Battlestar Galactica (TV Series) Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1 (2006) User Reviews

Return to Caprica

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 24 August 2011]

As the second season of Battlestar Galactica approaches its conclusion it is clear that something important is about to happen; Baltar is standing against Roslin in the upcoming presidential election and Starbuck is leading a mission back to Caprica to rescue Anders and his fellow resistance fighters. These two plot strands are totally separate until one of the Raptors jumps to the wrong coordinates and stumbles upon an inhabitable planet hidden in a nebula. When they return to the fleet Baltar is persuaded that this could be an election winning issue; the president wants to restock then carry on but many people see this planet as an opportunity to build a new home; it might not be the most hospitable planet but enough of it is inhabitable and it is well hidden from the Cylons. In a third plot strand Chief Tyrol is plagued by a recurring nightmare and when Cally wakes him he finds himself attacking her… clearly he has problems and ends up discussing them with Brother Cavell; a rather unusual priest.

This episode has plenty of excitement as Starbuck heads back to Caprica and finds herself in a Cylon attack; there is also a surprising degree of humour such as when President Roslin gets a fit of the giggles before a presidential debate and Cavell's explanation of why the Chief's fears that he might be a Cylon are unfounded. Talking of Brother Cavell; Dean Stockwell is on show stealing form in the role. After this great episode I can't wait to see how the season concludes in the next instalment.

Typically American

[reaper1-2 · 7/10 · 12 July 2007]

Having borrowed season one and two of an old colleague, I wanted to see if it would be anything like the original.

It started out great, but all through season two and really culminating in this episode it shows that the writers must have been Americans. For some obscure reason the writers are convinced that the 13 colonies have exactly the same system of government as present-day America. Why do they think it is the best system? The system as portrayed in BSG is definitely riddled with in-discrepancies. Not to mention president Roslins' neo-fascist approach to everything. Always in the right, even when she knows nothing about the subject. She regularly abuses power and I couldn't wait for the character to pass on. Only that didn't happen, because someone obviously was scared that suddenly they would become more independent of the system. Therefore a very stupid solution is cooked up for saving her.

Because the writers were also pushed on by the womens' lib movement. Everything that Roslin says is made out to be right and truthful. Even when she approves of rigging a democratic election, that makes me want to skip the rest of the show.

Apart from Roslin, it was a very creative take on continuing a series from old. The battles are done superbly. Especially the plot-twists with the Cylons. Less emphasis on the system of government and more action, would benefit the show immensely.

Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 28 May 2022]

Baltar and President Roslin go head to head in an election debate. It was unconvincing as it played too closely to US Presidential elections.

Zarek acting as an advisor to Baltar has a plan. He plans to use a newly discovered habitable planet as a surprising election winning issue.

Starbuck plans to rescue Anders from Caprica but the Cylons might have a trick up its sleeve and it is not in Caprica.

Chief Tyrol makes a sudden attack on Cally and seems to be suffering from psychological problems. He requests a priest instead.

John Cavil (Dean Stockwell) is the unusual priest that comes to talk to him and questions whether Tyrol might be a cylon.

The first part of the season 2 finale. It is keeping a few tricks up its sleeve. Cavil is an interesting addition.

The presidential elections less so although Roslin's time as President needs shaking up.

??? Athena sticks a cable... is this a comedy?

[tomasajdari · 1/10 · 7 March 2020]

So, Athena - mad from the "murder" of her child is SOMEHOW allowed to connect to a Cylon raider brain and transmit the "jump package" to other raptors. Dozens in the fleet know this so everybody knows. This would be an instant fleet-wide mutiny an episode ago. One raptor has "navigational program failure" and jumps right next to New Caprica, a rare "hidden, habitable planet". How likely is that? Sounds like a plant - trap, doesn't it? The Cylons return within days with news of a "peace" just before the election. WOW. Just WOW! We are constantly reminded of the Cylon/computer menace since the first episode... yet everybody in the fleet forgets to at least question this suicidal nonsense. There are many, many problems with this demented episode. Just avoid. First time I saw it, I thought it was a parody. YOU - YOU - will get what you tolerate. And this episode breaches everything.