BSG 2003 S4E18: "Islanded in a Stream of Stars" ***SPOILERS***

Tristram

Air date: Friday March 6, 2009

The rebel Cylons and the Colonial humans react to Hera's kidnapping while the physical condition of the Galactica continues to deteriorate.

Preview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObDkB6HC1Pc

Slutmonkey57b

/me yawns

Another episode that's going to have the "MOAR SPLOSIONS" crowd up in arms about how Galactica has gone downhill, as this episode is all about small dramas.

As usual, very well played out, and thoughtful.

I now havea two week period to get to as I will watch all 3 parts in one go.

Stark

/me yawns

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Another episode that's going to have the "MOAR SPLOSIONS" crowd up in arms about how Galactica has gone downhill, as this episode is all about small dramas.

:rolleyes: I haven't watched it yet, but having a different opinion to you does not make a person less intelligent. In fact your assertion that anyone who dislikes a particular episode is lacking in mental faculties only serves to make you come across as ignorant. When I watch it, I'll either enjoy or not enjoy the character dramas but if I don't enjoy them then it'll be based on their merits or lack thereof and not because I didn't get my fix of "SPLOSIONS".

DeepBlue

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Another filler episode tbh.

Volvagia

/me yawns

I really enjoyed it.

Off topic i dont think Slutmonkey57b said anything about anyones intelligence, from my interpretation it was just a comment on fans who prefer action based episodes and how this wasn't a particularly action based episode.

Back to the episode;

When Starbuck pulled the gun on anders I jumped out of my seat, I've always been fascinated by the hybrids and their ramblings and i really wish they hadn't unplugged him.

Poor bill, he's loosing everything, they ship is a complete mess now and although I was hoping maybe that hybrid anders could save it bill seems pretty intent on abandoning ship.

The scene with the ships captains fighting over galacticas remains, i was soo annoyed at them, the ungrateful bastards, that ship kept them all alive and before she's dead they're squabbling over her remains.

Hera can project, thats pretty cool.

And cavils's colony even has old school raiders, I really want to learn more about that place.

It was a slow paced episode but everything that happened was important in my opinion, and were set up for the last two episodes not having a clue what way it'll go.

Almost there...

Suaimhneach

I'm burning my boxsets

Kara and Sam are going to figure out what Hearas song/map/star location are. Sam is going jump them to Earth 2.0 and they're going to live happily ever after. That is however going to be after they gut the ship, cylons and humans almost destroy each other (both Cavil vs Fleet and Humans vs Fleet Cylons), and they somehow save Heara (probably via Boomer regretting her actions).

I thought it was a very non-episode. I enjoyed it, but wtf, they've only got 3 hours left... MORE needs to be happening.

I am considering doing the two week wait and watching them both together as well. I actually can not handle watching them... without a logical end or conclusion.

Wtf is with Kara btw. First she forces the surgery that causes Sam to go braindead. Then she nearly shoots him. Wtf girl... you are so broken.

Sherifu

Experiencing severe bowel movements

It was fine, not brilliant. Not really ramping up to a finale, more a feeling of fading out. Liked the scene with Adama and Tigh sitting down looking like they'd given up.

Suaimhneach

I'm burning my boxsets

I thought it was more an "end of an era/reflection" moment than giving up.

I pray that the last two episodes are screamingly exciting and amazing. I don't think they'll let us down.

mewso

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Volvagia wrote: »

Off topic i dont think Slutmonkey57b said anything about anyones intelligence, from my interpretation it was just a comment on fans who prefer action based episodes and how this wasn't a particularly action based episode.

Me. I'm just looking for something to happen. Was an ok episode.

Tristram

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Volvagia wrote: »

Off topic i dont think Slutmonkey57b said anything about anyones intelligence, from my interpretation it was just a comment on fans who prefer action based episodes and how this wasn't a particularly action based episode.

+1

Get off your high horse folks.

I enjoyed this episode. Am very worried about how close to the end we are though.

Stark

/me yawns

Volvagia wrote: »

Off topic i dont think Slutmonkey57b said anything about anyones intelligence, from my interpretation it was just a comment on fans who prefer action based episodes and how this wasn't a particularly action based episode.

I think "SPLOSIONS" captures what the Slutmonke75b thinks of people who prefer action based episodes. There have been previous threads where any difference of opinions were met with "you're just too stupid to enjoy anything that doesn't have splosions" even in response to more intelligent discussions as to why an episode didn't work and where no mention was made of action.

Anyway, back on topic. I did enjoy the episode despite it being a slow burner.

DingChavez

/me yawns

I love that Irish song at the end. Hope they play the full version next ep.

Stark

/me yawns

I think it might be "Now we are free" by Enya but I could be wrong. I seem to remember it from "Gladiator" anyway.

Edit: Now that I listen to it more, it sounds more like the score from "Titanic". Which seems kind of fitting in a way

Vokes

/me yawns

Isnt that just the same music from Hand of God and other Adama Snr / Jnr scenes? I think so anyway.



Didn't enjoy this as much as last week but still pretty damn good. Mostly enjoyed the quieter character moments - Lee/Kara, Baltar/Kara, Adama/Tigh.

The Quorom of Ships' Captains fighting over the Galactica's parts was great - like vultures circling over a carcasse.

Is it me, or does anyone else think that Dean Stockwell is not a very good actor? He comes off as very stiff in most things ive him in.

Johnny Storm

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Jesjes wrote: »

...
I thought it was a very non-episode. I enjoyed it, but wtf, they've only got 3 hours left... MORE needs to be happening.

Quite right, especially MOAR 'SPLOSIONS!

Wtf is with Kara btw. First she forces the surgery that causes Sam to go braindead. Then she nearly shoots him. Wtf girl... you are so broken.

+1
As I've said many times the writers lost their way with Starduck several years ago.
In addition, this ep we see another pointless and non-character-driven random act from Balthar when he reveals that Starduck was dead. Why?
And also why did Adama or anyone even care? Plainly everyone on BSG already knows she was dead since they all saw her Viper blown up on a planet countless light-years away.

/me yawns

Bits that stood out for me:

* Lee saying 'GAIUS BALTER???'
* Adama cracking up after realising how bad a painter he really is.
* The first 5 minutes, wow that was excellent.
* Was that Jupiter or just random red giant that Boomer and Hera jumped to?

Slow episode yeah, bit slower than previous ones, but overall pretty good. Next two episodes are an hour and a half each yeah?

DingChavez

/me yawns

Stark wrote: »

I think it might be "Now we are free" by Enya but I could be wrong. I seem to remember it from "Gladiator" anyway.

Edit: Now that I listen to it more, it sounds more like the score from "Titanic". Which seems kind of fitting in a way

Its called "Wander my friends".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx0NSHME4N0

Slutmonkey57b

/me yawns

Stark wrote: »

:rolleyes: I haven't watched it yet, but having a different opinion to you does not make a person less intelligent. In fact your assertion that anyone who dislikes a particular episode is lacking in mental faculties only serves to make you come across as ignorant. When I watch it, I'll either enjoy or not enjoy the character dramas but if I don't enjoy them then it'll be based on their merits or lack thereof and not because I didn't get my fix of "SPLOSIONS".

Errr... what?

Based on your reaction, anyone would think my post said "Stark is an idiot and a poo-brained monkey head, ya ya sucks to you". Not only was I not directing anything at you, I wasn't even thinking about you while I was typing (difficult to believe, I know). The crowd I was referring to are people who prefer the action-packed early episodes to the slow, intimate, quiet ones. I could equally refer to fans of episodes like this one as the drammalamma brigade, entirely for my own amusement. The good thing about BSG is that it makes room for both types of episode, often at the same time. I've never understood why fans of any show feel the need to dictate the pace or plotting of what they're watching to the makers, just like I don't understand music fans who turn on their idols if they don't produce music they expect to hear. I like my Splosions as much as the next man, but I like it that BSG takes time out to explore the fallout away from it.

As to Balthar in this episode, I think Starbuck went to him looking for rational answers, as she challenged him to do in the head. Balthar is not that man anymore however and jumped at the opportunity to use what she gave him to further his own agenda (as he always has). I would say that BSG isn't doing as good a job of filling in the background to character's decisions as it used to back in the day however.

Stark

/me yawns

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Errr... what?

Based on your reaction, anyone would think my post said "Stark is an idiot and a poo-brained monkey head, ya ya sucks to you". Not only was I not directing anything at you, I wasn't even thinking about you while I was typing (difficult to believe, I know). The crowd I was referring to are people who prefer the action-packed early episodes to the slow, intimate, quiet ones. I could equally refer to fans of episodes like this one as the drammalamma brigade, entirely for my own amusement. The good thing about BSG is that it makes room for both types of episode, often at the same time. I've never understood why fans of any show feel the need to dictate the pace or plotting of what they're watching to the makers, just like I don't understand music fans who turn on their idols if they don't produce music they expect to hear. I like my Splosions as much as the next man, but I like it that BSG takes time out to explore the fallout away from it.

Sorry, I thought you were implying more than you did after reading "splosions" and getting confused with a post a different user made in a recent thread:

Cousin it wrote: »

I thought this was a fantastic episode. While some of the negative comments are understandable, I can't help but get the feeling some on here are missing their weekly dose of !!!SPLOSIONS!!! For shame:mad:

I thought that particular example was particularly ignorant as it came after people had gone to the trouble of posting detailed and thoughtful accounts of what they thought was right and wrong with the episode.

noodler

Had to watch a poor stream so will have to watch it again on Tuesday. There are still two full hours left I guess (not including ads) so plenty of time for answers.

Anyone else feel the trailer this week was really misleading? It implied Helo and Tigh were really goingto stick it to Adama about Hera/the ship but both backed down very easily afterwards. Enjoyed las week's a little more and could totally have done without seeing Kara on the pot!

degrassinoel

/me yawns

so, anyone else thinking that anders is gonna be left on galactica before she gets scuttled, jumps it back to where kara died, do the whole disappearing act, and come back with a brand spankin' new galactica and anders just before the finale?

lol maybe not, but hey, ye just never know with BSG...

also, anyone see the old cylon raiders? you know the ones from the original series?
wtf is cavil doing with those relics?

Overheal

I knew I forgot to watch something last night. ****.

Stark

/me yawns

degrassinoel wrote: »

so, anyone else thinking that anders is gonna be left on galactica before she gets scuttled, jumps it back to where kara died, do the whole disappearing act, and come back with a brand spankin' new galactica and anders just before the finale?

lol maybe not, but hey, ye just never know with BSG...

Well last week if you suggested they were going to create a Galactica-Anders hybrid...

Suaimhneach

I'm burning my boxsets

DingChavez wrote: »

Its called "Wander my friends".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx0NSHME4N0

Irish Gaelic Lyrics

Siúlaigí a chairde, siúlaidh liom
Mar cheo an tsléibhe uaine ag
imeacht go deo
D'ainneoin ár dtuirse leanfam an tslí
Thar chnoic is thar ghleannta
go deireadh na scríb'.

Seo libh a chairde is canaidh liom
Líonaigí'n oíche le greann is le spórt
Seo sláinte na gcarad atá imithe uainn
Mar cheo an tsléibhe uaine,
iad imithe go deo

Excellent lyrics!
(Translation)
Wander my friends, wander with me
Like the mist on the green mountain, moving eternally
Despite our weariness,
we'll follow the road
Over hills and valleys
to the end of the journey

Come on my friends and sing with me
Fill the night with joy and sport
Here's a toast to the friends who have gone from us
Like the mist of the green mountain,
gone forever

It's pretty cool that there is Irish music in there, if ya ask me. And not only that, but that they do it well, I've never even had to cringe!

noodler

Its a good track, season 1 ost BTW, but I think the pronunciation of the lyrics is pretty off.


To be expected I guess.

ghouldaddy07

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Episode had some good points such as kara accepting she was dead and anders becoming a hybrid, However I find myself getting impatient with this episode as their is so little BSG left.

Absolute joke not having tyrol feature in the episode after last week.

Also I think the fact they have not even mildly addreassed caprica six and tigh is abit lazy.

The colony was deadly and next week it looks like the **** is gona hit the fan.

Suaimhneach

I'm burning my boxsets

I think the last two hours are going to be so amazing that we're going to be left without words. I think if its anything other than that... well, I dunno what the fck we'll do then...

BlitzKrieg

Galactica = dying leader

I enjoyed it, but there was a bit of feet dragging, the big reveal was them telling everyone else about what we already know (dead karra)

I couldnt help but think of the film Alien when I saw the cylon colony it looked like the inside of the alien ship.

Also the initial image of herra ramming the galactica model into the cylon baseship model could be seen as either two things in my mind

1. A nod to galactica being transferred over to the cylon base ship.

2. A nod to how Galactica is gonna go out in the end. RAMMING SPEED!

or it could mean nothing.

Vokes

/me yawns

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

2. A nod to how Galactica is gonna go out in the end. RAMMING SPEED!

or it could mean nothing.

Indeed, we can but hope

John_C

degrassinoel wrote: »

also, anyone see the old cylon raiders? you know the ones from the original series?

Can anyone remember the state of play with the new raiders during the Cylon civil war? Did they side with Cavil? Maybe the old mechanical raiders are all he has.

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

A nod to how Galactica is gonna go out in the end. RAMMING SPEED!

Did you watch Babylon 5? They had this same scene at least ten times. The captain of a doomed ship would order it to 'ramming speed' and everyone would look stoically towards the camera.

Dr. Baltar

Experiencing severe bowel movements

To be honest I found this episode a little disappointing, especially compared to last week.
Once again, I have to agree with the majority here that I'm a bit concerned about how little tme we truly have left. 3 hours. Think about it. We have 3 hours to find out everything we want to.
The only thing we truly learned from this episode is that Hera can project and Galactica is in an even worse condition than we thought.

I hope to frack that this show ends with guns blazing, our favourite characters in pools of blood and everyone hopeless and crying at the end.

noodler

I have no doubt they CAN cram it all into the 2 full hours (not including adverts) we have left but its hard to understand why they didn't use the other epsiodes a little more.

Maybe when it is all over we will understand. Really can't wait for the DVDs so I can check out the cut scenes from the mutiny.

Calibos

I have a deep and abiding fear that when the final credits roll we'll all be..."FFS!! is that it!!"

As for the ramming speed idea. Well Adama did say, "So we're gonna send her off in style" [With a wry smile]. Completely stripping her of parts and ordinance which they will be doing is not sending her off in style so that can only mean RDM rehashing 1 of 2 things, the Enterprise/Galactica burning up in a blaze of glory in the atmosphere (Cremation) or the Pegasus/Galactica ramming a few Basestars (Self Sacrefice) Both been done, so either way its...Meh

I have a feeling we are going to get a Planet of the Apes end scene, and I don't mean the shocking and yet plausible Original POTA end scene, I mean the "WTF, but, how, who, why, Ehh that doesn't make sense?" Tim burton POTA end scene

Johnny Storm

Experiencing severe bowel movements

I have been underwhelmed by the last two eps too but based on the last 5 (?) years of BSG I have a certain amount of faith that the end will rock!

bobbbb

I'm burning my boxsets

Another crap episode.
This show has completly lost it.

Lucutus

Lee Adama's "Gaius Baltar?" quality.

Starbuck to Baltar: "...the only thing I know for sure...I'm not an angel". one word... durty.

The lighting in the very next scene is great when she visits Anders, the bright white light behind the door as she arrives and then the cylon red lights as she enters the room. That angel/harbinger of death visual contrast was good.

Roslin and Adama share a moment of medicinal goodness, props to Bill for not wasting it *exhales and points* "You're a towel!"

lostexpectation

are they going to use the galactica to ram the cylon place? adama's totally nicking the idea from general skywalker in the latest clone wars?

Sad Professor

I thought this episode was great. I think RDM was smart to keep these final episodes focused on the characters. I know a lot of people would have liked a big dramatic build-up, but big dramatic build-ups don't necessarily make for great finales. DS9 had a great build up to its finale with mediocre and anti-climatic results. Besides, they've already found Earth, what is there to build up to?

I disagree that the finale has a lot of stuff to cram. As I see it there's really only two questions remaining:

1) Who is the third party? (This ties in with the head characters, Kara, Hera, the Opera House, everything, and doesn't require a spoon-fed explanation. The more ambiguous this is the better imo. We want something to talk about afterwards.)

2) What happens to everyone?

3) Oh and the obligatory space battle which I could take or leave tbh.

I don't see any reason why this can't be comfortably wrapped up in (the equivalent of) 3 episodes.

And according to Bear McCreary's blog, it looks like this episode, Disquiet and Daybreak will be getting extended versions for the dvd.

bobbbb

I'm burning my boxsets

The only excuse for these last few dire episodes is that in final episodes most of them meet spectacular ends.

There better be deaths a plenty in the next 2 episodes.

And please do not let the writers on this series ever write again.

noodler

Sad Professor wrote: »

I thought this episode was great. I think RDM was smart to keep these final episodes focused on the characters. I know a lot of people would have liked a big dramatic build-up, but big dramatic build-ups don't necessarily make for great finales. DS9 had a great build up to its finale with mediocre and anti-climatic results. Besides, they've already found Earth, what is there to build up to?

I disagree that the finale has a lot of stuff to cram. As I see it there's really only two questions remaining:

1) Who is the third party? (This ties in with the head characters, Kara, Hera, the Opera House, everything, and doesn't require a spoon-fed explanation. The more ambiguous this is the better imo. We want something to talk about afterwards.)

2) What happens to everyone?

3) Oh and the obligatory space battle which I could take or leave tbh.

I don't see any reason why this can't be comfortably wrapped up in (the equivalent of) 3 episodes.

And according to Bear McCreary's blog, it looks like this episode, Disquiet and Daybreak will be getting extended versions for the dvd.

Your number 1 there is about 5 things though.

What is Kara and why is she the harbinger? Is it for something she did or will do?

The head characters? Head Baltar, Head six, head Daniel (presumably?). Are they all the same basic entity? I mean this third element really throws things up in the air regarding th whole "all this will happen again scenario" because it means it is only happening now with the interference of some kind of god like presence.

Then theres the Opera House, what makes Roslin so special that she can go there?

Will the Chief find out that Tory killed Cally? I presume not at this stage.

Yada yada yada.

They can't or won't spoonfeed everything obviously.

Ivan

/me yawns

Galactica is looking to be more and more like the "Dying Leader" to me. She'll, with Anders help, lead them to Earth 2.0 just before her end.

Would love it to go that way or something similar, anyways

Stark

/me yawns

John_C wrote: »

Can anyone remember the state of play with the new raiders during the Cylon civil war? Did they side with Cavil? Maybe the old mechanical raiders are all he has.

I'm guessing most of the raiders would have sided with the rebel cylons. Cavil would have had the lobotomized raiders though.

Sad Professor

noodler wrote: »

Your number 1 there is about 5 things though.

Yeah I know but I think all those questions you listed lead to the same conclusion: there's a third party — not the humans, not the cylons, not bloody Daniel — that is interfering/orchestrating events. Or at least certain events. So it's really only one thing.

I think Kara's father was possibly a member of this third party. And that she may have already fulfilled her harbinger status by leading everyone to nuked Earth. The fleet would have been better off if they never found that place, it almost destroyed them all. But at the same time maybe it was a necessary part of their journey to the true "promised land".

The head-characters are also members of this third party. My theory is that while they aren't orchestrating everything, they are responsible for the cycle. Without their interference man and machine would have destroyed each other completely eons ago. Their inference ensures that something (Hera) survives. This allows the cycle to start again but it also provides the hope that the humans might one day learn from their mistakes and break the cycle.

Once it's properly revealed that this third party exists and is connected to all these things, then that's a lot of the mystery wrapped up imo.

noodler

One more thing for all you people hinting at a happy ending.

Olmos did say it would be very dark and they would be left with almost nothing months ago.

Vokes

/me yawns

Sure, thats where they are now the past few episodes. A very dark place.

Nowhere to go.

Seemingly the future of the human / cylon race (i.e. Hera) missing.

Soon no Battlestar to protect the Fleet.

Very little food left it seems.

And no toothpaste :eek:

I reckon will see some sort of bittersweet ending. Before finding EArth 2.0 / Promised Land, I reckon Baltar will die redeeming himself in someway of his part in the events of the miniseries, and Adama / Saul to go down with their ship saving the Fleet. That's my guess anyway.

CiDeRmAn

Orgasmic

I liked the oldstyle Cylon raiders at Cavils facility,
Also liked to see that Gaius' messianic trip isn't quite over yet, beginning to think he had turned decent, not a chance.

The relationship between Bill and Saul is one of the best realised I have ever seen, fantastic, over the last couple of years we have seen the old man and Tighe in their ups and downs, and here, near then end we see just how close they are, closer than brothers, but not in a "share a shower" kinda way!

Roll on the finale, 3 eps long, will it answer everything?
Hope so, but probably not,
To the poster here that says Anders is going to pilot the Galactica to the promised land, leading the fleet there and dying itself in the process, I reckon he is right on the money.

As for Kara Thrace, she's far too hot to be the harbringer of doom, far to hot...

DeepBlue

Experiencing severe bowel movements

Bill Adama wrote:

I've had it up to here with destiny, prophecy, with God or the gods. Look where it's left us: the ass-end of nowhere.

Bill Adama gives us a succinct review of S3 and S4 of BSG :pac:.

noodler

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

I liked the oldstyle Cylon raiders at Cavils facility,
Also liked to see that Gaius' messianic trip isn't quite over yet, beginning to think he had turned decent, not a chance.

The relationship between Bill and Saul is one of the best realised I have ever seen, fantastic, over the last couple of years we have seen the old man and Tighe in their ups and downs, and here, near then end we see just how close they are, closer than brothers, but not in a "share a shower" kinda way!

Roll on the finale, 3 eps long, will it answer everything?
Hope so, but probably not,
To the poster here that says Anders is going to pilot the Galactica to the promised land, leading the fleet there and dying itself in the process, I reckon he is right on the money.

As for Kara Thrace, she's far too hot to be the harbringer of doom, far to hot...

Even sitting on the jacks?

Suaimhneach

I'm burning my boxsets

I dunno. She was hotter back in the day. A lil' too much crazy for her to be as hot. She's a bad ass though, so I guess that's good. I dunno.

theram

Orgasmic

Anyone else think that when they say "Kara Thrace is the harbringer of doom", they might be referring to her bringing doom on the CYLONS and not humanity?

Volvagia

/me yawns

theram wrote: »

Anyone else think that when they say "Kara Thrace is the harbringer of doom", they might be referring to her bringing doom on the CYLONS and not humanity?

Yes, she brought death to the cylons by ending resurrection. I think she's already fulfilled her role.