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Okay, I’m frackin done writing up this frackin review. This is definitly the hardest review I’ve ever had to write. I thankfully got a lot of help from Lexxlurker with the humour. The episode is hard to describe, and the review was even harder to write. I’m not happy with it, but here it is:
It is interesting to note that the SkyOne Synopsis says:
A political news show reports that ships are preparing for a U.N.-style meeting of all the ship’s delegates to be held on the yearly holiday of “Colonial Day.” The council of delegates will be made up of 12 survivors from the 12 different former colonies. The Astral Queen announces that their representative will be Tom Zarek, the controversial populist terrorist whose violent protests landed him in prison for two years making President Laura and the commanding officers of the Galactica nervous.
Caprica appoints Baltar as its delegate: he’s popular, charismatic and has a reputation for having saved the fleet from disaster before. Kara is put in charge of security for the event, which will be held on a vacation destination called “Cloud Nine.” She pays particular attention to Zarek and his cronies, Grimes and Valance, who are clearly planning something nefarious.
At a preliminary meeting, Zarek speaks before all of the delegates and explains that he believes it to be unfair if there is no Vice President as a second-in-command to Laura Roslin. A number of the delegates agree; one steps forward to nominate Zarek. Laura and company are cornered; Zarek is right, but they declare that it should be an official election, following the traditional process.
Laura consults with an old advisor friend of hers, the intelligent & respected William Gray. She tells Gray she has breast cancer; if Zarek wins the election and she dies, he will become President. She pleads with Gray to enter the race. He reluctantly agrees. In a bar, Kara and Lee engage Zarek’s cronies, led by Grimes, in a violent fight. The brawl is about to turn fatal when Lee manages to kick a handgun away from Valance.
On Caprica, Helo and Cylon Sharon plan their escape from the planet. Sharon contemplates telling Helo her secrets: that she is, in fact, a Cylon and is pregnant with his child. Kara and Lee interrogate Valance, trying to get him to admit to a plot to harm the President. He insists he has no idea what they are talking about.
Gray goes to Laura to say he is dropping out of the race. Laura is devastated, but Gray explains that Zarek has unearthed a dark secret about Gray; back on Caprica he had a long-term affair with his secretary. If he were to run, it would become public and his family would be devastated. He has no choice but to drop out.
On the news political talk show, Gaius Baltar makes a particularly showy appearance as the Caprica representative, wining over the hosts and viewers and with his candour and humour on political issues. Laura watches the show and decides she will ask Baltar to run for Vice President. Baltar accepts the nomination by telephone while engaged in a threesome with Number Six and another colonial delegate in a hot tub.
Someone has leaked to the press the rumour of a plot to assassinate Laura, spearheaded by Zarek. Zarek’s popularity in the polls dips. Baltar narrowly wins the election by one point. Laura then reveals to Adama that it was she who leaked the rumour to the press, saying “politics are a lot like war.”
As Helo and Sharon try to make their escape from Caprica, there is a shootout between Helo, Cylon Sharon and the other Cylons. During the fray, Helo sees another version of Sharon and comes to the horrifying conclusion that she must be a Cylon. He flees, leaving his love behind.
Obviously, what was aired is somewhat different than what was in the synopsis, and the synopsis may be one of the first script drafts.
This episode is taylor-made for those that wish to see Colonial politics in action, plus some implied shippy action. IF the Colonial goverment was fully intact, someone like Zarek would be offered a position and or absorbed into the system and/or his ideas would be embraced by one of the major/ruling parties/elite to take away any popular support. That happens in our current political system. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” mentality. The next episode shows Roslin has implemented the barter system and is looking for a way to go back on a monetary system for exchange. I found the Helo arc to be more watchable and unpredictible.
Some lines from this episode are (from TGL):
# “Roslin is the past, Zarek is the future, a blind man can see that.”
# “…you can have any woman you want, but always remember – I have your heart….I can always rip it out of your chest, if I need to.”
# “President Roslin and her polices, are all about holding into an FANTASY!!!”
# “You are clearly a well connected, well informed woman.”
“Wife of the X.O, whatever that’s worth.”
“Quite a bit – now, and in the future.”
“That’s what I’m interested in, Tom. My place – and my husband’s place, in the future.”#”Any man who uses their intelligence and resources to blow up a building doesn’t get my vote, no. I’m voting for your man, Grey, I mean, he’s really grey….he’s great, he is really great.”
#”So erm, that bum knee of course is looking pretty good….and the other one is not too bad, either.”
“Lee, if you want to ask me to dance, just ask.”
“You wanna dance?”
“Me in a dress is a once in a life-time opportunity.”# “Madam President, good evening.”
“I thought you hated these things.”
“Its Colonial Day, where else would I be? I’m a Patriot.”
“You really are, aren’t you?”
“Doctor Baltar, interesting choice.”
“I figured, the devil you know.”
“Politics. As exciting as war, and definitely as dangerous.”
“Although in war, you only get killed once. In politics, it can happen over and over.”
“You’re still standing.”
“So are you.”
“And I can dance.”# “If we get caught, if anything happens-”
“You don’t have to say anything, I know. We’re gonna make it, Sharon.”# “Helo!!! Come with me!! Helo!!! Helo!!!”
You can read the transcript here.
Some of my comments/ thoughts:
*My wife and I also wondered where the “Cloud 9” liner came from. We looked at each other like “WTF??? Where did that come from?” Not only is it very large and uniquley shaped but it is also the most luminous ship (so far) that we’ve seen. Maybe they’ll introduce a “party” ship later on as in TOS, but with bright disco lights and strobes. I agree with Headgehog that it is simply a device to have outdoor scenes.
*I know some other posters have likened this first season to the first season of “24.” This ep really gave me that feeling as there was so much going on. I have only seen this ep once and will definately watch it several more times.
*Headgehog, I also like how you keep us up-to-date on Starbuck’s resume: sniper/ marine/ interragator/ Sun Tzu/ security specialist. Does she cook?
*This ep also gave me a solid number to work with as far as figuring out the timeline. Helo says that he’s been on Caprica for 46 days (I believe), so we can safely conclude that a month and a half has elapsed since the 12 colonies were nearly wiped out. There were probably other clues or outright mentions of this in prior eps, but I either missed them or forgot them.
*Helo- has there ever been a more pitiful character than this? The only redeeming aspect of his situation on Caprica is that he was there with Boomer2 and that he was totally spankin’ that a$$. Now that he’s figured out that she’s a cylon, he doesn’t even have that. The scene of him fleeing Delphi is almost funny, in a twisted way.
YOWAYYO wrote:. Maybe they’ll introduce a “party” ship later on as in TOS, but with bright disco lights and strobes.
Moore has gone on the record that there won’t be a casino ship.planet in the new series. But, who knows what contrivances the future may hold.
*Headgehog, I also like how you keep us up-to-date on Starbuck’s resume: sniper/ marine/ interragator/ Sun Tzu/ security specialist. Does she cook?
Not very well I’m sorry to report.
Although I do have to give credit to LexxLurker for the running joke. He started it many epsiodes reviews ago, and he might have scripted that one too. We’ve done so many reviews together I forget the details.*This ep also gave me a solid number to work with as far as figuring out the timeline. Helo says that he’s been on Caprica for 46 days (I believe), so we can safely conclude that a month and a half has elapsed since the 12 colonies were nearly wiped out. There were probably other clues or outright mentions of this in prior eps, but I either missed them or forgot them.
At the begining of the first Caprica scene in an episode they tell us what day it is.
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