'Battlestar Galactica': Betrayals
I've been pretty clearly frustrated with this final season of Battlestar Galactica. With so many questions left hanging before the end, I feel like we've spent too much time watching Baltar found a new monotheistic religion, and the Galactica Four Cylons go all emo about what they are, and so on.
Even last week's episode, wherein Starbuck was supposed to get some answers about Earth's location, instead spouted enough riddles to make a Lost fan weep. She's the harbinger of death? What?
I don't usually mention the "next episode" teasers in my recaps because, well, they're put together by marketing departments instead of writers. But I had to hope that the "All Will Be Revealed" tagline for this week's ep was semi-accurate. Was it? Well...
Our A-plot is that of the captured basestar. Demetrius and the basestar have to jump together, for some reason, because it wouldn't be as dramatic if the Demetrius jumped first and explained a captured basestar was on the way. Sure enough, the Demetrius has a jump problem, so the fleet scrambles to destroy the basestar that's suddenly jumped into their midst.
At the last second, Tigh orders a weapons hold, prompting a quizzical look from Adama. The Demetrius jumps in, explains all, and here we have an actual plot-moving scene: Basestar Six, back on Galactica, explains that the Final Five have been to Earth, that they're all on Galactica, and that Three knows their faces. She wants a deal: She'll lead them to the central resurrection ship, which also contains the boxing facility. Six gets Three and the Final Five, and Galactica gets to destroy the resurrection hub and prevent any Cylon from downloading ever again.
Woof. What an opportunity. Imagine the promise of finally striking such a crippling blow against a next-to-immortal enemy. Of course, Adama, Roslin and Tigh don't trust the Cylons, so they conspire to hold the Final Five hostage until after the mission and after they've been led to Earth. On the basestar, the Cylons are similarly plotting, to hold all humans on the basestar hostage until the Final Five are safely aboard.
The Quorum has grown restless about being kept in the dark regarding the mission; luckily, Apollo convinces Roslin to let Six talk to them. Six does, talking about how only real death gives the rebel Cylons purpose, and that Starbuck's finding them was destiny. Starbuck (at the back of the room) flashes back to the Hybrid calling her the harbinger of death -- well golly, she meant for the Cylons, not the humans! I hope.
That night, Roslin and Athena share a dream: Both are chasing Hera through the opera house, but Six and Baltar get to the girl first and disappear into white light behind giant doors. Athena wakes to Hera standing at the end of the bed, creepily sing-songing, "Goodbye." Shiver.
The next day, Starbuck happens to mention to Roslin that the basestar Hybrid mentioned the opera house. Roslin gathers up Baltar for whatever reason and an away team and heads to the basestar. On Galactica, Hera shows Athena drawings of the number six and duplicate mommies. Athena freaks, and Hera disappears while she does so. Athena races down a few corridors (intercut with the opera house) and finds Hera with Six and Tigh. Six backs off, but once Hera is safe, Athena kills the Cylon.
On the basestar, Roslin orders the Hybrid plugged in. Soon as it is, it screams "JUMP!" and the basestar disappears.
Wow. Now that was an episode. Was all revealed? Nope. Not close. But did we get plot motion? Oh yes. For one thing, what's with new amputee Gaeta singing a song whose lyrics, while prescient, I can't place? Is he the Final Cylon? Or just another prophet? What do you think?
Laura grabbed Baltar because he was in the Opera House dream, and because he had 'outed' her in the media for sharing visions with two known Cylons--attempts to further discredit Laura. Bitter much, Baltar? Really it was a plot device to get Baltar and Laura on the Basestar, but it was believable enough.
Finally some momentum, though I wondered about the amount of time spent on the Gaeta storyline--either he is the final Cylon, or there's something else going on, like a red herring. The episode closed with him singing, so I think we are supposed to speculate that he's the Final Cylon. If he had been singing "All Along the Watchtower" it would have been a dead giveaway, so clearly there's some reason for the ambiguity.
A great episode. If not the best then one of the best this season. Is Basestar Six truly dead, or just wounded? And that scene between Basestar Six and Hera was well done, and plays out in the facial expressions of Tricia Helfer (Basestar Six). She did a fantastic job in that scene.
Gaeta has long been in the running to be the Final Cylon, since the producers confirmed it wasn't anyone in the "Last Supper" photo. The loss of his leg thing just adds another dimension onto the possibility. Also, think about this: "Gaeta" sounds like "Gaia" which means Earth.
Personally though, if he is the Final Cylon, it's going to be a very anti-climactic letdown.
Anyway, I'm glad they're finally off Baltar's craziness and onto meatier plotlines, like Kara's destiny and the Opera House visions. Can't wait to see what they represent.
no one cares look at the overnight writers didnt care either after they knew it was canceled
And no one cares what someone who isn't even considerate enough to sign their post thinks. If you don't like the show then why bother posting about it?
Re: the song - it is called "Gaeta's Lament" and was written specifically for this episode.
Tricia Helfer IS one of the best actress in BG... She well diserves any award can be given to her for that role...
ANd yes if Gaeta is the last cylon, im a bit disapointed.
ANd boy, am i loosing interest in what happens to Lee Adama
All the talk about the 6's and 7's reminds me of when I taught my 5 yr old son his phone# as a pneumonic. Mr.3-ate Mr.7-Mr. 6-won 5 zeros. The owner of the cornerstore said, maybe Mr.3 shouldn't eat Mr.7and my son said,Can I just say the numbers?
All the talk about the 6's and 7's reminds me of when I taught my 5 yr old son his phone# as a pneumonic. Mr.3-ate Mr.7-Mr. 6-won 5 zeros. The owner of the cornerstore said, maybe Mr.3 shouldn't eat Mr.7and my son said,Can I just say the numbers?
I think it was pretty clear that Lee Adama wasn't going to take a big part in the first half of the final season. That said, next week, it looks like things are building to a head, with Lee perhaps being anointed President in Roslin's absence.
Overall, the season's been a bit choppy. I do agree with that. I get the vision they have for the Baltar storyline, relative to the whole. At least, I think I do, and if you watched it closely last night, there seems to be big hints on how the storylines are intertwining.
In some respects, this show is sometimes too smart for its own good. Their thematic focus on defining identity is what's caused the lag. It's actually quite interesting stuff that, when reflected on sociological concepts, shows an in depth awareness by the writers. That said, it leads to a bit, well, long-windedness at times.
Anyhow, will be interesting to see how they ramp things up as they progress to the break point (btw, they really should've just called it two separate seasons ... ).