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One day soon, there's gonna be a reckoning
Praise the Lord-ah, I do believe we have a miracle on our hands here, folks: I've finally written another BSG recap! And only nine months since my last one (and two months since my last tv recap in general). Heh. Way to be a slacker, self. But hey, better late than never, right? Plus, to make up for my slacker ways, this one's gonna be a doozy. As in, GET COMFY. I'm bustin' out some epic picspammy ramblin'!
I already have notes for my next Bones and XF Rewatch recaps too, so hopefully knocking this one out will motivate me to make some progress there as well.
As planned, yesterday I went to a street fair downtown with my friend Aimee (the one I went to the reunion with), where we saw the lead singer of Everclear play random cover songs & attempt to get people to dance in 90-something degree weather. Not so successful there. Heh. But seeing it was fun, Aimee is wonderful, and window-shopping on nw 23rd ave is always good times. Afterward we stopped & got something to eat at an awesome cafe with Christmas ornaments on the ceiling, which. . .yeah, Portland is weird. Heh.
And because apparently my whole life can be found on youtube at any given moment, someone conveniently made a video of the fair:
Now you guys can see where I was yesterday with your own eyes! Hee. SO RANDOM.
Once we were done eating, I went to an al-anon meeting. This time there were a lot more people and I wasn't the only young one there, which made it less awkward. I plan to go back again, though I may need to go on a different day as the bus coming back to Tualatin on Saturday evenings is the biggest pain in the ass ever. It's like a damned road trip. I'm tempted next time to bring snacks & get my fellow bus passengers to join me in a rousing rendition of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."
But on the bright side, at least the forever-long trip home allowed me to waste a little time at the mall (while I waited an hour for the next bus I needed. Like I said: PAIN IN THE ASS). I was able to buy a new dress (which, fyi, I have not worn a dress in years. I felt all self conscious today while wearing it due to the *gasp* cleavage & kept being paranoid it was going to fly up around me like Marilyn Monroe standing on a sewer grate) & some capri pants.
Overall it was good for me even though the theme this week wasn't as helpful. I still find it comforting to listen to other people's experiences and see that I'm not alone. I like how they close out the meeting each time too, with a little message for newcomers. Here's the part I like:
A few special words to those of you who haven't been with us long: Whatever your problems, there are those among us who have had them too. If you try to keep an open mind you will find help.
You will come to realize that there is no situation too difficult to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened. We aren't perfect. The welcome we give you may not show the warmth we have in our hearts for you. After a while, you'll discover that though you may not like all of us, you'll love us in a very special way—-the same way we already love you.
Cheesy, yes. But extremely touching as well.
As for how I feel today, it's a bit mixed. Better, I think, but very touch-and-go. I still have to struggle to motivate myself and feel like I'm walking in quicksand, emotionally speaking. One foot in front of the other though, y'know? This has just been a really, really hard year. So, as they say in Al-Anon: one day at a time.
Now, in an effort to keep going with the normal business of life (and heh, I like how rambling for a hundred years about tv is my "normal business of life"), I do believe it's way past time to get back to my BSG recaps.
Blood on the Scales
First off, to any non-BSG pals who may be reading this, it'd probably be in your best interest to read my review for "The Oath" first as this episode is the second half of a two-parter. It's worth checking out for the Roslin/Adama kissage alone. Mmm, kissage.
And now, on with the picspammy review!
-We open with Gaeta ordering Roslin's raptor to be shot down. Uhh, Gaeta? It's not really a good idea to piss Laura Roslin off. Did you learn nothing from her last bout with cancer? This HBIC don't play.
-"You're the admiral now. So you call up Roslin, make her laugh." Heh. I love Adama being a smart-ass.
-aaaand Roslin's got the cylons moving their basestar into the middle of the fleet. Like I said, Gaeta! Should've listened to me. Now your ass is about to get nuked.
-This just in from Predictable Land, Gaeta wants to put Adama on trial while Zarek's thoughts are more along the lines of, "let's just kill him, yo." Oh, Gaeta. You really didn't know what you were getting into when you hooked up with Shady McTerroristson, did you?
-Romo Lampkin is back! *and the crowd goes wild* Love that guy!
case in point: "Don't suppose anyone's gonna feed my dog" (ha! RIP poor dead cat)
Also? Major props for nicknaming the mutiny a "Field Trip For Justice." Heeee.
-Meanwhile, Adama is still being a smart-ass: "Shove it up your ass." Well said!
-Roslin & the non-working radio intercom. So adorable. I love her getting all frustrated & yelling into it like that's gonna help. *squishes her*
-Dear Tyrol, way to have mad insurgency skillz. Probably because you used to be an insurgent. Oh hi there continuity, how are you today?
-Brace yourselves, folks, something amazing is about to happen: the quorem is growing a set of balls! "I think you should leave now, Mr. VICE-president." OH, BURN.
. . .so of course that means they all get brutally murdered immediately after. Hmm, I'm gonna guess saying "no" to Zarek wasn't a good idea there. Y'know, with the armed group of gunmen following him around and all.
-"The truth is told by the ones left standing." True 'dat.
-Unfortunately, the rebel cylons are a bunch of pussies. They want to leave Adama behind & run for the hills. Not suprisingly, this doesn't go over well with Roslin at all. "WHO DO YOU WANNA BE?!" Indeed, Laura. Indeed.
-Kelly is a big softie & lets Tyrol go. Aww. Sure, he calls him a skinjob as he does it, but still. Aww!
-But do you guys wanna know who is decidedly NOT a pussy? Kara muthafrakkin' Thrace, that's who. SHE WILL SMASH YOUR HEAD INTO A WALL, MOFO. SHE DOES NOT CARE THAT YOU ARE PEEING.
-The long-haired Six cuddling up to Baltar. WTF, RANDOM.
-OH SHIT SON, STARBUCK & APOLLO BE REGULATIN' UP IN THIS BITCH, PULLING GUNS ON YOUR PUNK-ASSES IN SYNC. THAT'S RIGHT, FRAKKERS, IN SYNC. And Lee's all, "here's a grenade, fool! Psych!" and Starbuck's like, "double-gun salute! AND WHAT." Can I please just float through the television screen & give them both a high-five? Just once?
-Oh noes, Anders! Don't you know this is BSG? YOU ARE NOT SAFE. Next time show up wearing a kevlar body-suit, dude.
-"No one wants to go near those nutjobs!" (re: Baltar's religious group) Ha! Tigh, I love you so frakking much.
-Adama's face when he's told (incorrectly) that Tigh's been shot. Tear! You can't just go breaking up bromances like that, guys. Even Lampkin got teary-eyed over that one.
-Lesson #1,000,001 in "You can't keep Roslin down, so don't even try": she's back on the intercom again, and has it working with the help of Leobon. Aw, way to be a teamplayer, Leobon! Adama's face here is priceless. Totally a "that's my girl"-face. Not to mention Zarek's expression, which is just, "SON OF A BITCH." Ha.
-Reason #2,001 as to why I love this episode: LAMPKIN PULLING A "GAETA" ON THE MARINE. Oh, BSG. You sure do love showing people getting stabbed in the throat, don't you? SO DO I. Especially when there are pens involved.
-"Me & my pen-pal here. . ." HA! (((Lampkin))).
-Sorry Anders, just because Lampkin is helping Kara drag your wounded ass around doesn't mean things bode well for you. Once again: kevlar body-suit, look into it.
-Kelly breaking away from the group and crying by himself at the memorial wall. ♥ that scene.
-"I've got a following on Galactica. . .like a fanclub." Hee! That made me laugh out loud.
-Adama in front of the firing squad. The second I saw this and it cut to Roslin on the intercom, I knew shit was about to get real. Especially with her shouting things like, "SURRENDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES!" I was just like, "all right! Everyone duck & cover on the count of three!"
-Gaeta tearing up in Adama's quarters. Cut it out, Gaeta! I already feel sad enough for you as it is! What are you trying to do, kill me?
-Bear McCreary: have I mentioned lately how much I love him? Yes? Well, too bad, because it needs to be mentioned again. The music at the end of this episode is so fucking fab. I love how it keeps rising in intensity as the scenes progress. I mean, Christ, the drums? As Tyrol's crawling through the pipes? I'm just gonna start calling him Badass McGee, I think. Totally fits, am I right?
-Oh lookie, the calvary has arrived: Adama is saved, thanks to Tigh & Lee. Aw. Group hugs all around!
-"Sorry sir, I've always respected you, but I hate the cylons and I can't take orders from a leader who won't fight them." The key word there being "hate." I love that line because it basically sums up the entire mutiny. These people love Adama, but their hate for the cylons overwhelms that love. Their pain, their distrust, their fear, their anger, it's all just too much for them.
-Remember how I said to duck & cover at the count of three? Yeah, we've just reached "three." Zarek--not knowing Tigh & Lee have already ~saved the day~ (*trumpets sound*)--has just told Roslin that Adama's been executed and tells her to surrender.
Cue epic HBIC smackdown in t-minus 10, 9, 8. . .
"NO. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. Do you hear me?! I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have down to my own eyeteeth to end you. I SWEAR IT. I'M COMING FOR ALL OF YOU."
*passes out*
HOLY FUCKITY FUCKBALLS. Laura Roslin, ladies & gentlemen: FOR THE WIN.
-"So now we have a military leader & a president all in one?" Heh. Basically, yes. I tried to warn you guys! Do not piss off Roslin!
-The last few minutes of the mutiny: once again, and this time with feeling, FOR THE WIN. Tyrol hauling ass down the stairs, THE DRUMS, Roslin on the speakers ready to rip everyone a new asshole while Adama leads a growing crowd of supporters down the hall and Zarek & Gaeta are counting down to jump the frak outta there, just GAH. The badassery, cap'n, I CAN'T TAKE IT.
-Speaking of Tyrol, he joins in on the ~saving of the day~ action by disabling the FTL. Go chief! Also: gotta appreciate the metaphor of the crack in the wall that Tyrol sees. The ship is falling apart, in more ways than one.
-"One day soon, there's gonna be a reckoning." Poor Gaeta. You can tell he knows it's over here, and is just in shock. To his credit, he ignores Zarek demanding he attack the basestar and calls the whole thing off. Unfortunately it's too late, and you know there's no turning back for him now. Sniff.
-"Madam President, this is the Admiral. STAND DOWN." Looooove thaaaaaaat. Heh. First off, because he's all "THIS IS OUR SHIP, MOTHERFUCKERS. MADAM PRESIDENT & THE ADMIRAL. RECOGNIZE" but even more so because he's like, "SHH, THERE, THERE. DON'T NUKE THE JOINT, BABY." Hahaha.
-Roslin/Adama reuniting. ealiailghoirea;ghoieaghgihgh LOVE IT. Love her teary intake of breath, love his face, love how they don't even speak, love how she sort of just ~collapses~ into him, love how they walk off leaning against each other, LOVE THE WHOLE THING. Ahhhh.
-"I just hope that people realize. . .eventually. . .who I am."
"I know who you are, Felix. I know who you are."
*cries*
DAMN YOU, SHOW. STOP BREAKING MY HEART OVER HERE.
I think it's especially interesting too how Gaeta chose Baltar to talk to before he died, considering everything that happened between them on New Caprica & how he tried to kill him. It just goes to show how important Baltar always was to him, and how conflicted he mostly likely felt about things right up until the end.
-and finally, we end with Gaeta & Zarek facing the firing squad, giving each other one last look & a nod of acceptance. And because this show likes to break my goddamned heart, right before he dies we have Gaeta's last words (regarding the pain in his amputated leg): "it stopped." And then, BOOM. Gunshots & a cut to black. I can't even. . .ahhh.
So there you have it. In a nutshell: INTENSE. I swear, when this show brings it, it brings it *hard*.
Wrapping this up with a Vid of the Day, we're gonna go with this one by Sczep84 (one of my favorite vidders). You can't understand the mutiny without understanding the journey these people have been on already, and so much of that revolves around their search for Earth. Knowing that, and knowing what happens in "Revelations" and "Sometimes a Great Notion", it's not surprising shit went ballistic soon after:
I already have notes for my next Bones and XF Rewatch recaps too, so hopefully knocking this one out will motivate me to make some progress there as well.
As planned, yesterday I went to a street fair downtown with my friend Aimee (the one I went to the reunion with), where we saw the lead singer of Everclear play random cover songs & attempt to get people to dance in 90-something degree weather. Not so successful there. Heh. But seeing it was fun, Aimee is wonderful, and window-shopping on nw 23rd ave is always good times. Afterward we stopped & got something to eat at an awesome cafe with Christmas ornaments on the ceiling, which. . .yeah, Portland is weird. Heh.
And because apparently my whole life can be found on youtube at any given moment, someone conveniently made a video of the fair:
Now you guys can see where I was yesterday with your own eyes! Hee. SO RANDOM.
Once we were done eating, I went to an al-anon meeting. This time there were a lot more people and I wasn't the only young one there, which made it less awkward. I plan to go back again, though I may need to go on a different day as the bus coming back to Tualatin on Saturday evenings is the biggest pain in the ass ever. It's like a damned road trip. I'm tempted next time to bring snacks & get my fellow bus passengers to join me in a rousing rendition of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."
But on the bright side, at least the forever-long trip home allowed me to waste a little time at the mall (while I waited an hour for the next bus I needed. Like I said: PAIN IN THE ASS). I was able to buy a new dress (which, fyi, I have not worn a dress in years. I felt all self conscious today while wearing it due to the *gasp* cleavage & kept being paranoid it was going to fly up around me like Marilyn Monroe standing on a sewer grate) & some capri pants.
Overall it was good for me even though the theme this week wasn't as helpful. I still find it comforting to listen to other people's experiences and see that I'm not alone. I like how they close out the meeting each time too, with a little message for newcomers. Here's the part I like:
A few special words to those of you who haven't been with us long: Whatever your problems, there are those among us who have had them too. If you try to keep an open mind you will find help.
You will come to realize that there is no situation too difficult to be bettered and no unhappiness too great to be lessened. We aren't perfect. The welcome we give you may not show the warmth we have in our hearts for you. After a while, you'll discover that though you may not like all of us, you'll love us in a very special way—-the same way we already love you.
Cheesy, yes. But extremely touching as well.
As for how I feel today, it's a bit mixed. Better, I think, but very touch-and-go. I still have to struggle to motivate myself and feel like I'm walking in quicksand, emotionally speaking. One foot in front of the other though, y'know? This has just been a really, really hard year. So, as they say in Al-Anon: one day at a time.
Now, in an effort to keep going with the normal business of life (and heh, I like how rambling for a hundred years about tv is my "normal business of life"), I do believe it's way past time to get back to my BSG recaps.
Blood on the Scales
First off, to any non-BSG pals who may be reading this, it'd probably be in your best interest to read my review for "The Oath" first as this episode is the second half of a two-parter. It's worth checking out for the Roslin/Adama kissage alone. Mmm, kissage.
And now, on with the picspammy review!
-We open with Gaeta ordering Roslin's raptor to be shot down. Uhh, Gaeta? It's not really a good idea to piss Laura Roslin off. Did you learn nothing from her last bout with cancer? This HBIC don't play.
-"You're the admiral now. So you call up Roslin, make her laugh." Heh. I love Adama being a smart-ass.
-aaaand Roslin's got the cylons moving their basestar into the middle of the fleet. Like I said, Gaeta! Should've listened to me. Now your ass is about to get nuked.
-This just in from Predictable Land, Gaeta wants to put Adama on trial while Zarek's thoughts are more along the lines of, "let's just kill him, yo." Oh, Gaeta. You really didn't know what you were getting into when you hooked up with Shady McTerroristson, did you?
-Romo Lampkin is back! *and the crowd goes wild* Love that guy!
case in point: "Don't suppose anyone's gonna feed my dog" (ha! RIP poor dead cat)
Also? Major props for nicknaming the mutiny a "Field Trip For Justice." Heeee.
-Meanwhile, Adama is still being a smart-ass: "Shove it up your ass." Well said!
-Roslin & the non-working radio intercom. So adorable. I love her getting all frustrated & yelling into it like that's gonna help. *squishes her*
-Dear Tyrol, way to have mad insurgency skillz. Probably because you used to be an insurgent. Oh hi there continuity, how are you today?
-Brace yourselves, folks, something amazing is about to happen: the quorem is growing a set of balls! "I think you should leave now, Mr. VICE-president." OH, BURN.
. . .so of course that means they all get brutally murdered immediately after. Hmm, I'm gonna guess saying "no" to Zarek wasn't a good idea there. Y'know, with the armed group of gunmen following him around and all.
-"The truth is told by the ones left standing." True 'dat.
-Unfortunately, the rebel cylons are a bunch of pussies. They want to leave Adama behind & run for the hills. Not suprisingly, this doesn't go over well with Roslin at all. "WHO DO YOU WANNA BE?!" Indeed, Laura. Indeed.
-Kelly is a big softie & lets Tyrol go. Aww. Sure, he calls him a skinjob as he does it, but still. Aww!
-But do you guys wanna know who is decidedly NOT a pussy? Kara muthafrakkin' Thrace, that's who. SHE WILL SMASH YOUR HEAD INTO A WALL, MOFO. SHE DOES NOT CARE THAT YOU ARE PEEING.
-The long-haired Six cuddling up to Baltar. WTF, RANDOM.
-OH SHIT SON, STARBUCK & APOLLO BE REGULATIN' UP IN THIS BITCH, PULLING GUNS ON YOUR PUNK-ASSES IN SYNC. THAT'S RIGHT, FRAKKERS, IN SYNC. And Lee's all, "here's a grenade, fool! Psych!" and Starbuck's like, "double-gun salute! AND WHAT." Can I please just float through the television screen & give them both a high-five? Just once?
-Oh noes, Anders! Don't you know this is BSG? YOU ARE NOT SAFE. Next time show up wearing a kevlar body-suit, dude.
-"No one wants to go near those nutjobs!" (re: Baltar's religious group) Ha! Tigh, I love you so frakking much.
-Adama's face when he's told (incorrectly) that Tigh's been shot. Tear! You can't just go breaking up bromances like that, guys. Even Lampkin got teary-eyed over that one.
-Lesson #1,000,001 in "You can't keep Roslin down, so don't even try": she's back on the intercom again, and has it working with the help of Leobon. Aw, way to be a teamplayer, Leobon! Adama's face here is priceless. Totally a "that's my girl"-face. Not to mention Zarek's expression, which is just, "SON OF A BITCH." Ha.
-Reason #2,001 as to why I love this episode: LAMPKIN PULLING A "GAETA" ON THE MARINE. Oh, BSG. You sure do love showing people getting stabbed in the throat, don't you? SO DO I. Especially when there are pens involved.
-"Me & my pen-pal here. . ." HA! (((Lampkin))).
-Sorry Anders, just because Lampkin is helping Kara drag your wounded ass around doesn't mean things bode well for you. Once again: kevlar body-suit, look into it.
-Kelly breaking away from the group and crying by himself at the memorial wall. ♥ that scene.
-"I've got a following on Galactica. . .like a fanclub." Hee! That made me laugh out loud.
-Adama in front of the firing squad. The second I saw this and it cut to Roslin on the intercom, I knew shit was about to get real. Especially with her shouting things like, "SURRENDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES!" I was just like, "all right! Everyone duck & cover on the count of three!"
-Gaeta tearing up in Adama's quarters. Cut it out, Gaeta! I already feel sad enough for you as it is! What are you trying to do, kill me?
-Bear McCreary: have I mentioned lately how much I love him? Yes? Well, too bad, because it needs to be mentioned again. The music at the end of this episode is so fucking fab. I love how it keeps rising in intensity as the scenes progress. I mean, Christ, the drums? As Tyrol's crawling through the pipes? I'm just gonna start calling him Badass McGee, I think. Totally fits, am I right?
-Oh lookie, the calvary has arrived: Adama is saved, thanks to Tigh & Lee. Aw. Group hugs all around!
-"Sorry sir, I've always respected you, but I hate the cylons and I can't take orders from a leader who won't fight them." The key word there being "hate." I love that line because it basically sums up the entire mutiny. These people love Adama, but their hate for the cylons overwhelms that love. Their pain, their distrust, their fear, their anger, it's all just too much for them.
-Remember how I said to duck & cover at the count of three? Yeah, we've just reached "three." Zarek--not knowing Tigh & Lee have already ~saved the day~ (*trumpets sound*)--has just told Roslin that Adama's been executed and tells her to surrender.
Cue epic HBIC smackdown in t-minus 10, 9, 8. . .
"NO. NOT NOW, NOT EVER. Do you hear me?! I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have down to my own eyeteeth to end you. I SWEAR IT. I'M COMING FOR ALL OF YOU."
*passes out*
HOLY FUCKITY FUCKBALLS. Laura Roslin, ladies & gentlemen: FOR THE WIN.
-"So now we have a military leader & a president all in one?" Heh. Basically, yes. I tried to warn you guys! Do not piss off Roslin!
-The last few minutes of the mutiny: once again, and this time with feeling, FOR THE WIN. Tyrol hauling ass down the stairs, THE DRUMS, Roslin on the speakers ready to rip everyone a new asshole while Adama leads a growing crowd of supporters down the hall and Zarek & Gaeta are counting down to jump the frak outta there, just GAH. The badassery, cap'n, I CAN'T TAKE IT.
-Speaking of Tyrol, he joins in on the ~saving of the day~ action by disabling the FTL. Go chief! Also: gotta appreciate the metaphor of the crack in the wall that Tyrol sees. The ship is falling apart, in more ways than one.
-"One day soon, there's gonna be a reckoning." Poor Gaeta. You can tell he knows it's over here, and is just in shock. To his credit, he ignores Zarek demanding he attack the basestar and calls the whole thing off. Unfortunately it's too late, and you know there's no turning back for him now. Sniff.
-"Madam President, this is the Admiral. STAND DOWN." Looooove thaaaaaaat. Heh. First off, because he's all "THIS IS OUR SHIP, MOTHERFUCKERS. MADAM PRESIDENT & THE ADMIRAL. RECOGNIZE" but even more so because he's like, "SHH, THERE, THERE. DON'T NUKE THE JOINT, BABY." Hahaha.
-Roslin/Adama reuniting. ealiailghoirea;ghoieaghgihgh LOVE IT. Love her teary intake of breath, love his face, love how they don't even speak, love how she sort of just ~collapses~ into him, love how they walk off leaning against each other, LOVE THE WHOLE THING. Ahhhh.
-"I just hope that people realize. . .eventually. . .who I am."
"I know who you are, Felix. I know who you are."
*cries*
DAMN YOU, SHOW. STOP BREAKING MY HEART OVER HERE.
I think it's especially interesting too how Gaeta chose Baltar to talk to before he died, considering everything that happened between them on New Caprica & how he tried to kill him. It just goes to show how important Baltar always was to him, and how conflicted he mostly likely felt about things right up until the end.
-and finally, we end with Gaeta & Zarek facing the firing squad, giving each other one last look & a nod of acceptance. And because this show likes to break my goddamned heart, right before he dies we have Gaeta's last words (regarding the pain in his amputated leg): "it stopped." And then, BOOM. Gunshots & a cut to black. I can't even. . .ahhh.
So there you have it. In a nutshell: INTENSE. I swear, when this show brings it, it brings it *hard*.
Wrapping this up with a Vid of the Day, we're gonna go with this one by Sczep84 (one of my favorite vidders). You can't understand the mutiny without understanding the journey these people have been on already, and so much of that revolves around their search for Earth. Knowing that, and knowing what happens in "Revelations" and "Sometimes a Great Notion", it's not surprising shit went ballistic soon after: