Colonial Day (Rewatch)

[bazzyb]

This poll and thread are now open for votes and comments. You may also wish to consider this episode for the season one awards, see http://www.battlestarforum.com/showthread.php?t=1595 (http://www.battlestarforum.com/showthread.php?t=1595)

When voting or posting a comment you may wish (or not) to state whether your rating i.e. Exellent to Poor is based on the quality of BSG in general, TV in general or otherwise

[Neakal]

Even though I don't like to admit it, I could not fully agree with this episode even after watching it. Oh it was definitely a good episode. It just never made me truly wanting to go back to it though it still stands better on those terms than some other epiosodes *cough*Adaylinlife*cough*.

Hıghpoints are the need to establish a political system in the Fleet and makers seemed to have a clear idea and serious approach to the issue (though I will never understand how Baltar got nominated without his knowledge). Overall seeing that part of the Fleet was nice and I realised I found the Quorum members of this batch more interesting than the Quorum we saw in Season 4, particularly during/after the Kobol arc when some members were given a bigger (albeit temporary) role (Sarah Porter, Marshall Bagot) and with regards to clothing and styles which we also see in later episodes. The new Quorum felt much blander to me.

Another highpoint was Tom Zarek, particularly his speech about how everything has changed so fundamentally and how "businessmen act like businessmen but they got no business". I always liked that speech of his. And I think he begins to make his mark on the show as a counterforce and a beyond-one-off-character.

Roslin also seemed to be becoming a true politician (as Wally said) and maybe she is heading down the path head-Elosha criticised her for during "The Hub". Even in episodes like "33" when she gave very difficult decisions, she still seemed to have compassion as seen from the time when she asks Adama personally whether he is doing ok.

Lowpoints: Several things like the "controversy" of whether Roslin would shake Zarek's hand and the apparently unsurmountable tension of the elections process felt a bit forced to me. That handshake thing, from what I know, was a reference to a meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders had and while mirrors are apparent, the fact that the situation between Zarek and Roslin was much less serious or personal in terms of their beliefs and stances (whether the issue of Palestine and Israel was primarily about the issue of recognition and the question of whether both sides will accept eachother's very existence). Hence using that there, as I mentioned, seemed forced and like a way to say "oh look how political we are."

Others were mainly issues around the "suspension of disbelief". While the open areas of Cloud Nine was a nice change of pace in the grim Fleet, I just couldn't buy into it even in rewatchs. I find myself going "are they still in rag tag Fleet of scarcities or did they land on a planet with ready-made buildings while I wasn't looking" in scenes like the gun control and the lobby of the auditorium.

That auditorium building is another place that I have a personal gripe about. Not sure if to call criticsm but it certainly ruined the atmosphere for me: You see, that building existed in The 4400 and was, in fact, a very prominent and frequently seen locale. While I know The Miniseries itself aired before The 4400, I cought to BSG only around the end of Season 3 meaning I had seen The 4400 before BSG. Result? In every scene involving that building I kept expecting to see Jordan Collier and his "nyph squad" preaching about evolution of human species and the Great Walled City with his personal healer buddy standing on his side while Richard, Lilly and Kevin watching it from afar and looking disturbed/concerned. I'm sure that wasn't an issue for everyone but I couldn't let go of that :p

Not a bad episode at all. It just had things that kept poking themselves to my conscious thinking.

[Batman316]

Not one of my favourite episodes.... rated accordingly....

Strange how even the bad episodes score an Average hehe

[Stairway]

This is the first episode I ever saw on a television instead of a tiny computer screen, so I therefore probably like it more than I would if that wasn't the case.

Overall, it's a good episode, it doesn't have a dull moment, and it makes me realize how much I miss the times when Starbuck and Apollo were just friends teasing each other, before they got too emotional.

It's pretty much established Ellen helped Zarek kill that guy isn't it?

[bazzyb]

A brief dip in form in an otherwise excellent season. However the episode is not without its merits such as some Zarek moments as mentioned by Neakal. Maybe it was one of those episodes that seemed better at the script stage. The finished product doesn't quite work for me

[Batman316]

It's pretty much established Ellen helped Zarek kill that guy isn't it?



I would say yes... atleast that's how I took it

[genji2000]

Not as I see it... Potentially, Valance stalks Roslin like some Barry George obsessive. A 'friend' of Zarek he may be, but you can't necessarily blame Tom for Valance's uncommitted crime. It's deliberately left unresolved.

More Baltar toilet scenes.

Gods it's uncanny how much Roslin = my boss.

More Star Wars! The 'Colonial Gang' commentators talking about the election totally come off like the two-headed Greg Proops from Phantom of the Menace, but in a bad way.

Ooh... Tommy didn't kill Valance. He wonders who did. Roslin?

"And I can dance." Ow! What a line. Smooth criminal.

Yeah, this episode sucks marginally less than Tigh Me Up.... Terribly unresolved Ellen/Saul epilogue.

Delphi with Caprica Sharon and Helo: I don't like this. Why can't they just steal a ship and go and live on some planet somewhere away from danger? Stupid Helo!