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

[37-soul-sister.livejournal.com]

I used to love Starbuck. I loved her in the mini and in the first season. She was spunky and wouldn't take any crap from anyone. But when she started her relationship with Sam, I started to not like her as much. I felt like her whole Lee-Sam triangle was so forced and didn't make ANY sense to me at all. I hated her relationship decisions and the fact that it was so melodramatic. It felt like they were taking up so much show time on Starbuck's love life. 1) What is so cool about who she used to be was that she was so independent. 2) it made the show feel more immature because a lot of the choices she made and the things she did were immature. I would have rather seen a more mature relationship develop, like Adama and Roslin's. (I guess I'm just jealous that Kara and Lee get so much face time with their relationship because their the "young, pretty ones," so now I resent her character.) Also, how many times can you repeat saying that Kara has a "special destiny?" I GET IT ALREADY, GOSH! I hope in the 4th season, she goes back to either the old, independent, girl power starbuck, or matures completely.

I do LOVE Katee Sackhoff and I think she plays starbuck wonderfully. Some of her choices have been really powerful. For example, the scene where she tells Adama that Zack's death was her fault. Or when Lee shouts that he loves her on NC, and she can't bring herself to scream it back. I was in tears for both of those moments. Good stuff.

Sorry, that was long, but those are my reasons.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to disagree with you about her relationship with Sam, just for myself personally. I thought it made a lot of sense. I think it was rushed in part to get her back to the fleet, but beyond that I've really enjoyed the way that's played out. And maybe it's because I'm not so easily annoyed by soap-type drama? I dunno. And I'm not really a staunch shipper in any direction. Maybe it's because Kara has so much chemistry with pretty much anybody she's on screen with? I dunno.

I think the reason Roslin and Adama don't get as much face time when it comes to their personal relationship has everything to do with the fact that these are our two leaders and zero to do with Starbuck.

While the audience is smart and perfectly capable of saying "okay but they're people too," there's something to be said for keeping them respectible and trustworthy. And if we were given too much of the romance, the audience might well be asking themselves "but where are their priorities?" Which is why the flashbacks with them on New Caprica were included, I think. To show that, when she wasn't the president, and when the cylons were a non-issue, these two people very likely would end up together. But after that, they have the rest of the human race to look after.

And who knows, maybe they're frakking in the supply closet while no one is looking and we'll find out in season four? Maybe? Hahaha.

Anyway, back to Starbuck. I can see how the "special destiny/chosen one/big damn hero" thing could get old. I personally find that compelling, but I do understand that that's a huge peeve for the fans. It's often the special kids that get picked on the most. Heh. (I so didn't mean it to sound like that.)