Daybreak (Part II)

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.20

The series finale is clearly cut into two distinct halves, both spotlighting the dichotomy that is Battlestar Galactica. The first hour was an edge of the seat, action and special effects extravaganza, while the second was serene and character focused. In the end, this was sort of ending I would expect from Ronald D. Moore and by the completion of the two hour and eleven minute finale, I was emotionally and physically spent.

Before the mission, there are a few moments that set up how the rest of the fleet will operate if Galactica and her crew don't make it back. The notion that Lt. Hoshi and Romo Lampkin were installed as the Admiral of the Fleet and President of the Colonies was hilarious yet made perfect sense. Adama, a battlestar commander aboard a ship that was about to be decommissioned, and Roslin, a low level cabinet member, were thrust into those roles at the beginning of the series, so it makes sense that their replacements would to.

Given that this was the final episode and that the danger and stakes were so high during the Galactica's attack on the Cylon colony, the feeling that anyone could die was potent. Once the old girl jumped only yards away from the front door and Gary Hutzel and his effects team got to work, it was hard to get excited. The work on the space battle scenes have always been topnotch, but this took it to a whole new level. Setting the conflict in a debris field on the edge of a collapsing star gave a different look than the usual star-speckled blackness, and evoked a feeling of our heroes storming the gates of hell. Every time the ship took a hit, I could almost feel it and the explosions and crew being thrown around on the inside helped sell the concussive nature of the battle. Throw in the Raptor strike teams jumping out a pylon, tearing a hole out of it, Vipers dogfighting thousands of Raiders, and red-stripped rebel Centurions punching it up with old school '70s models, and you've got battle that almost rivals the liberation of New Caprica in season two.

Boomer's demise went down as expected. It was fairly obvious over the last couple of episodes that she have a change of heart, betray Cavil, and bring Hera to the Colonials. When she delivered Hera into the arms of her parents, there was nothing left than to have Athena shoot her. Given that in a single episode a few weeks ago Boomer beat her up, tricked her husband into sex, and kidnapped her daughter, she was probably justified in her revenge.

I couldn't help but think that the resolution to the opera house vision was a little anti-climatic. This was a lot of build up to just have the outcome be Caprica Six and Baltar picking up Hera and taking her to CIC to be safe. The moment that the vision of the Final Five came into play was nicely handled, but overall it the outcome fell a bit flat.

What did work was the revelation of Head Six and Head Baltar as guiding forces for Caprica and Gaius. This helped the two wayward lovers reconnect and defined what was going on in their heads, especially Baltar's, all this time. However,the stilted delivery at the end of the episodes by these angels seemed to undercut the impact of the revelation. Still, Gaius Baltar stepped up to the plate and helped end the war by approaching Cavil in an attempt in end the cycle of violence.

The offer of resurrection by Tigh that finally sold Cavil on peace seemed too simple at first. Luckily, Moore found a way to use it to inject one more eruption of chaos. Tyrol finds out Tory's execution of Cally at the most inopportune time and keeping with his quick reactionary self, Galen kills her before the Final Five can complete the transfer of resurrection knowledge to the Cylon colony. I loved that once all hell broke loose (again), Cavil just decides to shoot himself right there. He was finally at his wits end with having to deal with all of this and decided to go out on his own terms.

A resolution that really worked was the payoff for Starbuck's destiny and the revelation of her true nature. I was disappointed when Ron Moore said on the podcast that the missing seventh model, Daniel, was not Kara's father as I and apparently half the watchers of the show felt they were led to believe. Still, her Christ like return and departure was very compelling. Kara Thrace did die when she plunged into that worm hole in season three. However, some greater force decided that she be returned in some fashion to complete her destiny. Her good-bye to Lee was sad and sweet, too.

The last hour dealt with our heroes finally finding a home. Ironically enough that home is Earth. Not the Earth from earlier in the season, but our Earth. Looking back, I don't recall ever seeing any continents from orbit of the first Earth, so this trick really worked for me. The twos, sixes, and eights decide to stay to help humanity settle in, who in turn decide to destroy their ships and technology and start from scratch. Also, we find out that Hera is to become our, the humans on Earth today, evolutionary mother (though the logistics of her spreading her genes is a bit staggering).

This was also the hour that the creators and actors went that extra mile to emotionally wreck their longtime viewers. The first was Kara's good-bye to Sam before he flew the fleet into the sun. Despite her treating him badly over the years, she did really love the man. His love was equally strong and enough to break through his Hybrid nature for him to shed a tear and say that he would see her on the other side.

Another great moment was the flashback of Saul and Ellen at a bar on Caprica. He's about to retire and she thinks she's about to get what she has always wanted: Saul. She has had to share him with his career and Bill Adama for far too long. This goes along way in explaining her behavior. She slept around on him so much because he was never there and part of her wanted to hurt him for that. At the end, Ellen finally gets her Saul all to herself as they march off through Africa to live out the rest of their years together.

The expected death of Laura Roslin was sweet, sad, and sincere. The romance between her and Bill was allowed to slowly develop over the four seasons and was well-earned. While I grew tired of seeing Adama break down so much in the past fifteen episodes, this one was really justified and I couldn't help but feel heartbroken when he put his wedding band on her hand (as telegraphed Laura's vision earlier in the season).

These moments were great and emotional, but the one that strangely got to me the most was Baltar's admission and acceptance of his farm roots and the fact that he had come full circle. James Callis played this moment extremely well and despite all the mistakes and self decisions the character had made over the years, I couldn't help but feel for him here. The character of Baltar seemed to have been directionless for most of the fourth season, but he got plenty of payoff in this finale. Oh, and he survived even though he helped start this mess in the first place.

As I mentioned above, the final scene between Head Caprica and Head Baltar falls sort of flat. Not that the idea was bad, but the execution wasn't up to James Callis or Tricia Helfer's best work. Still, I loved the use of the Jimi Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower" over a montage of robotic creations manufactured by the humans of Earth today. This does more to pose the question of whether or not we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of past than the conversation between the two angels.

Looking back at the series as a whole, I think that I got more personal satisfaction watching Battlestar Galactica than any other series on television. Ron Moore did an amazing job using a fantastic setting to make us reflect on real world ideas and situations. He gave us characters that were never without flaws, and rarely were any of them truly evil. It was the gray of human nature that made the show so exciting and engaging. The acting was, more often than not, excellent, particularly Mary McDonald, Edward James Olmos, and Michael Hogan. Tricia Helfer should be commended for being so versatile and so good. This was her first true acting gig. The production and special effects were motion picture worthy and I am still astonished that they were able to do so much with a television budget.

When it comes down to it, Battlestar Galactica was just a really, really good show, sci-fi or otherwise. It very, very rarely felt like a waste of an hour (I'm looking at you "Black Market"). It made me think and it thrilled me. It went out on its own terms and I'm very satisfied as a viewer who took a chance on the mini-series.

9 out of 10

Daybreak (Part I)

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.19

Here we are, the beginning of the end. As I suspected, and I'm sure others did as well, the last three hours will be delivered to us by the writer and director of the mini-series and the first episode of the series: creator Ronald D. Moore and Michael Rymer. These two have had the biggest impact on the show as a whole (my number three pick would be Gary Hutzel for those amazing big screen visual effects on a television budget). Moore ran the writers room for the entire project and was an executive producer. Rymer's docu-style direction has been the standard for everyone else that pointed a camera on the series. This is a perfect set up to bookend the series.

Another interesting move is another series of flashbacks. These take place at least a few years before the Cylon attack and are great reminder of how ordinary these characters were before fate trust them into the roles that they now inhabit. We get to see Adama on the verge of being put out to pasture by the military brass. We see Roslin dealing the tragic death of her sisters and father. We witness the first meeting of Starbuck and Apollo. Anders gives an interesting locker room interview that is an neat clue to his true nature. Finally, we get to see Baltar's frustration and shame when dealing with his elderly father, as well as the development of his relationship with Caprica Six.

Back in the present, Adama finally comes to the conclusion that Hera needs to be rescued. Whether this is because he believes, as the Final Five do, that she is the last best hope for the future of Cylon and potentially human civilization or that he just wants Galactica to go out in a blaze of glory is a little unclear. Maybe it's both. He asks for volunteers and it looks like the bulk of the cast is shipping out with him.

It's hard to really dig into this episode any further. This is the big set up for the final two hours. Still it's really, really well done, which is what I would expect from the team up of Moore and Rymer.

9 out of 10

Islanded in a Stream of Stars

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.18

It's really a shame that BSG doesn't have another half a season to explore the merging of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons into one society. I think some of the best beats for this episode were about new unholy union of these two peoples. At the beginning a Six and one of the a human crewman get into a argument about the repair work going on in their section of Galactica. An eight breaks it up and they go back to their duties. Later, when a hole tears open that same section and starts sucking people out into the vacuum, that same Six sacrifices herself and saves the life of the man she was fighting with earlier. Sure, we've seen this kind of material films about sea-faring, but it here it has the implications of a civilization on the build.

We also learn that part of the agreement that allowed the Cylons a seat on the new "Council of Captains" is that Adama would be able to transfer his flag over to the baseship and continue to have complete control of the military from there. This is a huge concession on the part of the rebels and, more than anything thus far, displays their desire to be vital and co-operative part of the fleet.

Of course this doesn't go over too well with the other ship captains. They've already started claiming pieces of the Galactica since it's obvious that the ol' girl is on her last leg. When Lee tells them that nothing is coming off the Galactic while she's still operational, one of the captains asked what does Gaius Baltar think of this. Jamie Bamber's reaction and delivery of "Gaius Baltar?!" is simple perfect. It's a mixture of shock and confusion and a little bit of pissed off.

Speaking of the Baltar, the character seems a bit rudderless as of late. What is his purpose? I think it would have been more interesting if he used his cult to make him more of a player in the political spectrum given all the changes that have been occurring politically in the fleet. Instead, we get him "outing" dead Kara as an angel and more philosophical ramblings.

Starbuck's reaction to Baltar's betrayal of her confidence was another nice moment. Instead of hauling off and decking the man in front of everyone, she simply slaps him. This is shows us that his wounding of her runs really deep. She went to him for help and he makes his findings public. She is simultaneously scared, angry, and saddened. At the same time, this offers Kara a sort of closure. The old Kara is dead and she must live as the new Kara.

Part of Kara's closure has to come from her having to accept what Sam has become, both his reveal as a Cylon and his current Hybrid-like state. Looking back, the writers were giving us clues to Sam's current condition since he was shot. His head was shaved for his brain surgery, so now he's bald like the Hybrids. He was babbling with too much information like the Hybrids, when he was trying to explain the origin of the Final Five before his operation, too. With the ship dying, it'll interesting to see what becomes of Sam. I have a feeling he'll be very important in the endgame against Cavil's forces.

The biggest blunder of the hour was yet another Adama breakdown in the bathroom. This is either the second or third this season. We shouldn't forget about prior meltdowns. Remember the model ship? What makes this even more silly is that Olmos directed this episode, so it comes off as overly indulgent.

So now we only have two episodes (three hours) left of the best science fiction show to ever grace the television screen. It looks like the ol' girl will go out with a bang, given the clues laid by the end of this episode and the previews for the next. I just hope that after the big fight with Cavil and rescue of Hera that we get at least twenty minutes of epilogue. Like Kara Thrace, I will be in need of some closure.

7 out of 10

Someone to Watch Over Me

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.17

This week's episode could be seen as the anti-thesis of last week's show. While "Deadlock" dealt with the fallout of Ellen Tigh's return and the what was revealed about the origin of the Cylons, "Someone to Watch Over Me" was an hour that acted as a major set up for the final push of episodes towards the series finale.

Since Tyrol and Boomer's relationship was introduced during the original mini-series, having them reunited is an interesting way to bookend the series. Both characters have undergone various transformations over four seasons. Sadly, the chief gets played with horrifying consequences.

Boomer may still have feelings for Galen, but she hates Athena and the life she has been able to live on Galactica. After Boomer's assassination attempt on Adama and murder by Cally, Athena was able to come in and take over her roll as a valued Raptor pilot and an officer. Also, Athena was able to find love and have a child. This episode we see Boomer maliciously try to take it all from her.

First Boomer beats Athena and ties her up, yet she doesn't kill her. It's as if she wants Athena to live with what being taken from.her. Even more sinister is Boomer's duping of Helo and having sex with him will a gagged and bloody Athena is powerless to do anything but watch. The hits keep on coming when Boomer's true objective, the kidnapping of Hera for Cavil, is finally revealed.

Hera's importance has always been that she is the first offspring of Cylon/Human procreation. This may not be the case, if what is hinted about Starbuck is true.

Kara spends most of the episode talking about her musician father, who abandoned her and her mother when she was a little girl, with a piano player in Joe's Bar. It becomes fairly obvious that Slick is some sort of ghost or memory loop or something otherworldly that only Kara can see. The big payoff is Kara's playing of notes given to her by Hera that end up being a song she would play with her father: "All Along the Watchtower". Conveniently, a few of the Final Five are in the bar when she starts banging it out and they react immediately.

This all but confirms that Starbuck is half Cylon and her father is the missing Seven whose model line was destoyed by Cavil. Could Kara Thrace being the harbinger of death really mean the death of the humans and Cylons living separately? Could this mean by being the first child of a Cylon and human, she is an indicator of what is to come and that the only hope for everybody is the melding of the two races into one society?

While this episode went a long way at cluing us in on Kara's true nature, the question of how Starbuck got to Earth and the nature of her apparent death and resurrection remain unanswered. To tell you the truth, I wonder if those questions will ever be answered. The speculation is fascinating, though.

9 out of 10

Deadlock

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.16

This week's episode deals with the repercussions of what was learned about the origin of the Cylons and the return of Ellen Tigh to the fleet. More than anything, this hour was a perfect example of how Ellen is still the selfish wife of the colonel we know and love, despite having her past memories restored. The comforting thing about this is that if and when the other four have their memories unlocked, that they won't be completely different people.

My favorite character moment of "Deadlock" occured when the Cylons take a vote whether or not to leave the fleet and strike out on their own. Ellen storms out after Saul, who voted stay, before casting her own. Tory wants to leave, but the really interesting part happens when Tyrol makes his choice. He votes to leave, too, but he says that Sam, still in a coma, would vote to stay. This says a lot about Galen Tyrol, who, despite his various flaws, is an honest and sincere person.

The tragedy involving the loss of Caprica Six and Saul's baby almost works but overall it doesn't have the emotional impact it should. The problem with this is that we never got to see these two grow close as a couple. As a result, Saul's declarations of love to Caprica while the baby's future is up in the air doesn't really ring completely true. On the flipside, Saul's grief in Adama's quarters is played perfectly by Michael Hogan and Edward James Olmos allows Bill to share it with his best friend. It seems as if these two have grown even closer after Saul was revealed to be one of the Final Five.

I'm not too sure what to make of Baltar's flock at the moment. Adama giving them guns so that they can protect themselves against the Sons of Ares may indicate the development of self-government on a local level. With the Quorum dissolved and a new system coming into place where the captains govern their own ships and represent their people under the president, the you could almost see Galactica as its own providence. It's a big ship with a lot of people, so it would make sense that different communities would develop with in her. Baltar's "town" represents a devil Adama and Roslin know and have dealt with and whom have demonstrated a level of charity and a call for unity.

The last thing worth mentioning is growing evidence that the fleet, at least on the Galactica level, is becoming a mixture of human and Cylon. This episode is full of these indicators. Saul sums it up the best when he justifies sticking with the fleet by saying that humans alone and Cylons alone has only ended badly and maybe it's time to change that. While shots of Adama constantly overseeing the repairs to Galactica by the mixed workforce got tedious, they were there to reinforce the changing state of the ship. The final scene where Roslin and Adama witness a Six at the memorial wall and the various pictures of fallen Cylons drives the point home that the humans aren't the only ones adapting. The former enemy has also begun to assimilate to the new culture of the fleet.

7 out of 10

No Exit

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.15

"No Exit" provides more background information about the origins of the Cylons and the Final Five than any episode to date. The exceptional thing is that this done without weighing down the hour in boring exposition. The creators should be applauded for not only making this episode extremely entertaining and one of the best of the season (if not the series).

This all unfolds in two different manners. First we witness Ellen Tigh's resurrection on a Cylon Baseship controlled by Cavil. This is the true Ellen, a mixture of the hard drinking, promiscuous wife of the Galactica's XO and an apparently highly intelligent woman that was partially responsible for the resurrection technology used to save the Final Five during the destruction of Earth. Kate Vernon walks the line perfectly. This is same woman we saw during the first three seasons of the series, but there's a new since of wisdom added to her texture.

We learn a lot about how the Final Five created the skin job Cylons, starting with Cavil, whom Ellen calls by his given name, John. Dean Stockwell plays Cavil as a bitter, thankless son, that wants more than the life he was given. He feels limited by the way Ellen and the others created him. Adding a creepy subtext is the fact that he knew who she really was when she was sleeping with him on New Caprica in order to get Saul released.

Also revealed is the fact that there was another model that we've never seen: the seven named Daniel. This was a smart way of explaining why we've only seen seven human models other than the Final Five, but the Sharons were the eights. The tragic story of Daniel further illustrates John's anger and jealousy when we find out that he boxed the original and spoiled the genetic code for the rest of the line.

The second manner in which the Cylon history is unveiled is through the ramblings of Sam Anders, who was shot in the head last episode. The brain injury has given him partial access to his blocked memories. Complicating things is that he has a limited time to get out all he can remember to Saul, Galen, and Tory before having to submit to life saving surgery, as well as a great deal of aphasia muddying up his delivery. The brilliance of this is that it allows the writers to only unload a limited amount of story and adds a sense of urgency that Sam may not be able to get everything out that he wants.

While this going on, Starbuck is continually by Sam's bed. Her reasoning is twofold: she still loves Sam and wants him to live, but she is also hoping to find out more information about herself and her own resurrection. Unfortunately, those two things don't necessarily go hand in hand.

Also, perculating in the background is Adama and Tyrol butting heads as to how to save Galactica. She's falling apart. Her damage is almost like a cancer and in a way reflects what's happening to the admiral's other love, Laura Roslin. Tyrol has a Cylon solution, but Adama is resistant. He doesn't seem to have a problem staffing the ship with a few Cylons in key positions, but he's only willing to go so far. It isn't until he witnesses the extent of the damage in his own quarters does it all literally hit home with Bill and he decides to let Galen do what he has to to save the ship.

"No Exit" was a extremely fine hour of BSG. With the amount of information delivered, it could have been pretty boring, but the writers were able to present it in an extremely entertaining fashion. There is a real feeling that the show is wrapping up soon and the mysteries are all coming into the light.

9 out of 10

Blood on the Scales

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.14

While "Blood on the Scales" has its share of action, it's the character moments that really sell this episode. Also, with the deaths of a few important recurring characters, the feeling that this show is nearing an endpoint and that no one is safe continue to prevail.

The last time we saw Captain Kelly, he was thrown in the brig for assassinating members of Baltar's legal defense team. This time around, he has to battle conflicting emotions of liberating Galactica from the possibility of Cylon control and his emotional ties to the people he is fighting. It comes to a head when he has Tyrol dead to rights, but lets him go. Yes, Galen is a Cylon, but he's also a guy Kelly worked closely with for years. When he is confronted by Apollo, Athena, and Tigh, Kelly completely commits to switching back over to Adama's side.

Tom Zarak comes across a little too heavy-handed, however. When he realizes that the Quorum might not back him up, he has them all executed. This may have been necessary if Gaeta decided to end the coup after he saw the bodies, but he doesn't. If anything, Zarak's actions help solidify who the good guys and bad guys are for the audience. I prefer my BSG to be a little less black and white.

The best moment in the show comes when Gaeta is sitting in a room with Baltar, having a drink and a smoke while reflecting on things past after Adama has taken back the ship. Gaeta talks about his youthful ambitions and his intellectual background while Baltar sits there on the verge of tears the entire time. It isn't until the next scene that we become fully aware of the true gravity of the situation: this is Felix's last meal.

Considering the death toll and the damage caused by the coup, it's not unreasonable that Adama and Roslin would have Zarak and Gaeta executed. At the same time, this adds symmetry to Zarak's execution of the Quorum and Gaeta's ordering Adama's death by firing squad. Felix's character journey has been interesting to watch over four seasons and it demonstrates how inherently good people can be changed by extreme circumstances.

Other things I liked:
- After watching Tyrol crawl around the guts of the ship for an hour, we get a great payoff. He was making his way to the FTL drive the entire time to take it off-line, and just in time. Nice visuals for the machinery involved, too.

- Romo Lampkin's conflicted expression when he finally decides to help Starbuck with a severely wounded Sam, after stabbing the guard with a pen. This is the second time this has happened. Someone needs to stash all writing tools in the armory.

- Roslin's anger and conviction when she is told that Adama is dead (which was a lie). I think the Cylons were a bit scared of her, too.

8 out of 10

The Oath

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.13

If the last two episodes were about the emotional impact of finding an Earth in ruin and the planting of seeds for things to come, "The Oath" is the action packed fallout. It may be easy to feel a little out of sorts due to the dramatic tone switch, since the previous hours were so character heavy. Still, I think this episode had a lot to offer and gave us a sense that things will never be the same. Then again, doesn't almost every other episode of BSG do that?

Here's some lessons learned from watching "The Oath":

1. Always keep an eye on the guy who's in charge of ship-wide operations like co-ordinating damage control and communications. Gaeta was in the perfect position to keep the deception up while at CIC. Given the fact that he's been at that job for years and has always been loyal, no one suspected anything suspicious was going on until it was too late.

2. Always keep an eye on the guy who's in charge of keeping the ship running. Tyrol's knowledge of the ship was a game changer for the Adama/Roslin camp. It was was good to see that he is still loyal to the old man even after the revelation that the chief is a Cylon.

3. Hell hath no furry like a Vice President scorned. Unlike Gaeta, Zarak knows that once you commit to an act of rebellion or terrorism, you go all the way. Unfortunately, the lesson was also learned by a deck chief on the business end of a wrench.

4. Do not frak with Starbuck. The woman will kill you dead. It was sooooooo good to get the Kara Thrace we all know and love back. She was shooting people in the head and throwing her tongue down Lee's throat... just like old times.

5. Do not underestimate two old guys that have been working together for decades. Watching Adama and Tigh, take out their captors was classic. They got to go out in a blaze of glory at the end of the hour, Wildbunch style, too. Hopefully, the guys make it through cliffhanger shoot 'em up.

6. Once everyone finds out that you're related to the folks that committed genocide, moving out of the neighborhood for a while might be a viable option. It was sad to see Sam get duped by Seelix, given that they had a brief relationship. Also, things aren't looking too hot for Caprica Six, Hera, Athena, and Helo. To make matters worse, one of the Pegasus "Yee-Haw" Boys wants to get back at Helo for Thorne's death, by taking it out on Sharon. This will probably end with Helo throwing another person's head against and exposed bolt.

7. People can come together when they realized that they're just as screwed up as the next person. It was great to see Roslin and Baltar come to an understanding and look for ways to end the mutiny. Baltar's cult has been nicely set up as a fourth faction (if you count Adama/Roslin's group, Zarak/Gaeta group, and the Cylons as the others). Baltar's plea to Gaeta was handled really well, too. It was a solid mixture of fear and a genuine concern for the ending of violence.

The previews lead me to believe that things are going to go from bad to really bad. Roslin is back in a take charge role and she's going to be on the one ship that can give the Galactica a challenge, the rebel Cylon baseship. We've already seen images of Adama standing in an airlock from the previews before the second half of season four began, but I don't think they'll do in the old guy just yet. If anyone is taking an unprotected joyride into the final frontier, it'll be Felix or Zarak. Bodies are going to hit the floor (or the vacuum); it's just a question of whose.

7 out of 10

A Disquiet Follows My Soul

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.12

After an emotionally wrenching episode last Friday, this week's offering is more subtle in tone while moving pieces in to place for some volatile payoff down the road. It is also worth noting that this is show creator and head writer Ronald D. Moore's first turn at directing. He does a decent job and doesn't fall into the trap of trying to be too avant garde like many first time directors.

It's good to have Edward James Olmos playing a cooler Adama this time around. He chewed up so much scenery over the last two or three episodes, that I feared that there wouldn't be any set left to act on. While it was heavy handed, the man still was amazing to watch in those performances. Still, Olmos is one of those actors that can convey so much more without saying a word than when he speaks and "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" plays to those strengths.

The repetition of the admiral's daily routine helps to reinforce that the man is trying to pull himself together after all the bombshells that were dropped on the fleet as of late, as well as a demonstration of a man trying to lead by example. Earth sucked, but life must go on, even if it means keeping the deck clear of discarded pieces of paper. He's not prepared to give up just yet.

Laura Roslin is different matter, though. She's caring the burden of guilt over leading humanity to what appears to be a dead end. Also, she's coming to grips that all the medication she's taking won't cure her cancer, so she would rather spend what little time she has left doing things that make her happy, like exercising or being with Bill. Her scene with Bill in the corridors of the Galactica, after he catches her running, was very real. He doesn't want her to overexert herself, yet he let's her win this argument, because he loves her so much and wants her to have some semblance of happiness before the end.

The funny thing is, Laura thinks that Bill needs a break from everything, too. This is probably a combination of her concern that now he is piling full responsibility for the fleet on his own shoulders now that she has checked out and her desire to spend time with the man she loves. This relationship continues to feel mature and real and is one of the best romances I've ever seen depicted on television.

The revelation about Tyrol's son made sense. The writers needed resolve a potential conflict in the series' mythology due to the reveal that the chief is a Cylon. Hera has been hailed as some sort of figure of divinity due to being half human and half Cylon, but little Nicky has hardly been mentioned. Moore and company went with an Occam's Razor solution and Tyrol isn't really the kid's father. It will be interesting if Galen continues to act as Nicky's dad now that Hot Dog has been revealed as his real father. Maybe they'll pull double duty, which their scene in sickbay seems to indicate.

Tyrol has some great moments during the briefing with Adama, Lee, Tigh, Gaeta, and Helo. He keeps having identity issues when referring to the Cylons. He stumbles over "them" and "we". The biggest impact of this scene is that the rebel Cylons want to join the fleet with full membership plus a seat at Quorum. In return, they will refit FTL drives of all the colonial ships with Cylon technology. This will triple their jump range, allowing the fleet to find a new home much faster.

The scene between Starbuck and Gaeta was extremely intense. He's got a lot reasons to hold a grudge against her. Keeping with her character and the fact that she's still reeling from having to dispose of her own corpse, she doesn't take any of his crap. Between the "Face of the Enemy" webisodes and these last two hours, Felix is without a doubt being set up to facilitate a civil war within the fleet. His partnering up with Tom Zarak seals his fate. This is not going to end well for the one-legged officer.

Once again, Battlestar Galactic gives us another hour of sophisticated television that we can mull over for a week until the next episode. With only eight more shows to go, there continues to be a feeling that anything can happen and anyone is expendable. With Earth now out of the equation, there's no telling how this series will wrap up.

8 out of 10

Sometimes a Great Notion

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.11

If I have one complaint about the first episode of the second half of the fourth season of Battlestar Galactica (that's a mouthful), is that the "Previously..." section let us know up front that something was going down with Dee. Not that I saw her suicide coming, but up to that point I was wondering if she was going to be revealed as the Fifth or if she was going to die. Still, the event was both sad and shocking.

Dee's death and despair gives us a tangible example of how the entire fleet is affected by the fact that Earth, the so called Promise Land, is a wasteland. The tracking shot of Bill Adama walking through Galactica's corridors further displays the hopelessness. People have their heads hung silence or they're crying. At one point, the admiral walks past a fist fight on his way to get Saul Tigh to shoot him. Bill can't do it himself, but his drunken plan falls apart when his XO sees right through it.

Kara's life gets flipped on its head after finding the wreckage of her Viper as well as what appears to be her own burnt up body. This causes her to further question her identity and her purpose. The situation is such a mindbender that even Leoben, who is always confident about fate and destiny, is afraid about the uncertainty of the situation. Both actors play this scene perfectly and the fear and doubt is etched all over their faces.

Another shocker is the reveal that the people on Earth, the thirteenth colony, are all genetically Cylon. What does this all mean? Did the Earth Cylons create the humans that went to the stars and became the Twelve Colonies? Is there an endless cycle of creators being destroyed by the created over and over again? This has all happened before...

Coinciding with this, the four revealed members of the Final Five begin to have flashbacks of their lives on Earth, before the nuclear annihilation. This all comes to a head when Saul has his own flashback and sees his wife Ellen who tells him not to worry and that everything is in place.

Is Ellen Tigh the final cylon? I think that there is a possibility that she is a version of the Six model. There are some behavioral similarities and Saul has developed a connection with Caprica Six. Also, he had flashbacks of Ellen during one of his interrogations of Six.

This is a really bleak kick off to the final run of episodes, but still Battlestar Galactica maintains its usual level of excellence.

8 out of 10

Revelations

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.10

It is unfortunate that BSG goes on hiatus with this episode. The deliberate pacing of this season, while still entertaining, didn't really pick up until the last couple of shows. Still, we do get a great hour to go out on and plenty of food for thought to mull over until sometime in early 2009.

D'Anna's negotiation with Admiral Adama and President Adama are pretty hardcore. She starts executing hostages until the Colonials hand over the Cylons that are hiding in the fleet. Tory jumps ship at the first opportunity. This is played well, since she has been the one to really embrace her true nature. Tyrol has become increasingly cynical over the course to the season. He approaches every new curveball with a shake of the head and a "whatever" attitude. Anders is still scared of how his new identity will impact his continually deteriorating relationship with Starbuck. Tigh is still the XO, and even when he is outed he continues to make decisions he feels that are in the best interest of the fleet.

Saul's revelation to Bill was one of the best moments of the season. Bill offers so many explanations as to why Saul can't be a Cylon, you'd think he had hung out on a BSG message board. Tigh has the hard job of convincing Adama that he is what he says he is and that he is still Saul Tigh, XO of Galactica and loyal friend. He is even willing to sacrifice himself in a gamble to get D'Anna to give up the hostages.

The aftermath of the scene falls way short though. Bill becomes a drunken mess within two minutes and Lee has to help him pull it together. Olmos and Bamber are great as father and son, but the transition to this event seemed too sudden, as if some build up scenes were edited out.

The rest of the hour is really great. Tory, Anders, Tyrol, and Tigh are all outted, bring a conclusion to the hiding in plain sight arc for the four. The alliance between the Colonial Fleet and the Rebel Cylons is re-established. In addition, the purpose of Starbuck's new Viper is revealed as a compass for finding Earth.

This leads to two great ending sequences, both with opposing emotional affects. The first happens when the fleet arrives in orbit of Earth. There is an emotional swell that is undeniable. We've watched these characters struggle, bleed, and die in their search for a fabled home, and when they find it one can't help be feel overjoyed for them. I especially loved Lee jumping onto the table in CSC, throwing off his blazer, and whooping. I don't know if it was scripted or not, but it works and it pumps up the celebration even more.

Which leads us to the real conclusion to the journey. When the entire cast lands on Earth they find it an irradiated wasteland. It appears to be the Earth of our future due to the fallen facade of a Christian church and twisted skyscraper skeletons in the distance. Director Michael Rymer, who has been present since the mini-series and is largely responsible for the way every other director has shot the show, does an incredible job with the scene that is silent except for the waves of the sea crashing on the shore.

The silent reactions of the individual cast members are amazing and they say so much about these characters. Adama is angry; Roslin is crestfallen; D'Anna looks at them both as if expecting some kind of answer. Tory and Anders join hands; Athena and Helo hold hands as well; Caprica Six approaches Tigh and puts her hand on his shoulder. Dee looks reflective (I didn't see Gaeta); Baltar can do nothing but sit on a rock; Galen cynically chuckles and shakes his head as if this is the biggest, foul prank ever played. Then come three reactions that really got me: Lee sadness increases with each step as the camera tracks him through the single shot that wraps the hour up; Leoben just looks down at the ground unable to move as a betrayed and defeated prophet; Kara's is the last face we see and it's about to erupt in tears. She led them all there. She led Humanity to its end.

This plays more like a season finale than any of BSG's previous mid-season cliffhangers. The plot lines of first half of season four has been resolved and second half has been set up to spin the show into a new direction as it barrels to a series conclusion. Undoubtedly, the rest of the Cylons led by Cavil (I still think he had time to download before the Hub blew) and Boomer will find the Alliance. The final Cylon has not been revealed yet. More importantly, the Promise Land doesn't look very promising, so what will the humans do now?

It's going to be a long wait.

This episode: 9 out of 10
Season Four (so far): 7 out of 10

The Hub

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.09

After a brief dip in quality, BSG returns this week with an exciting and provocative episode. As predicted, the story backtracks a couple days to give us a window to the rebel Cylon and Colonial joint mission to destroy the Resurrection Hub. There is a lot of plot advancement here, but we also get some quality character development for Laura Roslin.

Everytime the Hybrid forces the Baseship to jump, Roslin has a vision. This time around, she is guided by Elosha, her spiritual advisor that died near the beginning of the second season. Whether or not this Elosha is more than a vision remains to be seen, but she did seem to be aware that William Adama was waiting at the rendezvous for Laura. The main point of her visit is to get Laura to make the best of her remaining days and learn to love. Not just romantic love, as in the case of Bill, but familial love, which would be the reason for having Lee and Kara in the visions. The last person Laura had a significant emotional investment, other than Adama, was her aide, Billy. After the loss of that surrogate son, she closed herself off to just about everyone but the Admiral. Does this mean that she'll let Lee continue in the role of President when she returns to Galactica, though?

It was great to see Lorena Gale again, even as a vision. She's an underrated character actress and she was always able to sell the spiritual side of BSG. I didn't think about until this episode, but she would be a great candidate for the final Cylon.

The action during the D'Anna's rescue the the destruction of the Resurrection Hub was exciting. However, the attitude of the Colonial pilots was a little too exaggerated and annoying. Yes, there should be some animosity on the parts of the Humans towards the Cylons, but that should not allow them to backtalk a superior officer so adamantly.

What also didn't work was the Eight/Helo subplot. I think the writers could have played up this unique instance of sexual tension without the part about the Eight downloading Athena's memories. That seemed silly and frankly hurt what could have been some really interesting moments. Also, Not-Athena's speech to the pilots came off corny and Grace Park's delivery seemed off.

Having D'Anna back on the show is a plus and Lucy Lawless is perfect in this episode. She gets her revenge on Cavil (though there is still a slim chance that he downloaded in time before the Hub blew), and being the last Three makes her very unique amongst the other Cylons. Her little joke on Roslin about being one of the Final Five was hilarious and perfect. She has a great point, all she has is information, but it's a bargaining chip that will keep her alive.

James Callis continues to shine as Gaius Baltar. His one-sided philosophical debate with the Centurion was hilarious, but possibly could lead to complications, if the information was processed and passed on to others before its death. Also, while Baltar was gravely injured and being tended to by Roslin, we have learned that he has allowed his new found religious views to grant himself absolution for past sins. If Gauis feels that he is about guilt, he could become an even more dangerous cult leader.

The ending of the hour was really sweet. Laura and Bill have finally decided not to hide their obvious feeling for each other. The great thing about this is that the relationship has been allowed to evolve at a slow but natural pace over the last four years. Also, Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos are simply fantastic and sell the sincerity of the moment with tear-inducing ease.

8 out of 10

Sine Qua Non

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.08

This week's episode of BSG was kind of odd. After an landscape altering episode with an exciting cliffhanger and two weeks to mull it over, we get another set up story. Strangely, some very significant moments transpire over the hour.

Bill Adama's feelings for President Laura Roslin are made completely transparent this week. They've become very close this season, and now Adama has made it known to those close to him that he loves her. This relationship has been allowed to grow and evolve over the past three seasons, so this doesn't feel forced. Also, Eddie Olmos is such a great actor that he's completely able to sell the believability of the emotions welling up in the Admiral.

Adama's feelings for Roslin cause him to do some pretty careless things. First, he takes the Galactica after the missing Baseship, leaving the fleet defenseless. Then he refuses to acknowledge Vice President Tom Zarak's authority. This all comes to a head when he gets into a shouting match turned fist fight with his best friend and XO, Col. Tigh. Luckily, despite his flaws Bill is able to see that his emotions are getting in the way of his command decisions, so he takes a leave of absence, give Tigh command of the military, and takes a Raptor to wait for the Basestar with Laura to comeback. It was a treat to see Bill Adama in a flight suit for once and using his old Viper call sign.

As for the guy left in charge of Galactica, Saul Tigh has his own interesting personal developments. Apparently, his cell meetings with Caprica Six have been conjugal in nature. She's pregnant which means we've got the first Cylon/Cylon baby on the way. This is big step for the Cylons, since "natural" reproduction has been one of their major goals. Also, Saul has been given the chance to command Galactica again, but this time he's a more seasoned leader thanks to his time with the New Caprica resistance.

I have a hard time believing that Tom Zarak would have rolled over and let someone else take over as President after Admiral Adama continued to ignore him. This guy used to be a terrorist! He would have taken a stronger stance. We did get a brief glance of the old Zarak overheard on a radio interview in the background. This was one of two things about this episode that just seemed wrong.

The other moment involved Romo Lampkin's pulling a gun on Lee Adama and threatening to kill the junior Quorum member. I really enjoyed Lampkin and the part he played during the end of season three, but I don't think enough had been established with the character for the writers to pull this kind of trick. Was it a trick? Was Romo bluffing so that Lee would realize that he was the best person to fill in as President of the Twelve Colonies, or are we to take what he said at face value? Had Romo become a man that had lost hope and decided that the rest of humanity was undeserving of a leader that could provide it?

The material involving Romo's cat probably went over alot of viewers' heads. The key clue was when Lee kicked the empty, overturned food bowl and commented on where the cat was. However, are we to believe that the cat has been dead since we first met Romo, or is this a post Trial of Baltar development? This was all handled awkwardly and ended up being a bit confusing.

Lee Adama filling in as the President was telegraphed a mile away, but this should be a pretty interesting development for the character. I just hope they don't play him up too much as a JFK type of character. That would be too obvious. I believe Lee is supposed to become a great leader, but I hope they don't make it too easy for him.

I was disappointed that we only got to see the fallout of the Resurrection Hub battle. However, it appears that we'll possibly get the chance to go back and witness this spectacle next episode. Speaking of which, Sci Fi channel better be throwing us off with the "reveal" in the preview. I would hope they wouldn't spoil a major plot point in commercial, but you never know.

6 out of 10

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

Of Gods and Cylons

I got to thinking the other day about a possible connection between the twelve Cylon models on Battlestar Galactica and twelve Olympians. Traditionally, there have always been twelve gods, but Hades gets lumped in with them due to his importance in Greek myth and the fact that he's a sibling to Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, etc. This brings the count up to thirteen (more on that later).

I don't think that the creators of Battlestar Galactica intended that there was to be any direct connection between the twelve Cylons and the Greek gods, but with the gods being personified as the Lords of Kobol, I can't help but find some parallels. With that in mind, here's who I think represents who and how it may impact the identity of the final Cylon.

Cavil = Zeus
Zeus - King of the Gods and ruler of Mount Olympus; god of the sky, thunder, and justice. At first, I picked this connection due to a combination of elimination and the fact that Cavil model number one. Lately, he's taken a very authoritative role in the Cylon assembly. He pushed for the Threes to be boxed and spearheaded the lobotomizing of the Raiders. Also, when he organized the ambush of the Twos, Sixes, and Eights, it looked very much like a raining down of punishment from on high. Zeus was always very vindictive, so this kind of fits.

Leoben = Hades
Hades - Lord of the Dead; god of the Underworld and wealth. This is why I couldn't ignore Hades when compiling this list. Leoben fits Hades too well. Leoben's abduction of Starbuck and hiding her away with him on New Caprica mirrors Hades' abduction of Persphone to the Underworld perfectly. In addition, Leoben's spiritually and obsessions has always stood him apart from the other models, similar to Hades being off from Olympus and dwelling in the Underworld.

D'Anna = Hera
Hera - Queen of the Gods and of the heavens; goddess of women, marriage, and motherhood. Before becoming obsessed with the identities of the Final Five and her boxing, D'Anna seemed to be one of the strongest guiding forces and figures of authority for the Cylons. What really closes the deal on this one for me, is the story of how Hephaestus gained revenge against Hera for rejecting him by making her a magical throne which, when she sat on it, didn't allow her to leave it. The other gods petitioned Hephaestus repeatedly to free her. Seems pretty similar to D'Anna's situation to me.

Simon = Demeter
Demeter - Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons. When Simon is first introduced, he's running the medical facility that is experimenting on human women in the hopes of creating a human/Cylon hybrid. Also, the episode that he first appears in is called The Farm. So the connection to Demeter and fertility and agriculture seems appropriate. Other than that, there really isn't much to go on where Simon is concerned. He's pretty calm and logical, that's about it.

Doral = Hermes
Hermes - Messenger of the Gods; god of commerce, speed, thieves, and trade. When we first meet Doral, he's posing as a public relations specialist aboard Galactica during the mini-series. This helps connect him to the idea of business and being a messenger. Also, his dress and demeanor has always struck me as one of an oily business man.

Six = Aphrodite
Aphrodite - Goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility. This one is a bit of a no-brainer. The various Sixes have become more complex over the seasons, but when first introduced, Six used her sexuality and looks to trick Baltar into granting her access to the Colonial Defense grid. Also, the Gina version was Cain's lover, which gave her access to the mainframe on Pegasus.

Sharon = Hestia
Hestia - Goddess of the hearth and home. I admit that this one is a little tricky. However, the fact that both Sharon and Boomer made conscious decisions of where there home should be makes some connection. Also, with home you have family, and Sharon has one with Helo and little Hera. Maybe a little bit of a stretch, but in context with all the other models, it's the best fit for her. Despite taking the call sign "Athena", I think that Hestia is a better model for Sharon.

Tigh = Ares
Ares - God of war, frenzy, and bloodshed. Tigh fought in the first war with the Cylons and he's a career soldier and officer. The guy is always pissed-off about something, so there's your anger and frenzy. During the resistance on New Caprica, he was the leader that took the "by any means necessary" approach that included suicide bombers. Also, Ares had and affair with Aphrodite, and we've seen a connection forming between Saul and Caprica Six a few episodes back.

Tory = Artemis
Artemis - Goddess of the hunt, of maidens, and the moon. Like Sharon, connecting Tory to one of the gods could be considered somewhat of a stretch. However, ever since Tory has become accepting of her Cylon nature, she has been sort of on the prowl, specifically where Baltar is concerned. Also, she hunted down Cally and blew her out the airlock when the later discovered that Tory, Tigh, Tyrol were Cylons.

Anders = Apollo
Apollo - The Sun God; god of light, healing, music, poetry, prophecy, archery and truth. Apollo has always been depicted as handsome and athletic and that fits Samuel T. Anders pretty well. Also, there's the myth of Cassandra who rejected Apollo's advances. Out of spite, he cursed her with the ability to see the future, but no one believed her. Starbuck dumps Sam for Lee and she comes back with the way to Earth, but no one believes her. Somewhat of a parallel. Also, as Tory (Artemis) has become colder (the moon), Sam (Apollo) seems to have grown more compassionate (the sun), as seen in last weeks episode with the dying Eight.

Tyrol = Hephaestus
Hephaestus - Blacksmith to the Gods; god of fire and the forges. This is another obvious parallel. Tyrol is the chief engineer on Galactica and has even built a stealth Viper. Plus, he has been depicted as a labor leader in several episodes. Hephaestus has often been referred to as being "lame" or "crippled". Chief has become very emotionally crippled since the loss of his wife, Cally.

The 12th Cylon = Athena
Athena - Goddess of wisdom, crafts, and strategic battle. If this ends up being Roslin, that covers wisdom. If this is Cally, a mechanic, that covers crafts. If the final is my personal favorite pick, Admiral Cain, strategic battle applies. Granted Athena seems more appropriate if the Twelth is Roslin and Cain, rather than Cally. If it does end up being Cally, I may consider switching Sharon from Hestia to Athena, and Cally to Hestia.

The 13th Cylon = Poseidon
Poseidon - Lord of the Sea; god of the seas, horses, and earthquakes. Yeah, I said it. There has been some speculation that there is a hidden thirteenth Cylon to represent Earth. The connection to Poseidon would make since given his connection to the seas and earthquakes. If there is one, I don't think we've seen this character before and I hope it's played by Dirk Benedict (the original Starbuck).

Faith

Battlestar Galactica - Episode 4.06

Bear with me on this one. I watched this episode late Friday night (or is that early Saturday morning?) after an evening of drinks. My memory may be a little foggy and I probably need to watch this one again. Not that I mind. This was one of the best hours of the season.

The showdown on the Demetrius ends with Anders shooting Gaeta in the leg and Kara rushing to the poor guy's aid. If Felix loses the leg due to the extension of the mission, he's going to hold a huge grudge against Starbuck. I'm sure he's still not over her almost blowing him out an airlock for supposedly being a traitor last season.

All this shocks Helo out of his mutiny freak out and he decides to let Kara take a Raptor with Anders, Sharon, Leoben, and a red shirt to find the rebel Cylons' Baseship. He sets the clock, since they only have so long until they miss the rendevous with the fleet, so Kara and company only have a limited time to get back. When they find the Cylon vessel, the wounded, streaking Baseship looks like the painting of a comet in Starbuck's quarters on the Demetrius.

A lot great material follows. The Eights try to convince Sharon to challenge Natalie for control. They think she's going get them all killed. This parallels the power struggle and the crew's doubt of Starbuck on the Demetrius. When one of the Sixes revenge kills the red shirt for her own death on New Caprica, Natalie ends a potentially nasty standoff by executing the Six. There's no Resurrection Ship nearby, so the death is final.

Anders' experience on the Baseship is really fascinating to watch. When he sees the other Cylons touching panels and communicating with the ship, he is tempted to do the same. He wants to explore his Cylon nature, but he still fears what his exposure will result in. Also, he attempts to offer comfort to the dying Eight. He recognizes her as something that is tied to his real nature and could potentially help him understand it.

The Hybrid clues in Kara about the prophecy concerning her being a harbinger and leading humanity to the end. Also, there's a good deal about a dying leader learning the truth of the opera house and the three leading to the five who will in turn lead to the thirteen. The leader is Roslin who has been having visions of the opera house. D'Anna is the Three who has seen the faces of the Final Five. The number thirteen is where it gets tricky. Earth is the home of the Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol, but could there be a hidden thirteenth Cylon? If this is the case, it better be played by Dirk Benedict. His ego demands it.

Back on Galactica, Roslin's cancer treatment forces her into an extended stay at Cottle's infirmary. There she meets another dying patient named Emily (played by DS9's Nana Visitor) who has found comfort in the teachings of Gaius Baltar. Laura's experience with Emily causes her to reconsider the validity of Baltar's message and her bias against it. It'll be interesting if she becomes a convert or how she will begin view Gaius as a result of her meeting of Emily.

Best Scene of the Episode: Hard to decide. The mutiny showdown was intense and so was the execution of the rogue Six. However, Bill and Laura's moment at the end of the show was pretty damn sweet.

Episode MVP: Tricia Helfer and Michael Trucco. She continues to rock as Natalie and is an interesting counterpoint to Starbuck. Trucco does a great job really expressing Anders' need to know who he truly is and his fear of exploring this nature.

Big Question: How's everyone back at the fleet going to react when the Demetrius shows up with the rebel Cylon Baseship? I'm sure we'll get a tense showdown with a scramble of Vipers within the first few minutes of the show next week. This starts to rocket us towards the mid-season break and whatever cliffhanging curveball the writers want to throw at us this time.

8 out of 10

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

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

The Ties That Bind

Allison and I were in New York City this weekend to attend the Comicon. On Saturday we had the opportunity to sit in on the Battlestar Galactica panel. Keep in mind, we had not had the chance to view Friday night's episode yet, and fearing some spoilers, we decided to chance it. The panel included three of the final five: Michale Trucco (Anders), Rekha Sharma (Tory), and Michael Hogan (Tigh). Also, on the panel was some executive from the Sci Fi Channel. They were interviewed by one of the writers from Entertainment Weekly, who did let it slip that Tory does something sinister in Friday's show. Not too bad of a slip up, but enough to insight a large portion of the crowd that had also not witnessed "The Ties That Bind". The cast members were fun, engaging, and handle even the most ridiculous of questions with class. All was fine until the Sci Fi exec blurted out that Tory kills Cally. Boy, were we pissed and so was a good portion of the audience. He even went as far to say that it wasn't his fault that we had not seen the episode yet. Yeah, he was a jerk.

Things really start to heat up with this third episode of the fourth season. The biggest event was the aforementioned murder of Cally by Tory. The whole ordeal has some extremely intriguing implications, especially for Ms. Tory Foster. One thing is for sure, this tells us that Tory is a person that will do whatever is necessary to protect herself and her new brothers. She also appears to be reveling in her newfound identity. This seems evident in her conversation with Tyrol at Joe's Bar.

Speaking of the Chief, how is he going to react if and when he finds out that Tory blew his wife out the airlock? Will this cause a split between the Revealed Four? What about little Nicky Tyrol? He's a hybrid child of a human and a Cylon; a Final Five Cylon for that matter. Or is he something more?

It should be noted that Cally Tyrol has been dealing with insomnia and has become increasingly more agitated since the Fleet arrived at the Nebula at the end of last season. This is the same spot where Anders, Foster, Tigh, and Tyrol were activated. She is seen taking medication for her problems, too. Could Cally Tyrol be the final Cylon and only missed the wake up call due to being overly medicated? I've theorized that the Final Cylon will be a woman, and she certainly fits the bill. Also, this would mean that Nicky Tyrol would actually be the first child born of two Cylons, making him more important than Sharon and Helo's little Hera who is half human.

Of course, being shot out the airlock kind of gets in the way of this being developed anytime soon. However, these are Cylons and they've been know to download and resurrect after a while. It would be neat to see Cally show up at the end of an episode near the end of the season. So, Ms. Foster, watch your back.

It looks like Vice President Zarak is going to use newly appointed Quorum member, Lee Adama, as a way to keep President Roslin in check. I get the feeling that he believes that Roslin wants only to do what is right for the Fleet, but wanting to do right and actually doing it, aren't the same thing. If anything, this is a great new direction for Lee as a character. This also allows for more political drama to occur on the show.

Starbuck is now in charge of a ship Demetrius (a sewage ship that now has a couple of Vipers attached to it). In a plot line that seems to mirror that of ancient sailing ships exploring the ocean, Kara has been ordering course correction after course correction. This has left her skeleton crew (consisting of Anders, Helo, Athena, Gaeta, Seelix, and a few others) a bit agitated. It's all heading towards a mutiny at some point down the line.

Back at the Basestar, Cavil approaches Revolution Six with an olive branch in one hand and a grenade tucked away in the other. A meeting turns into an ambush as Cavil and Boomer launch a ton of missles at the Basestars containing the Sixes, Leobons, and other Sharons. I'm looking forward to the eventual uneasy alliance of the humans and the renegade Cylons that should result due to this split.

Best Scene of the Episode: This was a pretty strong episode overall, so it's hard to single out a really standout scene. I've got to admit that when Bill starts reading a pulpy mystery to Laura will she's laying there during her cancer treatment, it was pretty sweet. I'm an ol' softy.

Missing in Action: Baltar, Caprica Six, and Head Six aren't anywhere to be found this hour. At least Tricia Helfer is given some screen time as Revolution Six. Also, it's always odd to see the Cylons debating when a bunch of the models aren't around for the episode. This time Leobon, Simon, and Doral are given the day off.

Big Question: I've mentioned two already: How will Tyrol react to Tory if and when he finds out that she's responsible for Cally's death? and Is Cally the Final Cylon?

If the trailer that was shown at the convention is any indication, things are about to get freaking crazy on Battlestar Galactica and I can't wait to see what happens.

8 out of 10

Six of One

It was pretty obvious that Starbuck wasn't going to shoot the Prez at the top of the hour. Far be it for Laura to return the favor when give the opportunity. Fortunately for Starbuck, the Prez is a bad shot. This is why she's the leader and not a soldier.

I've got to admit, I do like Bill's rationalization for Laura's poor marksmanship. Maybe there's still a fair amount of doubt in her mind that Kara could be right about Earth, and she subconsciously couldn't kill her. There's also the fact that she's on some serious cancer meds, too. This discussion leads to a rather tense scene between Mom and Dad where they say just about everything they can to hurt each other. This makes the admiral's decision at the end of the episode to give Kara a sewage ship and a small crew more understandable.

Apollo gets a big send off from the Galactica crew as he leaves to take up a career in politics. He gets the slow clap from everyone and a plaque from his ex-wife, Dee. She's probably happy that he's leaving so she doesn't have to see his cheating ass at work everyday. Of course, Lee couldn't even disembark without making out with Kara one last time.

C.A. (Cylons Anonymous) have their regularly scheduled meeting. The Four are eager to find out who the fifth member is and suspect that Baltar might know. Tigh's keen military (or is that alcohol-clouded) mind comes up with the plan to have Tory try to get some info out of good doctor, since she's a woman and Baltar is always horny. Tory goes above and beyond the call of duty and sleeps with him, making Gaius two for two this season.

Speaking of Baltar, his run-in with Head Baltar was pretty hilarious. James Callis is so fun to watch in this scene which amounts to Gaius rationalizing sleeping with Tory. I don't know why the writers decided to go with a Head Balter instead of the usual Head Six. Maybe it was due to Tricia Helfer being busy playing a new version of Six.

New Six is butting heads with the establishment back on the Basestar. Anders' run-in with the Raider that caused the Cylon's to turn tail and run, has the Cavils, Simons, and Dorals spooked. They've started to lobotomize the Raiders, saying that they're tools to be used as they please. Look folks! Irony!

The Sixes, Sharons, and Leobons aren't too happy with this and a vote taken. With the Deannas being boxed it comes down to a tie that is broken by one lone Eight (Boomer) going against her model and voting with Team Cavil. This doesn't set well with New Six and Gang, so they decide to even the odds by giving the Centurions sentience. The toasters understandably do not like what's going with their flying brothers and decide to blow away all the Cavils, Simons, and Dorals in the room. Admiral Cain would have traded Gina in for this Six in a heartbeat.

This sets up a new dynamic to the overall BSG story. The Cylons are spliting up and I'm betting that the Sixes, Sharons, and Leobons head out to the Colonial Fleet so they can be with the Final Five. How they convince the Colonials that they mean no harm is a different matter all together, but I bet it's going to be great to watch.

Best Scene of the Episode: Baltar Meets Head Balter. Callis delivers another great performance.

Eye Roll Inducing Moment: Lee/Kara Make-Out Session & Lee Saying Good-Bye to Dee. (Tie) Both these scenes have Lee in them. I like the guy, but maybe once he's away from these two, he'll be more palatable. He was great during last season's Trial of Baltar episodes, so this might be a really smart move on the part of the writers.

Episode MVP: Tricia Helfer. She's playing a new Six, but she's still able to keep each one distinct. Hair, make-up, and costuming are a big help, but Helfer puts all the pieces together with her delivery. Her Head Six is vampy and calculating, her Caprica Six is compassionate and intelligent, her Gina was sad and damaged, and this new Six is fierce and determined. Her scenes with Stockwell this episode are tense, but subtle.

Big Question: Who's shipping out with Kara? I'm betting hubby Anders, stupid, pretty Helo, and maybe Sharon. Putting Starbuck on a ship full of nobodies would be kind of boring.

7 out of 10