It also makes for an incredible complex and non “We won!” moment, because at the end, there’s truth to what Zarek and Gaeta said, and while they’re being shot because of their very messed up actions, they’re also being shot because of their thoughts and dissents. I’m still very conflicted as to what I think of Adama and Roslin at this point.
I dont think they are being killed for their thoughts. It is for their actions. They could have disagreed all they wanted and expressed that anger. but it was the action they took that got them killed.
Yes. But ultimately, their thoughts and words fell upon deaf ears, which lead to their actions (and even worse actions as it progressed). If only they could have listened to them to start with, perhaps none of that would have ever happened the way it did.
I guess, I just felt that the concerns were legitimate, and while I don’t doubt that Adama and Roslin are strong leaders capable of strong leadership, I have yet to see Adama or Roslin feeling remorse over the mistakes they made, which they kind of cobbled on Zarek. Which I think is a problem.
or perhaps they didnt have as much of the fleet behind them as they thought. Perhaps more of the fleet wanted to follow Adama and Roslin
Oh definitely. They are the strongest leaders they have, and with only a handful of a population, I don’t think there is a better option as to who should lead them who are capable of making the tough choice, as shown by the ships that did follow Roslin’s commands. But clearly eveyone was aware of how dangerous to have such a dictatorship, shown by Zarek and Gaeta’s civillian followers (some of the fleet did have their FTL drives online and ready to go).
But, just hearing the gunshots in the Quorum room makes me want to kill Zarek too. As Gaeta pointed out, probably the violent straw that broke the camel’s back in some of their supporters. They no longer had ‘truth’ on their side. (not that they completely did before either, but there’s the line, and shooting the entire Quorum? Crosses it.)
That being said, I need to know that Adama and Roslin is aware of their own mistakes before I could find them as truly great leaders. There’s something very bitter and sad about how Zarek and Gaeta went, even though it was the right thing to do.
I really wanted to feelbad for Gaeta, I really really wanted to and I’m sad that he died, but he did order Adamas execution, and he had so many chances to turn back…and never did.
i have a feeling that Roslin and Adama will change their ways and realize they made massive mistakes. But i also think they will rule more now with a firmer hand. I think it would be wise to declare Marshal law until the fleet finds a new home. But i think Roslin should do it.
That is interesting, though I’m not sure how people would feel about that. Unless, Baltar indeed is now prepared to help them out. I think Baltar might be the key to calm the masses, which I think I wrote a post on somewhere earlier.
So, anyway, why in particular Roslin and not Adama to do the dirty deed? 
I think if Roslin does it it can be seen as and act of the government. If Adama does it it is the Military taking power. I also dont think it should be a complete Marshal Law. Just over things that concern the running of the ships. The day to day stuff should still be the charge of the government. But as i have said before i think the main ships, BSG, the tillium ship, food processing should be under complete charge of the military.
Watching that scene where Gaeta is telling a Head Baltar all about what he was like as a child really put the dagger in for me. You remember that even if it’s been a long time, everyone was a child, everyone was innocent, at some point, with the world a limitless horizon. And you can’t forget all of the good Gaeta did; he helped pull the fleet out several times and even saved Baltar’s life (though the merits of that are debatable, of course).
Gaeta got lost near the end but remembered who he was when all was said and done. He was one of my favorite characters early on and I really wanted him on the screen more and he got that, and I hope his actions prove to give Adama and Roslin the sense of responsibility and conviction they need to deliver humanity a new life.
Especially after they FINALLY got some stones!
“I think you should leave, Mr. VICE-President.”
I’m also of the opinion that, in the end, Gaeta DID find peace.
MARTIAL LAW - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
“The law administered by military forces that is invoked by a government in an emergency when the civilian law enforcement agencies are unable to maintain public order and safety.”
Yep, it should be initiated by Roslin.
And what’s all this sympathy here for Gaeta and Zarek anyway?
How were they justified in ANY WAY?
Other thoughts:
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What happened to Gaeta’s boyfriend? Think he will be out for revenge?
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Why was Baltar having a last drink and smoke with Gaeta alone in a comfy this-is-so-not-the-brig private quarters? Perhaps it was Gaeta’s last request, right? Funny no inside guards or shackles. I guess his crush on Baltar lasted until the end . . .
One way mutineers are dealt with is literal decimation: There are variations, but basically, you line the mutineers, and one in ten of them gets it. So everyone’s theoretically on the hook, but you don’t execute half your fighting force. Here’s Wikipedia’s summary of the tradition it:
Here’s what the Romans did: “A cohort selected for punishment by decimation was divided into groups of ten; each group drew lots (Sortition), and the soldier on whom the lot fell was executed by his nine comrades, often by stoning or clubbing. The remaining soldiers were given rations of barley instead of wheat and forced to sleep outside of the Roman encampment.”
…
This is totally me reading into it, but my guess is that Gaeta was cooperating at the end, going on record with what happened, who did what, and why. And Baltar was the one they thought would be best to coax it out of them, given their past relationship (working together on New Caprica, and I guess a pen-stabbing really bonds everyone involved). I bet Rn Moore explains some in this week’s podcast.
Weclome to the boards, Potiphar.
…
“Hey Gaeta, where’s your bittersweet song now?”
[Nelson from the Simpsons voice]: “Haw-haw! Your coup was short-lived!”
Regarding decimation, the Soviets had a neat way of dealing with that. Each group was required to select the sacrificial lamb. That puts the weight on the mutineers as a group, and eliminates the necessity of higher selecting the ones to be punished.
Gaeta knew what he was doing, and he knew the possible consequences. He messed up, he got caught, and he paid the price… like a man. Zarek… well… whacking the Quorum destroyed any vestige of sympathy I maght have harbored for the guy as a revolutionary. For all his revolutionary bluster, he was just a power hungry politician who used a coup d’etat to further his ambitions.
As to what will happen to the rest of the mutineers… well… just because the ringleaders were eliminated, that doesn’t let the rest of them off the hook. We might still see Racetrack go sailing out of an airlock sans Raptor… and I will shed a tear, because she is simply the hottest pilot in the fleet.
I am hoping that Narcho’s admission to Adama about respecting him but not being able to follow someone not fighting cylons hits home with Adama. Narcho isn’t the only one & it needs to be dealt with, carefully. I’m not sure Roslin or Adama are capable of that anymore though. Perhaps Tigh will be able to help with that, as weird as that sounds.
AL - speaking of mutineers, rebels, revolutionaries or freedom fighters (depending on one’s point of view and as you probably well know), the British were not to be outdone by the Russians or any body in this regard when it came to the Indian “Mutiny” of 1857. Want to teach those who rise up against you a lesson? Tie a bunch of them to canon muzzles and fire away.
I keep thinking the same thing, then I remember what Abraham Lincoln did with his “mutineers” at the end of the civil war.
How many can you kill and still have anyone left to go on in this situation.
I think that it is more than mutiny. It was murder and attempted murder that got them shot. Never give the order to shoot on your own people. A peaceful attempted overthrow might have been forgiven.
But then that would not be Mutiny. Back in the day of Piracy some one could challenge the place of the captain. It would be put to a vote and if the crew wanted a change it would be put into place. it would not be considered a mutiny.
The fact that they took arms makes it a mutiny. Gaeta’s biggest mistake was not instantly killing Adama and Tigh and instantly taking the president into custody.
The sever loss of life at the hands of fellow human justifies the execution of the figure heads at least. I think something must be done to those who followed. But i agree that it can’t be total retribution. The fleet does still need its military.
Edit: Sorry but i read your post wrong. But i think my points are still kinda valid