BattleStar Galactica:Season 3.5--1/28/07--Arc 12

[dravot]

I haven't had a lot of problems with the personal story lines, but the editing of the last episode set my teeth on edge. Usually this quick back-and-forth between scenes technique is done to emphasis parallels between ongoing situations, such as the excellent use of this technique during the Pegasus episode where Cain and Adama finished each other's sentences as they plotted one another's assassination. But the Baltar interrogation and the love quadrangle simply didn't have enough thematic elements in common to warrant the use of the inter-cutting. It failed to heighten the tension for the Apollo/Starbuck scenes, and it actually undercut the drama in the Baltar scenes.

I agree whole-heartedly. I felt the same when I watched it last night. I had no clue what the thematic purpose of the inter-cuts were. I felt that maybe it was about making connections and choices, but that never gelled, and I was left puzzled. :\

That said, Apollo ordering his wife into danger to save his lover? Excellent.

And D not knowing that Apollo did it because of Anders (and probably wouldn't believe him/care anyway). That's classic shakespearean tragedy. Awesome.

 

[Steel_Wind]

I agree whole-heartedly. I felt the same when I watched it last night. I had no clue what the thematic purpose of the inter-cuts were. I felt that maybe it was about making connections and choices, but that never gelled, and I was left puzzled. :\

Ron Moore explains that this episode was directed by Edward James Olmos.

EJO directed one other episode. Season #1's E09:"Tighe me up, Tighe me down".

Both of these episodes stand out as the worst episodes of their respective seasons. Edward James Olmos is the star of the series and I believe the politics of dealing with their #1 actor prevented RD Moore and David Eick from doing what they ought to do - which is bloody well stop EJO from ruining the episode with terrible editing decisions.

The acting EJO elicits from the actors is actually quite interesting and very good. Roslin's fury was an interesting place to go with the material. He's a good director in that sense. He just happens to be a terrible film editor.

RD Moore makes it clear in his podcast that the script was not written the way that EJO cut it.

So there is your explanation: The poor editing was an accommodation of their #1 star's directorial vanity.

The only interesting editing choice was seeing Apollo lie to Dualla immediately after Baltar was lying during his interrogation. This contrast underscored how both characters were trying very hard to believe the lie they were saying - but no matter how "sincere" the lie - that didn't make what they were saying any more true.

Other than that insight - the editing was dreck.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I liked "Tighe me up, Tighe me down" :\

Did Ron Moore state that the editing decisions were Eddie's? I always go the impression that the editing team on BSG was given a great deal of free reign to make artistic choices.

I forgot about Roselyn's outburst. It was surprising in a good way. Especially with the bookend of her deciding to do the right thing by allowing Baltar's trial.

 

[Corathon]

I just viewed the cut scene at scifi.com.
How did Caprica 6 end up as a prisoner?

 

[BlueBlackRed]

In the previous episode.
She helped Sharon get back to BSG with the baby.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Did Ron Moore state that the editing decisions were Eddie's? I always go the impression that the editing team on BSG was given a great deal of free reign to make artistic choices.

Yes, he says the editing decisions / cuts were EJO's decision.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I was half expecting the other episode to be Black Market. I liked Tigh Me Up/Down.

Based on other stuff I've read about EJO as far as interviews and such, I'm really not surprised at all about this episode. He's a great actor, but he never gave the impression that he would be good director material.

That said, editing aside, I don't think this episode being crappy was his fault. He only helped with awful editing, even if I see the point of what he was trying to do at the end (the stand-up guy lying, the traitor telling the truth...ish). The fact of the matter is that the quadrangle just doesn't work, and hasn't worked in any episode it's been in. Dualla as the nattering, bitter wife just doesn't work, and hasn't in every episode it's been in. It doesn't matter who edited or directed it, when the writing doesn't work in the first place.

 

[satori01]

I also do not buy the quadrangle. Anders & Starbuck seem like they should work, perhaps it is just the chemistry of the actors, but while the relationship will be turbulent, no one else can really handle Starbuck.

Apollo/Dualla fundamentally does not work. I get the sexual attraction, Lee is hot, and Dualla can probably eat crackers wherever she wants w/o fear of being kicked out, but I do not buy she loves Lee.

Billy/Dualla seemed a fundamentally better match.

Apollo/Starbuck have no real chemistry together. I believe them as contentious friends, almost like siblings, not lovers.
Both should realize their romance is incestuous in nature.

Bill Adama views Starbuck as his daughter, she was engaged to Lee's brother...it is pretty creepy.

 

[Joker]

I don't know why they bothered continuing the love thingy. I thought they finished it last episode with the couples hugging each other. That would have been a perfect ending to this.
If they had left it out we could have maybe been shown some more of Caprica or the reaction of the Cylons to the recent events. But no, we get Jamie and Kandyse put into awkward situations with forced dialogue in an already unbelievable relationship.
The President screaming felt really weird. I had never seen her that enraged and it just felt unnatural. But maybe that was meant to because she was bluffing.

Thank whatever God there is we have James Callis. Wouldn't mind seeing him in other things aswel.

 

[Joker]

Any speculation about what was going on between Gaeta and Baltar? What is the secret Baltar threatened Gaeta with?

I just think Baltar reminded Gaeta that Gaeta let him go on Caprica.