Why Lee Sucked
This was actually something I originally posted on TWOP as part of their big series rewatch. We were having a discussion about Lee and exactly what RDM's plan was for the character. Personally I don't think he had a plan and that was a big part of the problem. I also think a big part of the problem was that Bamber was a somewhat weak and fairly stagey actor. I don't think it was completely the fault of one or the the other and I suspect their were other factors like network meddling that may have been why the character wound up sucking so much but here in a nut shell is why Lee Adama went bad.
RDM early season 2: Okay Lee is getting dull as good soldier boy lets make him more interesting. I know since we're always getting notes from the network about how depressing the show is let's really go for it and have Lee try to kill himself.
RDM post Resurrection ship 2: Crap that was dull oh well back to the drawing board. Hey I miss doing those whodunnit shows we used to do on trek maybe Lee could be a detective, Bamber is british it might work.
RDM post The Episode That Shall Not Be Named : OH MY GOD what have I done? Crap I wish we hadn't already told Kandyse about the new storyline with her and Apollo, Hey maybe we can have Lee get shot too it will be good for my soul and give Katee something to work with. We'll just give Lee as few actual lines as possible.
RDM post Sacrifices: Hey we need a new Captain for Pegasus lets give it to Lee since I think I killed everybody else who is qualified plus if it doesn't work out we can leave him there and I can figure something out next season.
RDM while writing Season finale: Oh yeah Lee I forgot about him, I know lets make him fat it will be comic relief maybe Bamber's good at that
RDM early season 3: We need to do something with Lee again hey he was good in season 2 episode when all he had to was run around an shoot stuff lets have him join the marines, we'll have Dee do it too so its more fun.
RDM a few episodes later: Hey we need to deal with the shipper crap the network and Terry have been bugging me about Starpollo lets have them screw around and be horrible to everyone so I stop hearing about this crap.
RDM post TAB: Well that was bad even for Bamber what next for the problem child. That's it! we'll have him try and piss off his Dad. Now what would do that? I know he can defend Baltar we'll make him a lawyer it will be just like the Trek where Picard defended Data. Except Lee will piss everyone off doing it, Bamber throws a good hissy fit.
RDM post Collaborators : Eureka!! He can give speeches I've finally cracked it. Now we just have to make him a politician so that all he has to do.
RDM mid season 4: I give up even the politics thing only sort of works Lee is officially exposition boy again until we need another big speech. Someone else can write his ending I don't even care enough to kill the bastard.
I don't think it was ever a great conspiracy (frankly I don't think there is any way hell Black Market is part of any kind of coherent plan), it was just this perfect storm of bad acting and writing. I don't think its terrible that RDM screwed up when it came to Lee, after all isn't that half the point of the show that we're all flawed?
RDM early season 2: Okay Lee is getting dull as good soldier boy lets make him more interesting. I know since we're always getting notes from the network about how depressing the show is let's really go for it and have Lee try to kill himself.
RDM post Resurrection ship 2: Crap that was dull oh well back to the drawing board. Hey I miss doing those whodunnit shows we used to do on trek maybe Lee could be a detective, Bamber is british it might work.
RDM post The Episode That Shall Not Be Named : OH MY GOD what have I done? Crap I wish we hadn't already told Kandyse about the new storyline with her and Apollo, Hey maybe we can have Lee get shot too it will be good for my soul and give Katee something to work with. We'll just give Lee as few actual lines as possible.
RDM post Sacrifices: Hey we need a new Captain for Pegasus lets give it to Lee since I think I killed everybody else who is qualified plus if it doesn't work out we can leave him there and I can figure something out next season.
RDM while writing Season finale: Oh yeah Lee I forgot about him, I know lets make him fat it will be comic relief maybe Bamber's good at that
RDM early season 3: We need to do something with Lee again hey he was good in season 2 episode when all he had to was run around an shoot stuff lets have him join the marines, we'll have Dee do it too so its more fun.
RDM a few episodes later: Hey we need to deal with the shipper crap the network and Terry have been bugging me about Starpollo lets have them screw around and be horrible to everyone so I stop hearing about this crap.
RDM post TAB: Well that was bad even for Bamber what next for the problem child. That's it! we'll have him try and piss off his Dad. Now what would do that? I know he can defend Baltar we'll make him a lawyer it will be just like the Trek where Picard defended Data. Except Lee will piss everyone off doing it, Bamber throws a good hissy fit.
RDM post Collaborators : Eureka!! He can give speeches I've finally cracked it. Now we just have to make him a politician so that all he has to do.
RDM mid season 4: I give up even the politics thing only sort of works Lee is officially exposition boy again until we need another big speech. Someone else can write his ending I don't even care enough to kill the bastard.
I don't think it was ever a great conspiracy (frankly I don't think there is any way hell Black Market is part of any kind of coherent plan), it was just this perfect storm of bad acting and writing. I don't think its terrible that RDM screwed up when it came to Lee, after all isn't that half the point of the show that we're all flawed?