...Since she shot her XO, which is what Adama leaves out. Which makes it Cain's fault and Cain's choice that she wasn't.
True. But then Cain did not have the same relationship Adama did with his XO. As Adama states to Lee towards the beginning - an XO has got to be your right arm. You have to trust them. It's an ironic statement, considering what we now know about Saul. But it is the difference between the two. Cain is shown early on not really respecting her XO. She's on the tread-mill alone, in the room alone. She isolates herself. He's invited her to leave for drinks, she turns him down. Adama does the opposite with Saul - it's clear they are friends, devoted to each other. Family.
Also,the fact that she does shoot her XO makes it impossible for her to get close to the next one. Fisk is cleary too afraid of her to ever challenge her decisions. It is what isolates her. The choice to rule her men with fear as opposed to gaining their trust.
Moreover, regarding the Gina matter, I found it telling that when Gina has the gun directly after Kendra outs her, she hesitates for that fatal moment, can't bring herself to shoot Cain immediately. Which ties with the show's presentation of the Cylons as more human than humans on occasion.
BSG has been consistent in that regard. Demonstrating that neither the humans nor the cylons are the bad guys. Both are capable of horrible and wonderful things. Both are human. Gina/Six is a perfect example. She is shown doing horrid things - yet at the same time, capable of love and compassion. She clearly cared for Cain, a great deal. Her hesitation demonstrates that as does her expression when she sees Cain ordering the torture and prior, when she sees Cain's reaction to the video clip of Six.
And of course viewers of the second season know the full extent of the "pain and degradation" Cain inflicts on Gina.
I think in a way that made the prior relationship between Cain/Gina all the more powerful. It's almost as if Cain felt that the more she tortured, degraded, shamed Gina, the harder she, Cain, would become. Gina represented to Cain - her weakness, her vulnerabilty, as well as being a symbol of the cylons who disrupted her life and killed her family. I wonder if Cain would have gone so far if Gina had merely been a foot solider much like Leoben on Galatica? And I wonder how Adama would react if he discovered someone similarily close to him was a cylon? Someone like Saul? Or Starbuck? Or Rosyln? (Sharon was one thing, but Saul?)
Rape...is often, at least in films, books, and tv shows - a violent act that is perpetuated against someone who the perpetuator at some point cared deeply for. I've always fond that bit odd. Yet, when I think about it, it makes sense. Of all the acts of violence - rape contains the highest level of degradation, betrayal and shame. It is a violation. Turning what should be an act of love into an act of violence and hate. The fact that Helena Cain has a man rape her female lover - is interesting in that context. Cain feels violated by the revelation that her *lover* is a cylon, so Gina must be violated as well, but not directly by Cain so much as by Cain's foot-solider or proxy. I wonder, if it were possible, if Helena would have tried to do the rape herself? The rape like all the other things she does to Gina - feels like an act of extended rage. The Wrath of Cain...she's so filled with rage at this point that whomever cuts across it becomes it's target.
And she tells her crew, specifically Kendra, to hold on to their rage. At first just to get through. Once Gina is revealed as a cylon traitor, Cain allows the rage to consume her, until, there is little left.
One last irony, though, regarding Adama and Cain: in the end, Cain did take back her order to assassinate Adama (and he his to assassinate her), without either of them knowin.
Great point! I'd forgotten that bit. Yes, Cain blinks and eventually changes her mind - she does not go through with her plan to kill Adama. I'm not sure if it is because the mission is successful or if Cain, like Adama, realized it was wrong...and in that moment regained her humanity.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2007-11-25 11:22 pm (UTC)...Since she shot her XO, which is what Adama leaves out. Which makes it Cain's fault and Cain's choice that she wasn't.
True. But then Cain did not have the same relationship Adama did with his XO. As Adama states to Lee towards the beginning - an XO has got to be your right arm. You have to trust them. It's an ironic statement, considering what we now know about Saul. But it is the difference between the two. Cain is shown early on not really respecting her XO. She's on the tread-mill alone, in the room alone. She isolates herself. He's invited her to leave for drinks, she turns him down. Adama does the opposite with Saul - it's clear they are friends, devoted to each other. Family.
Also,the fact that she does shoot her XO makes it impossible for her to get close to the next one. Fisk is cleary too afraid of her to ever challenge her decisions. It is what isolates her. The choice to rule her men with fear as opposed to gaining their trust.
Moreover, regarding the Gina matter, I found it telling that when Gina has the gun directly after Kendra outs her, she hesitates for that fatal moment, can't bring herself to shoot Cain immediately. Which ties with the show's presentation of the Cylons as more human than humans on occasion.
BSG has been consistent in that regard. Demonstrating that neither the humans nor the cylons are the bad guys. Both are capable of horrible and wonderful things. Both are human. Gina/Six is a perfect example. She is shown doing horrid things - yet at the same time, capable of love and compassion. She clearly cared for Cain, a great deal. Her hesitation demonstrates that as does her expression when she sees Cain ordering the torture and prior, when she sees Cain's reaction to the video clip of Six.
And of course viewers of the second season know the full extent of the "pain and degradation" Cain inflicts on Gina.
I think in a way that made the prior relationship between Cain/Gina all the more powerful. It's almost as if Cain felt that the more she tortured, degraded, shamed Gina, the harder she, Cain, would become. Gina represented to Cain - her weakness, her vulnerabilty, as well as being a symbol of the cylons who disrupted her life and killed her family. I wonder if Cain would have gone so far if Gina had merely been a foot solider much like Leoben on Galatica? And I wonder how Adama would react if he discovered someone similarily close to him was a cylon?
Someone like Saul? Or Starbuck? Or Rosyln? (Sharon was one thing, but Saul?)
Rape...is often, at least in films, books, and tv shows - a violent act that is perpetuated against someone who the perpetuator at some point cared deeply for. I've always fond that bit odd. Yet, when I think about it, it makes sense. Of all the acts of violence - rape contains the highest level of degradation, betrayal and shame. It is a violation. Turning what should be an act of love into an act of violence and hate. The fact that Helena Cain has a man rape her female lover - is interesting in that context. Cain feels violated by the revelation that her *lover* is a cylon, so Gina must be violated as well, but not directly by Cain so much as by Cain's foot-solider or proxy. I wonder, if it were possible, if Helena would have tried to do the rape herself? The rape like all the other things she does to Gina - feels like an act of extended rage. The Wrath of Cain...she's so filled with rage at this point that whomever cuts across it becomes it's target.
And she tells her crew, specifically Kendra, to hold on to their rage. At first just to get through. Once Gina is revealed as a cylon traitor, Cain allows the rage to consume her, until, there is little left.
One last irony, though, regarding Adama and Cain: in the end, Cain did take back her order to assassinate Adama (and he his to assassinate her), without either of them knowin.
Great point! I'd forgotten that bit. Yes, Cain blinks and eventually changes her mind - she does not go through with her plan to kill Adama. I'm not sure if it is because the mission is successful or if Cain, like Adama, realized it was wrong...and in that moment regained her humanity.