BSG “The Oath” – It’s Payback Time
In my review of last week’s episode “A Disquiet Follows My Soul”, I mentioned how I thought the episode’s slowed pacing and focus on select character arcs was not only noteworthy, but that the character introspection was necessary to set the stage to help us understand the actions these characters would undertake in the episodes to come. Indeed, as I commented on another blog, last week’s episode felt to me like a palate cleanser that was meant to get us to move past certain plot revelations – like the true state of Earth and the final Cylon reveal – in order to savour the next course in this sumptuous meal. After watching “The Oath”, I’d say that was exactly what Moore and Eick had in mind.
While watching the episode last night, there was one word that kept coming to my mind – payback. And there are many layers or contexts to this one word, the most obvious one being the fleet lashing out at Adama et al for shoving an alliance with the Cylons that no one wanted down their throats. In my review of “Revelations”, I stated how I loved that episode right until the last 10 minutes or so because of how easily the fleet just welcomed with open arms those who had destroyed their very lives. It felt like the series characters were returning to their version of the Matrix, wanting to be blissfully unaware of the realities around them and the consequences of any actions they undertook. Well, Moore and Eick gave us a payback for that, demonstrating that while the CIC was filled with people willing to just follow Adama’s lead in accepting this alliance, there were others who were more guarded, wanting to taste the fruits borne from this alliance before giving it their blessing. Of course, now having tasted the bitter fruit, the resentment and sense of betrayal over the glossing over of the atrocities committed by the Cylons – not just on the 13 Colonies, but on New Caprica as well – is compounded by the rage over having spent the last of their hope, their thirst for life, on a broken dream.
The presentation of this episode’s action was also extremely effective – the sound mixing creating this atmosphere of machine gun fire swirling against cries of anger and pain being heard somewhere far off was shocking and violent and certainly far more effective than having scenes of two groups of shooters exchanging fire behind makeshift shields. Watching Lee, Starbuck, Tigh and Adama wandering the corridors and passing by slumped over corpses of former colleagues and friends, killed at the hands of those who days earlier they would’ve fought with side by side was chilling and a great visual cue of how the fleet is slowly becoming consumed by the abyss. Adama’s desire to spare that soldier who was escorting him to his inevitable demise only to be shaken into the new reality by Starbuck screaming at him ‘he’s not one of your men. He’s the enemy now’ succinctly carried the point of what’s to come for the fleet. No longer would they glance suspiciously at each other, wondering who was a Cylon or a Cylon-collaborator; instead, humanity was now turning in on itself. Perhaps Starbuck’s pressing Adama to forsake his sense of duty and obligation to his own people is part of her role for bringing about the end of humanity as they know it. Of course, it was still interesting to see that despite Adama’s warning in the CIC when the mutiny takes hold that there wouldn’t be room for any forgiveness this time, he still felt compelled to save this soldier, while killing the other one without a moment’s hesitation. Perhaps, Adama hopes that some of them can be saved though others like Gaeta are clearly on borrowed time.
Speaking of Gaeta, one early scene I especially appreciated was the focus on the pain Gaeta felt in his amputated leg; in last week’s episode, we saw him grimacing in sickbay over the pain he was feeling in his leg, that the morpha he had been taking was becoming ineffective. On its own, I felt the scene didn’t really do a convincing job of explaining why Gaeta could be so disrespectful to Adama and at episode’s end, turn against the man he pledged loyalty to. But with this brief scene focus on Gaeta caressing the end of his amputated leg, one couldn’t help but get the impression that both the physical pain he’s experiencing and the psychological reality of being an incomplete man was goading him on, serving as the catalyst to light the fire within him, a fire which now consumes him and that Gaeta sensibility of doing the right thing no matter the circumstances, if not also keeping him from feeling any remorse for the manner in which he is exacting payback on all those whom he feels have wronged him. In this episode, we see a man whose not trying to turn the world right side up as he claimed in last week’s episode, but rather a man whose attempting to drown out his own guilt by casting a bright light on the mistakes of others. The scene in the CIC where Gaeta stands there, listening to all the fleet captains calling out for Adama and not being able to address them as their new leader, or at least someone with a new direction for how they will continue onwards, accentuates the earlier scene’s focus on Gaeta’s lost leg as the true source of Gaeta’s drive. Just like Howard Beale, Gaeta is using the injustice he feels that’s been perpetrated against him to rally others to rise up and take action against the status quo, though not because he genuinely feels that that’s in their collective best interests. And in that regard, his willingness to take sides with Zarek begins to make more sense as both are more driven by their own personal interests than out of a misguided sense of doing right by the fleet.
Once again, it was nice to see some scenes featuring Gaius which clearly demonstrated his breaking ties with his cultist followers and the slow re-emergence of his true personality. The scene between Roslyn and Gaius in his sanctuary was a nice touch since it not only had these two acknowledging how they let their own interpretations of faith cloud their perceptions and judgment, but Roslyn’s pointed remark about why Gaius was eager to leave Galactica indicated clearly that he has indeed returned back to his old petty, self-serving persona. And after Tyrol’s sense of disconnect with his life on Galactica in last week’s episode, it was nice to see them explain his sudden willingness to help his old comrades on Galactica escape the violence wrought by Gaeta. Indeed, Tyrol’s compassion toward Adama was not only poignant, but it helped to give the audience a greater distaste for Gaeta’s conduct.
Another element to this story that I was delighted to see brought back was the Pegasus crew. Again, here was another one of those elements that just felt glossed over with the Pegasus crew somehow integrating effortlessly into the Galactica crew, their own sense of loyalty to the leader who had protected them all this time being but a wisp of smoke. The Pegasus soldier going up to Helo and demanding him where’s the justice in his being promoted to CAG after he killed ‘one of their own’ to save a skin-job showed that all these betrayals, all these decisions that the fleet were forced to accept out of necessity weren’t shoved aside or forgotten; rather, they’ve just been seething under the surface, waiting for the right opportunity to burst out and be expressed. And hearing this Pegasus soldier tell Helo that he was going to save himself for his Cylon wife brought cold chills down my spine, recalling the brutality inflicted on the Caprica Six/Gina model on board the Pegasus.
In light of all these moments, it’s probably why I appreciated the scene in the cargo bay when Adama and Roslyn are reunited and finally decide they would no longer hide their true feelings for each other from anyone. Amid all this violence, rage, and destruction, we see a moment of love and sacrifice and with it, the very reason why humanity is worth saving. I still remember that scene between Athena and Adama where she pointedly asks Adama why he felt humanity should be allowed to survive, that simply being is not enough of a reason. This one moment for me between Adama and Roslyn answers that question in its simple poignancy. While I hated the introduction of a relationship between Mulder and Scully in “The X-Files”, here the culmination works as a lightning rod on which the audience can rally around and feel that yes, these people are indeed worth saving instead of being cast aside to die at the hands of each other.
So for me, “The Oath” isn’t just about the payback that large members of the fleet, including many of Adama’s own people, feel they are owed due to the decisions forced upon them by their leaders, it’s also a payback for BSG viewers who get that this show isn’t about figuring out the minutiae or various plot mysteries. Rather, it’s about the humanity of these people, these characters and the acknowledgment that nothing humans do is ever done within a vacuum or without consequences outside of our narrowly defined boundaries.
Some other posts you may enjoy:
- BSG “Sometimes A Great Notion” – Honey, I’m Home
- BSG “No Exit” – Time To Accept What We Are
- BSG “Blood on the Scales” – Off Bloody Spot, Off
- BSG “Islanded in a Stream of Stars” – Finding One’s Place To Call Home
- BSG “Daybreak, Part 1” – The End Is Found In Where We Began
- BSG “A Disquiet Follows My Soul” – Paging Howard Beale
Tanveer, couldn’t agree more with the lot of it – we’re definitely on the same page with the show’s current trajectory, so there’s nothing for me to really challenge.
Well, that’s not true: I think that it’s important to note that one of the inherent problems with this coup or mutiny is that its ostensible organizer DOESN’T have a principle of payback driving him. Zarek isn’t in this because of a personal vendetta, but rather because it’s just what he does, and I think that separates him from everyone else.
I think it also, in a small way, vindicates what the others are doing. No, I don’t believe it’s right, but at least they have a reason: at least they have experienced things first hand and have reasons to act. It makes this idea of payback seem much less like an angry revenge fantasy and more like an interpersonal redemption, an attempt to regain something that was lost (See, as you point out, Gaeta and his leg. That little rub got me, as well).
Sorry for the delay in volleying back the comment, by the way – I’m there tweeting about not getting enough comments and then I get all sorts of them and get busy with other things! I’m about to respond to it now.
Zarek isn’t in this because of a personal vendetta, but rather because it’s just what he does, and I think that separates him from everyone else.
Myles, this is exactly the reason why I had an issue with Zarek's re-emergence in last week's episode – because he has no vision or agenda, his machinations here come off as a tired re-tread of every other time where his sole objective is to stir the pot. Indeed, Zarek is much like those net troll-personalities who need to see that they can illicit a reaction from others as a means of validating their worth. Now if they had worked on making Zarek a character who sees the situation from a whole other vantage point, of looking in from the outside, then perhaps we might have had a character with some alternatives to offer to the Adama/Roslyn route.
Besides, let's face it – this wasn't Zarek's show, it's Gaeta's. After all, it was Gaeta who approached Zarek saying that someone else needs to lead the fleet, that someone has to stand up and take back control. Remember, it was Gaeta on his own who conspired with others in the Galactica crew after Starbuck left; he didn't need Zarek's prodding or guidance for that. Indeed, I suspect that's why he called up Zarek when the fleet's captains were calling for Adama since Gaeta obviously just wanted to set the wheels in motion, but then leave it to Zarek to define the next moves. And as you said here, Zarek doesn't have any plans or ideas because that's not what he does; his job instead is just to be a fly in the ointment.
I disagree, though, that he doesn't have a personal vendetta like everyone else as the fact that he was more interested – and subsequently disappointed – in Adama's faith shows that even Zarek has some scores to settle. I know some see this as being Zarek trying to take out the biggest threats, but if that were the case, Zarek should also be concerned about Roslyn, who we saw was still very effective in throwing a monkey wrench into the situation, and also to a certain degree Lee Adama, who has shown a keen ability to assuage the quorum, allowing cooler heads to prevail. The main difference with Adama is that he's never flinched from seeing Zarek's true nature, something that both Roslyn and Lee can't claim. And that makes Adama a greater risk than anyone. Again, remember that Adama was able to bluff Zarek into giving him the co-ordinates of the Tylium refinery ship. Why? Simple, because Adama sees right through Zarek and that makes him the single greatest risk to Zarek and his 'legacy'.
In regards to the notion of payback, I don't mean this in the sense of one group taking a 'hit' because of a transgression they committed against another. Rather, what I'm referring to is the fleet wanting to Adama, Roslyn and those who supported them to be made accountable for putting them in the mess they are in right now. As one of the former Pegasus crew replied to Lee's plea to stop this insurrection on the hangar deck, they've tried the whole take-'em-to-court route with Baltar and look what that got them; even with Adama sitting on the tribunal, Baltar ended up walking as a free man. This is what makes this revolt so disturbing – despite how wrong we may feel their approach is, the reality is that those behind the coup are right in wanting to hold those in charge responsible for misleading them for four years that there was hope at the end of this bleak tunnel.
Ironically enough, if you read my review for “Sometimes A Great Notion”, you'll see that I mention there that while Tigh might not have been able to kill Adama, there has to be others that won't have such misgivings after the promise Adama made that he would find these people a new home on the fabled planet Earth. Sure, Adama lived up to his promise of finding Earth, but he didn't live up to his promise of finding them a new home. Add to this his complete indifference to how others would feel about the Cylon rebels tagging along in the search to find a new home, and it's not hard to understand where this rage is coming from. I think this is why this episode works so well – it's a culmination of all the emotional baggage collected over the last four years on this series finally being addressed and dealt with, though obviously not in the best way.
Anyways, no worries Myles in the delay in returning the serve. Why, just my reply to your comment could have been an entry on its own!
Regardless, I'm glad that you made your way back here so that we can engage in some thought-provoking discussions about this wonderful series. Of course, you know we must find another series of shared interest so we can continue these delightful interplays after the curtain calls for BSG.
I concur that we’ll have to find another series, but there’s plenty of life left in this one yet, and Caprica is just around the corner!
As for your comments on Zarek, I think that Zarek and Gaeta’s relationship is more complex than “Gaeta starts it off then Zarek picks it up.” I feel like Gaeta’s the one who has the reason: the vendetta, the purpose, the emotional response, the desire for change, etc. It isn’t that Zarek has no reasons: he wants to screw over Roslin who never gave him any power as VP, he wants to play Lee like a fiddle, he wants to undermine Adama’s authority, but there isn’t anything driving him the way that so many other characters are driven. If he was really driven he would be on Galactica, not sitting over on Colonial One sitting around waiting for Gaeta to get on with it so that he can take over the government.
I think he’s playing this smart: he can sit back silently while Gaeta works. If Gaeta is successful, great: Zarek takes over the presidency and all is good. However, if Gaeta were to fail, Zarek could sever ties with the mutiny, suggest that he had gone haywire, and weasel his way back into a position in whatever government pops up. He’s an opportunist; one who needs Gaeta’s help and depends on him, but one one who ties his relationship with Gaeta to any kind of crusade.
As for the question of accountability, I think at this point things are too complicated for anyone to really pay attention to that term, and I don’t feel like what they’re using as basis for this mutiny goes beyond blame. It’s a very shallow definition, based on human-Cylon binaries and their impact on long-gestating insecurities. Is Seelix really had pissed about Sam never frakking her, or is it just that his Cylon-ness created that story in his head? It’s a tough question to answer, and that’s what I like about it: nothing’s easy or simple in this mutiny, and it is true that many people would not hesitate to kill Adama in any scenario.
We’ll see if Gaeta hesitates to kill Roslin next week!
I completely agree with your assessment of Zarek and why it makes sense for him to be sitting idly by on Colonial One. But see, that for me is the reason why the character is not as interesting or enjoyable as the others; indeed, this goes back to my complaint regarding the Zarek character I made in my review of “A Disquiet Follows My Soul”. We’ve seen this same ploy of Zarek being in the shadows, prodding on someone who actually has a defined motivator to push against the establishment with Baltar and Lee, so this isn’t anything new. And in light of how we’re seeing the fleet becoming polarized – and with it intriguing and delightful shifts in behaviours and loyalties – Zarek’s inertia from his usual position of being the fly in the ointment just comes off as being tired. I think that that’s probably the biggest reason why Zarek went from being one of the focal characters in “A Disquiet Follows My Soul” to a single scene in “The Oath” because they’ve used him again in the same fashion they’ve done before and now they can dispense with him as there’s nothing more that can be done with the character. And that’s what I find most disappointing.
See, if you look at Gaius on the other hand, what was fascinating about this character was how his narcissism could make him a valuable aid to the fleet one week and yet in the next, he’s secretly drawing a dagger to plunge in their backs. And yet, that inconsistency in how his actions affect the fleet are perfectly consistent for who the character is. That’s what made him such a compelling character study – because he was the only one who could save the fleet and yet also be the one who can bring about their downfall, he’s not someone you can just choose to hate because he might very well be the key to everyone’s survival. And honestly, I’m hoping that someone draws some light to this in the subsequent episodes because in many ways, Gaius is representational of what the rebel Cylons are to the fleet – sure they played a part in the destruction of the colonies; however, they may very well hold the key for them to find a new home sooner than later through the use of their more advanced technology. And as was the case with Gaius, the question has to be answered as to whether their survival trumps everything else or as the mutineers are stating, there are some lines in the sand that should never be crossed.
I disagree though, that this is only about blame at this point since I do think that these issues have been festering for quite some time, hence the referrals to situations from seasons’ past. It’s the writer’s way of showing us that despite the series not focusing on these issues, of simply letting them be like water under the bridge, the reality for the rest of the fleet has been that they haven’t forgotten. I think if it were simply a matter of lashing out against those you blame for your life’s circumstances, this would’ve have happened earlier as a pressure release instead of a decisive shift in how the fleet conducts their affairs. After all, if we are to assume that Adama or one of his still-loyal crew comes out of this to run the fleet once again, they will have to acknowledge this sentiment and realize that they can’t simply make decisions on a tactical, reasoned basis, that instead the past history of the last 4 years must be taken into consideration as it’s still on the forefront of the fleet’s collective memory.
As for Roslyn, I’m wondering if one of the other ship captain’s might fly into the path between the Vipers and Roslyn’s Raptor. After all, while Gaeta has control over communications on Galactica, he can’t block signals going out from the Raptor to others in the fleet. But you’re right, I think we’re in for an exciting follow-up to this episode. And how wonderful is it to think we still have 7 more episodes to see this plotline through – no last five-minute, reset-button wrap-ups here, thank the lords of Kobol.