Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.07

And I thought last week's episode was awesome. This one's just as good, if not better. This season's slow start is starting to payoff in big ways and we're not even at the mid-season point yet.

The biggest central development is the uneasy alliance and joint operation to take out the Resurrection Hub between the Colonials and the Rebel Cylons. This presents a fundamental dynamic shift in the make up of the fleet and sets up a concrete direction for the series endgame. Every major beat that transpires in this hour is directly connected to this new status quo.

The loss of Gaeta's lower leg is due to the Demetrius' delay in returning to the fleet because Helo was waiting for the away team to return. Where Gaeta goes from this point is anybody's guess. He's already built up a lot of resentment towards Kara for being labelled a traitor and almost being shot out the airlock due to his involvement in Baltar's government. Now he can blame her for his current condition as well as Anders (who shot Felix and is very shaken up by the ordeal) and Helo.

"Gaeta's Lament" is an immediate and moving result of his amputation. After a few scenes, I was beginning to feel that the creators were milking it for all its worth, but its uses at the end of the hour really drove home the feelings of tragedy, loss, and uncertainty that pervade the two cliffhanger moments. It goes without saying that Alessandro Juliani has a great voice and his delivery was perfect. I could tell that the man could really sing beautifully, yet he was able to channel Felix's pain and fear, giving these scenes a realism.



The two scenes of scheming and reversal between Natalie, Leoben, and Eight rang a little false and convenient. At first, Leoben is all about trust and it starting somewhere and Natalie is wanting to have a back up double-cross ready. Later, after her meeting with the Quorum, Natalie suddenly wants the Cylons to be the first to trust and Leoben is a little resistant, partially due to the Centurions being committed to the plan. It just seemed awkward.

I guess this was the writer's way of getting Natalie back on Galactica so she could be shot by Sharon. I certainly hope this is the last time I have to see an episode of BSG end with Grace Park shooting someone (this is the third I can think of off the top of my head). I guess I can understand Sharon's panic. She knows that the Rebels are supposed to get the Final Five, so she may be afraid of the idea that Hera might be on that list once it's revealed. She's had her daughter taken from her before, so she'd definitely in defense mode.

Things are further complicated by the sudden jump by the Baseship once the Hybrid is plugged back in. Roslin's desperation to determine the meaning of her visions may have cost a lot of people their lives. Not only does she have Baltar, Starbuck, and Helo in tow, but a whole squadron of Vipers, their pilots, and Marines were on board when the ship jumped. I wonder if this will lead to Vice President Zarak attempting to seize control of the government. This would give Lee something to do for once.

Despite a few grievances, this was an outstanding episode. The plot is really picking up steam and there's a definite feeling of change transpiring over these last two hours. It's going to be a long two weeks of waiting.

8 out of 10