Let’s get something straight right off the bat, people: simply having a pretty good cliffhanger at the end of an episode, particularly a season finale, doesn’t make up for boring the audience for the previous 45 minutes.
That’s right, today we’re talking about the seasonal finale of Battlestar Galactica (and don’t read the rest of this if you don’t want to know the twists and reveals, because it’s what we’re talking about). So little that happened in the first three-fourths of the episode was interesting. I will completely accept that Lee Adama’s speech was great during the Baltar trial, but there are a couple of huge problems with it.
First, the immediate one, Lee testified in order to give evidence for a mistrial, which not only did he not do, but the show completely ignored the move for the mistrial upon the conclusion of his testimony. Apparently the judges forgot why Lee was testifying to begin with. They never said yea or nay to the motion for a mistrial, they just proceeded as though Lee had simply been giving testimony like any other witness. That’s really weak writing and hugely disturbing for a show that usually incredibly well-written.
The second problem with the scene is that Lee brings up the fact that President Roslin issued a blanket pardon for all crimes committed on New Caprica. This is true. Roslin did issue said pardon. Baltar however is on trial for crimes committed on New Caprica, crimes that Roslin’s blanket pardon must have included. Excuse me while I get incredulous for a moment here, but how is it possible that no one on the Galactica, no one in the Colonial Fleet, and not one of the writers or producers or stars of this show stood up and said before this moment something along the lines of: pardon me, but how is it possible that Baltar could be on trial for crimes for which he was already pardoned. Furthermore, when he is acquitted by a vote of 3-2, it is never explained how two judges could have voted to convict someone who was already pardoned of the crimes for which they were on trial.
To steal from the show, what the frak? This is another ridiculously large example of poor writing. And, what’s more disturbing about it, is that so much of the latter half of this season of the show has been leading to trial which should never be allowed to happen. It’s really quite sad. Did Roslin’s blanket pardon not include Baltar? I don’t recall her saying “I hereby pardon everyone for everything that happened on New Caprica save Gaius Baltar because gods damn it, we’ll have nothing to do for the rest of the season.”
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
22 episodes? Each season has been 20, and there is only a commitment for 14 for season 4...
And Sackhoff's fate could be similar to Tricia Helfer, who is also signed in another pilot that could get picked up, of course that is also run by Moore, so double duty may be easier achieved with his involvment.
What about the possibility of Starbuck being the fifth? I don't buy it, but the possibility is there.
2 - TV and Film Guy
22 episodes, they upped it last week Zap2it's story talks about that.
Maybe Starbuck is the 5th, but I'm still hoping she's gone.
3 - Lance Zechinato
I don't like a lot of exposition, so I appreciated the apparent continuity gaps in the finale. Just seems more like real life to me. The only exception would have to be the move for a mistrial. Did they forget?
In the "logic" of the BSG universe, it doesn't strike me as odd that Baltar stood trial. Had he been available when the blanket pardon was issued, I doubt the President would have issued it.
4 - Illuminatiscott
I wonder when the ACTUAL final 5 will be revealed...
I believe that the supposed four are simply jumping to conclusions.
5 - Rob Miller
asked and answered by Ron Moore:
The identities of the four Cylons are so shocking!...And just because there will be debate, can you confirm that they are Cylons?
Yes, they're Cylons.
Starbuck seems to be back, but is Katee Sackhoff contracted to do season four? Is there more Starbuck story to tell?
Yes, Katee will be back with us for season four. We couldn't let her go.
What does it mean for fans of the show that Katee and Tricia are both shooting pilots?
They are shooting pilots, but they're not going to be regulars on those shows, so it's nothing to worry about.
6 - TV and Film Guy
And Drea de Matteo can do both The Sopranos and Joey and NBC will broadcast all the episodes of Kidnapped that they ordered and umpteen other statements that later turn out to be "misinformed."
7 - Victor Plenty
I'm afraid you failed to prove your case for Baltar being included in any sort of pardon. There is more than one interpretation for the phrase "blanket pardon." It's quite possible to issue a blanket pardon to a specific person, for all potential crimes committed by that specific person (or by a specifically listed group of persons), without pardoning any of the crimes committed by some other person.
Given Roslin's crystal clear feelings about Baltar's actions, I see zero chance she would ever have signed any pardon that could possibly be interpreted to include him in its provisions.
Therefore, Baltar was never pardoned. Q.E.D.
Moving on to the subject of Lee Adama's testimony. While it is true that the reason he was initially called to the stand was to give evidence for a mistrial, the direction of his testimony was changed when he was asked for his own personal opinion on why Baltar could not be found guilty.
The arguments he put forward after his testimony was redirected could not be interpreted as arguments for a mistrial. They only make sense as arguments for acquittal.
The script could have bored us (as you already accuse it of doing) by walking tediously through every procedural step of dropping the motion for mistrial and resting the defense case on Mr. Adama's powerful arguments for acquittal.
Instead the writers gave viewers credit for having enough intelligence to realize this happened without having it spoon fed to us. Or to phrase it in the context of the setting, the judges were intelligent enough to realized this had happened and did not demand the lawyers spell it out in detail.
With a similar respect for brevity, I will stop here and not attempt to list every flaw in your review. Instead I will state my hope that the show's writers and producers never pay any attention to reviews such as yours.
There are plenty of oversimplified shows out there, more than enough to satisfy the many people who simply lack the ability to keep up with Battlestar Galactica.
8 - Jesse
Lee Adama's arguments really did not make a credible case for the acquittal of Gaius Baltar. In his statements he tried to associate Baltar's actions with others like himself and others in the fleet. Unfortunately, motive for the other's actions were entirely different. Adama's actions as Commander of the fleet though at times were erroneous, were motivated by doing what was right whether perceived or correct.
Gaius Baltar's actions were always selfish. He never did anything unless it brought him a measure of pleasure. We all do wrong things, but it is our motives that make the difference. Means, Motive and Opportunity. Gaius' motives were void of any kind of rightness so he cannot be compared to the others.
Showing Baltar signing the death warrants by gun point only tries to make us see him as someone with out choice. He had a choice and made that choice and he should be held accountable by that choice.
Plus, he was getting way too much sex!
9 - BigJim
Hey Nerds,
I am trial attorney and former soldier. The only thing you missed was the senior judge saying motion denied. Trust me I have heard it a thousand times and it would not have added anything to the plot. If you want a law show tune into court TV otherwise shut up. Finally, this is just a television show it is not a way of life. If you want to dissect a play take a Shakespeare class, but hey anyone with a computer without a life can have a blog. I can’t believe how superior you act when in life you have neither seen combat nor sit in courtroom. Poor sad little nerds.
10 - TV and Film Guy
BigJim, your offensive, misdirected, ill-written personal attacks aside, your opinion, as stated, is simply wrong.
It in fact adds much to the plot when precedings are carried out in a manner closer to reality, particularly in a case like this, when motions were denied (or not) repeatedly during trial. Skipping out on that here indicates poor production values. And, sloppy production values actually do count for something.
As for Shakespeare being worthy of dissection, but this not, I must ask to you remember that at the time he was writing, Shakespeare was not always considered worthy of analysis. It's only with hindsight and distance that he is.
11 - Sinkie
The whole trial lead up was angering me long before this episode happened. I think the episode in which Lee and Bill end up hating each other again was when I started to really worry. Then the introduction of the faerie-like, god-sent lawyer, then Starbuck's death...but the nail in the coffin? The damned song. They did not need to choose this song. I don't care if it will somehow tie into what period of history Earth is in when they find it (our recent past, our present or our future), it is just dumb, and rips me out of the BG universe...and then to end with that crazy pull out shot...NOT the gritty, handheld BG universe I've grown to know and love. The final 5??? Why aren't they something more mysterious than Cylons-amongst-us? I liked the fact that they appear as beings of light in that dream sequence, reminded me of those angel creatures from the original series. They could have played with them being more godlike and less humanoid. Anyway, I am desperately hoping that Season 4 is so good I forget the latter half of season 3 within the first 5 minutes of the first episode next year. Or that's it for me.
12 - Banner
I think your review missed out on what is important. The court scenes were fine! great even when Lee made the speech. Your problems with the script were minor to say the least. However, what really needs to be addressed is the lack of an epic ending. The 'revalation' of the cylons was poor. How did they come to that solution. Surely one would refuse a conclusion till absolutely proven otherwise. The song was totally out of place both logically and sylistically. Music in general was out of place. and the whole built up was worst finale ive seen in long time. However I still love the show, and only hope they begin season four as strong as they started season 3.
13 - john
My left nut says BigJim is neither a soldier nor a trial attorney.