Episode Report Card Jacob Clifton: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Stupidly Tilting Planet
By Jacob Clifton | Season 2 | Episode 19 | Aired on 03.02.2006
"Mr. Vice-President, the next question is for you...How do you respond to the charges that you seized the idea of permanent settlement on this planet as an opportunistic gamble--" Zarek nods to Gaius "-- Um, some would say as to be construed as a desperate move from a campaign, uh, that was falling behind on every poll?" Gaius stutters a bit, himself, because Jim's got his number: "Excellent question...You see, I have long been a proponent in the search for Earth. The promise of perhaps finding not only a new home, but also the prospect of discovering our long-lost brothers and sisters of the Thirteenth Colony is a powerful one, and one I have believed in heart and soul." Laura smiles, cocks her head, not really playing the game right. "...But the trouble is, the Cylons continue to follow us, as they have done every step of the way since the destruction of the Colonies. And if we have a chance to change this dynamic, to stop this..." He leans into the mic just at this point, wonderfully, "this deadly chase, should we take it? My answer is yes."
Now, optimally, this is where Laura would go, "Oh, I totally fucking forgot! Jim! He's the one that betrayed us! I am such a ditz! I saw him making out with Cylon Enemy Number One for six fucking hours at the Gardens! I don't know how I forgot to mention that!" But of course she hasn't recovered that info yet. If ever there was the right time for spontaneous memory recall, though. Jim gives Roslin thirty more seconds, and she makes some good, useless points that will probably end up being important: "There's no assurance -- none whatsoever -- that the Cylons don't already know about this planet, that they don't make regular stops here looking for us, and that in fact they aren't simply waiting for us to settle on the surface so they can--" Baltar once again stoops to the mic: "I have to respond to that. I simply have to respond to that." Jim, who should know better, gives him fifteen seconds. "What you've seen right now, ladies and gentlemen, is another example of the President using fear to drive her campaign." She shakes her head, but it's her own damn fault. Baltar's not cool enough to come up with that kind of attack on his own. She handed that shit to him. "Fear. Fear of the gods. Fear of the Cylon. Fear of fear itself." No. Just a titch too far. "Is it not time to stop being afraid? I'm asking all of us to stop running from our lives and start living them." The crowd makes thinky faces, and I think that I yelled, "Oh my God, he's Bill Clinton!" the first time I was watching this, only to have Ron Moore say the same thing hereabouts in the podcast. It makes my heart hurt, but it's true. And Jim ends the debate, even though Gaius interrupted Roslin to begin with. The candidates look at each other, and it's very sad, because Gaius Baltar just basically became President. Zarek and Tory whisper to various aides, and Baltar approaches Roslin. "Not your night, I guess," he smarms as they shake. Roslin: "Why don't you go frack yourself." It's a good exit line. Not her best, but it's good, and topical. Next week: Laura shoots Adama in the face! Roslin walks off and Gaius blinks, not quite as proud as he should be.
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