Overzealous Friday Television
AMAZING.
AMAZING.
First, the Battlestar Galactica (BSG) mid-season finale aired tonight. Pushing the envelope as always, Ron Moore's "naturalistic science fiction" (just another phrase for trendy science fiction that tries to be like Star Trek, which, of course, Moore wrote for many many many years) dealt with the treatment of prisoners and the boundaries of law and order in a military at war. This is the best show currently on television.
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, GO WATCH THE SEASON 1 FINALE WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON THE SCIFI.COM WEBSITE!!!!!! If you listen to just one thing from me, don't listen to my politics, listen to this plea: BSG is worth your time! Watch this finale from last year!
Now, for this week's episode, I find myself agreeing with almost everything that Commander Adama has ever done on the show. I am dismayed thus far in the portrayal of Admiral Cain, played by ST:TNG's Lieutenant Ro (no, nitpickers, she was a Lieutenant by the time of her 7th season cameo), who was originally played by Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain. Cain was a legendary war hero but this Cain appears to be one of the worst commanders in the history of all armed forces. This is another of Ron Moore's weaknesses: he gets really really cocky in his writings, thinking he has the right to take liberty with things that are greater for him. Turn no further than Star Trek Generations and Captain Kirk's alleged "death."
Anyway, I'm holding my breath about the future episode where a doctor saves President Roslin from her cancer by using embryonic stem cells. I'll probably shoot myself, but on to better topics:
G V B!!!!!
Girls versus Boys is the hottest show on the Noggin network and it's taking this country by storm. This season they're in Puerto Rico. There is no match for the conniving that these reality television stars employ. They are willing to go out with each other for the gain of "points," mock their partners in front of the whole group mercilessly as they cry, and then laugh about it and high five later on. They are high schoolers. In any case, if you want to see how low, or high television entertainment has gone, check your local listings for GvB.
AMAZING.
First, the Battlestar Galactica (BSG) mid-season finale aired tonight. Pushing the envelope as always, Ron Moore's "naturalistic science fiction" (just another phrase for trendy science fiction that tries to be like Star Trek, which, of course, Moore wrote for many many many years) dealt with the treatment of prisoners and the boundaries of law and order in a military at war. This is the best show currently on television.
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, GO WATCH THE SEASON 1 FINALE WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON THE SCIFI.COM WEBSITE!!!!!! If you listen to just one thing from me, don't listen to my politics, listen to this plea: BSG is worth your time! Watch this finale from last year!
Now, for this week's episode, I find myself agreeing with almost everything that Commander Adama has ever done on the show. I am dismayed thus far in the portrayal of Admiral Cain, played by ST:TNG's Lieutenant Ro (no, nitpickers, she was a Lieutenant by the time of her 7th season cameo), who was originally played by Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain. Cain was a legendary war hero but this Cain appears to be one of the worst commanders in the history of all armed forces. This is another of Ron Moore's weaknesses: he gets really really cocky in his writings, thinking he has the right to take liberty with things that are greater for him. Turn no further than Star Trek Generations and Captain Kirk's alleged "death."
Anyway, I'm holding my breath about the future episode where a doctor saves President Roslin from her cancer by using embryonic stem cells. I'll probably shoot myself, but on to better topics:
G V B!!!!!
Girls versus Boys is the hottest show on the Noggin network and it's taking this country by storm. This season they're in Puerto Rico. There is no match for the conniving that these reality television stars employ. They are willing to go out with each other for the gain of "points," mock their partners in front of the whole group mercilessly as they cry, and then laugh about it and high five later on. They are high schoolers. In any case, if you want to see how low, or high television entertainment has gone, check your local listings for GvB.
posted by Admiral at
1:47 AM
8 Comments:
Sometimes I wonder why Disco lets you post.
By
Red Hat, at 2:25 AM
"Cain was a legendary war hero but this Cain appears to be one of the worst commanders in the history of all armed forces."
Like you, I totally agree that BSG is the best show on TV these days. But I have to take exception to your comment above. Cain is not one of the worst commanders, she is a brutally effective commander.
One can be an effective leader and still be brutal at the same time.
Take the historical example of Spartacus, the Roman slave who rose up and nearly toppled the Roman empire with his army of freed slaves and gladiators. After having marched up and down Italy, Spartacus and his army was cornered in the southwestern "toe" area of Italy. In fact, the Romans decided to starve Spartacus out by building a continuous wall straight across the top of the "boot" to the bottom of the sole.
Trapped in this little corner of Roman Italy, what did Spartacus do? He took a capture Roman soldier and crucified him methodically right in front of one of the gates of the wall. The Romans, afraid to challenge Spartacus' army directly, were consigned to helpless watch one of their own be slowly executed by a uniquely Roman method by a non-Roman barbarian former slaves.
It was brutal, but it sent a message to both the Romans and the soldiers in Spartacus' own army.
There are hundreds of other examples in history like this. I see Cain as a military commander of the same mold. Without the distractions and influence of a civilian government, the Pegasus is kind of like Spartacus' army marching through Roman Italy, constantly surrounded and living off the spoils of the enemy. Yet, most people would consider Spartacus one of the greatest military minds in history, as his tendency to commit acts of raw brutality became lost in the long shadow of his improbable string of military victories.
I don't like Admiral Cain, either. Her methods are contemptable, but is she a bad commander? Consider that with a single Battlestar, she managed to not only survive, but from the sound of it, destroy hundreds upon hundreds of Cylon raider in direct combat after combat. Instead of running from the Cylons, she went AFTER them again and again.
That is what makes you hate her so much. Because she IS unlikeable, because she IS brutal, yet she is so SUCCESSFUL in spite of it these characteristics. A military genius just like the original Cain, but you can probably say she probably doesn't play well with others.
Otherwise, I agree with everything else in your post.
P.S. By the way, I have a feeling I know what the "paperwork" Cain was doing during the initial Cylon attack and why the former Pegasus XO disobyed her order in the heat of battle.
By
Anonymous, at 3:19 AM
Entourage is the best show on television.
By
Disco, at 12:00 PM
oh I forgot to add that GvB is the best reality show on tv.
By
Disco, at 12:00 PM
No, I don't like Admiral Cain because I expected some form of gallantry. Maybe that's why OTHER people dislike her, and maybe you could write a good sociology paper on the reasons you listed are why your neighbors dislike her but, you see, I am an Admiral myself. I've known many other Admirals. No one resorts to that kind of barbarism in Starfleet.
Really to the point, no respectable Admiral would actually let Lt. Thorne get away with that and no one would know all that Admiral Cain undoubtedly does about Gina and then let Thorne get away with it or let him get away with it AGAIN with Boomer. You can either throw your values to the wolves completely (Cain) or uphold them and have dignity (Adama). Part of Moore's point is undoubtedly to show that people are not just good or bad and that there are trying times-- but part of Moore's point is also, I assure you, to show you what BAD people are capable of in these situations. Moore intends Cain to have made brutal errors-- and here they stand.
Militarily, I might even be a fan of hers. I cannot forgive her those mistakes. MacArthur, too, was once up against terrible odds in Bataan & Corregidor. And again in New Guinea. He never would've done those things.
You don't seem to get it-- I REALLY want to LIKE Cain! I love the actress, love the military feats the bold planning for the future... I like her poise in command. But I remember Commander Cain, and this is all a very shallow reimagining of the original Pegasus, I must say.
By
Admiral, at 12:51 PM
And by the way, I might forget about the other things Cain done if they could just show how respected she is, or how legendary is-- I need Moore to toss me a bone on Admiral Cain, whether he harkens back to Cmdr Cain or to some positive things (he seems loathe to depict them), but the fact of the matter is, this is no Spartacus. Not yet.
By
Admiral, at 12:53 PM
i thought u only had PBS
By
Anonymous, at 6:30 PM
I do. Thank God that not everyone else is as cheap as me. :)
By
Admiral, at 7:11 PM
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