GWC Re-Watch Frak Party: Exodus, Pt. 2

Frak Party Archives BSG Frak Party Archive
#1

It’s week thirty-three of our planned off-season re-watch of the entire “re-imagined” BSG canon, and after a little time off to watch Razor, it’s time to move on to the season three episode “Exodus, Pt. 2.” So why not join us here for the GWC online frak party? There’s room for everyone, though you’ll have to bring your own snacks…

Feel free to jump in at any point with your comments on this week’s episode as the re-watch is by definition spoiler free. We’ll be in and out, but we’ll definitely take a look at your comments before we start next week’s podcast.

Note: Some readers/listeners asked us to leave comments open on the frak party blog post as they enjoy commenting more than forums. So if you have the time, keep an eye on the blog post every now and then, too, so we don’t leave 'em out in the cold.

http://www.galacticawatercooler.com/2007/12/03/gwc-re-watch-frak-party-exodus-pt-2/

#2

Best special effect EVAH!

Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

#3

Indeed. I’m pretty darn excited about this, and can’t wait to cue up the DVD later this week. I still feel like this is the most exciting episode to date.

#4

I feel stupid, because it is a cool special effect, but why is it necessary for Galatica to jump inside New Caprica’s atmosphere? Because otherwise the Cylons would get them and their little Vipers, too?

Anyway, that aside – awesome, awesome episode. Some of the best acting in the series, especially from Sackhoff and Hogan. You really feel bad for Starbuck when Casey’s rightful mom claims her at the end. And Michael Hogan – wow, what can you say? Although I do wonder why Tigh felt it necessary to kill Ellen. Do you think Anders is right, that she would’ve gotten it anyway, and Tigh was doing her a favor to do it himself? Perhaps, given the behavior we see from the Circle of Peers in the next episode. Still – sheesh, I dunno. It’s easy to be moved by the scene, but hard to feel too much sympathy for Tigh’s action. He had a choice, as our hosts are fond of saying (and notice that Ellen says she didn’t – nope, nope, if BSG teaches us anything, it is that there is always a choice, even if the choice stinks. At least Ellen’s choice was motivated by love – the other great theme of BSG – and maybe that mitigates her guilt to some degree…?)

I can’t believe I didn’t enjoy the New Caprica arc the first time around; I have truly enjoyed it in the re-watch.

I do wonder why, given his suicidal tendencies near the end of Season 2.5, Lee didn’t just consider going “down with the ship” when Pegasus slammed into the basestars. I guess being married some helped? Maybe, even subconsciously, the thought of a reunion with Starbuck?

#5

This episode was a very powerful one emotionally. It starts with the Tigh and Ellen scene—heartbreaking. But then the rest of the episode is just ass kicking. Even though I knew RDM would never kill off Adama—except for maybe the last episode—I honestly thought he was done just before the Pegasus arrived. And the music in the episode was awesome, especially with the Pegasus ramming the cylon basestar combined with the celtic tunes, and then Tigh and Starbucks emotional return. Besides firefly, this is the only show to really get such an emotional reaction out of me.

Two last thoughts about the episode that I don’t know if anyone else noticed:

1- The last scene, the irony of Tigh walking past Gaeta, and Gaeta recoiling away.
2- Head six’s shrapnel bracelet- it’s freaking me out. Thanks Audra, I would’ve never noticed it unless you mentioned it in season 1!

#6

Absolutely one of my favorite episodes! I’m so glad it won the Emmy for Best Visual Effects.

After seeing Unfinished Business, the scene where Starbuck tells Leoben she loves him takes on a whole new connotation. Didn’t Lee sort of force her hand and tell her to say that she loved him in the field? And then Leoben does the same thing to her. I just think its interesting.

#7

I promise, this is actually going to be an honest-to-goodness short post for once.

Great, great episode. I find Gaeta a lot more interesting this time around than I did before. I especially loved his “hot and cold-running interns” line.

Speaking of Gaeta, though, what the frak is he doodling during the Cylon meeting near the beginning of the show?

#8

So that the vipers would have time to provide air support for the evacuation. If they had launched from orbit, the raiders would have followed them down and they’d be tied up fighting them.

#9

Yes !! In addition, by using the drones deployed from the raptor squadrons on the opposite side of the planet to simulate Galactica and Peggy, Adama was able to draw a large number of raiders (AND the two basestars) away from the New Caprica City area, allowing Galactica to jump in and place it’s vipers right in the thick of things to help out the boots on the ground.
Plus it seemed like an awesome idea after several bottles of tequila !!:smiley:

Re this episode…Surely two of the most (throws fist in air while shouting " YES !!!") awesome effects scenes in the series, first with Galactica’s Insane Jump into the atmosphere, unfrakking super cool, and later with the Pegasus’ surprise return to the fight…the sight of those cannon shots coming in towards the attacking basestars, and that perfect 1 second pause before Peggy rushes into view (that 1 second when you’re going "Yeah, Pegasus is back !!) with all her guns aimed forward and blazing away, just a great, great moment, IMHO.

#10

Thanks for the tactical explanation. Sometimes I get so caught up in the gosh-golly of the moment, I lose sight of, “Now this is because why?”

The Pegasus returning to battle at the last moment is a great moment. Sort of like what would have happened if, instead of just shooting Darth Vader’s TIE fighter, Han Solo had rammed the Falcon right into the Death Star’s exhaust port. :slight_smile:

#11

Then you’d have the obligatory “Chewie !! I can’t reach the ejection handle !! I can’t reach the ejection handle !! Chewie, punch us out !! And bring the couch” scene !!:smiley:
(did you see the Family Guy Star Wars episode? OMG see it)

#12

It’s a sword or dagger, and what looks like a tree and grass, although it could be a contrail and explosion.

#13

Is wondering the same myself. To me it looks like a tree with a snake in it and a large sword at the side. Some reference to the apple tree in the garden of Eden?

#14

Could be, especially given Tigh’s comment about being the devil in paradise (paraphrasing), and, in Genesis, an angel with a sword bars the way from ever returning to Eden once Adam and Eve get evicted.

#15

So New Caprica is Eden?

#16

No, not hardly, but Tigh brought Paradise up, not me. :slight_smile:

#17

–holy crap, i’m lost! what shrapnel?
good excuse for me to cue up the ep one mo’ time!

#18

I think he was considering it. He only leaves the Beast’s CIC when Dee asks if he’s coming to which Lee replies, “Yes, sir.”

#19

I share Pike’s confusion. I doubt New Caprica is Eden in the narrative. Now, looking at New Caprica as an incorrect detour might be more plausible. New Caprica was not necessarily the Promised Land. The land promised at the start of the series is Earth.

The question in this case is who is the Moses in the story? Admiral Adama?

#20

The Dying Leader isn’t supposed to enter the Promised Land, just like Moses. So maybe Roslin, if she’s really the Dying Leader?

And I agree with NC as a detour theory, which makes me wonder whose side Head Six is playing for, since she’s the one who told Baltar to settle there. Unless, of course, Head Six is really just Baltar, and then things get even more confusing…