Poor Tom Zarek, Notice other characters keep biting his style? Rating Options

[ashoka1]

To the Colonial fleet: QUIT BITING ON THE MANS STYLE!

I've noticed something really wierd over the last 2 seasons.

Hatch plays his role very well.
But it seems that poor Zarek's a sort of testing-character.
They introduce Zarek, to introduce a new concept. To test out something new.

Then, for some reason, they abandon the Zarek character.
And they hand over his style to some newbie character, or one of the main stars.

- He was introduced as Roslin's chief radical political rival (Bastille Day).
Then, Baltar usurped that role.

- He was presented as a sort of terrorist/insurgent (Bastille Day).
Then, during the occupation, (Bl)Anders (of all people) usurped that role.

- He was presented as a potential political traitor to the fleet (Resistance).
Then, Gaeta and Baltar usurped that role.

- He was presented as the fleets shady operator/Lee Adama's real-politik instructor (Black Market).
Then, Romo Lampkin usurped that role.

- He was presented as the fleets resident Revolutionary analyst (Colonial Day).
Then, woah!, Baltar usurped that role.

- He was a VP on the verge of the presidency (post-occupation).
Now, Lee Adama seems to have usurped that role.
I know it's early, but since the start of the series everyone's figured that Lee will end up President.
His recent resignation doesn't mean ***** unless he enters politics.
Again, no chance for Zarek to do anything.

The last we saw Hatch, he was warning Roslin about the consequences of the trial.
He was a truthful advisor.
Given the history of the character, I expect to see a new character, or a main one, usurping that role as well.

Poor Zarek. People are always biting his shite.

[ProperNoun]

I'd rather think of it as trailblazing.

[ashoka1]

I'd rather think of it as trailblazing.

lol!
He needs some of that intellectual property rights protection shite.

[cafsiopeia]

I like Zarek. Would like more of him. Poor Tom indeed.

[SamStarEagle]

Buncha' POSERS!!!



Zarek was the super cool outsider before bein' the super cool outsider was cool!!!

[Benfea]

I'm sure it's just a matter of behind-the-scenes logistics, but I have a serious problem with Baltar stirring up the fleet using anxiety over an emerging overclass, and we don't hear a single peep out of Zarek? That's just wrong, man!

I can understand Lee not speaking up because most officers learn to stay out of public political discourse. I can understand Roslin not getting involved in the discussion until it's nearly too late because she's been getting very... "Mayberry Machiavelli" as the series progresses (although I'm glad she's taking positive steps to counteract the socioeconomic stratification).

[maxbell]

I'm really betting Zarek is the first person Gaius goes to see after his trial ends. He's been stirring up agitation in the Saggitron population, those are Zarek's peeps. Zarek was Baltar's Veep, has probably been publishing his Manifesto for him, and the two of them are going to try to overthrow Bill and Laura with the help of a Saggitron insurgency.

[ashoka1]

Buncha' POSERS!!!

Zarek was the super cool outsider before bein' the super cool outsider was cool!!!

Yup. That sums up what I was getting at.

He makes the sacrifices and takes the verbal abuse...so that tomorrow's generation of controversial/manifesto-publishing/rabble-rousing/paramilitary/machiavellian leaders can do the same without consequence.

Veterans deserve to be recognized!

I'm really betting Zarek is the first person Gaius goes to see after his trial ends. He's been stirring up agitation in the Saggitron population, those are Zarek's peeps. Zarek was Baltar's Veep, has probably been publishing his Manifesto for him, and the two of them are going to try to overthrow Bill and Laura with the help of a Saggitron insurgency.

Did you hear RDM's recent podcasts? What you describe won't happen.

The entire Sagitarron (with some Zarek involvement) storyline was cut.
From the sound of it, it didn't sound too interesting, so I don't hold that against the writers.

[Benfea]

Yup. That sums up what I was getting at.

He makes the sacrifices and takes the verbal abuse...so that tomorrow's generation of controversial/manifesto-publishing/rabble-rousing/paramilitary/machiavellian leaders can do the same without consequence.

Veterans deserve to be recognized!

Besides which, Baltar's sudden "conversion" to caring about the plight of the lower classes seems to be entirely out of self-interest. Up until fairly recently, he was doing his level best to oppress the hell out of them, which is what prompted Tyrol's labor activism.

[maxbell]

Did you hear RDM's recent podcasts? What you describe won't happen.

So what was the purpose of establishing that entire story line in the first place?

*Puzzled*

[MHall]

Well, if Zarek and Helo are right, a storm is coming... a hurricane. Anarchy would please ashoka1 and probably benefit Tom Zarek.

The LORD is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and furiously destroys his enemies! The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. (Nahum 1:2-8 NLT)

[airmack23]

I would like to see Tom Zarek's character a lot more. I still can't believe that Tom Zarek is a "minor" character in the BSG story. I've only seen him in a few short scenes, that's not fair. Dude has sooooo much potential to add to the depth of BSG series, but I guess the writers have something else in mind.

By the way i met Richard Hatch at WonderCon in San Fran. I even talked to him about BSG and took a pic w/ him! Realllyyyy down to earth guy, and he was always joking around with me when i asked him if he was going to be one of the final five cylons =]

Mr. Hatch if ur reading this, its me, Mark! The kid with the glasses and shaved head!

[AuH2O]

Well, if Zarek and Helo are right, a storm is coming... a hurricane. Anarchy would please ashoka1 and probably benefit Tom Zarek.

The LORD is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and wrath. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and furiously destroys his enemies! The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. (Nahum 1:2-8 NLT)

I don't have to point out to you that the next chapter continues, "The one who scatters has come up against you. Man the fortress, watch the road; Strengthen your back, summon all your strength."

[pangeamaru]

Hear hear! I'm all in favor of seeing more Tom Zarek. He's a fascinating character who's been severely underused; why didn't we get more Zarek storylines instead of Shagathon or the Quadrangle of Doooooom?

Besides, Richard Hatch does a fantastic job. I'd rather watch five more minutes of him interacting with Roslin than an entire Helo episode...

[Subjekt2323]

Yes its truly a shame they dont give us more Zarek. Baltars book? anyone remember Zareks banned book on class struggle and the need for hegemonic +military guerilla warfare (or something like that)?

[LadyLucilla]

To me, one of the disappointments of Season 3 is the underutilization of Tom Zarek.

It started out great with the New Caprica scenes, where Zarek -- a man who (alledgedly) tried to have Roslin assassinated back in 'Colonial Day' -- flirted with Roslin, told her she was right about trying to fix the election, gave his gun to Jammer as extra protection for Roslin during the exodus and stepped down from the presidency without a fight and let Roslin become President.

With Zarek as Roslin's VP, I was looking forward to a fair amount of fireworks and confrontations between them (and Adama) as they dealt with issues of the fleet -- such the Circle trials in 'Collaborators'.

But after 'Collaborators' there was NOTHING along those lines, except Zarek's warning about a "hurricane" to come if she went ahead with Baltar's trial.

*SIGH*

Such a waste of a wonderful character like Tom Zarek. When he's on screen, you just never know what he's going to do or say, and I miss that.

Besides, Richard Hatch does a fantastic job. I'd rather watch five more minutes of him interacting with Roslin than an entire Helo episode...

So Say We All....!!

Yes its truly a shame they dont give us more Zarek. Baltars book? anyone remember Zareks banned book on class struggle and the need for hegemonic +military guerilla warfare (or something like that)?

I remember it. And I was very surprised that someone -- especially Zarek himself -- didn't make a comment about it, pointing out that Baltar was just copying what Zarek did years ago.

[ashoka1]

How does Trucco/(Bl)Anders get more storylines than Hatch/Zarek?

I can understand if Richard Hatch costs alot more to hire than Trucco.
But Anders has been on the show so much...while being such a generic character.
And now that Starbuck's dead...what's the point of him?
Yet he shows up in every episode.

If they got Zarek to be the fleets spy chief or something (like the Colonial CIA)...
They could create so much drama.

You could create all these cool turf wars between Adama/Roslin/Zarek...
It would give the leaders of the fleet something to do (other than torture Baltar).

Hope the writers pick up the ball.

[Dreamscene]

Bring back Tom Zarek!

[SardaukarCenturi...]

Zareck is a very good character, but for a strange reason, not used often. I don't understand the point of this.

[MHall]

Zarek, Zarek, Zarek, Zarek, Zarek, Zarek!