BSG Webisode #4

[lls_mutant]

falafel_musings has been saying that "Sweet 8" (As Jane Espenson calls her, if you listen to the writer commentary) is a Mrs. Reynolds character. I in no way disagree with her, but I hold her fully responsible for where my brain goes.

When I saw that New Caprica flashback, and Felix writing out the list, Wash and Kaylee were under the pilot's console in Serenity, saying "She humped us. She humped us hard."

She frakked him. And she frakked him hard.

I am now 90% sure that she took that list of names and gave it to the Cavils. And maybe Felix doesn't realize that she did that yet- maybe he's had some serious denial issues going, because he doesn't seem to be hating her- but by the end of these webisodes, he will realize it. Sweet 8 my ass. She was totally doing him on New Caprica to get information out of him.

Somewhere, someone's also proposed the theory that she's taking him to Cavil. I'm liking this theory more and more. Would also write itself nicely into why she had to kill off a sister 8, if the pilot was pro-human alliance.

And "I'll tell you my bright idea when they're all asleep"? Okay, I can kind of rationalize that, because if she convinces him and they present a united front, the others are much more likely to listen. But Felix, dear, she's PSYCHO. Granted, he seemed like he was pretty wary of her- not antagonistic, but not (erm) jumping up and down about the idea, either.) But still.

BTW- did anyone else think that Gaeta was moving pretty easily? Like maybe Juliani had both feet on the floor? ;)

And Hoshi has Racetrack with him. It is inevitable, now he will most definitely find Felix. Maybe he'll even get a first name!



Now. daybreak777, and anyone else who doesn't want to be spoiled, click out NOW. I'm gonna talk about the writer's commentary.






I think Jane Espenson thought that the commentaries were going to air on the DVDs or something, after people had seen the whole series. Because dude, she basically told us who the killer is. Granted, I had expected that. She's been my pick from the beginning. But it will be interesting to see exactly why she does it.

But more interesting to me is what the implications are going to be. Okay, I think we can all figure out that Felix will make it back to the Fleet. He hasn't had time to make his "restaurants shaped like food" speech, yet. And I bring that up for a reason, actually. (I've talked about this before.) In that clip, Gaeta talks about how he wants people to know who he is. Clearly, Scifi.com wants us all to go "oooh! He's a Cylon!" But to me, it's Gaeta saying he doesn't want to die and be forgotten, or for people not to understand him.

Gaeta's been brushed aside a lot, and while I think that's partly a time issue, I think it's also become deliberate on the part of the writers. The singing in "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" was meant to be so solitary and lonely... (of course, they didn't know that Gaeta had Hoshi, but I guess Hoshi's off doing Gaeta's job. Easy enough to fanwank. Plus, they really only showed him over a very short span of time.) But I've also been trying to figure out how this cuts back into the regular series. Because you can't do too much development in the webisodes.

So, Hoshi and Racetrack find a bloody Gaeta in the Raptor. A Cylon has killed humans, and a human has killed a Cylon. (I assume.) Unless open bloodshed is normal in the Cylon-human alliance, this really should do a number on it, wouldn't you think? Which means... what? They aren't going to come out and say, "Remember when we found Gaeta all bloody on the Raptor?" And obviously, they aren't going to believe that Gaeta killed those people himself. But you can't just allude to an event that sparks off division in your ranks like that. Which tells me that Adama and Tigh are going to cover this up but good. And Gaeta, who was probably nearly killed by a Cylon, is going to be PISSED.

That's my prediction, anyway. Thus making it obvious why he's willing to go over to the Zarek side (aside from Zarek being his father figure that will later blackmail him). I also still like the theory that Hoshi will go over, too. In the commentary, JE mentioned that they originally wanted Narcho for Gaeta's lover. But the actor wasn't available, so they went with Hoshi instead. Then she commented that Hoshi actually worked out better anyway in terms of Season 4 storytelling. Now, I don't think (given what she's said) that we're going to see much- if anything at all- about Gaeta and Hoshi, at least, not overtly. (I don't know when the webisodes were being conceived. It's possible, if they were conceived before the show wrapped, that something small was slipped in.) But if you need warm military bodies to fill out Zarek's side, Hoshi is a prime candidate. He's recognizable (well, vaguely, if you haven't seen the webisodes), and he's given no big shows of loyalty to Adama's side. I think we're going to see Hoshi go over to Zarek's side- and bite it sometime in there- and that's what she means by Hoshi worked out better. That Hoshi doing all that (going over and dying) was already planned and written, but knowing that he and Gaeta were lovers then adds an extra layer to both their motivations.

Although knowing they originally wanted Narcho has been inspiring me to write a how-Gaeta-and-Narcho would have gone story (which, believe me, is shaping up MUCH different than I picture Gaeta and Hoshi), and also, in a separate, Youth's Final Luxury universe, making me TOTALLY hook up Hoshi and Narcho as exes that split several years before the attacks. Dee was going to get some general info about Hoshi from his files, but I think it's more fun and active to have Narcho give it to her. (Although I have to say, I have a harder time picturing Narcho searching for Gaeta. He's been presented mainly as a jerk through the series. It would have given his character other facets, which I could totally see, but Gaeta and Narcho just don't seem very compatible. Gaeta/Hoshi... I can buy that much easier. Gaeta is such a total geek. I love him, but he is. Hoshi seems like the more likely partner for him.)



Okay. Done babbling now. Should make caramels or something.

Comments

[trovia.livejournal.com]

They contemplated Hot Dog/Gaeta, too! But no, wait. I've written that story already. Go ahead with the Narcho!what if, then :).

I fully agree on all your speculations, so I don't really have anything to say. I just think it's funny how everybody was wary of that Eight immediately. Just call somebody "sweet", and all the fans will listen up in dread. :D

[acchikocchi.livejournal.com]

They contemplated Hot Dog/Gaeta, too! But no, wait. I've written that story already.

*whispers* I'm on the last part of your story and omg, I WISH THEY HAD DONE THAT. *_*

[trovia.livejournal.com]

Yaih! Let me know what you think when you're through :)

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

After all my panic and moaning, I actually LIKE the Felix/Eight thing! I think the writers are using this story to emphasise Felix's defining characteristic - that Felix trusts people, he believes in people, then he gets screwed by those same people. And his ideals burst into flames.

This has happened to Felix so many times before - with Baltar, with the Circle, with the Demetrius crew, with Roslin and Adama, etc. Adding the Eight story is just another example of the same thing. I think the writers are just adding another reason for Felix to join the revolt in S4.5 (personally, I don't think he needed another reason, but still...)

I think it makes sense that Felix would put his trust in a Sharon. He was obviously friends with Boomer and he was also one of the first people to start trusting Athena. In 'Flight of the Phoenix' when everyone else is scowling at Athena, Felix is polite and supportive, he calls her Sharon, etc. He naturally sees the Eight models (all of them) as his friend. Personally I don't think they needed to make it a romance on New Caprica. I think that's pushing it. But I'm just going to contextualise that as Felix being on the rebound and jealous over Baltar/Caprica. I don't believe that Felix was 'in love' with the Eight. But if the Eight represented Gaeta's hopes of helping his people I can imagine that hope would blind him.

BTW - "our little secret" and "pity-frak"??? Are these more lines from the intense Baltar/Gaeta scene? OMG. I think that my ship might be canon after all. This is sooo messed up!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I'm finding the Felix/Eight thing a little redundant, actually. I know I'm biased, but I think it might have been better for them to go into reasons why he trusts Tom instead of reasons why he distrusts the Cylons. Build him up more for his final fall, rather than torture the poor guy some more.

But like I said, TOTALLY biased :)

I was just mentioning my bets on the pity frak line are to Dee. I think he's going to get annoyed with Dee's pity- and they're going to end up on opposite sides already, with Dee supporting Adama and Gaeta supporting Zarek- so they're going to have a big fight and that's what he's going to yell at her when she storms off.

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

Personally I think it makes sense for Gaeta to be anti-cylon and anti-administration rather than pro-Zarek. In canon I still have big issues with Zarek because of the Circle I hope they address with Felix is willing to side with Zarek even though this man signed his death warrant.

I was just mentioning my bets on the pity frak line are to Dee. I think he's going to get annoyed with Dee's pity- and they're going to end up on opposite sides already, with Dee supporting Adama and Gaeta supporting Zarek- so they're going to have a big fight and that's what he's going to yell at her when she storms off.

Maybe. But I would argue that the Felix-Dee relationship isn't such a big deal in canon that they need to have a fight/break up scene. Also I don't expect Felix to have THAT many scenes. We know Felix having scenes with Zarek and Baltar. So unless we hear about Felix-Dee scenes too, I not expecting more than that.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Heh- I seem to be the only one without issues with the Circle. Zarek was a few steps removed, I can work with it. (At least from the actual execution site.)

That's a good point about Felix-Dee not being a big deal in canon. Have you seen the promo pics for the first episode, though? Dee's all dolled up for someone. I'm dying to know who. I mean, maybe it's just a party that they got to Earth before they discovered it was a radioactive wasteland, or a flashback with Lee, or something with Lee, but she could be set to try to seduce Gaeta. (Although I'm assuming it would horribly fail, if JE even THOUGHT of giving Gaeta a boyfriend at this point in time. I also kind of think Dee would know about it- especially given that it's Hoshi. I know it's fanon, but wouldn't it make sense for Dee to know that Gaeta and Hoshi are together?????)

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

Actually...I really don't know. The second time listening Gaeta's voice sounds quite light-hearted. It's either a crazy moment or it's genuinely a joke.

I don't see the logic in Dee suddenly attempting to seduce Gaeta. It would make me dislike her character again (like I disliked her over the Billy/Lee) story.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

It sounds light hearted but mocking. Which actually goes well with the Starbuck idea. The idea of Felix EVER sleeping with Kara just doesn't gel with me. I really don't think they ever liked each other.

Did you ever finish that anti-Dee/Gaeta story you were talking about? I'd love to see it if you did.

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

Dee/Felix Fic (you might as well read it!)

----------------------------------

She got to keep the house.

When Dee thought about it she hadn’t done badly out of her souring marriage. Yes, there were perks to being the wife of the CAG, the Admiral’s own son. Unlike the other junior officers she didn’t have to sleep in a crowded dormitory with nothing but a thin black curtain for privacy. The Old Man had let her to keep the spacious living quarters she and Lee had once shared. He always had a soft spot for her. Dee valued the comfort this room afforded her, but she hated its solitude. This room was becoming a sad shrine to her cleaving love for Lee Adama. She needed to find somebody else to fill it.

“I…I didn’t think we would be sharing a bed…” Felix muttered.

Her guest was huddled at the far side of the mattress. Dee only had the idea to invite Felix up to share her quarters after he had been released from sick bay, limping into the CIC like a crippled dog. She hadn’t visited him. She hadn’t sat by his bedside, weeping and clinging to his hand. Felix was her friend. They had worked together long enough to be close friends. But when Dee heard about the singing and the trauma she had felt so uncomfortable. She was sorry for what had happened to Felix, but it wasn’t her problem. Dee didn’t make it her problem until she saw an opportunity.

“You need somewhere more comfortable, more private…” Dee told him. “Just tell me if there’s anything else you need help with. That’s what friends are for, right?”

Felix nodded, seeming thankful but a little confused. Dee was sitting on the edge on the mattress. She had stripped down to her vest and shorts. Felix was still wearing most of his uniform. The blankets were bunched around what remained of his right leg. It seemed like he was trying to hide it from her, like she might recoil from him in horror. Dee wanted to laugh thinking of the months she had slept beside the bloated wreck of her overweight husband. She had let him put his chubby hands on her every night even when she was repulsed by what he had become.

Dee shook off the memory and climbed into bed beside Felix. She hadn’t kissed Felix yet, but she intended to before the evening was out. Dee knew she wasn’t attracted to him. Well, she had never felt that way for Billy either. When the cylons had attacked the colonies and the world came crashing down around her, kissing Billy had been like falling into a safety net. Billy was shy and needy. He was willing. It had just been so easy. This really didn't feel so different.

Felix was still staring at the wall. Dee wished that he would look at her the way Billy used to look at her. Dee was his friend and Felix didn’t have many friends. At the back of her mind she knew he prefered men, even if he was never open about it. That first man he loved had hurt him so deeply. Dee didn’t even want to think about what had happened between Felix and Baltar. She wanted to forget that Felix liked men just like she tried to forget that Lee loved Kara. Maybe Felix could make himself to forget too?

Felix’s crouches were resting against the table on the far side of the room. He wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed unless Dee brought them for him. She realised that this was exactly why she chose him. Felix was exactly what she needed.

A man who couldn’t walk away.

[trovia.livejournal.com]

She realised that this was exactly why she chose him. Felix was exactly what she needed.

OMG, you gave Dee an amputee kink! I read about that kind of thing when I researched my recovery!fic. It's scary. I know the amputees think it's scary; that makes it scary for me. But, it works. That really isn't a nice Dee (it's more scary than it should be because I know there are people like this). It's weird how I can accept Dee being creepy, and Dee being nice, too. Yours is definetely scary.

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

This is why I haven't posted the fic. I think Dee comes off as very unpleasant and - honestly - I do like Dee! I just dislike love-interest!Dee and have done ever since her fickle Billy/Lee change over. This is just a fic to clarify why I'm so against a Dee/Felix romance. I just don't like the implications.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that is rather creepy! I quite like it. And desperately want to hug Felix. But not like that ;)

[falafel-musings.livejournal.com]

Errm, that should be 'crutches' not 'crouches'. Damn typos!

[trovia.livejournal.com]

I'm finding the Felix/Eight thing a little redundant, actually. I know I'm biased, but I think it might have been better for them to go into reasons why he trusts Tom instead of reasons why he distrusts the Cylons.

Well, I'm not biased (I think) and I find it a little redundant, too. I'm wondering whether Gaeta being in love is more of a misinterpretation by Grace Park than anything else. Gaeta doesn't appear very smitten to me. We'll see. I feel I'm refusing to have an opinion before seeing all of the webisodes. It's so hard to judge half of a story.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering that, too. I mean, four months isn't really enough time to fall in love (in the real world), especially when your partner is your overlord. I could believe a hefty case of Stockholm's, though.