DPP: Rules

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

Every once in a while, usually sooner than later we end up speaking about obeying/stretching/breaking the rules.

Usually we tend to see Lee as going by the book and Kara being the one to break all the rules.

So, today's question fro the shipper nation is: what do you think? is it true? is it false? or is it just blown out of proportion?

Comments

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

Also, given that Kara does offer to "leave Sam" (by which I assume she means divorce him) two episodes later because she's decided she's cheating herself out of what she wants just because "I said some words to the wrong guy" sure does make it seem like she is not terribly serious about honoring her marriage vow, whatever its specific contents were.

When I saw the EOJ scene, I felt like Kara used the vows breaking mostly as an excuse but seeing the TAB scene you mentioned made me think that she actually might have really felt like divorce was a sin and the god's would have punished her for it. I felt like she said that barley surviving yet another near-death experience made her realize that she is sick of constantly cheating herself out of happiness, because of some fear of gods or sense of wrongness, when quite frankly she or Lee can die on any given day. Basically, she is saying, that the gods keep frakking up with her anyway and she has no idea what they have planned for her and how much time she has left and she is still scared of potential repercussions but she is willing to overcome her fears and risk it. Not sure if I made myself clear.

Your analysis is great and as always spot on. We don't really know anything about the religious principles in the BSG universe and whether Kara sticks to them or just sticks to her own set of rules and beliefs.

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

You make a great point about Kara's near-death experience and the impact that may have had on her faith, very well said. (It's interesting that being near death would reduce Kara's respect and caution towards the gods, given that it might equally easily have pushed her into more serious efforts to live by their rules, since she expected to be meeting them soon and facing the consequences for any sins she chose in life). If we were supposed to see Kara's faith as very important to her, then something of a spiritual crisis must have been involved in the reversal of her decision about divorce in "Taking a Break." I think such a crisis was not very evident in the immediate aftermath of her crash, as we saw in "Rapture." But I would have liked to have seen more, I think it could possibly have sold me a lot more on her storyline here if her motivations had been given more screentime and exploration. I would have liked to have seen a real crisis of faith and conscience, rather than just a quick line of dialogue to justify such a complete "180" turn-around, as Lee put it.

As filmed, it seemed to me that religiosity was a distant second in her motivations. The most important thing that changed her mind was that Lee refused to continue as before and broke things off with her completely, hardly seeing her at all in the time she was recovering. I think that drove home to her that she had to make a choice she didn't want to make, that she couldn't have Lee on the terms she preferred (an affair). I think she decided she couldn't live without him, and so was willing to accept his terms on the divorce question.

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

It's interesting that being near death would reduce Kara's respect and caution towards the gods, given that it might equally easily have pushed her into more serious efforts to live by their rules, since she expected to be meeting them soon and facing the consequences for any sins she chose in life

I fully agree. It is so hard to really see what was going on in Kara's head at that time. I don't think she made a complete 180 with her beliefs though. I think that on a spur of a moment, she is saying "frak it, the gods already have plenty to punish me for so breaking a vow I gave to the wrong guy will merely add one on my list". Still it feels that agreeing to the divorce was a massive step for Kara and deep down maybe she was really terrified that the gods will punish her by killing of Lee or Sam. Also, Kara believes that she is a screw-up and given her role in Zak's death, has hard time trusting her heart and decisions made out of love

As filmed, it seemed to me that religiosity was a distant second in her motivations. The most important thing that changed her mind was that Lee refused to continue as before and broke things off with her completely, hardly seeing her at all in the time she was recovering. I think that drove home to her that she had to make a choice she didn't want to make, that she couldn't have Lee on the terms she preferred (an affair). I think she decided she couldn't live without him, and so was willing to accept his terms on the divorce question.

Totally agree. Plus she felt like it was her fault that they got into that situation in the first place. I so wished the extended TAB scene was not deleted. It conveys so much and the acting is so perfect.

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Kara believes that she is a screw-up and given her role in Zak's death, has hard time trusting her heart and decisions made out of love.

I really agree -- that right there seems to be at the heart of so much of what she does.

[requialexa.livejournal.com]

Jumping in at the last here, but I really loved the above discussion.

Kara believes that she is a screw-up and given her role in Zak's death, has hard time trusting her heart and decisions made out of love.

I think this also means she feels unworthy of the Gods' love/redemption so I'm sure she has many moments of "Why do I even bother trying when I'm too far gone anyway?" Especially when she seems to be constantly thrown into peril by the Gods she so fervently believes in. I think her faith in the gods is strong, but her faith in herself is where the lack is...

She tries to sacrifice her love for Lee (and also there's an element of trying to force his hand) by saying she won't divorce...tries to submit to the very minimum of what is 'required' (because, really, if the gods know her, how could they expect more?) but then she almost dies anyway...and is still miserable (of course yes, She could have swung the other way...) so she decides to just throw in the towel. I'm sure she's had this push-pull before in many areas of her life!

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

I think this also means she feels unworthy of the Gods' love/redemption so I'm sure she has many moments of "Why do I even bother trying when I'm too far gone anyway?" Especially when she seems to be constantly thrown into peril by the Gods she so fervently believes in. I think her faith in the gods is strong, but her faith in herself is where the lack is...

Very well said. This is exactly what I am thinking, just did not know how to put it in words.

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

I love your whole comment, but this in particular rang true to me:

I think her faith in the gods is strong, but her faith in herself is where the lack is...

Thank you for your insights!

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

I would have liked to have seen a real crisis of faith and conscience, rather than just a quick line of dialogue to justify such a complete "180" turn-around, as Lee put it.

yes, that would have been nice to see. and useful for more than one purpose. maybe if not only us but Lee would have seen that, his response .bight have been different. but as it was shown it is a very fast, unexplained 180. and a lot of people (including myself) tend to not trust those.

[anamarya.livejournal.com]

Your analysis is great and as always spot on. We don't really know anything about the religious principles in the BSG universe and whether Kara sticks to them or just sticks to her own set of rules and beliefs.

very true. we don't really know what the set of rules are so can't really say if she goes or not by them .