I’ve become fascinated with chords and melody after watching Battlestar Galactica, “Someone To Watch Over Me.” In the episode, two story lines braided together: a flashy one involving Boomer, with heartbreaking betrayal, violence, sex, and a kidnapping; and a quieter one, introspective and surreal, about Starbuck working through her daddy issues at a piano. The mood of the entire series is in all minor keys, but Boomer’s rampage through the emotional lives of Tyrol, Athena and Helo are a counterpoint to Starbuck’s melancholy reminiscence. Scenes cut between dramatic action and single-key fumbling towards a half-remembered melody. Then the left handed chords become urgent, the right-handed notes gain confidence, and the song becomes recognizable. By the time the music coalesces into “All Along the Watchtower” and Saul Tigh growls “what the frak?” we realize what we’ve seen. After four seasons of prophecy and mysticism, in the movements of the quieter story thread, we’ve gotten our most direct glimpse of the hand of God.
About the episode: http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/episodes.php?seas=4&ep=419&act=1
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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