And I think you were really right in your opening comment when you mentioned Lee's relief that Laura seems to 'get it' rather than just asking him to bury his feelings and get over it.
One of the things I like about their relationship in these early seasons is that they are surprisingly open with each other and they seem to feel safe in talking to each other about things that make them feel vulnerable or afraid like this, which is important given how self-contained they both are normally and, in Lee's case especially, how hard it often is for him to emotionally communicate with the other people he loves (Bill and Kara).
I've just always seen it as the show's way of acknowledging that there was no good choice in that situation, nothing they could have done that could or should leave them free of regret. They did a terrible thing, and even if anything else would have been worse, Lee - and, to his relief, Laura - can't just forget about the guilt they feel.
That's how I've interpreted it as well. She never says it was a mistake, but at the end of the last episode, she wouldn't agree with Billy when he said it was the right choice, either. She's kind of showing him that the ambiguity he sees so naturally can actually be good and useful, rather than the weakness he's been trained to believe it is.
I think, too, the "they" part of it is probably the most important. She's worried about him having to carry that in isolation (the way she would) and is really trying to build some kind of support network for both of them.
I think, too, the "they" part of it is probably the most important. She's worried about him having to carry that in isolation (the way she would) and is really trying to build some kind of support network for both of them.
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I think, perhaps, this is one of the first inklings that Lee doesn't really respond to things the way most of the military does. His father just moves on. Kara just moves on. But Lee has more in common with Laura, with the civilian leade, and her way of thinking. Which ultimately, later on, leads to him leaving the military behind.
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One of the things I like about their relationship in these early seasons is that they are surprisingly open with each other and they seem to feel safe in talking to each other about things that make them feel vulnerable or afraid like this, which is important given how self-contained they both are normally and, in Lee's case especially, how hard it often is for him to emotionally communicate with the other people he loves (Bill and Kara).
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#grrr
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...but but he has the love and adoration of his ship! Bill/Galactica = OTP!
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( ... )
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That's how I've interpreted it as well. She never says it was a mistake, but at the end of the last episode, she wouldn't agree with Billy when he said it was the right choice, either. She's kind of showing him that the ambiguity he sees so naturally can actually be good and useful, rather than the weakness he's been trained to believe it is.
I think, too, the "they" part of it is probably the most important. She's worried about him having to carry that in isolation (the way she would) and is really trying to build some kind of support network for both of them.
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Yes. Very much so. Particularly for him.
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YES.
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