May 26, 2008

Analyzing the Image

THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
The actors are real, most everything else is CGI or has been modified/altered through CGI.

Location and Arrangement: An empty half-lit Hangar Deck, a long table partially covered with ceremonial Colonial bunting, the people are formed into two groups - three of the six on the left on one bench, five of six on the right on the second bench, with only Roslin and Adama sit/standing in front of the table. All have their feet on the ground except Roslin, who dangles one in the air, Tyrol who has a foot on the right bench, and Helo who has one on the right bench. They are placed under 6 arch supports, with painted set of blast doors composing the wall behind them. There are eleven little round spotlights, six large rectangular lights, and six overhead light panels. Six of the people wear the Colonial military uniform, two in casual off-duty military gear. The image shows their legs and many are formed into shapes.



WHO'S AT THE TABLE
#1 Laura Roslin (President) - Lighting ceremonial fire (Kamala?) - in an outfit we've never seen - with a serene confidence peering over to look at Adama ... she holds fire ... most likely she will take a large amount of Kamala and have a singular revelatory vision. Her hair looks healthy, not like a wig.
#2 Natalie (Six Model) - Pointing an accusatory finger at Sharon and Helo (or possibly Caprica Six)
#3 Col. Saul Tigh - sits stolidly - looking across table to either Kara or Sharon (if you follow his eye-level) - a closed religious book in front of him ... his fist is closed
* the Grail Cup - Moore teases that the Final Cylon is not at the table and the cup represents that person
#4 Lee Adama (Apollo) - Stares ahead - aloof, interior - a grail cup in front of him between he and Tigh as well as a clipboard and pen ... he sits as if he is August Rodin's Thinking Man statue


#5 Dr. Gaius Baltar - dressed in nice new clothes including a royal purple jacket, reacting with apparent surprise to Caprica Six standing behind him - a glass half-full of water in front of him (the glass reflects nothing), as well as one of the seals on the bunting
#6 Six - in the sixth position, of course - in the red dress Head-Six likes to wear and from the original miniseries' ads - she seems open, vulnerable, surprised even - she seems to look into the distance or possibly at Natalie - she wears a bracelet on her right wrist
#7 Kara Thrace - Starbuck - she seems distant but physically responds to the embrace by Anders, her dogtag dangling about her neck. A small closed book sits in front of her as well as the second seal of the bunting.
#8 Samual T. Anders - gently kisses Kara's head and embraces her - they seem in their own world, apart from the others - his tags hang around his neck also. A full glass of water sits in front of Anders's elbow. Where are his tattoos?
#9 Chief Gaelen Tyrol - Intense, his body compact as he clutches a knife and stares intently at it - he seems in his own world also and is between the full glass (which reflects much skin - his hand possibly, or Anders' arm) and an open religious book
#10 Sharon Valerii - recoiling in fear or to the safety of her husband - seemingly from Natalie's accusation - she is dressed in her Colonial Fleet uniform and raises an arm defensively (or is she pointing at Adama?) ... the bible of the 12 colonies sits open in front of her
#11 Lt. Karl C. "Helo" Agathon - He seems protective of his wife -enfolding himself around her, his face full of resolve
#12 Commander William "Husker" Adama - He seems removed, staring off into the distance before him

WHAT RON MOORE HAS TEASED ABOUT THE IMAGE
Roslin - "She's burning something of importance that has to do with a plot turn midseason"
Natalie - "She assumes a leadership position for a group of Cylons that has a separate agenda from the rest of them"
Tigh - "Turning a blind eye"
Lee - "He does not return to flight status" and there is a Judas reference in the EW interactive image
Baltar - says Baltar's savior track "is not what the story is about"
Six - "Baltar's Six has proclaimed that she is delivering the gospel of the [Cylon's] one true god, so it seemed natural to place her at the center of the photo" [He specified Head Six and/or Caprica Six]
Kara - "The only one embracing Starbuck is Anders"
Anders - ibid
Tyrol - "The Chief does not have a pleasant time of it this season." His child with Callie would be the second human-Cylon hybrid "One should consider the knife in his hand in that context"
Athena-Sharon - "The person they're [Sharon and Helo] are looking at is definitely reacting" [Sharon's and Helo's eyes are up so it can only be Natalie to whom they are reacting] Helo - ibid
Adama ... it should be noted that Adama sits with one group opposite his son, Roslin and Tigh, "They are turned toward each other," referencing Roslin and Adama

TWO GROUPS:

On the left it is Roslin, Natalie, Tigh, Lee, Baltar and Six. The book of the Old Gods is closed.
On the right is Kara, Anders, Tyrol, Sharon, Helo and Adama. The book of the Old Gods is open.
Are these the opposing sides of the conflict to embroil the story until its conclusion?
The SpaceWesterns article (link below) references the water glasses as possible register marks.
Here's what the image looks like if you cut out what's inbetween the water glasses[click on images for larger, clearer views]. Natalie is now obviously pointing at Helo/Athena, and Roslin is certainly looking at Adama, and Tyrol's knife is at Baltar's head.


Here's the cut-out part of the image (two sets of lovers, one apart, one together).



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