{"id":664,"date":"2011-10-13T13:00:20","date_gmt":"2011-10-13T20:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/?p=664"},"modified":"2011-10-09T14:22:35","modified_gmt":"2011-10-09T21:22:35","slug":"mark-watches-battlestar-galactica-s03e13-taking-a-break-from-all-your-worries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/2011\/10\/mark-watches-battlestar-galactica-s03e13-taking-a-break-from-all-your-worries\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Watches ‘Battlestar Galactica’: S03E13 – Taking A Break From All Your Worries"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the thirteenth episode of the third season of Battlestar Galactica<\/em>, Gaius Baltar is ruthlessly interrogated by Roslin and Adama about his involvement with the Cylons. Oh, and there’s a really annoying subplot involving the love square. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Battlestar Galactica<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Let me start off with some negatives so I can get into my normal gushing and flailing about this show. I hope that through my writing, I’ve made it clear that I think that we, as fans, should be able to look upon the things we enjoy and engage them critically. There should always be room for this in the fandoms we’re involved with, and it doesn’t make us any less of a fan or make us hate the show. I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that BSG and I are sneaking out behind the bleachers during breaks between classes to furiously make out when no one is looking. SO DON’T YOU DARE QUESTION OUR ONE TRUE LOVE<\/em>. But that doesn’t mean I can’t point out flaws along the way, and it doesn’t mean that my enjoyment for this series is waning. (Which is not to say that it eventually can’t<\/em> wane, but I doubt that this show is going to turn into a shit pile in the future. It is statistically impossible.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

So I’ll just come right out and say it: I am really exhausted by the love square. I got the feeling that “Taking A Break From All Your Worries” would finally resolve the now-ridiculous plot of Starbuck and Lee feeling conflicted about their marriages. In fact, up until that final moment, I genuinely believed we’d see the two of them move on. Instead, they both are accepted back into their marriages, they exchange yet another<\/em> longing look at each other, and we all know this is going to cycle through the same doubts, anger, and rejection in a future episode.<\/p>\n

STOP IT. Oh my god. I am sorry. I love all four of these characters, but I just\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6look. Writers, you are contrasting their relationship problems (which were interesting until the end of this episode!) with ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST DISTURBING PLOTS OF THE ENTIRE SERIES’ RUN. So not only is it going to suffer just by default, but\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6I hate saying I don’t care. I do care about these characters and a whole lot, too<\/em>. Like there is certainly something deep and beautiful about our love<\/em>. But this plot line is\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.it becomes ridiculous in the sense that we get an entire story about doubt and rejection, and then NOTHING CHANGES AT THE END. Bah. I just want these people to progress beyond this!<\/p>\n

Okay, that’s all I’ve got in terms of complaints. Shall we move on to the bulk of “Taking A Break From All Your Worries”? Cool.<\/p>\n

A;ADKL;FAD A;LKAKAKL; ASDK;F A;LKSLDFJADSF AF;DSKJASDF;KL ASF;LDKJ ADS;FKJASDFL; A;LKDFJAF<\/p>\n

Got that out of my system. This episode is a testament to the powerful cast of actors and actresses, to the music of Bear McCreary, and to the writing staff who continually shock me over and over again. We are given a haunting cold open to this specific story, which contrasts the silent beauty of space with the horrific atmosphere in the brig on Galactica<\/em>. It seems that Admiral Adama and Roslin are not as averse to torture as I previously thought: Baltar is being forced to stay awake in the hopes that he’ll spill information on the Cylons. It’s disappointing, to say the least, but, like everything on this show, it’s going to get so much worse<\/em>.<\/p>\n

That much is apparent when we see Baltar fastening a noose out of his sheets and Gaeta, unable to sleep, heads to visit his old friend. As I said in the last review, Baltar can’t<\/em> die yet; there’s too much at stake for him in this series, so I figured that Gaeta would walk in on him and save his life. Head Six kicks out Baltar’s cot from under him and begins to soothe him, aiding in his suicide. WHICH IS ONE OF MANY CREEPY THINGS IN THIS EPISODE. And I thought I knew exactly<\/em> what would happen next! Gaeta would burst in and stop him and save his life and then–<\/p>\n

WHAT THE FUCK WHY IS BALTAR WAKING UP IN A REBIRTHING TANK OH MY FUCKING GOD HE IS REALLY A CYLON OH MY HEART HOLY SHIT THAT IS WHAT THREE MEANT WHEN SHE SAID HE WAS RIGHT OH MY GOD OH MY GOD !!!!!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

oh. Oh wait. Why are they scratching him??? <\/em>OH HOLY SHIT HE’S STILL HUMAN. And I calmed down after the FRIGHT OF MY LIFE to realize that this was just where his mind went as he started cutting off his own oxygen. Oh god, I am so glad I watched this alone because I straight-up made a damn fool of myself when they showed Baltar in a rebirthing tank. It was not cute at all<\/em>.<\/p>\n

With Baltar still alive, but obviously not responding positively to what the military is doing to him, Roslin, Adama, and Tigh face a tough group of decisions. I would think that after what had happened in the past, these three might show some hesitation to resort to harsh interrogation techniques. Yet in a desperate attempt to get any<\/em> information out of Gaius Baltar, it’s clear they’re willing to put aside any reticence they might feel in order to get what they want. And I do think that desperation is warranted, in part because they need to know if they’re on a collision course with the Cylons again<\/em>, but I don’t like that they don’t consider the consequences of the torture as well. That being said\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6good lord. I don’t know that I’ve seen anything on this show more electrifying and thrilling than Roslin’s interrogation of Gaius Baltar.<\/p>\n

Honestly, there’s nothing I’ve really looked forward to more since she became president again. It’s visually and thematically a reversal of roles from what happened on New Caprica, and Roslin relishes<\/em> this. She takes joy in knowing that she’s back in power, and I believe this is what motivates what happens right after this. I was so shocked that she went immediately for the jugular, asking him about seeing him with Six on Caprica from the get-go. It sets the tone for things to come as the tension builds rapidly<\/em>. That’s what is so overwhelming about this sequence: from that first question to the end, things escalate in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n

Well, that, and we’ve never quite seen Roslin like this ever<\/em>. Has she ever raised her voice like this? Screamed at someone in fury and rage? Been so flippant with the life of another human? Even if this is a technique of hers to get Baltar to talk, it’s not an act. The sheer rage she feels for the loss the human race has experienced at the hands of the Cylons is unlimited, and she knows in her heart that Baltar has played a huge part of it. So she uses her anger to attempt to guilt a confession out of Baltar, but there’s one flaw Roslin can’t see: Baltar still believes that he <\/em>was wronged, that he was tricked by Six back on Caprica, that he was never fully complicit with what has happened to him. He can’t feel guilt over something he doesn’t believe he was responsible for.<\/p>\n

But this doesn’t come out until Admiral Adama suggests an experimental technique of interrogation: the use of a hallucinogenic drug to bring Baltar to the edge of his fear, and trick him into believing that he will survive if he hands over the truth. I admit to being a bit frightened by the look on Roslin’s face as Adama describes this; she’s almost in a trance of awe at the very idea. It’s even more terrifying when you see her face during Baltar’s interrogation because she has to see what the drug has done to him. I was heartbroken to see these characters appear so gung-ho about drugging a fellow human for information. It’s beyond disappointment; I’m almost embarrassed<\/em> to see them act this way. What are you doing? Is this what you resort to these days?<\/p>\n

Still, I do feel the need to commend the cinematography of “Taking A Break From All Your Worries.” I know it’s weird to say WOW I REALLY LIKE HOW THIS TORTURE SCENE IS FILMED, but I thought it was gorgeous to see Baltar floating in a black body of water, his arms spread like the Messiah, a single light shining on his face. I think the way in which the show gave us both sides of the drug-induced interrogation is brilliant; we get to see the horrific experience that Baltar is having, and we are forced to watch the reactions of those administering this horror upon him. It’s made even more terrible when we see that it is working<\/em>. Baltar starts to reveal information about the Final Five, admits he thought (and hoped) that he was a Cylon so he wouldn’t be betraying humanity, and confesses that he has discovered he is not actually a Cylon himself.<\/p>\n

But the man’s sensitive mental state due to the drugs is disrupted by a medic knocking over some equipment and Adama’s intentional use of his flashlight to make Baltar feel like he is about to drown. I’m glad that we get a flash of shock on both Doc Cottle’s and Roslin’s faces when Adama does it; I was horrified myself at how brutal Adama was being during this interrogation. For Baltar, though, his mind takes him back to that Cylon rebirthing tank, only this time, he’s surround by a bunch of children<\/em>. They aren’t Cylons. Who are they? Why are they all different? Why are they filthy? Why does one of them mimic the same act from Six in Baltar’s earlier hallucination, shoving him into the pool and kissing him?<\/p>\n

The interrogation, though, is largely a failure, both logistically and morally. It’s all so disturbing because these humans are complicit in the suffering of another. I understand that this information is vital to the safety of the fleet, but it is no excuse to make Baltar suffer. Maybe that’s what the realize in this moment, and maybe that’s why their final technique to get information and a confession from Baltar doesn’t involve pain. (YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS FIRST.) It was nice to get Gaeta involved in the story again, and I think that of anyone on the ship, he and Baltar are the closest, especially since Gaeta did<\/em> assist him for some time on New Caprica. And yes, Roslin exploits this relationship to hopefully get information on where the Cylons are headed next, but it turns out she has misjudged just how much Baltar trusts Gaeta.<\/p>\n

I am still bewildered and overwhelmed by what happened in that cell. Gaeta has had a few outbursts over the course of the show, but once Baltar knows he is being watched, he begins to taunt Gaeta about being a traitor. It all builds to a moment when Baltar whispers something<\/em> into the man’s ear, which we OF COURSE don’t get to hear, and Gaeta, sent into a rage, slams a pen into Baltar’s throat. And it is such a shocking thing to see because, like Roslin’s fury we saw earlier, it is absolutely uncharacteristic for Felix Gaeta.<\/p>\n

Which creates an interesting situation: What did Baltar tell Gaeta to make him that angry? What did the man do on New Caprica that might challenge his sense of righteousness? AHHHHH I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ANYMORE.<\/p>\n

At the very least, the end of “Taking A Break From All Your Worries” doesn’t end on such a bleak note as the rest of the episode. I was happy to see Roslin and Adama act affectionate towards one another again. I always want more of that. But there’s a tinge of regret in Roslin’s voice when she discusses what to do with Gaius Baltar, and perhaps that’s what influences her to proclaim what they should<\/em> do with the man:<\/p>\n

Give him his trial.<\/p>\n

UM YES PLEASE CAN THIS HAPPEN<\/em>. Oh my god, THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE THE BEST THING EVER.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"