lol has a price

[elapses]

So I guess if you ever want me to watch something I am resistant to watching, the trick is to say "If you do I'll watch Friday Night Lights, Alexandra!!"

It is very strange to watch something you have so long heard about in snatches of feeling but not in actual illustrations of plot-- it creates this strangely automatic detachment. Um. Do you all do the thing where you read reaction posts for things you don't watch? I do a lot but not always, I guess it depends on who's reacting and how bored I am when it's posted. Anyway I think I read about BSG more frequently than the other shows I don't watch and it's strange how little of everything I know from that. I guess it's that it's a rather complexly plotted show, and I never really cared enough to even keep the characters straight in my head. I guesssss I have to do that now.

Okay so I have a question about the religious element though (I mean if it doesn't like spoil me or something? But I don't know why it would?): have the Cylons created their own form of religion? It's really interesting to me how Six talks of God when everyone else talks of Gods, what a strange little disconnect! Actually no, of course they wouldn't have the same religious beliefs, but the idea that the Cylons have a religion at all is crazy and pretty neat actually. I actually like Six in general, is that weird? Her haunting of Gaius is strangely hilarious.

I'm craaaaazy curious about how all this relates back to Earth and... regular humanity (especially since Apollo is one of their Lord... Gods, too?) buttttttt I guess that's why you keep watching. You guys it's so weird, it's been like... a really long time since I've watched something this plot-driven. Everything else I watch is about characters and their relationships and real life, and it's weird because at one point everything I was into had some grand, important purpose to offset the character stuff. This... thought doesn't really have a point because I don't think either way is necessarily better it's just... weird! To be thrown headfirst back into plotland.

In that vein I kind of have no idea how I feel about most of the characters yet. Which I guess makes sense, when I was trying to articulate miniseries thoughts to stop_theworld yesterday she said this: What I love about Battlestar is that you will have your favorites and your not-so-favorites, but you will also love and hate each and every one of them at some point, because they are so so human, and they are so so human in the middle of the apocalypse, which tends to intensify everything a lot. So.
ANYWAY RIGHT NOW: Sharon's (both Sharons') scenes are my favorite by farrrrrrr, I kind of love her and I think maybe I have some crazy weird fascination with this cylon/human thing, because of my weird fixation on her and Six both. And Leeeeeeeeeeeee, I kind of love him too? I don't know if that's the rational part of my brain or the part of my brain that's really really really attracted to Jamie Bamber. ALSO DEE IS ADORABLE. And Kara's fun, I like grinny people and she was definitely interesting in the one I just finished. BUT UM, I feel like I just finished a sick amount of television (the miniseries is LONG, christ) and it's weird to only have these vague attachments to most of these people? BUT YES, I guess... I will have to wait and see.

It's also kind of weird that they're doing mundane things like dealing with prisons and thinking about elections and training people???? I guess I thought it would be ALL WAR AND INTENSE LOOKS (and sex) ALL THE TIME. But of course that was dumb, what was I thinking.

ALL FOR YOU, DIZZY. AND HAPPY JUST BARELY BELATED BIRTHDAAAAAAAAY. I'm sorry I didn't sing :(

The Office was actually really delightful (and hilarious!) last night, I MISSED THAT FEELING. Too bad 3D Chuck wasn't. And now I'm going to watch tonight's HIMYM and pray my eyeballs don't fall out from all this TV before I get to the last eight pages of this gender studies reading.

Comments

[barilace.livejournal.com]

Hmm? I'm still somewhat confused by the religious aspect on the show. I think the cylons are monotheistic while the humans are polytheistic. It's odd to believe in just one "god" and the humans find the cylons religion to be strange. It's almost like the cylons are Christians (which I doubt they are) and the humans are ancient Pagans. It's interesting! haha.

Leeeee! Yes, I love Lee. He tries his best to be good and do what he thinks is fair for all involved. Even if he whines a lot at times.

Yes! Sharon was one of my FAVORITES in season one. I was so Boomer/Chief. OMG! All of you people watching da BSG is making me want to re-watch SO BADLY.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

It's almost like the cylons are Christians (which I doubt they are) and the humans are ancient Pagans
EXAAAAAAACTLY. It's kind of a crazy storytelling choice.

All I have ever heard about Lee is that he's a little bitch and I am kind of terrified he's going to end up disappointing me? I DON'T KNOW I LIKE HIM A LOT, and I really liked... the way he was in the episode with the prison ship. And he's pretty and I'm shallow :( I want him to be lovely.

[warmbones.livejournal.com]

Oh, BSG. Such a yummy, complex show. The philosophy behind it will make your head explode. And the people are pretty, which is really the most important part.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

And the people are pretty, which is really the most important part.
WELL OF COURSE. Who would watch otherwise?

[manasseh.livejournal.com]

Possibly unconnected to your post, possibly not, but something I always liked about BSG was that it always left me free to make up my own mind about things. I've seen season 1 a few times now, and I remember how, when I first watched it, I was all about Apollo and Starbuck while being completely bored with Helo and Sharon. Since rewatching that has totally turned around, because the show gave me things about all the characters to consider and turn over in my mind. The characterization is so good.

IDK, that doesn't make much sense now that I've said it. /o\

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Okay so I can't respond to this intelligently right now but I REALLY LIKE THIS... THOUGHT and will keep it in mind as I keep watching.

[admiral-sab.livejournal.com]

nothing much to add just ICON LOVE!!!

And BSG is a great show, but you have to really pay attention, so sometimes I still get confused a lot. And yay for tonight's HIMYM!

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Tonight's HIMYM was goooooood, I love Marshall Eriksen to itty bitty bits and pieces.

[silverstars.livejournal.com]

Ha, this is kind of weird. I'm up to episode 1x04 too! I feel like I've watched a full season though because of how long that miniseries was! Anyway, I still have no idea how I feel about most of the characters. While I was watching the miniseries I thought I may never be able to keep them all straight, but I think I finally know everyone's names and kind of have a flimsy grasp on who they are. I really like the show, but I still feel pretty distant from it. I think I need to watch more episodes.

Hey I have a question! So you know how another copy of Sharon (that is a weird thing to say) is with Helo? Well, does she know she's a Cylon yet? I am so confused by this whole concept. I think towards the end of the miniseries I wasn't paying full attention to everything, because I'm really unclear on how that works. Because remember how at the end of the miniseries when all of those other Cylons walked in and Sharon was there...I'm assuming that Sharon knew she was a Cylon. Or maybe not. I have no idea.

I should probably start paying more attention.

[miri-d.livejournal.com]

Hey I have a question! So you know how another copy of Sharon (that is a weird thing to say) is with Helo? Well, does she know she's a Cylon yet?

Yes, that Sharon does know she's a cylon ;]. Boomer is the one and only un-knowing sleeper agent-type deal that we know of, as of 1x04. And don't misconstrue that to think I'm spoiling you, because I'm not saying either way after that.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Dude that's so funny that we're all synced up! And this: I really like the show, but I still feel pretty distant from it. I think I need to watch more episodes.
I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY. I'm trying to sort out the characters and figure out how I feel about everyone but even though I've watched like EIGHT HOURS I still don't quite feel like... part of it. Which isn't to say I'm not intrigued because I am? Just... in a different way that I usually would be.

I don't think we're supposed to be sure if that Cylon does know she's a Cylon or not, but I don't... think so. But it's really convoluted? There was that moment when one of the Sixes was like "she's good" which kind of implies she does but not... definitively? I don't know, if it hadn't been for that I would be completely sure she still thought she was human like the other Sharon does. I'm kind of confused about how she has the memories/personality in the first place, I know they can transplant them into different versions of themselves but um... it's weird that two of them can have the memories at once. I DON'T KNOW, I'M CONFUSED TOO.

[famousdeaths.livejournal.com]

Do not feel weird for not being crazy for the characters yet. I remember watching the miniseries when it aired here and the show was already on episode 10 or so in the US. It took me the whole season to be all "I love those people." And everyone who watched the show based on a rec from me said something like it, that it's the plot that hooked them first.

And I hope you have some hardcore marathons so you can be all caught up and watch the finale live (or almost) and freak out with the rest of us. ;)

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Yeah that's kind of what I'm getting from people! It's just... weird! I have always been a character person more than a plot person and it's... strange not to have strong immediate attachments. BUT WHATEV.

And I hope you have some hardcore marathons so you can be all caught up and watch the finale live (or almost) and freak out with the rest of us. ;)
DUDE, how many weeks do I/we have left?

[crazyvictoria.livejournal.com]

it's weird to only have these vague attachments to most of these people?
That's why it's so brill: it takes a while, but one day you find yourself thinking about it all the time and realize that, somewhere along the way, you stopped feeling unattached and started feeling crazy love for fictional characters.

The next two episodes are some of the finest ever made, honestly, and really brings home the 'this is a character show, too' aspect. OKAY I'LL STOP NOW BECAUSE I NEVER COMMENT AT YOU SO YEAH.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

The next two episodes are some of the finest ever made, honestly, and really brings home the 'this is a character show, too' aspect.
UGH THAT MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP WATCHING, but I'm already operating on like five hours of sleep and I have class in the morning :(

[sailtonorway.livejournal.com]

OH YAY, you're watching BSG as well!! It took me a while to like the characters, too - the miniseries just sets up what's happening and it is difficult to keep track when there's so much going on, though after a while you do know who everyone is. S1 is so great in terms of characterization, politics and realism. What I love so much about BSG is that while it is a sci-fi show, it's also really relatable and plausible, I think.

I LOVE SIX. I didn't think I would since she's really religious and the fact that she's the bad guy, but she's also very sweet and soft. And geeeez Tricia Helfer is so hot.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Another one bites the dust? BUT OH WOW, I just glanced at your journal to check where you were and you're done already? It seems like only a couple of days ago that your first post popped up. I should talk though, I only watched the miniseries yesterday.

AND DUDE I KNOW, I never like the bad guy but she's got this electric energy on screen, I loveeeee her. And yes, so hot.

[annalouwho.livejournal.com]

there's this essay in my battlestar galactica and philosophy book about monotheism being the chosen religion of slave races, like when the jews were in egypt. i wish i could remember the philosophy behind it right now, but i'd really have to read it again.

ANYWAY, YAAAAAY, BSG. i don't know what to make of your detachment. i could see that it might have something to do with reading reaction posts before watching the show (i never do that). but i really hope that it goes away at least by the end of the season. i myself had a very strong initial attachment to the chief of the deck and helo's sharon (fyi, she does know she's a cylon; it's her cylon mission to seduce helo), and four seasons later they're still my two favorites (even though neither one of them has been very front-and-center for a while now, which upsets me).

but anyway, it is a very plot-driven show, but the plot is really rooted in the characters and their relationships. i mean, at its heart it's really just a show about people figuring out how to live at the end of the world.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

there's this essay in my battlestar galactica and philosophy book about monotheism being the chosen religion of slave races, like when the jews were in egypt.
OOOOH, this is what I was looking for. I wonder if they have that book in regular bookstores, I really want to read that essay. WOW I'M A NERD.

It's really funny how half of everyone is like "being detached is totally normal!" and the other half is like "whaaaaaat?" Even before I had started, in the coercion phase, one friend was telling me I'd be totally hooked after the miniseries and the other was saying it'd take until the end of season 1. I GUESS I'LL SEE HOW IT GOES? But you're right, I bet reading reactions has something to do with my detachment.

[dashakay.livejournal.com]

When I first started watching BSG, I had a hell of a time just keeping everyone straight, let alone deeply loving the characters. But just like your friend said, I ended up caring about just about all of them because they're so complicated and flawed and real, all of them. And I definitely go through cycles where I will be so in love with one (or several) characters and then they break my heart by doing something terrible or misguided, but they almost always find a way to worm their way into my heart again.

Or to put it more simply--give it time. Let the story and the characters sink in. Enjoy the ride.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Let the story and the characters sink in. Enjoy the ride.
HA, this is good advice. Sometimes I need to be reminded just to turn my squalling brain off, yikes.

[erries.livejournal.com]

YAY!! I'm excited that you're watching BSG. I hope you continue to like it! (I think you will.)

[elapses.livejournal.com]

I hope so!

[the-wanlorn.livejournal.com]

omg now I want to get you to watch something TOTALLY HORRIBLE just to see if that actually works.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

I'M SORRY YOU LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S WEAKNESSES :(

I DON'T KNOW THOUGH! I'm not sure you would fall irrevocably in love with the magic that is Friday Night Lights, which is the eventual aim of my sad little game.

[praedial.livejournal.com]

...If you do, I'll watch Friday Night Lights with you!

[elapses.livejournal.com]

IF I DO WHAT.

[tenacious-err.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I felt the same way with the vague attachments. I actually didn't watch the miniseries first, which only led me to absolute confusion and frustration over who the hell these characters were and what was up with them. I think my thoughts in early season one were basically "Kara is really badass and awesome. I like Lee a lot. Kara/Lee is cute. Adama is cool. Laura Roslin is awesomesauce, and I like Billy's dynamic with her a lot." But it was like... I felt that way, but I didn't entirely care. I could have stopped watching and I wouldn't have felt like I was missing out on anything, it just wouldn't have been my type of show.

That changed obviously, and like I said it was late season 1 that really dragged me into the universe and made me go HOLY SHIT FRAK!!!1!111!!

I think the action misconception is a realllly popular one. It sounds cliche, but Battlestar is just a political drama set in space in which things happen to explode now and then.

[elapses.livejournal.com]

Dude I don't even know who Billy is? The... sweetly awkward guy who's always with Roslin? Who had the thing with Dee?

I think the action misconception is a realllly popular one. It sounds cliche, but Battlestar is just a political drama set in space in which things happen to explode now and then.
I don't know that I totally agree with this (although I also don't know that I am far enough along to make these kind of judgements and equivocal statements) because so far it seems like there's been a looooooot of spaceships and spacefights and piloting through things and just... general actiony stuff. But it's like... it's like XF and the aliens. You cannot deny that the alien storyline is integral to the show, but "I don't have any interest in aliens" is a stupid reason not to watch the X-Files, becaaaaause it's so much more than the little green men. BSG is definitely actiony (and political and I'm sure eventually very character-driven), but that's not... a bad thing? And people who would claim it as such are dumb.

[adinfinitum.livejournal.com]

Ugh, now I have to watch BSG, THANKS. Actually, it's on my list but I probably won't get to it any time soon, seeing as I go through things at a snail's pace. As of now it's after

A) The West Wing
B) XF S7
C) Psych
D) The Wire
E) Dr. Who
F) 30 Rock

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH GOOD TELEVISION OUT THERE? It's kind of annoying, but in an awesome way.

In other news...I still kind of feel like this show might not do it for me, though? I know I'm just saying that because I haven't given it the time of day yet, but I'm generally not very sci-fi-ey. Like, at all. Do you think I'd dig it?

I thought Chuck was fuuuuun! I mean, minus all the stupid Buy More stuff, which never fails to be utter suckage. AND ALSO THE LACK OF AWESOME/ELLIE. IDK, maybe I was blinded by the fact that Chuck ~*returned*~. (A part of me vaguely ships Casey with...Everybody? Is that weird?)

HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU THAT THE OFFICE WAS ACTUALLY FANTASTIC?

[elapses.livejournal.com]

HAAAAAAAAAAA, my list is super long too but I always push things back down in lieu of newer shinier things. I've been meaning to watch Gilmore Girls and the Wire and the Office UK for YEARS NOW. And I still want to do XF Season 4 (do you ever have a thing where you feel guilty for not talking about XF when you're not in XF phases? IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE FRIENDED WHO I ONLY HAVE XF IN COMMON WITH.)

Anyway I don't know, THERE IS TOO MUCH TV OUT THERE. It just occurred to me like, two days ago, when I was like "hmm, Coupling UK might be fun to watch!", that there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD I am ever ever ever going to be able to watch everything that intrigues me. MY LIFE: SO HARD.

I'm generally not very sci-fi-ey. Like, at all. Do you think I'd dig it?
I DON'T KNOW, FARAH. Honestly lack of interest in scifi is what's kept me off BSG (and Doctor Who) for so long (which is ridiculous sounding considering XF is my favorite and I was a freaking TREKKIE, but... still?). I just can't bring myself to care. BSG was especially blerg sounding because EW, ~dark~ and ~deep~ science fiction when I could be that much happier watching Chuck or something else fun? I think it boils down to character vs. plot though-- at my heart of hearts I watch things because of characters and not because of story and I think you're the same way. And I'm still really detached from like, everyone, so I don't think I can make an accurate assessment yet. I GUESS WE'LL SEE???

I don't know, the whole thing felt really gimmicky to me, like... it was the big 3D episode! So let's have a lot of ~omg look how hot Yvonne is hairblowy scenes~ and some rock stars and partying and even though it had it's moments it just felt cheap to me. And that's depressing because the big episodes should be... the good ones? LIKE THIS YEAR'S CHRISTMAS ONE, IT WAS WONDERFUL. And oh my god I am so sick of everything to do with Buy More, I wish I could single-handedly off every single one of those plotlines. And replace them with Ellie and Awesome :( AND NO, shipping Casey with everyone is not weird. Although Casey/Ronald Reagan is obviously the ~*one true pairing*~.

REALLY SURPRISED, but I'm so glad for them! Like seriously, it would've sucked if their big Superbowl episode had been subpar. BUT IT WAS PERFECT, I think I almost died laughing at the cold open and the enddddddd was so sweet and wonderful and I desperately wanted to transplant this Jim and Pam into a universe where he doesn't buy her houses and she doesn't ~not want to finish~ art school. Oh and am I crazy or were they... trying to kind of hint at Oscar and Andy this week? I think I'm crazy.

[stop-theworld.livejournal.com]

NO NO NO I just left the longest comment of ever DAMN YOU LIVEJOURNAL. :( :( :(

Um, so there was birthday thanks. ♥ And there was FNL episode two ramblings! Mainly about how I like Lyla a little more and Tyra and Landry got even awesomer and Tami is fabulous and I LOVE MATT SARACEN AND ERIC AND THE ENDING OMG.

And then there was telling you that loving Six is definitely definitely acceptable; I absolutely adore her. AND remind me to rec you the most epic crackfic ever when you get further in! I read it over and over again. And that Lee is one of the good ones. ♥ And that Kara will get to be so much more than just "fun." XD Aaaaaand. IDK. UGH I HATE LJ it was such a good comment. But anyway! I'm still not sure how you feel about it, I guess, so I really hope it catches fire for you soon and I thiiiink it will.

♥!

[elapses.livejournal.com]

D:

okay so:
a) I LOVE HELOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO oh my god and Gaius is a DUMBASS. I'm glad loving Six isn't weird though it just... feels strange. I guess because she's the bad guy?
b) that's interesting that you love Lyla a little more now! Because... I don't know. That usually doesn't happen in the second episode, she's more awesome at the end of the season AND MATT AND ERIC YES THAT SCEEEEEEENE. AND TAMI TAYLOR IS MY ACTUAL HERO.

Also, god, Tyra, MY LOVE FOR THAT GIRL HAS NO BOUNDS AT ALL.