The Farm (Battlestar Galactica) - Characterization

Characterization

In his podcast commentary on "The Farm", Moore discusses his views of what the episode's events reveal about several of the characters.

• Following Adama's brush with death, he returns to command with his "emotions... closer to the surface." This marks a change in his character that the writers intended to affect Adama for the rest of the second season. The change is manifest in this episode in his speech returning to the CIC and his angry reaction to Roslin's message. Roslin notices the change and Adama acknowledges it in a scene deleted from "Home, Part 2".
• When Adama asks Tyrol questions about his feelings for Boomer, he is also asking them of himself, internally. His conflict over her comes to a head when he views her body. Executive producer David Eick said in a later podcast that actor Edward James Olmos (Adama) told him following shooting the morgue scene that he expected Adama would try to kill Boomer if he ever saw her again.
• Starbuck's relationship with Anders is consistent with her character: she "sleeps who she feels like sleeping with and makes no apologies for it." However, her emotional reaction to Simon telling her of Anders's death proves that she does have genuine feelings for him.
• At the start of the episode, Anders wants Starbuck to stay, but Starbuck remains focused on her mission. By the end, Starbuck's fury over her violation has changed her mind, but Anders reminds her that she has to leave.
• Roslin chooses to "play the religion card" and is surprised at the effects: people of faith in the fleet start treating her differently, with reverence. Moore says she will later come to regret her choice.

Amanda Keith of Los Angeles Newspaper Group attributes to Adama "a serious case of PTSD and a lot of misdirected rage." Susan Tankersley of Television Without Pity writes of Adama reminding Tyrol that Boomer would return, "it's not clear if Adama is trying to warn Tyrol, or comfort him. Probably a bit of both."