Discussion Post for 3.12 - Deathwatch - General

Aug 03, 2013 09:54

This is the general discussion post for the episode 3.12 "Deathwatch". Spoilers for the whole series are allowed here

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Comments 18

emmzzi August 3 2013, 10:15:50 UTC
Ahhh Avon's ridiculous shoulder pads. How awesome they are ( ... )

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corvuscornix August 4 2013, 08:41:34 UTC
Boucher really is great at giving everyone stuff to do. I also had to check but yes, I began to suspect it was him when Dayna started having proper characterisation...

Though I think I've read/heard Boucher say somewhere (commentary track possibly) that he disliked writing romantic pairings between major characters, so I don't know where that kiss came from... (You're not alone in finding it off. I don't get it either. If Servalan had initiated it, possibly, but Avon? *shakes head*)

If Servalan asking about Del was televised it again raises questions about his official status in the Federation (as Avon says the whole thing was broadcast even back on Earth.) He's not officially aboard the Liberator and/or a wanted criminal like the rest? (At least his brother doesn't seem to know anything.)

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emmzzi August 4 2013, 15:29:11 UTC
Maybe because my headcanon Avon is all "Well, I tried women once, shebetrayed me, not really going to do that again, where's the scrabble?" I agree a lot!

I suspect the Federation's database of criminals is all over the place and includes at least half the staff at this stage.

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corvuscornix August 8 2013, 19:42:08 UTC
not really going to do that again, where's the scrabble?
*g* (Although I suppose that Servalan might be a good choice if he wanted to avoid the "will she betrayed me too" uncertainty aspect of a new relationship, because yes, it's Servalan. OF COURSE she will.)

I have to say that I think Avon's been acting suprisingly stable since 'Rumours', so for me this feels like the first sign of that encroaching S4 craziness. (Although for a moment there when he asked to be teleported with his arms still around her, it looked as if he was about teleport with her as hostage - which might have made the kiss make more sense as a trick, as in 'Sarcophagus'. Perhaps he just thought the better of it.)

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corvuscornix August 4 2013, 08:49:11 UTC
Rather like with the board games, I really enjoy that they are all essentially sitting down together to watch telly. With snacks. Quickly deteriorating into quibbling over the remote (or the voice-control, in this case.) They act so very much like a family in this one, complete with the kids Cally and Vila chasing each other. (Was Cally trying to imitate Avon with that insult? In any case, it must be the happiest scene between her and Vila since their reunion back in 'Powerplay ( ... )

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emmzzi August 4 2013, 15:32:13 UTC
heh, telly and snacks! yes!

I think Avon is very wary of working the crew too hard - Blake did, and it did not end well - and is keen for downtime wherever he can get it. (Have they given up looking for Blake? A bit, I think.)

I'm going to have to rewatch for the handshake when I get back to my DVDs, I didn't pick up on that

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corvuscornix August 8 2013, 19:43:54 UTC
I think Avon is very wary of working the crew too hard
I'm still not convinced that Avon sees himself as their leader enough to think like that; I'll go with personal reasons.

Yes, I think they have... started to let go of the missing people, accepting that they probably will not find them again, maybe? Or at least that they are not in control of whether or not they do? Which may be why they've seemed slightly more at ease in the last few eps?

Involuntary handshake was at the end when Avon was giving Max Orac's "legal advice" and emphasising it with that finger in the air thing he sometimes does, and obviously being completely unprepared for Max actually taking his hand and shaking it. It amused me, mostly because of body-language continuity. :-)

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anne_arthur August 4 2013, 22:49:03 UTC
Well, a good Tarrant episode, so I'm happy ( ... )

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emmzzi August 5 2013, 20:49:16 UTC
The Tarrant boys: futuristic RAF fighter pilots with no emotions and stiff upper lips

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anne_arthur August 6 2013, 21:45:07 UTC
I think that's a bit unkind! Being brought up not to share your emotions with all the world and his wife (which they clearly have been) is not the same as not having any, IMO.

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emmzzi August 7 2013, 13:21:56 UTC
oh, I'm quite sure it's the same for fighter pilots!

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awdureslf August 5 2013, 08:55:18 UTC
I'm not as fond of this episode as most of Chris Boucher's eps to be honest. Perhaps because Tarrant never really grabbed me as a character? Deeta is an interesting contrast though, a bit of a pity more wasn't done with that.

I'm also not entirely convinced by the (male) crew's delight at the idea of watching this. Vila of all people is the one to bring up the idea, it doesn't suit him at all! There must be less bloodthirsty festivals with equal amounts of entertainment. Does he think this is what would appeal to the rest of them, part of his miscalculated effort to persuade them to take a break, along with getting Orac to to say how tid they all are?

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emmzzi August 5 2013, 20:50:14 UTC
I suspect Vila likes anything not involving being in danger. His reaction to the feelings through the disc though do show it's more than he bargained for.

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corvuscornix August 8 2013, 19:55:29 UTC
There must be less bloodthirsty festivals with equal amounts of entertainment.
But perhaps very few that would be as safe for them to enjoy? I'm not sure about Tarrant (though the idea of "honourable combat" evidently seems to appeal to him) but for Avon I think the safety aspect is the only real attraction (when he explains the popularity of it he seems to be talking about the general opinion rather than his own.) Vila, I think is there for the party and not much concerned with the reason for it; perhaps he wouldn't even have bothered to watch the thing if the surrounding festivities hadn't been cancelled.

part of his miscalculated effort to persuade them to take a breakNot sure that it was miscalculated at all - they ended up doing exactly what he wanted! The "altruistic concern" was so transparent that I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be. Making the others feel superior and/or amusing them by "seeing through it" both draws them into the argument, making it less easy to just ignore him, as well as perhaps making them feel more ( ... )

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corvuscornix August 8 2013, 19:49:28 UTC
...completely OT but I admire your prescient choice of icon for this post, one day ahead of the news? (Also: hey, I know who that is now! :-)

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