Episode Report Card Jacob: D | 1419 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT BattleNoir Redactica
By Jacob | Season 2 | Episode 14 | Aired on 2006.01.27
Colonial One. Hell yes. Baltar has been summoned to Roslin's office, where she's adjusting the Whiteboard to 49,597. (Whence the assassin guy? I thought we were up to the minute!) She welcomes him and offers him tea in such a frightening way that I expect to see a human finger bobbing around inside it. "Hot cup of airlock, bitch?" She passes Baltar the tea and he's not so interested in it, and she levels: "You know, I'm never quite sure where we stand with each other, Doctor. Why do you think that is?" Because the cast seems to be the only segment of the production that has seen the show before, Callis does a good job of continuing his emotional arc from the last episode: he's super-steamed about the letter and the hexagon blood, and even though they happened in the real world in the opposite order than they happened to him, that's Baltar. Not "I guess I shouldn't have handed over government secrets to a hot piece of ass" but "I had nothing to do with this...I'm phoning my attorney." It's what makes him a great character.
Baltar: "I can't imagine why. I've never had anything but the utmost respect for you, and your office." It's the last clause that kills me, because he mentioned that specific thing to Fisk earlier. Roslin asks him about the "meeting" with Fisk, and Baltar starts shooting these intense jealousy rays at her, for maybe the first time. "As I have already explained to Captain Adama, Commander Fisk had several lingering concerns about your new trade policy. What can I say?" Roslin wonders if that's the whole of it, and Six appears, to note that Roslin's afraid of Baltar now. That's one thing I like about this episode: the way Six is used as this oracular, obscured intuition proxy to get things across to Baltar that he knows but can't process on his own. "You saved my life," says Roslin in a measured, precise tone. "And I'm grateful. But I sense that there is some unease in you about assuming the presidency..." Six grins hugely and stares at Roslin, Gaius gets sad, they both know what's coming. "...and I'd like to offer you an out." Baltar's jaw drops. She offers him the chance to resign and go back to doing "scientific work" (of whatever kind he's been doing) on Galactica: "No one will question your motives. You can consider it a second chance, like the one you gave me." She's laserlike now. She has no idea that this is exactly the wrong thing to say to him; I wonder if she even knows Billy gave Baltar the letter? I can see her finding that out down the road and getting hella scared about what she's just done. Baltar stands; Roslin does not -- the one time standing/sitting reverses its power polarity is when there's a huge-ass desk between you -- and stares him down: "Doctor. This is a one-time offer." They stare at each other with tiny secret smiles. Baltar: "You know, Madame President, I've never been particularly interested in politics. I never wanted any lofty position of power. I never wanted to be the Vice-President. That is, until this very moment. Because right now, I can't think of anything I want more." I almost want to cheer for him, because as messy and emotional that statement is, it would be the appropriate one, if he were in the right and she was just being weird. It makes Roslin sad, and he turns to go without a word.