Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

reader50 · Feb 12, 2007, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

So did Roslin say that "Baltar will have a trial and be found GUILTY"?

A showtrial is a bit off character for Roslin for me especially when no real justice is served by a mock trial.

I noticed this too. It bothered me somewhat, though to her credit, she didn't say what the punishment would be - which would depend on how guilty he was, and of which charges.

One could argue that it's obvious to everyone that Baltar is in fact guilty of a few items, with others unclear.

• Negligence during office, he let the military go to a weak condition in orbit while a threat remained.
• Failure to fulfill the terms of his Presidential Oath. If those terms have legal binding force (likely - military oaths of office certainly do) then Baltar didn't protect the sovereignty of the Colonies with every fiber of his being. He surrendered without a shot being fired, and did nothing to support and build the Resistance. He just sat around, drank a lot, and sacked out with Caprica Six. Oh yes, he whined and complained to the Cylons regularly.
• Left his post when the evacuation did finally happen. He chose to evacuate with the enemy, abandoning his office. That looks like defection, and dereliction of duty. Caveat: the Colonials may not know that Baltar went with the Cylons voluntarily; he could have been removed at gunpoint. We the audience know he went voluntarily. Note: Gaeta almost certainly heard the relevant conversation, but the camera angles don't confirm that beyond doubt - I couldn't see Gaeta (arrive?) until just after that conversation. It's implied that he had to be listening and waiting for the moment to jump in.
• Bad judgement, settling on a world when the Cylon fleet had been fairly close. However, bad judgement may not be a legally enforceable term.
• Helping the Cylons afterwards, with tips on finding Earth. That would be conspiring with them directly against the Fleet's objectives.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 03:13 PM

I normally hate courtroom battle episodes, it could easily go on for several episodes also.

The one episode I didn't like in Season 1 was that court one.

Millennium · Feb 12, 2007, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

So did Roslin say that "Baltar will have a trial and be found GUILTY"?

A showtrial is a bit off character for Roslin for me especially when no real justice is served by a mock trial.

Just because the verdict is a foregone conclusion doesn't mean it's a mock trial. It's more or less the same as the Nuremburg hearings, the trials of Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein, and similar situations: there's no chance of a not-guilty verdict, but that doesn't make the trial meaningless.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

Just because the verdict is a foregone conclusion doesn't mean it's a mock trial. It's more or less the same as the Nuremburg hearings, the trials of Slobodan Milosevic and Saddam Hussein, and similar situations: there's no chance of a not-guilty verdict, but that doesn't make the trial meaningless.

I think it is just done to give the illusion of a fair trial and justice when what they really want to do is just hang him.

I mean what the hell good did Saddam's trial do?

OreoCookie · Feb 12, 2007, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

I mean what the hell good did Saddam's trial do?

It exposes the truth. And this was really one of the weaknesses of Hussein's trial: instead of covering all of his reign, they focussed on one aspect, found him guilty and then killed him.

Ok, no need to sidetrack the discussion, but I think it's beneficiary to decide on a verdict logically. Neither the victims nor former beneficiaries should determine the verdict, but stick to law as it is instead.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Ok, no need to sidetrack the discussion, but I think it's beneficiary to decide on a verdict logically. Neither the victims nor former beneficiaries should determine the verdict, but stick to law as it is instead.

I'm cool with the trial and all I just thought it was really out of character for Roslyn to say he will be found guilty as she usually follows the rules/laws.

She is taking Baltar very personally and it shows.

SirCastor · Feb 12, 2007, 04:26 PM

Baltar is of course not going to be executed. As Gaeta said at some point earlier in the season, Baltar has a knack for ensuring his own survival. I imagine that Baltar's going to have further use for getting to Earth.

There's also the possibility (and I wouldn't be surprised) if Baltar were found not-guilty (not to be confused with innocent) on a technicality. Or possibly, there will be a mistrial because of the problems in the fleet over the trial itself.

Does the general populace of the fleet know that Baltar's Alive?

scottiB · Feb 12, 2007, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by SirCastor

Does the general populace of the fleet know that Baltar's Alive?

No. And also knows nothing of Caprica6.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by SirCastor

There's also the possibility (and I wouldn't be surprised) if Baltar were found not-guilty (not to be confused with innocent) on a technicality. Or possibly, there will be a mistrial because of the problems in the fleet over the trial itself.

I wouldn't be surprised if he actually turns against humanity because of the trial and turns to help the cylons purposely.

Apparently season 4 is another huge story shift so I wonder what it is.

Eug · Feb 12, 2007, 04:51 PM

Has BSG already been officially picked up for season 4?

ort888 · Feb 12, 2007, 05:07 PM

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31565

13 Episodes for season 4. Not official yet...

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Has BSG already been officially picked up for season 4?

I don't think it is official but a given as the season 3 finale wasn't filmed with a conclusion of the whole story and they already talked of what they are doing for season 4.

Eug · Feb 12, 2007, 05:36 PM

Hmmm... Hot off the presses today too. Thanks:

The Times also is confirming that a major character will be unmasked as a Cylon before the end of the season. And if my BSG mole is to be believed, it's not Starbuck.

goMac · Feb 12, 2007, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Hmmm... Hot off the presses today too. Thanks:

Doc Cottle!

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Hmmm... Hot off the presses today too. Thanks:

Linkie?

Eug · Feb 12, 2007, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Linkie?

ort's link above links to a TV Guide post from a TV Guide writer.

Direct link here: TV Guide Community: Best <i>Battlestar</i> News Ever!

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 12, 2007, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

ort's link above links to a TV Guide post from a TV Guide writer.

Direct link here: TV Guide Community: Best <i>Battlestar</i> News Ever!

Wait why only 13 episodes?

Peter · Feb 12, 2007, 05:53 PM

isn't 13 episodes half a season?

?!