One of the books I was reading tonight with Toby has the strangest line in it. It's a non-fiction book about trucks, and we were reading about box trailers. According to this book, box trailers can be used to carry things like "toys, books, and stoves." (This book is aimed at the 4-8 year old set.) Toys and books I get. But how random is STOVES?
This isn't the point of the post, but does anyone happen to know if Remix is happening this year?
In her review post about the finale,
falafel_musings suggested a change that I thought was really interesting. And I started thinking about, with complete retrospect, how I would fit that into the series. (Also,
falafel_musings, I'll beta your piece as soon as I get this OUT OF MY HEAD.)
She mentioned how awesome it would have been to see Admiral Dualla as opposed to Admiral Hoshi. And honestly? The more I thought about it, the more I agree. Which led to my new outline.
1.) So, if Dee is taking Hoshi's place, Hoshi should take Dee's, right? Oooh, yes, right! I mean, I get what they were trying to say with Dee's suicide, but let's face it- it sure as hell didn't impact Lee's arc much. Adama's would have been similarly impacted with anyone he cared about doing that. The person it affected the most was Gaeta.
2.) So, in order to get us to care, we need to a.) know more about Hoshi, and b.) know more about him and Gaeta. In that interest, here's what I would have done:
-Sometime during "Torn" or "Measure of Salvation", show Gaeta sitting alone in the mess hall, clearly isolated from everyone he used to be friends with. Have Pegasus guys approach (obviously, my favorites include Narcho, Stinger, and Hoshi, not the Sunshine Boys) and join him. Actually engage in conversation.
-After the Baltar-is-alive reveal, have Gaeta talk to Hoshi specifically. Establish Hoshi as a good listener who is obviously caring about Gaeta.
-Sometime during the algae planet, get them together. It doesn't need to be a big scene or a big deal. They clearly have a lot in common professionally, there's no baggage between them, and it's not hard to do the guy-meets-guy thing.
-Taking a Break- have Hoshi in bed with him when Gaeta wakes up at the beginning. A shot or two of them in the background at the bar. A little bit of potential aftermath after the stabbing, where you can see Hoshi realizes that Gaeta's still not over Baltar. Doesn't have to be addressed between them, but make it clear Hoshi knows.
-The Woman King. THIS is the big one. This episode didn't have to suck has hard as it did, and I really think the reason it DOES suck is because Helo went so morally righteous earlier. Keep the same general plot, but change the players. Give Gaeta Helo's part- he's stuck down in Dogtown because of the pen incident. Give Hoshi Athena's part. And bring in Tom Zarek. This accomplishes a lot. You can really show some of the dynamics in the Gaeta/Hoshi relationship, including some arguments that get resolved (and maybe some nice barbs about Baltar). You can set up the Gaeta-Zarek relationship. It makes sense Gaeta would confide in him, given that they did know each other on New Caprica and Tom is a highly placed Saggitaron. Zarek believes Gaeta, and bumps heads some more with Adama/Roslin, and it seems REASONABLE on Adama and Roslin's part not to really listen. Resolve it the same way, but no one gets a pat on the head, and you can increase tension between Adama-Gaeta and Roslin-Zarek.
-A Day in the Life. totally keep the Dee-Gaeta deleted scene. But also, instead of interminable flashbacks to Carol, maybe add in a single Hoshi-Adama scene. Something where it's clear a good professional relationship is forming, and make it clear that Adama actually likes Hoshi.
-Most of the rest of Season 3 would stay the same, but insert Hoshi a little more, especially with Gaeta.
-Six of One- give Gaeta and Hoshi a goodbye scene.
-Actually use Dee every now and then in Season 4 :)
-During the Demetrius mission, use this opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Hoshi and Adama. Doesn't have to be big, but a conversation here and there. At some point, have Adama say something about liking Hoshi.
-Also during this, a conversation between Dee and Hoshi about Felix being absent, and that Hoshi's finding it hard to not be able to even communicate with him. Dee assures him they'll get through it when Felix gets back. He smiles and believes her.
-Sometime after Demetrius, a short scene with Gaeta and Hoshi, showing that their relationship is REALLY changed, but making it look like they'll make it through.
-In Revelations, have Hoshi (and Gaeta, because that still baffles me) in the landing party.
-Sometimes a Great Notion, Hoshi's last perfect day. Puts things in order in the CIC, hangs out with the Pegasus pilots, actually manages to have sex with Gaeta for the first time since the amputation. They get up, get dressed, and Gaeta starts out for duty. Hoshi watches him go, looks at the pictures in his locker- one of him and Gaeta, one of him, Cain, and her XO, and one of his parents. Door closes, he picks up the gun and blows his brains out. Dee and Felix find him. Adama grieves and realizes that it was one of his "kids", albeit that Hoshi came late.
-Webisodes: Dee searches for Felix, getting Tigh to let her go because she says he's been shit on enough and damn it, someone should at least TRY to do something for him. Tigh has to admit that this is the case.
-A Disquiet Follows My Soul: Dee and Felix argue about Zarek, and the relationship that Felix has with him. Dee still hates Zarek, Felix respects him. They storm off angry at each other, neatly keeps Dee away while Felix is planning his mutiny.
-During the mutiny, Felix has Dee led off to the brig.
-Mutiny goes exactly the same, but now that we've seen Gaeta actually hanging out with Narcho, his choice of second makes more sense. Killed with Zarek at the end.
-Sometime during one of the wasteland episodes, Dee does have a conversation with Adama, saying she understands why he did what he did, but she desperately misses Felix and wishes he didn't have to. Adama tells her that's what makes hard decisions hard, but that's what you have to do when you're a leader. Remember that.
-Daybreak: Dee basically gets all the same lines as Hoshi. But it's a hell of a lot more moving when Lee says "President of the Colonies, Admiral of the Fleet" and then salutes her. And Lee is so, so, so proud of her, just like she's proud of him. They look at each other with complete respect.
See?
falafel_musings is totally right. :)
Okay. Off to beta.
This isn't the point of the post, but does anyone happen to know if Remix is happening this year?
In her review post about the finale,
She mentioned how awesome it would have been to see Admiral Dualla as opposed to Admiral Hoshi. And honestly? The more I thought about it, the more I agree. Which led to my new outline.
1.) So, if Dee is taking Hoshi's place, Hoshi should take Dee's, right? Oooh, yes, right! I mean, I get what they were trying to say with Dee's suicide, but let's face it- it sure as hell didn't impact Lee's arc much. Adama's would have been similarly impacted with anyone he cared about doing that. The person it affected the most was Gaeta.
2.) So, in order to get us to care, we need to a.) know more about Hoshi, and b.) know more about him and Gaeta. In that interest, here's what I would have done:
-Sometime during "Torn" or "Measure of Salvation", show Gaeta sitting alone in the mess hall, clearly isolated from everyone he used to be friends with. Have Pegasus guys approach (obviously, my favorites include Narcho, Stinger, and Hoshi, not the Sunshine Boys) and join him. Actually engage in conversation.
-After the Baltar-is-alive reveal, have Gaeta talk to Hoshi specifically. Establish Hoshi as a good listener who is obviously caring about Gaeta.
-Sometime during the algae planet, get them together. It doesn't need to be a big scene or a big deal. They clearly have a lot in common professionally, there's no baggage between them, and it's not hard to do the guy-meets-guy thing.
-Taking a Break- have Hoshi in bed with him when Gaeta wakes up at the beginning. A shot or two of them in the background at the bar. A little bit of potential aftermath after the stabbing, where you can see Hoshi realizes that Gaeta's still not over Baltar. Doesn't have to be addressed between them, but make it clear Hoshi knows.
-The Woman King. THIS is the big one. This episode didn't have to suck has hard as it did, and I really think the reason it DOES suck is because Helo went so morally righteous earlier. Keep the same general plot, but change the players. Give Gaeta Helo's part- he's stuck down in Dogtown because of the pen incident. Give Hoshi Athena's part. And bring in Tom Zarek. This accomplishes a lot. You can really show some of the dynamics in the Gaeta/Hoshi relationship, including some arguments that get resolved (and maybe some nice barbs about Baltar). You can set up the Gaeta-Zarek relationship. It makes sense Gaeta would confide in him, given that they did know each other on New Caprica and Tom is a highly placed Saggitaron. Zarek believes Gaeta, and bumps heads some more with Adama/Roslin, and it seems REASONABLE on Adama and Roslin's part not to really listen. Resolve it the same way, but no one gets a pat on the head, and you can increase tension between Adama-Gaeta and Roslin-Zarek.
-A Day in the Life. totally keep the Dee-Gaeta deleted scene. But also, instead of interminable flashbacks to Carol, maybe add in a single Hoshi-Adama scene. Something where it's clear a good professional relationship is forming, and make it clear that Adama actually likes Hoshi.
-Most of the rest of Season 3 would stay the same, but insert Hoshi a little more, especially with Gaeta.
-Six of One- give Gaeta and Hoshi a goodbye scene.
-Actually use Dee every now and then in Season 4 :)
-During the Demetrius mission, use this opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Hoshi and Adama. Doesn't have to be big, but a conversation here and there. At some point, have Adama say something about liking Hoshi.
-Also during this, a conversation between Dee and Hoshi about Felix being absent, and that Hoshi's finding it hard to not be able to even communicate with him. Dee assures him they'll get through it when Felix gets back. He smiles and believes her.
-Sometime after Demetrius, a short scene with Gaeta and Hoshi, showing that their relationship is REALLY changed, but making it look like they'll make it through.
-In Revelations, have Hoshi (and Gaeta, because that still baffles me) in the landing party.
-Sometimes a Great Notion, Hoshi's last perfect day. Puts things in order in the CIC, hangs out with the Pegasus pilots, actually manages to have sex with Gaeta for the first time since the amputation. They get up, get dressed, and Gaeta starts out for duty. Hoshi watches him go, looks at the pictures in his locker- one of him and Gaeta, one of him, Cain, and her XO, and one of his parents. Door closes, he picks up the gun and blows his brains out. Dee and Felix find him. Adama grieves and realizes that it was one of his "kids", albeit that Hoshi came late.
-Webisodes: Dee searches for Felix, getting Tigh to let her go because she says he's been shit on enough and damn it, someone should at least TRY to do something for him. Tigh has to admit that this is the case.
-A Disquiet Follows My Soul: Dee and Felix argue about Zarek, and the relationship that Felix has with him. Dee still hates Zarek, Felix respects him. They storm off angry at each other, neatly keeps Dee away while Felix is planning his mutiny.
-During the mutiny, Felix has Dee led off to the brig.
-Mutiny goes exactly the same, but now that we've seen Gaeta actually hanging out with Narcho, his choice of second makes more sense. Killed with Zarek at the end.
-Sometime during one of the wasteland episodes, Dee does have a conversation with Adama, saying she understands why he did what he did, but she desperately misses Felix and wishes he didn't have to. Adama tells her that's what makes hard decisions hard, but that's what you have to do when you're a leader. Remember that.
-Daybreak: Dee basically gets all the same lines as Hoshi. But it's a hell of a lot more moving when Lee says "President of the Colonies, Admiral of the Fleet" and then salutes her. And Lee is so, so, so proud of her, just like she's proud of him. They look at each other with complete respect.
See?
Okay. Off to beta.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:31 am (UTC)edit: I'm retarded- what's this Remix of which you speak?
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:44 am (UTC)I think Dee was the right choice to commit suicide. It was a bit of a catalyst for Gaeta snapping (one of many), but I think more importantly, she was a representation of the utter and sheer devastation of finding Earth in shambles. No one represents broken dreams like Dee, who has dreams broken as far back as...that one where D'Anna is filming her and that feeling we get about how she wishes she'd gotten the chance to fix things with her father. Then the romance she had with Lee being more of a wishful thing that she'd like to believe.
I don't think you'd get that representation with Hoshi, even knowing more. He's a Pegasus officer, so he hasn't been part of the Earth Hoo-rah since day 1.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:51 am (UTC)Remix is a challenge where you take other people's stories and rewrite them. It's a pretty cool challenge, but apparently it's a real bitch to run and I have a bad feeling that between the stress of it and real life, the regular mod might not be running it this year. (NOT that I blame her- it's one of the biggest fic challenges on the web.) But if it's not run this year, I might see if I can get people willing to do a BSG Remix, because it's my favorite challenge.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:56 am (UTC)Dee definitely worked, and I agree with you about the broken dreams aspect. I guess that's why I would have liked Admiral Dee- she finally got something to go right.
It's interesting, because in some ways Hoshi seemed to me to be a mesh of Gaeta and Dee. Similar job, and he seemed to have similar professional traits to Gaeta, but the same gentleness and hope that characterized Dee. I really like to think that eventually, the three of them were good friends :)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:00 am (UTC)I think there may already be a BSG-specific remix - at least, someone emailed me asking if they could use the basic rules from Remix for their challenge. I think it was
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:04 am (UTC)Oh, cool! I'd like to see someone remix my
crapstuff. XDno subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:22 am (UTC)And you know, maybe Hoshi as a mix of Gaeta and Dee was in a sense giving both of them their due at once.
500 people, yikes! That would be a lot of work to run.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:23 am (UTC)I'll have to keep an eye out for a BSG remix, given that's the fandom I want to write in, anyway ;) Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:24 am (UTC)The big remix challenge has a fic minimum of 5 500-word fics, I think. (As in, you have to have written 5 500-word fics in a fandom to qualify.) Just so you know ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 09:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-25 01:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 01:31 am (UTC)And this is the reason you should have written this show instead of... whoever it was who actually did. This is heartbreaking and so much better than what they gave us. Especially have Dee make Adama ACKNOWLEDGE that Felix had been his kid for so long. Le siiiiigh. BSG.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:34 am (UTC)Yeah, for me the only saving grace of The Woman King was Helo wandering around shirtless a lot.
Actually, I lie. I like the Sagittaron plotline, and fully intend on exploiting it (I've totally made Hoshi Sagittaron in my head, which is WAY TOO MUCH FUN :) ). I think my biggest issue with it is that Helo went so self-righteous just a few episodes ago. I got why he did what he did in each episode, but back-to-back... it actually would have worked really well to use Gaeta, just to give him more not-Baltar development and to give us a break from Helo.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:36 am (UTC)Yeah, I really do, too. I mean, I get why for the most part, and unless I'm in a ranting mood I'll accept it. (I did a long rant on maybe why they shouldn't have done Gaeta/Hoshi over in
no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:37 am (UTC)Plus, as much as I love Hoshi (because I fic the living daylights out of him), people who didn't watch the webisodes would have actually known who the new Admiral was.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:38 am (UTC)::Sigh::
no subject
Date: 2009-03-26 02:46 am (UTC)