Does anyone else like Helo?

[alpha5099]

I feel like I'm the only Helo fan left. Everywhere I look, there's Helo-bashing. Why oh why does no one love the Last Man on Caprica?

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

I find Helo rather boring.

I liked him in season one and two. In terms of this character, season three was a let down because they simply didn't know what to do with the chap. So they use him as a plot device in both "A Measure of Salvation" and "The Woman King" as some sort of moral coil.

This is what you get when you get people who worked on "Star Trek". You know what is said about writing what you know... they know "Star Trek". Ergo this crap.

[Skyhawk]

Sorry for being uninformed but I have a bad memory for names.
They actually let Star Trek writers anywhere close to this show ? *is terrified*

Back to topic. I actually like Helo. I damn like all of the characters in my beloved show.

[JDS]

It's not exactly that we don't like Helo, it's just that he was really good on Caprica and it turns out that, well, the character that they designed to work really well for a season on Caprica isn't actually much fun to watch once you bring him back to Galactica.

[alpha5099]

Hmm, I'm not sure if misuse of a character is enough to make me turn against them. And I'm in the minority on this, but I liked the Woman King.

And I'm not sure that Star Trek writers are to blame. Thompson and Weddle have been around since the beginning, and they're contributions have been on the whole great. There were two new Star Trek alums in Season 3, and neither had a particularly negative impact I thought. Jane Espenson's episodes were alright (which was disappointing considering how much I loved her work on Buffy), but Michael Taylor put out some of my favorite episodes of the season.

The worst episodes of the season (the standalones and the virus episodes) were coming from people who'd been with the show for a while. Blaming Star Trek writers seems strange to me, when Anne Cofell Saunders, Michael Angeli, Mark Verheiden, and David Eick, none of whom have Star Trek connections as far I can tell, seem much more readily to blame.

[JDS]

Worst episodes? I think Hero was far and away the worst episode. Torn was just a waste of time. A Day in the Life was bad both because the premise was unusually flimsy, and because it was largely about turning Cally, who had otherwise been endearingly sweet and generally an interesting character, into one of those stereotypical, two-dimension, completely implacable, irrationally unreasonable wives/girlfriends that I'm bored with seeing on TV, and doesn't really fit with Cally's established character at all. A Measure of Salvation was sort of okay at first, until it descended into stupid predictable mush at the end.

I think maybe RDM should put Helo back on Caprica. Or Kobol/New Caprica/Wherever. That might actually allow him to be interesting again.

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

Hmm, I'm not sure if misuse of a character is enough to make me turn against them.

As I said, I find Helo boring. I'm not against the character, per se, I just don't really care about Helo any more. Frankly, Helo's redshirt material now.

As for the Star Trek crack I made... I need to explain that. While each individual writer may write the episode, they're typically assigned them (as far as I can tell), given that they discuss these things as a group when they're plotting out the season. So while Hero may have been written by Eick, they discussed the turkey around a big table. Kinda like Thanksgiving, except I think they were pretty drunk by the time they got to that episode.

[bsgelf]

I like Helo but it took awhile. Because he drives me absolutely crazy. His obsession with trying to get others to appreciate and be nice to Sharon/Athena. Claiming racism, etc. Say what?? She's a Cylon, a machine designed to look and act human. And they nuked the colonies so badly that the humans are on the run for their lives. Not only do they have to find a new home but they continually have to defend themselves against these crazy robots that are bent on destroying them.

Now I do care about Athena at this point. Ever since that awful attempted rape scene. But my caring is limited I have realized: She is upset and angry that the humans hate her and do not think of her as a person. And she insists that she does what she chooses and does not have any sleeper type program in her at all. But she does not really know this and it is highly unlikely that she is not basically just a time bomb waiting to explode. What she wants to be and what she is are 2 different things. No matter how you slice it she is a still machine. No matter that she can give birth. No matter whether her feelings are real or part of some acting/drama software does not make any difference - since at any point in time she could do exactly what Sharon did to Adama or worse. For pete's sake, she uploaded a virus to the Cylon raiders by sticking a cable in her wrist. What will it take for Helo to wake up and smell the tyllium? :mad:

[alpha5099]

Yeah, I suppose Athena could up and betray everyone. But who couldn't? Gaeta could snap, pick up a pen, and go Baltar on Adama. Just because you can't trust her 100% doesn't make her any less trustworthy. In fact, she's probably even more trustworthy than some. She has so much to prove, she'd follow orders because if she doesn't, she gets airlocked.

I'm a big proponent of "person" not being limited to humans, and I personally see Athena, or any of the Cylons, as people. As you said, it doesn't make a difference if they have real emotions or programming. The two are indistinguishable, so it's pointless to go around claiming that the Cylons are less authentic just because they're products of design instead of evolution.

It's always been a big pet peeve of mine whenever a character trots out the show's conventional wisdom that the Cylons don't have emotions, they have programming. It's all the same. The humans are programmed as well; chemicals get released, the body reacts. The Cylons are indistinguishable enough from humans that there probably aren't any computer chips involved; they're emotional responses probably work on the exact same principle.

[BlackTigh]

I agree elf.

Helo was alright on Caprica, then he got carried away and obsessed with frakking a CYLON.

He should've had his head read, then turned the gun on her, himself. After she'd been thoroughly de-briefed, that is.

Oh and that silly over-bite top lip of his is irritating in the extreme.

[Cyn]

I feel like I'm the only Helo fan left. Everywhere I look, there's Helo-bashing. Why oh why does no one love the Last Man on Caprica?

I love Helo. I don't like some of his behaviour--but Helo's not bad--he's just written that way. I find him very likable and I have high hopes for Season 4 that he is allowed to let go of some of the bitterness that seems to drive his actions now.
Regardless, when Helo is on screen my eyes are on him. ;)

[1008]

I'm undecided about him, you get the feeling there is little else to come form his character. He is one of the good guys though and hope he gets a stronger part in series 4

[Pacifus]

My wife and I named our cat Helo.

[JDS]

That is cool :D

Some day I'm going to get two more cats. They're going to be Maine Coon cats and I'm going to name them Galactica and Pegasus :D

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

And then you may need a cat named "Starbuck" to prevent them from being at each other's throats. LOL :D

[JDS]

Any excuse to get more cats...

[OrionFour]

Any excuse to get more cats...

One of my roommates is allergic to cats, so that's out. And then the backyard needs a new fence before I can get a dog, so that's out. :(

[JubalHarshaw]

Day 365 on Cylon-occupied Caprica: Karl C. Agathon Callsign: "Helo"

"We slogged through the radioactive wasteland again today.

Today I shacked up with Boomer like I've dreamed of since I first saw her. It was everything I thought it could be. Somehow we found a perfectly prepared bolt-hole shelter. I want to stay here forever.

Hmm. I think there's a storm coming.

Now to go make some toast ..."

[aylinn]

I like Helo, but he was better when he was on Caprica. Right now he's just no more so... I don't know how to name it... so tough. I know he loves Sharon and he tries to protect her but still he's kinda turning into "Mr. save the Cylons no matter what they did".
I must admit he's cute and all (although, I love only one character in BSG ;)) but he just got a bit boring. It's like he lost his charisma.

[Aset]

I *want* to like Helo, it just seems like not enough time is put into fleshing him out. Most of it after season 1 has felt like an afterthought.

[BlackTigh]

Helo is a weak individual who should've shot that cylon when he found out she was an enemy and had been playing him. Then there'd be no baby and he'd have had no qualms about the plan to eradicate the cylons altogether with the infected prisoners.

Imagine finding out the "woman" you thought you loved was actually a machine and then staying on for a relationship with it!!!!!

This is like marrying a blow-up doll with a CPU built into it, for pete's sake!!!

On top of all that, he also has that really irritating over-bite lip which makes him look like some sort of moronic half-wit.

[JDS]

Imagine finding out the "woman" you thought you loved was actually a machine and then staying on for a relationship with it!!!!!Well I personally would have absolutely no problem with that, provided that:
(A) She's more attractive than Grace Park
and
(B) She wasn't trying to annhilate humanity

(Mostly A).

On top of all that, he also has that really irritating over-bite lip which makes him look like some sort of moronic half-wit.I can't figure out whether he looks that way because of the expression he always uses, or if that's just how Tahmoh Penikett's jaw is shaped.

[Revan]

It's obvious that as a character he's there to provide a the foil of a strict moral compass. His decision making seems to be based on how people should be acting if the human race wasn't facing annihilation.

[Aset]

Imagine finding out the "woman" you thought you loved was actually a machine and then staying on for a relationship with it!!!!!

This is like marrying a blow-up doll with a CPU built into it, for pete's sake!!!

There are those who have married verious livestock as well as their dog, cat and the like. If I remember right, there was one guy who tried to marry his blow-up doll a few years ago making the silly news wires.

[aylinn]

Hahahaha :D Oh by the Gods, marrying a plastic doll... And some say Helo or Baltar are crazy to love Cylons. At least they talk and have personality. To be honest I wouldn't mind one Cylon 6 model ;)

[BlackTigh]

There are those who have married verious livestock as well as their dog, cat and the like. If I remember right, there was one guy who tried to marry his blow-up doll a few years ago making the silly news wires.

Yeah but none of them was subsequently XO on a battlestar!! Were they...???

At least they talk and have personality. To be honest I wouldn't mind one Cylon 6 model ;)

Me too, but I wouldn't be telling my mates about it..!!

[JDS]

Remember Mr. Universe?

http://homepage.mac.com/merussell/iblog/B835531044/C1592678312/E20050916182427/Media/MrUniverse.gif

[bsgelf]

My wife and I named our cat Helo.

lol! I totally have BSG names picked out for my next set of animals. Have 2 already so too late for them. But it's on the list! "Helo" was one of them too!

[bsgelf]

Day 365 on Cylon-occupied Caprica: Karl C. Agathon Callsign: "Helo"

"We slogged through the radioactive wasteland again today.

Today I shacked up with Boomer like I've dreamed of since I first saw her. It was everything I thought it could be. Somehow we found a perfectly prepared bolt-hole shelter. I want to stay here forever.

Hmm. I think there's a storm coming.

Now to go make some toast ..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's funny, still giggling!

[bsgelf]

I like Helo, but he was better when he was on Caprica. Right now he's just no more so... I don't know how to name it... so tough. I know he loves Sharon and he tries to protect her but still he's kinda turning into "Mr. save the Cylons no matter what they did".
I must admit he's cute and all (although, I love only one character in BSG ;)) but he just got a bit boring. It's like he lost his charisma.

Ummmmmmm....could it be.....Apollo? :)

[bsgelf]

Hahahaha :D Oh by the Gods, marrying a plastic doll... And some say Helo or Baltar are crazy to love Cylons. At least they talk and have personality. To be honest I wouldn't mind one Cylon 6 model ;)

"Now that's funny right there!"

No way would they (she? he?) want a Cylon....unless they looked like Caprica 6! lol!

Even funnier - I'm not even into chicks (not that there's anything wrong with that). But for about 2 seconds I heard ya! Tricia is so graceful and beautiful in a totally unique way. And.....actually, we are very different "ethnically" but truth be told, if I had ANY amount of her physical attributes (translation: if there was hope) and someone said, "die or choose another physical appearance!," hers would be it. No contest.

[bsgelf]

Okay, okay people. Tahmoh is a beauty (IMHO) no matter how much "Helo" may drive some of us NUTS...so leave his "overbite?" and sweet mouth alone. 'Cuz them's fightin' words. :p

Yeah, I suppose Athena could up and betray everyone. But who couldn't? Gaeta could snap, pick up a pen, and go Baltar on Adama. Just because you can't trust her 100% doesn't make her any less trustworthy. In fact, she's probably even more trustworthy than some. She has so much to prove, she'd follow orders because if she doesn't, she gets airlocked.

I'm a big proponent of "person" not being limited to humans, and I personally see Athena, or any of the Cylons, as people. As you said, it doesn't make a difference if they have real emotions or programming. The two are indistinguishable, so it's pointless to go around claiming that the Cylons are less authentic just because they're products of design instead of evolution.

It's always been a big pet peeve of mine whenever a character trots out the show's conventional wisdom that the Cylons don't have emotions, they have programming. It's all the same. The humans are programmed as well; chemicals get released, the body reacts. The Cylons are indistinguishable enough from humans that there probably aren't any computer chips involved; they're emotional responses probably work on the exact same principle.


But even Brother Cavil says he and the other Cylons are machines and that they should "be the best machines" the universe has ever seen.

Remember?

[JDS]

You need to learn to reply to more than one person in the same post :p

Good point, though.

[aylinn]

"Now that's funny right there!"

No way would they (she? he?) want a Cylon....unless they looked like Caprica 6! lol!

Even funnier - I'm not even into chicks (not that there's anything wrong with that). But for about 2 seconds I heard ya! Tricia is so graceful and beautiful in a totally unique way. And.....actually, we are very different "ethnically" but truth be told, if I had ANY amount of her physical attributes (translation: if there was hope) and someone said, "die or choose another physical appearance!," hers would be it. No contest.
I wouldn't mind to look like Tricia also, but also I wouldn't mind havin g a girl looking like her ;). And if I had to choose a guy? It wouldn't be Helo although he's sweet and all but I'm more of a Bill Adama fan, but still Tricia wins :D

[JDS]

If I had to look like anybody on BSG it would be Jurgen Belzen.

And if my girl had to look like anybody on BSG...I think you all know who I would choose ;)

[bsgelf]

You need to learn to reply to more than one person in the same post......

I need to learn how to do that? Why? Wondering - because in all the years I've been online you are, by far, the first person to ever say that. Never have seen my own postings or that of others pointed out and then been told to reply to each relevant member in a different fashion. Most of the time I do it that way - only occasionally throwing it all into one post. Tell me about this, what you're concerns are, please. There must be some message board etiquette I and whole other forums are unaware of. You can send me a PM if you want. Usually I get quickly when something is written in humor. Just not sure about this, even with the smilie, yes.

Thanks~~

[britboyj]

I quite like Helo.

He's about the only person I can consistently fathom the decisions of, which may make him boring, relative to the rest of the characters but I just think he's the most human of the characters. He is the everyman, put in an impossible situation.

What's really odd is that at the end of "The Passage" where they posthumously promote Kat, Helo is a pilot listed BELOW another flight leader (Starbuck I believe) which seems like a bit of the drop for someone who used to be the XO. :p

[crood]

Okay, okay people. Tahmoh is a beauty (IMHO) no matter how much "Helo" may drive some of us NUTS...so leave his "overbite?" and sweet mouth alone. 'Cuz them's fightin' words. :p




But even Brother Cavil says he and the other Cylons are machines and that they should "be the best machines" the universe has ever seen.

Remember?


Right, and Cavil is the closest thing to a "bad guy" we have. He also says they don't have souls, which other Cylons disagree with. He's the one most resistent to change. He's the old person who never learned how to program a VCR and has its clock flashin 12:00.

[timbo]

Somebody, I think it was Coopsomulous called Helo the show´s "moral compass". I thought this was a great expression and summed up pefectly how I saw Helo. To the people who think he always escapes the consequences of his actions - are we watching the same show?

[Starstruck]

Remember Mr. Universe?

http://homepage.mac.com/merussell/iblog/B835531044/C1592678312/E20050916182427/Media/MrUniverse.gif

Ah, poor Mr. Universe. *salutes*

[Georgiotje]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOH MY GOD? ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO LIKE HELO? SERIOUSLY? HELO IS A MACHINE LOVER! A TRAITOR! AND HE SHOULD HAVE DIED ON CAPRICA! Well, perhaps we can airlock Helo.