elapses: (v. he taps at my window)
elapses ([personal profile] elapses) wrote2009-02-02 10:07 pm

lol has a price

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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.

[identity profile] barilace.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] warmbones.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] manasseh.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
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\

[identity profile] admiral-sab.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
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!

[identity profile] silverstars.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
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.
Edited 2009-02-03 05:43 (UTC)

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
And the people are pretty, which is really the most important part.
WELL OF COURSE. Who would watch otherwise?

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Tonight's HIMYM was goooooood, I love Marshall Eriksen to itty bitty bits and pieces.

[identity profile] warmbones.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't give it the time of day, I know that.

[identity profile] famousdeaths.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
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. ;)

[identity profile] manasseh.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
lol bb, after reading your comment up-page about being worried Lee will disappoint you, I guess what I'm saying is that some characters you start off hating you may end up loving, and some characters you start off loving you may end up hating, but it's okay because it all balances out in the end.

Although if you start off loving Helo you will never not love him because he is MAGNIFICENT okay I'm done.

[identity profile] miri-d.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
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?

[identity profile] crazyvictoria.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] miri-d.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
Lee is awesome in season 1, and somewhat through season 2. I remember this because I totally shipped Roslin/Lee in season 1. Season 3 starts a downhill slide, and only now (halfway through season 4) is he starting to redeem himself.

However, this is the perspective of an Adama/Roslin shipper. Most of us think Lee is a tool. Most Kara/Lee shippers think Lee is all awesome and conflicted and deep and shit. Other shippers withhold judgment (for example, with Gaius/Six shippers, their opinion as a whole of Lee is that they couldn't give a frak about Lee, so whatever you see of that is dependent on the individual LJer). So you should take whatever you read (or have read) with a grain of salt, because the people you love and dislike on the show *strongly* influence the way you see it and its developments. I see a few Adama/Roslin shippers on your flist, which might explain what you've heard.

Sorry for the novel D:.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Oh god he's going to get epically asshatty, isn't he? I REALLY HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO CHARACTERS I LIKE.

Although if you start off loving Helo you will never not love him because he is MAGNIFICENT okay I'm done.
THIS IS HEARTENING. He was really lovely in the miniseries and he SEEMS like someone I'd like but... there just hasn't been enough of him yet?
Edited 2009-02-03 06:06 (UTC)

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
SHHHHHHH I WANT TO FIND THESE THINGS OUT FOR MYSELF

[identity profile] sailtonorway.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] manasseh.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
I don't want to spoil you for things so I will say that some of my IRL friends continue to love Apollo. So all may not be lost for you! :D?

Yeah, the first season was sort of lol boring when it came to Helo (not surprising since according to Wikipedia they were originally going to kill him off shortly after the miniseries), but things will pick up and you'll see how fabulous he is. My love for him was very gradual, but by mid-season 2 I was all :DDDDDDDDDDDD about him. Now I want to write his name all over my trapper-keeper. :D


I've probably jinxed him now so you'll end up hating him D:

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
:D!

No I was pretty sure I'd like Helo even before you said anything-- from the little I know about him he sounds like the kind of character I'll end up wifing ridiculously, defensively hard. JUST... NOT YET. That's not surprising that they were going to kill him, it seemed like he was a goner alone on that planet. I wonder why they changed it.

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
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 :(

[identity profile] elapses.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] manasseh.livejournal.com 2009-02-03 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
According to the wikipage: all the fans either loved Helo or were mildly curious about him + Tahmoh's hot + he impressed the producers with his ~*~acting~*~ in the miniseries = they rewrote things and brought the character back :DD

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