Battlestar Galactica Review: Faith

This is last week’s episode. This week’s is coming soon… assuming my head doesn’t explode from the emotional pressure. If you’re not watching this series, why are you sitting here reading this? Go! Now!

Cast

James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar
Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama
Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin
Jamie Bamber as Lee “Apollo” Adama
Michael Hogan as Col. Tigh
Tricia Helfer as Number 6
Grace Park as Sharon “Athena” Agathon/Boomer
Tahmoh Penikett as Helo
Aaron Douglas as Galen Tyrol
Kandyse McClure as Anastasia “Dee” Dualla
Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta
Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
Michael Trucco as Samuel T. Anders
Callum Keith Rennie as Leoben Conoy
Nana Visitor as Emily Kowalski

Synopsis

Roslin’s worldview is challenged by another cancer patient. Starbuck boards a damaged Cylon base ship in search of the next step on the path to Earth.

High Points

  • “I’m glad it’s you.”
  • “I’m here with you.”

Low Points

  • Gaeta’s attempt to garner sympathy for his leg appeared wasted as it didn’t cause Helo any significant indecision at all.

The Scores

Originality: Five out of six.

Effects: The site of the big Cylon battle is amazing. Unfortunately there are a few moments where the organic components of the Cylon ships look rather plasticky. Five out of six.

Story: Things are really moving forward. It’s good to see the old hints about a human/Cylon alliance paying off, although there is little doubt it will go off in unexpected directions. Everybody’s changed a lot. Six out of six.

Acting: This week the big prize is for Mary McDonnell, and I don’t really want to consider what past pain she had to dig up to get the emotion for some of her scenes. Tricia Helfer also executed a very emotional moment superbly, and Nana Visitor might get the award for best guest star ever. Six out of six.

Production: Things were good, but some parts of the base ship looked a bit cheap and hastily put together. Four out of six.

Emotional response: Whoa. Six out of six.

Overall: If the rest of the season keeps going at this level, we’re never going to be satisfied with anything else on TV ever again. Six out of six.

Faith receives a grand total of thirty-eight out of forty-two.

One reply

  1. I cried as hard as I have ever cried watching sci fi …
    ANY sci fi. The cancer story line of this series is as sensitive to what real cancer patients endure as any I have ever seen anywhere. Its effect is both pain-provoking and strangely healing.

    For me this episode is outstanding due the mutual support Roslin and Ms. Visitor’s character give one another. It is very human, and very, very beautiful.

    Kudos to fantastic writers and astonishing actors. There has to be an Emmy in here somewhere.

    -Joe G.

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