At the beginning of Part II of “Resurrection Ship,” the battle begins as the Colonials attack the Cylons and their resurrection ship, the place where the programming mind of a destroyed Cylon is uploaded into a new body and then is reintegrated back into the Cylon fleet. While the space battle ensues, while Apollo is floating through space with a suit leaking oxygen, while tension rises in the CIC’s of both Galactica and Pegasus, a battle of a different sort is going on in Number Six’s cell on Pegasus. This battle is between Baltar and Head Six as he tries to sort out the theology of forgiveness according to the Cylons. His two sources are Number Six and Head Six (who I believe is actually part of Baltar’s psyche).
Basically, the discussion of forgiveness is between one whose actions led to the destruction of a world and one who wants to die in order to go to God. Head Six tells Baltar, “Tens of thousands of Cylons are about to die. Tens of thousands, Gaius. God will not forgive this sin.” If Head Six is indeed part of Baltar’s psyche, then it would seem that Baltar is grappling with his own issues of forgiveness; after all, he’s dealing with his own emotions of being the one who let a Cylon have access to the defense mainframe in Caprica that opened his world to attacks and genocide. He asks Prisoner Number Six, “Do you think God will forgive this?” “God forgives all,” she replies. Immediately, Baltar’s Head Six jumps in, “Don’t listen to her. You think she can help you? You think that that broken woman can offer you even a fraction of what I can? I know God’s plan for you. I know how to help you fulfill your destiny.” Baltar’s doubts keep hounding him, speaking at the very least at the back of his conscience.
Ultimately Baltar pushes Head Six to the back of his mind and out of the conversation and he chooses to follow Prisoner Number Six. She is, after all, real, in the flesh and he is a carnal kind of guy; also, her theology of forgiveness offers him hope. While she offers him hope, he doesn’t follow through with what she wants from him, which is for him to kill her. After the resurrection ship is destroyed (she seems to sense this), she begs Baltar, “I’m ready to die. Send my soul to God. Please.” But Baltar refuses, suggesting that what she really wants is justice—justice for all that she has been through since being put in the Pegasus brig. Maintaining his carnality, he offers her hope for her future with humanity, rather than offering her the eternal life she seeks with God.
Basically, the discussion of forgiveness is between one whose actions led to the destruction of a world and one who wants to die in order to go to God. Head Six tells Baltar, “Tens of thousands of Cylons are about to die. Tens of thousands, Gaius. God will not forgive this sin.” If Head Six is indeed part of Baltar’s psyche, then it would seem that Baltar is grappling with his own issues of forgiveness; after all, he’s dealing with his own emotions of being the one who let a Cylon have access to the defense mainframe in Caprica that opened his world to attacks and genocide. He asks Prisoner Number Six, “Do you think God will forgive this?” “God forgives all,” she replies. Immediately, Baltar’s Head Six jumps in, “Don’t listen to her. You think she can help you? You think that that broken woman can offer you even a fraction of what I can? I know God’s plan for you. I know how to help you fulfill your destiny.” Baltar’s doubts keep hounding him, speaking at the very least at the back of his conscience.
Ultimately Baltar pushes Head Six to the back of his mind and out of the conversation and he chooses to follow Prisoner Number Six. She is, after all, real, in the flesh and he is a carnal kind of guy; also, her theology of forgiveness offers him hope. While she offers him hope, he doesn’t follow through with what she wants from him, which is for him to kill her. After the resurrection ship is destroyed (she seems to sense this), she begs Baltar, “I’m ready to die. Send my soul to God. Please.” But Baltar refuses, suggesting that what she really wants is justice—justice for all that she has been through since being put in the Pegasus brig. Maintaining his carnality, he offers her hope for her future with humanity, rather than offering her the eternal life she seeks with God.
No comments:
Post a Comment