Scar...

Just tidying up some loose ends.

Go watch The Proposition.

Stephen King's Cell is worth a read, but John Bennett's Sea Otters Gambolling in the Wild, Wild Surf is much better and has more fingering in it.

London is still filled with nightmares. Go look.

And when BSG finally comes to the end of season two (only a two-parter left I believe) I want to dedicate some space to an overview of the whole shebang as it's been damn important tv as well as constantly entertaining. I just want to dump a few thoughts here from a few weeks ago before I lose them.

If that sounds dull go look at naked people.

Spolilers for BSG: S02E15 - if you don't have torrent capabilities look away now and give my regards to the 20th century- here be spoilers.

I started this a while back so at least one prediction (the return to Caprica) has come to pass, although I wasn't prepared for the direction that THAT episode would take us. The point is, I guess, that on the surface SCAR was a pretty simple episode - Starbuck bangs heads with what is perhaps her Cylon opposite (in terms of flying at least) and lives to fight another day - but it was completely character driven, whacked a hell of a punch and underlined exactly why Starbuck is BSG while Apollo is still a pussy.

The implication that perhaps Scar is the reincarnation of the Raider that Starbuck wounded, killed, climbed inside the guts of and flew back to the fleet was a tremendous idea. Need a better reason for holding a grudge? It's a pity he was smeared across a lump of rock by the end of the episode... we could do with more recurring villainy.

The only real cliche was not remembering the dead pilots' faces/names as that gets dragged out in way too many 'war is hell' type movies and TV shows, but the rest of the episode was first rate.

That Starbuck now has something to live for was not only endearing as there's only so many times you can excuse her reckless behaviour, it has the subsequent effect of making her take less risks as a pilot. She not only loses her Top Gun status, but also her feeling of being indestructible. Seeing as the theme of BSG so far seems to be 'kick 'em when they're down' I don't see much hope for a happy ending here. They can't lose Starbuck, but her freedom fighting boyfriend's days are numbered for sure. That should bring back an even darker and more troubled Starbuck in season three.

Let's raise a glass to misery.

The details in that episode were perfect - the shot of Scar leaving his hiding place in the asteroid field, the worn surface of his hide screaming SHARK. That was the best sfx shot of the year.

They love the flashback framework in this show and it gets old when centred around Lee (his 'won't someone think of the children... and whores' episode was a low point this year), but having Starbuck's epiphany slowly unfold during that face off was inspired. Each jump increasing the reasons why this may well have been her last flight.

The previous episode - Apollo getting his balls back was weak, because Apollo is such an annoying character - my heart goes out to Jamie Bamber as he does a great job, but really does anyone care about him? I'm not overwhelmed by the fact that he shot a gangster in the head. Starbuck would have killed everyone in the room, bitchslapped the whore and warned the kid that her life was already fracked before grabbing a bottle from behind the bar as the camera bobs around behind her arse.

During the hostage episode of course she shot him - it does nothing to help Apollo's character develop as he's just a whipping post, but Starbuck has to live with almost killing him. Great stuff.

The revelation that the Raiders can resurrect too was nicely done and something I hadn't considered. I love this show mostly because they always outfox me. And Boomer's perfect explanation:

"Makes sense doesn't it? It takes months for you to train a nugget into an effective viper pilot. And then they get killed. And then you lose their experience their knowledge their skill sets. It's gone forever. So if you could bring them back give them a brand new body wouldn't you do it? Death then becomes a learning experience"

And if that wasn't enough we have a 'moment' between Boomer and Starbuck. "You know there are times when I look at you and I forget who you are. All I see is that kid..." She leans forward, "You were like a big sister..." Only to be cut off by the Marines cocking their weapons in her face. Of course this all plays out on a different level during the Caprica episode...

"You remember me don't you? You want my ass so bad you can taste it. Well keep coming because I guaranfrackintee that I will put you down, this time for good."

See, that's how you write action dialogue. Oh yeah - and now they HAVE to go back to Caprica. Should be a hell of a finale...

[Music: Loudness]