Thoughts on Sacrifice

I am going to apologize in advance. I am writing this while watching the Olympics, so if it feels disjointed, it probably is. They only come around once every four years and I get pretty addicted. Thank technology for DVRs… I was able to watch the opening ceremony while recording BSG at the same time!

I wasn’t really prepared to enjoy Sacrifice. After seeing the promo, I figured it was going to be your typical hostage situation-type drama. The biggest thing that works this time around is the fact that the people involved are a good mix of primary characters. This really easily could have been executed with one or two people from the cast. The fact that Ellen, Apollo, Dee, Billy, and Starbuck all become wrapped up in the drama, works out for the best. The fact that it also involved Sharon, Adama, Tigh and Roslin, means that we have a fairly broad number of characters to interact with.

Ellen
It has been a while since we saw Ellen, maybe because she has been hanging out on Cloud Nine! When she was first added to the show, I remember not really liking her… maybe she is just good in small doses. I think I actually like her better when she is interacting with other characters (like Apollo, or Zarek) instead of Tigh.

In the beginning she seemed a bit too calculating. I think now it is quite apparent that she is simply shallow and selfish. She cares about nothing more than herself and having a good time. The ultimate pragmatist and survivalist, it is interesting that she has stayed with Tigh as long as she has. Sure, he is doing ok for himself, and she was definitely there to push him into assuming command while Adama was down for the count, but you would think by now she would shift her alliance to someone a little more power-hungry. I still think it is inevitable that she will hook up with Zarek. That just seems like a done deal to me.

Apollo
I really expected the writers to play his brush with a death a little more blatant than they have been lately. The image of him lying in his bunk, saying that he wished he hadn’t come back was a pretty serious moment. The fact that he is still working hard to save the day says a great deal about his character. I guess I am less sure where he is headed at this point. I was expecting him to continue making somewhat destructive decisions that would lead him down a darker and darker path. This week showed him to still be an extremely motivated and honorable soldier, so I am a bit lost.

Apollo’s little moment asking Ellen to go with him to the bathroom was pretty hilarious. It is just like her to think that she is enough of a temptress to land a hot shot like Apollo. On the other hand, Dee was definitely making a move. It is one of those pairings that I never could have predicted while watching the first season, so I am happy simply because it is unexpected.

Dualla
My only concern with Dee is that she is only really given things to do on screen as a result of her relationships. We have to remember, she is the ranking communications officer for the ship, something we haven’t seen her doing much of lately. She is a great actress and for her to only be used as a love interest is not something I am happy with.

There was a time when Dualla and Gaeta had a pretty fun working relationship going. I wouldn’t mind seeing the writers go back to that a bit. As I mentioned last week, friendships (like Starbuck and Helo) add so much texture to the Galactica universe. I think it is completely reasonable that Dualla and Gaeta could be close friends. That would also give Gaeta a chance to get back in the story.

Billy
Poor, poor Billy. I might have been hard on him in the past, given the lap-dog nature of his character, but I have to say I am quite sad to see him go. I can’t say it was a surprise since I happened to be on his personal website one day (for some odd reason) and read about him saying he would be unemployed soon… so I was definitely looking for it this episode.

The only problem I have with his death is that it seems to be the easy way out from a writing standpoint. It would have taken guts to make the Dualla and Apollo relationship work while Billy was around. Taking him out of the picture makes it easier for everyone, but much less interesting. A part of me tries to believe they killed him off for a bigger reason. Perhaps his death was some commentary on nice guys finishing last. Or maybe his senseless death is another example of the unfit nature of humanity, people perfectly willing to kill each other for revenge instead of cooperating for the greater good of the fleet. In the end, I can’t help but feel his death was a tad bit convenient.

Starbuck
What another great episode for Starbuck. She dives in, guns blazing and for once it really back-fires on her. The slow motion realization of her mistake… Her shocked and covering posture in the hallway… Her moment on the phone with Adama… All were perfectly played and simply wrenching. I would like to see her reprimanded by someone for her behavior. The plan was obviously rushed and resulted not in only the shooting of Apollo, but the loss of two marines. As a leader, she should never make such a careless sacrifice of lives, especially in a densely populated bar. There should definitely be some ramifications. I guess we will see.

The moment with Starbuck watching Dualla and Lee from the door was remarkably similar to Apollo watching Billy and Dualla in the gym. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it was a nice effect, showing the similar hidden longings that tend to rule those two characters lives. It seems it is Apollo and Starbuck that are the most torn by duty. Everyone else seems to have an easy time separating work from play. I guess it doesn’t help that while you are on R&R you get called up to perform an armed assault.

Sharon, Adama, Tigh, Roslin
There is a very interesting dymanic developing between these four characters. As the other characters have ventured off into the shenanigans of lower rank and file, the leaders of the fleet have started to rely on each other more and more for counsel and conversation. Tigh has found himself alienated from the crew after the problems of his command during Adama’s gun shot wound. Adama has retreated into his own mind and the mind of Sharon after his brush with death. Roslin has revealed a new harshness in her policies, initially driven by her impending death and now seemingly driven by a realization that the quality of life in the fleet is rapidly diminishing. It can’t be easy to sit as president while black markets, Cylon sympathizers and human terrorists rip their small civilization apart. They are balanced on a razors edge, Roslin knows this and she isn’t pulling any punches.

I keep waiting for a big show down between Roslin and Sharon. There is a great episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where Captain Picard has decided to use a captured Borg named Hue to carry a virus back to the Borg collective and destroy their civilization. In the end, Picard is convinced to go down and talk with Hue, finding out in the process that he is not just an enemy, but an individual, with his own wants and decisions. I keep waiting for the “Hue” moment between Roslin and Sharon. It is obvious she is a valuable Cylon to have around. Adama is reminded how many times she has saved them. I have a hard time understanding why Tigh and Roslin do not see the same thing. Remember that huge fleet that Sharon single handedly destroyed?

Honestly, there was a part of me that thought Adama might go through with killing Sharon. I don’t know why, but given that the episode was called Sacrifice, I was sort of expecting it, no matter how crazy it might have been. Can you just imagine if the show went in that direction? How dark would that have been? It could have become one of the scariest and amazing moments of this show… that someone like Adama would kill Sharon and her unborn child to save his dying son and the hostages? I think this episode was the first time I ever got goose bumps during a commercial break simply thinking about what was going to happen next. But… it didn’t. They opted for the bait and switch… which was clever. I had totally forgotten about the Sharon body.

Conclusion
This was a well written episode. Sacrifice relies on a standard formula, but works well within that to utilize the characters, establish tension and drive relationships forward. Like so many episodes before it, the real gold of this one will come in how those who were affected deal with the ramifications in the coming weeks.

MIA of the week: Paging Dr. Baltar? Dr. Baltar are you in the building?

Primary MVP of the week is for Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck. This episode didn’t really feature, but she really grabbed hold of the scenes she was given. One of my favorite scenes of the episode was her on the phone talking to Adama. That has to count for something

Secondary MVP of the week goes to Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya. He may have died, but that is not why he gets it. He gets it for his honest scene proposing to Dualla and for just being an all around nice guy. His debate ring?! That is just classic. It was a perfectly awkward moment. Perfectly awkward and perfectly sad. I wish you luck in your quest for work Mr. Campbell. You will be missed… unless of course you are a Cylon… and you make a surprise appearance later!

Rule to self: Do not do your write-up while watching the Olympics. It takes about four times as long and you don't even know what you are writing from paragraph to paragraph.

Additional Resources

• Official episode 2.16 synopsis
• Episode 2.16 podcast commentary
• Battlestar Wiki page for 2.16

Comments

[Paul Karpenko]

Yeah, I'm pretty much convinced that Billy's a Cylon if only because I can totally see the scene of him emerging from the shadows in front of Roslin and cut to commercial right after her horrified expression.

[Trapper Markelz]

Paul - Yeah you know that would be hot. HOLY CRAP IT'S TEH B1LLY OMG!!!1111!

[Paul Karpenko]

.. That's correct.

[Grand Fromage]

Billy's death was primarily because the actor's getting offered all sorts of other jobs, and they needed to let him go. So that's why it seems a bit senseless, it was based on non-story reasons.

[Peter]

Yeah, Billy finally found his balls and now he has to leave the show. It's too bad because in this episode, I thought he was just starting to become an interesting character and we really find out just how close Billy is to Roslin. If he later turns out to be a cylon, Roslin might change her her attitude towards Sharon.

[oopla]

This episode definately explains the Billy Gets no Respect episodes on the David Eick Video Blog.

Let me add my vote for Billy is a Cylon.

The next episode should be good, as it appears to be about Starbuck and Apollo suffering onboard the Pegasus.

[Peter von Frosta]

Well, there will be some ramifications for Starbuck, she'll be promoted for captain on friday ;)

[David]

I just read somewhere that the character who plays Billy was getting other offrs for films, etc, and couldn't stay on board (no pun intended) so they wrote him out.

I suspect that if his career doesn't go swimmingly, we may indeed see a cylon Billy walk out of the shadows in an episode several seasons from now. (Or, regardless of how well his career goes, he may still do a few eps in the future as a cylon).

David
Boston, MA

P.S. I love your blog.

I look forward each week to reading your review of the most recently-aired episode.

[Trapper Markelz]

David - Thanks for the kind words about the blog.

Ron Moore says in the podcast for Sacrifice that killing off Billy was mutually beneficial for both parties. They felt it was time given the path of his character, but also felt like it worked out well for Paul Campbell because the show was holding him back from lead roles in TV shows and features.

[RoadrunnerDM]

Paul's attachment to his supporting role in BSG was becoming a hindrance to his career. Letting him pursue other work while keeping him on BSG would only have resulted in Billy languishing and being left out of every important plotline available. They could kill him off in a way that he will be fondly remembered, or pull a Boxey and just let him be forgotten. I think this was definitely the best decision for everyone involved.
Best of luck, Paul.

[Adric]

Just found this blog on a Google search today - exactly what I've been looking for! Good job with the commentary.

Totally agree with you about Billy - the death would've been more effective about three eps down the road, after they'd had a chance to show him on the sidelines of a budding Dee/Apollo relationship.

In fact, a lot of things seems to be happening "too fast" lately. For example - killing off Colonel Fisk. Stretches credulity that he would have got mixed up in the black market that quickly (though I don't doubt it would've happened).

Finally - big thanks for sticking up for Gaeta. He's one of my favorite characters, and I really wonder why the creators have been leaving him out lately.