In the twelfth episode of the third season of Battlestar Galactica, this is a perfect episode. There. I said it. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Battlestar Galactica.
Yeah, I’m not backing down from that distinction. “Rapture” is everything I could ever want from an episode of Battlestar Galactica, and it is everything I could ask for from science fiction, and it is just good fucking television. I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE.
My friend Jessica told me that certain cities held viewings of this episode in theaters the day before the actual premiere. I am jealous of any and all of the people who attended such a thing. There’s a lot to praise about “Rapture,” but it reminded me that Battlestar Galactica is a beautiful show. The cinematography takes me out of the medium of television. To be fair, television has produced some of the most stunning imagery of the last couple decades, but I’m used to the scope of film being much larger. Battlestar Galactica ignores that. We get sweeping landscapes that look boiling hot. We get a purple supernova exploding. We get a fiery shockwave from the explosion of a planet.
And none of this is there to distract us from a lack of plot or character development. It’s the cherry on top of a perfection sundae. YEAH I WENT THERE. Do you know how many feelings I have? I have more feelings than I know what to do with.
yes
yes it is time
it is time for a list.
HERE ARE ALL OF MARK’S ~FEELINGS~
every single one of them
- Did you see that moment of total reluctance on Tigh’s part when Adama asks for the launch keys? I think Tigh feels that he can’t really disobey Adama at this point, but he knows that this is a horrific, drastic action. He is essentially guaranteeing that Lee, Starbuck, Tyrol, Cally, Dualla, and Anders will die. Point blank. They will not survive. THIS IS NOT WORTH IT, ADAMA.
- It finally takes Lee flat-out expressing his love for Starbuck by saying he will LET Anders kill him to get the situation on the Algae Planet resolved. Like….CHRIST. He says he would die without Starbuck. I still stand by my statement that these two need to figure out their relationships and stop hurting Anders/Dualla in the process, but…HOT DAMN. I’m flustered!
- Why do I have all these feelings for D’Anna? I’m seriously so fascinated by Cylons who resist their programming and find ways to part ways from what they’re supposed to be, and over the course of this season, I have found myself genuinely enjoying any and all time with D’Anna. Her journey since “Final Cut” is so amazing to me because I would never expect her to reach this point. But it’s not something that seems ridiculous. Her story has been leading to this moment ever since Caprica Six and Boomer were involved in her death on Caprica. Perhaps this is something that shows that the Cylons are missing an individual sense of purpose. Is that why she’s so desperate to include herself in all of this? But even further, this concerns all of the Threes, who are all now working together to ensure that D’Anna gets to the planet and finds the Eye of Jupiter. That has never happened before. How did D’Anna influence every version of her own model? UGH I LOVE THREE SO MUCH.
- I was only able to figure out what was going on just a second or two before it happened. I was already feeling all of the things for what Helo and Sharon were going through. I knew that the pain they were experiencing was unlike anything I could even imagine. I also knew that Helo would do anything for his wife, but she kept refusing him. What did she have in mind? Why is she crying, telling him that he knew what he needed to do? In a split-second, I knew what she was implying, and then the gun fired and the blood spattered against the wall and JESUS CHRIST I could not imagine watching this in a theater with other people. It’s already embarrassing enough to watch anything with me, so I can’t imagine subjecting a few hundred people to my ridiculousness. Honestly, though, LOOK HOW MUCH THESE TWO LOVE EACH OTHER. I hope I have a boyfriend who loves me so much that he’ll shoot me so I can be brought back to life on a Resurrection Ship. That…that is a weird thing to say. I’ll just walk away now.
- When Roslin and Adama confronted Helo about what he’d done, I found myself agreeing (to a point) with Adama that he may have just risked the safety of Galactica because the Cylons might “steal” critical information from Sharon’s brain. It’s a good point, Adama, and I’ll concede that. But then all these ~feelings~ started to boil in my brain as soon as Roslin tried to criticize Helo, and you could see him squirm. There’s like three seconds there where you can see him thinking, “OH, I AM GOING TO MURDER THIS WOMAN WITH MY BARE HANDS BUT BE COOL, DUDE. BE COOL.” And then he doesn’t hold back and he reminds Roslin that this is basically her fault in the first place. While I wish Sharon would have been the one to confront Roslin about stealing her own child, Helo’s beautiful, noble rage is my favorite rage and I’ll take that, too. Look, I just think Helo is genuinely the most noble character on this show. HE IS A TRUE GRYFFINDOR AMIRITE.
- Okay, a genuine feeling I had that sprung up when Fisher and Dualla set out to try and rescue Starbuck: After Fisher was killed by a sniper, I thought that Dualla and Anders might die by the episode’s end so that the problem of both Starbuck and Lee would be resolved in the most tragic way possible. Yes, that is fucked up, but would it be any more fucked up than what we’ve already seen? I’m just trying to lose any and all hope for anyone on this show because this is what happens on Battlestar Galactica.
- Starbuck’s hands are burnt. Burns terrify me. At this point, I think I was experiencing nearly the full range of feelings a human body could stomach.
- I don’t think many people like Dualla in this fandom. Personally, I kind of adore her? And I want so much more from her character. So I feel awkward when her and Starbuck bicker because as much as Starbuck is my soulmate, she’s completely in the wrong here, and I have to admit that. I mean, telling Dualla that Lee won’t cheat is…like the poorest consolation of all time. Thanks? That’s cool? It’s also not technically true? Also you probably shouldn’t confess your feelings about Lee while high, but you’re high on morpha and OOPS, THIS IS AWKWARD.
- When the Cylon ambush plan doesn’t work as hoped and Admiral Adama orders Tyrol to leave the Temple of the Five, I GOT SO FUCKING SAD. No! This place means something to Tyrol and he just needs more time! On top of that, the place seemed so fantastical and I selfishly wanted to spend more time there. I wanted to know what the glyphs actually said so badly! AND WHAT’S THE EYE OF JUPITER. I HAVEN’T FIGURED THIS OUT YET. But mostly I felt bad for Tyrol.
- For a second, I worried that Tyrol would accidentally blow up Gaius Baltar before I realized that this show couldn’t kill him off yet. I am guessing he’ll be around until the very final episode. But this is what Battlestar Galactica has done to me! I entertain notions that every character will bite the dust and they all seem so possible!
- The Eye of Jupiter is the goddamn supernova star. I feel so many things at once and they’re actually all positive? Oh god, my heart is so overloaded with ~emotions~.
- Just….just everything that happens onboard the basestar with Sharon, Boomer, and Caprica is so rife with anger and love and fear and terror and every feeling that my brain has ever had in the history of forever that I just wanted to PASS OUT as soon as it was over. I love that I am watching a show where “clones” of the same being can all be defined in a way that they have their own identity and that one can be mad at another version of themselves for A REAL REASON. This is so cool! Well, I just mean that it fascinates me; I’m not actually excited that Boomer is so furious with Hera recognizing her mother as Sharon that Boomer wants to CHOKE HERA TO DEATH. Because why is this happening OH MY GOD DO NOT DO IT HOLY SHIT CAPRICA YOU KILLED BOOMER. Look, I know that the Cylons just download back into a new body, but I am still shocked every time one of them dies.
- This needs a separate thought: Bless you, Caprica, for doing what’s right, even if it means betraying another Cylon. You are becoming this wonderful beacon of morality and justice and NEVER CHANGE.
- So after all of this, I’m exhausted. And this is not even close to the REAL SHIT. Everything inside of the Temple of the Five…it is gorgeous. Thrilling. Frustrating on a level this show has never made me feel. It is everything that is right about this show, and it’s why I love it so much. The fact that I can still yelp out in horror when Cavil is shot is a huge deal to me! Again, the Cylons don’t really die, but it doesn’t affect how I feel.
- I need to discuss this. I need to. So, Three steps into the beam of light from the supernova that falls right onto a spot on the floor with a design that represents the Eye of Jupiter, and she is brought straight to that image she had between life and death. Only this time, the image stays, and she is allowed the chance to see the Final Five models. Of course we don’t see who they are, but she stops on the final one. THIS IS IMPORTANT: She says, “You…Forgive me, I…I had no idea.” AND THEN THE VISION STOPS. Look, THAT MEANS WE KNOW WHO THIS IS. WE KNOW. So my guess is that there are four models that are new characters we’ve not met, but one of them is someone WE HAVE SEEN THIS ENTIRE TIME. Oh. Oh my god, I love this and I hate this. I mean, I want to know who it is, but this show is not going to just hand that to me, you know? But now I sort of want to see if there have been signs to someone being a Cylon this entire time. I bet there are and I just haven’t been paying attention to it. SWEET CHRIST WHAT IS THIS SHOW DOING TO ME.
- WHY DOES THREE TELL BALTAR THAT HE WAS RIGHT???? Is she speaking to him? To one of the Cylons? To someone else? OH CHRIST I NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
- Did anyone else find it to be the most hilarious thing in the world when Baltar tried to trigger the vision, begged God to help him, and then Tyrol pistol whips him? BEST THING EVER OR BEST THING EVER????
- Even the blast of a supernova gives me ~feelings~. Y’all, this show is destroying me.
- Oh, it’s an awkward reunion hug between the married couples. Oh god, for the sake of my own happiness, I really hope these two figure out their damn relationships because IT’S STARTING TO HURT.
- OMG YES. CAPRICA SIX IS ON THE GALACTICA. I have hope she won’t be tortured because I don’t think the humans are going to do that anymore and THIS IS SO FASCINATING TO ME.
- STARBUCK DREW THE EYE OF JUPITER SYMBOL SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD AND IT WAS IN SEASON ONE AND WHAT THE HOLY FUCK IS GOING ON ASLD;F;LKA S;FLKDSAD A;SLKDKFJ A;KDFJ ASD;FHJ AF~!!!1!1!!1~~1!!
- I cannot properly explain how gutted I was at the end of “Rapture.” The Cylons are boxing every version of Three. No, like…no. You can’t do that. You cannot do that to Lucy Flawless and you cannot do that to a character who is just discovering the power of finding your own purpose in life apart from the group. You can’t do this.
- Oh. You’re doing it anyway. To every single Three that has ever existed.
- Fuck this.
- I AM NOT FORGIVING YOU, CYLONS.
My only real problem with this episode is silly but it’s really bothering me and I MUST RANT ABOUT IT or I will die- the room we see at the very end, is that the Cylon’s Resurrection Room? So it’s a permanent fixture on their ship, and not like they threw it together last minute for this particular event? Because OH MY GOD it is so poorly organized it’s all I could think about once the episode was over. Why don’t they line the tubs up nicely instead of scattering them all over the place? Maybe they want to resurrect somewhat privately, not crammed together, but the tubs could still be in rows! And even if it is a temporary thing, ROWS. CAN BE DONE. WHY DOES THIS BOTHER ME?
Other than that, SO PERFECT!! AND DEE NEEDS ALL THE HEARTS AND HUGS EVER! She puts up with so much shit. I wish we knew more about her, though. I won’t ask for a Dee episode because the BSG gods will probably take my request as an excuse to kill her off, but more Dee, please?
Cylon feng shui. It's weirder than you think.
In a very literal way, Cylon ships are alive. They actually grow and regenerate. Those pods are arranged like that because that’s how they grew.
Mark, you are not frakkin' prepared.
Ohg abj V fbeg bs jnag gb frr vs gurer unir orra fvtaf gb fbzrbar orvat n Plyba guvf ragver gvzr. V org gurer ner naq V whfg unira’g orra cnlvat nggragvba gb vg. FJRRG PUEVFG JUNG VF GUVF FUBJ QBVAT GB ZR.
Hasbeghangryl, ab. Eba Zbber bayl qrpvqrq jub gur Svany Svir jrer qhevat gur oernx cevbe gb guvf rcvfbqr. Gurer ner guvatf gung pna or gnxra nf rneyl uvagf, ohg gurl’er nyy pbvapvqragny.
That shot of Starbuck’s glove melted into her hand is one of the most agonizing things I’ve seen onscreen. Curse Katee Sackhoff for portraying that pain so believably.
Do you watch Dexter? In the current season Edward James Olmos plays an incredibly creepy Charles Manson-esque religious nut. It’s really fun to be watching both roles at the same time.
I think the first part of this post needs to be deleted.
You're stating that Ng yrnfg bar bs gur Svany Svir vf fbzrbar jr'ir frra orsber.
Jryy, gur fubj znqr gung cerggl pyrne jvgu Q’Naan erpbtavmvat bar bs gurz.
also rot13'd this. Do not confirm/deny anything upcoming.
I saw EJO in the movie "In the Time of the Butterflies" and he was an incredibly scary and creepy dictator and I'm sitting there going, "but it's Adama! He wouldn't do such things!" it was incredibly distracting.
omg, EJO was Trujillo?? I've read that book like three times, but never seen the movie. I can't imagine him as Trujillo! That blows my mind.
I also rot13ed the first part so it's not clear what is being responded to since it was an easy leap when you see the first paragraph.
EJO is Dexter is SO WEIRD. And great. But the whole time my boyfriend and I are just yelling Adama what are you doing?!
Manic laughter. About all the points.
Hey, Noybusiness, are you perhaps the Noneofyourbusiness from the Battlestar Wiki/Forum?
Yes. Do I know you?
I was around there for a while, and if memory serves we had a not-too-polite-on-my-side discussion about music about 5 years ago.
Oh. Shrug. How've you been?
Tbh, I still don't get why Sharon needed HELO to kill her. Couldn't she have just shot herself? But I guess it's more dramatic to have the husband have to shoot the wife.
And idk about fandom, but I really really really like Dee. It's part of why I hate Lee/Kara so much. DON'T HURT DEE, YOU JERKS. SHE IS ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL. And LOL @ Starbuck saying the Lee won't cheat. Sorry. He IS cheating, and Lee and Kara should feel bad about their bad decisions. Also, the fact that Lee was totes fine with sending his wife off on a super dangerous rescue mission for Kara's sake would have pissed me off too if I were Dee. But Dee does her job and helps rescue Kara.
Speaking of the Quadrangle of Doom, I was all "yay!" when Lee and Kara were hugging their respective spouses and seemed to be genuine in their feelings for them. But then Lee and Kara shared a ~look and I was all "BOOO! HISS!! I HATE THIS STORYLINE!"
All the stuff in the Temple of Jupiter was A++++ though.
I don't know if Sharon is as religious as Six, but Six was pretty dead set against suicide back in the Pegasus arc. Maybe that's why Sharon needed Helo to kill her?
I love Dee, too. She does not deserve this at all and I just want to hug her and smack Lee and go back in time and bring Billy back so he and Dee can be happy away from the Lee/Kara drama. I miss Billy 🙁
Tbh, I still don't get why Sharon needed HELO to kill her. Couldn't she have just shot herself?
That could be against her programming.
Gura ntnva, Pnivy fubbgf uvzfrys va gur svanyr, fb, hu, thrff abg.
Maybe she was afraid of missing? I don't know, it's probably easier to get someone else to shoot you than shoot yourself. Or maybe she felt as Gina did, that suicide is a sin, even if you do download.
Harder to work up the nerve too. There are involuntary instincts that can fuz with your aim.
Vg jbhyq or rnfvre sbe Pnivy va gur svanyr orpnhfr ur qvq vg va gur urng bs gur zbzrag.
Yep, we already saw Boomer miss when she tried to shoot herself. And I don't really think asking Helo to do it is particularly selfish given that her goal was to save their daughter.
I like to think of it (right now, 'cause I've never really considered it before) as making sure that Helo has a part in the rescue mission. Granted, regardless of the way Cylons work, it's a tragic part, but at least they're both working together to get Hera back.
I agree. It also seems like she didn't have a lot of great options: she could have killed herself with Helo knowing about it (and I actually think Helo would have sooner pulled the trigger himself than just sat by and watch her do it), killed herself without telling Helo (which would have been unfairly deceptive to Helo, though I could see Sharon having done it even if Helo hadn't agreed with it), or this, and of those three Completely Fantastic Options, this actually comes out the best in my mind.
Yeah, I agree with this too. Helo needs to be involved in the rescue plan in some way, I'd be just too heartbroken if Sharon had decided she couldn't trust him as well. And for the various reasons everyone has stated (religion, easier for someone else to shoot you etc.) it was better that he did the actual shooting. Also it means that Helo can then explain exactly to Adama what has gone on so that the situation doesn't get even worse.
OH GOD I SAW THE EYE OF JUPITER THING ON THE WALL BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A PLAY ON THE RAF ROUNDEL AND STARBUCK IS A PILOT, AND I THOUGHT, OH, THAT'S CLEVER, AND THEN PROMPTLY FORGOT ABOUT IT, BUT NOW IT'S IMPORTANT AKSDLFBASG.
Is Starbuck one of the Final Five? I can't deal with that possibility.
I like Dee, too. I think she has terrible taste in men, but I like her. And I felt terrible for her knowing that she has to risk her life for the woman her husband loves more. That's just fucked up. I want her to be free of that whole messy quadrangle.
Helo and Athena have Hera back 😀 I'm pretty much satisfied with this series now.
When I was watching this the first time I was sure Starbuck was one of the Final Five. Especially with that detail of her painting the Eye of Jupiter. Of course now I know and I can't tell you whether she is or not. 😛
There are suspicious levels of rot13ing and villainous cackling in this post, so I'm gonna assuming you guys are laughing about the Final Five and our ignorance. Damn you!
<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr4l7zMb151qacqyoo2_500.gif">
I don't know how I'd feel about Starbuck being a Cylon. It'd be weird that someone who has been invaluable in keeping humanity alive and headed towards Earth was a Cylon. I like that she has superhuman talents, and I'd be kind of sad if that was the case because she's not human. I want her, Adama, Roslin — the people who have been leaders of humanity's fight — to actually be human.
There are suspicious levels of rot13ing and villainous cackling in this post, so I'm gonna assuming you guys are laughing about the Final Five and our ignorance. Damn you!
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2052tmb.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
Mine is an evil laugh!
DAMN IT. I have never seen so much ROT13-ing!!! WHAT IS GOING ON.
Oh this episode, how I love it so.
ATHENA IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST AWESOME YET TOTALLY FRAKKED UP PLAN EVER! Letting herself die and go behind enemy lines and act like she's switched sides and JUST AWESOME! Finally the Agathons get a happy moment. Helo's reaction to seeing his daughter again, lifting her up and kissing her, warms my heart every time.
Boomer on the other hand NO! She's in such a bad place, completely lost the connection to humanity we saw in Downloaded. I want to feel bad for her but then she threatens Hera and ARGH NO! Okay I do feel slightly bad for her when Caprica is babbling away about how Hera recognises her mother despite "you and she are biologically identical".
And so we say goodbye to D'Anna, shame Lucy Lawless is probably on the busy/expensive side but it was good to have her around for a while there.
Starbuck’s hands are burnt
Oh gods those look SO PAINFUL, kudos to Katee for selling that reaction.
I love Caprica’s complete lack of tact even though it did bad things to Boomer. She was so excited and adorable!
Ok, probably no-one cares but me, but I was watching an episode of Babylon 5 the other day and I totally saw Starbuck's mandala on the wall in the background…
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2v157go.png" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
Tell me that isn't the same thing. Totally blew my mind.
…holy crap…
Jeepers!
Can I upvote this more? No? Darn it!
Wait, does this mean that the folks on Babylon 5 are the Thirteenth Tribe? This idea makes me smile. 😀
Also, which episode is this? Just curious. (Judging by Garibaldi's hair, though, it's got to be Season 2.)
(Note to self: start your B5 rewatch soon. Or now.)
ALWAYS B5 REWATCH.
Sometimes I just sit at home, sobbing quietly to myself, because hardly anyone watches B5.
But yeah, it's from season two. 'Divided Loyalties' to be exact. You know, that episode where the really shocking and awful game changing thing happens???
Oh wait, I just described every episode of Babylon 5.
You can say that again. It's a good thing there are so many touching and funny moments. In the same episodes as the shocking and awful game changing things.
On a side note, don't you love how you can tell what season it is just by looking at how much hair Garibaldi has? Did you ever hear that parody song '5 Years' by Tom Smith, which has the line 'Oh my god how it enthralled me/ with Garibaldi/ he's gettin' balder every season…'?
Or the color mixture of the visuals. But that's true for most television series. One season of a given show is blue-ish, another is red-ish, green-ish, purple-ish, yellow-ish. Unless it's my synesthesia.
Didn't someone on BSG write for B5?
I've never heard that, but it's possible.
BTW, Babylon 5 is so deserving of Mark Watches that it's not even funny. What I love about it is the way it covers these huge epic galaxy-changing events but keeps it completely grounded in these realistic, evolving, likeable characters throughout. The phrase "that we know and love" fits these characters to a tee. Every episode has both knock-your-socks-off irreverent humor and heartbreaking drama, with social and philosophical commentary that inspires no end of thinky thoughts. And the aliens aren't cliches!
Not to mention the fantastic range of well developed, believable female characters, the complex mythology and detailed culture of the alien races, the draw dropping, scream-at-the-TV plot twists, and the 5 year plot arc.
And the fact that it really needs more exposure. It would be so nice to get more people watching B5…
Didn't I already agree to do it? If not, then here's my confirmation: I'll do it.
You didn't, but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
There are some episodes that were aired out of the right order by the stupid network. I can give you a proper listing.
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/2visdn5.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
<img src="http://i51.tinypic.com/6598×4.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
<img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/a26gxi.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
<img src="http://i55.tinypic.com/dpihpe.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
And in two sentences, you have given me hope for the future. 😛
I may not have a job or a girlfriend, but by god, I'll always have Mark Watches.
I may not have a job or a girlfriend, but by god, I'll always have Mark Watches.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL AS WELL. My entire life might be shit, but MARK WILL STILL READ AND WATCH THINGS. <3.
OMG YAAAAAAAAAAAY. I'm halfway through. I'm going to stop watching so I can finish it with you one ep at a time. I have never gotten to do this before! I've seen all the shows you've reviewed. I AM SO EXCITED.
Out of interest, what episode are you on? 😀
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_All_the_Honor_…
I just finished watching that episode. Basically, Delenn is my favorite forever.
I like the overall progression o the second series a lot more, but V ernyyl ybirq Fvapynve, fb V nz univat gebhoyr trggvat vagb Furevqna fb sne.
If you want a proper listing.
…
Really? Really?
omg omg omg omg so excite
I know that there's a ton of shows for you to get through, so it'll be ages until you hit B5, but seriously, this show… THIS SHOW! As others said upthread, it's a really great show for this blog.
Then again, he doesn't go through them in any particular order, so you never know…
MARK YOU JUST MADE MY LIFE.
I love B5 SO MUCH but no one ever wants to watch it. It and BSG share a very special place in my heart as the great television space operas. Even though it takes a while to get into gear, the character arcs are some of the greatest I have ever seen. I think you will really come to love it.
I call B5, Buffy and Battlestar the three Big B's. If I had to choose just three fictional universes to make real, those would be them.
Just tell me if/where I should give you that proper listing of episodes. Also, you might want to update your Suggestions page to include B5.
Oh, I'm so excited! And about BSG and Buffy and other things too.
OMG I HAVE TO COMPOSE MYSELF. I AM AT WORK. SELF, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
[FLAILS]
You will not regret this decision. You will LOVE IT. And I will cackle at every single episode because YOU ARE UNPREPARED.
Oh gods, you are going to be watching the best show of all time. OF ALL TIME.
[spins around in her chair flailing her arms. literally]
Speaking of the mythology, it may be complex and detailed, but if you watch every episode from the beginning, you always get told beforehand what you need to know to understand what's going on, and it's always there to service the journeys of our characters, not the other way around. In case Mark was thinking it was like that faux image of Battlestar Galactica he had from watching The Office.
All I know is that a lot of sci-fi writers did episodes of B5. I wouldn't be at all surprised. Also, Neil Gaiman!
OH GOD I LOVE B5 SO MUCH IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY Second favourite show of all time. I spend my life casually slipping it into conversation…“That reminds me of a quote from Hugo-award-winning show Babylon 5! Haven’t heard of it? Well, it just so happens I could lend you the box sets…”
<img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/28ujwis.gif" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">
I live my life to promote Babylon 5.
I love your casual way of recommending the show; it's brilliant. If I, like, talked to people ever, I'd probably do the same thing. As it is, I just use B5 quotes and references in my various online Hogwarts school assignments (which is prompting my soon-to-be-current rewatch).
Seriously, the summer I spent watching B5 literally changed the course of my TV life.
Also, I think it's time to start making gifs. I mean, if I'm gonna rewatch the show mow, I may as well start on the gifs.
Oooooh please make gifs! I collect B5 gifs but I only have maybe six or seven…there are hardly any out there! And I have no way of making them myself atm.
With the exception of like 16 episodes or so (a couple in the first season, and about half of the last season), b5 was entirely written by J.Michael Straczynski (sp?). It nearly killed him, but it gave the show one of the most consistent sets of characters of anything on tv before that. YOU SHOULD WATCH IT. y'know, eventually.
No, it was several in the first two seasons, and then Seasons 3, 4 and 5 were all JMS except for the one in Season 5 by Neil Gaiman.
Not B5 but Deep Space 9. A lot of BSG writers, including Ron Moore, came out of Deep Space 9.
Which is interesting, 'cause Deep Space 9 was inspired by a pitch JMS made for what became Babylon 5 to Paramount, before PTEN picked it up.
B5!!!!! awesome! and that is a fabulous find!
(and oh, Divided Loyalties. THAT EPISODE)
I care! And OMG. WHAT.
I really really need to rewatch B5. Again. Reading Mark Watches BSG is just reminding me of how superior B5 is in every single way.
‘Welcome home Mr. President.’
Someone finally hit Gaius!
Anastasia Dualla for all of the awards. Seriously, Roslin and Adama need to give her a medal with full blown fancy ceremony. Can I also add that I love how when Anders and Starbuck are having their emotional reunion and hug, Dee just walks towards Lee with this look on her face that is completely I am done with this bullshit. Also Roslin, I love you and all, but you do not get to judge Helo or Athena in any way shape or form. YOU STOLE THEIR BABY AND LET THEM THINK SHE WAS DEAD! No moral high ground for you.
But really all I take away from this episode is: Athena, Helo and Hera get to be a family! Everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.
AWWW those Agathon gifs. SO DAMN CUTE!
CAPSLOCK CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS HOW CUTE THEY ARE
Hehe, reminds me of
<img src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls1ziwasBL1qzl2dno1_500.gif">
Welcome to Earth!
Agathons 4eva <3
Independence Day! I love that movie. Really need to rewatch it again some time soon.
It's silly as hell, but I never get tired of it. The cast alone is AMAZING (hey there Mary!). Totally nurtured the crush I had on Jeff Goldblum after Jurassic Park.
Most adorable family ever or most adorable family ever? <3 <3 <3
Baltar has been looking very Jesus-y as of late
Ahhhh…adorable gifs of the Agathons! Finally they get a little happiness. I am seriously just staring at these with a giant grin on my face. Joy on BSG? Unbelievable.
I literally have tears in my eyes at these gifs REAL TEARS WHAT HAVE I BECOME
Let's end this QUADRANGLE OF DOOM right now please, because I am this close to wanting Lee to jump off a cliff (I only like you with your dad, man, what happened to you???). Dee continues to have the patience of a saint, Anders, I will love you to the end of time and Kara – oh, Kara, I still freaking adore you, girl, but your choices and these longing glances towards Lee are fucked up.
Other than that, OMFG, this episode. THIS EPISODE. The Agathons continue to be the most awesome characters (Helo <3 <3 <3) and I love how it's ultimately Caprica Six who makes it all possible. I knew you were my favourite Cylon for a reason.
I'm kinda of sad about Boomer though. I feel this transition from 'human' to Cylon has messed with her head a bit and she's extremely confused about what she's supposed to do with her new life. I was genuinely afraid she might hurt Hera.
Is this the last we see of Lucy Lawless? Dammit, I enjoyed having Xena on my screen again.
I honestly thought we would see at least one of the Final Five. I ripped my earphones out in a rage when it all faded to white. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME, SHOW? #overlyoptimisticobviously BSG wants me to suffer.
As someone who has seen the show all the way through, there is very little productive I can say about this. However, I just wanted to say that my group of BSGroupies (I really need to come up with a better term) call it the "Rhombus of Terror" instead of "Quadrangle of Doom". Oh Red vs. Blue, how quotable you are.
Apparently, I'm angrier at Roslin than I realized. I felt so satisfied when Adama walked out on her in yesterday's episode and I felt even better when Helo started yelling at her (and you're right, he's the Gryffindoriest of Gryffindors). All I need now is for Athena to go rampaging and I think I'll be able to move on.
I actually feel really bad for Boomer in this episode. She was probably assigned, or maybe even volunteered, to take care of Hera because, not only does she look like Athena, but she doesn't consider herself to be a true Cylon. There was that whole bit on Caprica where she refused to believe herself anything but a Raptor pilot, or something like that. She's different than the other Eights. But she's still not Hera's mother, which Caprica so kindly points out. She's tried to be an individual and to help the humans whenever possible, but she's not really getting anything for all her efforts. Cally flipped on her when she tried to help in detention, Tigh orders the marines to cover her with guns when she steps on Galactica (once again, I understand the reaction, but still…not good for her self-esteem), Hera won't stop crying when she's with her, and then Caprica goes and breaks her neck. It's been a bad time for Boomer (but I'm still glad Caprica stopped her).
Also, the image of all the Threes being boxed is kind of terrifying.
This episode truly is wonderful. I just love the idea of a supernova being the sign pointing the way to Earth. And the scene between Helo and Sharon is goddamn heart wrenching.
Helo as a Gryffindor!!! Perfect!!
…now I want crossover fic with the BSG crew at Hogwarts…
Hey peeps, care to stab at a spoiler-free Sorting Hat for our BSG characters?
Helo – Gryffindor
Baltar – Slytherin
Cally – Hufflepuff
Starbuck – Gryffindor
D'Anna – Ravenclaw (dying for the sake of knowledge? Hell yes!)
Athena – Hufflepuff (possibly Boomer as well)
Lee- Gryffindor/Hufflepuff hybrid
Adama- Gryffindor
Roslin- Ravenclaw
Just thought,
Ellen Tigh – so very Slytherin
Tyrol- Hufflepuff
Dee- Hufflepuff
Gaeta- Ravenclaw or possibly Hufflepuff
Tigh- Gryffindor
Hey, I just realized, isn't Tigh creepily similar to Mad-Eye Moody? 😉
Gaeta is TOTALLY a Ravenclaw.
You know, Anders and Dee should just say "FRAK THIS" and leave their spouses to be with each other, because it would be infinitely less painful. They'd have beautiful babies. And I never warmed up to Lee/Dualla anyway.
And that way Lee and Starbuck can have their angst-filled sex without any guilt. Or you know, HURTING OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHTLESSLY.
Is anyone else distracted by Tricia Helfer's face because of how UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL IT IS?! IT IS LIKE LOOKING AT THE FACE OF AN ANGEL SHE IS SO FRAKKIN' GORGEOUS. Seriously, every time she's on screen I think "Why is she so goddamn beautiful?"
This episode made me realize how bad of a person Lee is. The whole quadrangle of doom thing always felt like Starbuck was more in the wrong about it maybe because she was so cavalier about it, but because of what Anders said in the last episode about it not being the first time made me kind of realize like at least he knew what he was getting into, like he knows how she is but he married so at the end of the day she came back to him and that was what was important but Dee was like seriously in love with Lee and it felt like he was "settling" for her because Starbuck had gone back to Anders again. Not to say Starbuck isn't a horrible person too bu i feel like Lee is being more cruel to Dee than Starbuck is to Anders because Dee expected actual love and affection not a cheating husband unlike Anders.
And yes, Tricia Helfer is amazing gorgeous and it doesn't hurt at all that she is fantastic with expressions. She needs awards.
I think something has to be said for Starbuck just being Starbuck. That line of hers about needing to cheat just to have the pieces line up… she's fucked up, she knows she's fucked up, but she's not going to talk like she's some paragon of virtue. Lee, on the other hand, thinks of himself as A Very Moral Person, so I get more annoyed with him being like "even though I have been sneaking out here to make out with you all the time, I can't cheat because that would be WRONG."
Whaaaaaaaaaaat. She died! It was tragic! Now you have to rewatch it.
I just wanna point out for my fellow Agathon lovers —
Not only did Helo shoot his own wife, who he loves, which would be hard enough, he did so with little expectation of success. If the Cylon ships had bugged out any sooner, she'd be gone. The fleets would be separated and much harder to find each other. Plus, for all either of them knew, Athena might have been boxed as a traitor the instant she resurrected, and be gone for good. Certainly without Caprica's help , Athena would've had a much tougher time escaping.
And it's even worse, than that — not only did Helo have to shoot Sharon, he had to MAKE SURE SHE DIED. because that was the only way it would work. If he'd missed, he would've had to keep trying until she was dead. I … can't even imagine the amount of faith at work that let him carry it out. Plus the hope and desperation to let them get their daughter – which makes that moment they return just that much more wonderful.
AGATHONS 4EVER.
Oh Mark. Oh Mark, Mark Maritty Mark Mark.
Sorry, this is the only coherent thing I can write right now to you.
oh god
i am scared
You should be. 🙂
The only consolation is I can pretty much guarantee now that this will be one of the most amazing TV experiences you will ever have. Every time I tell someone to watch this show and I start describing it, it just ends up like this:
Friend: *asks why they should watch this show*
Me: BECAUSE! It's like.. *sigh* so amazing YOU DONT EVEN KNOW. *stares off into space* Like, I still think about it now, I mean WOW like the *spoilersspoilers* and what it means for me, and us, and life…. *not even paying attention to my friend anymore*
Friend: *walks away*
Your fear is well founded and leaves you still unprepared.
As much as I disliked "Eye of Jupiter" is as much I loved "Rapture". My brain was so ripped out as was my heart.
And Mark, YOU ARE SO NOT PREPARED.EVER. JUST NOT EVER.
Helo is my favorite of all, with Athena a close second. I just…ugh. I can't even.
There is so much rot13 in here (it makes sense if you know), I wonder what Mark thinks it's all about? Hehehe.
The Final Five. or the location of earth. or god. THE RESULT OF THE QUADRANGLE OR SOMETHING
god i know NOTHING
QUADRANGLE PLUS GOD = FINAL FIVE PLUS EARTH*
IT'S JUST SIMPLE MATH.
*EARTH IS A CONSTANT.
i love dualla! she has such an understated-bordering-on-underused character that sometimes i forget to give her mad props. she's solid, she's sane, she's smart, and she'll stick it to Adama if she has to. it almost makes me sad that she had to get involved with lee because now she's just a minor character in the lee/starbuck oeurve, instead of having her own bad assery to brag about. SIGH
Honestly, I've always liked her character a lot, too. She seems to be mostly a genuine introvert, which is I think why she gets so little air time. Dualla's so quiet and dependable that people tend to forget that she has a distinct point of view and her own convictions. It breaks my heart that she let Lee do this to her (marry her for spite after losing the girl he really loved), though she has been starting to step up and tell him that this whole situation is NOT okay.
Did Mark just refer to Caprica-Six as a wonderful beacon of morality and justice? Damn, he's really winning me over here. I LOVE HER ALWAYS, AND SOMEHOW ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S SNAPPING NECKS FOR JUSTICE. (Sorry, Boomer, I love you too. But back off the baby.)
BECAUSE IT'S TRUE, RIGHT.
CAPRICA SIX = PURE LOVE
But remember the baby's neck Caprica, herself, snapped in the miniseries?! I suspect a ~thematic connection~.
TL;DR because I get rambly about things I really really like.
This show. This show. You’re not the only one who considers this a perfect episode. It has everything I could ask for from this show- all the different plotlines playing themselves out and converging without it seeming cluttered, the ensemble gets used to their full extent (I can’t think of any main players who didn’t get something to do here), and THERE’S A STAR GOING SUPERNOVA. You cannot have an episode climax with a supernova and not have it be awesome.
I figured out what Sharon was asking of Helo, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear the shot and see the blood on the wall and… it was just too much. And it was all BEFORE THE TEASER.
I was glad someone finally confronted Roslin about the Great Baby Switcheroo. I like her, but that was not her most shining moment. And it seems right that Helo was the one to do it, though I can’t help but wonder of Sharon will confront her too, especially with Hera sick (OMG she better get well.)
I too was afraid Dee and/or Anders were going to die and I had my righteous indignant rage all prepared just in case. I probably wouldn’t have forgiven RDM for going that route. But oh silly me, oh me of little faith, for thinking they would actually end it that easily. The part where the two married couples hug is actually really happy, even if I don’t believe the issue is resolved.
Speaking of which, Dee gets all my love and respect. Not just for following Lee’s order and rescuing Starbuck, but for taking care of her while not taking her BS, and flying the raptor back to Galactica.
Were Kara’s hands burned and fused to the fabric of her gloves? Ugh… ouch. I might not be happy with her for what she’s doing to Anders, but I don’t want to see her in pain.
OMG THE FINAL FIVE CYLONS. OMG WHAT THE CRAP WHO WAS D’ANNA TALKING TO WHO IS IT. Cue me going over every single moment of the show where she’s interacted with someone to see who she could be asking forgiveness of.
Well, Baltar’s luck has just about run out, hasn’t it? You have to feel bad for him, being so close to finding the truth, and suddenly D’Anna’s dead and Tyrol’s there doing snarky one-liners and knocking him unconscious.
I’m glad the Agathon’s are all reunited and happy, but why did Caprica have to come aboard Galactica? I was under the impression she was going to help Sharon get the raptor and send her on her merry way. I just hope they don’t airlock her, because "'m really starting to love her and the number of sympathetic cylons is dwindling.
Oh yeah FUCK YOU CYLONS. WHY YOU BOX ALL THE THREE’S D’ANNA WAS SO INTRIGUING AND SHE WAS LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE WHO KNEW THE FACES OF THE FINAL FIVE.
STARBUCK’S PAINTINGS ASD;FKDNUV;BFRUBBROI IT WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME. I WENT AND WATCHED THE PART IN VALLEY OF DARNESS JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY WEREN;T FUCKING WITH US AND NO IT’STRUE IT’S REALLY THERE WTFHYDUIDBNF The best part about this storyline is that either some genius writer saw the paintings and decided to work them into the story or an even more genius writer was planning to use them all along.
I also still hold a grudge against Dee for Billy. i miss Billy. 🙁 Knight Rider was not the best career move in hindsight, but I understand the thought he must have had. "Well, Battlestar worked, so why not try another reboot?" I guess that's a debate for another venue, though. 🙂
'Oh yeah FUCK YOU CYLONS. WHY YOU BOX ALL THE THREE’S D’ANNA WAS SO INTRIGUING AND SHE WAS LITERALLY THE ONLY PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE WHO KNEW THE FACES OF THE FINAL FIVE. '
Jul vaqrrq? Jul? *pnpxyrf*
OMG THE FINAL FIVE CYLONS. OMG WHAT THE CRAP WHO WAS D’ANNA TALKING TO WHO IS IT. Cue me going over every single moment of the show where she’s interacted with someone to see who she could be asking forgiveness of.
Haha don't worry, YANA. We all did that the first time we watched this episode. It goes without saying that WE WERE STILL NOT PREPARED of course.
I like Dualla okay as a character, but I like her a lot less now than I did when the show started because . . . of Billy. Yes, that’s right, I’m still mad at her for how she treated a character that’s been dead for half a millenium in TV time.
The thing is, when the roles were reversed, and she was the one in the relationship with the power (which I’m defining as the person who cares less), she didn’t treat Billy very well. There was the same kind of keeping one person on the hook while you try to make something happen with another person that makes us want to kick Lee in the balls now. I’m not saying that she deserves what’s happening now, or that breaking people’s hearts while you’re dating them is the same thing as breaking your marriage vows. I’m just saying Dualla isn’t morally clear of playing relationship games, and it tarnished my feelings for her. Totally inconsistently, while Lee and Starbuck’s shenanigans are trying my patience and extremely irritating, it hasn’t made me think any less of Starbuck. Yah, that’s unfair. But there it is. I’m ready to airlock Lee though.
Please don't use "crazy" on this site.
Darn it, didn't even see that. Doh.
Please read that line as "Lee and Starbuck's shenanigans are trying my patience and extremely irritating . . ." Sorry about that y'all. It was thoughtless.
Echinodermata, if you have editing power, could you fix it please?
Thanks for apologizing. And gotcha on the edit.
Thanks! Your god-like editing power has restored the universe.
Um, we didn't talk about one of my favorite parts this episode! Sam says: I know my wife. I've been married to her for a year and a half. What, you think you're the first? And then Lee's face is all WTF?!? It's my favorite Lee face. (I looked for a .gif of it's gloriousness but couldn't find one)
Also, to me, it clears up Anders' portion of the quadrangle. Starbuck fucks other men and he's accepting of that because she's a hot mess and he knew what he was getting into. He's angry about the fact that Lee wants something emotional not necessarily that Kara is doing something physical. (If that makes sense? IDK.)
As much as I ship Anders/Kara, I felt so bad for Anders when he said this. I love that he loves her, but I know he deserves better. Oh Kara, why are you such a hot mess. You've got SAM ANDERS and his ARMS OF SEXINESS and you're out with other men? I just tell myself that Kara feels like she doesn't deserve Sam.
It's kind of up for interpretation, whether you believe Sam actually meant it or he was just fucking with Lee. I've never really made up my mind — it's sort of a lingering remnant of RDM's original idea of Starbuck screwing around all the time, which never got developed past her fling with Baltar ages ago.
But either way I love it as the perfect takedown . Truth or lie, it undercuts any idea Lee might have that he's special to Kara, rather than just her scratching an itch, and instantly gives new meaning to her previous unwillingness to divorce. And also Lee's expression is hilarious. 🙂
You know, I never really thought about it like that. This is what I'm gonna think from now on, hehe.
Hey Mark,
how far ahead are you usually watching before you post a new reaction here? Just curious.
You once told me you had already seen Pegasus the day before, so is that common for you?
My only problem with this episode is that Sharon and Sharon were in a room together and did not fight to the death.
I like Dualla, but this shit relationship she's in is easily the most boring thing about her.
<img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/crzgw.jpg"/>
*sigh*
Love it forever!
This episode is awseomeness condensed into 45 minutes. Season 3 was when i got into BSG. My brain kind of blocked the quadrangle, which makes no sense, but I like remembering happy times, not times that make me want to deck people on my tv. That whole thing is messed up. I can see it happening in real life wuite easily, but it's still frustrating.
Bu! V guvax cbcpbea vf jryy va beqre sbe Pebfebnqf. Nyfb sbe Znryfgebz tvira Znex'f nssrpgvba sbe Xnen.
That moment when Athena and Hera step off the Raptor and into Helo's arms. OMG. It's such a beautiful moment. First you're like "Awwww, they're a family again, that's nice." And then you realize OH MY GOD HE WATCHED HER DIE, and this is the first time he's held and touched her since then, and he had no idea if he ever WOULD hold and touch her again, and you start getting something in your eye.
Ahem. If you're me, that is.
Can I mention how GODS FRAKKING HOT everyone looks on the algae planet? Because damn the scruffy sweaty dirty thing they all have going is SMOKIN'. unf.
in the tiny details department, I'd like to point out the tragedy which is the death of Hillard during the attack, because it means Anders and Jean Barolay lose yet another of their C-Bucs team-mates. *sniff*
I still maintain that Anders and Lee are a lot more
oiled upsweaty than every body else.I wonder why this could be.
IT IS A GIFT FROM THE GODS. Like Sam's sleeve allergy.
SLEEVE ALLERGY. bless your heart.
Oh yuh, I wanted Anders and Lee to go at it in those argument scenes if you get my drift…
I'm right there with you. I so wanted them to make out. Not even kidding.
Boomer and Athena's story is so tragic, because they are identical, except for one thing. Knowledge. Athena knew she was a Cylon and that she had a dangerous secret mission among the humans. She went into it with open eyes, and although unexpected and disturbing things have happened to her, she has been able to able to deal with them and make informed choices because she knew who and what she was. Poor Boomer used to have a man who loved her and colleages who respected her. But that was when they thought she was human, and so did she. If she had known she was a cylon things might still have gone horribly wrong, but at least she would have KNOWN and been able to do SOMETHING.
Vg tbrf gb fubj whfg ubj greevoyr Pnivyy'f npgvbaf ner. Ol jvcvat gur zrzbevrf bs gur Svir ur gbbx njnl gurve xabjyrqtr naq gurve pubvpr. Vs gurl unq xabja jub gurl jrer, jbhyq gurl unir znqr gur fnzr qrpvfvbaf? Cerggl fher Fnhy naq Ryyra jbhyqa'g.__
I like what the wiki says about Boomer in this episode: That she's been trying to be close to Hera, but Hera rejects her because she knows she isn't her true mother, and the Cylons revere Hera because they believe she was conceived in God's love, so Boomer just gets more bitter because SHE didn't have a half-Cylon kid with Chief so obviously that means they didn't have God's true love and also her whole life was a lie. So basically there's a lot of unseen rage that's been building up inside her, and it finally comes to a head in this episode when she threatens to snap Hera's neck.
(bu gur vebal)
Ohhh Lee, don't send your WIFE to rescue your GIRLFRIEND.
I know that they know the basestar is right there so the resurrection ship must be close by, but SERIOUSLY, what if something went wrong and Athena didn't download? CAN YOU IMAGINE. I don't think I'd be able to shoot someone in this situation, even if they begged me, if there was any chance that they wouldn't come back. 🙁
Also, I dislike the implication that Sharon is not as strong as Helo. They're the Fightin' Agathons! They are both strong. But, you know, it's more poetic if he has to shoot her.
I like Helo standing up to Roslin about her STEALING HIS BABY because jesus christ.
It's weird that Caprica Six a) is the only one there when Athena wakes up, b) knows exactly who she is and c) seems to understand completely what's going on. Have they communicated already? What's happening here?
"Lbh ner gur Nabvagrq Bar." Gung rkcynvaf jul V svaq ure fb naablvat! V ungr gung xvq.
"I'm going to bring Starbuck back to Apollo." And then divorce his ass, right? Right?? Come on, Dee.
"I'm done with that part of my life." Naq guhf V unir cvacbvagrq gur rknpg zbzrag jura Obbzre fgnegrq gb fhpx.
Major spoilers: Nppbeqvat gb gur Jvxv, gur Svany Svire gung Guerr ncbybtvmrf gb vf ryyra gvtu. V'z abg fher jul fur jbhyq fcrpvsvpnyyl ncbybtvmr gb guvf zbqry, gubhtu (hayrff ure zrzbevrf bs gur svir pnzr onpx jvgu gur ivfvba, fvapr ryyra jnf xvaq bs gurve zbz). Vg jbhyq znxr zber frafr gb zr vs fur ncbybtvmrq gb naqref, fvapr fur qvq gel gb xvyy uvz gung bar gvzr.
Man, I am getting Grey's Anatomy flashbacks here with Lee and Starbuck and Dualla. "That is not the she he was asking for."
WHOA. I completely forgot about Athena taking Cap-Six along for the ride! And Baltar's back on Galactica too, so this should be interesting.
"You've seen one nova, you've seen them all." LOL Tigh.
Helo asking for Starbuck's photos makes me realize that I really miss the Helo And Starbuck Are Friends show. We need more of that!
Moar spoilers: Naq urer'f jurer jr trg gur svefg erny rivqrapr bs Xnen Guenpr naq Ure Fcrpvny Qrfgval (arj nyohz bhg fbba), jvgu gur qenjvat sebz ure ncnegzrag zngpuvat gur abin flzoby. Naq V fgneg jvfuvat gung Fgneohpx'f ragver fgbelyvar unq orra rkcynvarq NG NYY, naq nyfb jvfuvat gung ure qnq jbhyq unir orra gur guvegrragu Plyba be jungrire, naq ur qerj gur abin naq gung'f jul FUR qerj gur abin naq RIRELGUVAT JBHYQ ZNXR FRAFR vafgrnq bs ABG ZNXVAT FRAFR NG NYY. Jurj. Bxnl, V'z cebonoyl tbvat gb or yvxr guvf sebz abj hagvy gur svanyr. Whfg jneavat lbh.
"To find out who programmed us." Wham! They don't know who programmed them! I just love that revelation. They're in the same boat we are, as a species.
"One day you're going to see them too." Jung'f vebavp vf gung pnivy, bs pbhefr, nyernql xabjf jub gur svany svir ner, naq ur'f whfg orvat na nffubyr.
Well, Cylons seem to be able to distinguish between specific members of the same model. Remember in 'Downloaded', how different Cylons recognized Caprica-Six and thanked her for her actions in getting the war started? As for how she knew what was going on – maybe Boomer told Caprica-Six what she'd said to Athena?
I don't know, it seems like Athena and Helo only decided to have her download just prior to this episode. It's possible she found a way to communicate with the other Cylons, though.