WhateverThings

Another great episode.  There was a lot revealed in this episode in terms of the story arc, revealing the role of the final five and the creation of the “skin jobs”, the mystery of how the final five came to be in the fleet and not know who they were and much other back story [Spoilers].  In the midst of all these revelations, there were some great themes that were explored which is, as I have said before, what I like about sci-fi in general and in particular Battlestar Galactica.  This episode continues in the investigation of the question of memory and reconciliation and also offers some new thoughts on personal responsibility and the role of the creator which has only been a question that has been asked but not dealt with in any depth through the series.

We are introduced to these key themes primarily in the scenes that take place on the Cylon Basestar between Ellen and Cavill/1/John.   We learn that the 7 (actually eight) human cylon models were created by those known as the final five.  Some of them, John in particular, are not very happy with their creators.  John feels he has been limited, given an inadequate body and construction for what he longs to do.  he resents the emotions and the limitations that have been placed upon him, the way in which he has been made to look like a human, the very beings that he hates for their enslavement of the centurions.  I always had the sense that Cavill/John was devious and cruel, but here we begin to see the full extent.  The scenes need to be watched to truly see their power.  Some of the lines that are worth noting:
John to Boomer about Ellen, “Stay and have a heart to heart with your creator.  Ask her why she made you the way you are. Self-destructive …  Tell her how extraordinarily happy this makes you”

Then this exchange:
Boomer: “Don’t you feel the slightest bit of remorse for what you did to him?  What you did to us?”
Ellen: “No.  Because he’s wrong, Boomer.   There’s no need for remorse and blame.  We didn’t limit you.  We gave you something wonderful.  Free will.  The ability to think creatively.  To reach out to others with compassion and love.”
Boomer:  “Love?  Who?  Humans?  Why would I want to do that?  Who would I want to love?”

and this one:
Ellen (to John): “You see, you claim to be a perfect machine, but you are driven by the most petty of human emotions: jealousy and rage.  I know what you did to Daniel.  (Discussion of Daniel).  I knew it was John.  Sadistic.
John:  “And who made me?  That’s what we’re dancing around here, isn’t it?  If I am so irredeembable, if I’m such a mistake, if I’m so broken, then whose fault is that?  It’s my maker’s fault!  And that’s not God.  That’s you.  This is on you.”
Ellen:  “No, no.  John, God, no.  You have done terrible things.  But you are not a mistake.  If you could just accept yourself as what you are – the boy I made.  You can be good.  You can be anything.  I love you John, because I made you.”

What is the relationship between a creator and its creation?  Do we blame God for the way we are?  Is it justifiable to say, “It’s not my fault, this is simply how God made me.”  How often have you heard the argument?  Does such an argument truly work?  I think that what is suggested by these scenes is right – that though we may be limited by our creator, we have been given free will and are ultimately responsible for our behaviors.  I am not suggesting that this gives a completely biblical view of the relationship between God and humans, between Creator and creations, but it is some powerful material.  I’m not sure BSG was trying to take one side or the other in the argument, but these scenes seem to point very much toward the idea that we cannot blame the creator for who we are.  If nothing else, what a line ‘I love you because I made you.”

Beyond this creator/creation theme, this episode returns to the whole issue of reconciliation and memory.  We hear John talk about how he chose not to simply explore and marvel at being such an incredible machine because “justice pulled him back”, he could not, or would not forget that his centurion forebears had been enslaved by humans.  We have these themes echoed, or amplified if you will, in the discussions between Tryol, Tigh, Tory and Anders as Sam begins to recover memories.  Tigh says, “It all traces back to us.”  The others say no, the humans are at fault and then there is this great line from Tigh, “You point a finger back far enough and some germ gets blamed for splitting in two. No!  Maybe we share the guilt with the humans but we don’t get to just shove it off on them.”   One of the key lines in this issue of reconciliation is this from Anders, “The centurions had a single, loving god.  Ellen said it changed everything.  If the cylons embraced love and mercy, then the cycle of violence could end.”   Once again, I think of Miroslav Volf and his books.  Maybe that can be by first book – Miroslav Volf and Battlestar Galactica – The End of Humanity: Remembering Rightly in a World of Cylons and Humans.   Here is a great quote from The End of Memory:

What does it take to remember for good, to remember in salutary rather than destructive ways?  How can we help memory become a bridge between adversaries instead of a deep and dark ravine that separates them?   How can former enemies remember together so as to reconcile, and how can they reconcile so as to remember together?

So say we all!