Finally an episode that showed what I loved in the show. All the dramatic developments from previous episodes do have an impact on the characters. Baltar is becoming a true martyr and even a messiah if it continues like this. Will it be for the better or worse? Saul,Tory and the Chief are coming to terms with being cylons. It is a delight to see them struggling. Will they turn? Or will they side with the humans like they have been doing. It is impossible to predict. I have no clue what the writers want to do with the final five.Will they become a real threat? Or are they just a gimmick? I would like to believe that they do have a genuine purpose in explaining some matters. More and more it becomes clearer that Baltar is in the middle of all this and that he and the final five are connected somehow. I am glad that the dramatic elements are back. Although I missed actual plot developments. If the show continues like this then I am confident the show will be back in form.
5 Reviews
Pretty Good
dmartinpaul26 April 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was not my favorite however it was good. I found that not much happened. There was not much main plot development, just subplot development. The good thing about these episodes is that it builds up to wonderfully exciting climaxes that are well worth the wait. I am a religious Battlestar Galactica watcher and I have to say that Mary McDonnell and Edward James Olmos's chemistry is becoming a very charismatic storyline. I dread the foreshadowed troubles in their relationship. I am also wondering where the Cylons were in this episode. Their revolutionary status is what I really wanted to see. I want to see where they are and if Natalie 6 and her ship survived the civil war attack. Can't wait till next week.
Daniel
Daniel
Yes we are not in Kansas anymore .. or even in Outer Space
A_Different_Drummer8 January 2015
If you want to know why this series has become iconic (to the point where even its creators have been unable to duplicate its success) you could do worse than check out this episode which in many ways has more in common with a top-flight stage play than a sci-fi adventure.
The word "wow" comes to mind.
Even die hard fans who had, prior to this episode, seen every instalment and every movie bonus may have "missed" the fact that Tricia Helfer and Kate Vernon, born 13 years apart, looked similar.
The writers did not miss that. (They did not miss much). And the trick of allowing Col. Tigh to "see" his dead wife (whom he killed) when visiting Helfer the Cylon (and believing himself to be one himself, but not sure) takes drama to an entirely new level.
Again, not your average sci-fi.
Nor does Mary McDonnel miss a chance to shine. Her scenes with Olmos, even though composed only of dialog, have, by this point in the series, become semi-erotic; and the wig she wears because her character is dying makes her appear more like a high-schooler than the leader of what is left of humanity.
The effect is both unsettling and hypnotic.
The entire episode is like that, it never lets up, it makes you think.
It is BSG writing at its best. It shines.
The word "wow" comes to mind.
Even die hard fans who had, prior to this episode, seen every instalment and every movie bonus may have "missed" the fact that Tricia Helfer and Kate Vernon, born 13 years apart, looked similar.
The writers did not miss that. (They did not miss much). And the trick of allowing Col. Tigh to "see" his dead wife (whom he killed) when visiting Helfer the Cylon (and believing himself to be one himself, but not sure) takes drama to an entirely new level.
Again, not your average sci-fi.
Nor does Mary McDonnel miss a chance to shine. Her scenes with Olmos, even though composed only of dialog, have, by this point in the series, become semi-erotic; and the wig she wears because her character is dying makes her appear more like a high-schooler than the leader of what is left of humanity.
The effect is both unsettling and hypnotic.
The entire episode is like that, it never lets up, it makes you think.
It is BSG writing at its best. It shines.
On emotional impact
KuroWashi13 July 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This show has continuously exhibited an emotional depth that is rare among TV shows or even movies, for that matter. I feel this 4th episode is one of the best examples of that emotional maturity.
Chief Tyrol clearly married Cally out of guilt. He treated her badly from miniseries onwards and ended up nearly killing her. They married after she pursued him relentlessly. That was not love and the series makes it clear that his heart is still in Boomer's hands. So when Cally dies is the guilt that remains; not love nor grief.
And BSG has the rare guts to say so without allowing Adama to get away with yet another one of his tirades; a tirade of sympathies and condolences for Cally, whom he was ready to shoot (as Tyrol points out) in series 3. Adama did not care about Cally, Tyrol neither but at least the latter has feelings of guilt. The episode dares to suggest that in some ways it is Adama who is insensitive and irreverent.
A brilliant and emotionally intelligent episode.
Chief Tyrol clearly married Cally out of guilt. He treated her badly from miniseries onwards and ended up nearly killing her. They married after she pursued him relentlessly. That was not love and the series makes it clear that his heart is still in Boomer's hands. So when Cally dies is the guilt that remains; not love nor grief.
And BSG has the rare guts to say so without allowing Adama to get away with yet another one of his tirades; a tirade of sympathies and condolences for Cally, whom he was ready to shoot (as Tyrol points out) in series 3. Adama did not care about Cally, Tyrol neither but at least the latter has feelings of guilt. The episode dares to suggest that in some ways it is Adama who is insensitive and irreverent.
A brilliant and emotionally intelligent episode.
Little action but plenty of drama
Tweekums1 February 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is definitely more character led than action led and that isn't a bad thing. Things start with Cally's funeral service, everybody believes she committed suicide and the chief is having difficulties coming to terms with her death and the fact that he is a Cylon; these difficulties nearly cost Racetracks her life as he made a basic mistake while servicing her Raptor. He then has a run-in with the Admiral in the bar which leads to his demotion. Elsewhere on the fleet Baltar and his acolytes are attacked by a group calling themselves the 'Sons of Ares'; the Six in his head tells him to stand up for his faith and he does this by disrupting a service at the temple and is thrown into the brig. The president's response is to ban meeting of more than twelve people; in order to 'protect them'. Lee objects in a council meeting, believing that her action is the thin end of a wedge that could affect far more people. Another person having difficulties is Col. Tigh; he has taken to visiting Caprica Six in the brig in the hope of understanding what he is. This is a difficult experience for him, which is not helped by the fact that he keeps seeing her as his late wife Ellen.
This episode featured plenty of excellent character development; Chief Tyrol, Col. Tigh and Tory are each trying to deal with being a Cylon in their own differing ways, Baltar is strengthening his religion and the president is getting more authoritarian. One thing I've always liked about Battlestar Galactica is that characters I've grown to like as 'good guys' frequently do what I consider the wrong thing without acting out of character; it is the flaws that make them so interesting. The acting was solid as always with particularly noticeable performances from Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan and James Callis as Chief Tyrol, Col. Tigh and Gaius Baltar.
This episode featured plenty of excellent character development; Chief Tyrol, Col. Tigh and Tory are each trying to deal with being a Cylon in their own differing ways, Baltar is strengthening his religion and the president is getting more authoritarian. One thing I've always liked about Battlestar Galactica is that characters I've grown to like as 'good guys' frequently do what I consider the wrong thing without acting out of character; it is the flaws that make them so interesting. The acting was solid as always with particularly noticeable performances from Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan and James Callis as Chief Tyrol, Col. Tigh and Gaius Baltar.
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