Battlestar Galactica: Epiphanies

President Roslin’s cancer worsens, and a terrorist group within the fleet
starts making its presence felt.

Cast

James Callis as
Dr. Gaius Baltar
Edward James
Olmos
as Commander Adama
Mary
McDonnell
as President Laura Roslin
Katee
Sackhoff
as Kara “Starbuck” Thrace
Jamie
Bamber
as Lee “Apollo” Adama
Michael
Hogan
as Col. Tigh
Tricia Helfer as
Number 6
Grace Park as
Sharon “Boomer” Valerii
Tahmoh
Penikett
as Lt. Carl C. “Helo” Agathon
Aaron
Douglas
as CPO Galen Tyrol

Synopsis

As President Roslin’s cancer worsens, the fleet is put under threat
by a new danger: humans willing to stop at nothing to negotiate peace
with the Cylons.

High Points

  • The final scene has to be one of Tricia Helfer’s finest moments so
    far
  • Roslin’s flashbacks

Low Point

Do they really think that Baltar is fit to be in a position of
authority? To an outside observer he must surely appear to be mentally
unstable.

The Scores

Terrorists willing to blow things up in order to get peace is
nothing new, but as usual we are treated to what feels like a fresh take
on the idea. All the elements which make up Galactica are now
combining so that any story they tell feels new, no matter who might
have told it before. Five out of six for originality.

The effects, as usual, were flawless. After last week’s jaw-
dropping space scenes, this week might disappoint fans of
Galactica-style eye candy, but we were treated to a nice
external shot of the luxury Cloud Nine, which we haven’t seen
for a while. Five out of six, because they’re not raising the bar beyond
their established level.

I very much liked this week’s story. Following on from the
last three episodes about the Pegasus was something I was
having difficulty imagining, and I’m pleased that this episode goes
slightly to one side to look at something completely different, yet
ultimately related (as are all things on Galactica). I’m not
entirely happy that we didn’t see more of the President’s reaction to
events, but I very much doubt this issue has been laid to rest; in fact,
the stakes are significantly higher than they were, and this is clearly
going to be a major part of the rest of the season. Five out of six.

As I mentioned in the high points, Tricia Helfer’s acting
continues to improve. Playing two versions of Six in this episode and
making them both different-yet-the-same can’t be easy, but she’s
pulling it off with increasing ease. Both characters display superb
reactions and timing. James Callis is also delivering, and I suspect he
will have to continue to do so in forthcoming episodes. Five out of
six.

This episode inspires a strong emotional response, but
nothing as overwhelming as we’ve seen recently. Certainly, there’s pity
and tension and some definite nail-biting worry going on, but no
crying, laughing or nausea this week. I’m pleased to be given a bit of a
rest, actually. Five out of six — not as strong as we’ve seen
recently, but in this case, any stronger wouldn’t really have been
appropriate.

The point of production which really stands out is the
exposure on Roslin’s flashbacks, giving everything an appropriately
dreamlike cast while retaining the clarity with which she was perceiving
them. In fact, the overall selection and timing of these segments was
excellent. Five out of six.

Overall, five out of six and a big hooray for moving things
forward in a positive, interesting and exciting way.

And that gives Epiphanies a total score of thirty-five out
of forty-two.

44 replies on “Battlestar Galactica: Epiphanies”

  1. My Low Point
    I was mildly annoyed by how obvious the [very literal] deus ex machina of Roslin’s cancer cure was. I’m sure it will lead to interesting things but I had that one locked in my head since preggers Boomer came to the fleet. Then again, maybe I wasn’t supposed to be surprised…

    • Re: My Low Point

      I was mildly annoyed by how obvious the [very literal] deus ex machina of Roslin’s cancer cure was. I’m sure it will lead to interesting things but I had that one locked in my head since preggers Boomer came to the fleet. Then again, maybe I wasn’t supposed to be surprised…

      McDonnel is such a good actress, I didn’t mind whatever method they used to keep her on the show. And yes the method they used (I believe) will have huge implications later on.

      As far as the peace movement goes. How brain damaged does someone need to be to belong to that movement. There is no evidence anywhere that says that any colonial ship would even survive long enough to say one word to the cylons. Of course we as viewers _know_ that all ships left behind were nuked, and also that awful experiments are being carried out on survivors left behind on the colonies. But would it really be that hard for someone living in the fleet to believe that these things are all true. I mean a large number of the survivors witnessed the devistation first hand.

      I guess in a group that large there are all kinds, but I found that a real stretch.

      Also. Did anyone else feel that the logo the group used on their pamphlets looked like someone throwing theselves into the sight of a gun? A fitting logo considering thats what the cylons would do to them.

  2. Low point
    I’ve generally been happy with how BG has handled most of their physics. The
    "jump" is a generic SF conceit, same for the artificial gravity, and the amazing
    "Tillium" ore another, but at least things usually move sorta right, if
    unnecessarily in the same plane.

    However the Viper with the crippled engine, trailing smoke behind,
    awwwwww….

    C’mon – we’ve seen the Vipers navigate sideways in space, use thrusters to
    slow down, why bugger it up with suddenly smoke getting dragged behind
    a Viper? Yes having the explosion as an expanding burst of stuff, keeping
    pace with the Viper until that changes course, might confuse the science
    clueless, but it would also drive home the "they’re not in the back yard"
    aspect either.

    To make it all worse the script was using, at the same time, a cracking
    window & potential explosive decompression as a source of tension on the
    other Viper!

    Minus points for that faux pas.

    • Re: Low point
      I don’t know about that. If something in the Viper was burning (something with it’s own oxidizer, like, say, cannon round propellant?) then it would indeed be throwing off ‘smoke.’ If they were under acceleration on their way back to Galactica (They had ‘bent birds’ and as you mentioned, imminent decompression, so why not?) then as soon as said smoke left the Viper, it would immediately ‘fall behind’ the ship, and would leave a ‘contrail.’ Whether the contrail would be that tight and crisp, well, dunno. However, I did note that the contrail bent almost *perfectly* when the Vipers maneuvered…which would make sense, as it would reflect changes in their acceleration. Ideally, we’d see the contrail ‘thinning’ towards Galactica, as the particles ‘later on’ would have left the Vipers with greater velocity towards the Battlestar than those from the early part…but that’s only looking at large sections of the contrail at a time.

      God, I’m a geek.

      However the Viper with the crippled engine, trailing smoke behind,
      awwwwww….

      C’mon – we’ve seen the Vipers navigate sideways in space, use thrusters to slow down, why bugger it up with suddenly smoke getting dragged behind a Viper? Yes having the explosion as an expanding burst of stuff, keeping pace with the Viper until that changes course, might confuse the science clueless, but it would also drive home the "they’re not in the back yard" aspect either.

      Minus points for that faux pas.

      • Re: Low point
        Not to be a nitpicking a$$hole but, even though I agree with what you say in
        your reply, I have a very bad feeling about the way you did it… I mean, top-
        posting is annoying as hell in email but, to do it in a reply to a b42 post?

        Pardon my "French" but, W T F ?!?!?

        Minus points for that faux pas.

        Indeed…

        • Re: Low point

          Not to be a nitpicking a$$hole but, even though I agree with what you
          say in
          your reply, I have a very bad feeling about the way you did it… I mean, top-
          posting is annoying as hell in email but, to do it in a reply to a b42 post?

          Pardon my "French" but, W T F ?!?!?

          Minus points for that faux pas.

          Indeed…

          *Terribly* sorry. First post here. Had assumed content was valued over
          typography, other than spoiler protection, and since that was already out the
          lock on that thread, plus the fact that the discussion in question involved the
          first shot of the pre-credits teaser…well, yes, mea maxima culpa. Add on the
          fact that the threaded nature of the comments section allowed for natural
          flow from the prior comment directly into my response, and I do see how my
          post would have absolutely infuriated you, and I apologize.

          • Re: Low point

            *Terribly* sorry. First post here. Had assumed content was valued over
            typography, other than spoiler protection, and since that was already out the
            lock on that thread, plus the fact that the discussion in question involved the
            first shot of the pre-credits teaser…well, yes, mea maxima culpa. Add on the
            fact that the threaded nature of the comments section allowed for natural
            flow from the prior comment directly into my response, and I do see how my
            post would have absolutely infuriated you, and I apologize.

            Well, absolutely infuriated is a bit of an exageration but, I do admit that it is a minor annoyance. It’s no big deal. The content of your post more than made up for it… I just had this really strong urge to say something about it, so I did.

            Sorry if I caused offence. None was intended.

            • Re: Low point

              Sorry if I caused offence. None was intended.

              Heh. None really taken. Sorry, ‘Turbo Sarcasm Booster’ button punched too easily.

    • Re: Low point

      To make it all worse the script was using, at the same time, a cracking
      window & potential explosive decompression as a source of tension on the
      other Viper!

      Minus points for that faux pas.

      The faux pas may have been that the glass continued to break. Why would they wear a full space suit and provide atmo in the cockpit? (I can’t recall if Starfuries (THE model for SF phyics) had atmo or not. I think not, but then, something had to make "every star… an exploding ship.")

      • Re: Low point

        Why would they wear a full space suit and provide atmo in the cockpit?

        Belt and suspenders?

        I would presume that the cockpit is airtight and at the least contains the air it has when the pilot boards. They can’t pump out the "flight-deck" air that’s already in there – that would make opening the cockpit on landing rather difficult due to the outside air pressure pushing it closed.

        • Re: Low point

          Why would they wear a full space suit and provide atmo in the cockpit?

          Belt and suspenders?

          I would presume that the cockpit is airtight and at the least contains the air it has when the pilot boards. They can’t pump out the "flight-deck" air that’s already in there – that would make opening the cockpit on landing rather difficult due to the outside air pressure pushing it closed.

          For one thing, air is an insulator. It will help keep your pilots warm. And while the flightsuits may double as EVA suits, imagine trying to work in tight a cockpit while your clothes have balloooned around you. Not fun. So it makes sense to leave about 1 Bar of pressure for crew comfort.

      • Re: Low point

        The faux pas may have been that the glass continued to break. Why would they wear a full space suit and provide atmo in the cockpit?

        Anythings better than those funky ass helmets they wore in the first one. Those served no purpose except to light up the faces of the pilots. They do that too in this one even, the blue backlight.

        one would think that’d screw up your vision a bit especially since it’s rather ‘dark’ in space.

        That being said I’d think it’d allow for longer flights to have a pressurized cabin that you could hook into and upon ejection use the suit for short term survival….

        Better than wearing space jammies, no way to survive a partial hit. Since these vipers don’t explode into nothing with one hit like the first generation did ;)

        • Re: Low point

          Anythings better than those funky ass helmets they wore in the first one.
          Those served no purpose except to light up the faces of the pilots. They do
          that too in this one even, the blue backlight.

          one would think that’d screw up your vision a bit especially since it’s rather
          ‘dark’ in space.

          The lights on the original series’ helmets were supposed to be a force-field
          face shield – they were having problems with reflections during filming if they
          used glass or
          plastic.

          Both helmets are lit for the benefit of us, the audience. It’s the same reason
          the SG teams aren’t routinely shown wearing PASGT helmets – it’s hard to tell
          actors appart or even read their expressions from some angles.. It’s one of
          those tradeoffs you have to make – realism vs. dramatic impact.

  3. I got an emotional response as Roslyn was dying …
    But that had a lot to do with my own experiences with cancer. I generally agree with this review. Tricia Helfer is finally given the opportunity to shine as an actress, and shine she does. The people cast as dual role Cylons seem to be extraordinarily talented. :)

    Baltar is a loony, but his looniness would not be apparent to people who rarely see him, e.g. his electorate. I wonder how many of our real-world elected officials are actually deeply flawed, but propped up by the people they surround themselves with?

    As for Baltar: the man will never, ever be predictably crazy, will he? On the other hand, the past three episodes have forced me to rewatch the miniseries. Baltar has always been very self-serving. In saving the president he was dodging his own personal responsibility. Baltar’s ego damned the twelve colonies. This week his cowardice saved the survivors. Go figure. :)

    All in all, good episode, and the more I watch last week’s I’m happy with it, except for the coward’s way out in regards to Adama and Roslyn’s bloody plan. I still wanted them to have to take responsibility for their decision. I hope it comes back to haunt them somehow in the future.

    -Joe

    • Re: I got an emotional response as Roslyn was dying …
      maybe they’ll osama bin laden him? He’ll suddenly become the hidden freedom fighter in a maze of space ships

      Just a thought.

  4. Character flaw that really bothers me…
    I’m just going to spoiler all of this…

    The way Roslin just accepted how her life was saved baffles me (presuming she was told, I can’t recall). She felt very strongly that the baby had to die, yet she’s OK with having some of it’s blood, quite possibly containing _anything_ (nano-machines, etc) within her body for the rest of her life? It’s part of her now, forever, no matter what.


    Omeganon

    • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

      I’m just going to spoiler all of this…

      The way Roslin just accepted how her life was saved baffles me (presuming she was told, I can’t recall). She felt very strongly that the baby had to die, yet she’s OK with having some of it’s blood, quite possibly containing _anything_ (nano-machines, etc) within her body for the rest of her life? It’s part of her now, forever, no matter what.


      Omeganon

      I don’t think they asked her. And then what’s she going to do after the fact?

      • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

        I don’t think they asked her. And then what’s she going to do after the fact?

        Watch Sharon rub her belly through the glass cell walls? :)

        I think we’re being set up to believe that not only are the humans factioned, so are the Cylons. In watching the miniseries again I was reminded who received the "by your command" at the end of part II. It wasn’t Six.

        Isn’t it interesting that the two Cylon models who seem to have a rivalry are now represented relatively openly in the fleet? One has a motivation to see the humans fail (Six: out of vengeance for her treatment by the Pegasus’ crew,) and one is developing a motivation to see the humans succeed (Sharon: when the Cylons want her baby, how will she react?)

        We also see the humans dividing along similar lines, one pro-Cylon in opposition to the anti-Cylon group in power. Which side will Laura finally come down on, will that be due to a possible Cylon influence, and will she have a Cylon at her side? On which side might Baltar fall if the flesh Six continues to reject him?

        The plot thickens. :)

        -Joe

        • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

          Which side will Laura finally come down on, will that be due to a possible Cylon influence, and will she have a Cylon at her side? On which side might Baltar fall if the flesh Six continues to reject him?

          Nicely done. The question of whether she’s acting of her own free will, from a human political perspective, after the tranfusion might just be the plot point for which the writers are shooting. That would certainly make my mildly annoying low point one that doesn’t annoy me at all. If Baltar takes a strongly anti-cylon tack on a particular issue in which she doesn’t, it could be devastating.

    • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

      I’m just going to spoiler all of this…

      The way Roslin just accepted how her life was saved baffles me
      (presuming she was told, I can’t recall). She felt very strongly that the baby
      had to die, yet she’s OK with having some of it’s blood, quite possibly
      containing _anything_ (nano-machines, etc) within her body for the rest of
      her life? It’s part of her now, forever, no matter what.


      Omeganon

      Actually, I don’t think she was conscious enough to be informed of the action
      and, assuming she was asked, I’d think that one’s priorities might change
      when you’re faced with certain death. ;)

      Then again, as usual, I am drunk as I write this (as I was when I watched the
      episode) so I ma not have caught all of the little details…

      • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

        Then again, as usual, I am drunk as I write this (as I was when I watched the episode) so I ma not have caught all of the little details…

        Don’t want to stick my nose in your business, and I love a beer or two or three now and again as much as anyone. But I’ve seen you mention that "I am drunk as I write this" a few times…maybe BG eps are your weekly party time and you post right after or something, I dunno.

        But might I suggest (and it’s just a suggestion) that you might want to check yourself on that? If you’re often getting drunk enough to miss the details of a favorite show, maybe (again, I dunno, I’m just saying maybe) there might be an unhealthy relationship there.

        Feel free to e-mail me ([email protected]) to tell me off or to discuss. Or not. Not trying to be a busybody, just a "hey, you ok dude?" sort of thing.

        • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

          Then again, as usual, I am drunk as I write this (as I was when I watched the episode) so I ma not have caught all of the little details…

          Don’t want to stick my nose in your business, and I love a beer or two or three now and again as much as anyone. But I’ve seen you mention that "I am drunk as I write this" a few times…maybe BG eps are your weekly party time and you post right after or something, I dunno.

          But might I suggest (and it’s just a suggestion) that you might want to check yourself on that? If you’re often getting drunk enough to miss the details of a favorite show, maybe (again, I dunno, I’m just saying maybe) there might be an unhealthy relationship there.

          Feel free to e-mail me ([email protected]) to tell me off or to discuss. Or not. Not trying to be a busybody, just a "hey, you ok dude?" sort of thing.

          Well, BSG episodes aren’t my weekly party time (at least not like that). It’s just seemed to have worked out that way these last few weeks. I don’t think I missed the details of the episode though. I just allow for the possibility. ;)

          I’m OK. I don’t have a drinking problem but, I do appreciate the concern. That you would care about the well-being of someone you don’t even know is… admirable.

        • Re: Character flaw that really bothers me…

          Then again, as usual, I am drunk as I write this (as I was when I watched the episode) so I ma not have caught all of the little details…

          Don’t want to stick my nose in your business, and I love a beer or two or three now and again as much as anyone. But I’ve seen you mention that "I am drunk as I write this" a few times…maybe BG eps are your weekly party time and you post right after or something, I dunno.

          But might I suggest (and it’s just a suggestion) that you might want to check yourself on that? If you’re often getting drunk enough to miss the details of a favorite show, maybe (again, I dunno, I’m just saying maybe) there might be an unhealthy relationship there.

          Feel free to e-mail me ([email protected]) to tell me off or to discuss. Or not. Not trying to be a busybody, just a "hey, you ok dude?" sort of thing.

          Well, BSG episodes aren’t my weekly party time (at least not like that). It’s just seemed to have worked out that way these last few weeks. I don’t think I missed the details of the episode though. I just allow for the possibility. ;)

          I’m OK. I don’t have a drinking problem but, I do appreciate the concern. That you would care about the well-being of someone you don’t even know is… admirable.

  5. Baltar
    What I found interesting was that the one thing that really galvanized Baltar, the
    one thing that made him really take the step over from concientious resistance
    to willful treason in a major way…

    …was an insult to his ego.

    • Re: Baltar

      What I found interesting was that the one thing that really galvanized Baltar, the
      one thing that made him really take the step over from concientious resistance
      to willful treason in a major way…

      …was an insult to his ego.

      What kills me is that he goes so far to not be "In charge"… he even for the first time flat out said "I’m wrong"

      • Re: Baltar

        What I found interesting was that the one thing that really galvanized Baltar, the
        one thing that made him really take the step over from concientious resistance
        to willful treason in a major way…

        …was an insult to his ego.

        What kills me is that he goes so far to not be "In charge"… he even for the first time flat out said "I’m wrong"

        Remember in the miniseries it was not altruism that convinced Baltar to be honest about the lady’s number "could you read this for me, I seem to have misplaced my glasses," it was fear of his treachery being discovered.

        What I find fascinating, as well as amusing, is how his motivation always returns to his self-centeredness. Even at his most altruistic-seeming moments he is ultimately motived by monomaniacal self-interest. These writers are brilliant. :)

        -Joe

  6. Re: the low point
    Usually when Baltar has his moments of insanity with Number Six, he’s sort of out of sight (or controlling himself). It seemed like they were making a point of this incident being noticed by members of the crew. I wonder if it’s going to come to a head this season… all it takes is a little scuttlebutt that the Vice President appears to be completely insane to get the ball rolling, and something as obvious as the thing with his tie could get more attention than his usual MO of talking to himself and pacing around.

    Plus, that approach gives the situation time to build. Perhaps, say, all the way until the season finale…

    • Re: the low point

      Usually when Baltar has his moments of insanity with Number Six, he’s sort of out of sight (or controlling himself). It seemed like they were making a point of this incident being noticed by members of the crew. I wonder if it’s going to come to a head this season… all it takes is a little scuttlebutt that the Vice President appears to be completely insane to get the ball rolling, and something as obvious as the thing with his tie could get more attention than his usual MO of talking to himself and pacing around.

      Plus, that approach gives the situation time to build. Perhaps, say, all the way until the season finale…

      The acting and directing during that "tie bit" were great. Baltar has on more than one occasion been seen acting really strangely in the halls of the Galactica. I think Adama already is totally convinced he’s off his rocker. Adama’s "keep it together" comment was priceless. Baltar was right, if he were President Adama would push him out completely.

      • Re: the low point

        Adama’s "keep it together" comment was priceless.

        I just keep having flashs of Bruce Willis’s "Cowboy-the-*&#@-up!" speech from Tears of the Sun

  7. Spoilers!
    Last episode was much better but this one definitely sets up a lot of future plot threads.

    You would think the military would be more careful with a nuclear warhead though. I mean they lend it to this guy to do his expiraments, but he really isn’t performing them anymore since becoming vice president; wouldn’t they ask for it back?

    Also the terrorist negotiator didn’t come on board with any luggage, they didn’t feel it prudent to search anything he was leaving with? For a fleet that’s "ramped up security" since six’s escape they really don’t show it.

    I really really didn’t like the blood injection solution. It felt like a bad episode of Star Trek where the cure for an illness is found in the last few minutes of the show. The pitfalls of being an hour long telivision series I guess.

    • Re: Spoilers!

      I really really didn’t like the blood injection solution. It felt like a bad episode of Star Trek where the cure for an illness is found in the last few minutes of the show. The pitfalls of being an hour long telivision series I guess.

      Even though I listed it as my low point, to be fair I have to ask, how else could she have been saved even if they (the writers) had more time? It’s not like they have the infrastructure in the fleet that would permit medical research. If a doctor declares a case hopeless, it’s pretty much a done deal in that environment.

    • Re: Spoilers!

      I really really didn’t like the blood injection solution. It felt like a bad episode of Star Trek where the cure for an illness is found in the last few minutes of the show. The pitfalls of being an hour long telivision series I guess.

      I think most of us saw it coming and don’t like it, except that it keeps McDonnell on the show.

      I couldn’t help thinking of the TNG episode "Genesis", where they use amniotic fluid to reverse genetic mutation.

      • Re: Spoilers!

        I really really didn’t like the blood injection solution. It felt like a bad episode of Star Trek where the cure for an illness is found in the last few minutes of the show. The pitfalls of being an hour long telivision series I guess.

        I think most of us saw it coming and don’t like it, except that it keeps McDonnell on the show.

        I couldn’t help thinking of the TNG episode "Genesis", where they use amniotic fluid to reverse genetic mutation.

        With so much influence coming from Star Trek, you have to expect some of this. As I was watching the episode, it was very clear that it would be McDonnel’s last episode without some kind of "magical" save. And like I said, with such and influence from Trek, I don’t think it was a big problem for them. Unlike Trek, however, I think it will have lasting iplications, and thats a good thing.

        Many dramas end up with plotlines that put their characters at such dramatic peril that the only way out is the miracle. And that’s ok by me, but there are limits to how often the miracle can be used to fix the story and keep the audiance from becoming cynical about the show, "subspace particles" anyone….

        • Re: Spoilers!

          Many dramas end up with plotlines that put their characters at such dramatic peril that the only way out is the miracle. And that’s ok by me, but there are limits to how often the miracle can be used to fix the story and keep the audiance from becoming cynical about the show, "subspace particles" anyone….

          BSG, as written by Berman and Braga:

          With five minutes left in the show.

          Baltar: "The President is dying. We must save her. Thankfully we have an expert in obscure particles. Doctor Phylax, do you really think reversing the flow on the sub-space inverter and running that through a dibinonahexium matrix will create the critical amount of thingierons needed to save the President?"

          Doctor Phylax: "All we can do is try."

          Adama: "We’re all counting on you, Doctor!"

          Phylax: "I’m a Doctor, not a miracle worker."

          Gaeta: "I have the inverter reversed, and we just happened to encounter an alien species forty minutes ago that had a spare matrix. We’re ready to go."

          Starbuck: "Why am I in a fracking catsuit?"

          Boomer: "At least yours doesn’t have holes in it. Look at what those bastards on the Pegasus did to mine, and I have to wear it for the next five episodes."

          Adama: "Doctor Baltar, engage the subspace inverter when you’re ready."

          Six: "You know I look the best in a catsuit, right Gaius?"

          Baltar, distracted: "Engage the device."

          <cue suspenseful music, cut to sterile, clean, orderly sick bay, with concerned Doctor Phylax standing near sterile, clean, orderly President. As a blue beam strikes the President, she is surrounded by a glowing cloud.>

          Phylax: "It’s working."

          Ships Engineer: "Admiral, our reactors are going critical, we cannae hold this kind of power output for much longer! I haftae shut the reactors down!"

          Baltar: "Admiral, if we shut the reactors down now the President will implode, destroying all life as we know it."

          Adama: "Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?"

          Starbuck: "Why am I in a fracking catsuit?"

          Doctor Phylax: "A little longer …"

          <Alarms begin to sound as crew members fall from their chairs and pyrotechnics on the Draedus console detonate.>

          Doctor Phylax: "A little longer …"

          Gaeta: "Admiral!"

          Engineer: "Captain Kirk!"

          Doctor Phylax: "That’s it!"

          <The beam gutters out.>

          President, sitting up: "I feel better."

          <Pan around bridge. All characters look relieved.>

          Starbuck: "Why am I in a fracking catsuit?"

        • Re: Spoilers!

          Unlike Trek, however, I think it will have lasting iplications, and thats a good thing.

          It’d better.

          The leader of the "peace" faction mentioned that the human had enslaved the Cylons (true) as a partial justification for the Cylon attack (highly questionable). Now you’ve got a Cylon whose blood is the cure for cancer and probably other diseases as well. Are they going to let it be a free being, or turn it into a sort of vampiric dairy cow dispensing a bloody panacea? And who gets access?

          If the writers are doing their job, the whole cancer thing was to bring this issue on to the table. If they miss that, never bring it up again, then we’ve jumped the shark.

          • Re: Spoilers!

            Unlike Trek, however, I think it will have lasting iplications, and thats a good thing.

            It’d better.

            The leader of the "peace" faction mentioned that the human had enslaved the Cylons (true) as a partial justification for the Cylon attack (highly questionable). Now you’ve got a Cylon whose blood is the cure for cancer and probably other diseases as well. Are they going to let it be a free being, or turn it into a sort of vampiric dairy cow dispensing a bloody panacea? And who gets access?

            If the writers are doing their job, the whole cancer thing was to bring this issue on to the table. If they miss that, never bring it up again, then we’ve jumped the shark.

            Oh, they’ll bring it up agian, I’m sure. But with respect to the cylon baby, I am wondering if it will have an advanced growth/maturation rate. The reason I wonder is that it plays into how the baby impacts the series. If it grows at a regular "human" rate, it will constantly be a plot piece just like it this episode. It will be an object fought over by the humans and cylons for its scientific interests (not much different from a lab rat or even your spoilered comment).

            Making the character capable of having reactions about what is happening to it directly (outside of just Boomers concerns as a mother) would require it to advance at an increased rate and/or become more self aware.

            Either way I don’t know what I want them to do here. I think its a tough choice they will have. On one hand the baby growing at a regular human rate means that it’ll be primarily an experimental object of interest, just like in this episode. On the other hand if it develops at a faster rate, or starts talking at an earlier time, it will be very strange and very hard to handle well writing wise, but eventually the character will be able to make a stand and judge its world for itself before we’re 6-8 years into the series.

            The hybrid child on V worked well in this respect I think. But the counter example of this comes from the "starchild" from Galactica-1980. Forgive me for the details, all I remember is from the original airing as it seems that all the source footage must have been destroyed (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

            • Re: Spoilers!

              Unlike Trek, however, I think it will have lasting iplications, and thats a good thing.

              It’d better.

              The leader of the "peace" faction mentioned that the human had enslaved the Cylons (true) as a partial justification for the Cylon attack (highly questionable). Now you’ve got a Cylon whose blood is the cure for cancer and probably other diseases as well. Are they going to let it be a free being, or turn it into a sort of vampiric dairy cow dispensing a bloody panacea? And who gets access?

              If the writers are doing their job, the whole cancer thing was to bring this issue on to the table. If they miss that, never bring it up again, then we’ve jumped the shark.

              Oh, they’ll bring it up agian, I’m sure. But with respect to the cylon baby, I am wondering if it will have an advanced growth/maturation rate. The reason I wonder is that it plays into how the baby impacts the series. If it grows at a regular "human" rate, it will constantly be a plot piece just like it this episode. It will be an object fought over by the humans and cylons for its scientific interests (not much different from a lab rat or even your spoilered comment).

              Making the character capable of having reactions about what is happening to it directly (outside of just Boomers concerns as a mother) would require it to advance at an increased rate and/or become more self aware.

              Either way I don’t know what I want them to do here. I think its a tough choice they will have. On one hand the baby growing at a regular human rate means that it’ll be primarily an experimental object of interest, just like in this episode. On the other hand if it develops at a faster rate, or starts talking at an earlier time, it will be very strange and very hard to handle well writing wise, but eventually the character will be able to make a stand and judge its world for itself before we’re 6-8 years into the series.

              The hybrid child on V worked well in this respect I think. But the counter example of this comes from the "starchild" from Galactica-1980. Forgive me for the details, all I remember is from the original airing as it seems that all the source footage must have been destroyed (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

              Well, there are different rates of accelerated growth. The baby could experience spurts of accelerated growth, at plot useful points.

              Recall that the human phenotype upon which the Cylon infiltrator is presumably based, does not mature a a constant rate. Puberty being the most notable case.

  8. The baby vs Original Series
    Correct me if I’m wrong (its been 20 years since I’ve last seen it), but wasn’t there some Higher Being child in the Original Series? Am I correct in speculating that Boomer’s baby will become this child?

    Damien

    • Re: The baby vs Original Series

      Correct me if I’m wrong (its been 20 years since I’ve last seen it), but wasn’t there some Higher Being child in the Original Series? Am I correct in speculating that Boomer’s baby will become this child?

      Damien

      No, we’re not allowed to think about Galactica 1980 in any way shape or form.

      • Re: The baby vs Original Series

        Correct me if I’m wrong (its been 20 years since I’ve last seen it), but wasn’t there some Higher Being child in the Original Series? Am I correct in speculating that Boomer’s baby will become this child?

        Damien

        No, we’re not allowed to think about Galactica 1980 in any way shape or form.

        I’m not so sure. I know I referenced the "starchild" from Galactica 1980 above, but that series also contained an episode where Starbuck got stranded with a cylon raider (and at that time, its centurion pilot), and used it to escape. A lot like the 2 ep. arc with Starbuck last season. However, I don’t think he made it all the way back to the Galactica. If my clouded memory is correct, though, I think the "starchild" is the son of Starbuck and some mystery being he meets trying to get back to the Galactica.

        Yes, I was a HUGE fan of Galactica as a kid, and watched _every_ episode of _every_ incarnation.

        I was one of those originally skeptical of the "reimagined" Battlestar Galactica, but am now as big a fan of this as I was of the original.

        Its just that I think Moore might be using the entriety of Galactica lore to do his "reimagining", including the 1980 series.

        • Re: The baby vs Original Series

          but that series also contained an episode where Starbuck got stranded with a cylon raider (and at that time, its centurion pilot),

          That’s like my all-time favourite episode. I remember watching it as a kid and learning a valuable lesson about being able to learn to live together.

          Though I did think the robot was a bit whiney.

          In that episode, though, some mystery woman shows up and has a baby, doesn’t she? I distinctly remember the cylon’s metallic exclemation that "Soon there will be two more strong hands to run the generator" and Starbuck having to explain that human children don’t work that way.

  9. Three words:
    "Adama’s War Machine"

    Seriously, I just loved the description from the pamphlets. Doesn’t that sound like a good name for an indie rock band? Or a WoW guild?

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