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

I'll vote NAY.

[whyoffry.livejournal.com]

I've never cared for her because she has no discipline. She is insubordinate and makes shitty decisions regularly. She's embodies many characteristics I dislike. However, I think she tries and there is plenty of genuine feeling. She isn't entirely at fault for who she is (hello fucked up childhood). Add another however! I don't see much growth there, but I haven't been paying much attention because she bugs me so much. I'm looking forward to seeing the NEW KARA that is talked about in the interviews. I'm anxious to see where this goes with her.

Katee Sackhoff plays her brilliantly. I couldn't see anyone else portraying her. Some of the best scenes in the show feature her, so kudos lady!

[akzseinga.livejournal.com]

I simply love her. And Helo. And Sam. I'm Kara/Helo/Sam fan and I'm proud of it!

There, I said it. But I guess you knew that already ;)

[rap541.livejournal.com]

See, I like Starbuck because in a lot of ways she's a very unlikable person and yet she does have an inner core of "must do whats right". Now, that makes her moments of darkness more difficult - her near murder of Gaeta because she just wanted to hurt someone, her casual adultery with Lee, her *hateful8 way of treating Lee like she loved him and marrying Sam the next day - its disappointing but it's very real.

[savepureness.livejournal.com]

Saying something bad about Starbuck would mean yo chew my own tongue, savvy? One of the main reasons I love her is that I can almost totally identify myself with her -- even throughout that silly Scar story when she actually made me so angry I felt like kicking her moving image -- and such a selfish person as I am would never say anything disregarding of self, right? ;)

[airings.livejournal.com]

I like Kara because she's a badass. And a pimp.

Seriously though, I think I like her a lot because she's tough, strong, smokes cigars, gets drunk, deeply flawed, doesn't take orders from no one, and her honesty is refreshing.

She's not my favorite though (hi, Gaius!) but she's my favorite femal fictional character ever.

[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.

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

I like her hair! ;)
No - but I guess I DO like her hair. I liked her hair longer, beginning of S3 hair. It was pretty.
I love Starbuck. I think she's just so interesting to watch on screen. She could be making a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and it would probably still be pretty damn interesting. And I don't know if that's just Katee Sackhoff or the character herself - but either way she has such a presence on screen that is fascinating to watch.
Plus she kicks so much ass and she's crazy and awesome and hilarious and..I love her!

[becisvolatile.livejournal.com]

When I grow up, I want to be Starbuck. Initially that’s all I really have to say. It’s just that frakking simple… except, it’s never that simple.

Here’s my sleeve and here’s my heart, let me go even further than saying that Starbuck is my favorite character: I’ll go so far as to say that it’s because of Starbuck that BSG is my favorite show. And that’s a pretty logical connection if you consider a couple things.

A basic principle of television is that it provides a point of intellectual and emotional engagement for an audience. I won’t watch if I don’t find a point of engagement. For me, it’s Kara. She has the swagger that I wish I did. She has the menfolk that I wish I did and she’s, quite literally, “special”… which I think a lot of people wish they were.

I wrote a much more substantial meta on this stuff that, maybe one day, I will post. But that’s really it, she has just the right combination of attributes that I wish I had. Even her “bad” habits have her ending up in bed with hot men and kicking arse.

And even when her character behaves like I shit I’m still compelled to love her because if I identify with her and hate her for doing something, well… isn’t that like hating myself?

To clarify, I know that I’m not Starbuck. And you probably think I’m a nut, but it’s a well-studied fact that people need to identify with character to invest in a show, Starbuck is my “in” to BSG, so she’s my favorite. That’s the cliff-notes version anyway.

*runs off to go and shoot down imaginary Raiders*

[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.

[demonqueen666.livejournal.com]

I think it's because she somehow amazingly manages to be two very difficult things at the same time, 1) badass and 2) real.

Starbuck is undeniably a frakked-up character, but she's screwed up and complicated in a way that's so very real and believable, unlike a lot of the "I am a TORMENTED SOUL" screw-ups that tend to be written for television (she even looks like a real woman: she's beautiful, but not over the top). And yet, she's always 100% totally badass, taking names and blowing shit up and saving the day. And she sells it. Half the time you'll see a character like this and you find yourself going "Yeah, yeah, she's THE TOUGH CHICK, we get it. *rolleyes*" But Starbuck sells it. She's the best pilot. The best shot. She busts the ass of those below her and socks those above her in the face and does shots and plays pyramids and stabs with knives. And you really believe that she can. Because she's Starbuck.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[fridge-buzz-now.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say that your first few sentences were why I didn't like her originally, until I began to notice that her crappy decision making skills make her one of the more complex and interesting characters in the BSG universe. I am also looking forward to this Shiny New Earthbound Kara.

[fridge-buzz-now.livejournal.com]

I love her because she's super-strong and even though she's very vulnerable, she hides it well. This may make for some emotional problems, but it's good watchin'!

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[whyoffry.livejournal.com]

I certainly wouldn't refute that she is a complex character, I don't care for one note characters either (I'll get myself into trouble here but Helo. Damn), but since I can't find some sort of common ground I'm not pulled in to her story.

Some kind of clarity of spirit perhaps? Besides the new haircut and shiny viper. Hee!

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[fridge-buzz-now.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I feel like she's softened up a lot more since season one, but maybe that's just me. I also like the silly "special destiny" storyline they keep setting up for her. It's right up my alley. Also, I think I'm one of the few people that isn't annoyed by the love quadrangle of Lee/Dee/Kara/Anders. Like I said somewhere else in this post, it's good watching.
I do agree with you about Helo, though. I can't help but love how simple he is, but every once in a while I'd like a new angle on the guy.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I'll get myself into trouble here but Helo. Damn
- Hee! As much as I love Helo, I have to agree with you on that one. *pets him*

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[whyoffry.livejournal.com]

The poor, hot, boy. Stuck with lollipops and Toaster love. I don't think the "Woman King" did him any favors.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hopefully season 4 Kara surprises you. Based on how the last season ended, I've a feeling she's got a lot of angst coming her way though. Which is cool if you like the angst. (Which I happen to! So yay!)

Some of the best scenes in the show feature her → I think, in the very least, even if you don't particularly like Starbuck, it's hard to deny that she's compelling to watch.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I don't think the "Woman King" did him any favors. → Oh you're too right. It's sad really.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hah! I do! I'm also happy to see your old layout back up! You had that back before I ever watched this show and I thought it was "cool looking." Now that I know who belongs to the tops of those heads I'm just... *sigh*


LOL well it looks like you changed it already... so nevermind. You know which one I mean though! :D

[ack-attack.livejournal.com]

I love her because:

a. I have a huge crush on Katee Sackhoff
b. She kicks ass and takes names
c. But is still vulnerable
d. And the more frakked up a character is, the more I seem to love them (Sawyer? yes)
e. She is fun to icon haha
f. She's got the best taste in men ever
g. I love her relationship with Adama. Senior and Junior.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[whyoffry.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see some payoff about that destiny and apparently season four is all about it so... Yay. From my perspective, she got harder with the exploration of her character, more trapped? perhaps, by horrible events. She's sinking, or sunk, really by "Maelstrom." Her rebirth will be an interesting moment for her. How shiny is she going to be? I would hope she gets some peace of mind 'cause damn, but from the looks of the promos, and this being bsg, NOT SO MUCH.

He's pretty though. Nice boxing partner and friend to Kara.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[whyoffry.livejournal.com]

This wouldn't be Battlestar without that particular element.

Indeed. I can't wait to see her scenes with Adama. The tidbits given? WOWZA. It could top the emotional whallop of the "Act of Contrition" confrontation.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

she does have an inner core of "must do whats right"

She really does. I think that's apparent from the start for me. She's honest but she's brutal about it. Very much the antithesis of Apollo which is what she's supposed to be. Both inherently heroic, but both go about it in two totally different ways. Regarding her duties, with the exception of the incident with Zach, Starbuck doesn't frak up. She may stomp around like the schoolyard bully, and say (true) things that piss off the people around her, but at the end of the day she gets the job done and you can count on her.

And I agree that some of her actions in season three weren't that smart and certainly aren't going to win anybody over. But honestly, they just made me even more sad for her?

ETA: I wanted to add this about season 3. As much as I love the Leoben/Starbuck dynamic, I can't deny that he really did take something from her in New Caprica. I mean, he stripped her of her power when she was with him, she made him believe in something that wasn't real (Kacey), and in a way I think he made her believe in her destiny, and he made her care for him too. (When she holds his hand.) Etc. And I do think that changed her character forever. She's not the same person she was in season one or even season two, and she probably never will be again. Especially given the final events of s3.

Re: I'll vote NAY.

[fridge-buzz-now.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'm overdue for some season 3 re-watching. I saw her sudden marriage to Anders as a "cleaning up" move. Season 4 should definitely be interesting.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Savvy! *salutes*

Yeah I think I identify with her as well, and maybe that's why she's so dear to me as far as characters go. It is often the ones we identify with most that are our favorites. So what does that say about me?

I'm not really a Harry Potter fan, I read the books and watch the movies and discuss a little but I don't participate in fandom. But I remember a berjillion years ago I said to my friend Bradley. "I like Hermione the best."

And he said, "You would! She's so bossy!" Hahaha. Looks like nothing's changed!