SBSG #8 – Free Will and Forgiveness
Jeff and Zina wrap up a discussion of the episode Relevelations. How is free will exercised among the Cylons? Is Saul Tigh asking for forgiveness when he confesses to Adama? What do you see when you freeze frame the FTL jumps?
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What has happened to this excellent podcast?
Jeff/Zina,
Excellent show, I just stumbled across it last night and have been burning through podcasts today (instead of working). I have a couple of comments/questions about some of your theories, mostly concerning your prediction of Karl Agathon as the 5th Cylon. I’m on the fence, b/c Helo is my favorite character by far and I’d hate to see him turn out to be a Cylon, but you do bring up several valid points. But now the questions…
If Helo is the 5th cylon, then why wasn’t he “activated” with the other four? It seems to me that if he was indeed a cylon, he would’ve been drawn to the others at the end of season 3. Or are you implying that he is fundamentally different from both the Sig 7 and the other 4? If he was indeed different from both other types, then what would be the point? Some as yet unrevealed secret agenda? If he is a cylon, does that mean he’s in the same type of mold as Anders, a type of protector, since he’s also holding Athena in the ‘last supper’ and his name doesn’t have the letter T in it?
I guess I always imagined that the fifth cylon would kinda come walking up to them on the beach of the possible Earth and reveal himself as the last cylon, and had stayed behind as a type of homing beacon for the other 4. Perhaps the 12th cylon expected them to get there sooner, but some unforeseen accident happened to cause the other 4 to lose their memories, thus delaying the search for Earth and causing the nuclear holocaust to not be averted? Kinda lame perhaps, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice
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What I always liked about Helo is that he was always in favor of doing the right thing, even at the cost of something else, something that was also important. By not allowing the genocide of the Cylons he did of course save their race, but I always saw it as also saving the human race from themselves. Helo represents the best of humanity through his unflagging love for Athena, his aversion to committing genocide, his helping of the refugees (The Woman King) the way that Laura represented humanity at its lowest point during the first half of Season 4.
I realize RM is a shifty guy and perpetually lies about the show to keep us guessing, but it seems to me that by saying the cylon wasn’t in the ‘last supper’ picture, and having D’Anna say that the 5th cylon wasn’t in the fleet, only to turn around and say that it’s Helo would be a bit disappointing.
On a completely random note, I always saw Tyrol’s reaction to his detention during “Revelations” as relief. He was tired of pretending, tired of feeling guilty, tired of life, and I thought that he saw his arrest as a way of ending it all. Sort of a personal release from his private Hell. Just like Anders tried to fight it b/c it meant that he was now everything Kara despised and it would be harder for him to protect her. Just some random thoughts.
Overall, I really love your podcast, and y’all are doing an excellent job. Your analysis of the photo, the theme of 3, all really impressed me. Great job, and keep it up while I finish up listening to SBSG #’s 9&10.