Escape Velocity

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.04

"Escape Velocity" is a strictly a transition episode. Its purpose is to reflect on the events that have transpired over the first three hours of the season and move people into place for next set of plot pushes. This isn't a bad episode, by any means, but after the shocking death of the Cally last week, it certainly doesn't feel like it has the impact of the previous shows.

Galen Tyrol is going through a very rough patch. Not only does he have to deal with the fact that he's a Cylon in hiding, but now he is a widower with a child. All these things cause him to question virtually everything that has transpired in his life. I believe that he really did care about Cally, but he did settle and he admits it. His previous love, Boomer, turned out to be a Cylon and rejoined her people. Her copy, Sharon, is married to Helo, so that knocks her out of the running as a replacement.

The Chief's job performance is also suffering as a result of his preoccupation. I thought Racetrack was a goner after the Raptor crash, but she and her co-pilot came out of it unscathed. Everyone seems willing to cut Tyrol a break, until he unloads on Adama at Joe's Bar. Wherever he's being reassigned will probably allow him to act a little more unrestrained, and we may see Galen explore his Cylon nature more.

Tyrol's struggle has had a major effect on Tigh. The XO lost his own wife last season, and the wound is still pretty fresh. These memories start to complicate matters when he decides to go visit Caprica Six in the brig. Having images of Ellen Tigh dressed as Six and speaking her words was eerie, fantastic and really drove home Saul's confusion and pain. These scenes also set up a relationship between Tigh and Caprica Six, not necessarily as lovers, but potential confidants.

There is some major development in the positioning of Baltar as a true cult/religious leader in this episode. When his followers are attacked by a fundamentalist group, he decides to rail against those who would persecute the monotheists. The most shocking thing about this is that it appears that Gaius actually believes in what he is saying and is willing to fight and suffer for this cause.

Best Scene of the Episode: Baltar taking a beating by the soldiers that won't let him and his people back into their chambers. I don't know if idea of Head Six picking Baltar off the deck was hilarious or goofy, but it was interesting to watch.

Missing in Action: The crew of the Demetrius. No new developments there. All we get is a small flash of Starbuck sleeping over some star charts as Anders watches. The previews make it appear that this deficit will be more than made up next week. Also, there was no news from Cylon-ville, but next week's appearance of Leobon will hopefully solve that.

Big Question: How far will Roslin go to consolidate power? She's making laws that are obvious attempts at containing Baltar's growing power, but she's doing so under the false appearance of protecting people. Her scene with Gaius in the brig was pretty chilling.

7 out of 10