Saturday, October 28, 2006

BY YOUR COMMAND, IMPERIOUS LEADER: Is it just me, or were the "current events" political analogies last season a whole heck of a lot subtler, more penumbral and ambivalent?

(Hint: No. It is not just me.)

Nonetheless, unlike some out there who are not going to get a link for projecting their political agenda onto my favorite escapist drama, I am unconcerned about what the writers and producers of Battlestar Galactica "might be trying to say" about current events. These are interesting portraits of interesting personalities under extreme physical, social and psychological stresses; stresses that often involve sex and explosions. It does not matter whether they're "on your side" in real life. Just sit back and enjoy the hottness. If hottness makes you uncomfortable, then sublimate and enjoy the explosions. It is not that difficult. There is no need to import a contemporary political agenda to enjoy this show.

Of course art holds a mirror up to life and of course anything that resonates with a broad audience will reflect our times in one way or another, but for pete's sake do not waste another pixel trying to "figure out" if the Cylons are liberal or conservative. Is Baltar supposed to be Dennis Hastert? Or is it Gaeta? Is Colonel Tigh supposed to be Mullah Omar... or John McCain?

NO. SHUT UP. I'M TRYING TO WATCH TV.

Attention dorks: Your political fantasies and your fantasy fantasies need not be congruent. They need not be compatible. They are separate things. It is not my fault that you suspend disbelief in order to subscribe to a congenial political agenda, or that you are insufficiently complicated to separate that suspension from the one which you employ to enjoy this show. Just suspend again. It is a different thing.

*ahem*

Yeah, so anyway, this week Tigh is getting his white whale on and Starbuck is getting her damaged goods on and The Chief is getting his everyman on. Baltar's being judged by the Cylons (jury of seven, not twelve -- interesting?) just as the humans judge each other. Rosalyn is the prexy again and stay tuned for truth and reconcilliation.

If we are lucky the Cylons will attack before the hearings start.

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