(no subject)

[lls_mutant]

Okay, f-list- talk to me about Playa Palacios vs. James McManus vs. Sekou Hamilton.

Here's the deal: I need a reporter for Agency, someone Tom Zarek can think he can trust. (Well, that he'll take the risk on trusting them.) So, naturally, he's going to turn to someone who's been fairly anti-Adama and Roslin. However, their wiki pages are pretty scant.

In Colonial Day, Playa is very pro-Roslin, James is very anti-Roslin. However, this is season 1, and Agency takes place in season 4.5.

I seem to remember spotting Playa in the administration of New Caprica. Is she the blond in the back row? I could certainly see Baltar making her his press secretary. That would be easy to tie her and Tom together.

Sekou makes a few pointed comments in A Disquiet Follows My Soul, but the script isn't online anywhere and I can't remember if Playa does.

Other things to consider: it's a very gray role. Without saying too much, there are no truly good guys in this fic, and no truly bad ones either, but this role heads a little grayer, and I get paranoid about this sort of thing. This character ends up doing some screwing over of their own, but I can understand why.

So, James McManus, Playa Palacios, or Sekou Hamilton? Who would Tom Zarek take a chance on not to hand his ass back to Laura Roslin?

Comments

[geekbynight.livejournal.com]

I'd say McManus because if he was anti-Roslin from the start; well, she hasn't really given him anything to go pro for. So I'd say he's the safest choice.

[lorrainemarker.livejournal.com]

I think you could go with any of the three, none of them got enough air time to flesh out their characters.

I'm pretty sure Playa is the blond in the back row. She's also reporter in Colonial Day who got her 'exclusive' with Baltar via a tryst in the bathroom, which indicates a certain level of willingness not to play by the rules.

[millari.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I think Playa is one of the reporters haranguing Adama, Lee and Zarek at the press conference where the press wants to know why Roslin's hiding out and where Lee lets slip about the fifth Cylon, if that gives some perspective.

I am pretty damn certain that the blond in the back is not Playa. The shape of her face and her haircut seem pretty different, now that I can see a still of that woman, because I have always wondered if it was Playa myself. I think she may be one of the two "interns" Baltar was cavorting with when Gaeta informed him that the Cylons had arrived.

Oh, but I agree with lorrainemarker that Playa was pretty sketchy on the ethics, given the way she got her "exclusive" with Baltar.

[korenap.livejournal.com]

McManus was the most critical on colonial day, I think

[scifiaddict86.livejournal.com]

Playa was a member of Baltar's administration which may mean she owes someone a favor for not going out the airlock(In my head its Sam cuz they had a thing before the fall but that just cuz I get a giggle out of how many women Sam and Baltar have in common) or that she passed on infromation(It is indicated that they have more sources than just Geata in one of the bunker scenes).James McManus comes of as ninety percent ego to me so he could have issues with Roslin's attitude with regards to the press. It makes him an interesting combination with Zarek cuz while like does tend to attract like that can also be a volatile combination. The only thing I remember about Sekou Hamilton is that he was a sports reporter for Caprica Times which means He definitely knew Sam, where this would put him on the political spectrum I don't know but does mean he may be less politically inclined than the other two. He also seems like a fairly easy going laid back type
(although with someone in his line of work its always possible that just a public persona) which could combine well with Zarek. Honestly I think your best bet would be to come up with some sort of personal score. High minded ideals are all well and good but people are much more likely to buy into the idea of a bloody revolution when there is a personal retribution on the table. Especially for a reporter who are trained to observe and be unbiased something would have to stir them to forgo that.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I looked at it in the still, it looked different, but just because Playa's not in the picture doesn't mean she's not in the administration, right? :) I could totally see her being Baltar's press secretary.

Playa's definitely edging ahead. Thanks!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Honestly I think your best bet would be to come up with some sort of personal score. High minded ideals are all well and good but people are much more likely to buy into the idea of a bloody revolution when there is a personal retribution on the table. Especially for a reporter who are trained to observe and be unbiased something would have to stir them to forgo that.

Excellent point, and makes Playa the logical choice. (Which is where I was headed anyway, but still.) Granted, I could say any of the three of them have a score, but it's generally accepted as fanon thanks to the blond in the administration that Playa worked for Baltar. (Which makes total sense.) If Playa was on NC during the Occupation and in a rough position, that would definitely put her in the role I want her in.

Thank you!

[scifiaddict86.livejournal.com]

For me the fact that Playa is the obvious choice is what would make me choose one of the other guys( probably Sekou cuz James's ego issues) but Playa is better defined in canon which is a plus.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I think we ended up determining that Playa's not the blonde in the back row, but I don't think it's much of a stretch of belief that Baltar would make her his press secretary. But that's a good point about her ethics!

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

He definitely was, but as far as I can tell, he also hasn't been seen since. ::sigh:: I think most readers will recognize Playa or Sekou better than James.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

It is! Plus, I kind of like giving the women something to do in this fic :) I've got a lot of guys in play, but the only women running around are Laura, Kara, and Athena, and then Adelle (and Sierra and Racetrack, but they aren't as pivotal.) This might not be a nice role, but it's a big one. And Playa struck me as more devious than Sekou, just based on the "exclusive " :)