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BSG: Resistance
I have a few comments on the "What was Apollo thinking?" question :
I'm glad that Billy refused to go with Roslin; it was an extra reminder of just how complicated the situation is, and I suspect that Dualla may need him. I doubt that Adama and Tigh will be able to remain willfully blind to the mutinous elements on Galactica itself.
I've seen occasional comments suggesting that Lee was acting out-of-character in breaking his parole and helping Roslin escape. I'm not sure; he showed early on that he's more loyal to the principles of civilian government than he is to either his father or Roslin (neither of whom, I suspect, were pleased by the idea of holding an election so soon). I suspect that during the course of this single episode, Tigh's declaration of martial law went from "temporary emergency measure" to "military coup" in Lee's mind, and once he'd made that judgment, it seems to me very much in character for him to cease to work with Tigh at all, and indeed to set about restoring civilian government.
I suspect that they key turning point for Lee was not the civilians shot by marines, but the return of Baltar to the fleet -- or rather, both events worked together to persuade him. After all, when Tigh declared martial law he might have felt that there was no responsible civilian authority (especially if he accepted Adama's view that Tom Zarek was to be kept out of political power at all costs); the return of the vice president to the fleet provides an obvious moment for Tigh to back down and start talking about a timetable for the restoration of civilian government. (I mean, personally, I don't think "Baltar for President" is the greatest idea ever, but it is the legal situation, if Roslin is unable to hold her position.) Not only does Tigh not do this, but he also (so it must seem to Lee) shows himself willing to use force to maintain his authority. Had martial law been declared earlier in the show's timeline (back in the miniseries, or in the first season), Lee would almost certainly have accepted it -- but the declaration now, after a form of civilian government has been established, is pretty clearly not acceptable. I also think that Lee would be willing to accept civilian deaths on a ship that was resisting orders from Galactica (because Tigh isn't wrong when he says that resupplying the battlestar is not optional), provided that he saw Galactica as the legitimate authority. It's the two situations together that become unacceptable to him. Add in how little he respects Tigh (and how much he seems to respect Roslin, or rather what she represents), and it's easy for me to see that to Lee, Tigh's government is illegitimate, and that it is his duty to oppose it. Once his brain tells him "coup," it's inevitable.
This line of reasoning does depend on the guess that Colonial military has some idea of illegal orders -- that is, that a soldier is required not to obey illegal orders.
In an aside, was I the only one to have that song from the South Park movie going through my head while I wrote up my comments on this episode? Or indeed, whenever I think about it?
I'm glad that Billy refused to go with Roslin; it was an extra reminder of just how complicated the situation is, and I suspect that Dualla may need him. I doubt that Adama and Tigh will be able to remain willfully blind to the mutinous elements on Galactica itself.
I've seen occasional comments suggesting that Lee was acting out-of-character in breaking his parole and helping Roslin escape. I'm not sure; he showed early on that he's more loyal to the principles of civilian government than he is to either his father or Roslin (neither of whom, I suspect, were pleased by the idea of holding an election so soon). I suspect that during the course of this single episode, Tigh's declaration of martial law went from "temporary emergency measure" to "military coup" in Lee's mind, and once he'd made that judgment, it seems to me very much in character for him to cease to work with Tigh at all, and indeed to set about restoring civilian government.
I suspect that they key turning point for Lee was not the civilians shot by marines, but the return of Baltar to the fleet -- or rather, both events worked together to persuade him. After all, when Tigh declared martial law he might have felt that there was no responsible civilian authority (especially if he accepted Adama's view that Tom Zarek was to be kept out of political power at all costs); the return of the vice president to the fleet provides an obvious moment for Tigh to back down and start talking about a timetable for the restoration of civilian government. (I mean, personally, I don't think "Baltar for President" is the greatest idea ever, but it is the legal situation, if Roslin is unable to hold her position.) Not only does Tigh not do this, but he also (so it must seem to Lee) shows himself willing to use force to maintain his authority. Had martial law been declared earlier in the show's timeline (back in the miniseries, or in the first season), Lee would almost certainly have accepted it -- but the declaration now, after a form of civilian government has been established, is pretty clearly not acceptable. I also think that Lee would be willing to accept civilian deaths on a ship that was resisting orders from Galactica (because Tigh isn't wrong when he says that resupplying the battlestar is not optional), provided that he saw Galactica as the legitimate authority. It's the two situations together that become unacceptable to him. Add in how little he respects Tigh (and how much he seems to respect Roslin, or rather what she represents), and it's easy for me to see that to Lee, Tigh's government is illegitimate, and that it is his duty to oppose it. Once his brain tells him "coup," it's inevitable.
This line of reasoning does depend on the guess that Colonial military has some idea of illegal orders -- that is, that a soldier is required not to obey illegal orders.
In an aside, was I the only one to have that song from the South Park movie going through my head while I wrote up my comments on this episode? Or indeed, whenever I think about it?
Baltar's Craziness.
(Anonymous) 2005-08-10 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)He came out of Six Degrees of Separation smelling like roses - the poor heroic scientist framed by cylons. His reputation among the fleet is purely as a worlds-renowned scientist, the man who invented the cylon detector, and now, the vice-president. He may have been picked as VP because he was popular, but hang on, that makes him *popular* with the people. He's an eloquent speaker and very intelligent when he's not fumbling around and trying to carry on two conversations.
While this doesn't make *Tigh* any more likely to take him into consideration (as Tigh thinks he's a "shifty sonofabitch"), it does show Tigh yet again having no understanding of public opinion, or quorum opinion, who will see a well-spoken, well-respected VP not given the time of day.
Also, Lee hasn't seen most of Baltar's craziness and will, largely, know him in the same capacity as most of the fleet. I got the impression his anger at Kara's fling was mostly directed at Kara, and given the strength of character Lee has shown, I think it's disrespectful to assume he couldn't put his own feelings aside and recognise that Baltar is the rightful vice president. This is the man who freed Zarek despite his deep personal loathing of the man and the fact he'd just seen Cally almost raped and killed by someone under Zarek's "command". He managed to put those feelings aside in defense of what he felt was right and legal. Lee is very, *very* good about bottling up his feelings. When that bottle bursts (like the fight in front of the raider) it's spectacular, but you can *see* it happening.
Finally, Lee was pretty pissy, petty and bitter in some of his scenes in the mini series. Certainly it's how Kara first viewed him when he came to visit her in the brig.
Thanks,
Stace.
Re: Baltar's Craziness.
These are good points. I have a tendency to forget that the characters must see Baltar very differently; you're particularly right about Six Degrees of Separation. I do think that he might have had a drop in popularity after it appeared that his Cylon detector didn't work on Sharon (I'm rather surprised he told anyone he'd tested her, to be honest), particularly because of the consequences.