Ep 11 - Colonial Day

[larocque6689]

Robert Wisden plays Wallace Gray
Alex Zahara plays Valance

But I'm trying to map the rest: David Kaye, Patrick Gallagher, Malcolm Stewart

This is David Kaye:
www.crystalacids.com/database/images/david_kaye_full.jpg

And who played the fat dude in the bar, Priam?

[unigolyn]

ernestborg9 said:

So why kill Roslin, when he can achieve his ends through his own election?

And remember: anarchy is "a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government) "

That's small-A anarchy. Capital-A Anarchy is a sociopolitical theory.

Zarek seems to fit the typical hard-left mold - his initial rhetoric was that of democracy, but he is rapidly turning into a class-struggle firebrand.

Basically, if he can get elected, fine, if he can't - get Roslin killed and create small-A anarchy, after which he can hoist a black flag, bare a breast and sing L'Intercoloniale.

Nevermind that the fleet is hardly in a position to afford political upheaval - ideologues like Zarek rationalize away everything that does not fit their world-view.

Personally, I'm extremely happy that a political dimension of this sort has been introduced - BSG is, after all, a post-apocalyptic show, and there's no better time than that for charismatic 'freedom fighters' to try to build their utopian societies.

I'm not bothering with any inconsistencies until this topic has been covered a bit more deeply than one 40-minute episode allows.

As you can guess, I loved it - 5/5.

Oh, and the Caprica arc was handled just perfectly. Can't wait for the next ep.

[KDF]

Enjoyed this episode (actually I've enjoyed them all so far..)..liked some of the little details like "Colonial Gang" and 'talk wireless'. Baltar was good vlaue as usual.
One small question..nobody seems terribly suprised that the would-be assassin has a 'stealth gun'- is such hardware widely available in the fleet to civilians?

[ashoka1]

This show is hitting on all cylinders.
They've covered the military.
Now, they're covering politics.
And, they're doing it in an effective way.
I don't remember one North American show where Radical-Left views were presented as an option.
So, I thank the writers for including us in as well.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW PERSONAL VIEWS ASIDE...

We don't know who the assasin was working for. We truly don't. What we do know, is that there are 3 elements colliding here.

1) The military and Political elite
They consider Tom Zarek 'evil' a 'butcher' a 'terrorist' and 'won't work with him'. Laura says point-blank 'He will not be president'. They feel that they are the
wise-ones and people are being decieved by Zarek.
Basically, they want Zarek(and possibly his views) silenced.

2) Tom Zarek and his supporters
They believe that the 'old way'(assume class based society, elite private ownership etc.) is unjust.
They want to restructure society to give 'powerless' more power. They fear 'military dictatorship' for the likely fact that they will be killed.
Basically, they want the old guard(Adama, Rosalyn) silenced.

3) The Cylons
They want.... not sure exactly what they want yet. But, they're playing the game.
They want? Their purpose is unknown.

***These 3 elements are colliding. One of them was responsible for this. All we have are our guesses.***
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

This story-line was borrowed from The Godfather

For those of you not familiar, you should watch the GodFather trilogy. But, here's the relevant info.
I'm sure the BSG writers are playing off of this.

PENTANGELI

Those were the great old days you know. And one was like the Roman Empire. The Corleone Family was like the Roman Empire.


TOM CORLEONE

It was once. Frankie -- when a plot against the Emperor failed -- the planners were always given a chance to let their families keep their fortunes.


PENTANGELI

Yea -- but only the rich guys Tom. The little guys -- they got knocked off and all their estates went to the Emperors. Unless they went home and uh, killed themselves -- then nothing happened. And their families -- their families were taken care of Tom.


TOM CORLEONE
That was a good break -- nice funeral.


PENTANGELI

Yea -- they went home -- and sat in a hot bath -- opened up their veins -- and bleed to death.. And sometimes had a little party before they did it.

*****
Fast forward and Pentangeli is seen lying in a tub with his wrists slit. The assasin is unknown.
*****

[ashoka1]

Zarek seems to fit the typical hard-left mold - his initial rhetoric was that of democracy, but he is rapidly turning into a class-struggle firebrand.
Basically, if he can get elected, fine, if he can't - get Roslin killed and create small-A anarchy, after which he can hoist a black flag, bare a breast and sing L'Intercoloniale.

Hmmm... What proof do you have that Zarek ordered
the hit? What proof do you have that he supports
Soviet-Style(hard-left) authoritarian rule?

The facts are that Tom Zarek is calling for 'Collectives'.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_business_system
The interpretation of the word is up for debate.

The facts are, the military and dictatorial
(un-elected) leaders are openly plotting against Tom Zarek.

We have the scheming of 'President Un-Elect'
Laura Rosalyn, who says that because she
doesn't want it as such, Zarek should be stopped.
She openly uses the military to investigate her political
opponent, and, to possibly prosecute him.

We have Captain Lee Adama (an open Laura
Rosalyn supporter) and StarBuck (who actually
tried to assassinate Zarek) running the investigation
into the 'plot'.

We have the military command against candidate Zarek.
Remember Commander Adama?
Didn't he say that he would not accept Zarek under any
conditions? Even democratic? It's a tough thing to have
the military against you.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
P.S. You should be more worried about the military
taking sides, than you should be about Zarek's...
'Collectives'.

Ask Chile's President Salvador Allende what
happens when the top general doesn't support you.
What happens when he doesn't like your 'rhetoric'.
Oh wait! You can't... he's dead. General's orders.
And the general... well, he's finally being put on trial.
Now that he's 89.

Ask El Slavador's ArchBishop Oscar Romero, what
happens when the military doesn't like your 'rhetoric'.
Snipers make sure your message isn't delivered.
ArchBishop Romero is with god now.

Ask Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela what happens
when the military handles the investigation into your
supposed act of 'treason'.
What happens when the same military that wants to
hold power, charges you with plotting to take it from them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[zinfab]

I do not believe that Zarek had anything to do with the assassin, or the assassin's assassin.

I think that it's too obvious and that's what the writers want us to THINK is going on.

Secondly, I think Ellen has now been used TWICE to throw the audience off the true path.

Assuming that this is true, I think the episode stands up to the prior criticisms better, as they are "wrong" things that they've fooled the audience into believing are merely "poor ideas."

[Buzzvang]

ashoka, how can you even enjoy this show when you are apparently convinced the majority of the characters are evil? Not meant as criticism, and I can appreciate the duality of each character, but most folks assume that most of the characters are at least inherently good or at least has the good of the fleet in their best interests. Your assumptions seem to run counter to that. I've read your other posts and can appreciate why, but how is the show even fun to watch?

That said, I'm surprised more people didn't come away from 'Colonial Day' with the impression that Roslin could've set up the hit on the would-be assassin.

[Daliden]

What Ashoka has realized is that there are no inherently "good" or "bad" people in the real world. There are only people who act based on their own mindset and morality, who hold their own opinion in the highest regard.

And, of course, nobody knows everything, they know only that which they have seen themselves and what they have been told. The Sagitarians most certainly symphatize with Zarek; he is the symbol of resistance against an oppressive government. For Roslin he is an abomination, someone who bombs a government building instead of making deals.

For Adama . . . well now, Adama is a tricky sort of military man. Remember that his father was a civil liberties attorney! However, both that background AND his military background most certainly raise his hackles when he considers Zarek and the bombing.

The bombing itself is a major fulcrum; in the view of some, it negates everything else Zarek has done. In the view of others, it validates his fight.

Consider Timothy McVeigh . . . there is a slight parallel between him and Zarek.

[ashoka1]

Daliden's dead-on. 'nuff said.

Billy Keikeya actually called Tom Zarek a prisoner of
conscience. And Billy isn't exactly a leftist firebrand.
He's Laura Rosalyn's right-hand man.

Timothy Mcveigh wasn't considered a political
prisoner by leftists. He was just a dumbass.
He had no real cause.

I saw Terry Nichols(Mcveigh's relative) on Bowling for Columbine, and the guy looked like a nut-case too. Michael Moore asked him if he had ever heard of Gandhi and he replied "No."

I think Tom Zarek has thought his methods through a
little more. He has various supporters from different backgrounds. Mcveigh's got none.

I can't think of an exact comparison. They've been showing the Tom Zrek character through the eyes of different people.

The prisoners respect him. A prison guard was so
inspired that he helped the prisoners riot. Billy Keikeya
admires him. The people of Sagitarian legally voted him
as their representative. Other colonies were willing to
back him as vice president.

And we also know how others see him. Duala calls him
a butcher. Commander Adama doesn't believe he can
lead. Apollo thinks he's power-hungry. Rosalyn thinks
he's evil. Starbuck thinks he makes a good target.

But, we haven't really seen enough of Tom Zarek in
action to actually judge. They haven't shown us
anything but cryptic confrontations. As ZinFab said earlier, they may be keeping him aloof on purpose.

Ahh what a show! They always leave us wanting more.

[Buzzvang]

Fair enough. ;D

Does anyone else appreciate the irony that Dualla calls him a butcher, when she's Sagitarran, herself? It's nice to see that the characters are more individuals than archetypes.

[Basestar]

There has been no real sight nor sound of the Cloud Nine (admittedly a wonderfully-ironic name) in the fleet until now - and this is being passed off as being because she has been "under repair".

Isn't she the domed ship that seems to be in half the flyby shots we've seen in the series so far? Seems quite a few sightings to me.

[ViperAce]

Best part of the ep was when Sharon capped herself! Oh man I just couldn’t stop laughing! Helo spots her....hmmm its another Sharon than pop pop pop, the shots almost sounded silent. Took the poor basterd long enough to figure it out. Oh well cant wait to see what happens next. Oh and seeing everyone partying was a nice touch.

[cylontoo]

4/5. Loved seeing the crew glammed-up to par-tay ;D

baltar is more of an unstoppable chick-magnet than ever, HEH.

what I don't understand is why starbuck & apollo were put in charge of security. aren't viper pilots too valuable to risk that way? whatever

hatch is much more interesting (and sinister) as zarek, imho. didn't believe his 'confession' to roslin one second. plus, it's his 'rapport' w/ellen (look out tigh). . . .

[kingfish]

I watched this one because Richard was in it again as Tom Zarek. Zarek is a member of the Quorum and decides to run for Vice president. Adama is against that because they can't have a terrorist running things. Two of the Colonies nominate Zarek. Zarek gives speech after speech and this episode reminded me of Crossfire a political show that airs on cable television. Zarek has a few goons running around with hidden guns. The plan is to kill the President when Zarek is elected V.P assuring he is in charge. The plan is discovered when Apollo has an altercation with one goon and Starbuck manages to find that another person has a gun. Dr Baltar also attends the Quorum meetings and Six appears and makes him raise his hand for the elections. Six also points out that one of the females covering the elections/quorum business has no underwear on and Baltar adjusts his glasses to look. The woman begins to cross her legs like in Basic Instinct. This was about the only entertaining part of the episode. Callis makes the show worth watching. Roslin realizes that Zarek will win and decides to find a darkhorse candidate, Dr Baltar. Baltar can speak and is popular. He manages to come into contact with the woman with no underwear and they have sex in a local toilet. Six doesn't mind because it is only sex. She has Baltar's heart and threatens to rip it out at one point.

On Caprica, helo and Boomer discuss the Cylons. helo believes that the Cylons are using human DNA and as a result clones of real people are being made in order to infiltrate the fleet/military/colonies. Remember my theory of Ron reading the Return of the Pegasus script for season 2. This sounds like Larson's ideas. Helo is also sickened by the humanoid Cylons which gives Sharon a WTF look since she is a cylon. Sharon killed one of the Six series who was kissing Helo on Caprica.

Back in the fleet one of the goons that Starbuck managed to capture will not talk. Ellen is now making her way through the political ranks to say the least. She has a conversation with Zarek and lets slip where the goon is being held and he turns up dead in his cell. Ellen also gives Zarek a look at the end of the episode letting him know she is with him. The election is held and the winner is:


Dr Baltar.

A celebration is held and Adama arrives and dances with Roslin. Starbuck is in a dress. I guess Dirk was right on remakes, if 60% of the audience doesn't agree don't do it for Lord's sake.


The episode ends with Helo and Sharon making it to a ship. However the ship contains a number of the Six series as helo observes. Helo is about to shoot when he sees another Sharon. Sharon kills the Sharon helo is looking at and Helo manages to get the hell out of there realizing that he has had sex with a Cylon.

===============================================


My thoughts:

What a BORING episode. Why was it made? Filler perhaps. Hatch provided nothing in the role of Zarek. As an actor he is wasted. Hatch should have been cast as Adama and maybe some of the fan resentment wouldn't be so bad. I for one do want to see him as Commander Apollo. Seeing him in this rubbish/aka GINO sickens me. I don't hate Hatch but I also can't see his logic of legitimizing GINO.

[metroid]

-Nice to see the Helo/Sharon sub-plot finally gett'in somewhere!