Plot; With his powers stripped by a newly assertive Council of Twelve, Commander Adama and the Galactica are vulnerable to the scheming of their dangerous prisoner Baltar.
After more than a year away, I return to my re-watch of a show that's taken longer than the show itself lasted. In need of some comfort food, the mess hall on the Galactica had just what I needed on its menu.
The original BSG will never be associated with "big ideas", but to simply dismiss it as empty headed junk food sci-fi isn't exactly fair. This episode sees the Colonial Council of Twelve move to take the Galactica and its ragtag fleet--which has been under martial law since their colonies were destroyed by the Cylons--off of a war footing. What initially seems like a simple, plot serving clash between the Council's naïve peacenik mindset and the hard won pessimistic wisdom of Adama and his crew sees the latter thoughtfully consider the Council's arguments and do his best to comply. For their part, the Council--particularly the episode's chief bureaucratic foil--show a steely resolve and a willingness to act when all other avenues close. Is it heady stuff? No, not really. But it's a bit weightier than its "Pew! Pew! Pew!" reputation.
After more than a year away, I return to my re-watch of a show that's taken longer than the show itself lasted. In need of some comfort food, the mess hall on the Galactica had just what I needed on its menu.
The original BSG will never be associated with "big ideas", but to simply dismiss it as empty headed junk food sci-fi isn't exactly fair. This episode sees the Colonial Council of Twelve move to take the Galactica and its ragtag fleet--which has been under martial law since their colonies were destroyed by the Cylons--off of a war footing. What initially seems like a simple, plot serving clash between the Council's naïve peacenik mindset and the hard won pessimistic wisdom of Adama and his crew sees the latter thoughtfully consider the Council's arguments and do his best to comply. For their part, the Council--particularly the episode's chief bureaucratic foil--show a steely resolve and a willingness to act when all other avenues close. Is it heady stuff? No, not really. But it's a bit weightier than its "Pew! Pew! Pew!" reputation.
