The Perfect Unfinished Mix

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

Put your gloves on, today's discussion is about Unfinished Business. 



The most romantic BSG episode has two version and although, people vary as to which one they prefer, I think that it is safe to assume that we all wish that the final product was a combination of  these two. Some things are simply better in UB, while others in UBEX. Today, we're going to mix up the best of both episodes in order to "create" the perfect 'Unfinished Business' cut. 

Throughout the day, I will be posting caps (courtesy of Emma-Jane), videos (courtesy of pilotography) or descriptions of Kara/Lee scenes that differ between the aired and extended version. I'll try to go from ep start to finish and include all the important moments.

P.S. Yesterday's game was a great fun. Many thanks to everyone who contributed with some wonderful drabbles. The post will stay open until the end of the week so feel free to keep the fun going. Those poor kids are still keeping their clothes on and haven't even shared a proper kiss. I think it'd be cruel of us to leave them like that.

Comments

Re: Uncle Saul

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

I agree with everyone. I just wanted to add that Kara also realized that it was an excellent opportunity to end the self-destructive cycle that Lee and her were trapped in for years. It wasn't what her heart wanted but she took the chance and made the decision for both Lee and her. She truly believed that they were bad for each other and that the guilt, fears and the intensity of their feelings would destroy them both.

Kara sees marriage as a lifetime commitment (no going back, no do-overs) so that morning she decided to give up flying, military career, time with Papadama, the love of her life and her best friend FOREVER in order to break herself from Lee and protect them both.

Re: Uncle Saul

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

I get ya, but I'm more of the 'she had a freak out spaz moment' and less of the 'she made a conscious thought-out decision to give Lee up forever' (maybe I only believe that because it hurts to believe the other way though). I think she backed herself into a corner on purpose A. because she thought it was the only way to protect both of them and B. because she was terrified and being rash that day.

I don't usually make my best decisions ever during my walk of shame hangover mornings. ;)

Re: Uncle Saul

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

I'm actually with you too. I think it was a semi-conscious decision that she regretted the moment she saw Lee that morning. She still felt that she was doing the right thing for both of them but it hurt like hell. I'm undecided on the topic whether she realized how much she was giving up or whether she didn't really think it through that much.

Re: Uncle Saul

[apollosspear.livejournal.com]

I see what you are saying and, I am prepared for rocks getting thrown at me, in essence she (and Lee) is a coward. I dont know. I understand she is vulnerable, as is Lee who under all that hardwired DUTY,HONOR,BELIEFS!!, is a petulant, resentful abandoned little boy. But in this case he took a chance, he knows who and what Kara is. He knows the vulnerability and pain that she hides behind the badass crazy pilot. He has seen the horrible horrible mistakes she has made (baltar, the unnamed major?, serving under his father [who i am more and more believing that maybe Lee is every bit right in his opinion on high an mighty Willy]) and he will still take her over anything.

But she couldn't, wouldn't?, overcome those fears and take a chance herself. Isn't the mark of someone truly brave to overcome not the demons on the outside, but the far worse demons on the inside?

I dont know, even through it all, as much as i can not watch the show now, and as much as i hate a lot of the decisions made, i find myself boiling it down to only caring and loving Kara and Lee. Even if they are idiots.

Re: Uncle Saul

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

*throws pebble at you* :)

Yeah, of course I believe she SHOULD HAVE taken the chance, but I do see the other side (I've been that stupid girl) so I can't really cut her down for it too much. Sometimes the ones who seem the strongest on the outside are actually crippled with doubts within themselves. I also was 100% on Lee's side at first and thought she was behaving wretchedly (which she was) but then I remind myself that in her mind, she was protecting him too. And that helps a bit with the rage.

Re: Uncle Saul

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

Also in her mind, I think she always knew Lee had feelings for her (not well hidden really) but from where she sat, he kinda never pushed them forward and I think she saw that as 'he wants me, but he doesn't want to want me' and the way he never truly acted (ok, he did a little a couple times) probably made her feel like she was something he wanted against his better judgement and tried not to want. And I'm guessing that hurt her pride.

Re: Uncle Saul

[apollosspear.livejournal.com]

This is true, but the awful, and annoying, ghost of Zak Adama pops up. Remember "girlfriend stealer?", and with an absentee father, and a drunk mother, Lee was a dad at what, six? I know a lot of what we think we know is fannon, but we draw the assumptions from the facts we are given.

Zak, dead or alive is a HUGE hurdle to jump for our pilots. Her guilt over him dying, his guilt over wanting his dead brothers girl, and his anger over her choosing to got to his father and not, I dont know staying where they can grieve and later evolve into something more, not planned btw but Evidential.

And I will go ahead and throw in there the guilt she might feel over the whole baltar thing, and even the whole anders thing too.

They both have a self fulfilling guilt\self hate thing going but I believe (my hopeless romantic side coming out) that they would have overcome that crap together. She makes him think without the blinders and believe in himself and he makes her strong and overcome her insecurities with unwavering belief and support in her.

Re: Uncle Saul

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

Their both cowards and they both hurt each other equally. Lee's really confident int he night and he looks happy in the morning but I'm not that sure that when reality would kick in later on that he wouldn't be the one running away. Look at TAB (especially with the extended rec-room scene): it's a Kara who puts all her cards on the table and Lee is the one who takes the cowardly route.

I can't blame them for being scared. It's difficult enough to give a part of your heart and soul to someone, it's insane to give yourself to a person who owns your heart fully. They're everything to each other, which makes the stakes way too high. The feelings for each other is the one thing in their lives that neither of them is able to control, the one thing that makes them completely vulnerable and out of control and stripped to the bone.

It also doesn't help that they learned right from the start to associate any sexual feelings for each other with guilt, shame, self-loathing and they both see it as their biggest weakness.

Re: Uncle Saul

[apollosspear.livejournal.com]

I agree for the most part but I disagree with one thing, yes Lee was cowardly in TAB but I can not say that would be his reaction to the morning after. Remember TAB is after the affair and Kara telling Lee she won't divorce. She slammed the door on his hopes that they could leave their mistakes of marriages and start something together. So he is gunshy already.

If it was me I would have jumped at the chance, but Lee is a "fool me twice" kinda guy. So I understand more his cowardace. But I want to punch him in the gut and make him say yes to Kara in TAB.

Re: Uncle Saul

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

You're right. I don't actually think that Lee would run away if for nothing else that he is a man of principle and he and Kara agreed to do this together. He's definitely the more mature here. He could have had his doubts later on and get scared but he'd talk to Kara about it or in worst case scenario avoid her for some time but he wouldn't do anything as stupid as elope with Dee.

I still think that at the end of the day, they are both equally (even if for different reasons) responsible for the mess they are constantly in. Lee loves Kara but he doesn't make a move until it's impossibly too late and she uses people she doesn't care that much about to shield herself from him. Basically both are sending signals to the other: "I love you but this is wrong and we should just be friends and find other people".

Re: Uncle Saul

[apollosspear.livejournal.com]

I almost completely agree with you again, except I see it as "I love you but I am too scared to get hurt or to hurt you again."

But my hopeless romantic side is still screaming for them to grow a pair and be happy

Re: Uncle Saul

[sugarhaven.livejournal.com]

"he wanted against his better judgement and tried not to want"
I think this is really true for both of them. They're pretty well aware that they have feelings for each other but not really sure whether it's wise to do anything about it.

I remind myself that in her mind, she was protecting him too
Exactly, and even thought it's Kara who ends it, it doesn't mean that it hurts her any less. Lee can at least hate her but she has only herself to blame.

Re: Uncle Saul

[apollosspear.livejournal.com]

And dont get me wrong, Lee is every bit the coward when he won't take the chance Kara gives him the opportunity when she tells him she will leave anders. he succumbs to his fear that she will hurt him again