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.

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!

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.

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.