Entertainment
Battlestar Galactica's Most Controversial Scene Is Secretly Brilliant
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Some fans of Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica are still annoyed at the sex scene in “Kobol’s Last Gleaming.” That’s because fan-favorite character Starbuck hooks up with skeezy tech con man Gaius Baltar rather than Captain Adama, a character that many saw as her soul mate. However, this controversial scene is secretly brilliant for a reason most overlook: Adama actor Jamie Bamber was actually performing in this sensual scene until Starbuck called out his character’s first name and it switched to Jamie Callis, which was the show’s way of showing audiences who she really wanted to knock combat boots with.
The Battlestar Galactica Sex Scenes Fans Still Hate
If you don’t remember seeing Jamie Bamber in this Battlestar Galactica sex scene, you’re not going crazy. His face is never actually shown, and the only way that you can tell it’s him is through his body shape, which is subtly different from Baltar actor James Callis. When a fan wrote to Ronald Moore to ask about this scene, the showrunner confirmed that this secret switcheroo was done “to establish who Starbuck would rather be with.”
It may be worth contextualizing these characters and their relationships so that you can better understand the significance of Battlestar Galactica’s sneakiest sex scene. You see, Starbuck’s first real love was Captain Lee Adama’s brother Zak, who tragically died in his first tour of duty due to pilot error while flying his Viper. Before that, she and Zak were engaged, which is one of the reasons she is so tight with Commander Adama, father to both Zak and Lee Adama.
Starbuck always had great chemistry with Captain Adama, something we saw onscreen thanks to the sizzling performances of Katee Sackhoff and Jamie Bamber. They quickly became the show’s big “will they or won’t they” couple, and as early as the first season, fans were frantically wanting the two of them to hook up. Therefore, when that Battlestar Galactica Season 1 finale featured a surprise sex scene between Starbuck and the loathsome Dr. Baltar, it felt like a slap in the face to all those who were rooting for Captain Adama and Starbuck to go make the Viper with two backs.
However, Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ronald Moore confirmed back in 2005 that the Adama/Baltar switcheroo during this sex scene was designed to show us who Starbuck really wanted to hook up with. This is perfectly in line with her personality as we see the hotshot pilot constantly making personal and professional mistakes throughout the show. Outside of the cockpit, she’s almost as messed up as her enemy-turned-friend Colonel Tigh, so having her bang the show’s worst character while secretly wanting to have a relationship with its best one is, frankly, par for the course.
Because we’re huge Battlestar Galactica fans, Moore’s words about this sex scene were fairly reassuring. It drives home the idea that Starbuck never really desired Baltar; she wanted the comparatively wholesome Lee Adama but sublimated her desires so much that she hooked up with the ship’s resident mad scientist. She later made life difficult for Baltar, which shouldn’t have surprised him. After all, he knew more than anyone else just how dangerous a badass blonde can really be.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
