BSG thoughts

[hazelk]

Every episode of BSG begins with the previouslies text about man creating the cylons, how they rebelled, how they evolved and how there are many copies (with a plan). For the first season only there was also the reminder that they look and feel human (and Sharon is a double agent).

In retrospect that first season was very much about the aftermath of 9/11 and subsequent paranoia about the enemy within. Humanity was on the run from a faceless opponent with incomprehensible objectives and lethal intentions but by making the enemy a race of technologically advanced robots the atmosphere generated was more than a straightforward allegory of (then) current US fears, it also incorporated aspects of the Cold War. Boomer, for example, played a character straight out of the original (and far superior) version of The Manchurian Candidate. Part of the genius of the first season was to let sufficient time and sympathy elapse after her initial act of sabotage in Water for the story to seem to be about her fear of being discovered instead of the fear of what she was programmed to do next. The shooting of Adama was both inevitable with hindsight and genuinely shocking at the time.

In season two the double agent reminder was dropped from the previouslies and the enemy shifted from hidden other to each other. Conflict between Roslin and Adama, Galactica and Pegasus and finally Roslin and her political opponents took over from the Cylon threat as the major force behind the storylines. Boomer was replaced by Athena making no secret of what she was, Six become corporeal first as Gina and then as Caprica and the Cylon fleet suffered its first major set back with the loss of the resurrection ship. The Cylons in this season appeared focused on their (reproductive) destiny while the humans chased after theirs to find Earth. God says be fruitful, the Gods will show you the way. In the final twist, however, humanity settled for New Caprica while the Cylons, believing their fruit to be dead, set out to spread God's word to the colonists.

Season three, like season one has some very direct parallels with recent political events, the occupation of Iraq and the trial of Saddam Hussein. Judgement on Baltar and that image of the final five has the look of a fantasy courtroom. D'Anna judged not worthy? Or projecting – punish me, judge me, don’t leave me to judge myself. Human and Cylons are direct competitors now, both looking for Earth, both discovering who they are, what they can't run from. The Cylons are rapidly acquiring human flaws politicking and in fighting, the humans have committed or considered committing every atrocity done to them. Free will not programming makes us human but some would rather be Chosen than choosing. There's potential for all these themes to come together and the final five storyline to reveal some commonality of origin for both races but it may be too soon for that.

Comments

[c-mantix.livejournal.com]

Very interesting synthesis...

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

Mmm Ellen. Sad moment.