Post by Blade Runner on Nov 21, 2004 13:51:02 GMT -5
Bastille Day
# Original airdate: 1st Nov 2004
# US Airdate: 21st Jan 2005
# Production Number: 103
# Filming dates: May 13, 2004 - May 24, 2004
# Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick
# Written by Ronald D. Moore
# Directed by Allan Kroeker
Co-Starring: Michael Hogan, Ty Olsson, Grace Park, Alessandro Juliani, Tahmoh Penikett, Kandyse McClure,Aaron Douglas, Alonso Oyarzun, Nicki Clyne, Paul Campbell, Connor Widdows, Sam Witwer, Lorena Gale, Barclay Hope, Ron Blecker
# Guest Star: Richard Hatch
Synopsis:
A water shortage prompts Captain Adama to order the temporary release of prisoners to gather supplies from a deserted ice moon, A political risoner and leader of a dissident movement takes members of the Galactica crew hostage in a bid for freedom, and demands that a new President be duly elected.
Review:
Continuing straight from the end of the previous episode, the convoy is low on water thanks to Boomer's unconscious booming. They've found water, now they just need a way to get it, and it looks like that prison ship full of manpower could solve all their problems. However, problems arise when a political prisoner proves he wants more than just "points" towards their freedom. Isn't that …Yes, the aforementioned political prisoner is Richard Hatch, the original Apollo, acting his socks off in what could be the best performance of his career. A character with depth and emotion, he demands freedom - not from the prison, but for humanity from the government that no-one elected.
So what else is going on then?
Baltar continues his fantastically twitchy turn, finally confronting Adama about the "Cylon detector" he promised to develop. Six tells him just what to say, and before he knows it, he's asked for one of Galactica's precious nuclear warheads! Col. Tigh has fallen off of his wagon, much to Starbuck's amusement, and Helo and Boomer v.2 wander the abandoned Caprica city. But most of the action is in the prison ship. So Apollo faces Apollo in a clash of the generations? Okay, I confess, I didn't like the original Apollo. Hell, everyone watched the classic series for Starbuck anyway, and the remake was heading the same way. But this episode proves that both the Apollo's have the chops to pull of an excellent character confrontation. New Apollo's ideals come into play, and he shows he not only can act and be an interesting character, but he has the balls to order his father and the President around. Old Apollo is great, showing more grit than he ever could in the 70's, and I hope he'll resurface as a force to change humanity's fate.
Is this another comment on terrorism and the US government?
Yeah, it can be seen as that, the President is firm in the belief that terrorists should not be negotiated with, the terrorist element has a good point. He has a real cause to stand for, but he's resorted to violence. By the end of the conflict, you're not really sure who was actually right, but the resolution is perfect.
What¹s Good?
Again, tension is the watchword here. Gripping television that shows how SF should be done. Characters that are believable and raw, with a pace that never lets up.
What¹s Bad?
One goof that really annoyed me was the Raptors attaching themselves to the prison ship. Starbuck's little strike team cuts a hole in the bottom of the ship, they go through the hole and yet seem to descend into the prison ship from above. Er... okay, so artificial gravity and all, but what? Which way up? Other than that, having to wait seven days for another episode!
Notes:
- The Astral Queen is actually a prison ship
- She is in fact carrying 1500 prisoners, and not 500 as her Captain
reported in the mini (with math like that, is he related to Billy?)
- "Bastille Day" follows-on from "Water" but occurs some 4 days later
- Starbuck is a crack shot with a rifle
- The Colonials are going to be facing a fuel shortage at some point
- Raptors are designed for marine assault and include an extendable
docking skirt in their underside that can be pressurised (and possibly
used in rescue operations?)
- Galactica has a small contingent of marines onboard - perhaps around the
15 mark
- Galactica has five "remaining" nuclear warheads. Would be interesting to
know their delivery mechanism
- The “Lords or Kobol” are the gods of Greek mythology.
# Original airdate: 1st Nov 2004
# US Airdate: 21st Jan 2005
# Production Number: 103
# Filming dates: May 13, 2004 - May 24, 2004
# Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick
# Written by Ronald D. Moore
# Directed by Allan Kroeker
Co-Starring: Michael Hogan, Ty Olsson, Grace Park, Alessandro Juliani, Tahmoh Penikett, Kandyse McClure,Aaron Douglas, Alonso Oyarzun, Nicki Clyne, Paul Campbell, Connor Widdows, Sam Witwer, Lorena Gale, Barclay Hope, Ron Blecker
# Guest Star: Richard Hatch
Synopsis:
A water shortage prompts Captain Adama to order the temporary release of prisoners to gather supplies from a deserted ice moon, A political risoner and leader of a dissident movement takes members of the Galactica crew hostage in a bid for freedom, and demands that a new President be duly elected.
Review:
Continuing straight from the end of the previous episode, the convoy is low on water thanks to Boomer's unconscious booming. They've found water, now they just need a way to get it, and it looks like that prison ship full of manpower could solve all their problems. However, problems arise when a political prisoner proves he wants more than just "points" towards their freedom. Isn't that …Yes, the aforementioned political prisoner is Richard Hatch, the original Apollo, acting his socks off in what could be the best performance of his career. A character with depth and emotion, he demands freedom - not from the prison, but for humanity from the government that no-one elected.
So what else is going on then?
Baltar continues his fantastically twitchy turn, finally confronting Adama about the "Cylon detector" he promised to develop. Six tells him just what to say, and before he knows it, he's asked for one of Galactica's precious nuclear warheads! Col. Tigh has fallen off of his wagon, much to Starbuck's amusement, and Helo and Boomer v.2 wander the abandoned Caprica city. But most of the action is in the prison ship. So Apollo faces Apollo in a clash of the generations? Okay, I confess, I didn't like the original Apollo. Hell, everyone watched the classic series for Starbuck anyway, and the remake was heading the same way. But this episode proves that both the Apollo's have the chops to pull of an excellent character confrontation. New Apollo's ideals come into play, and he shows he not only can act and be an interesting character, but he has the balls to order his father and the President around. Old Apollo is great, showing more grit than he ever could in the 70's, and I hope he'll resurface as a force to change humanity's fate.
Is this another comment on terrorism and the US government?
Yeah, it can be seen as that, the President is firm in the belief that terrorists should not be negotiated with, the terrorist element has a good point. He has a real cause to stand for, but he's resorted to violence. By the end of the conflict, you're not really sure who was actually right, but the resolution is perfect.
What¹s Good?
Again, tension is the watchword here. Gripping television that shows how SF should be done. Characters that are believable and raw, with a pace that never lets up.
What¹s Bad?
One goof that really annoyed me was the Raptors attaching themselves to the prison ship. Starbuck's little strike team cuts a hole in the bottom of the ship, they go through the hole and yet seem to descend into the prison ship from above. Er... okay, so artificial gravity and all, but what? Which way up? Other than that, having to wait seven days for another episode!
Notes:
- The Astral Queen is actually a prison ship
- She is in fact carrying 1500 prisoners, and not 500 as her Captain
reported in the mini (with math like that, is he related to Billy?)
- "Bastille Day" follows-on from "Water" but occurs some 4 days later
- Starbuck is a crack shot with a rifle
- The Colonials are going to be facing a fuel shortage at some point
- Raptors are designed for marine assault and include an extendable
docking skirt in their underside that can be pressurised (and possibly
used in rescue operations?)
- Galactica has a small contingent of marines onboard - perhaps around the
15 mark
- Galactica has five "remaining" nuclear warheads. Would be interesting to
know their delivery mechanism
- The “Lords or Kobol” are the gods of Greek mythology.
Gotta go get my snack and beverage!
