09. Starbuck. Let us count the ways. (Single Digits Guys!)

[krickets]

So this is a bit self-serving, I'll say that right off the bat. I was looking for some Starbuck character meta earlier and couldn't find any. So, I figured I'd see what thinky thoughts you guys have about her. (I know they're floating around up there in that grey matter somewhere!)

According to this poll, Starbuck is the undisputed favorite with BSG fans. Or, at least, with the BSG fans who are taking my polls. (Let's disregard for a moment that I didn't say, "pick your favorite," hahaha. I think it stands to reason that most people would pick their favs when asked to choose between characters.)

For me personally, Starbuck is unequivocally my favorite fictional character of all time. Hands down. But I'm sure there are many who dislike her or are neutral towards her. So, I wanna hear about it. And why. There is absolutely no judgement here, every single opinion is welcome and wanted.

It can be from the superficial (I don't like her hair/I like her hair!) to the philosophical. I don't care. I wanna know.

1, 2, 3, GO!

Comments

[jellyfrog.livejournal.com]

She's my favorite fictional character of all time too (or at least television character; I haven't considered other media). Which is a little surprising since the long-standing previous holder of that title was Jean-Luc Picard. They are... not similar.

As for why... hmm. Well, without question her frakked-up-ness is key. She's strong, tough, heroic, but also vulnerable and incredibly flawed. And I'm not sure if this makes sense, but as this hotshot Viper pilot she's kind of a romantic figure, yet she's not romanticized. She sweats, her hair gets messed up, she doesn't wear make-up. And when she screws up it's because she really screwed up, not because things were out of her control or her motives were misunderstood. She's not always sympathetic, but she's always dynamic. You can't take your eyes off her.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

her frakked-up-ness is key → Why is it that the more emotionally flawed the character, the more we love them? Strange.

yet she's not romanticized. She sweats, her hair gets messed up, she doesn't wear make-up. And when she screws up it's because she really screwed up, not because things were out of her control or her motives were misunderstood → Yes, yes, yes, and YES.

She's not always sympathetic, but she's always dynamic. You can't take your eyes off her. → Agreed. I think there are times when it's not just the audience that doesn't get Starbuck (why did she do that?), but just as much, I think Starbuck doesn't get Starbuck. She's her own worst enemy in some ways, and she's also a big fat question mark - even to herself.