Razor. Spoilers abound.

[boomqueen]

I caved! I downloaded the leaked version and now I want to discuss with my lovely flist! (Though pretty please don't spoil me for S4 or I will get grumpy *g*). [ETA: LJ has now eaten this post three times, let's hope it works now, grrrrr!]

Overall impressions of the plot, the filmography, random whatevers:

* Sensuous and menacing knife traced along bare skin... nice intro.
* OMG!vidder-squee: I'm gonna vid the shit out of that shot of Kara flipping her viper and getting nailed by the other ship on the flight deck!!!!!!!!!
* Um, hello, FX? Why do these new model centurions look so cheesy when walking? The ones in S3 looked wayyyyyy better.
* Oooooh, and all the tie-ins! Young!Bill in the first war and the old-school centurions and S2-era Sharon (with WTF bangs...)...my head is swimming with plottiness and the colliding timelines.
* LOL at the slow-mo walk of Kendra and Fisk down the halls of the civilian ships. Slow-mo walks are the new slow-clap.
* Dude, the femslashy vibes between Kendra and Gina, and Kendra and Cain.
* Speaking of femslash: Kara and Marcia/Showboat on CAP, eeeeeek! While I'm probably never going to finish my ill-conceived femslash drabble for them...I still love the playful, flirty, competitive vibe between them. Plus, Stephanie Von Pfetten? HOT.

Kara:

* Oh, who cares about Kendra when Kara is swishing her ass in her dress blue's like that, coming out of Lee's quarters. YUM.
* Wait, What? "plans risky, but right now you're the only game in town", bzuh? I do believe that you have Kara Thrace, Tactical Genius aboard your frakkin ship as your CAG, RIGHT? Do I have to list off all the tactical plans she has successfully and brilliantly led? NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, BITCHZ.
* Wow. There's going to be some crazy capping and picspamming with those scenes of Kara in the kitchen and Kara in the marine gear on the basestar. Damn she looks good.
* Katee must have absolutely loved all the shooting on the basestar! Bet she had a blast :D
* WTF for the destiny shit: "Kara Thrace will lead the human race to its end. She is the herald of the apocalypse, the harbinger of death; they must not follow her." And how exactly did Kara find out about what the hybrid said? Did I miss something?
* Kara's face as the basestar blew! She slays me. Need icons/caps of that scene too.
* I completely love Kara's ability to add that snarky edge to "sir" whenever talking to Lee or Kendra or other commanding officers. My girl's a royal bad-ass.

Adamadrama:

* And why isn't Papadama like this all the time? Fatherly and almost affectionate, but respectful and commanderly at the same time. I want Lee to have this version of his daddy all the time!
* Hmmm...interesting decision to make Lee the hard-ass in battle, who is ready to sacrifice people, and to have Adama be the compassionate and doubtful one...
* Was that shit at the end the biggest Adama moment ever or what? "There are some things that I thought of doing, but I stopped because I knew I'd have to face you the following day." What an admission. I want to hear what Boppy had to say on that one.

Lee:

* Please, please, please. I would pay good money to have them force Lee to snark all day long the way he does at Kendra here: "Poor Kendra Shaw is the only officer in the fleet who ever had to make a hard call."
* I know we've had initiatives for picspams and odes to Lee's scruff, but I think a little organized love for Lee's smirk might be in order, yes?

Kara/Lee shippy stuff:

* OMG, did you see Lee start tearing up when he heard Kara's voice? The relief and the pain and the intensity. PILOTS FTW!!!!!!! And the tears at the thought of sacrificing her to set off the nuke. *hugs Emo!Lee*
* But all that stuff at the end was just kind of weird and I don't really know what to make of it. Seems like they were hinting for some major S4 stuff (though I'm unspoiled for S4 so I don't really know). And it dovetails into the post-Scar/Sacrifice/Captain's Hand Kara/Lee issues and the complete weird/estranged farewell between them before the Caprica rescue mission in LYBD1. They are both wary of the other, and have that whole piloty push-pull intimacy and betrayal thing going on. Thoughts?

Kendra:

* Kendra is lovely. Those lips and eyes...And her accent is just yum.
* So. Beloved of Cain. Disapproved of by Fisk and Garner. The mystery/flashback begins.
* Haha. Lapsed Classics major. How could I not think of dionusia and bitterlatinist.
* There are even vibes between Kendra and Lee--anyone that makes him smirk that much...works for me.
* On the whole though, for frakked-up and broken but strong women characters: Kara > Kendra.

Cain:

* Woah. Young Cain looks like Jan from the Office.
* ooooh, Cain/Gina arm-squeeze! Cuz Cain 'has needs'...LOL! Well, if nothing else, YAY FOR TEXTUAL GAYNESS ON BSG!!! I bet the lovely Cain-femslashing fangirls of bsg_femslash will be having a party any day now ;)
* The Cain-is-a-cold-hearted-hard-ass thing was pretty anvillacious. I know we were prepped for her killing her XO in the CIC but it was still hardcore watching it play out.
* "Pain. Degradation. Fear. Shame. Be as creative as you feel you need to be." With both Cain and Kendra, I walk a fine line between grudging respect and OMG-YR-FCKN-NUTZ. So many of Cain's 'evil' decisions are narratively linked to her sense of betrayal from Gina. Particularly that creepy scene where she's starting at the battered and abused Gina in the prisoner cell while ordering the execution of the family's on the Scylla.
* Nope. Cain's just nuts. Kendra too. Then again, they ALL have issues on this show and that's why I love them...

***

Favorite lines:

Lee: "Are you gonna make me regret having you along?"
Kara: "Every chance I get."

Lee: She [Kendra] and Kara don't exactly get along.
Adama: I'd like to sell tickets to that dance.

Kara: "Got anymore? Of whatever you're about to stick in your neck."
Kendra: [says something snarky]
Kara: "You keep my secret sir, I'll keep yours."
SUBTEXT Y'ALL.

Kara (to Lee): "You better believe it. So I guess you are stuck with me to the end. I gotta go break in your new CAG, sir."

***

All in all: it felt kind of like a decent regular episode and I am way happy to have new BSG for my brain to feed on. How about you guys?

PS: pretty safe to say there will be Razor spoilers in the comments too.

Comments

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Wheeeeee!!! Another reaction post! \o/

OMG, did you see Lee start tearing up when he heard Kara's voice? The relief and the pain and the intensity. PILOTS FTW!!!!!!! And the tears at the thought of sacrificing her to set off the nuke. *hugs Emo!Lee*
Yes, yes I did see him! Waaaaahhhh! Sooo heartbreaking.

Seems like they were hinting for some major S4 stuff (though I'm unspoiled for S4 so I don't really know). And it dovetails into the post-Scar/Sacrifice/Captain's Hand Kara/Lee issues and the complete weird/estranged farewell between them before the Caprica rescue mission in LYBD1. They are both wary of the other, and have that whole piloty push-pull intimacy and betrayal thing going on. Thoughts?
I agree that it had a weird vibe and was anvilly for S4. I was really doom-struck at first after watching this. The prophecy TOTALLY freaked me out and that dominated my reading of that scene. I think overall it makes a lot more sense of S3 and the tensions we saw between them now and especially Lee's journey towards leaving the military altogether. I also think it's helped me understand why Anders seemed like such a much easier relationship for Kara and a real respite. But what it means for S4? I don't know. I'm unspoiled too and I'm TRYING not to panic, but this was pretty bleak... on the other hand 'stuck with me until the end' sounds promising.

There are even vibes between Kendra and Lee--anyone that makes him smirk that much...works for me.
Me too! And he got his snark on, yay! :) But yeah, Kara will always be No.1 but I'd SO be there for a long Kendra/Lee, Kara/Lee fic with Kara/Kendra subtext. Now to persuade someone to write it...

Overall VERY HAPPY. Although the meta discussion so far have been... interesting. Not surprised there was backlash against Lee for this one, but I actually found it very shippy overall.

Kendra:

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Yay because now I can catch up on everyone else's reaction posts too :D

Good point about the ending setting up Lee's path towards leaving the military. I hadn't thought about that. I spend so much time noticing/focusing on Kara's self-loathing and self-fear, that I'm taken aback by Lee's ability regret his decisions, to feel the weight of command, and to fear the outcome of his choices.

Haha, I am clinging irrationally to the "stuck with me until the end" part too! Like I said over on your post: I'm trusting each of them to pull each other through, since their fates seem pretty inextricably connected.

Dude! I would be all over the Kendra/Lee, Kara/Lee, and hint of Kara/Kendra too!!! Now we just need to stick that plot bunny in the right ear...maybe wait till some of the initial backlash to Razor dies down first, eh?

Overall, I'm way happy too. New BSG on my screen, new thoughts and vid ideas swirling around in my brain...pretty pretty pilots to cap and picspam. Life is good :D

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Good point about the ending setting up Lee's path towards leaving the military.
I think it also plays into his decision to return and sacrifice the Pegasus to save the New Capricans--he can't live with himself twice, even though the rationale in both instances is the same.

I'm trusting each of them to pull each other through, since their fates seem pretty inextricably connected.
Aha. That seems in no doubt now so it's just down to them to stick it out. *squishes them together*

Now we just need to stick that plot bunny in the right ear...maybe wait till some of the initial backlash to Razor dies down first, eh?
Yup. :) There's a shock factor with Razor, definitely. But hopefully it will also spark some muses.

Yay for vid ideas and pretty pilots!

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

I'm totally hoping the episode/movie sparks some muses as well! I want some new vids/fic!!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

Hee! You stole my format! I was going to post about it tomorrow, though instead of all the Deep Thinky Thoughts, I was just going to hit all the shallow randomness. ;)

Er, not that yours isn't Deep or Thinky! I'm just feeling a teensy bit overwhelmed by the (marvelous!) reactions, and I really like the levity here.

Anyway.

Oh, who cares about Kendra when Kara is swishing her ass in her dress blue's like that, coming out of Lee's quarters. YUM.

Oh, yes. And even more Cargo Pants Swish (my favorite flavor) as she saunters out of the kitchen when she has her big showdown with Kendra. But the best CPS is still her stomping off to the brig in the Mini.

Um, hello, FX? Why do these new model centurions look so cheesy when walking? The ones in S3 looked wayyyyyy better.

Most everyone else is all a'squee about the Old Skool Centurions making an appearance in that spaceship, but I've had to mute the TV when I watched it (three times so far) because the voices just sound so cheesy and ridiculous.

And how exactly did Kara find out about what the hybrid said? Did I miss something?

She couldn't have. She already knew about the destiny from Leoben in F&B. If she'd also heard about that "harbinger of doooom" stuff, well, the meltdown would've come a lot sooner than New Caprica.

Kara's face as the basestar blew! She slays me. Need icons/caps of that scene too.

Here are the two I've made so far. Not the bestest ever, but hey.



Hopefully I'll find something to say in my own post that you haven't already said here! ;)

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Haha, the list format is about all my brain could come up with right after watching it. I've got some more organized meta-like stuff rolling around in my head now, but I wanted to get my original (and decidedly not Deep or Thinky, *grins*), gut reactions to everything out first.

Cargo pants swish! I love it :D

Thanks for clarifying on the destiny stuff. I got a little confused because that conversation with Lee came right on the heels of Kendra talking to the hybrid, but you're right: her understanding of her destiny would have been based on S1 stuff with Leoben. Although still kind of odd of her to have brought it up in terms of her own "destiny" before her Maelstrom dreams/conversations.

Yay for icons! I'm totally snagging the kitchen one!

Looking forward to your post too :)

[alissabobissa.livejournal.com]

Heeheee! Can I make a promise to come back later and respond properly but just say for now that your obvious excitement/squeeage over Razor is absolutely adorable and infectious?

Also:
Slow-mo walks are the new slow-clap
Bwahahahahahaa!

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Feel free to come back and squee anytime darling :D

I can't help the enthusiasm--new BSG makes me such a bouncy, happy fangirl!!!

[alissabobissa.livejournal.com]

Howdy, I'm back!

Oh, who cares about Kendra when Kara is swishing her ass in her dress blue's like that, coming out of Lee's quarters. YUM.
Um-hum, TOTALLY! Damn that woman is too hot for her own good.

Kara's face as the basestar blew! She slays me.
Oh man, that woman is good. That moment killed killed me with all the conflicting emotions written all over her face.

Was that shit at the end the biggest Adama moment ever or what?
YES. So great and it felt oddly real and true to character mostly because EJO and Bamber acted their asses off in it.

I think a little organized love for Lee's smirk might be in order, yes?
As much as I loved Razor for it's character goodness for Lee, I gotta admit that I loved it even more on a superficial level. The Lee smirk and snark were out of control (for him) and I want more!

all that stuff at the end was just kind of weird and I don't really know what to make of it
Exactly. I found it intimate yet creepy. It had the sense of doom hanging over it that I liked but totally shuddered over.

With both Cain and Kendra, I walk a fine line between grudging respect and OMG-YR-FCKN-NUTZ.
Perfectly put. It's weird how I think I would have less grudging respect for both if they were less fckn nutz. Less nuts for Kendra would definitely make her boring and less nuts for Cain would probably make her a completely different, possibly ineffective leader.

And right now, any BSG is good BSG. New things from that universe to ponder is happy-making! :D

Oh, and icon love!!!!!!

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

As much as I loved Razor for it's character goodness for Lee, I gotta admit that I loved it even more on a superficial level.

Haha, I have to admit that this is still pretty much where my brain is at too. I'm loving all the insightful and smartypants meta that other people on the flist are churning out, but my brain is pretty firmly rooted in omg!kara and omg!lee mode.

There's nothing wrong with shallow, right? RIGHT!

[ez-as-pi.livejournal.com]

I love your thoughts... The ones on Kendra/Cain make me actually want to go watch the flashy-back parts which I sorta skimmed over... LOL

Cause, I was kinda irked it wasn't two hours of pilots.... *pouts*

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Cause, I was kinda irked it wasn't two hours of pilots.... *pouts*

Oh honey, I am SO there with you. I'm happy for BSG any way I can get it but the brief glimpses of pilots were definitely the best part. Want more!

[canadiangirl-86.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes! It was marvelous. I wrote up a review on my LJ too if you're interested!

Wow. There's going to be some crazy capping and picspamming with those scenes of Kara in the kitchen and Kara in the marine gear on the basestar. Damn she looks good.

Hells yes. She was looking totally swoon-worthy!

Wait, What? "plans risky, but right now you're the only game in town", bzuh? I do believe that you have Kara Thrace, Tactical Genius aboard your frakkin ship as your CAG, RIGHT?

Shit, good point. Why the fuck didn't I think of that?!

And how exactly did Kara find out about what the hybrid said? Did I miss something?

Huh? Not sure what you mean by this. Kara didn't know what the hybrid said that I could see. I mostly find it odd that Lee and Adama weren't more curious of what Kendra was talking about when she said she had to warn them about Captain Thrace.

And it dovetails into the post-Scar/Sacrifice/Captain's Hand Kara/Lee issues and the complete weird/estranged farewell between them before the Caprica rescue mission in LYBD1. They are both wary of the other, and have that whole piloty push-pull intimacy and betrayal thing going on. Thoughts?

Yeah, I think it very nicely fits in with LDYB. It was always a little odd how they went from their sweet reconciliation in Captain's Hand to the awkwardness of LDYB. I always figured it was the specific discussion of Sam that brought back all that uneasiness between them but now we can add something more to that scene, knowing that there's even more stuff between them after Razor.

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I'm running behind on the reading so I'll definitely go check out your review soon :D

Yay for swoon-worthy Kara!

And the more I think about it, I think you're right about Kara and the destiny talk: it wasn't based on the hybrid, it was based on he r previous stuff with Leoben. Still creepy. And definitely weird that Adama and Lee kind of glossed over Kendra's warning...

[latteaddict.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling a tad drained from the deep Razor discussions so I'm going to be shallow with you and admire the ass swishing and the implications of Lee and Kara having official military meetings in Lee's private quarters....

* Wait, What? "plans risky, but right now you're the only game in town", bzuh? I do believe that you have Kara Thrace, Tactical Genius aboard your frakkin ship as your CAG, RIGHT? Do I have to list off all the tactical plans she has successfully and brilliantly led? NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN, BITCHZ.

fantastic point! and I heart your brain :)

But all that stuff at the end was just kind of weird and I don't really know what to make of it

It was RDM grabbing an extra jumbo bag of angst and adding two pilots, then shaking it up until harsh words and awkward reactions came out.

I am (cautiously) looking forward to the DVD release.

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

I still have to catch up on all your meta! *flails* so far behind on the flist...not for lack of adoring your or your brain, never fear :D

Haha, yay for Kara/Lee "official military meetings in Lee's private quarters"!!! If your muse felt inspired to take that scenario and run with it...I wouldn't complain ;)

It was RDM grabbing an extra jumbo bag of angst and adding two pilots, then shaking it up until harsh words and awkward reactions came out.

Good call. I think it was definitely going for maximum angst, and not so much for clarity or flow.

I'm looking forward to the DVD too. More action/flying and pilots scenes to add to the clip library=YAY!

[queenofthrace.livejournal.com]

KITCEN=LOVE=KITCHEN=LOVE!!!!!!!!!!
I nearly squeed myself faint during that scene.(kara so pretty and such a LOADED GUN!)
Overall I loved this, if just for the fact that we got to se Kara and Lee be not totally messed, and in fact pretty damn cute.
There was one thing I did not love however. That thing at the end where it said BSG was coming back in March. MARCH.
*cries*