Episode 176 – I Have This Sudden Urge to Dedicate My Productive Cooperation

Episodes discussed: BSG 2×17 The Captain’s Hand and Buffy 6×13 Dead Things

Time Stamps: BSG 00:00-1:23:00; Buffy 1:23:00 to the end

The Captain’s Hand

Written by Jeff Vlaming; Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan

Lee and Kara clash with the new Pegasus commander over leadership styles. Discussion points include:

• A month later on the Pegasus…
• The chain of command
• People aren’t machines
• Inevitability and foreshadowing
• Tory vs. Billy
• The right to choose

Dead Things

Written by Steven S. DeKnight; Directed by James A. Contner

The Geek Trio take their villainy to new, dangerous levels. Discussion points includes:

• Who are the plural dead things?
• Warren’s motivated malice
• The idea of rape
• Trust and intimacy
• Buffy’s breakdown
• The importance of consent

Next time: Buffy 6×14 Older and Far Away and BSG 2×18 Downloaded.

Episode 175 – When the Iron is Hot

Episodes discussed: Angel 3×13 Waiting in the Wings and BSG 2×16 Sacrifice

Time Stamps: Angel 00:00-58:00; BSG 58:00 to the end

Waiting in the Wings

Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

A trip to the ballet puts the relationships within Angel’s team center stage. Discussion points include:

• Summer Glau dances her way into Angel
• Angel and Cordy’s budding feelings
• The love triptych
• The joys of ballet (and Hamilton)
• Wesley and the Count
• Groo’s return

Sacrifice

Written by Anne Cofell Saunders; Directed by Reynaldo Villalobos

Dee tries to decide between Lee and Billy while a vigilante group takes Cloud Nine hostage. Discussion points includes:

• A wishy-washy love triangle
• Sad, emo Lee
• Taking the temperature of the fleet
• Fear and revenge
• The death of innocence and idealism
• The individuality of Cylons

Next time: BSG 2×17 The Captain’s Hand and Buffy 6×13 Dead Things.

Episode 174 – A Taste for Nuggets

Episodes discussed: BSG 2×15 Scar and Buffy 6×12 Doublemeat Palace

Time Stamps: BSG 00:00-1:02:00; Buffy 1:02:00 to the end

Scar

Written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle; Directed by Michael Nankin

Starbuck, Kat, and the rest of the pilots go head to head with the fiercest and deadliest Cylon raider. Discussion points include:

• Dead-end jobs
• Kat goes from nugget to lifer
• Starbuck’s new perspective
• Following the structure
• Starbuck and her Mini Me
• The final roll call

Doublemeat Palace

Written by Jane Espenson; Written by Nick Marck

Buffy gets a job at the local fast food chain. Discussion points includes:

• The Trio’s varying degrees of evil
• Buffy becomes a productive member of society
• The regulars
• The deep, dark veggie secret
• Halfrek stirs the pot
• The convenience of magic

Next time: Angel 3×13 Waiting in the Wings and BSG 2×16 Sacrifice.

Episode 173 – Not All Good Deeds and Happy Endings

Episodes discussed: Angel 3×12 Provider and BSG 2×14 Black Market

Time Stamps: Angel 00:00-48:08; BSG 48:08 to the end

Provider

Written by Scott Murphy; Directed by Bill Norton

Angel becomes the voice of fiscal practicality while Cordy focuses on the mission. Discussion points include:

• Security vs. mission
• Favoring the rich
• The ambiguously gay duo
• Wes & Gunn provide a service
• Fred’s good head
• Justine passes the test

Black Market

Written by Mark Verheiden; Written by James Head

Lee is assigned to investigate the growing power of the fleet’s seedy underbelly. Discussion points includes:

• The not-free market
• Phelan’s omnipotence
• Lee’s companion
• Girls of the past and future
• Trying too hard not to care
• Laying out the rules

Next time: BSG x215 Scar and Buffy 6×12 Doublemeat Palace.