Sci-Fi
Well, this was just fucking weird. Four of the revered and mysterious final five humanoid Cylons were revealed as Tigh, Tyrol, Tory and Anders. They were brought together by a mysterious song only they could hear. They found the tune eerily familiar. As the tension built they began to speak the words of the song. “There must be some kind of way out of here/said the joker to the thief”. Holy frack! All Along The Watchtower? Not only are the Cylons murderous religious zealot fascist robots intent on the destruction of humanity, they’re Dylan fans as well. I wonder if they booed and called him Judas when he went electric ? Do all our sci-fi villains have unexpected taste in music? Did the Daleks listen to Woody Guthrie? Is the Mekon into ambient? All this before I even mention that Starbuck is back from the dead to guide them back to Earth. What a strange little show this is.
“Holy frack! All Along The Watchtower? Not only are the Cylons murderous religious zealot fascist robots intent on the destruction of humanity, they’re Dylan fans as well.”
In the courtroom, Gaius Baltar beat his treason rap with the help of Apollo and wisecracking maverick brief Romo Lampkin. It’s been quite a season for Baltar, what with the occupation of Nu-Caprica, the mayhem of evacuation, his threesomes with number 6 and number 3 and his eventual capture and trial. He still spends much of his time impersonating Dr Smith from Lost in Space and we expect no less from the spineless weasel. There’s enough self-sacrificing military machismo to power Galactica into the far galaxies – some low-rent cowardice is always welcome.
“The show makers want to make Old Testament parallels but the bongo bongo mysticism is quite difficult to follow and I don’t really buy it as motivation.”
The religiosity that fuels much of the season arc has become increasingly baffling – to me, at least. I don’t really know why people are doing things any more. I get that they’re trying to find Earth and that they’d quite like to avoid annihilation at the hands of the Cylons but I don’t really know why the Cylons are still following them. And I can understand why the show makers want to make Old Testament parallels with exodus, persecution, slavery and a promised land but the bongo bongo mysticism is quite difficult to follow and I don’t really buy it as motivation. And I like to know why people are doing things.
Don’t get me wrong. This is still a good show – it’s a unique and innovative take on some classic themes. But they’re going to have to explain The Gods business or drop it all together. And I’d like to know more about the Cylons too. Just what is their major malfunction? Isn’t there another race they can persecute and nuke the shit out of? They Have A Plan. Yeah? Mind letting us in on that sometime?
The best thing about it: The blossoming relationship between President Roslin and Admiral Adama.
The worst thing about it: I no really understand it.
The verdict on Battlestar Galactica Season 3 finale : Give it another 20 minutes basting and it will be done.
Marks out of 10: 7.5