BSG Season 4 Spoiler Roundup (SPOILERS) in inviso-text.
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From the title, pretty self-evidently, there will be SPOILERS contained herewithin, taken from different sources. Most of these are of a very general nature rather than specific points (due to the fact that we're still 5 months from transmission) and naturally some or all may turn out to be pure BS:
As of now, the first eight episodes have been filmed, plus the Razor TV movie. The show is now on a brief hiatus and filming will resume in late September on the remaining twelve episodes. Apparently the first 8-10 episodes form the first of the final two 'acts' of the storyline that Ronald D. Moore has mentioned before. It is currently rumoured that there may be a transmission break between episodes 10 and 11 of the fourth season (probably just 2-3 weeks) and there will be another mid-season cliffhanger similar to the Eye of Jupiter/Rapture one from last year.
Spoiler:
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401: He That Believath in Me
402: Six of One
403: The Ties That Bind
404: Escape Velocity
405: Into the West
406: Faith
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General plot points:
Spoiler:
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The Penultimate Four are 'outed' a few episodes into the new season. It's unclear how, or if all of them are outed or just a few, or if it's publicly revealed or made known to a few individuals. Apparently there is a confrontation between Roslin and Tyrol in which she threatens to airlock him.
It is very heavily rumoured that Cally commits suicide upon learning that Tyrol is a Cylon. At least two recurring or regular characters will die in Season 4.
Roslin is fighting her returned cancer with chemotherapy rather than chamalla.
The general feeling from the crew and the fleet is that Starbuck is a Cylon, and her talk of leading them to Earth is just a lure to tempt them into a trap. Adama has major issues with Starbuck starting in the first episode. However, by episode 5 or 6 Adama decides he has to take a risk and has Starbuck lead a scouting mission on the Demetrius (apparently an old military ship in the fleet that has been serving as a refugee transport) to the apparent location of Earth. In a later episode Starbuck faces a mutiny, but gets unexpected help from her 'new allies'. Starbuck and Roslin apparently clash over which of them will guide humanity to Earth. According to David Eick, the significance of what happened to Starbuck in Maelstrom will be revealed, but not until much later. As of filming episode 7 or 8, Sackhoff confirmed she still didn't know what had happened to Starbuck after her apparent 'death' in that episode.
The extant seven Cylon models fall into a civil war once the existence of the Penultimate Four becomes known amongst them. Some of the models use Centurions to attack the others and general mayhem breaks loose. It has been hinted that as many as three models may be boxed or destroyed during the civil war. Eventually the Cylons choose to unbox D'Anna and use her insight to help guide them into making the right decision: to abandon the pursuit of the humans or renew their attempts to wipe them and the Penultimate Four out? Apparently D'Anna's unboxing will play a major role in the mid-season cliffhanger, as will Hera's fate. D'Anna will have a confrontation with Roslin. Lawless has only agreed (so far) to do 2-3 eps at the most, so D'Anna's return will be brief.
The outcome of the mid-season cliffhanger will lead the fleet to Earth a few episodes later. According to the producers, the last few episodes will deal with Earth. The fleet won't just turn up there in the last few minutes of the last episode.
Baltar will continue to be in his 'harem' for the first few episodes of the season at least.
One of the later episodes involves a major fistfight between Anders and Six.
At one point a 'splinter group' in the fleet forms (presumably opposed to Adama/Roslin's command). Apparently Gaeta and Helo are part of this group, or will infiltrate it.
Tom Zarek definitely appears in the first few episodes and will likely crop up later on. He is still Vice-President.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
BSG news
« The TV Addict Goes SCI FI
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four Scoop
Dateline 4:50AM, Vancouver Time. — BATTLESTAR GALACTICA news. Not surprisingly, the cast, crew, costume designers, key grips and anyone remotely related to the show were tight-lipped with regards to what’s in store for fans this final season. I can reveal that fans should expect to see a new ship around episode five/six (called the Demitrius), Michael Hogan is not happy about being a Cylon and Aaron Douglas alluded to the fact that within the first few episodes of the season, his character Chief Tyrol may [or may not] find himself on the brink of being tossed out of an airlock. Presumably when President Roslin finds out about his little secret.
--------------
« BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four ScoopV.C. Andrews Gets A New Life(time) »More BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Scoop
At yesterday’s SCI FI Digital Press panel, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan favorite Aaron Douglas surprised the audience by revealing that he knew months prior that his character — fan favorite Chief Tyrol — was indeed one of the final five Cylons.”I found out months in advance, accidently,” divulged Douglas. ” I found a piece of paper lying around that I was not supposed to see.”Of course, when you’re one of twenty-five intrepid reporters desperate for any morsel of scoop with regards to the upcoming fourth season of GALACTICA, the phrase, ‘things we’re not supposed to see’ popped up far too often for our liking. Yet that didn’t stop this TV Addict from gathering as much intel as possible in an effort to uncover any info about the highly anticipated final season.First bit of scoop, episode four or five’s title is “Into the West.” Turns out Aaron Douglas isn’t the only person to see ‘interesting’ pieces of paper lying around the set. In fact, one couldn’t help but notice entire scripts lying inconspicuously around the gritty and cramped Galactica corridors. But rest assured SCI FI executives — not wanting to risk being ejected from the nearest air lock — this TV Addict didn’t dare pick it up. No matter how curious he was to discover what the episode’s title, “Into the West” really meant.
Another piece of intel one couldn’t help but notice was the name of the new ship currently being constructed for episodes five or six. Perhaps a more fanatical BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan can let this TV Addict know if the ship name ‘Demitrius’ has any relevance?And finally, the massive bullet holes that riddled the Cylon Base Ship were pretty hard to miss. While brilliant tour guides Richard Hudolin (Production Designer) and Doug McLean (Art Director) were tight-lipped on what happened, one can only assume that episode four will include one helluva an angry Cylon. Or, dare we say, a human who isn’t pleased to have recently discovered that he may not be so human after-all.
-------------
July 15, 2007
The Sci Fi Channel says it will air several "Battlestar Galactica" shorts this fall to tide fans over until "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" debuts Nov. 24.
The announcement came Sunday as the network unveiled its 2007-2008 development slate of programming at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills.The eight-week, primetime series of "mini-sodes" are intended to whet the appetites of fans throughout October and November, in anticipation of the premiere of Sci Fi's two-hour event, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor."
"Razor" is a special extended installment that will provide a backdrop to events unfolding in the rest of season four of "Galactica."Filmed as part of the extended episode, the mini-sodes will be included in the unrated Universal Home Video release of "Razor" and will also be available on SciFi.com after their on-air debuts.
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July 16, 2007
Battlestar Galactica and Farscape fans will be receiving a gift from SciFi Channel this fall. The network has announced that they will be running minisode seasons for both franchises. A relief for Battlestar Galactica fans suffering a long hiatus, and a pleasant surprise for the rabid fans the Jim Henson company's ill-fated Farscape, which became the target of a revival campaign the Jericho folks would have been proud of.
The minisodes will air first on SciFi Channel, and then will be made available via the channel's web site. The Battlestar Galactica minisodes will feature a young Adama (played by Nico Cortez) as he discovers a Cylon weapon that will somehow have impact on future events. Cortez will also be playing young Adama in the Battlestar Galactica movie “Razor.”Aside from Cortez, it isn't clear if any of the Razor cast will be making an appearance in the minisodes. The minisodes are set to debut in October, a month in advance of the late November premiere of Razor.
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'Battlestar Galactica' "Razor" Preview During Tonight's Eureka
July 10, 2007
Battlestar Galactica fans will be able to get their first look at the highly anticipated spin-off movie “Razor” during tonight's season premiere of Eureka. “Razor” takes place months before the Battlestar Pegasus caught up with Galactica and her rag tag fleet. Returning for “Razor” will be Michelle Forbes as Admiral Cain. In other news, does Forbes contract with the show reveal a possible spoiler of epic proportions? Possibly. Read on.
SyFyPortal.com revealed that in addition to “Razor,” Forbes has been cast to appear in one more episode in the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica. Beyond that bit of information, there is nothing explaining why so anything that follows is pure speculation.
On one hand, Forbes extra appearance could be a flash back sequence for any number of characters. In this case, her additional commitment would have no big impact for the show, other than the fact that we might get one more look at Pegasus and Cain.
On the other hand, we still do not know the identity of the fifth and final Cyclon. As SyFyPortal suggests, it very well could turn out that Forbes is set to appear as another Cyclon. Interesting proposition, if totally baseless.
SyFyPortal has been a source of more interesting Battlestar Galactica rumors today with some information that there may be a civil war brewing within the Cylons. Word will make it out that the final five are hiding among the Colonials and the resulting fracas over whether to attack or not will lead to the extinction of three of the humanoid models.
As previously reported, part of this unrest is caused when the mechanical Cylons find out the humanoid models have been suppressing their ability for independent thought. The toasters will remedy that by turning their individuality back on, and turning against the humanoid models.
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: SyFyPortal.com
-------------------------
Things Get Ugly In 'Battlestar' Season 4
SPOILERS: In-fighting will change the face of the enemy
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: SyFy Portal
Jul-10-2007
The following story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for the fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica."
Those Centurions have been nothing more than walking/shooting toasters, but apparently it's not because the Cylons were too dumb to make them as smart (and beautiful) as their humanoid counterparts.
Last week, Media Blvd. shared some tidbits about the upcoming fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica" talking about how the Centurions never evolved much because the human Cylons built in inhibitors that prevented higher brain function.
Once that inhibitor is removed, the Centurions apparently open fire on the Cylon base ship, parts of which were seen by those attending the SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour last month in Vancouver, B.C., soon after parts of the scenes were shot.
But who were the Cylons targeting? SyFy Portal dug a little deeper, and a source tells us that the Centurions weren't firing out of anger ... it was actually a calculated political move.
"Word about the existence of the Final Five starts spreading throughout the Cylon fleet," the source told SyFy Portal. "Since they may be hiding among the Colonials, the Centurions -- who are now able to think for themselves -- decide they can no longer fire on the fleet at risk of putting the Final Five in trouble."
Four of the Final Five were revealed in the third season finale, and it's unclear what kind of resurrection abilities -- if any -- these final Cylons have. But keeping a military force is important, and one of the Cylon human models removes part of the Centurion Raiders' brain function to remove that independent thinking to make them attack anyway.
What results is the equivalent of a Cylon civil war, or in this case, a skirmish as the battle doesn't last long enough to be a civil war.
"We're going to lose some Cylons in this battle," the source said. "And I don't mean the toasters. We're actually going to lose some of our humanoid Cylons ... as in lose permanently."
The humanoid models are split on if they should continue attacking with the Final Five in the fleet, and when a vote doesn't go the way one Cylon wants it to, the order is given to completely annihilate three models. Attacking all of them at once, and eliminating their ability to resurrect.
There are unconfirmed reports that this episode also will feature the return of Lucy Lawless to the program, as there is some chatter that the actress has signed up for a similar contract she did in her limited run in Season 3. Also, another source reports that a new "named" Cylon will be introduced early in the fourth season, presenting yet another character for Tricia Helfer to play.
When reporters visited the set last month, the multi-purpose set was designed as a dinner area with pristine white chairs, and some extravagant crystal table settings. The room -- which has doubled as Baltar's holding cell as well as where the hybrid pilots are kept -- was riddled with bullet holes that pierced through pillars, and a wall behind where the reporters were walking through. Debris was strewn everywhere, and "Battlestar Galactica" set crew made sure nothing on the set was disturbed, as it was still a hot set.
Of course, none of this has been confirmed by SciFi Channel or showrunners, so please treat this as you would any other rumor.
"Battlestar Galactica" returns in November with the telemovie "Razor," before making its fourth and final season premiere in 2008.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four Scoop
Dateline 4:50AM, Vancouver Time. — BATTLESTAR GALACTICA news. Not surprisingly, the cast, crew, costume designers, key grips and anyone remotely related to the show were tight-lipped with regards to what’s in store for fans this final season. I can reveal that fans should expect to see a new ship around episode five/six (called the Demitrius), Michael Hogan is not happy about being a Cylon and Aaron Douglas alluded to the fact that within the first few episodes of the season, his character Chief Tyrol may [or may not] find himself on the brink of being tossed out of an airlock. Presumably when President Roslin finds out about his little secret.
--------------
« BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season Four ScoopV.C. Andrews Gets A New Life(time) »More BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Scoop
At yesterday’s SCI FI Digital Press panel, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan favorite Aaron Douglas surprised the audience by revealing that he knew months prior that his character — fan favorite Chief Tyrol — was indeed one of the final five Cylons.”I found out months in advance, accidently,” divulged Douglas. ” I found a piece of paper lying around that I was not supposed to see.”Of course, when you’re one of twenty-five intrepid reporters desperate for any morsel of scoop with regards to the upcoming fourth season of GALACTICA, the phrase, ‘things we’re not supposed to see’ popped up far too often for our liking. Yet that didn’t stop this TV Addict from gathering as much intel as possible in an effort to uncover any info about the highly anticipated final season.First bit of scoop, episode four or five’s title is “Into the West.” Turns out Aaron Douglas isn’t the only person to see ‘interesting’ pieces of paper lying around the set. In fact, one couldn’t help but notice entire scripts lying inconspicuously around the gritty and cramped Galactica corridors. But rest assured SCI FI executives — not wanting to risk being ejected from the nearest air lock — this TV Addict didn’t dare pick it up. No matter how curious he was to discover what the episode’s title, “Into the West” really meant.
Another piece of intel one couldn’t help but notice was the name of the new ship currently being constructed for episodes five or six. Perhaps a more fanatical BATTLESTAR GALACTICA fan can let this TV Addict know if the ship name ‘Demitrius’ has any relevance?And finally, the massive bullet holes that riddled the Cylon Base Ship were pretty hard to miss. While brilliant tour guides Richard Hudolin (Production Designer) and Doug McLean (Art Director) were tight-lipped on what happened, one can only assume that episode four will include one helluva an angry Cylon. Or, dare we say, a human who isn’t pleased to have recently discovered that he may not be so human after-all.
-------------
July 15, 2007
The Sci Fi Channel says it will air several "Battlestar Galactica" shorts this fall to tide fans over until "Battlestar Galactica: Razor" debuts Nov. 24.
The announcement came Sunday as the network unveiled its 2007-2008 development slate of programming at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills.The eight-week, primetime series of "mini-sodes" are intended to whet the appetites of fans throughout October and November, in anticipation of the premiere of Sci Fi's two-hour event, "Battlestar Galactica: Razor."
"Razor" is a special extended installment that will provide a backdrop to events unfolding in the rest of season four of "Galactica."Filmed as part of the extended episode, the mini-sodes will be included in the unrated Universal Home Video release of "Razor" and will also be available on SciFi.com after their on-air debuts.
-------------------------------
July 16, 2007
Battlestar Galactica and Farscape fans will be receiving a gift from SciFi Channel this fall. The network has announced that they will be running minisode seasons for both franchises. A relief for Battlestar Galactica fans suffering a long hiatus, and a pleasant surprise for the rabid fans the Jim Henson company's ill-fated Farscape, which became the target of a revival campaign the Jericho folks would have been proud of.
The minisodes will air first on SciFi Channel, and then will be made available via the channel's web site. The Battlestar Galactica minisodes will feature a young Adama (played by Nico Cortez) as he discovers a Cylon weapon that will somehow have impact on future events. Cortez will also be playing young Adama in the Battlestar Galactica movie “Razor.”Aside from Cortez, it isn't clear if any of the Razor cast will be making an appearance in the minisodes. The minisodes are set to debut in October, a month in advance of the late November premiere of Razor.
-----------------------------------
'Battlestar Galactica' "Razor" Preview During Tonight's Eureka
July 10, 2007
Battlestar Galactica fans will be able to get their first look at the highly anticipated spin-off movie “Razor” during tonight's season premiere of Eureka. “Razor” takes place months before the Battlestar Pegasus caught up with Galactica and her rag tag fleet. Returning for “Razor” will be Michelle Forbes as Admiral Cain. In other news, does Forbes contract with the show reveal a possible spoiler of epic proportions? Possibly. Read on.
SyFyPortal.com revealed that in addition to “Razor,” Forbes has been cast to appear in one more episode in the fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica. Beyond that bit of information, there is nothing explaining why so anything that follows is pure speculation.
On one hand, Forbes extra appearance could be a flash back sequence for any number of characters. In this case, her additional commitment would have no big impact for the show, other than the fact that we might get one more look at Pegasus and Cain.
On the other hand, we still do not know the identity of the fifth and final Cyclon. As SyFyPortal suggests, it very well could turn out that Forbes is set to appear as another Cyclon. Interesting proposition, if totally baseless.
SyFyPortal has been a source of more interesting Battlestar Galactica rumors today with some information that there may be a civil war brewing within the Cylons. Word will make it out that the final five are hiding among the Colonials and the resulting fracas over whether to attack or not will lead to the extinction of three of the humanoid models.
As previously reported, part of this unrest is caused when the mechanical Cylons find out the humanoid models have been suppressing their ability for independent thought. The toasters will remedy that by turning their individuality back on, and turning against the humanoid models.
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: SyFyPortal.com
-------------------------
Things Get Ugly In 'Battlestar' Season 4
SPOILERS: In-fighting will change the face of the enemy
By MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: SyFy Portal
Jul-10-2007
The following story contains possible MAJOR SPOILERS for the fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica."
Those Centurions have been nothing more than walking/shooting toasters, but apparently it's not because the Cylons were too dumb to make them as smart (and beautiful) as their humanoid counterparts.
Last week, Media Blvd. shared some tidbits about the upcoming fourth season of "Battlestar Galactica" talking about how the Centurions never evolved much because the human Cylons built in inhibitors that prevented higher brain function.
Once that inhibitor is removed, the Centurions apparently open fire on the Cylon base ship, parts of which were seen by those attending the SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour last month in Vancouver, B.C., soon after parts of the scenes were shot.
But who were the Cylons targeting? SyFy Portal dug a little deeper, and a source tells us that the Centurions weren't firing out of anger ... it was actually a calculated political move.
"Word about the existence of the Final Five starts spreading throughout the Cylon fleet," the source told SyFy Portal. "Since they may be hiding among the Colonials, the Centurions -- who are now able to think for themselves -- decide they can no longer fire on the fleet at risk of putting the Final Five in trouble."
Four of the Final Five were revealed in the third season finale, and it's unclear what kind of resurrection abilities -- if any -- these final Cylons have. But keeping a military force is important, and one of the Cylon human models removes part of the Centurion Raiders' brain function to remove that independent thinking to make them attack anyway.
What results is the equivalent of a Cylon civil war, or in this case, a skirmish as the battle doesn't last long enough to be a civil war.
"We're going to lose some Cylons in this battle," the source said. "And I don't mean the toasters. We're actually going to lose some of our humanoid Cylons ... as in lose permanently."
The humanoid models are split on if they should continue attacking with the Final Five in the fleet, and when a vote doesn't go the way one Cylon wants it to, the order is given to completely annihilate three models. Attacking all of them at once, and eliminating their ability to resurrect.
There are unconfirmed reports that this episode also will feature the return of Lucy Lawless to the program, as there is some chatter that the actress has signed up for a similar contract she did in her limited run in Season 3. Also, another source reports that a new "named" Cylon will be introduced early in the fourth season, presenting yet another character for Tricia Helfer to play.
When reporters visited the set last month, the multi-purpose set was designed as a dinner area with pristine white chairs, and some extravagant crystal table settings. The room -- which has doubled as Baltar's holding cell as well as where the hybrid pilots are kept -- was riddled with bullet holes that pierced through pillars, and a wall behind where the reporters were walking through. Debris was strewn everywhere, and "Battlestar Galactica" set crew made sure nothing on the set was disturbed, as it was still a hot set.
Of course, none of this has been confirmed by SciFi Channel or showrunners, so please treat this as you would any other rumor.
"Battlestar Galactica" returns in November with the telemovie "Razor," before making its fourth and final season premiere in 2008.
===================
'Battlestar Galactica' Season Four Begins to Take Shape
July 5, 2007
In the wake of the recent SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour, various details concerning the upcoming fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica have begun to circulate the web. Ever since the announcement from David Eick and Ron Moore that season four would resolve the Battlestar Galactica story, for the time being, fans of the award-winning series have been clamoring for even the smallest nuggets of info. Here is a wrap up of some of the interesting twists awaiting us in season four. Be warned, minor spoilers will follow.
SyFyPortal.com is reporting, via MediaBlvd.com, that there may be a shocking turn-about in the Cylon community. Mutterings from the set state that the mechanical Centurion models might rebel against their human-styled counterparts after learning that their ability to develop free will is being oppressed. Plato would have loved Battlestar Galactica, nuff said.
A new interior set is being built for what is described as the submarine like Demetrius. The claustrophobic ship will apparently feature prominently in early episodes of the show, but no specific plot details are known as of yet.
One major revelation in the MediaBlvd piece is that according to series star Aaron Douglas (Tyrol) the mysterious final five Cylons are a completely different critter from the other iterations. In fact, Douglas said the final five were immortal and the equivalent of the Cylon’s Gods. If Douglas’ expose was accurate, the Cylons have risen over the colonists in the past, and the cyclical themes of the show will become a major part of season four.
Douglas surely overstepped the spoiler boundaries, but it is difficult to imagine a vigilant producer or writer resisting the impulse to clap a hand over his mouth. If the info is correct, it very well could mean that the arrival at Earth is also a part of the cycle. On the other hand, lets not forget the hard work the BSG producers put into convincing us that Starbuck would die. Now as to who is number five in the final five…
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Sources: SyFyportal.com and Mediablvd.com
July 5, 2007
In the wake of the recent SciFi Channel Digital Press Tour, various details concerning the upcoming fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica have begun to circulate the web. Ever since the announcement from David Eick and Ron Moore that season four would resolve the Battlestar Galactica story, for the time being, fans of the award-winning series have been clamoring for even the smallest nuggets of info. Here is a wrap up of some of the interesting twists awaiting us in season four. Be warned, minor spoilers will follow.
SyFyPortal.com is reporting, via MediaBlvd.com, that there may be a shocking turn-about in the Cylon community. Mutterings from the set state that the mechanical Centurion models might rebel against their human-styled counterparts after learning that their ability to develop free will is being oppressed. Plato would have loved Battlestar Galactica, nuff said.
A new interior set is being built for what is described as the submarine like Demetrius. The claustrophobic ship will apparently feature prominently in early episodes of the show, but no specific plot details are known as of yet.
One major revelation in the MediaBlvd piece is that according to series star Aaron Douglas (Tyrol) the mysterious final five Cylons are a completely different critter from the other iterations. In fact, Douglas said the final five were immortal and the equivalent of the Cylon’s Gods. If Douglas’ expose was accurate, the Cylons have risen over the colonists in the past, and the cyclical themes of the show will become a major part of season four.
Douglas surely overstepped the spoiler boundaries, but it is difficult to imagine a vigilant producer or writer resisting the impulse to clap a hand over his mouth. If the info is correct, it very well could mean that the arrival at Earth is also a part of the cycle. On the other hand, lets not forget the hard work the BSG producers put into convincing us that Starbuck would die. Now as to who is number five in the final five…
- Jon Lachonis, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Sources: SyFyportal.com and Mediablvd.com
Additions to the "Heroes" cast
Princess Keriyama? (Miss Universe 2007 from Japan, Riyo Mori)
06/11 - In recounting the assorted opportunities which have come her way since being named Miss Universe last month, the Japan-born Riyo Mori says one "super" job lead might find her on no less than NBC's Heroes, playing Yaeko, a new character whom she describes as a love interest for one of the main characters. "I went to the casting audition and read a script in English and Japanese, and they said it was really good," the 20-year-old dancer tells the Associated Press. "So I hope I can be in the show." Source: TV Guide Online [Note: Our guess is that she auditioned for the role of Princess Keriyama, which will more than likely end up being Hiro's love interest.]
Dania Ramirez has been cast as "Maya". You may have seen her in my blog previously, she played Callisto in "X-Men: The Last Stand"
David Anders has been cast as Kensei (the ancient samurai hero). Anders was previously cast as Sark on "Alias".
Aaaah, now we get to the "real" Feudal Princess Keriyama - Japaness pop princess Eriko Tamura!
-DB-
Smallville Spoiler - Supergirl casted
"Supergirl" Laura Vandervoort
07/11 - Clark Kent's cousin from Krypton is a Canuck. 22-year-old Laura Vandervoort (Instand Star) has been cast in the plum role of Smallville's Kara aka Supergirl. This superstrong - and airborne! - newcomer may prove to be a super pain to her kin, however. "We've wanted a character to shake things up," series creator Al Gough tells People. "She may be Clark Kent's cousin, but that doesn't mean she's going to be the obedient one!" Source: TV Guide Online
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Zoom zoom
Whoa ... what's that driving in La Mirada?!
I think it's Mister Lamborghini!
what was funny, was some guy in a Buick had to race past the Lamborghini!
cough, cough .... lefted in the dust!
uh, oh pulled past Mister Lamborghini with my 10 year old Acura CL ...
yeah, I was bored!
-DB-
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Exclusive: Supergirl Soars Into Smallville (TV Guide)
By Michael Courtney/The CW
Look, up in the sky: It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s Supergirl?!
When Smallville returns for its seventh season this fall it will be revealed that Clark Kent (Tom Welling) is not the only member of his family to survive the destruction of the planet Krypton. His cousin Kara “was sent to Earth in a ship that arrived at the same time as baby Kal-El’s,” reveals executive producer Al Gough, referring to Clark by his Kryptonian name. “But there was a problem and she’s been in suspended animation for the last 16 years. We’ll find out in the season premiere that the big dam break in last season’s finale is the reason she’s finally awoken.”
Gough says this latest visitor from the DC Comics universe “will help Clark get in touch with his Kryptonian roots. With his [adopted] father dead and his [adopted] mother moved to Washington [to become a U.S. Senator], and Lana blown up, suddenly there’s some family in his life.”
Like her cousin, Kara will have enhanced physical abilities generated by Earth’s yellow sun. “She has all of Clark’s powers and a couple he doesn’t have yet,” Gough teases. “She can fly. And her response when Clark asks why is ‘obviously girls mature faster than boys.’”
Kara, a teenager when Krypton exploded, was sent to Earth by her father, Zor-El (Kal-El’s uncle), to look after her younger cousin. But while in suspended animation she didn’t age and now it’s Clark who must be the mentor. “She becomes enamored with our culture: clothes and iPods and stuff,” Gough says. “We’ll have a lot of fun as she gets acclimated.”
Kara makes her debut in the season premiere of the CW drama and will appear in about half of this season’s episodes. A casting notice is set to go out shortly, and producers hope to unveil their new addition at July’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. –Rich Sands
Gough says this latest visitor from the DC Comics universe “will help Clark get in touch with his Kryptonian roots. With his [adopted] father dead and his [adopted] mother moved to Washington [to become a U.S. Senator], and Lana blown up, suddenly there’s some family in his life.”
Like her cousin, Kara will have enhanced physical abilities generated by Earth’s yellow sun. “She has all of Clark’s powers and a couple he doesn’t have yet,” Gough teases. “She can fly. And her response when Clark asks why is ‘obviously girls mature faster than boys.’”
Kara, a teenager when Krypton exploded, was sent to Earth by her father, Zor-El (Kal-El’s uncle), to look after her younger cousin. But while in suspended animation she didn’t age and now it’s Clark who must be the mentor. “She becomes enamored with our culture: clothes and iPods and stuff,” Gough says. “We’ll have a lot of fun as she gets acclimated.”
Kara makes her debut in the season premiere of the CW drama and will appear in about half of this season’s episodes. A casting notice is set to go out shortly, and producers hope to unveil their new addition at July’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. –Rich Sands
Friday, June 08, 2007
Latest BSG news from TV Guide
Thursday, June 7, 2007Starbucks to Go: Inside Galactica's Season 4 Preview Bash!
by Michael Maloney
Battlestar Galactica's Lucy Lawless, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, Katee Sackhoff and Edward James Olmos
Admiral Adama, President Roslin, Apollo and Kara finally made it to Earth. Well, at least to the Arclight Theater in Hollywood, California, where on Wednesday night stars and producers of Battlestar Galactica met with roughly 1,000 fans of the critically acclaimed Sci Fi Channel series.
Rather than focus on the recently announced sad news that the show's upcoming fourth season, which begins in January, will also be its final one, cast, producers and devotees of the show spent hours praising the space opera's past — and contemplating its immediate future.
Attendees were treated to a quick preview of next season's premiere (watch for more screen time for Michelle Forbes' Admiral Helena Cain, if the sneak peek is any indication) and a replay of the Season 3 finale, in which Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) made a remarkable return from the great beyond. "[The producers] did a really good job of keeping it a secret," Sackhoff told TVGuide.com after the panel discussion. "Some of the crew still doesn't know I'm back!"
When producers first gave Sackhoff the news that they'd be killing her off, "They called me and said, ‘We just want you to know how much we love you,'" she recounts. "They said, ‘We're killing you off, but we're bringing you back. You can't tell anyone — not even your mother.'"
Keeping mum about upcoming specifics isn't going to be very difficult, since Sackhoff is as in the dark as viewers are about Starbuck's seeming resurrection. "I have no idea how I'm back," says the actress, adding, "There's a discrepancy between how long I've been gone and how long [everyone] thinks I've been gone.
"Producers tell me what they can," Sackhoff continues. "They'd tell me who the fifth Cylon is — if they knew, but they don't."
One question posed to executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick was why they ended the series after four seasons when it's such a critical success. "Ron's residual checks from Star Trek started coming in," Eick quipped in response.
Moore, who wrote and produced Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, said he didn't want the BSG audience getting, well, "Lost," as some serial viewers found themselves in relation to an island-based mystery over on ABC. "We need to write an ending," he said. "We don't want to end it with a wink to the viewer [indicating there's a sequel coming]. We want to give the audience a satisfying conclusion."
When asked if the end of the series will be a happy one, Moore cautioned, "It's about the yearning, not the completion. You're [more] invested in that, the ‘can't quite find love [feeling].'"
How would the actors like to see Galactica conclude? "I'm hoping I stay alive till the end," joked Mary McDonnell, whose President Laura Roslin has battled cancer. Jamie Bamber (Captain Lee "Apollo" Adama) is more philosophical about the finale, saying, "I've sort of decided that whatever the writers decide [will be OK]. We've done everything, and this is like having reached the World Cup finals. [Our last season] can't help but be riveting. Whatever it's going to be is going to be great."
If Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama) ends up winning the California Super Lotto, however, BSG could go on forever. "I'd support the show [financially] myself if I could," said the actor. "I don't think the powers that be [at the network] will understand what the show is doing till 20 years from now. This kind of thing happens every once in a while."
"I know [Ronald and David] have the balls to end it at the right time," said an admiring Bamber. "I'll look back [someday at BSG] with such nostalgia that it will hurt." Added McDonnell, "It's a hard [role and show] to begin contemplating giving up."
The evening wasn't entirely somber. In fact, if the actors' responses to moderator Lucy Lawless (aka D'Anna Biers/Cylon Number Three) — who, by the way, is in negotiations to return for BSG's final year — are any indication, Bamber and his cast mates are looking at a future in sitcoms.
Examples: When the topic of Olmos' ALMA Award for Actor in a TV Series came up, the British-born Bamber quipped with mock interest, "Oh, were any of us also nominated?" Ah, Jamie, the ALMA Awards are given to Latino performers. "But I'm [James'] son!" he faux-argued.
In bringing to life this rendition of BSG, Moore said he wanted to pay homage to the late 1970s series, which starred Richard Hatch as Apollo (and who is now Tom Zarek in the current series) and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. "I wanted this to be a version of that show," said Moore, who joked, "In this one, Apollo has the hots for Starbuck — although, he probably did [in the first series, too]."
The tribute session concluded with the producers and cast expressing their thanks to the loyal BSG viewers. "I've never run into fans who are quite as devoted and articulate," said McDonnell. Added Bamber: "Thank you so much.... You guys complete the process."
"Thank you," said Sackhoff, who almost seemed at a loss for words before adding (god bless her), "Thank you for accepting a Starbuck without a package."
Friday, May 25, 2007
Pirates 3 - review (MSNBC Critic)
'Pirates': More Is Less
By John Hartl, Film critic, MSNBC
Cliffhangers aren't what they used to be. Did anyone really consider that Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow might NOT survive his battle with a ferocious sea monster at the end of last summer's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"?
Did we really have to wait a year to find out if the next "Pirates" film would be Depp-less? Could the many-tentacled villain, Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, be triumphant, kick Depp out and take over the franchise?
(That's actually a pretty cool idea but . . .nah.)
The low-budget, Saturday-matinee serials that inspired those last scenes in "Dead Man's Chest" were often more suspenseful and worrying because the B-movie actors who appeared in them were more expendable than Depp. They weren't top box-office draws appearing in blockbusters expected to hit the $1 billion mark.
For that reason, there was never much question that Depp would rise again, if somewhat worse for wear, in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the third installment in the franchise that began four years ago with Disney's surprise smash, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
No "spoiler alert" is needed before acknowledging that Sparrow survives the battle with the squid-style kraken. Or, that he goes on to star in the longest (168 minutes), most convoluted, most experimental and probably the most expensive entry in the series.
Whether it's the best or worst will be a matter of heated debate over the next few weeks, though even the most enthusiastic Depp fans may be put off by the length and the emphasis on action and special effects over story. It begins to feel like punishment, especially in the final reels, when the narrative appears to wrap up half a dozen times.
While Sparrow is definitely back, the movie begins not with him, but with a brutal mass hanging. This is accompanied by the announcement that habeas corpus has been suspended and apparently no one has any rights at all. Could this be producer Jerry Bruckheimer's attempt to introduce contemporary politics to the franchise? If so, he doesn't follow through, though there's a suggestion that the chief heavy has a New World Order in mind.
Sparrow's old enemy, Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Trading Co., is up to his usual tricks, abusing his authority by indiscriminately stringing people up. He also means to do away with all pirates, including Sparrow. As in the second film, however, allegiances can shift and motivations may be fuzzy.
"Pretend it's all a bad dream," advises Sparrow. "That's how I survive." Maybe that's the best way to get through "At World's End."
Opposed to Beckett's plans are Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), his girlfriend Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and the vampirish Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Stellan Skarsgård turns up again as Turner's father, and Naomie Harris makes the most of a key role as the ambiguous Tia Dalma.
The freshest touch here is the introduction of Keith Richards (the acknowledged inspiration for Depp's performance) as Sparrow's father, Capt. Teague. He drops by for a few minutes to give Sparrow advice about survival, and he has a memorably eloquent response to his son's question, "How's Mum?" If you take a bathroom break, you may miss his big scene entirely, but he turns up later for a curtain call.
Also new to the franchise is Chow Yun-Fat, playing a Singapore pirate, Sao Feng, who paws at Swann but otherwise has shockingly little to do. The original director, Gore Verbinski, teams again with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rosio but fails to develop the characters or encourage the relationships to grow and count. At worst, they risk turning sentimental.
Fortunately, Verbinski has not lost his gift for gallows humor. The makeup effects are as ghoulish as ever, and an episode about frostbitten toes is delightfully squirm-worthy. Computer-generated special effects make possible several cartoonish episodes, including one with a monkey blown out of a cannon and another with a tiny pirate who finds himself launched with his own gun.
Of the actors from the first two films, Bloom has improved most by avoiding self-consciousness and relaxing into his role. Richards, leathery and self-mocking at 63, is such a natural that you can't help wishing he had more to do.
This time around, Verbinski seems more interested in creating stunning visuals and playing games. A nighttime sequence in which the stars merge with the sea, while a ship stirs up the mirror-like water, is especially beautiful. Just as gorgeous is Verbinski's dramatic use of the "green ray" (celebrated in such movies as "Summer" and "A Flash of Green") that takes place under certain conditions at sunset.
Depp co-stars with several versions of himself in a couple of hallucinatory episodes, much like John Malkovich in "Being John Malkovich," but these are show-off moments. Just because Verbinski can do it doesn't mean he's found a good reason for doing it. And, there's already too much of Depp camping it up as Sparrow. This may be the third time, but the charm's worn off. No. 4 would really be pushing it.
Creating a successful sequel can be like trying to make lightning strike more than once in the same spot. It can be done, but it's especially hard to pull off a "threequel." Neither the new "Spider-Man" nor the new "Shrek" quite managed to do it, and the latest "Pirates" is even less successful.
In the summer of 2006, "Dead Man's Chest" set a new opening-weekend box-office record that has since been eclipsed by "Spider-Man 3." No doubt "At World's End" will give the latter a run for its money in the opening-weekend category as well.
Still, that doesn't necessarily mean audiences or critics were satisfied with what finally made it to the screen. "Pirates" No. 2 was a good sales job, and "Pirates" No. 3 is expected to duplicate it. No. 1 may trail both films in total box-office receipts, but it's the one most people will remember.
By John Hartl, Film critic, MSNBC
Cliffhangers aren't what they used to be. Did anyone really consider that Johnny Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow might NOT survive his battle with a ferocious sea monster at the end of last summer's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"?
Did we really have to wait a year to find out if the next "Pirates" film would be Depp-less? Could the many-tentacled villain, Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy, be triumphant, kick Depp out and take over the franchise?
(That's actually a pretty cool idea but . . .nah.)
The low-budget, Saturday-matinee serials that inspired those last scenes in "Dead Man's Chest" were often more suspenseful and worrying because the B-movie actors who appeared in them were more expendable than Depp. They weren't top box-office draws appearing in blockbusters expected to hit the $1 billion mark.
For that reason, there was never much question that Depp would rise again, if somewhat worse for wear, in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the third installment in the franchise that began four years ago with Disney's surprise smash, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
No "spoiler alert" is needed before acknowledging that Sparrow survives the battle with the squid-style kraken. Or, that he goes on to star in the longest (168 minutes), most convoluted, most experimental and probably the most expensive entry in the series.
Whether it's the best or worst will be a matter of heated debate over the next few weeks, though even the most enthusiastic Depp fans may be put off by the length and the emphasis on action and special effects over story. It begins to feel like punishment, especially in the final reels, when the narrative appears to wrap up half a dozen times.
While Sparrow is definitely back, the movie begins not with him, but with a brutal mass hanging. This is accompanied by the announcement that habeas corpus has been suspended and apparently no one has any rights at all. Could this be producer Jerry Bruckheimer's attempt to introduce contemporary politics to the franchise? If so, he doesn't follow through, though there's a suggestion that the chief heavy has a New World Order in mind.
Sparrow's old enemy, Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) of the East India Trading Co., is up to his usual tricks, abusing his authority by indiscriminately stringing people up. He also means to do away with all pirates, including Sparrow. As in the second film, however, allegiances can shift and motivations may be fuzzy.
"Pretend it's all a bad dream," advises Sparrow. "That's how I survive." Maybe that's the best way to get through "At World's End."
Opposed to Beckett's plans are Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), his girlfriend Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and the vampirish Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). Stellan Skarsgård turns up again as Turner's father, and Naomie Harris makes the most of a key role as the ambiguous Tia Dalma.
The freshest touch here is the introduction of Keith Richards (the acknowledged inspiration for Depp's performance) as Sparrow's father, Capt. Teague. He drops by for a few minutes to give Sparrow advice about survival, and he has a memorably eloquent response to his son's question, "How's Mum?" If you take a bathroom break, you may miss his big scene entirely, but he turns up later for a curtain call.
Also new to the franchise is Chow Yun-Fat, playing a Singapore pirate, Sao Feng, who paws at Swann but otherwise has shockingly little to do. The original director, Gore Verbinski, teams again with screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rosio but fails to develop the characters or encourage the relationships to grow and count. At worst, they risk turning sentimental.
Fortunately, Verbinski has not lost his gift for gallows humor. The makeup effects are as ghoulish as ever, and an episode about frostbitten toes is delightfully squirm-worthy. Computer-generated special effects make possible several cartoonish episodes, including one with a monkey blown out of a cannon and another with a tiny pirate who finds himself launched with his own gun.
Of the actors from the first two films, Bloom has improved most by avoiding self-consciousness and relaxing into his role. Richards, leathery and self-mocking at 63, is such a natural that you can't help wishing he had more to do.
This time around, Verbinski seems more interested in creating stunning visuals and playing games. A nighttime sequence in which the stars merge with the sea, while a ship stirs up the mirror-like water, is especially beautiful. Just as gorgeous is Verbinski's dramatic use of the "green ray" (celebrated in such movies as "Summer" and "A Flash of Green") that takes place under certain conditions at sunset.
Depp co-stars with several versions of himself in a couple of hallucinatory episodes, much like John Malkovich in "Being John Malkovich," but these are show-off moments. Just because Verbinski can do it doesn't mean he's found a good reason for doing it. And, there's already too much of Depp camping it up as Sparrow. This may be the third time, but the charm's worn off. No. 4 would really be pushing it.
Creating a successful sequel can be like trying to make lightning strike more than once in the same spot. It can be done, but it's especially hard to pull off a "threequel." Neither the new "Spider-Man" nor the new "Shrek" quite managed to do it, and the latest "Pirates" is even less successful.
In the summer of 2006, "Dead Man's Chest" set a new opening-weekend box-office record that has since been eclipsed by "Spider-Man 3." No doubt "At World's End" will give the latter a run for its money in the opening-weekend category as well.
Still, that doesn't necessarily mean audiences or critics were satisfied with what finally made it to the screen. "Pirates" No. 2 was a good sales job, and "Pirates" No. 3 is expected to duplicate it. No. 1 may trail both films in total box-office receipts, but it's the one most people will remember.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
2006 - 2007 TV Recaps
2006 – 2007 Season / Series Recaps (SPOILER WARNING: inviso-text)
(Just some of the shows I keep up with)
American Idol – the 17 year old won!
Battlestar Galactica – Four of the final Five are revealed, Starbuck reappears in her Viper and tells Apollo that she’s been to Earth.
Dancing with the Stars – Apollo Ono won!
Grey’s Anatomy – Preston left Christina at the alter (Isaiah Washington is looking for a new job this fall), Derrick and Meredith on the fringe, Derrick unknowningly flirts with Meredith’s stepsister and new first year intern Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), George flunked his intern exam, Callie want to have a baby with George.
Heroes – Hiro saved Andro and finally did what Isaac predicted he would do, Jessica and Niki finally merged, Matt Parkman took four bullets to the chest, and Peter went nuclear and exploded (but not before Nathan flew him away from New York City).
Jericho – Johnston dies, the townsfolk fight off the assault from New Bern and Federal troops poise to intervene in the battle between neighboring towns. (Serie finale … let’s hope the DVD has an alternative ending).
King of Queens – series finale after 9 years (so is Carrie having a baby or not?).
Lost – Apparently, Mikhail is pretty hard to kill (even after Desmond puts a diving spear into his chest) but he did kill the three people that Ben ordered him to kill, including – yes (sob) Charlie! But Charlie did manage to save Desmond and relay a warning to Des that it’s wasn’t Penny’s people looking for the island. Lots of deaths on the island in the finale including 12 of “The Others”. Who would have thought Hurley’s would save the day for the left behind shooters?! French Chick finally met her daughter Alex. Jack beat the Crap outta of Ben. The ending was pretty surprising eventhough I kinda of guessed it (it wasn’t Jack’s flashback, it was a flashforward … after he and Kate made it off the island). ** Well, someone just told me, that it's been posted on the Internet of the identity of the person who died in the Jack's future (flash forward). It's Michael, Walt's dad who shot the two ladies last season and betrayed Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley to "the Others".((highlight to reveal)
NCIS – Tony’s girlfriend is La Grenouille’s daughter.
Smallville – Lana apparently got blown up in a car bombing, Lex got arrested for Lana’s murder. Lois got stabbed but Chloe using her metor freak powers transferred her life force into Lois. Clark’s encounter with the Phantom Zone Wraith caused him to split into two being one of which is Bizarro – Clark.
24 – Doyle get blown up by Pappa Bauer’s booby trapped micro-chip and is blinded, Joshua is grabbed by Bauer’s men and is taken to an off shore oil platform guarded by Chang’s men. Bill Buchannan and Jack Bauer launched a two man helo assault on the oil platform killing off all of Chang’s guards and taking Chang prisoner. Josh shoots grandpa Bauer, Jack lives his dad to die in the F-18 missile attack on the platform. World War III is averted as the Russians are satisfied that their secrets were saved by the airstrike. Jack visits Audrey and leaves. Standing cliff side with gun in hand, Jack pondering his future as “Day Six” ends.
Veronica Mars – Keith gets charged with destroying evident while protecting Veronica. Veronica learns all of the secrets of “The Castle” (series finale?).
(Just some of the shows I keep up with)
American Idol – the 17 year old won!
Battlestar Galactica – Four of the final Five are revealed, Starbuck reappears in her Viper and tells Apollo that she’s been to Earth.
Dancing with the Stars – Apollo Ono won!
Grey’s Anatomy – Preston left Christina at the alter (Isaiah Washington is looking for a new job this fall), Derrick and Meredith on the fringe, Derrick unknowningly flirts with Meredith’s stepsister and new first year intern Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh), George flunked his intern exam, Callie want to have a baby with George.
Heroes – Hiro saved Andro and finally did what Isaac predicted he would do, Jessica and Niki finally merged, Matt Parkman took four bullets to the chest, and Peter went nuclear and exploded (but not before Nathan flew him away from New York City).
Jericho – Johnston dies, the townsfolk fight off the assault from New Bern and Federal troops poise to intervene in the battle between neighboring towns. (Serie finale … let’s hope the DVD has an alternative ending).
King of Queens – series finale after 9 years (so is Carrie having a baby or not?).
Lost – Apparently, Mikhail is pretty hard to kill (even after Desmond puts a diving spear into his chest) but he did kill the three people that Ben ordered him to kill, including – yes (sob) Charlie! But Charlie did manage to save Desmond and relay a warning to Des that it’s wasn’t Penny’s people looking for the island. Lots of deaths on the island in the finale including 12 of “The Others”. Who would have thought Hurley’s would save the day for the left behind shooters?! French Chick finally met her daughter Alex. Jack beat the Crap outta of Ben. The ending was pretty surprising eventhough I kinda of guessed it (it wasn’t Jack’s flashback, it was a flashforward … after he and Kate made it off the island). ** Well, someone just told me, that it's been posted on the Internet of the identity of the person who died in the Jack's future (flash forward). It's Michael, Walt's dad who shot the two ladies last season and betrayed Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley to "the Others".((highlight to reveal)
NCIS – Tony’s girlfriend is La Grenouille’s daughter.
Smallville – Lana apparently got blown up in a car bombing, Lex got arrested for Lana’s murder. Lois got stabbed but Chloe using her metor freak powers transferred her life force into Lois. Clark’s encounter with the Phantom Zone Wraith caused him to split into two being one of which is Bizarro – Clark.
24 – Doyle get blown up by Pappa Bauer’s booby trapped micro-chip and is blinded, Joshua is grabbed by Bauer’s men and is taken to an off shore oil platform guarded by Chang’s men. Bill Buchannan and Jack Bauer launched a two man helo assault on the oil platform killing off all of Chang’s guards and taking Chang prisoner. Josh shoots grandpa Bauer, Jack lives his dad to die in the F-18 missile attack on the platform. World War III is averted as the Russians are satisfied that their secrets were saved by the airstrike. Jack visits Audrey and leaves. Standing cliff side with gun in hand, Jack pondering his future as “Day Six” ends.
Veronica Mars – Keith gets charged with destroying evident while protecting Veronica. Veronica learns all of the secrets of “The Castle” (series finale?).
Monday, April 09, 2007
"24" Day 6 (Season 6) - so far ...
Season / Day Six Cast of "24"
Warning: Spoilers in Inviso-text (highlight to reveal).
Season Six overview (thru April 2, 2007)
Season Six (2007) is set 20 months after season five. Show designers acknowledge that it should technically take place in January, 2013, but also that this is partially incorrect, as they avoid the use of dates in order to have the show remain in a "perpetual now".[1] Even though the phones in CTU show this, Wayne Palmer acknowledges that he has been president for a little over three months, and according to years past, the real date should be May, 2011.
After the events in season five and over the last 11 weeks before Day 6, the United States has been targeted coast-to-coast in a series of suicide bombings including a train bombing in Atlanta, casino bombing in Las Vegas, park bombing in Phoenix, hospital bombing in Detroit, a mall bombing in Baltimore, office building bombing in San Jose, hotel bombing in Chicago, a taxi bomb in New York City, bus bombing in Los Angeles, bombing at the airport in St. Louis and street bombs in San Antonio, Milwaukee, and Portland, Oregon. President Wayne Palmer has negotiated the release of Jack Bauer from a Chinese prison, under "high-price" terms that have not been revealed. A man by the name of Hamri Al-Assad is believed to be behind the attacks. A man named Abu Fayed agrees to give the U.S. the location of Assad in exchange for $25 million and Jack Bauer. Jack is turned over, but Fayed tells Jack that he is behind the attacks, not Assad. In fact, Assad is trying to stop them. Jack escapes, and tries to warn the President before Assad is killed, but Palmer refuses to abort the air attack. Jack quickly rescues Assad shortly before the attack.
Assad and Jack then work together, stopping a suicide bombing in the Los Angeles subway and tracking a suspect that they thought would lead them to Fayed, but didn't. Instead, he leads them to a computer that contained information that said that Fayed is planning to detonate nuclear weapons in the U.S. Curtis Manning appears and prepares to take Assad back to CTU. Jack then finds out that Curtis wants revenge against Assad and Jack is forced to kill Curtis to save Assad. Distraught at being forced to kill his friend, Jack collapses and vomits. He calls Bill Buchanan at CTU and quits.
The terrorists detonate a nuclear bomb in Valencia, California. The nuclear explosion is visible to Jack as he is lying on the ground, still sick over being forced to kill Curtis. It isn't long before Jack realizes that he wants to save lives and gets back on the job that would eventually lead him to his brother, Graem Bauer, and his father, Phillip Bauer. Jack would eventually follow more leads and stop another nuclear bomb from going off in Los Angeles. Jack now has the task of locating and disarming the remaining nuclear bombs. As of episode 16, two nuclear bombs are successful intercepted or disarmed by CTU.
[edit] Major Plots
Episodes 1-4: Jack Bauer, after being taken prisoner by China 20 months earlier, is released from China under a deal bargained by President Wayne Palmer. Jack is immediately asked to sacrifice himself to Abu Fayed, who has offered CTU Hamri Al-Assad, who is believed to be the terrorist mastermind behind the suicide bombings of the last 11 weeks, in exchange for Bauer. Bauer finds out however, the Assad is actually trying to stop the attacks, and Fayed is the true mastermind. Bauer escapes, rescues Assad, and then prevents a subway bombing in Los Angeles. Bauer & CTU then find out that the bombings of recent weeks were all designed to deviate the United States from Fayed's true objective: the detonation of 5 nuclear bombs across the United States. At the end of the fourth episode, one bomb is detonated in northern L.A.
Episodes 5-11: Jack discovers that his father, Philip Bauer, and his brother Graem Bauer, are involved in the plot. He also finds out that they were connected to the events that happened 20 months ago. After locating and diffusing one of the remaining bombs, Jack successfully rescues his nephew, Josh, from his father (who killed Graem). Philip escapes, but leaves Jack a lead to call former President Charles Logan. President Logan leads Jack to the Russian Consulate General, Anatoly Markov. Assad manages to lead CTU to Dmitri Gredenko, who provided Fayed with the bombs and is planning to arm RK-2 Arieal Drones with the three remaining bombs to attack the United States.
Assassination attempt on President Wayne Palmer: Back at the White House, President Palmer refuses to implement security measures that would suspend civil liberties, refuses to take military action against countries believed to support the attacks, and allows a former terrorist (Assad) to make a speech to the world asking people to give the U.S. information and move towards peace. As a result, Deputy Chief of Staff Reed Pollock devises a plan to assassinate the President and frame Hamri Al-Assad for the attack. Chief of Staff Tom Lennox tries to prevent the attack, but he is unsuccessful. The President's podium explodes at the end of the 11th hour, killing Assad and leaving Palmer unconscious.
Episodes 12-16: Vice President Noah Daniels assumes the powers of commander-in-chief and immediately implements the security measures and threatens to attack the Middle-Eastern country that Assad & Fayed are residents of. When Logan fails to blackmail Markov successfully into giving up Gredenko, Jack takes Markov hostage inside the Russian consulate and extracts the information himself. Jack is captured soon after discovering Gredenko & Fayed's location. President Logan convinces his ex-wife Martha to call the Russian First Lady, Anna Suvarov, who convinces Russian President Yuri Suvarov to authorize CTU action against the consulate. Jack immediately gives CTU the location of Gredenko, but it is too late, as one drone has already been launched and heads towards San Francisco. CTU manages to locate the drone pilot through a security breach at CTU (for which Nadia Yassir is blamed for, but later cleared), and Jack manages to crash land the drone. However, the bomb's nuclear core is compromised in the crash landing, releasing radiation. Daniels uses this as reasoning to launch a nuclear strike against the Middle-East. Sandra Palmer gives consent to wake President Palmer, who stops the attack and successfully fends off a challenge for the presidency by Daniels, but then, on adrenaline, he orders the attack. Jack Bauer & CTU capture Gredenko (who later apparently dies) and Fayed, but are still looking for the bombs.
[edit] Sub-plots
Abu Fayed tries to get his revenge on Jack Bauer for torturing and killing his brother. He is currently captured by CTU.
The bad relationship between National Security Advisor Karen Hayes and Chief of Staff Thomas Lennox forces Karen to resign. Karen later withdraws her resignation after the assassination attempt on President Palmer. Somewhat ironically, Hayes and Lennox find themselves allied with each other in opposition to Vice President Daniels' plans to launch nuclear weapons, though Hayes' opposition to Daniels' actions is apparently stronger. Their conflict ends when they agree to a truce after teaming up together to keep President Palmer in office.
The bad relationship between Morris O'Brian and Milo Pressman; each had been involved with Chloe O'Brian, and Morris ends up with her.
Former terrorist Hamri Al-Assad is accused of being the one detonating all of the bombs when he is really being framed and trying to create peace. He is later killed during an assassination attempt on President Palmer.
Jack Bauer is emotionally depleted after enduring 20 months of torture in China which ended just hours before Day 6 begins.
Walid Al-Rezani, boyfriend of Sandra Palmer (David and Wayne's sister), spies for the FBI inside a detention center in Washington D.C., only to be beaten and hospitalized for nothing as the suspected inmates are merely spectators.
The mysterious apparent mastermind who was seen - but not previously identified - as being behind the events of Day 5 of 24, turns out to be Jack's brother, Graem Bauer. He is killed later by his father Philip Bauer.
Phillip Bauer, Jack's father, mysteriously - but apparently intentionally - disappeared the day before the nuclear explosion in L.A. Phillip may have maintained ties with BXJ, the company from which the suitcase nukes were garnered. As a result, his affiliation with the terrorists is suspect. After killing his son Graem (to prevent him from breaking under interrogation) and trying to kill Jack, it is later revealed that he was behind Day 5's events. After closing in to kill Jack, Phillip escapes - inexplicably leaving a lead for Jack - and is still at large.
President Wayne Palmer rejects Thomas Lennox's executive orders for federal intervention in suspecting Muslim communities in front of the entire Cabinet.
Marilyn Bauer having mixed feelings when Graem Bauer dies as she has been trying to leave him for years, and appears to still have feelings for Jack, with whom she had a prior relationship.
Morris O'Brian being emotionally depleted and mired in self-pity after being tortured by Abu Fayed and forced to program a device that can arm the remaining nukes, tempting him to start drinking again. When Chloe discovers this, she is angry and horrified, but agrees not to have him relieved of duty. He later suppresses his habit by disposing his drink and focusing back on his work.
President Palmer's Deputy Chief of Staff Reed Pollock and his associate Bruce Carson plot to assassinate President Wayne Palmer using a cassette player bomb and frame Hamri Al-Assad for the deadly act. Pollock claims that Vice President Noah Daniels is not involved with the assassination plot.
Chief of Staff Thomas Lennox pretends to join them, and Pollock discovers him attempting to warn the Secret Service, so he kidnaps Lennox. Lennox pretends again to go along with the plotters and is released after the assassination attempt, but quickly turns in the two political operatives as well as himself. He is later reinstated by Vice President Noah Daniels.
President Palmer survives the blast, but is at least temporarily unable to continue his executive duties, so Vice-President Noah Daniels takes over. He later resumes his presidential duties when he is waken from his coma and stops Daniels from launching a nuclear strike against Assad's country.
Former President Charles Logan claims he has information about Dmitri Gredenko's whereabouts through the Russian Consulate in Los Angeles. With President Wayne Palmer's approval, he is temporarily released in Jack's custody and will help Jack to obtain the information on Gredenko's location. After failing to obtain the information he needs through Anatoly Markov, he turns to his ex-wife Martha Logan for help.
Martha Logan is romantically involved with ex-Secret Service agent Aaron Pierce. She has had some kind of psychological breakdown since her divorce from the former President.
Vice President Noah Daniels attempts to convince Lennox to suppress information about who was behind the assassination attempt and to lie to Hamri Al-Assad's country, telling them that it was Assad who planted the bomb to kill Palmer, in order to further Lennox's homeland security plan. Although hesitant, Lennox listens to Daniels to protect his job and lies to Assad's country's ambassador, causing Daniels to threaten them with a nuclear strike if they don't help with stopping Abu Fayed.
The bad relationship between Milo Pressman and Mike Doyle stems from their previous association in Denver. Nadia says that Doyle enjoys hurting people during her interrogation, which might be the source of their conflict. Their conflict is later resolved, however, when Doyle hands the evidence that prove Nadia's innocence back to CTU.
During the tense reunion between Charles Logan and his ex-wife Martha Logan, she becomes emotionally unstable and stabs Logan in the chest with a kitchen knife, critically injuring him or perhaps killing him.
Jack is told by Marilyn Bauer that Audrey Raines has died in a car accident in China when she was attempting to secure his release. Jack doesn't believe that it was an accident and vows to find out the truth after this crisis is over. Chloe tells him that DNA samples were sent to China to help identify the remains but has no official confirmation of this.
The trust between Abu Fayed and Dmitri Gredenko diminishes after Anatoly Markov's cover was blown, and the drone failed to reach its target. This leads Fayed to pull a gun on Gredenko, but he puts it down after realizing that Gredenko is the only one who can help him detonate the remaining bombs. Gredenko is dead after Fayed amputates his arm to try to avoid CTU detection. Nevertheless, Fayed is captured by CTU.
Though President Palmer is out of the coma, he still appears weak. So he orders Dr. Welton to inject him with adrenaline.
[edit] Preview
A 10-minute preview of Season 6 of 24 is available on the Season 5 DVD. The clip begins with a recap of Jack's capture at the end of season 5 before cutting to him now being held captive by the Chinese, 7 months later at an unidentified location. He is being tortured by several guards who inform Cheng Zhi that they are still unable to extract information from him regarding a Chinese government agent who they believe is working for the United States. Frustrated at his unwillingness to speak, the guards throw him back into his cell.
Shortly thereafter, two American covert-ops soldiers break into the complex, killing a guard, in order to free Bauer from his cell. They lead him through an outdoor complex, to a concealed vehicle nearby. After a brief chase, they come to a dark field where the men tell Jack that they will have a transport ready to pick him up shortly. The two soldiers then summon a man by the name of Hong Wai, who had been concealed in the shadows of the field, to greet Jack. Hong Wai is immediately recognizable as one of the men that Jack had been questioned about earlier, regarding the mole in their government.
As Jack flinches in recognition of Hong, several flood lights come on, and Chinese military vehicles swarm on the scene. Cheng Zhi walks into the field and thanks Bauer for his help in identifying Hong, whom he had apparently suspected all along. Zhi then executes Hong with a single shot to the head, and thanks the covert-ops agents for their role in the set-up, promising them that money will be transferred to their Swiss bank accounts. The guards are then ordered to return Jack to his cell where he will continue to be held prisoner.
Incidentally, this is the only sequence of 24 not exclusively utilizing the real time aspect of the show, with the possible exception of the flashback at the end of Day 1.
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer), Tzi Ma (Cheng Zhi), and John Koyoma (Hong Wai).
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Lost - March 28 Recap
The perfect crime: Before her life as a castaway, Nikki was an actress (working opposite this week’s guest star, Billy Dee Williams). When she wasn’t busy with her day job, she was having an affair with her much older and much richer director, Howie Zukerman. Although she professed her love for the old guy, he was nothing but a mark for her and her accomplice, Paulo. That’s right; Nikki and Paulo were criminal masterminds! They poisoned the old man and stole his diamond stash just days before boarding the doomed Oceanic flight.The good old days: Flashback to the crash, as Shannon screamed hysterically, and the likes of Boone, Ethan and Dr. Artz were still alive. Amid the chaos, Nikki found Paulo, but she only cared about one thing: “Where’s the bag?” The bag contained Paulo’s nicotine gum and, more importantly, the diamonds. Later, Nikki got friendly with Artz, who schooled her in the Medusa spider, a variety whose pheromones could attract all the males of her species.
Personal effects: As for the current events on the island, the bodies of Nikki and Paulo were discovered. Everyone tried to make sense of it, with most fearing it was the work of the smoke monster. Trying to gather clues, Sawyer and Hurley sorted through Paulo and Nikki’s tent. They found some of Artz’s old bug collection and a working walkie-talkie, a souvenir Paulo brought back from an early trip to the Pearl Station.
Backlash: Suspecting it was the Others behind the deaths, Sun reminded the group that they would have killed her if she didn’t escape her earlier kidnapping. Charlie finally decided to come clean about the kidnapping, and how it was all Sawyer’s idea. A furious Sun approached Sawyer, who was busy prepping a double grave, and smacked him across the face. He got off easy.
Holding out: A few hours earlier, Nikki spied the nicotine gum on the beach. Knowing there’s no gum without diamonds, she devised a bizarre plan. Leading Paulo into the jungle, she confronted him about the gems. Her big plan to recover them? She tossed the Medusa spider on him. She explained that the venom would leave him paralyzed, seemingly dead, for hours. He barely had a chance to explain that he hid the diamonds from her to save their relationship, before she, too, felt a bite from one of the male spiders drawn to the scene.Premature burial: Back to the present, Hurley and Sawyer put the finishing touches on the graveside service for Nikki and Paulo. After Hurley delivered the eulogy, Sawyer shoveled dirt over the bodies of the nearly departed. Yep, Nikki and Paulo weren’t quite dead yet. It was just the spider venom doing its thing. But the real deal wasn’t too far away. The dirt kept piling over them, as Nikki opened her eyes a little too late.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
BSG spoilers and updates!
From TV Guide Feb 2, 2007
It's a Battlestar Galactica Scoopapalooza!
By now, you've heard the fraktacular news that Sci Fi has ordered a fourth season of Battlestar Galactica. Well, what you may not have heard is that producers have already lined up a big-name guest star for said fourth season that's so freakin' fraktabulus that Toasters everywhere are already strudeling on themselves in anticipation. The high-profile casting is one of several scoopy tidbits that executive producer David Eick spilled to me in this exclusive interview…
Ausiello: Clear something up for me: Will the fourth season consist of 13 or 22 episodes?
David Eick: At this point, I'm so confused about what I can say and what I can't say, I don't even know what to tell you. I would just ask [Sci Fi] that question, because it seems like there are so many moving parts to the answer to that question. [A Sci Fi rep says the exact number of episodes is still "under negotiation."]
Ausiello: Were you on pins and needles waiting for the pick-up?
Eick: I was not on pins and needles. I don't know if I'd say it was a foregone conclusion, but I was not on pins and needles because the network has always used as much time as they had to weigh the decision very carefully, not just in terms of whether they wanted it, but in terms of how to make sure we maintain the quality both economically and from a marketing standpoint. And those are big questions. It's a basic cable show that costs a great deal of money to produce. So those aren't slam-dunk answers. I'm actually glad we took the time to figure it out, 'cause what you don't want is for someone to come tell you, "OK, you're renewed. But the bad news is, we don't have the money to make your show." Or, "We don't have the money to market your show." Or, "You have to make the show differently." And, fortunately, because they took that time, we're gonna continue making the show just as we have, and I believe the marketing support will also be as strong.
Ausiello: In light of the renewal, is it safe to assume that the BSG movie is a go?
Eick: It's green light was predicated on this fourth season order, so that means we're making it. They're calling it a "bonus episode." It'll come between the end of Season 3 and the beginning of Season 4.
Ausiello: Which is the bigger episode — the one airing March 4, or the season finale on March 25?
Eick: I would say it's two sides of the same coin. What happens in the March 4 episode will greatly influence and inform what happens in the cliff-hanger. The last four episodes all kind of tie together as a piece. But I would say that Episode 16 and Episode 19 are the two tentpoles, and are really the most shocking and revelatory.
Ausiello: And what about 17 and 18?
Eick: That's where we continue the storyline [surrounding] Baltar's trial — establishing who is going to defend him and who is going to prosecute him, what the nature of the case will involve, how the judging works. We're trying to piece together some judiciary system amidst what are basically 12 disparate colonial points of view with different sets of laws, and that in and of itself presents a lot of problems. I can tell you that Adama's gonna find himself in what he believes at first will be a greatly advantageous position when it comes to the prosecution of Baltar. And we'll later realize he may've wished he hadn't.
Ausiello: Can you confirm that a major character will be revealed as a Cylon before the end of the season
Eick: Yes. And I wouldn't limit it to just that revelation. There are other revelations as well. But that's certainly one of them.
Ausiello: What are the others?
Eick: Well, I can't tell you 'cause they wouldn't be revelations.
Ausiello: And what about the other four Cylons?
Eick: [Answer appears in tomorrow's Ask Ausiello. Sorry, a guy's gotta cross-promote where he can.]
Ausiello: Will there be any movement in the Starbuck/Apollo romance in these last batch of episodes?
Eick: I would say the events of Episodes 16 and 19 will greatly impact the nature of their romance.
Ausiello: Sci Fi is teasing a major death on the show. Rumor has it it's Starbuck. I know you can't confirm that, but can you tell me that a series regular won't be returning for the fourth season?
Eick: It's fair to say that there will be definitely be changes to the cast in Season 4.
Ausiello: Are you viewing the fourth season as a possible wrap-up to the series?
Eick: I'm not sure about that yet. That's always a possibility, but no more or less than it was a possibility at the end of Season 3.
Ausiello: What's the status of the BSG spin-off, Caprica?
Eick: We're due to hear back from the network in March about whether they plan to go forward with that as a filmed pilot. We're very hopeful that with this pickup that gives us some wind that Caprica's back.
Ausiello: What's your gut telling you?
Eick: I would say it's pretty positive, because of the support for Battlestar, but also because it represents a pretty strident departure from the kind of show Battlestar is. Not that Sci Fi doesn't like the kind of show that Battlestar is, but I think if you're going to do a spin-off, you can do Xena or Stargate Atlantis, which are sort of variations of the same theme as their predecessors, or you can say, "OK, you had M*A*S*H, and then you had Trapper John, MD. Or you had Mary Tyler Moore and then Lou Grant. So I think this is more in the spirit of taking a portion of the mythos, the backstory of Battlestar Galactica, and then advancing it in a completely new direction with a different style and tone and just an overall different kind of show than Battlestar Galactica.
Ausiello: OK, last question: As you know, the BSG movie wasn't the only thing that hinged on that fourth season order. I'm reffering, of course, to my guest appearance.
Eick: Someone just reminded me of that.
Ausiello: It's probably a little premature, but have you and Ron Moore been batting around ideas for my character?
Eick: Yes. We definitely talked a great deal about how that character's untimely demise would be one of the more exciting aspects of your journey.
It's a Battlestar Galactica Scoopapalooza!
By now, you've heard the fraktacular news that Sci Fi has ordered a fourth season of Battlestar Galactica. Well, what you may not have heard is that producers have already lined up a big-name guest star for said fourth season that's so freakin' fraktabulus that Toasters everywhere are already strudeling on themselves in anticipation. The high-profile casting is one of several scoopy tidbits that executive producer David Eick spilled to me in this exclusive interview…
Ausiello: Clear something up for me: Will the fourth season consist of 13 or 22 episodes?
David Eick: At this point, I'm so confused about what I can say and what I can't say, I don't even know what to tell you. I would just ask [Sci Fi] that question, because it seems like there are so many moving parts to the answer to that question. [A Sci Fi rep says the exact number of episodes is still "under negotiation."]
Ausiello: Were you on pins and needles waiting for the pick-up?
Eick: I was not on pins and needles. I don't know if I'd say it was a foregone conclusion, but I was not on pins and needles because the network has always used as much time as they had to weigh the decision very carefully, not just in terms of whether they wanted it, but in terms of how to make sure we maintain the quality both economically and from a marketing standpoint. And those are big questions. It's a basic cable show that costs a great deal of money to produce. So those aren't slam-dunk answers. I'm actually glad we took the time to figure it out, 'cause what you don't want is for someone to come tell you, "OK, you're renewed. But the bad news is, we don't have the money to make your show." Or, "We don't have the money to market your show." Or, "You have to make the show differently." And, fortunately, because they took that time, we're gonna continue making the show just as we have, and I believe the marketing support will also be as strong.
Ausiello: In light of the renewal, is it safe to assume that the BSG movie is a go?
Eick: It's green light was predicated on this fourth season order, so that means we're making it. They're calling it a "bonus episode." It'll come between the end of Season 3 and the beginning of Season 4.
Ausiello: Which is the bigger episode — the one airing March 4, or the season finale on March 25?
Eick: I would say it's two sides of the same coin. What happens in the March 4 episode will greatly influence and inform what happens in the cliff-hanger. The last four episodes all kind of tie together as a piece. But I would say that Episode 16 and Episode 19 are the two tentpoles, and are really the most shocking and revelatory.
Ausiello: And what about 17 and 18?
Eick: That's where we continue the storyline [surrounding] Baltar's trial — establishing who is going to defend him and who is going to prosecute him, what the nature of the case will involve, how the judging works. We're trying to piece together some judiciary system amidst what are basically 12 disparate colonial points of view with different sets of laws, and that in and of itself presents a lot of problems. I can tell you that Adama's gonna find himself in what he believes at first will be a greatly advantageous position when it comes to the prosecution of Baltar. And we'll later realize he may've wished he hadn't.
Ausiello: Can you confirm that a major character will be revealed as a Cylon before the end of the season
Eick: Yes. And I wouldn't limit it to just that revelation. There are other revelations as well. But that's certainly one of them.
Ausiello: What are the others?
Eick: Well, I can't tell you 'cause they wouldn't be revelations.
Ausiello: And what about the other four Cylons?
Eick: [Answer appears in tomorrow's Ask Ausiello. Sorry, a guy's gotta cross-promote where he can.]
Ausiello: Will there be any movement in the Starbuck/Apollo romance in these last batch of episodes?
Eick: I would say the events of Episodes 16 and 19 will greatly impact the nature of their romance.
Ausiello: Sci Fi is teasing a major death on the show. Rumor has it it's Starbuck. I know you can't confirm that, but can you tell me that a series regular won't be returning for the fourth season?
Eick: It's fair to say that there will be definitely be changes to the cast in Season 4.
Ausiello: Are you viewing the fourth season as a possible wrap-up to the series?
Eick: I'm not sure about that yet. That's always a possibility, but no more or less than it was a possibility at the end of Season 3.
Ausiello: What's the status of the BSG spin-off, Caprica?
Eick: We're due to hear back from the network in March about whether they plan to go forward with that as a filmed pilot. We're very hopeful that with this pickup that gives us some wind that Caprica's back.
Ausiello: What's your gut telling you?
Eick: I would say it's pretty positive, because of the support for Battlestar, but also because it represents a pretty strident departure from the kind of show Battlestar is. Not that Sci Fi doesn't like the kind of show that Battlestar is, but I think if you're going to do a spin-off, you can do Xena or Stargate Atlantis, which are sort of variations of the same theme as their predecessors, or you can say, "OK, you had M*A*S*H, and then you had Trapper John, MD. Or you had Mary Tyler Moore and then Lou Grant. So I think this is more in the spirit of taking a portion of the mythos, the backstory of Battlestar Galactica, and then advancing it in a completely new direction with a different style and tone and just an overall different kind of show than Battlestar Galactica.
Ausiello: OK, last question: As you know, the BSG movie wasn't the only thing that hinged on that fourth season order. I'm reffering, of course, to my guest appearance.
Eick: Someone just reminded me of that.
Ausiello: It's probably a little premature, but have you and Ron Moore been batting around ideas for my character?
Eick: Yes. We definitely talked a great deal about how that character's untimely demise would be one of the more exciting aspects of your journey.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Shocking rumors! Jan 2007
BSG - something about BSG not getting renewed for Season 4 (but according to TV Guide, one of the exec at Scifi said that the decision won't be made until February).
Starbuck killed off?! Oh, come on ... that can that be true?! But I think TV Guide and some of the spoiler sites have indicated that our favorite actress will be taking a 3 episode break. AND, she's NOT a Cylon!
On "Heroes" ... another female character is getting killed off. Noticed I wrote "character" not necessarily one of the "heroes".
On "Grey's Anatomy" someone is getting marry, someone (same?) is having a baby, a shuffle in couples .... an "attending" and an "intern" and yet another "attending" and another "intern" getting it on (whoa, holy musical bedrooms)!
-DB-
Starbuck killed off?! Oh, come on ... that can that be true?! But I think TV Guide and some of the spoiler sites have indicated that our favorite actress will be taking a 3 episode break. AND, she's NOT a Cylon!
On "Heroes" ... another female character is getting killed off. Noticed I wrote "character" not necessarily one of the "heroes".
On "Grey's Anatomy" someone is getting marry, someone (same?) is having a baby, a shuffle in couples .... an "attending" and an "intern" and yet another "attending" and another "intern" getting it on (whoa, holy musical bedrooms)!
-DB-
Saturday, January 06, 2007
The OC is ending
It's Official: The O.C. is O-ver
Sad but true. The official press release is below. Read it and weep.
THE SUN SETS ON “THE O.C.” WHEN THE SERIES FINALE AIRS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, ON FOX
The sun will set for the last time on THE O.C. when the series ends its four-season run Thursday, Feb. 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The countdown has begun, with all-original episodes airing from Thursday, Jan. 4 through the last episode on Feb. 22.
THE O.C. stars Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen), Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen), Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Adam Brody (Seth Cohen), Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper), Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts), Autumn Reeser (Taylor Townsend) and Willa Holland (Autumn Reeser).
Set in Orange County, California, THE O.C. premiered in August 2003. It follows a group of friends and families whose lives were changed by the arrival of an outsider – Ryan Atwood – to their ocean-side community of Newport Beach.
THE O.C. revived the teen drama genre while including humorous and heartfelt adult storylines. Shortly after its summer premiere, THE O.C. was a pop culture phenomenon – its actors are household names and its indie music (and subsequent six soundtracks) and hip California wardrobe are sought-after in stores. The show’s Newport Beach locale also has become a popular tourist attraction as fans visit the real locations featured in their favorite episodes.
"THE O.C. Season Four finale will also be the series finale. This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close,” said Josh Schwartz, creator and executive producer of THE O.C. “Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top. It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, THE O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful."
-------------------
Ausiello Report O.C. Creator Previews Series Finale!
Fox may have pulled the plug on our beloved O.C. today, but let's focus on the positive: We've still got eight episodes left, the first of which airs tomorrow night. Even better, I just got off the phone with series creator Josh Schwartz and got his take on the big farewell, as well as scoop on who will and won't be in the series finale on Feb. 22. Read on:
Ausiello: What can you tell me about the final eight episodes?
Josh Schwartz: As you teased in Ask Ausiello today, they're going to be a lot of fun. And there are going to be some surprises.
Ausiello: A pregnancy?
Schwartz: There will be a pregnancy. There will be a most-unexpected new love triangle. There will be some new animals that need saving. There will be some hallucinatory dreams. There's going to be a fight for the love of a certain woman. And there's going to be some surprises for the Cohen family, and some really big decisions for everybody to make. The finale is going to deliver real closure to these characters. It's going to be the finale we had always planned to do.
Ausiello: What can you tell me about my new favorite couple, Taylor and Ryan?
Schwartz: Taylor's going to have to deal directly with some of her hang-ups to make it work with Ryan. Let me put it to you this way: Their world is about to get shaken up.
Ausiello: Do you feel like you need to accelerate the plot?
Schwartz: No, we were planning for this. We've had all season to plan for this and deliver the season we really wanted. And Fox has been good about letting us creatively deliver what we wanted to do.
Ausiello: A lot of people, myself included, are calling the current season your strongest yet — at least creatively. That must feel good.
Schwartz: I'm thrilled. Very few shows get the opportunity to have their last season be their best season. I know there's been some speculation about a Season 5 on another network, but I feel like, because this season [is so strong], I would love to go out creatively on top.
Ausiello: So there's no chance of it moving to another network? Like, say, the CW?
Schwartz: I don't want to ever say never. But at this moment? No. Secretly, I would love a Julie-Kaitlin anti-Gilmore Girls show.
Ausiello: They've turned into a great mother-daughter team.
Schwartz: They're great. And that's really going to be a big part of the second half of the season.
Ausiello: Any chance Marissa might reappear in some form?
Schwartz: I feel like we've made our peace with that story line. I feel like she's been honored, and it's really about these characters moving forward.
Ausiello: So no ghosts or anything?
Schwartz: There will be no Ryan doing pottery with "Unchained Melody" playing in the background and Marissa helping him. [Laughs] We really want to focus these last episodes on our core characters. The cast is clicking so well.
Ausiello: Happy ending for Ryan and Taylor?
Schwartz: It's going to be a really satisfying ending for people who have been with the show for four years, and really watched Ryan grow and search for happiness.
Ausiello: I'll take that as a yes! Anything else you want to add?
Schwartz: Like I said, I'm incredibly proud of this season. And that was my only goal this year. Knowing we were being asked to do an impossible task — given the Thursday time slot — the sole goal was to really deliver the best possible season, and I feel really satisfied that we've done that this year.
Sad but true. The official press release is below. Read it and weep.
THE SUN SETS ON “THE O.C.” WHEN THE SERIES FINALE AIRS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, ON FOX
The sun will set for the last time on THE O.C. when the series ends its four-season run Thursday, Feb. 22 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The countdown has begun, with all-original episodes airing from Thursday, Jan. 4 through the last episode on Feb. 22.
THE O.C. stars Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen), Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen), Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Adam Brody (Seth Cohen), Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper), Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts), Autumn Reeser (Taylor Townsend) and Willa Holland (Autumn Reeser).
Set in Orange County, California, THE O.C. premiered in August 2003. It follows a group of friends and families whose lives were changed by the arrival of an outsider – Ryan Atwood – to their ocean-side community of Newport Beach.
THE O.C. revived the teen drama genre while including humorous and heartfelt adult storylines. Shortly after its summer premiere, THE O.C. was a pop culture phenomenon – its actors are household names and its indie music (and subsequent six soundtracks) and hip California wardrobe are sought-after in stores. The show’s Newport Beach locale also has become a popular tourist attraction as fans visit the real locations featured in their favorite episodes.
"THE O.C. Season Four finale will also be the series finale. This feels like the best time to bring the show to its close,” said Josh Schwartz, creator and executive producer of THE O.C. “Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top. It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, THE O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful."
-------------------
Ausiello Report O.C. Creator Previews Series Finale!
Fox may have pulled the plug on our beloved O.C. today, but let's focus on the positive: We've still got eight episodes left, the first of which airs tomorrow night. Even better, I just got off the phone with series creator Josh Schwartz and got his take on the big farewell, as well as scoop on who will and won't be in the series finale on Feb. 22. Read on:
Ausiello: What can you tell me about the final eight episodes?
Josh Schwartz: As you teased in Ask Ausiello today, they're going to be a lot of fun. And there are going to be some surprises.
Ausiello: A pregnancy?
Schwartz: There will be a pregnancy. There will be a most-unexpected new love triangle. There will be some new animals that need saving. There will be some hallucinatory dreams. There's going to be a fight for the love of a certain woman. And there's going to be some surprises for the Cohen family, and some really big decisions for everybody to make. The finale is going to deliver real closure to these characters. It's going to be the finale we had always planned to do.
Ausiello: What can you tell me about my new favorite couple, Taylor and Ryan?
Schwartz: Taylor's going to have to deal directly with some of her hang-ups to make it work with Ryan. Let me put it to you this way: Their world is about to get shaken up.
Ausiello: Do you feel like you need to accelerate the plot?
Schwartz: No, we were planning for this. We've had all season to plan for this and deliver the season we really wanted. And Fox has been good about letting us creatively deliver what we wanted to do.
Ausiello: A lot of people, myself included, are calling the current season your strongest yet — at least creatively. That must feel good.
Schwartz: I'm thrilled. Very few shows get the opportunity to have their last season be their best season. I know there's been some speculation about a Season 5 on another network, but I feel like, because this season [is so strong], I would love to go out creatively on top.
Ausiello: So there's no chance of it moving to another network? Like, say, the CW?
Schwartz: I don't want to ever say never. But at this moment? No. Secretly, I would love a Julie-Kaitlin anti-Gilmore Girls show.
Ausiello: They've turned into a great mother-daughter team.
Schwartz: They're great. And that's really going to be a big part of the second half of the season.
Ausiello: Any chance Marissa might reappear in some form?
Schwartz: I feel like we've made our peace with that story line. I feel like she's been honored, and it's really about these characters moving forward.
Ausiello: So no ghosts or anything?
Schwartz: There will be no Ryan doing pottery with "Unchained Melody" playing in the background and Marissa helping him. [Laughs] We really want to focus these last episodes on our core characters. The cast is clicking so well.
Ausiello: Happy ending for Ryan and Taylor?
Schwartz: It's going to be a really satisfying ending for people who have been with the show for four years, and really watched Ryan grow and search for happiness.
Ausiello: I'll take that as a yes! Anything else you want to add?
Schwartz: Like I said, I'm incredibly proud of this season. And that was my only goal this year. Knowing we were being asked to do an impossible task — given the Thursday time slot — the sole goal was to really deliver the best possible season, and I feel really satisfied that we've done that this year.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Starbuck's new tattoo
I've been wondering about Starbuck's "tat" since the start of Season 3, now it makes sense; it matches the other half of her husband's Ander's tat!
-DB-
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
BSG - The Eye of Jupiter (Mid Season Finale)
Spoiler for mid season finale airing on December 15th
Battlestar Galactica mid-season finale
EPISODE 10: THE EYE OF JUPITER
WRITTEN BY: Mark Verheiden
DIRECTED BY: Michael Rymer
Inviso-Text (Highlight to review)
Logline: The possible discovery of the Eye of Jupiter on the algae planet leads to a deadly stand-off, as the Cylons and humans risk all for a chance to find the way to Earth.
While working on the algae planet, Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) discovers the Temple of Five, reputed to be the home of the Eye of Jupiter, which will guide the ones who discover it to Earth. His report is intercepted by the Cylons, who request a meeting with Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Laura (Mary McDonnell). Their proposal: let us have the Eye and we will let you leave unharmed. Adama's counter-proposal: make any move to take the Eye and we'll nuke the planet.
The Cylons bring another piece of news: Sharon (Grace Park) and Helo's (Tahmoh Penikett) baby is alive, but not well. Sharon is initially skeptical, but when Adama confirms that Laura hid the baby at her school, she and Tyrol being to make plans to rescue her.
As the standoff continues, tensions rise in both camps. On the Cylon baseship, D'Anna's (Lucy Lawless) sense that she and Baltar (James Callis) share a destiny that might not include the others sows dissension, while on the algae planet, efforts to protect the Eye are complicated by Lee's simmering affair with Kara (Katee Sackhoff), especially since Lee (Jamie Bamber) is counting on Anders (Michael Trucco), Kara's husband, to rally the civilians to the cause. Then the Cylons launch a flight of raiders, bound for the algae planet, forcing Adama to show he's not bluffing.
Battlestar Galactica mid-season finale
EPISODE 10: THE EYE OF JUPITER
WRITTEN BY: Mark Verheiden
DIRECTED BY: Michael Rymer
Inviso-Text (Highlight to review)
Logline: The possible discovery of the Eye of Jupiter on the algae planet leads to a deadly stand-off, as the Cylons and humans risk all for a chance to find the way to Earth.
While working on the algae planet, Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) discovers the Temple of Five, reputed to be the home of the Eye of Jupiter, which will guide the ones who discover it to Earth. His report is intercepted by the Cylons, who request a meeting with Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Laura (Mary McDonnell). Their proposal: let us have the Eye and we will let you leave unharmed. Adama's counter-proposal: make any move to take the Eye and we'll nuke the planet.
The Cylons bring another piece of news: Sharon (Grace Park) and Helo's (Tahmoh Penikett) baby is alive, but not well. Sharon is initially skeptical, but when Adama confirms that Laura hid the baby at her school, she and Tyrol being to make plans to rescue her.
As the standoff continues, tensions rise in both camps. On the Cylon baseship, D'Anna's (Lucy Lawless) sense that she and Baltar (James Callis) share a destiny that might not include the others sows dissension, while on the algae planet, efforts to protect the Eye are complicated by Lee's simmering affair with Kara (Katee Sackhoff), especially since Lee (Jamie Bamber) is counting on Anders (Michael Trucco), Kara's husband, to rally the civilians to the cause. Then the Cylons launch a flight of raiders, bound for the algae planet, forcing Adama to show he's not bluffing.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
"Sins of Adama" - review of "Hero"
TV Recap: Battlestar Galactica - Hero
By Steve West: 2006-11-18
Our sins and falterings haunt us throughout our lives. Some are capable of putting it behind them and getting on with life, others dwell on the past until it consumes them. There are, however, sins that are so atrocious that only a violently emotional event can start the acceptance process. This week on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ we come face to face with Bill Adama’s past, and the repercussions his decisions possibly had on the human race. No less important, on a personal level, is Col. Tigh facing that same past with him and glimpsing what could be his future if he doesn’t cowboy up.
The show ominously opens with Adama delivering the “Previously on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ line and we jump to the very beginning of the series. Obviously something important happened way back when.
When three Cylon Raiders are spotted, Starbuck and Kat are dispatched to solve the situation. However, it appears that one of the Raiders is actually being chased. Adama, hearing a familiar voice, orders the Vipers to escort the Cylon in. On the hanger deck a human falls out of the Raider. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Danny “Bulldog” Novacek (played to perfection by Carl Lumbly). “Is it really you, sir?” Bulldog asks Adama, to which the Admiral replies with troubled eyes, “Yeah. It’s me. Welcome home Bulldog.” The unspoken history and emotion between these two is palpable. Any concern you had about introducing a new character at this late date in such a way should be assuaged.
After Doc Cottle confirms Bulldog is indeed a human, he proclaims that, “The conspiracy theorists are going to be disappointed.” This is as much told to Adama as it is to us viewers, who wonder if this lucky coincidence of Bulldog finding the Colonial Fleet in the vastness of space isn’t a bit too convenient. Bulldog is the real deal, but the question still remains…How? A question Adama pointedly asks his former pilot. To which Bulldog responds, “The enemy had me locked in a cell for three years. The accommodations were lousy, the service was slow, and after awhile I felt the institution no longer had anything to offer me. So, I left.” This bull**** attitude endears the former P.O.W. to Adama. Bulldog then tells Adama seriously what happened. The Cylons started getting sick from a virus, one that he was immune to. He patiently waited, eventually collapsed the face of a D’Anna model, and made his way to freedom.
Admiral Adama brings Bulldog to President Roslin to explain what happened. They both tell her of a mission to a moon where Taurons (a human colony) were mining for tylium ore too close to the Cylon Armistice line. The mission was to get the miners out of there before provoking the Cylons. The Taurons ambushed Bulldog and shot down his ship. When Roslin asks Adama what he did the Admiral responds, “I made a bad call.” After Bulldog leaves, Roslin asks Adama if he’ll tell her what really happened. He tells her it’s his mess and he’ll fix it. Whatever happened seriously affects Adama, because as soon as the room is clear he violently knocks over a chair. This act is made all the more provocative coming from the normally quiet and intense Admiral. It’s a moment that feels out of character at the time, but it also indicates something of great significance happened out at the armistice line.
Huddled like a hermit in his room, Col. Tigh spends his time bringing a cigarette into his line of vision until he can declare, “I see it,” over and over. Admiral Adama comes to Tigh to inform him of Bulldog’s return. Tigh asks his former friend, “Are you here to talk to your friend, or your XO? Because last time I checked, I was neither.” Adama’s frustrated and troubled face tells Tigh all he needs to know. Tigh asks if he’ll tell Bulldog what really happened, and Adama says the past is the past. This doesn’t sit well with Tigh who says, “Tell him. He’s going to find out sooner or later.” Tigh immediately closes himself off and goes back to seeing his cigarette.
Dwelling on the past, Tigh sits in his room and waits for nothing. Then a knock on the door forces him to come face to face with a friend, and a man who is his kin in pain. “Drink?” The Col asks Bulldog. “You have no idea,” Danny informs him. Yes, I think we can safely say Col. Tigh has every idea.
Bulldog asks Tigh how often he gets out of his room, to which the Col responds, “All the time. I’m just a little under the weather.” Bulldog then asks how they ended up on a bucket like Galactica, when Adama was commander of a shiny new Battlestar Valkyrie. Tigh tells him that the last mission did not benefit Adama’s career. So, we now know that Adama’s tour of duty on Galactica was not a choice, but a punishment for some failing. When Bulldog asks about the rift between Adama and Tigh he’s informed that the Admiral focuses everything on covering his ass, a fact which Bulldog should know well considering how he was captured. Bulldog has no idea what Tigh is talking about, which enrages Saul. “My gods. He didn’t tell you, did he?”
Simultaneously with the above Adama is speaking with his son. Adama tells Lee, “I shot him down.” This information rattles Lee who stumblingly looks for a reason, “Well, if you shot him down you had your reasons. You were following orders. Preventing something worse. Right?” Adama says he shot Bulldog down to avoid detection from the Cylons. The real goal of the mission was to ascertain the likelihood of a Cylon strike. If the Cylons detected a Colonial ship across the armistice line they would see it as an “act of war.” So, now we know Adama’s greatest professional sin. The return of Bulldog from the Cylons proves that they were detected, and thus it is Adama’s actions that may have been the catalyst for the Cylon attack.
This is interesting, because Lee correctly points out that orders were being followed and there was no choice. But the thing about decisions is that there is always a choice. Just because Adama was ordered to do something, does not remove his moral obligation to make a choice. Do I really think he’s responsible for the war? Of course not, but he cannot diminish his culpability by placing the blame for his actions on those who commanded him. It’s a fine line to walk, and we see Adama is faltering. When explaining what happened to Lee he tells his son, “We were the war mongers they figured us to be.” He needs something to help him accept what he’s done and to move on. We’ll get to what that is a little later.
When Tigh tells Bulldog the truth, he at first doesn’t believe it. Tigh tells him, “Sometimes surviving can be it’s own death sentence.” Finally believing Tigh, Bulldog is enraged. He works himself up and then calls for Adama to meet him. When Adama shows up, Bulldog attacks. Asking why he was lied to he chokes the Admiral with a bar. He then hysterically reveals the truth about his escape. “You weren’t coming. You didn’t think I was alive, you weren’t even hoping I was alive! If I hadn’t figured a way to escape, if I didn’t make my move when I saw they left that door wide open for me I’d be good as dead right now!” The Cylons are behind his return. They set him up as a personal guided missile to take out Adama. This explains how he found Galactica in the first place.
Meanwhile, Starbuck was watching the footage of the Cylon Raiders from earlier and realizes that they had Bulldog “dead to rights” but never shot him down. Starbuck also recognizes the convenience of the virus story, since it’s something they’d believe. She goes to Tigh with this information, who immediately sees the implications. It’s here, as he faces the truth about what he’s becoming in his vitriolic attitude towards Adama, that he is finally able to move forward.
Tigh shows up and stops Bulldog, wearing his Colonial Fleet uniform. “It’s better to know the truth than to live a lie. We’re all soldiers, Danny. We’re all expendable. And we did what we had to do to protect the mission…the Cylons let you go, the question is why…you almost gave them exactly what they wanted,” the Col tells Bulldog. Tigh, who is a mirror image of Bulldog’s rage and despair, reveals just how troubled he has been. Saying that it’s like a bottle that never runs dry. When Adama asks how you put the bottle away Saul replies, “I don’t know. One day you just decide to get up and walk out of your room.” We knew that in order to get Saul back on board with the Old Man a dramatic event had to occur, and now we see the producers delivered. Seeing himself in Bulldog, Tigh finally realizes the path he’s on, and how his actions are betraying his duties. Because it was that duty which forced him into killing his wife, and until now he has been unable to reconcile those two powers in his life.
As for Adama, he still feels the need to be punished. After Roslin refuses his resignation, she tells him he’ll be getting a medal for his 45 years of service. Adama can’t let go of his need to pay for his crimes. Knowing him so well Roslin tells him he’s naïve to think that such horrible things as the Cylon attack have such a simple explanation. Coldly calculating she formulates a penance for Adama, one that will allow him to move on. He will accept the medal, not for himself but for his crew. He will stand there and accept it, and be the hero the fleet needs. Pure greatness. Being a hero doesn’t mean putting your life at risk or doing great deeds, it means putting yourself on the line no matter the cost. By accepting the medal Adama is paying back what he feels is owed to mankind, because he’s giving them hope when in his heart they only need that hope due to his actions.
So what did you think of the episode? Was it not awesome seeing Tigh back in full Fleet uniform and a real eye patch? Is Adama really responsible for the genocide? Will we get to see more of Bulldog?
By Steve West: 2006-11-18
Our sins and falterings haunt us throughout our lives. Some are capable of putting it behind them and getting on with life, others dwell on the past until it consumes them. There are, however, sins that are so atrocious that only a violently emotional event can start the acceptance process. This week on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ we come face to face with Bill Adama’s past, and the repercussions his decisions possibly had on the human race. No less important, on a personal level, is Col. Tigh facing that same past with him and glimpsing what could be his future if he doesn’t cowboy up.
The show ominously opens with Adama delivering the “Previously on ‘Battlestar Galactica’ line and we jump to the very beginning of the series. Obviously something important happened way back when.
When three Cylon Raiders are spotted, Starbuck and Kat are dispatched to solve the situation. However, it appears that one of the Raiders is actually being chased. Adama, hearing a familiar voice, orders the Vipers to escort the Cylon in. On the hanger deck a human falls out of the Raider. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Danny “Bulldog” Novacek (played to perfection by Carl Lumbly). “Is it really you, sir?” Bulldog asks Adama, to which the Admiral replies with troubled eyes, “Yeah. It’s me. Welcome home Bulldog.” The unspoken history and emotion between these two is palpable. Any concern you had about introducing a new character at this late date in such a way should be assuaged.
After Doc Cottle confirms Bulldog is indeed a human, he proclaims that, “The conspiracy theorists are going to be disappointed.” This is as much told to Adama as it is to us viewers, who wonder if this lucky coincidence of Bulldog finding the Colonial Fleet in the vastness of space isn’t a bit too convenient. Bulldog is the real deal, but the question still remains…How? A question Adama pointedly asks his former pilot. To which Bulldog responds, “The enemy had me locked in a cell for three years. The accommodations were lousy, the service was slow, and after awhile I felt the institution no longer had anything to offer me. So, I left.” This bull**** attitude endears the former P.O.W. to Adama. Bulldog then tells Adama seriously what happened. The Cylons started getting sick from a virus, one that he was immune to. He patiently waited, eventually collapsed the face of a D’Anna model, and made his way to freedom.
Admiral Adama brings Bulldog to President Roslin to explain what happened. They both tell her of a mission to a moon where Taurons (a human colony) were mining for tylium ore too close to the Cylon Armistice line. The mission was to get the miners out of there before provoking the Cylons. The Taurons ambushed Bulldog and shot down his ship. When Roslin asks Adama what he did the Admiral responds, “I made a bad call.” After Bulldog leaves, Roslin asks Adama if he’ll tell her what really happened. He tells her it’s his mess and he’ll fix it. Whatever happened seriously affects Adama, because as soon as the room is clear he violently knocks over a chair. This act is made all the more provocative coming from the normally quiet and intense Admiral. It’s a moment that feels out of character at the time, but it also indicates something of great significance happened out at the armistice line.
Huddled like a hermit in his room, Col. Tigh spends his time bringing a cigarette into his line of vision until he can declare, “I see it,” over and over. Admiral Adama comes to Tigh to inform him of Bulldog’s return. Tigh asks his former friend, “Are you here to talk to your friend, or your XO? Because last time I checked, I was neither.” Adama’s frustrated and troubled face tells Tigh all he needs to know. Tigh asks if he’ll tell Bulldog what really happened, and Adama says the past is the past. This doesn’t sit well with Tigh who says, “Tell him. He’s going to find out sooner or later.” Tigh immediately closes himself off and goes back to seeing his cigarette.
Dwelling on the past, Tigh sits in his room and waits for nothing. Then a knock on the door forces him to come face to face with a friend, and a man who is his kin in pain. “Drink?” The Col asks Bulldog. “You have no idea,” Danny informs him. Yes, I think we can safely say Col. Tigh has every idea.
Bulldog asks Tigh how often he gets out of his room, to which the Col responds, “All the time. I’m just a little under the weather.” Bulldog then asks how they ended up on a bucket like Galactica, when Adama was commander of a shiny new Battlestar Valkyrie. Tigh tells him that the last mission did not benefit Adama’s career. So, we now know that Adama’s tour of duty on Galactica was not a choice, but a punishment for some failing. When Bulldog asks about the rift between Adama and Tigh he’s informed that the Admiral focuses everything on covering his ass, a fact which Bulldog should know well considering how he was captured. Bulldog has no idea what Tigh is talking about, which enrages Saul. “My gods. He didn’t tell you, did he?”
Simultaneously with the above Adama is speaking with his son. Adama tells Lee, “I shot him down.” This information rattles Lee who stumblingly looks for a reason, “Well, if you shot him down you had your reasons. You were following orders. Preventing something worse. Right?” Adama says he shot Bulldog down to avoid detection from the Cylons. The real goal of the mission was to ascertain the likelihood of a Cylon strike. If the Cylons detected a Colonial ship across the armistice line they would see it as an “act of war.” So, now we know Adama’s greatest professional sin. The return of Bulldog from the Cylons proves that they were detected, and thus it is Adama’s actions that may have been the catalyst for the Cylon attack.
This is interesting, because Lee correctly points out that orders were being followed and there was no choice. But the thing about decisions is that there is always a choice. Just because Adama was ordered to do something, does not remove his moral obligation to make a choice. Do I really think he’s responsible for the war? Of course not, but he cannot diminish his culpability by placing the blame for his actions on those who commanded him. It’s a fine line to walk, and we see Adama is faltering. When explaining what happened to Lee he tells his son, “We were the war mongers they figured us to be.” He needs something to help him accept what he’s done and to move on. We’ll get to what that is a little later.
When Tigh tells Bulldog the truth, he at first doesn’t believe it. Tigh tells him, “Sometimes surviving can be it’s own death sentence.” Finally believing Tigh, Bulldog is enraged. He works himself up and then calls for Adama to meet him. When Adama shows up, Bulldog attacks. Asking why he was lied to he chokes the Admiral with a bar. He then hysterically reveals the truth about his escape. “You weren’t coming. You didn’t think I was alive, you weren’t even hoping I was alive! If I hadn’t figured a way to escape, if I didn’t make my move when I saw they left that door wide open for me I’d be good as dead right now!” The Cylons are behind his return. They set him up as a personal guided missile to take out Adama. This explains how he found Galactica in the first place.
Meanwhile, Starbuck was watching the footage of the Cylon Raiders from earlier and realizes that they had Bulldog “dead to rights” but never shot him down. Starbuck also recognizes the convenience of the virus story, since it’s something they’d believe. She goes to Tigh with this information, who immediately sees the implications. It’s here, as he faces the truth about what he’s becoming in his vitriolic attitude towards Adama, that he is finally able to move forward.
Tigh shows up and stops Bulldog, wearing his Colonial Fleet uniform. “It’s better to know the truth than to live a lie. We’re all soldiers, Danny. We’re all expendable. And we did what we had to do to protect the mission…the Cylons let you go, the question is why…you almost gave them exactly what they wanted,” the Col tells Bulldog. Tigh, who is a mirror image of Bulldog’s rage and despair, reveals just how troubled he has been. Saying that it’s like a bottle that never runs dry. When Adama asks how you put the bottle away Saul replies, “I don’t know. One day you just decide to get up and walk out of your room.” We knew that in order to get Saul back on board with the Old Man a dramatic event had to occur, and now we see the producers delivered. Seeing himself in Bulldog, Tigh finally realizes the path he’s on, and how his actions are betraying his duties. Because it was that duty which forced him into killing his wife, and until now he has been unable to reconcile those two powers in his life.
As for Adama, he still feels the need to be punished. After Roslin refuses his resignation, she tells him he’ll be getting a medal for his 45 years of service. Adama can’t let go of his need to pay for his crimes. Knowing him so well Roslin tells him he’s naïve to think that such horrible things as the Cylon attack have such a simple explanation. Coldly calculating she formulates a penance for Adama, one that will allow him to move on. He will accept the medal, not for himself but for his crew. He will stand there and accept it, and be the hero the fleet needs. Pure greatness. Being a hero doesn’t mean putting your life at risk or doing great deeds, it means putting yourself on the line no matter the cost. By accepting the medal Adama is paying back what he feels is owed to mankind, because he’s giving them hope when in his heart they only need that hope due to his actions.
So what did you think of the episode? Was it not awesome seeing Tigh back in full Fleet uniform and a real eye patch? Is Adama really responsible for the genocide? Will we get to see more of Bulldog?
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