Well, okay, just “Epiphanies”, but … I couldn’t resist.

I have one thing to say: BAH HUMBUG FOR MIRACLE CURES.

It had to completely cure the cancer? It couldn’t just delay the inevitable by a year? This plotline reeked of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

I like Roslin. I like the character. And one thing about the character was that she was supposed to die. I hate when tv shows build this great, tragic flaw into a character onto to pull back at the last moment and say “Sike! Just kidding!” Laura’s cancer storyline were just a big cock tease, and this episode just seemed … oh! It’s frustrating.

I don’t thing BSG would be better if Laura died, actually, I think it might get worse — one of the best things about the show is the incredible civillian/military dynamic between Roslin and Adama. But I just can’t get it out of mind that it could have been handled better. I hope that perhaps the cancer will reappear in a few seasons with a powerful vengeance and kill Roslin, perhaps we find Adama the elected President by that point and he gets to put down fascist uprisings by Admiral Tigh. Heh.

***

Mention of the Pegasus, but hoorah for not seeing her or any of her crew. I’m sure we’ll see the ship from time to time but, really, it’s not Battlestar Galactica & Pegasus.

***

Wow. Sharon II is pissed about them Marines trying to abort her kid against her will. And good for Helo for standing up to Adama, even if he did almost get turned into “swiss lieutenant” for it. Here’s a wild bet: this will still end badly.

***

“I am not the man you think I am.”

A line delivered by Baltar, directed not just at “Gina”, but at the audience. Gaius Baltar is the man whose actions most directly provided for the downfall of the Colonies, as his relationship with the Cylon-agent “Gina/Number Six” gave the Cylons access to top-secret information at the Ministry of Defense and the opportunity to sabotauge the Colonies’ defenses.

Ever since he realized his accidental role in the near genocide of mankind, Baltar has been on the uber-defensive, every action on behalf of the Cylons taken to cover-up his own guilt. Yet here Baltar seemed to look at his actions, to look at the path he’d chosen for himself, and to make a conscious decision to damn the consequences and make sure he acted in the best way to ensure the survival of the human race — namely, by discovering the “miracle cure” and keeping Roslin alive (and as President).

Then he reads the letter Roslin had written him for him to read after her death. Yeah, Laura. Great choice of words. Baltar looked at the path he chose, a path of Cylon collusion, and he carefully stepped away from it. Then he got his feelings hurt in a letter, jumped on a bus, and signed boldly on the dotted line that read “Traitor.”

This kind of character development and treatment is why I LOVE THIS SHOW.

***

When Baltar freed “Gina” from the Pegasus in the last episode, she killed Admiral Cain, then started looking for ways to sabotauge the fleet she found herself with. So she found her way to join (or start) a radical-left-wing peacenik (but, y’know, with exceptions for trying to kill Viper pilots and succeeding at killing tanker-carrier crews) organization screaming “fascism!” at the military (frankly, however, not an entirely unjustified review of Adama’s command) and demanding peace with the Cylons.

As far as “peace with the Cylons” goes, of course, it takes two to tango, and I seem to recall that even offering an unconditional surrender wouldn’t stop the bloodlust of the Cylons. On the other hand, “Gina” doesn’t neccessarily want the organization to succeed — she just wants the fleet to tear itself apart so that the Cylons can pounce.

Roslin’s biggest strength — strong leadership — also seems to be a big downfall here. Releasing the spokesman for the organization to allow for negotiations (provided there are no other acts of violence), he is intercepted by Baltar who provides him with … the nuclear warhead, given to him by Adama for the “Cylon detector” last season.

Whooooooops.

Yeah, Roslin, great word choice with your letter.

(I would like to, in particular, object to #9. Particularly since I’ve been losing weight, I think a much more apt description would be “space shuttle” as opposed to “space station.”)

I’m sorry that Mark quit without notice.

Please don’t take it out on me.

Maybe you didn’t notice but, yes, I did bust my ass all afternoon knocking out the prep list, answering phones, helping customers, and taking deliveries. I know I wasn’t quite as good as “grabbing the counter” as you had to come out of your office a few times and were interupted in paperwork, but I have to be at another job at four and if I wanted to be out of the Indy in time to run to the grocery store, then home for a shower and change of clothes without being late, well, I didn’t quite have the luxury of time you seem to assume I had.

And yet, as you were counting me out, you also seemed to be taking out all of your frustration over Mark’s actions on … oh, right: me.

You can, when you want to be, you can be a great boss. But when you’re angry, you make working so very miserable, and today was one of those times I had to remind myself that I put up with your attitude because sometimes I make good money working for you. And, yes, sometimes you even appreciate your employees and don’t make them feel like lowly scum.

But today wasn’t one of those days, Gary, and I think if I hadn’t left when I did, you’d be scrambling not only to fill Mark’s management shifts, but my driving shifts.

Thanks Gary. Don’t worry, I know: you don’t care. Well, until someone quits, that is.

-Snay