Felix Gaeta - Rebel Patriot

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Felix Gaeta - Rebel Patriot

The first few episodes of the second half of Battlestar Galactica's 5th and final season lead to some of the most stunning character developments and evolutions since the series began. Characters took actions that many, including themselves, would not have believe themselves capable of at the start of the series. While many might say that Anastasia Dualla's suicide attempt, or Admiral Adama's pact with the Cylon's are the most revolutionary, I would have to say that without a doubt that the biggest change is in Felix Gaeta, who went from Adama loyalist and model officer to a mutineer planning a deadly coup.

Gaeta, who is, behind Gaius Baltar, arguarably one of the most intelligent Colonials that we have seen on the show, had a slow, but definite path to his final role. One could argue that the change began when he discovered the plot to rig the Presidential election in favor of Laura Roslin. This led to him experiencing life on occupied New Caprica. Here he acted as a Presidential Aide to Baltar, the first time he truly took an opposing stance from Adama, although he still held a great deal of respect for the man. When the Cylons invaded New Caprica, he continued working for Baltar, in order to try to blunt what the Cyclons were doing and to pass information to the resistence.

The next significant milestone in the evolution of his character, leading him down the path from model Colonial Officer to mutineer, was his trial by “The Circle” of collaboration with the Cylons where he is nearly sent to death, before they find out about his heroics in helping the resistence. This event really starts Gaeta's disallusionment with his fellow officers, and afterwards he is more prone to question orders, sometimes vehemently, that he does not agree with.

The final event which significantly impacted Gaeta was the mission to locate Earth aboard the Demetrius that was commanded by Starbuck. Many members of that crew, led by Gaeta, attempted to mutiny against Starbuck in order to return to Galactica. This mutiny led to Gaeta being shot in the leg, a wound that would eventually cause amputation. It was a combination of everythign that came before, this injury, the discovery that Earth was really a devestated Cylon homeworld, and Adama's decision to install Cylon jump technology on the ships of the fleet that led to Gaeta's decision to free Zarak and launch a coup.

The character of Felix Gaeta is perhaps one of the more complex in all of Galactica. His transformation, while gradual, is not as extreme as it is first seen to be. While his loyalty for Adama and Roslin is lost, he still is doing what he thinks to be right in order to save and preserve the fleet. Like many rebels, he considers himself to be a patriot, doing what has to be done, regardless of the cost.

V'Ger
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:33:53 +0000

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