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skinscriptSince there has been some interest, I decided to indeed write up my mental commentary on Prisoners to the Dark. Spoilers for the fic included (duh).
[Baltar Thoughts]
The biggest question, of course, would be ... WHY would Baltar actually do something altruistic? Is it really in his nature?
To me, one of the biggest truths on BSG is that - for Baltar, it is always ALL about Baltar. He is absolutely the hero of his own story, even in his own head. His basic inability to face his own culpability has given us some of the most poignant and gripping moments on the show. His need to believe that he is at his core a good man is fundamental to his character.
When I wrote the story, I wrote it all out in Baltar's voice. I believe that Baltar on the surface of his mind does believe he does altruistic things. It was only after I wrote it and it all made sense that I took the time to think about whether it was likely. And I decided, yes it was likely. Not necessarily for the reasons that Baltar tells himself, though.
Lets start with - Did Baltar love Gina? I don't think he did. Gina symbolised something to him - I think she symbolised the concept of resurrection, or of redemption. I do believe that he was genuinely and totally horrified by her condition on Pegasus, and that he was haunted by her. But when she stepped out of that mould, he began to pull away; until he spoke to Roslin and she became the symbol of "not Roslin". But the consequences of that action ... once again, Baltar's sense of worth, of self, is under attack, even as he gets what he wants. He can't see it, and so he makes it something worthy by having it be about his 'love for her' and the 'darkness left by her passing'. Really, it's about his own guilt.
So - back on topic a bit more. Why would Baltar go back to the ship and take the time to face Adama and get Sharon free?
Well - it was triggered by Helo. Baltar looked at Helo, listened to him, and he understood where Helo was. Helo's wracked by guilt, by loss, by self-doubt, just as Baltar is. Naturally Baltar's mind goes to the only common points they share... the baby, and the Cylon. Gina (Baltar's triumph, his failure) had been imprisoned. Sharon was imprisoned. In that moment, looking at the side of Helo's face, Baltar sees not the man but the failure. And we all know how Baltar deals with failure. Then, there is the association with the baby. Child of the God. Restitution, *salvation*, as he sees it. And who took that away? Who took away his chance to redeem himself?
Well - Roslin of course. She wanted to kill Hera before she was born. Wanted to dispose of her. I think that it is very hard to define just how much Baltar hates Roslin at this point in the show. She's demeaned him, shown a terrible lack of faith, and has blocked his efforts to save his sense of self at every turn.
And Roslin put Sharon in that cell. What better way to pay her back than to take her out of it?
Then, there is the Adama part of the equation. Adama doesn't believe in Baltar as President. Treats him with barely (if!) veiled contempt. He's the military might that Baltar needs to maintain his control on the refugees. How galling it must be for him to bow to Adama's wishes so often in the past. We saw it a bit, with Baltar's refusal to investigate the bomb on Cloud Nine, how even in the face of his despair, there was that tiny part of him that enjoyed turning the screw on Adama.
In the BSG Roundtable podcast (I am listening to right now), there is a little bit at around 45 minutes where Tahmoh says that Helo always remembers that Baltar stopped the forcible abortion. James Callis speaks up and says "But you know, that was incidental. For Gaius, it was all about - 'I've made this brilliant discovery, and if I don't start screaming about it and prove myself, no one will know how brilliant I am!'" That, in a nutshell, is Gaius.
So - Did Gaius go through the events of the story in a sincere effort to pay back Helo? Of course not. He even says it himself, "This had nothing to do with Agathon". It didn't. This was about control, and power, and self worth, and a 'fuck you' to Roslin, and that driving need he has to undo his mistakes.
But for Baltar? It's All About Baltar. And Baltar is the hero of his own story. So even in his telling, he needs to cloak it in the pretty. So, he kills several birds with one stone. He makes it about paying Helo (and Boomer, obliquely) back.
The only actually 'altruistic' thing Baltar does is decides to wait the hour.
(And really, I think he was maybe hoping to get laid. )
[End Baltar thoughts]
[writing notes]
For anyone who is interested in the writing touches used -
Gaius refers to Helo as "Agathon", or "Lieutenant" even in his thoughts (a distancing mechanism), until the very last sight of him with Sharon, when he calls him 'Helo'. I used this to show that despite his surface motivation, he's not really seeing him as a person.
Gaius calls the Admiral "Adama" in his thoughts, while calling him "Admiral" to his face. I used this to show his basic reflection of the lack of respect that the Admiral has for him. In my head, he sounds a little like a petulant child whenever he says it in *his* head.
[End writing notes]
[Baltar Thoughts]
The biggest question, of course, would be ... WHY would Baltar actually do something altruistic? Is it really in his nature?
To me, one of the biggest truths on BSG is that - for Baltar, it is always ALL about Baltar. He is absolutely the hero of his own story, even in his own head. His basic inability to face his own culpability has given us some of the most poignant and gripping moments on the show. His need to believe that he is at his core a good man is fundamental to his character.
When I wrote the story, I wrote it all out in Baltar's voice. I believe that Baltar on the surface of his mind does believe he does altruistic things. It was only after I wrote it and it all made sense that I took the time to think about whether it was likely. And I decided, yes it was likely. Not necessarily for the reasons that Baltar tells himself, though.
Lets start with - Did Baltar love Gina? I don't think he did. Gina symbolised something to him - I think she symbolised the concept of resurrection, or of redemption. I do believe that he was genuinely and totally horrified by her condition on Pegasus, and that he was haunted by her. But when she stepped out of that mould, he began to pull away; until he spoke to Roslin and she became the symbol of "not Roslin". But the consequences of that action ... once again, Baltar's sense of worth, of self, is under attack, even as he gets what he wants. He can't see it, and so he makes it something worthy by having it be about his 'love for her' and the 'darkness left by her passing'. Really, it's about his own guilt.
So - back on topic a bit more. Why would Baltar go back to the ship and take the time to face Adama and get Sharon free?
Well - it was triggered by Helo. Baltar looked at Helo, listened to him, and he understood where Helo was. Helo's wracked by guilt, by loss, by self-doubt, just as Baltar is. Naturally Baltar's mind goes to the only common points they share... the baby, and the Cylon. Gina (Baltar's triumph, his failure) had been imprisoned. Sharon was imprisoned. In that moment, looking at the side of Helo's face, Baltar sees not the man but the failure. And we all know how Baltar deals with failure. Then, there is the association with the baby. Child of the God. Restitution, *salvation*, as he sees it. And who took that away? Who took away his chance to redeem himself?
Well - Roslin of course. She wanted to kill Hera before she was born. Wanted to dispose of her. I think that it is very hard to define just how much Baltar hates Roslin at this point in the show. She's demeaned him, shown a terrible lack of faith, and has blocked his efforts to save his sense of self at every turn.
And Roslin put Sharon in that cell. What better way to pay her back than to take her out of it?
Then, there is the Adama part of the equation. Adama doesn't believe in Baltar as President. Treats him with barely (if!) veiled contempt. He's the military might that Baltar needs to maintain his control on the refugees. How galling it must be for him to bow to Adama's wishes so often in the past. We saw it a bit, with Baltar's refusal to investigate the bomb on Cloud Nine, how even in the face of his despair, there was that tiny part of him that enjoyed turning the screw on Adama.
In the BSG Roundtable podcast (I am listening to right now), there is a little bit at around 45 minutes where Tahmoh says that Helo always remembers that Baltar stopped the forcible abortion. James Callis speaks up and says "But you know, that was incidental. For Gaius, it was all about - 'I've made this brilliant discovery, and if I don't start screaming about it and prove myself, no one will know how brilliant I am!'" That, in a nutshell, is Gaius.
So - Did Gaius go through the events of the story in a sincere effort to pay back Helo? Of course not. He even says it himself, "This had nothing to do with Agathon". It didn't. This was about control, and power, and self worth, and a 'fuck you' to Roslin, and that driving need he has to undo his mistakes.
But for Baltar? It's All About Baltar. And Baltar is the hero of his own story. So even in his telling, he needs to cloak it in the pretty. So, he kills several birds with one stone. He makes it about paying Helo (and Boomer, obliquely) back.
The only actually 'altruistic' thing Baltar does is decides to wait the hour.
(And really, I think he was maybe hoping to get laid. )
[End Baltar thoughts]
[writing notes]
For anyone who is interested in the writing touches used -
Gaius refers to Helo as "Agathon", or "Lieutenant" even in his thoughts (a distancing mechanism), until the very last sight of him with Sharon, when he calls him 'Helo'. I used this to show that despite his surface motivation, he's not really seeing him as a person.
Gaius calls the Admiral "Adama" in his thoughts, while calling him "Admiral" to his face. I used this to show his basic reflection of the lack of respect that the Admiral has for him. In my head, he sounds a little like a petulant child whenever he says it in *his* head.
[End writing notes]
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-04 07:39 pm (UTC)Again, great fic, one of my favorites for sure. It's going in my memories.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-05 05:18 pm (UTC)Well, my original email in response to this question (replying to a review at ffnet) was short and sweet and managed to say pretty much all the same things. But I wrote this up as I was listening to the roundtable podcast, and there is just something about listening to Tahmoh, Jamie, and James ramble that makes me want to say more and more too. :) I was originally just going to post the email, but I didn't save it to sent mail so no luck.
Cheers and thanks once more for the interest and feedback - I've missed both a great deal. *hugs*