As we all ponder the possibility of a character dying during the remainder of season 3.5, I can’t help but think about how, well, different, BSG is from so many other shows. Whereas you could rest safe that the main characters in most TV shows wouldn’t die because the actors themselves were critical to the show’s success, that’s just not the case in BSG.
Could Baltar (or Starbuck) die? Sure. Even thought we’re totally in agreement that both of these actors are absolutely critical to the success of the show, the big difference here is that when someone dies on BSG they might stick around.Â
In Starbuck’s case, she could prove to be one of the “Final Five.” (Why do I always get a mental image of a centurion playing basketball when I type those words?) While the idea of Starbuck-as-Cylon has always seemed repulsive to me, we’ve already seen a significant body of evidence to suggest that the ‘Five are fundimentally different than the Cylons we’ve already met. Maybe as a ‘Fiver, she wouldn’t be a complete enemy to the Colonials. For that matter, Athena’s actions have softened the idea of “all Cylons are bad” a bit, hasn’t she?
It also seems completely reasonable for Baltar to die — at the hands of the Colonials or the Cylons — while James Callis remains on the show as ChipBaltar. (In fact, let’s have a show of hands. Who else out there loves ChipBaltar? “Too bad you nyuked it.” Classic!)
And this doesn’t even count the possibility of a J.R.-style recanting at some future date.
One thing’s certain, though. With all these options available to BSG’s writers, I’d say that no characters at all are safe in a mortal sense. Actors, on the other hand, are a different store.
It appears that Bill’s great call in Podcast #28 regarding the weakness of evidence against Baltar got us all thinking about how this “trial’s” going to actually work out. On the suggestion of listener (and reader and commenter) Moe, I’m creating this thread so we can all share our ideas about the trial in one place.
I’ll kick off the discussion by indicating that as of this moment — and I certainly retain my Gods-given right to be wishy-washy about it — I think the only way we’re going to see Baltar convicted is if they change the rules of the trial by, say, turning it into a “military tribunal” with different standards. (Arktis, this should certainly get a discussion going, re: your call in #28.) If they were to allow hearsay evidence and maybe refuse to present some of the evidence to Baltar or his attorneys before and during the hearing, that swing things around a bit.
One thing I think we’re all probably in agreement on — but let me know if I’m wrong about this! — we’re not going to see Baltar disappear from the show; he’s way too important to the story. But what does that actually mean in terms of the trial’s outcome in a world where he could die and awake the next day as a Cylon? (Or a “Final Five Cylon?”)
Okay, this may have been done before (I’m way too lazy to check out the fan ‘verse to see), but here goes. In the spirit of the less-cerebral and sillier side of GWC…Vote for your favorite money shot! (Or add one if you don’t see it here.)
Male money shot: 1.) Lee dropping the towel in front of D’Anna when she’s on Galactica as a reporter 2.) Anders after spending the night for the first time with Kara on Caprica 3.) Lee flexing in the mirror after losing the Fat Suit 4.) Lee in the Fat Suit (hey, you never know) 5.) Helo getting it on with Sharon on Caprica 6.) Baltar nude on his Fainting Couch
Female money shot: 1.) Caprica Six getting it on with Baltar (any scene) 2.) Nude Sharon doing Tai-chi or whatever on the Basestar 3.) Nude Sharon x100 when they tell Boomer she’s a Cylon 4.) D’Anna Biers in the white fluffy dress 5.) D’Anna Biers in the white vixen cleavage jacket 6.) Starbuck practicing boxing and kicking a punching bag 7.) Dee practicing combat moves with Lee around the time they start dating 8.) Laura Roslin chilling on Bill Adama’s couch in his private quarters
Non-gendered money shot (vote on best action sequence) : 1.) Galactica dropping out of FTL in New Caprica’s atmosphere and rescuing everybody 2.)Â Kara flying the Cylon Raider home 3.) The Pegasus slamming into a couple of base stars 4.) Gina’s nuke taking out half the fleet 5.) Lee flying his Viper through the mining equipment to drop a nuke on a Cylon base 6.) Kat taking out Scar 7.) Adama’s beat-down of the first Leoben at Ragnorak anchorage
 Oh yeah! Comment on your favorites or add to the list. It’s all you now.
We’re filling the missing-episode-gap this week with another listener-based podcast, and it was a blast. Have we mentioned recently how much our listeners ROCK? Highlights: With the help of many listeners who called in with their own questions and comments, we talk a lot about the next Cylon reveal, discuss the point of politics in BSG, are amazed at one caller’s professional run-down of why Baltar’s going to walk in his upcoming trial, and wonder aloud if Baltar’s whispered secret to Gaeta might be of a “personal” nature.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
GWCers on Flickr
Recent Blog Comments
on #42: Juan Chooses a Tablet { Looking forward to the reasoning behind the Ipad, in a similar position but so far I can't justify the price + data contract despite a... } – May 09, 4:26 PM
on #321: Avengers Pt. 4, Thor { First off - it is great to be back. I have been away for a couple years. I was listening during the original run of... } – Apr 24, 7:23 PM
on #28: Nyan Nyan Nyan Nyan Nyan (Cat) { I would like at least one episode where Audra doesn't try to "beat" along with the intro. It gets old. Thanks. } – Apr 21, 12:50 PM
on #31: Sight Unseen { The episode commentaries seem to becoming less about the show and more about everything else. You guys get off track easy, and tend to stay... } – Apr 04, 11:19 PM
on #37: Draw Something/360 Cloud Sync Fail { I was sick too! You and I might be carrying around each others germs. } – Mar 29, 6:39 AM