Battlestar Galactica: Daybreak, Part 1

In this week’s episode of Battlestar Galactica: Daybreak, part 1, I couldn’t help the feeling of dread from creeping over me. We have essentially 2 episodes left (technically a two hour finale, but I think of it more as part 2 and part 3) and they spend a major chunk of this episode in flashbacks to Caprica before the attack. The current storyline creeps forward very little. Frustrating. I will say however, that since I am expecting to be disappointed in the finale, I am secretly hopeful of being pleasantly surprised.

One of the first images we see is of a pigeon trapped indoors. Trapped inside what we later learn, in the continuation of the scene, is Lee’s (Jamie Bamber) apartment. I just can’t help thinking that this is some sort of metaphor for the human race. They are trapped and can’t escape their past unless they come to take responsibility for their actions. The “stupid frakin’ bird” never does make it out of the apartment when the door is wide open. So where does that leave us?

In his weekly podcast on iTunes, the creator of the Sci Fi channel’s Battlestar Galactica, Ronald D. Moore explains a constant theme of the series, “you don't get to play God and then get to wash your hands of all the things that you've done. It's about having a sense of responsibility and a sense of trying to look at things truthfully. To say, 'How did these things happen? Oh, they didn't just happen. I've participated in them happening. And what's my responsibility in participating in having these things happen?”

Moore also states that “the seeds of their own destruction always seem to be carried within all the characters. The things that will ultimately harm them and harm everyone always seems to come from within.” Food for thought. For example, how will Helo’s (Tahmoh Penikett) desire to rescue his daughter be his downfall? Will Gaius’ (James Callis) self preservation ultimately be his destruction?

Caprica Six (Tricia Helfer) gives us another possible metaphor. “I found your father a new place to live. His things are being moved this very moment by the staff. They’ll be set up in his new room exactly how he had them in his apartment. He loves it. Your father is a very complicated man Gaius, but there’s a few simple things that make him very happy.” Could this mean that she or the Cylons will find the place where humanity will ultimately be happy? Will that be a planet or state of being?

Anders (Michael Trucco) in his “hot tub” flashback, clearly is talking about things how they are in the current storyline, “well, right now I am just focused on getting stronger; helping out the team in any way I can.” The reporter even asks him if he feels that his career is incomplete. As stated on earlier reviews, I think that Anders will take a part in piloting or crewing the Galactica as its hybrid. “Find the perfect world for the end of Kara Thrace.”

So now we are on a mission to rescue Hera. Hurray! But the exact reason she is the key to the survival of both races, I am still not clear on. As Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) draw a huge line in the proverbial sand down the Galactica’s deck, they wanted it very clear that each person was choose his destiny. For me, this seemed to be a clear allusion to God on judgment day, separating out the faithful and placing them on his right side.

Although it felt a little sappy to have President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) stagger across the deck to Adama’s side, I was actually very proud of her. That is the kind of valor I wish to see from a president. Although short-lived, it was also nice to see Laura happy for once in her flashback.

I am also very pleased that I get my wish for the Galactica. It seems that we are poised for an epic battle in which the “old girl” will at least go out in a blaze of glory.

Battlestar Galactica: Islanded in a Stream of Stars

I am still willing to trust Ronald D. Moore and the writers of the Sci Fi channel’s Battlestar Galactica, but I am getting worried that they will not be able to wrap up the series with any meaningful satisfaction. Here we are with only 2 episodes left and we still seem to be introducing more twists and questions than answers.

Hera is increasingly becoming the key for both sides of the conflict to obtain salvation. The episode starts off with a projection of Hera perched atop the information management table in the Combat Information Center (CIC), positioning Galactica next to a basestar and several heavy raiders.

I don’t know whose projection it was, but it seems likely that it was Laura’s since we peer into her dreams several times during the episode. The other mystery was whether or not this symbolic foreshadowing gesture was a symbol of union or a symbol of conflict. I tend to think it is the latter, since the scene takes place in the Combat Information Center. And I for one would much rather see Galactica go out in a blaze of glory rather than see her abandoned and parted out to the rest of the fleet’s vulture captains.


I am totally confused as to the role that Baltar will ultimately play. He has been a scientist, a traitor, a politician, a religious zealot, and will he ultimately become a savior? I had forgotten until this episode of the dream shared by Six, Baltar, and Laura. What does it all mean? Will they somehow be the catalysts to bring Cylons and humans together with Hera’s help? I do think however, that Starbuck knew deep down that Baltar would somehow expose her “secret.” Either way, he made her come to terms with it.

In Boomer’s first scenes with Hera, I completely despised her. She was an unfeeling monster as she threatened to inject little Hera on board the raptor. I don’t know how they got the little actress who plays Hera to show such emotion, but I totally fell for for heart wrenching sobs. Boomer must have too as she seemed to soften. Hera further brought out Boomer’s motherly instincts as they shared the projection of Boomer’s dream house. I expect this relationship will come into play later as evidenced by Boomer’s reaction when she drops Hera off at Cavil’s daycare center.


There were some odd moments in the episode as well. The first was with Starbuck and Lee in the hall of death. Both actors just seemed uncomfortable in this scene and a little out of character to me. Perhaps they are setting the stage for a re-coupling of Lee and Starbuck, but I hope not. Although I feel for Lee being essentially alone now, I just like the relationship between Starbuck and Anders so much better.

The next out of character moment was when Helo was pleading with Adama to let him go looking for Hera. I don’t know if Tahmoh Penikett just didn’t convince me in this scene or if it just seemed too far out of Helo’s mindset. I will just have to chalk Helo’s mental state up to losing his daughter and being on the outs with Athena.

The medicinal marijuana scene was also a little unbelievable to me. I just don’t see a hard-nosed military man like Adama sitting around smoking a joint in the middle of sick bay. But hey, Doc Cottle walks around smoking all the time, so what the heck. I guess I just didn’t find it dignified to see the president and the Admiral getting high and sharing secondhand smoke with the rest of the patients.

So Sam has essentially become a hybrid now. I am thinking he could save the Galactica or at least pull her back together for a final fight. The Cylon goop didn’t seem to work, but my bet is that with a higher intelligence directing it, it will do the trick to strengthen and repair the ship. But what did Anders mean when he called Starbuck the harbinger of death? A harbinger is someone or something that foretells or foreshadows the coming of something. What or who is Starbuck foreshadowing death for? Another one of those mysteries that needs to be answered.

My prediction however is that not everyone will be satisfied with the wrapping up scenes. There is no way to satisfy everyone. So, prepare yourself to be thrilled and disappointed. Hopefully the void created by Galactica’s absence can be filled by upcoming Galactica movie “The Plan” and the spin-off series Caprica.

TV Review: Battlestar Galactica

Deleted Scenes and a Theory

I have been working on a theory about Battlestar Galactica from the Sci Fi channel, that I hope you will indulge me on and give me your comments. Follow me for a second while I walk through the evidence and then give my analysis.

In the episode “No Exit,” Galen Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) shows the damage in Galactica’s hull that he discovered in “Blood on the Scales” to Admiral William Adama (Edward James Olmos). He warns him that they shouldn’t even attempt a jump until it is repaired because the ship may not survive it. Tyrol believes that corners were cut when building Galactica, things that now are compromising its structural integrity.

When Adama reinstates Tyrol as Chief, he gives him specific instructions that the repairs be carried out by an all human repair crew. Later though, we find out that the damage includes extensive micro fractures. Tyrol believes that the only solution is to use a Cylon compound, an ORGANIC, as in living, compound, to repair all of the “fracturing.” Adama, of course refuses this. And why wouldn’t he? He has massive mistrust of Cylons, forged from many years of fighting them. However, when he discovers fractures in his own quarters, he relents and instructs Tyrol to use the compound on Galactica.

Also in "No Exit,” we realize that the Cylons are also deeply split. Brother Cavil (Dean Stockwell), as we now know is considered to be one of the 1st “children” of Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) and the rest of the Final Five. But, he is resentful of his body and even of his maker. He is a man/machine bent on revenge.

The Five are also split. Since Ellen has returned to them, in “Deadlock”, they take a vote on whether or not to leave the humans or to stay with them (BTW, does anyone know how Boomer (Grace Park) knew where to find the fleet? And if she can find them, why hasn’t Cavil attacked?). Tory Foster (Rekha Sharma) and Tyrol vote to leave (interesting, since we have come to believe that Tyrol is once again invested in saving Galactica), while Samuel Anders (Michael Trucco), based upon his pre-operation comments, and Colonel Tigh vote to stay. Ellen is the swing vote.

After the whole love triangle with Ellen, Caprica Six (Tricia Helfer), and Saul, Ellen decides that the Cylons should leave. Her decision was based on emotion and spite rather than rational thought and she later recants. You will also remember that it is believed that Cylons can only conceive if love, twoo wuv, is what bwings them toogethuh (oops, sorry, wrong show). Jane Espenson, who wrote "Deadlock," was asked why Caprica Six’s baby died. She answered with another question: “Did the baby die because Tigh, witnessing Ellen's gesture of sacrifice, fell in love with her all over again and deprived Six of his love in that moment?”

I think the Cylons are just as emotional and irrational at this point as the humans are. Ellen even accuses Tigh of not wanting to leave Galactica because he loves the ship and Bill more than he loves her or Caprica Six.

Now for some things you may not have known. There were some deleted scenes from "Deadlock" that I think are pretty critical. You remember the scenes with Gaius Baltar (James Callus) in Dogsville. They were a little confusing. In the deleted scenes however, it is explained that many marines were lost during the mutiny and there are just not enough of them to maintain order. The marines were forced to retreat from Dogsville. Adama is finding it difficult to maintain order aboard Galactica.

In the absence of the marines, the Sons of Ares seize most of the food supply, with the exception of the small stash controlled by the cult formerly led by Baltar. Adama needs a force to help keep the civilian population under control. Adama and Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) debate the possibility of bringing Centurions on board to provide security. Adama is firmly opposed to this, even though the ship is slowly being infused with Cylon material, because he fears, among other things, a civilian uprising.

Enter Baltar with “the last human solution;” to arm the cultists. The decision facing Adama is to either allow criminals to control the food supply, or allow Baltar and the crazy cultists (good name for a band?) to act as a civilian security force. Adama obviously believed that the human solution was better or at least the lesser of two evils and arms Baltar’s followers to the teeth.

What is a fracture? A split, a rift, a parting of two entities that were once a whole. Cylons and humans once lived together. Bringing in the mythology of the tribes, Cylons, or at least the skin jobs, are referred to as the 13th tribe since they are "children" of the Final Five.

Galactica is a representation of the human-Cylon relationship. I believe the writers are trying to tell us that Humans cannot survive without bringing their lost children back into the fold. Just as Galactica was deteriorating and would have eventually been lost without an infusion of Cylon, so too will the human race be lost without a reuniting of Cylons and humans.


Cylons too are lost without the humans. Resurrection technology is lost. Perhaps it could be rebuilt, but it is lost for now. Cylons once had the ability to procreate but have lost that ability. They are missing something that can only be obtained from the humans. Whether that be technology or a Cylon/human baby, who knows, but it seems to me that Galactica, once again is showing the way for human and Cylon alike to survive.

To me, this indicates that Cylons and humans will unite and become one race with a shared destiny. After all, Anders did reiterate a theme during his bullet-induced visions that has been common throughout the series: “This has all happened before, and it will all happen again.” The Five were all once human, perhaps a thousand years ago, but they were all once human. (BTW, where is Hera?) And if you needed any more convincing, we have the words of Adama himself. At the end of “Deadlock,” he and Laura see a Cylon putting up pictures of Cylon dead. In classic deadpan Adama delivery, he states that the integration has already happened.

Only time can ultimately prove me right or wrong, but I think that the separatist Cylons will not leave the fleet and we will see a further blending of Cylon and human technology and ideology. Cavil and his group will have to come around to the point of view of the separatists and rejoin the Final Five “makers.” If he doesn’t, he and his followers will be lost, spiritually and physically.

Does this mean that together they will find another planet to live on? Personally, I don’t think they will find one before the end of the series. But in my opinion, they don’t need to in order to bring closure to the series. Now that Earth is gone, all they really need is to eliminate the threat of Cavil (either by conversion or destruction) and then find a New New Caprica.

Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock

As the Sci Fi channel original series, Battlestar Galactica, comes to a close, it’s interesting to see how the storyline is wrapping up. As someone who has watched the series from the beginning, I’m a little unsure if some of the issues will be satisfactorily resolved in the four episodes that are remaining before the series ends.


One of the problems that I have with tonight’s episode is that as they are preparing to end the series in a handful of episodes, we are seeing a lot of things that I can’t help but think aren’t really important to the resolution of the overall storyline. Are the political issues about the poor on the lower decks really going to help tie up the bigger questions about a final home for the fleet? Or answer the questions about what’s going on with Starbuck? I understand that the reunion of Ellen Tigh with the final five was going to cause conflict between her, her former husband Saul Tigh and Caprica Six who’s four months pregnant with his pure Cylon child, I just wish it wasn’t the primary plotline of tonight’s episode.

In my book, the best ending to a series came from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine where they had a 10 episode arc that tied up all the outstanding plotlines from the series and then a two-hour finale where we were able to say farewell to all the characters and feel like things were tidied up well. The worst ending to a series came from Star Trek: Voyager where they vowed to keep you guessing up until the last moment as to whether or not they were going to make it home. When the answer to that question was given that yes, they had finally made it back to earth, 5 seconds later the show ended.


There are 4 episodes left to Battlestar Galactica, and next week promises to focus heavily on the mystery behind Starbuck. They’ll probably need another one to resolve what’s happening with Gaius Baltar and the lower decks and then hopefully they’ll take care of the other group of cylons that the rebels on Galactica abandoned. I’m sure sprinkled in all of that will be the working out of the love triangle between Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Caprica Six; whether or not Laura Roslin is going to succumb to her cancer; and how many more frakking times are we going to see Adama shaving or brushing his teeth in his bathroom? I mean, can’t that wait until he’s safely home on New, New Caprica? Or New Earth? In his New Bathroom?