However, Lee constantly underestimates his own abilities. What he is not looms larger in his mental landscape than what he is, and his achievements must seem like a drop in the ocean in comparison to the destruction of the rest of humanity by the cylons.
I think you nailed Lee perfectly. (In the competely non-dirty way) But honestly I was having some conflicting emotions about him just 'giving up' in the episode, but you definately shed some light on some of his character and his motivations for me.
Thank you--your comment means a lot to me! I definitely had conflicting emotions myself. I watch with someone whose pov character tends to be Kara rather than Lee, so she always prompts me to articulate things from his perspective and vice versa. I found it difficult to process emotionally but I think that's what the writers intended. I found it so frustrating when they cut away from Lee to Dee! But it's very BSG to do that and to leave us wondering.
*Squee*! Thank you so much for reading and commenting! (And also for bringing the godlike icon of beauty!)
The idea of trust is a fascinating one. In a very general sense it involves believing the best in others, and when the humans didn't do this in Resurrection, they nearly destroyed one another. A general faith in the goodness and worthiness of humanity/one another is essential for the survival of: a) Lee as an individual experiencing an existential crisis; b) humanity generally. Love/empathy: yes, these demand a certain amount of trust or faith. Actually that makes me wonder about another difference between Lee and Kara. Kara has been shown to have more 'faith' in the religious sense. Lee appears to have a more secular personal belief system--based on trust and honour and so on.
(Now I'm just thinking aloud... there are so many layers to this show!)
Yes, it's really interesting that Lee will put his personal beliefs aside for Kara. I loved how conflicted he seemed after 'You Can't Go Home Again' (wheras Adama was more able to reconcile himself to the paradox of acting outside the rules for 'family'), and I agree that this put Lee in the most difficult position possible. Yes, I would never doubt that he would back her up. But his existence after that would have been tortured (it will be anyway--but, as for Kara, that final act was avoided). I think he'd already made his choice but certainly he would have felt relief at never having to commit the action. The flipside is now he'll feel guilt.
And thank you for the link on galacticanews! I really must get out and about and find more bsg comms and people and so on... could I trouble you for any quick recs? :) *is lazy*
What he is not looms larger in his mental landscape than what he is, and his achievements must seem like a drop in the ocean in comparison to the destruction of the rest of humanity by the cylons.
Nice way of summing up his feelings about himself. Lee is far from perfect, but he has done many remarkable things and has been instrumental to the survival of the fleet. Yet, it would seem, it's his perceived failures that he most focuses on.
the fact that his desire for release in death overrode even his intense loyalty to her will, I believe, haunt him.
I agree. His final thought before he nearly died was that he let her down, that he failed her, and that had Adama proceeded with the plan she most likely would have been killed. That's a huge burden for him to carry. As well as the fact he shared his death wish with her and he'll be under even closer scrutiny from her from now on.
He is capable of rationality and logical thinking in problem solving, but he doesn't use the same objective logic on himself. And that's such a tragic human failing.The mutiny is a perfect example of this. If you asked Lee now if he felt he did the right thing siding with the president or, more precisely, office of the president, I think he would say yes. Even Adama has seen that he overreacted and there exists a need for a civilian government. At the same time, even though his ideological beliefs will tell him that he acted as he should have, the personal issues he's had and continues to have will cause him to cast doubt upon himself
( ... )
I agree with everything you say above about Lee. He feels things deeply--not just that, but he thinks about them deeply and explores them fully as well. So, yes, I think he would have interpreted Roslin not confiding in him as evidence of personal failing and also he would feel so alone and lost.
Good point about Adama in comparison to Lee as well. I see how everyone *needs* to believe in Adama's strength even when he acts out of line, but it's not necessarily right or fair. Lee is far more often questioned, second-guessed and attacked for his actions. When he's already doing all that to himself anyway!
I had pretty much the same interpretation of Lee's responses here that you did: that for him, it was the conflict between the moral values and ideals that he *needs* to go on, and his loyalty to his father, Kara, and Roslin. And for him, I thought, the fact that all three of these significant others who help define his moral landscape agreed to assassinate Caine was the tear in his suit that let the oxygen out. Maybe not a large tear, but a significant one
( ... )
Hooray! I can't wait to read your post on this. You are right--all of the major players were conflicted. And yes, how hilariously Gaius-y that he was torn between two completely selfish interests. Hee! My initial Gaius-rage in Season One has settled into fascinated glee at his sheer and complete immorality (though he still makes my skin crawl at times
( ... )
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I think you nailed Lee perfectly. (In the competely non-dirty way) But honestly I was having some conflicting emotions about him just 'giving up' in the episode, but you definately shed some light on some of his character and his motivations for me.
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(The comment has been removed)
The idea of trust is a fascinating one. In a very general sense it involves believing the best in others, and when the humans didn't do this in Resurrection, they nearly destroyed one another. A general faith in the goodness and worthiness of humanity/one another is essential for the survival of: a) Lee as an individual experiencing an existential crisis; b) humanity generally. Love/empathy: yes, these demand a certain amount of trust or faith. Actually that makes me wonder about another difference between Lee and Kara. Kara has been shown to have more 'faith' in the religious sense. Lee appears to have a more secular personal belief system--based on trust and honour and so on.
(Now I'm just thinking aloud... there are so many layers to this show!)
Again, thanks for reading! :)
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And thank you for the link on galacticanews! I really must get out and about and find more bsg comms and people and so on... could I trouble you for any quick recs? :) *is lazy*
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Nice way of summing up his feelings about himself. Lee is far from perfect, but he has done many remarkable things and has been instrumental to the survival of the fleet. Yet, it would seem, it's his perceived failures that he most focuses on.
the fact that his desire for release in death overrode even his intense loyalty to her will, I believe, haunt him.
I agree. His final thought before he nearly died was that he let her down, that he failed her, and that had Adama proceeded with the plan she most likely would have been killed. That's a huge burden for him to carry. As well as the fact he shared his death wish with her and he'll be under even closer scrutiny from her from now on.
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Good point about Adama in comparison to Lee as well. I see how everyone *needs* to believe in Adama's strength even when he acts out of line, but it's not necessarily right or fair. Lee is far more often questioned, second-guessed and attacked for his actions. When he's already doing all that to himself anyway!
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(completely pointless comment)
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