BSG 4.13 - The Oath

[boomqueen]

This weekend was busy with RL but I finally got to watch The Oath!

Short review: Yay for Gaeta, yay for awesome continuity and yay for much ass-kicking by my favorite fictional character of all time!

Long review: It was really amazing to see how all the build up of the last several seasons led to a point where Gaeta was bitter and disillusioned enough to want a coup, AND had the ability to effectively lie and control communication until he was in charge. He has the kind of quiet, scary strength that has been building for a looooong time, and everybody trusts him. Good choice writers!

I'm really curious about whatever secret it is that Gaius keeps holding over Gaeta's head. Maybe it was revealed in one of the later webisodes that I didn't watch? Or something to do with the cylons and the time on New Caprica? Totally speculation, so I have no clue.

I'm more than a little worried about Sam. Everyone keeps talking about how they think he's going to be the martyr in the Final Four. Granted, there's not much else going on with his arc (at least less than Tori, Tyrol and Tigh), but I'd much rather that they NOT kill off my Sam.

I loved all the small character details and continuity in this one. Like the disgraced anti-cylon officer Kelly being part of the coup, and the evil asshole rapists from the Pegasus (just as creepy and fucked-up as they were before!), and Seelix and Connor and the so many other characters who have shown themselves to be anti-cylon in small/large ways. I love it when the show pays attention to detail like that!

So, needless to say my favorite thing about the episode was my pilots kissing each other AND kicking ass together. Buddy!cop Kara and Lee (with a bit of tension) is by far and away my favorite mode for them. Even more than lovers. THEY BELONG SIDE BY SIDE KICKING ASS. Working together effortlessly because there is so much trust and strength between, because they are such competent soldiers and because they have a MOUNTAIN of love and history between them. THIS IS MY FAVORITE KIND OF PILOTS.

Some people have mentioned that they were disappointed that the kiss wasn't more romantic, but I thought it really worked in context. As bop_radar put it: it was Kara's 'don't you remember that we're AWESOME?' message to Lee and apparently it's just what he needed to hear because after that he completely levelled up. EXACTLY. It was passionate and urgent, and it immediately physically reconnected them so that they could join the battle as a seamless fighting unit.

Another thing I love about Kara. Even when she is in the absolute pits of despair, feeling disconnected from everyone and not sure what/who she is, she can always kick lots of ass. She is amazingly capable and she doesn't second-guess herself. Warrior-goddess!Kara makes me swoon.

And I'm so excited that this has fandom all in a mega-flail!

I've been in a bit of a slump myself with Kara/Lee fic but NOW I'm really ready for some awesome pilot-pr0n to start pouring in.

Comments

kara sam seelix huh?

[auroramama]

I was a little disturbed that Kara showed no signs of remembering that she had a sort-of husband. What was that about?

If he does get killed, and on top of that, Kara isn't especially peeved about it, I will be Not Happy.

Otherwise, I agree with everything you said above. Love Kara and Lee as the very slightly incestuous semisiblings. They'll always rescue each other, and that's what really matters.

Oh, and can I get a reality check on Seelix? Yes, the only possible reason you and Anders didn't find eternal happiness together is that he's a Cylon. It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that the wife he was mourning at the time came back from the dead.

I mean, forget the fact that guys notoriously don't have to be married to Kara Thrace to be obsessed with her to a relationship-wrecking degree. But she was dead and he was getting drunk and falling off Vipers and into bed with anyone who asked nicely, and then suddenly he wasn't a widower anymore. The return of a spouse believed dead is a perfectly honorable reason to lose a contest for someone's affection.

And yeah, she probably knew he was never interested in a relationship with her. But it's not like she was a figure of fun. "Oh, look, there's the girl who bought that flimsy excuse about the reincarnated wife!"

Re: kara sam seelix huh?

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Sam definitely has been on Kara's mind much since 4.5 came back. I'm more than a little curious to see/hear her with Sam since she found out he was a cylon. The taunting with Gaeta in the mess hall doesn't really give much insight into how she feels about their relationship specifically right now.

[woolly-socks.livejournal.com]

Re: Gaeta's 'secret', it was mentioned in the webisodes I think. You got to hear what Baltar whispered before Gaeta went all stabby with the pen. It was something like 'I know what you did with the Eight'. Which would imply that the Serial Killer Eight in the webisodes was right that deep down Gaeta knew that he wasn't saving anyone, that the Eight was just having the people whose names he gave her killed. I don't quite know what to do with that.

It's nice to hear someone who's digging the Gaeta coup story, because I've been hearing a lot of rage! Personally, yeah, I think it's good writing and makes a lot of sense. Someone was going to stage a coup, right? it was inevitable. The fleet was always going to fall apart after Earth and the cylon alliance. It was just a matter of who led it, and Gaeta was a great choice.

I just... I really don't think it's going to end well for him. Which is sad, I've always liked him. But really, is there any coming back from this?

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, thanks for clearing up Gaeta's secret. I really need to finish all the webisodes one of these days!

And I still think Gaeta was a great choice for the coup. It doesn't make him a particularly happy or admirable character right now, but it REALLY makes sense and someone needs to be voice of the remaining anti-cylon contingent in the fleet and the military.

I don't see it ending well for him either. Even if he survives, the disillusionment and loss he's experienced with his leg and Earth and Dee seem almost insurmountable.

[woolly-socks.livejournal.com]

Yep, pretty much. But it wouldn't be BSG if we didn't lose some major characters, right? /o\

[latteaddict.livejournal.com]

but I'd much rather that they NOT kill off my Sam.

I'm concerned about him too. Maybe he doesn't die, just embraces his Cylonness?

Another thing I love about Kara. Even when she is in the absolute pits of despair, feeling disconnected from everyone and not sure what/who she is, she can always kick lots of ass. She is amazingly capable and she doesn't second-guess herself. Warrior-goddess!Kara makes me swoon.

You don't want to be on the opposite side of Kara! You know, seeing how assuredly she shot Skulls, I'm glad she never did put a bullet between Sam's eyes for being a Cylon *meep*

I've been in a bit of a slump myself with Kara/Lee fic but NOW I'm really ready for some awesome pilot-pr0n to start pouring in.

I saw a few out there today but I haven't had a chance to read yet. Not fair *pout*

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

Maybe he doesn't die, just embraces his Cylonness?

I would definitely be okay with that. Can't they just kill off Tori instead?

And double-yay for awesome ass-kicking Kara!!

[eugis.livejournal.com]

So good to have Buddy!cop Kara and Lee, they're just awesome working and kicking ass together. They belong side by side. Awww Pilots! We need more of that :)

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

I know! Buddy!cops FTW!

[on-the-ground.livejournal.com]

"I'd much rather that they NOT kill off my Sam."

Exactly.

Plus, there's Tori to kill off FIRST of all.

[boom-queen.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY. Tori is so much less interesting than Sam. I'm completely in favor of them killing her off first/instead!