Formspring Question # 47--Contrarian Edition

Give me an unpopular opinion about LOST, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who.

Lost--I really liked the finale. Others have complained it did not give any answers to the series’ questions, but ultimately, faith won out over science. Faith does not require answers. I can accept that.

As a bonus, I did not mind Nikki and Paulo. Michelle Rodriguez as Ana-Lucia Cortez was a fine addition to the cast, too.

Battlestar Galactica--I am not sure I have an unpopular opinion about the show. Were a lot of fans really upset about the ’God did it” finale? If so, I liked it, so that will have to count.

Doctor Who--Christopher Eccleston made a better Doctor than David Tennant. Eccleston played the part of a melancholy loner racked with survivor’s guilt perfectly. Tennant often came across as a whiny emo. Maybe the problem is Tennant had to drag out the persona three years longer than Eccleston, but regardless, that is how I feel.

Lynch mobs of teenage girls are now forming all over the United Kingdom to come after me now…

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #30--And in Conclusion...

Even those who learn the lessons of history are often doomed to repeat them.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #29--Favorite Minor Character

My favorite recurring character is Romo Lampkin. He is the kind of lawyer I would have been if my flesh had been as strong as my spirit.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #28--Your Thoughts on the Finale

I have not watched "Daybreak" since the episode first aired, so my original review still stands.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #27--Favorite Behind the Scenes or Promo Photo

Srarbuck and Starbuck in a Starbuck's.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #26--Favorite Non-Space Battle

My favorite non-space battle is the storming of Cavil's compound in order to rescue Hera. Original Cylon Centurions v. the New Cylon Centurions is awesome. while I understand the stakes of losing, I am still a bit miffed the old guard did not come out on top.

Purely out of loyalty and nostalgia, of course.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #25--Favorite Allusion to History or Literature

Starbuck's disappearance, leaving Lee Adama behind in "Daybreak, Part II/III," is a Biblical reference to the Rapture:

"Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."--Matthew 24:40 (KJV)

One of many references to Scripture, but easily the most poignant.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica #24-- Something You Wish Had Not Happened

I thought the brief existence of a virus the Colonials might use to fight the Cylons, enough of a threat for the Cylons to torture Baltar for information about, was dropped so abruptly, it might as well have not even been introduced. It felt like filler.

I have a hunch the writers threw it in after the New Caprica story arc jut as a distraction from the fall out within the fleet, but it did not work out too well as far as I am concerned.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 23--Who You Thought Was the Fifth Cylon

I suspected the Fifth Cylon was Lee Adama right up until we learned it was Ellen Tigh instead.

Back in “Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down,” Leoben whispered to Roslin that Adama was a Cylon. He probably did so in order to srive a wedge between the two, since having the president and the head of the military distrust each other would cause chaos. Upon further reflection, a number of clues have emerged indicating either Bill or Lee Adama might be a Cylon.

Lee seems like the most obvious choice. He has always been awkward in his own skin. He does not fit into his role as a military officer, yet he did not fit well in his second career choice as a lawyer like his grandfather, either. He has a hard time making connections with other people. He has had suicidal tendencies just like Boomer when she began to suspect she was a Cylon. He has survived a stint marooned in space with a ruptured suit, indicating he is a little tougher than most humans. The last bit was meant to make fans wonder, however. Just how long was he out there?

Other guesses were Zac, Gaeta, and Tom Zarek. I thought it would have been a neat twist to point to the new Apollo as the Fifth Cylon, then turn around and have it be Richard Hatch, who played Apollo in the original series. That is why I never got a chance to write for theshow. I come up with ideas of that caliber.

I did not guess Ellen Tigh at any point.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 22--Original Centurions or Updated?

I have to go with the original Centurions.

It pains me to say so. The reimagiing is superior to the original series in most every way except for the Centurions. The updated versions remind me of the battle droids from the Star Wars prequels. They are not quite the cannon fodder the droidsare, but they are quite boring.

The original Cylons had personality. Their distinctive voices made them more menacing than the cold, voiceless updated versions. It is for this reason I was thrilled to see some classic Centurions show up I the series. I am also crossing my fingers we will eventually et to see the First Cylon War hit the screen so wecan see more of them in action.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 21--Sexiest Cylon

Not a real contest, is it?Okay, maybe a small one.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 20--Least Favorite Cylon

My least favorite Cylon is Aaron Doral.

He is supposed to be some public relations/propaganda minister who hates humans almost as much as Cavil, but I saw as more Kevin Spacey's stunt double than Josef Goebbels. What was the point to him? Every other Cylon got at least one wham moment during the series, but not Doral.

He never resonated with me.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 19--Favorite Homage to the Original Series

My favorite homage is when the original Cylons make an appearance in Razor.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 18--Scene That Left You on the Edge of Your Seat

The scene that most left me on the edge of my seat was the ending to "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II" when the Cylons began their occupation of New Caprica.

TYROL: What do you want to do now, Captain?
STARBUCK: The same thing we always do. Fight 'em until we can't.

The cliffhanger ending made for a long seven months wait for the start of the third season.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 17--Least Favorite Episode

My least favorite episode is "Black Market." Ronald D. Moore apologized for it in the production podcast. 'Nuff said.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 16--Favorite Episode

My favorite episode is “33.” It is only the first episode of the series, but thanks to the miniseries preceding it, the cast already understands the characters they play and the dire situation they are in. ’33’ sets the tone for the entire series.

The premise is that a pursuing Cylon fleet relentlessly attacks the Galactica every thirty-three minutes for five days straight. You feel the raw tension as the attacks come on a regular basis, every single day, with the crew unable to sleep because they have to constantly be on alert.

Roslin maintains a board in which she keeps a head count of survivors. It starts out at just below 50,000 and lowers as casualties mount in the attacks. It is a subtle, but poignant way to generate empathy for the crew. Humanity is very much on its last legs, hounded by a more powerful enemy ent on its complete annihilation.

The episode is somber. A lot of te elements reminded me of 9/11 when I first saw it--the makeshift memorials, the uncertainty of further attacks, and the military destroying a an empty civilian ship the Cylons had bee usig to track the fleet, among others.

“33’ ends on a happy note with a child being born, allowing Roslin the add oe more to the survivor count. This was a fantastic introduction to the series.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 15--Favorite Roslin Moment

My favorite Laura Roslin moment was this exchange between Tom Zarek and her after he has lied about successfully pulling off his coup:

TOM ZAREK: [over wireless] This is Tom Zarek, President of the Twelve Colonies. It's over Laura. Saul Tigh was killed attempting to escape. Bill Adama was tried and found guilty of his crimes. A firing squad executed him this morning. It's done, Laura. You want to think about the people of this fleet now, and surrender.

ROSLIN: (with building fury) 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 eye teeth to end you! I swear it. I'm coming for all of you!

With all due respect to Starbuck fans, Roslin was the woman you did not want to make angry.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 14--The Happiest Scene

Battlestar Galactica was a bleak show about the last few thousand human survivors of a genocidal nuclear attack. There were not that many happy moments.

One of the few which sticks out prominently in my mind is the victory celebration at the end of “The Hand of God.” The fleet was so desperately in need of supplies, Adama decided to raid a Cylon base to steal some. The ensuing battle was the first time the Galactica crew had gone on the offensive. The victory wasa sorely neede boost to morale.

The elation was short lived, but much needed.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 13--The Saddest Scene

Adama's final scene cries loneliness.

Thirty Days of Battlestar Galactica # 12--The Scene That Made You the Angriest

The discovery the Pegasus crew have bee taking their frustrations out on the captured Cylon, Six. She has been unspeakably brutalized.

The above scene is one of many in the episode “Pegasus” that are meat to strike an angry emotional chord with fans. The episode relies purely on emotion, as we begin to see the jubilation of finding another battlestar intact yields to the horror the Pegasus is Galactica’s evil twin.

As bleak as times have been for our heroes, they have maintained their sense of decency while the Pegasus crew have taken a much darker path. Worse yet, we see Cain take command of the military and fear how the tone may change for all involved.