The Road Less Traveled

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.05

This hour focuses on a few of the major arcs running through this season of BSG. The main plot centers on the crew of the Demetrius and their continuing doubts concerning Starbuck's command decisions. The other two overlap a little, almost forming a single thread, and involve the changes and transformations that Tyrol and Baltar are currently undergoing. All come back to this seasons strongest theme: faith.

Things get really complicated on the Demetrius when the crew discovers a damaged Cylon heavy raider spinning through space. Its only occupant is Leoben, the one Cylon that has constantly put Kara through the emotional wringer and has plagued her since the first season. His appearance takes a different spin this time, though. Kara is desperate for some kind of help in her mission to find Earth, and Leoben is more than willing to offer guidance.

I was hoping that Anders' encounter with Leoben would bear a little more fruit than it did. Leoben does acknowledge Anders' importance in Kara's future, but I guess I'm chomping at the bit for more Final Five revelations. I guess I need to learn a little patience.

One of the things that I've been really disappointed with this storyline is Sharon's lack of involvement. More specifically her lack of involvement with Anders and Leoben. It feels that her Cylon nature has all but been forgotten. It even feels like she's forgotten it too, especially in regards to the crew's suspicions towards Starbuck. I would like to see some sort of conversation between Sharon and Anders that somehow relates to her being a Cylon, but living as a human.

Back on Galactica, Tyrol is still coming to terms with Cally's death, as well as his true nature. He's in a bit of a tailspin and he even finds himself at one of Baltar's love-ins. Whether or not Baltar's concessions towards the Chief are genuine is yet to be seen, but he plays sincerely. Another connection these two have is the increasing involvement of Tory Foster in their lives. She continues to encourage Tyrol to embrace his Cylon nature and she's also gotten over her crying during sex with Baltar.

It bothers me that Tory is the only one of the Revealed Four to act shady and manipulative. It seems that the Cylons that deal in lies, manipulation, and secrets have mostly been female models. There's Caprica Six, who originally slept with Baltar to get inside the Colonial defense grid. Sharon played stupid, pretty Helo so she could get a baby. Boomer, who's switch flipped and she blew out Galactica's water tanks and shot Adama. As far as male Cylon models go, Leoben has been the most creepy and sinister, even more so in regards to Kara. Interesting to note that these three models are the ones that came to the aid of the lobotomized raiders and look to be the faction that will potentially align themselves with the humans.

Best Scene: Pike getting brutally knocked out by Helo for getting all mutinous and in his face. Dude, I know your call sign is "Gonzo", but Agathon is twice your size. Stupid move, brother. Seriously.

Big Question: Who's going to side with whom when the mutiny goes down on the Demetrius? From the previews, it looks like someone's getting a bullet in the leg.

7 out of 10