Eddie destroys the ship.
Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica podcasts have been discussed before, but the most recent one contains a gem. At the end of the episode Maelstrom, Edward James Olmos
("Eddie" to his friends on the set) lashes out in an unscripted,
improvised, emotional moment, destroying a sailing ship model that had
been a frequent prop on the set. Turns out the ship ... ahem ... wasn't a prop, but an extremely valuable museum piece. posted by frogan (59 comments total)
5 users marked this as a favorite
damn you dhartung! (breaks little ship) posted by cowbellemoo at 10:13 PM
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on March 6
You see Eddie, this is why we can't have nice things. posted by spaceman_spiff at 10:15 PM
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on March 6
Mine has better acting, neener neener.
Actually, this is killing me. I just finished "Resurrection Ship, Part 2" .... The spoilers! They burn! posted by dhartung at 10:15 PM
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on March 6
Holy crap. That is, if
you'll forgive the expression, frackin' awesome. I mean, I feel for the
museum people and the set dressers, but it really was an incredibly
powerful moment, and to find out it was improved? It gives me a
considerable insight into how good Olmos is when it comes to wringing
emotion out of a scene.
And while the Wife was just sitting stunned by the events that had
transpired moments earlier, I had to admit in the back of my head, that
I was a little sad that they had destroyed that beautifully built prop
just to sell the ending. Now I know the truth.
Based on the commentary, and how that shoot affected the cast, I
have to wonder if EJO knew the cost of what he was going to do and
chose to do it anyway, or if it really was just an in-the-moment kind
of decision. Either way, it definitely worked.
/hates the waiting for the next episode. posted by quin at 10:25 PM
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on March 6
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dhartung, that was the best Star Trek-related anything I have ever seen.
Pff. Sorry, but that
episode left me cold. Is there anyone in the show you doesn't have some
kind of special awesome mystical destiny now? posted by Artw at 10:38 PM
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on March 6
For those of you who
haven't caught up to Maelstorm, and are planning to, FLEE THE THREAD
NOW! Before some mefi-er spills the beans.
*vaguely spoilerish!!*
It felt like "Serenity" all over again. "Oh, he's going to come back, yeah, he's coming back aaaaaaaanny moment now.."
And to comment on the improv, apparently quite a bit of BSG is
improved. Listening to the podcasts will give you a greater sense of
how much. For example, uh, Season 1, is it? When Col. Tigh's wife is
flirting with Lee under the table, that was apparently improved. posted by eurasian at 10:49 PM
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on March 6
I keep reading improved as improved, as in "made better".
Improvised, people ... improvised! posted by bwg at 10:58 PM
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on March 6
Eddie improvs all over
the place. The kiss? Improv. Half the stuff that goes on in the
episodes he directs (like Ellen flirting with Lee under the table)?
Improv. Some of Adama's best lines are improv too.
*hearts Edward James Olmos liek whoa*
It's amazing to me that a show this good with two Oscar-nominated
actors leading the cast and a Peabody in its pocket can't get the Emmy
Awards' attention. WTF, Emmy people, WTF. posted by tzikeh at 11:01 PM
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on March 6
After the first few
episodes of season 3, I haven't been that excited. Overall the pacing
has been off and it's been a yawn fest between "Same old emo pain" and
pat answers for large scale social problems. And not enough space
battles to occupy my inner 14 year old either. posted by yeloson at 11:08 PM
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on March 6
Thanks bwg, I actually
doubted myself after seeing my own comment enough to look it up, then
thought about correcting myself, then figured, 'eh? I'm going to bed.'
But you sir, are correct. posted by quin at 11:09 PM
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on March 6
As powerful as that
episode was, my first thought when Olmos smashed the model ship that
his character built but he the actor did not, was to feel terrible for
the guy who had put so much work into building it, just to see it
destroyed for effect. I even hoped that the ship that was destroyed was
some much simpler mock-up built to be destroyed.
Much has I admire Olmos's acting and BSG in general, destroying those
hours -- days, months -- of painstaking work seemed a desecration,
especially when one artist (the actor) does it to another artist's (the
model builder's) work. posted by orthogonality at 11:14 PM
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on March 6
eurasian : It felt like "Serenity" all over again. "Oh, he's going to come back, yeah, he's coming back aaaaaaaanny moment now.."
Other than the River-doing-harm-to-the-Reavers bit of the movie, tell
me who you were sure was coming back? Really, after Book and Wash, I
figured that Wheaton was willing to go all Wild-Bunch after that and
just end them all. posted by quin at 11:19 PM
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on March 6
"WTF, Emmy people, WTF."
Don't you know that if it happens on the Sci-fi channel it's not really television.
I was also really pissed about him breaking the ship just because it
was beautiful. Finding out it was improved is pretty sweet though, glad
they got something useful out of the footage.
Really, after Book and Wash, I figured that Wheaton was willing to go all Wild-Bunch after that and just end them all.
I know it's a typo, but this sentence burned an image in my mind of
grown-up Wesley Crusher kicking down the hatch of the Serenity, all
"IT'S ON MOTHERFUCKERS," and just brutalizing the whole entire crew
with a broken gin bottle and a claw hammer. posted by furiousthought at 1:59 AM
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on March 7
[7 favorites]
Other than the
River-doing-harm-to-the-Reavers bit of the movie, tell me who you were
sure was coming back? Really, after Book and Wash, I figured that
Wheaton was willing to go all Wild-Bunch after that and just end them
all.
If you've listened to the Jossentary (and why HAVEN'T YOU, if you haven't. All Joss commentary tracks are gold), you'll know that that's precisely what he wanted you to think.
As to the topic, yeah. That part of this week's podcast had me laughing.
As to this season: I don't think it's been that uneven. I think some of
it's possibly that the New Caprica episodes, culminating in the
mind-blowingly, un-fucking-believably awesome-in-every-way Exodus Pt. 2
(Adama Maneuver. LOL.) set a ridiculously high standard for the rest of
the season, which on the whole hasn't been better or worse than season
2.
There's the obligatory Cursed 14th Episode (the 14th episode of season 2, Black Market,
was previously, undeniably the worst BSG episode), and the one after
that wasn't all that great either, but the last two weeks have been
back On.
They've yet to squander my faith in their ability to make one of the best shows on the air. Not every episode can be an Exodus Pt. 2. And it looks like they're getting off their asses with regards to The Trial.
So now we're at the part of the season where everything's an
increasingly awesome, "OH SHIT." moment until the genius, wrenching
season finale. Right? posted by sparkletone at 2:18 AM
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on March 7
Is there anyone in the show you doesn't have some kind of special awesome mystical destiny now?
Uh. Who besides Starbuck and (formerly?) Roslin have had any destiny talk?
Maybe my memory is going, but I'm pretty sure they've not been passing out Special Destinys like free candy.... posted by sparkletone at 2:26 AM
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on March 7
sparkletone -- tyrol was kind of destiny-ish in the temple, there, a few episodes back. posted by rmd1023 at 4:21 AM
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on March 7
Baltar has a special
destiny, Hera has a special destiny, Number Three thought she had a
special destiny, I bet Billy comes back as a cylon and he has a special
destiny. posted by Tenuki at 4:45 AM
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on March 7
"Are you the Finger Man? I'm the Finger Man, too. Do you know what I can do? I know how to multiply by nines..." posted by Mayor Curley at 5:11 AM
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on March 7
[1 favorite]
I'm sure had the director
been able to film the property master's reaction when Eddie smashed the
ship, we would have been treated to even more emotions.
I have found this season to be a bit of a letdown after the New Caprica
arc. It is obvious there is no plan to the series which is really the
crux of my issues with the show. posted by infowar at 5:16 AM
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on March 7
[1 favorite]
Grey's Anatomy in space. I miss when sci-fi was hardass. posted by Kirklander at 5:35 AM
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on March 7
Kirklander hurt Dizzy but Kirklander speak truth to Dizzy. posted by Dizzy at 6:04 AM
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on March 7
we had to destroy the village in order to improve it. posted by bruce at 6:20 AM
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on March 7
I think some of it's
possibly that the New Caprica episodes, culminating in the
mind-blowingly, un-fucking-believably awesome-in-every-way Exodus Pt. 2
(Adama Maneuver. LOL.) set a ridiculously high standard for the rest of
the season
first half of season 3
was just fine by me, but since coming back for the second half, I keep
scratching my head wondering where my show went. still, last two eps
had some kickass eye-candy.
(and I realize the Serenity reference was plot-related, but it's the same sfx crew.)
spaceman_spiff, thanks for the guffaw.
why were they letting him place a new prow on it?
(not making excuses, but...) posted by Busithoth at 6:24 AM
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on March 7
I got bored when they
wimped out on New Caprica and had everybody back into space within 3
episodes of the new season. Also the writing really went downhill,
especially the dialogue. Maybe more of it should be improv'd (or maybe
less). posted by Lentrohamsanin at 6:32 AM
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on March 7
Spoilery about Maelstrom....
.
.
.
.
.
.
I don't read any forums about the show, so this may have been covered
to death. But didn't we see (a) a shot of Starbuck gripping the ejector
seat handle before her ship went blooey, and (b) a shot from Apollo's
perspective where he apparently saw the Cylon ship Starbuck was
chasing? If so, is it not likely, given all the destiny talk by Leoben,
Starbuck ejected and was rescued/captured by the Cylons? posted by schoolgirl report at 6:40 AM
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on March 7
Listen, when I saw this
post I actually had to pause and absorb the whole idea that somebody
would be upset about the smashing, because it never occurred to me that
E.J.O didn't build that ship. That's how damn good he acts -
I thought he built it. My exact thought when that scene ended was:
"oooh nooo, he worked so hard on that!" I'm serious. posted by contessa at 6:52 AM
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on March 7
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tzikeh : Inneresting!
quin "Other than the River-doing-harm-to-the-Reavers bit of the
movie, tell me who you were sure was coming back? Really, after Book
and Wash, I figured that Wheaton was willing to go all Wild-Bunch after
that and just end them all."
Honestly? Wash. Wash was coming back damnit. He's still coming back! It
was a mere flesh wound! It missed all his vital bits and pieces!!! OMG
THEY BURIED WASH ALIVE!!!
In denial much? Yes please!
Orthogonality: On one hand, yeah, crappy, to destroy such a beautiful
piece. On the other hand, one might argue its reason for being is to
the show. If I was a beautifully crafted model ship, I'd rather go down
in a raging maelstorm of Edward Rage than sit, unappreciated on a
forgotten shelf only to be sold for a pittance at a garage sale; then
perhaps, many years later, to be appraised at an astounding value to
the shock of a lucky shmuck on "Antique's Road Show". I mean honestly,
that host is all sorts of plasticy creepy.
furiousthought : I think we all know that Wesley would just walk in
with a dumb look of childlike wonder and say "Gee, this is where all
the flying happens! Where maneuvering of the ship is handled in two
different ways. In atmosphere she has flaps and ailerons that in
conjunction with the pitch of the side engines control her direction.
In space she uses an RCS, (Reaction Control System,) consisting of
Hydrazine fueled thrusters that work in a countered measure. Gee! Do
you mind if I--" (reference)
Mal punches him out. posted by eurasian at 6:58 AM
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on March 7
the 14th episode of season 2, Black Market, was previously, undeniably the worst BSG episode
Um... Boxing episode? posted by Artw at 7:19 AM
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on March 7
/rant
does anyone else find this podcast painful? does the wife have a job on
the show, or is she there just to be annoying? are all podcasts this
self-indulgent?
/end rant posted by killy willy at 7:41 AM
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on March 7
Hey, that boxing episode was M*A*S*H-tastic! posted by bigbigdog at 7:43 AM
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on March 7
schoolgirl report:
On re-watching, one can see that as her ship implodes, the canopy is still on. She didn't eject. posted by evinrude at 7:59 AM
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on March 7
Well that answers that, thanks evinrude. Should've rewound the DVR to verify. posted by schoolgirl report at 8:08 AM
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on March 7
My two main beefs are thus:
1. The show runs on ugly, unresolved looming problems. Pretty much
after the Gaeta focal episode, there's been a lot of pat endings to
really big problems. ("Ok, we promise to act better!" "Cool.")
2. The Cylons have a plan: "Let's kill them." "Let's use them in
breeding experiments." "Let's live together by throwing them in jail."
"Let's follow them around."
This plan sounds like the mixture of PCP and acid. posted by yeloson at 8:18 AM
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on March 7
On re-watching, one can see that as her ship implodes, the canopy is still on. She didn't eject.
I still have no sense whatsoever that she won't be back. And before she
returns she'll probbaly be in no end of tedious flashbacks and dream
sequences, emo-ing it up. posted by Artw at 8:18 AM
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on March 7
Come on, she's one of the
mystery Cylons! She'll appear in some resurrection ship somewhere with
a smirking Leoben. Her mother fought in the first Cylon wars so maybe
something happened there that accounted for her getting carted to
Caprica.
I hate to say it, but there just haven't been enough space battles this
season. I think the tension of actual warfare is partly what propels
the show to greatness and without it, the show loses a lot of energy.
And while the military stuff helps move the show forward, the mystical
bullshit only slows it down and diminishes the characters' fight for
survival. You can sense the presence of a hundred deus ex machinas
waiting in the wings to magically fix things and trivialise all the
pain and struggles. posted by picea at 8:18 AM
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on March 7
I was sure this headline was teasing some hitchhikers guide item re: Eddie the Shipboard computer. posted by Dr. Boom at 8:58 AM
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on March 7
I have to agree with the
rest of you. I get the feeling they didn't think they'd still be doing
this three seasons in, and the show just isn't as strong as it was. posted by Dave Faris at 9:02 AM
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on March 7
I am with schoolgirl
report. Let me note that just because the people at Zoic left the
canopy on doesn't mean that that was the intended shot -- they may well
have been just recycling an older explosion to save a few thousand
dollars.
It's all part of Moore's long-term project: Fucking With Starbuck.
We'll let her get something, only to take it away again. So now she
thinks she's killing herself and accepting death, then she'll
"discover" she's a Cylon and come to terms with her new fambly, only to
have that taken away again when she really discovers that it was all a
sham to make her think she's a Cylon. Leoben's done similar shit before.
Of course, this may be my way of saying "Wash will come through the door to save the day ANY! SECOND! NOW!" posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:30 AM
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on March 7
Grey's Anatomy in space. I miss when sci-fi was hardass.
Amen dude
I'll tell you exactly when I stopped watching: Cain orders the hit on
Adama, and vice versa. At the end of the show IIRC, they both
coincidentally call off their hits. And then Cain is conveniently
killed off anyway.
Biggest fucking cop-out EVER. I have not watched since. posted by poppo at 10:17 AM
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on March 7
And it looks like they're getting off their asses with regards to The Trial.
Which has me dreading the remaining episodes of this season. Honest.
Everytime the show dives into the politics (especially dealing with
Balthar), it's like dropping a 30-ton boat anchor on the show. posted by Thorzdad at 10:22 AM
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on March 7
"I HATE YOU ALL.
Thanks, you turkeys. I haven't had the chance to see this episode yet.
Way to go. Next time, put up a spolier alert somewhere Geez. Someone
should be banned for this. "
Hey, someone had to say it! posted by drstein at 10:26 AM
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on March 7
"I HATE YOU ALL.
Thanks, you turkeys. I haven't had the chance to see this episode yet.
Way to go. Next time, put up a spolier alert somewhere Geez. Someone
should be banned for this. "
Yeah--it seems like a minor spoiler (I guess?), but this FPP really
could have done with a "more inside" after the first sentence or two.
Not quite worth a callout, as it'll only result in a few posters
holding their noses up and claiming that "good art can't be spoiled,"
and so on. And I'll probably have forgotten this by the time Season 3
comes out on DVD.
(The Captain America post above this is far worse, though. And I don't even care about DC/Marvel comics.) posted by Prospero at 10:39 AM
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on March 7
posted by dhartung at 10:10 PM PST on March 6 [2 favorites]