Thoughts on Scar

It is my pleasure to announce that after Epiphanies and Black Market, we are back to a real Battlestar Galacitca episode, one that makes me proud to watch this show. When I was debating with friends about episodes 2.13 and 2.14, I had a hard time really explaining why I didn’t like them. It often came down to, “It just didn’t feel like BSG”. If someone were to ask me to define what does or does not make an episode “BSG” I don’t really think I could explain it… when you see it… you know it. That is how I feel about Scar.

This episode has everything that made season one so strong. It has a crisis of survival (mining problems, Cylon threat), internal character conflicts (Starbuck, Kat), character complexity (Starbuck, Apollo), friendship (Starbuck, Helo), a good villain (Scar), and some great depth and texture (remembering the fallen, the photo gallery on the ship, introducing new nuggets, etc). There wasn’t a single moment that felt rushed, there wasn’t a single moment that screamed “plot device”. The entire story felt natural, the character actions were believable.

Survival
While the mining situation was a small aspect of the show, it was enough to show that there are real resource problems within the fleet. This isn’t something that has been played up too much during season two what with all the external story elements like Kobol, Earth, Pegasus, etc. Black Market tried to get back to this, but ultimately failed under it’s own weight of the story. Here, we learn that Roslin is willing to sacrifice people for metal. No metal, no Vipers, no protection. The perils of survival have been missing lately and it is great to see them making a small return.

Conflict
I was hoping for a good secondary character episode, and this is every bit as enjoyable as I expected it to be. We got to see a good number of people that have been largely absent lately. We see that they have all become more experienced, more battle-hardened. The scenes in the mess-hall were great because they show a comrade and a familiarity. They cheer each other, tease each other, and support each other, all the while knowing that every face in that room has a chance of vanishing forever. The name calling between Kat and Starbuck was excellent. That line “This ship only needs one Tigh” (or something like that) was just awesome.

I think the conflict between Kat and Starbuck was inevitable because they are so much alike. I think Starbuck sees that in Kat. She knows Kat is a good pilot or she wouldn’t still be alive. There are so many great scenes between the two of them, but the final one in the empty briefing room was stellar. Starbucks eyes drill into Kat, fearless and confident. Kat puts up a good show, but you can tell she is frightened, not only because her reluctant mentor is verbally cutting her down to size, but because Kat knows that what Starbuck says is true.

The fact that they climb into the cockpit and work together as a team to kill Scar was an excellent outcome. I was fairly confident that Starbuck would go solo in the end, killing Scar and redeeming herself to Kat or the crew in some manner while ultimately feeling more alone. I have to say, I like the real ending much more. The focus was on a change of mind and heart within Starbuck… she has found something to live for, something that will probably have her in an entirely different place by the end of the season. It is almost the opposite of Lee… Starbuck found something to live for and Apollo has nothing left at all.

Complexity
I feel bad for Apollo. That guy’s head has to be spinning. Not only is he dealing with the aftermath of his brush with death, but he is clinging to the rejection felt during Black Market, the death of his moral values, and the very real ramifications of his attempted mutiny that distanced himself from the crew. Now he has Starbuck to deal with. They use to be brother and sister, they use to be best friends, and now they are nothing, the equivalent of strangers in a bar, barely worthy of a one-night stand.

I am waiting for Lee to find his reason to live. From what we have seen, it will most likely become Dualla. I can’t predict how they are going to spin that, given her relationship with Billy, her role in the CIC, even Dualla’s relationship with Adama as his sounding board adds something that Apollo is going to have to acknowledge. I was sort of hoping for a little more texture surrounding what seems like an inevitable pairing.

As for Apollo and Starbuck, It is really fascinating how they have almost switched roles entirely from season one. Starbuck use to be the hot shot with no reason to live while Apollo had his duty, his honor and his family. It will be interesting to watch how Kara and Lee consul each other through these difficult times. I am betting by the end, they will both be better off for it.

Friendship
I think it is awesome that Helo and Kara have such a strong friendship going. After what they went through on Caprica, I think that is good continuity. I also really enjoyed the scene with Kara and Sharon because it is easy to believe she was there, not simply for intelligence, but because a part of her wants to understand where Helo’s head is at. It is obvious that Helo still cares for Sharon, even knowing the truth, and there is a part of Starbuck that needs to understand why.

There use to be a lot more friendships represented in the crew. Remember the chief and his boys? Remember Billy and Dualla’s screen time? How about those moments with Tigh and Adama? Friendship is a natural outgrowth of any human interactions and the more opportunities the writers can use to show us that Galactica isn’t a ship of strangers is a huge plus in my book.

Villians
It isn’t often we are treated to a good villain. There is always a tangible sense of danger in each episode, but rarely is it focused into a single point like it is with Scar. I never considered that a “Red Baron” episode would work so well. I think this is a great example of showing how the destruction of the Resurrection Ship had some real consequences for both sides. It is fascinating to think back to Kobol’s Last Gleaming Part II when Sharon destroys the base star, and how all the other Sharon’s didn’t even seem to care… probably because they knew the Resurrection ship would save them. I guess that isn’t the case anymore.

Sharon’s explanation of Cylon death added some great depth to an ever expanding mythology of Cylon life and resurrection. I thought it was excellent how Sharon’s words were so logical forcing Starbuck to completely reexamine her preconceived notions of life and death. It is amazing how utilitarian the resurrection ability ends up being and how the realities of dying and all the pain associated with that would be transferred to the new body. I guess it was eluded to that Scar was the same ship that Kara shot down in You Can’t Go Home Again. If that is true, it is another example of some great continuity.

The scenes with Kara dog fighting Scar in the asteroid field were well played. Just like in Pegasus, Part II, the battle was secondary to the characters that were participating. I had chills when Starbuck was going head to head with Scar. Those slow moments looking into her eyes where so much more powerful than twisting spacecraft and scattering tracer rounds. It is moments like those that elevate this show from simple science fiction to world-class drama.

Texture
All of the things that have been missing the past couple of weeks, and largely throughout season two, are restored in this episode. I can’t really point to what specifically those things are, but you feel it watching the episode. You see faces you remember, you have a sense that the ship is not a cavernous empty space, but alive with fears and duty and friendship.

Starbuck calling out the names of the fallen was a great moment in this series. It really elevates my respect for her as a character as I am sure it elevated every person in that room. You could see a tangible look of growing respect on Kat’s face. There was a moment where I half-expected Kat to give Starbuck back the top-gun mug because Kara proved right there that she is no longer just a pilot looking for glory, but a leader remembering those who found it serving the fleet.

Battlestar Galactica is a show about little things. This show succeeds when it takes those little moments and forces you to remember them over the grand spectacles of special effects and space battles. Scar is by far one of the best episodes of season two, and I hope it is a sign of things to come.

Principal MVP of the week is of course Katee Sackhoff as Kara Thrace. It was a powerful performance. I remember reading/hearing somewhere that this was Katee’s favorite episode and it is easy to see why. She really took everything she was given and ran with it.

Secondary MVP of the week is of course Luciana Carro as Kat. She really elevated the importance of her character. She was given the opportunity by the writers and really grabbed on with both hands. Ron Moore in a podcast (if I remember right) said that he really likes the work that Luciana does and wants to give her more to do. That is only a good thing. I am interested in seeing where her and Starbuck’s relationship goes after the team work in this episode.

Missing in action this week: Baltar?...... Bueller?

Additional Resources

• Official episode 2.15 synopsis
• Episode 2.15 podcast commentary
• Battlestar Wiki page for 2.15

Comments

[oopla]

Battlestar is back in the saddle.

I think that the best thing is that they were back under the ax with a cylon threat. and that in this episode it felt like every character had texture. people screwed up, did things they regretted but ultimately personally triumphed. Starbuck handing off the kill of scar as a symbolic act of personal redemption, while allowing Kat to redeem herself from her fear.

Scar's hatred was so well done, It finally allowed them to use the red cylon eye to full effect in the series.

Right now I see the season ending in two ways, either Starbuck leads the pegasus back to caprica to wage a hit and run war on the cylons to draw them off of the fleet and rescue her boyfriend, or that Gina uses her nuke to destroy the Pegasus.

[Cpt Chaos]

yeah, great episode!!!
after the bad 2.13 and the mediocre/good 2.14 this is finally again a superb piece of storytelling that delivers all the drama, character-depth and conflict that made me addicted to BSG in the first place! :)
two thumbs up and I hope this is the shape of things to come... ;)

[John Beeler]

I thought it was great as well. But I have to say that this is now the third (maybe fourth?) episode to use the old "48 Hours Earlier" device. That worries me a bit.

[Paul Karpenko]

So .. am I the only one who thinks that Luciana Carro is a bad actress? I loved this episode, but I couldn't stand seeing Katee Sackhoff being intense and convincing in the Starbuck/Kat scenes, while Carro was visibly lacking; supplementing novice sass for true conviction and fluidity of emotion in her performance. It feels like a mild step above soap acting any time Kat needs to say anything important.

[Trapper Markelz]

Paul - Maybe not... I am sure someone out there agrees! ;) Honestly though, while Luciana doesn't have the job of a principal, I think her performance was spot on given her role as antagonist to Starbuck. Sure, she played it a bit heavy in the briefing room scenes... where I am pretty sure that kind of behavior would never be tolerated... but wouldn't go so far as to call it soap opera... Luciana's scene in the briefing room where she punches Starbuck was an excellent performance. She went from angry, to emotional, then vunerable and confused, if not scared when Apollo walked in. I thought it was good stuff.

[RK Bentley]

Have to agree with Cpt Chaos these flashbacks are getting annoying.

The episode could have been better without them.

Too bad they didn't introduce Scar earlier, we need more Cylon time on this second leg of Season 2.

Also, anyone else notice how much this episode was reminisant of Space: Above and Beyond's Angriest Angel episode?

[Paul Karpenko]

The part where she punches Starbuck was played well. However .. I guess what was bothering me was the fact that .. where the hell does a Lieutenant get off talking smack to a Captain day after day without being reprimanded? Even if she's got a point, how can she second-guess her commanding officer that condescendingly, much less in front of the whole flight staff.

[Paul Karpenko]

Oh, and also .. I rewatched almost all of Space: Above and Beyond a couple months ago and, yeah, Galactica, as a whole is fairly reminiscent of Space in its edginess and realism -- Except it's way better.

[David]

I agree wholeheartedly that this was much more of a true Galactica episode.

They got all the little details of what makes Galactica a unique television experience down just right, once again.

The problem is that Moore's genius has made us all set the bar so high for what a quality show is, that I suspect we are all a bit spoiled, now.

We can be forgiven, of course, because who wouldn't be spoiled by a show of such stellar quality.

[Peter]

When Sharon told Thrace that cylon raiders were also able to reincarnate and that she may have faced Scar before, it made me wonder if the cylon raider that shot Thrace down in "You Can't Go Home Again" was Scar.

[Malnurtured Snay]

Peter -- yes, also, I think that's why they showed the clips of "You can't go home again" before the episode. Scar's mighty pissed, having that woman sloshing through his brain like that!

And in general response to the thread --

See, I disagree about "BSG being back on its feet", I don't think it ever got off its feet. I disliked "Epiphanies" because of the miracle-cure for Roslin, which I felt a betrayal to the realism the show strived for. However, I've enjoyed 'exploring' the darker sides of the rag-tag fleet: these leftist home-grown cylon-lover saboteurs, as well as the seedy side of the black market and the corruption it brings with it. Harkening back to Adama's speech in the miniseries, and again in his discussion with Starbuck in "Res. Ship 2", 'It's not enough to survive ... people still kill each other ... we have to be worthy of survival.' But are they? I also thinks it a bit too much to expect the Cylons to be "The Big Bad" every episode -- after awhile, with the crew consistently defeating them, they develop "the Borg syndrome." No, I'm in favor of episodes showing the non-mechanical enemies of the fleet.

[Adric]

Exploring the darker sides of the rag-tag fleet is certainly in line with the show, but they're rushing things and descending into cliche in the process. The cool thing about this show is its attention to deal - REAL detail - as in, the subtle signals people send each other through their choices of words, gestures, etc. The character development is technically understated, but for that digs much deeper than most shows I know. The problem with "Epiphanies" and "Black Market" is that they both rush in - guns blazing. This from a show that was previously comfortable letting a story build slowly over several episodes.

I liked this episode too - and agree that it seems to indicate Battlestar is back on track - but I don't think we're out of the woods yet. For one thing - the idea that these raiders are individuals and conscious enough to be "pissed" seems horribly inconsistent. Sharon's explanation is plausible - but it would have been more so if dropped in an earlier episode to give us time to adjust.

I agree that some of the scenes with Kara and Kat were really well played - esp. that scene mentioned earlier where it's obvious that Kat is just spitting bravado - is actually scared inside.

That said, I'm gonna hafta go with Paul Karpenko on two points: (1) Luciana Carro isn't nearly as good at Katee Sackhoff and it shows , and (2) I also don't buy Kat talking back so soon after being reprimanded. That scene felt ... inserted.

[pola]

I think Luciana is a fenomenal actress!!! Not only she is very talented but also she is professionally trained in theatre and it shows. We need more actors of that scale. It is called passion and intencity, she really takes the audience on a journey.