BSG "Measure of Salvation" Review

TV Recap: Battlestar Galactica - A Measure Of Salvation
By Steve West: 2006-11-11


So what exactly constitutes life? While this is not a philosophical site, last night’s episode of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ did force viewers to examine that question. On the surface a chance to wipe out the entire Cylon race is an enticing endeavor. But what makes the genocide of a race acceptable? Are humans given carte blanche to perform such an act because they created the Cylons, or is it because the Cylon’s tried to do the same first? Either answer raises moral and philosophical dilemmas that can not be answered so hastily as President Roslin did. Here’s the rub though, discounting the moral problems the humans are in a war for survival and the only guarantee of that is if there’s no threat. ‘Battlestar Galactica’ raises all these questions in one episode, and then nullifies it all in a single 30-second scene.

Forgive me for being a traitor or “Cylon lover” but Sharon “Athena” Agethon has really grown on me as a character. She’s now my favorite of the Cylon models, and when the episode opened with her entering the ship it caused me quite a bit of discomfort. While on the ship the Galactica marines find five Cylon models still alive. Doc Cottle says that they can return everyone under quarantine, and having both the Cylons and the beacon that started the plague would be helpful. So Galactica now has some prisoners and they’ve yet to realize the implications of what’s going on. That will change soon enough though.

Doc Cottle, who is now wearing a Colonial Fleet uniform if you weren’t paying attention, tests all the humans and finds them immune to the virus. Of course, Sharon hasn’t been tested yet (you know…dramatic suspense). As for the disease itself, it turns out to be lymphocytic encephalitis. Encephalitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain and often death. Humans are immune to the virus. Thus ends this week’s BSG science lesson.

The good doctor has a stopgap treatment to help the Cylons, but it’s decided that rather than helping they should use it to get information. A Simon model is brought in and tells all about the virus, and it’s implications if they died near a Resurrection ship. The entire Cylon race could be wiped out. A fact Apollo realizes immediately, “I think I just thought of a way to solve all of our problems. To get rid of the Cylon threat for once and for all…we could destroy the entire Cylon race.”

Lee goes with Admiral Adama and Helo to President Roslin with a plan. Helo vehemently opposes the genocide of a race. Lee tells him that the Cylons are things with no sons or daughters. To which Helo retorts, “I had a daughter. I held her in my arms.” Helo contends that if humans wipe out the Cylon race, “We’re no better than they are.” As is often the case on the show, a problem arises which causes the viewer to rethink what they’re hearing. Amidst his argument to the President Helo, makes the error of saying the Cylons tried to live with them on New Caprica. Up until then his argument was solid, but this reveals the emotion behind his true intent. He wants to protect Sharon and stand up for her people because it’s what a husband should do. This argument is the catalyst that results in President Roslin’s decision to go through with the genocide.

Before we get to the exciting conclusion of the Cylon race let’s examine Admiral Adama’s reaction to the genocide. It’s clear from his statements to President Roslin and the look on his face when Lee suggests the idea that Adama is morally opposed to the the plan. However, he’s a military man and knows that this is not some little war that shouldn’t be fought. Instead this is the survival of the entire human race, and as such he cannot back down. What he does do is make it apparent to the President that the act would rip away part of humanities soul. This is interesting because we’ve always seen Adama be decisive, and it’s nice to know there are some things that bother him this much as a leader. He counsels the President on his thoughts and then lets her make the decision. We’re definitely far away from season one where he didn’t respect a mere teacher as President.

As for Sharon’s feelings on the subject, Helo finds that she supports the genocide. Not necessarily the genocide itself, but the humans decision to go ahead with it. She chose to put on the Colonial uniform, and is ready to support all that goes along with it. As for the virus, luckily due to the baby, she got the immunity as well. Good job Helo, proving that sex can prevent diseases in the future.

The decision is made, and the Cylon’s are to be wiped out. But as the plan goes into effect and a Resurrection ship appears, Lee and his team of marines find the Cylon prisoners already dead. Somehow the air system was reversed and they suffocated. Interesting, now who would either want to save the Cylons or want to stop the genocide? The question of the genocide is made moot by this turn of events, but what of the initial decision? The annihilation of the Cylon race never happened, but the leaders of mankind were going through with it. Will they rethink the decision if it ever comes up again, or will rage and hatred once again fuel the dilemma?

On the Baltar/Cylon side of things our favorite genius is accused of deliberately trying to wipe out the Cylon race. A mistake that was empowered by Baltar’s innate desire to lie about everything. The head D’Anna model tortures Baltar to get what she believes to be the truth from him. Manifest Caprica helps Baltar by encouraging him to separate his mind and body, which results in his ability to examine the flaws in the D’Anna’s faith. He tells her, “I believe if God exists our knowledge is imperfect…because the stories and myths we have are the products of men…The religious practice based on a theory impossible to prove, yet you bestow it with absoluteness.” There is a single-minded quality to the way the Cylons think about faith, and Baltar has challenged that. An act that probably saved his life, because they were never going to believe he was ignorant of the virus.

It is not my place, in a recap about a television show, to pontificate on my own beliefs regarding anything brought up by ‘Battlestar Galactica’ this week. I’d be remiss if I ignored it all though. The show challenges us to not just ride along and have fun, but to really invest our own emotions into what’s happening. If more shows were willing to take that risk, maybe there would be less junk on the boob tube.

So what did you think of the episode this week? Were the humans right to attempt the genocide? Are the Cylons living creatures or merely machines? When will see the old hotshot Starbuck frackin’ up some Cylons with ridiculously awesome flying maneuvers?

---------------------- RECAP # 2 ----------------------------

Battlestar Galactica: A Measure of Salvation
by Shannon Nolley, Filmfodder Editor

This week's episode - the conclusion of "Torn" - revealed a serious dose of cruelty from both sides. The SciFi Channel even threw up it's little disclaimer for "violent content" several times throughout the show. The Cylons are pissed at Baltar and are done taking him at his word. Time for a little extra "persuasion." The humans realize that they can use the Cylon disease against them, dangle a "cure" to get info from suffering Cylon prisoners, and plan to exterminate the entire Cylon race! The gloves are off!

Per usual, at the end of this entry is a section called "Observations, Thoughts and Questions" to further focus on particular plot points and enable specific discussion on, well, things I want to talk about. If you've seen the episode and just want to discuss what happened, skip to that section.

Now...

A Measure of Salvation: Episode 3.07

Monkey torture - aka Baltar's got some s'plainin to do

Back on the Basestar more piano music is playing. Those weird cuts reemerge as Baltar wakes up naked on his lounge chair. D'Anna and Six are there. "How long have you planned to betray us?" D'Anna asks. Six tells him he's only making it harder on himself. They know about the beacon. "You knew it was out there and contained a deadly virus. Are you in contact with Galactica? Did you plan this before the evacuation of New Caprica?" D'Anna asks. Baltar stammers and admits that he did see the beacon on the Basestar, but he didn't tell them because he was afraid they'd blame him. Which they are obviously doing now. "It will never happen again. My most humble apologies." he says. He tries to change the subject by theorizing on where the beacon came from. A Centurion enters from behind. "We think you know more and intend to find out," D'Anna says. Another Centurion enters. Baltar's in big trouble now!

We jump to Baltar on a beach with Fantasy Six. He's in a white suit, laying on lounge, not moving. Fantasy Six tells him to relax, have a drink. He says he can't. The pain! "It's all in your brain," Fantasy Six tells him. "Just impulses. You decide how to interpret them." Baltar screams. He returns to reality - a torture chamber with Six and D'Anna. He continues to scream as D'Anna turns up the dial of the torture machine. Six gets squeamish and leaves. D'Anna tells him, "I want it to stop. We don't want you to feel this pain." Baltar looks at Six and says weakly, "I love you." The torture continues.

Fantasy Six chimes in again. "I can guide you to atonement and beyond," she says. "I'll do anything!!!" Baltar yells. Back in reality, D'Anna demands that he tell her about the virus. "Is there a cure?" she asks. Fantasy Six tells him to separate his mind from his body. "Keep your mind in the room. Find holes in her psyche. Keep your body here with me. Don't worry... I'll take care of it," she says as she undresses and straddles him. D'Anna turns down the machine. "This is what the absence of pain feels like," she says. Baltar says that it was a coincidence that the beacon was infected. D'Anna doesn't believe in coincidence - only god's will. Fantasy Six tells him to focus on D'Anna like a scientist. Baltar begins to rant on god from a scientist's perspective. "If god exists then stories of god are imperfect. Theory. Imperfect to prove. Absolute belief means there's an answer for everything. If we all knew god's will then we'd all be gods!" he argues. D'Anna doesn't like this too much. She gets a long pointy thing and puts it in his ear. (Does the thing actually go IN his head or does it just send pulses? Does it Delivers an Ear-wig? A Ceti-eel?) He's in mega pain now. Fantasy Six - naked now - rides him. "I want you to believe in me," she says trying her sexy best to keep him distracted from the pain. "You're all I have left. I believe in you!" Baltar yells both in his fantasy and in the real world. D'Anna is shocked and stops the punishment. "I love you with all my heart," he says looking at D'Anna but not really seeing her. D'Anna is touched and gently strokes his face. She smiles. Baltar passes out. (Creeeepy.)


Tissues, Vitamin C, Ammo and Restraints

We join the human fleet (now at population 41,420) with a team of marines from the Galactica approaching the diseased/dying Cylon Baseship in a Raptor. Athena and Apollo are piloting the ship. Derelict Raiders float lifeless everywhere. Apollo asks Athena what she thinks happened. She has no idea. Whatever this is, it's something new. As they approach the docking bay, they play bumper cars with the floating Raiders. They have to plow a path. There are no signs of life. Apollo reports back to Galactica that the ship appears to be abandoned and powering down. Once on the Baseship, the team quickly makes its way down the corridors and to the bridge where they find dead Cylons strewn everywhere. Everything looks sick. It's got that green/yellow glow instead of the bright white of a "healthy" Basestar. Athena stops and bends down over a Leoben. She strokes his face thoughtfully. Apollo tells her to check in the computer. Gunnery Sargent Mathias (from Athena's team on New Caprica) instructs the other marines to spread out and guard the doors.

Athena approaches the control bank and interfaces with the green sludge. (Ewww! Squishy!) She recoils with a gasp! Hot Dog (who may have a thing for her... he suggested her new name in the last episode) quickly asks if she's ok. Data points corroded. She won't be able to get much out of the machine. She says she'll do what she can, though, and re-engages the squishy goo.

As Athena is playing in the sludge, Apollo and the other marines are circling about, checking out the Cylons. In perfect suspense/horror movie fashion, Apollo leans down to get a closer look at a Six. (Guess he hasn't seen "Se7en.") As you might expect, the Six moves and Apollo recoils, almost losing his balance. "One of them is alive!" he yells. A Leoben tries to rise as well. Mathias tells them to cover Apollo (the Major... so yep, he's officially back to Major.) Three more Cylons squirm to life. Apollo reports back to the Galactica that they have five living skinjobs. Helo, Adama and Dee(!!!) on the Galactica bridge look concerned. Helo tells them not to take any chances, if the Cylons make any threatening moves, then waste 'em. Apollo tells the marines to hold their fire. The five Cylons (Sharon, Six, Leoben, Doral, and Simon) crawl across the floor to each other. They join hands and try to form a circle. Athena walks towards them. Apollo yells at her to stop. She doesn't. He continues to yell and trains his gun on her. (Guess he doesn't completely trust her, eh? Good man.) Athena bends down to the sick Sharon who looks up at her. With a pained voice she calls Athena "Traitor!" She tells Athena to get away from them - to save herself (guess they still care). Sharon tells Athena that the beacon they brought onboard carried a disease. They're infected. Infected?!?!?! Mathias curses and the other marines freak out. Apollo reports back to Galactica that they have a "situation." The team has been exposed to something. Athena looks at her hand - you know, the one still covered in green sludgy goo - with a serious "Ruh roh, Raggy!" Where's the antibacterial hand sanitizer when you need it?

On the Galactica, Adama has called for Doc who tells them that the team can return to the ship, but they can only do so under quarantine. Dee still looks ... well, I dunno... let's pretend it's concerned. She asks how long they'll have to stay in quarantine. Days. Weeks. Unknown. Doc asks about the source of the infection. Adama tells him of the beacon, but they won't bring it back aboard the Galactica because it's too dangerous. Doc tells him to bring back prisoners, then. They will help him identify the disease and tell him how to treat the marines . Apollo gets his orders and the team heads back to Galactica with prisoners in tow. As they approach Galactica, the Basestar explodes. Apollo looks at Athena who looks away. She says nothing. Helo radios to them that the Basestar must have self destructed. They're lucky they got out when they did. Lucky? Hmmm. There's no small amount of suspicion that Athena set it to blow. Well, that's it for the beacon, then. The humans won't get to crack its secrets (decode any messages the beacon may have been transmitting or to examine the technology and/or the virus).

Now in sickbay and under quarantine, the marines pace about nervously. Doc enters and reports that the humans are immune to the virus and can leave! Hurrah! Athena has to stay put, though. Doc hasn't gotten a chance to examine her blood yet. Helo waits impatiently just outside of the quarantine area and lays into the Doc when he's told that Athena can't leave yet. "She can wait because of who she isn't (human), right?" he says. "You come for me the second you know!" Athena sits back down on a cot and worries.

Doc leads a small group of marines in to the sick ward with the prisoners. "Take him... he's the furthest gone," Doc says pointing at Doral who cries "Nooooo!" After doing his tests, Doc reports to Adama and the President (with Apollo and Helo present) that the virus is lymphocytic encephalitis, something the humans developed an immunity to a couple of hundred years ago. The Cylons' genetic makeup doesn't allow them to develop that immunity. They need regular injections of a vaccine or they will die. There is no cure. Apollo (in marine gear and not his traditional uniform) asks the simple question "Is there a reason to keep them alive?" Helo responds, "We can interrogate them for intelligence." Adama agrees. Apollo doesn't think that they'll talk. He tells them that on the Baseship the Cylons prayed a particular prayer (apparently Carl's wife[?] said it was the prayer to the cloud of unknowing) that is only done when they are facing imminent death - no possibility of downloading. They're ready to die. Roslin says that they may be ready to die, but it doesn't mean one of them won't jump at a second chance - the vaccine will be dangled as a cure.

The marines bring in a chained Simon who is weak and sweating profusely. Simon tells them how the virus infected everything and would have infected a Resurrection ship, so they were abandoned by the other Cylons. Adama asks why they were in the area in the first place. Simon says that they were sent to look for the lion nebula by Baltar - that it would point the way to Earth. Everyone is shocked. Gaeta asks "BALTAR'S ALIVE!?!" Simon replies, "He's on our Baseship and is helping us." Adama comments to the others that Baltar is using their navigation charts to lead the Cylons to Earth. "We want a new beginning. Much like you," Simon says with a slight chuckle. "I gave you information. You said there was a cure," he continues. Adama responds that Doc will give him medicine. Doc tells the marines to take Simon back to the infirmary. They haul him out like a rabid dog as he staggers and falls in his weakened condition. After he leaves, Apollo laughs. Adama, shocked, asks him "What's so funny?!?" Apollo says that he thinks he just thought of a way to get rid of the Cylon problem once and for all. "We can wipe them out. We can destroy the entire Cylon race!" he says thoughtfully.


Kill 'em all!

On Colonial One, Apollo and Helo stand in front of Roslin at her desk (she's still got a picture of her and Billy!). Apollo, the ever brilliant tactician, explains his plan. They jump to a place the Cylons know, execute the infected Cylon prisoners, who then download to the Resurrection ship and infect it. The resurrected Cylons become the carriers of the plague that will spread to all the other Cylons. "Genocide??" Helo asks. "So that's what we're about now." Apollo responds, "They're not human. They were built, not born. No fathers, no mothers, no sons, no daughters" "I had a daughter. I held her in my arms," Helo returns. "She was half human. These are things, dangerous things. This is our one chance to be rid of them," Apollo says. "You can rationalize it anyway you want. If we do this. If we wipe them out, we're no different then they are," Helo argues. Roslin disagrees. The Cylons relentlessly perused them even after the original attack, she says. "They tried to live with us on New Caprica," Helo says. (WHAT?!?! Oh, Man. Helo's barking up the wrong tree.) Roslin can barely believe her ears. "What did you say???" she demands. He repeats it. Apollo, disgusted, steps away from Helo and paces. "You weren't on New Caprica. To my recollection you didn't set foot there, Captain, so out of respect for the hundreds of men and women on your crew who suffered through that snake pit, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. You would serve your fleet well if you remembered occasionally that the Cylons are a mortal threat to the survival of the human race." she says trying to keep her composure. "I'm talking about right and wrong!" Helo returns. "I'm talking about losing a piece of our souls! No one wants to hear that, right. Sure, let's keep it on me. I'm married to a Cylon." He continues his rant saying that Athena's walked through hell for them over and over, so how do they know there aren't others like her? Athena's a person. Wiping them out is a crime against humanity. Apollo gets in on it again, "They're not human! They're programmed." Roslin ends the "debate" saying that she'll take his input "under advisement" and Adama dismisses them. After Helo leaves, Roslin and Adama give each other a look of "What the heck was that?!?!"

The dejected Helo returns to the Galactica. Athena is waiting for him in their quarters. She's fine! Doc said that she's immune. She said that, according to Doc, carrying a half human child (fetal blood cells mixing in material circulatory system) made her immune!!!! (HAH! TOLD YA SO!) She and Helo start making out. Athena talks about Hera. "She's gone forever and she saved my life," she says. She starts undressing Helo (ziiiiippp!). He stops her. "Them!" he says. "Who's them?" Sharon asks. Helo tells her of their plan to kill the prisoners and infect the other Cylons. Athena cries softly. "We're talking about the Genocide of your entire race!" he says. "You think I don't know that?" she returns. "I made a choice to wear a uniform, to be a person." Helo argues, "You were a person before you put on that uniform, before I fell in love with you. You don't have to prove it." Athena growls, "I have to prove it every day. My entire race may be wiped out. Does a Cylon keep her word even if it means she's the last one in the universe? Can a human being do that?" Helo marvels at her.

Meanwhile, Adama and Roslin are sipping tea sitting all cozy-like on Colonial One. Adama tells her that the law forbids him to use biological weapons without a direct Presidential order. "Passing the buck, eh?" Roslin asks. Definitely. Adama comments that if they start destroying entire races (even mechanical races), they are likely to tear off a piece of a man's soul. Helo's not wrong about that. Roslin doesn't want to deal in philosophy (ironic?). "They are coming for us. Those are the stakes," she says. Adama says that posterity doesn't look too kindly on genocide. "At least someone will be alive to hate us for it," she responds. "The Cylons are OUR mistake. We created them." "Admiral Adama, as president I have determined that the Cylons are to be made extinct. The use of biological weapons are approved." So say we all!!

The Galactica jumps. Athena and Racetrack board a Raptor. The vipers launch - with Starbuck leading (she's back flying!). Meanwhile, Helo sneaks around and opens a panel in a corridor and pulls a connection, then closes the panel again. On the bridge, the radar picks up two Cylon Raider scouts. The Raiders quickly jump away and then return in force with THREE Basestars and a Resurrection ship. The game is afoot. Adama says it's time to execute the prisoners. Gaeta makes the call. Apollo and Mathias head to the holding area. They can't get the door open at first. When they do, the find the prisoners all dead. Apollo quickly reports back to Adama. The prisoners were dead before the Resurrection ship jumped in. The plan is foiled. Another Basestar jumps in. Adama knows it's time to go. They recall the Vipers and Raptors that were engaging the Raiders. The ships land and the Galactica jumps away before it takes any damage.

In their quarters Helo and Athena pace. Helo says, "They'll be coming for me. You or me. Seems like they're always coming for one of us. I'm not a traitor. I love my people. I love this ship. I did what I thought was right. If it was a mistake, fine. I can live with that. It's you I can't live without." Athena looks sympathetic and hugs him. "I'll always love you," she says. (That sounds like "I'll always love you even if you're a dumb ass and I have to report you.")

Later, Adama and Roslin meet in Adama's quarters. He tells her that the prisoners died of asphyxiation. The airflow was reversed, sucking oxygen out of the room. The door lock was a fail-safe. Someone did this manually. They know it could have been one of two suspects. "Who will head the investigation?" Roslin asks. "No one. I'm closing the books on this one," Adama says. "How convenient," she responds. Adama gets up and fetches some papers to change the subject. He tells her that Doc Cottle thinks the beacon was accidentally infected. The virus was an exact match to one 3000 years ago, right around the time the 13th tribe left Kobol. We're on the right trail, they agree. "So are the Cylons," she says. Adama sighs.


SciFi EXTRA bit

Visiting the website during the show's airing (there was no "secret code word" this time) a clip from next week's episode was revealed. Adama visits Tigh in his quarters where Tigh is still wallowing. Adama tells Tigh that Bulldog is back. He escaped from a Baseship and stole a Raider. Tigh asks Adama if he's going to tell him. "I can't tell him," Adama says. There's obviously a deep past they have with Bulldog that we don't know the details of yet. (Note: the previews for next week give more info than this lame little scene.)


Observations, Thoughts and Questions

D'Anna's becoming a big softie. D'Anna has always been the most vicious of the lovely Cylon ladies. Now, this whole love theme is turning her inside out. This had better be a Cylon trait and not just a FEMALE Cylon trait. I know Leoben had that weird obsession with Kara, but he was manipulative and unflinching about it. Baltar says he loves D'Anna and she gets all mushy? That whole scene was just weird and creepy.

RIP Helo. If Starbuck or Col. Tigh find out what he said - let alone what he did - he's gonna WISH they would put him out an airlock. Will Athena turn on him? She's dedicated enough to her promise to Adama that she was willing to face the extinction of her own race. Helo betrayed Adama's trust. That can't go over all that well with her, despite her love for him. (Of course, all this will change once Athena finds out Hera's alive. We're all waiting for that shoe to drop, aren't we?)

How could Adama just drop the investigation??? His own XO betrayed him! We can only assume that Adama isn't pursuing it because he was doubtful of the morality of the genocide - that he himself believes that Cylons (at least some of them) might be "people." He does have a tight relationship with Athena now. I guess that would give him pause. Nevertheless, Helo's loyalty should have been to his commanding officer. I can't imagine that Adama could completely trust him after that. I hope Adama at least puts Helo on bathroom cleaning detail or something. Geesh! Adama's having bad luck with his XOs of late.

We finally see Dee in this episode. It looks like she's back working on the bridge. I have a feeling she and Lee won't last all that long. She didn't seem all THAT concerned about Lee and his possible infection. She didn't even go see him in the infirmary. Helo went to see Athena. Ron Moore said in his Podcast that originally the writers thought that both Lee and Dee would join the marines together and really get their hands dirty. That storyline didn't really work out, though. It seems now that Dee is left to do either the job she had before New Caprica or do whatever random things her papa-in-law finds for her. I think Lee will continue to go out on dangerous missions and be the bad-ass we all love. I doubt that bad-ass, adventure guy is the Dee signed on for. He was moving his way up in the ranks and heading to a nice bridge assignment on the Pegasus when they got together. She's never really had to deal with being his partner while he's out risking his life.

I like that Gaeta is getting more openly involved in things. I'd like to see him become Adama's new right-hand on the bridge now that Helo can't be trusted. Gaeta has certainly proven himself to be loyal.

As for the next episode and Bulldog (SPOILER ALERT!) - From an interview with TV Guide back in May, David Eick said that Bulldog "will be a character that Adama knew from before the attacks. He's a contemporary of Adama's and Tigh's who arrives on the Galactica with a very dark secret about something Adama did in the past." The rumor mill has been speculating that the big secret is related to some guilt Adama may have (actual or imagined) over the attack on the Colonies - like something he did might have been a catalyst. I guess we'll just have to wait 'til next week to find out!


The next episode, "Hero," airs November 17 at 9pm ET.

Grey's Anatomy review - 11/09 episode recap

A grim session for 'Grey's Anatomy'

By MELISSA RAYWORTH, For The Associated Press
Fri Nov 10, 7:59 AM ET

The writers of "Grey's Anatomy" usually balance pathos with ample doses of humor. But in this week's decidedly downbeat episode, the comic moments were rare. (Spoiler alert: Stop reading now if you've saved the episode for later viewing.)

Even the all-boys camping trip, which seemed built for comedy, wasn't played for laughs. Derek, who'd expected that only Burke would join him in the wilderness, moped around lamenting the presence of the other campers.

His planned weekend of solitude became group therapy with fishing poles: Alex discussed his miserable childhood, Dr. Webber confessed his loneliness and George got shot down upon announcing he wants Callie back. (Alex gleefully told George that Callie slept with Mark Sloan and the conversation soon devolved into a fist fight.)

Joe the bartender and his boyfriend Walter tried to enjoy the trip, but their happiness only made the others more morose. And when Walter gouged his head on a rock, a still-shaky Burke was forced to stitch the wound in the presence of his colleagues.

He managed without tremors, but George (who had seen Burke's hand tremble earlier that day) watched him closely. He didn't question Burke, but Burke knows George suspects something.

Meanwhile, it was equally grim at the hospital:

• Addison was brought to tears by the death of an unborn baby. But she got support from Callie and the two later bonded over their regrettable liaisons with Mark.

• Bailey confronted Cristina about erasing her name from the surgical board, vowing that Cristina can't perform surgery until she explains herself. Cristina didn't crack, but she's risking her career.

• Meredith questioned her feelings about Derek after spending the day with Mark (not a very plausible plot twist, given Mark's predatory vibe and Meredith's recent determination that Derek is "the one"). But when Derek returned, they shared a kiss and agreed to start their relationship over.

• Izzie tried to dodge her "peer counselor" Sydney (the same excessively perky doctor who took Bailey's place during her maternity leave), but finally admitted that she's still mourning Denny. "I don't know if I can be a surgeon again," she said.

And in the episode's closing moments, a new crisis erupted: George's dad has been admitted to the hospital. No word on his particular ailment. But judging by Callie's face, the prognosis for next week isn't good.

BSG episode review "Torn"

Battlestar Galactica: Torn
by Shannon Nolley, Filmfodder Editor

This week, the first of another two-parter, we get to see inside the inner workings of a Cylon Basestar. Fans have been dying for this! Does it live up to expectations? Well... as with anything, I guess that depends on what you expected.

Thanks to the quick editing and story hopscotching, it feels like a lot happened in this episode. That's not really the case when you boil it down, though. After some reflection you see that this episode, while providing some interesting insights, primarily sets up events for the second part that airs next week.

Despite the lack of breakneck action, lots of questions were raised, nonetheless. Per usual, at the end of this entry is a section called "Observations, Thoughts and Questions" to further focus on particular plot points and enable specific discussion on, well, things I want to talk about. If you've seen the episode and just want to discuss what happened, skip to that section. There's a lot in there this time, so let me know your thoughts!
Now...

Torn: Episode 3.06
The fleet pushes on as Tigh and Kara wallow
The fleet population stands at 41,422 (down 13 from the count in last episode - more on this below).

We join the fleet with the Galactica pilots engaged in a training exercise. Apollo (yay! He's out from behind a desk!) and Kat are leading the red and blue teams. Kara is on Apollo's team. Apollo's ship reads "Major Lee Adama - 'Apollo'." (Has he been demoted or has his Viper just not been changed?) Kara goes after Hot Dog. Apollo goes after Kat. Kara makes her simulated kill easily, but Apollo has some trouble catching the wily Kat. Kara goes after her. Flying recklessly, Kara smashes into Kat and both ships sustain damage. Apollo is pissed. They all land safely on the Galactica where Tyrol and his crew, including Cally, assess the damage. In addition to the structural damage, Kara was completely out of fuel. She landed the Viper with a bone dry tank. Apollo, now super pissed (and thin!), lays into Kara about running a suicide mission. If she wants to kill herself, fine, he'll open up an airlock for her. Just don't take one of his Vipers with her. He says she's done flying and storms off. Kara isn't pleased.

Meanwhile, in his room, Tigh is drowning himself in booze. He hears a woman's voice that he thinks is Ellen. He runs into the hall where lots of people are passing to and fro. He sees the back of a woman who he thinks is Ellen. Of course, once he catches up to her, it's just a surprised and indignant not-Ellen woman who all but calls him a molester.

Still fuming from her run-in with Apollo, Kara looks down to see a happy, vibrant Kacey running towards her saying "Kara! Kara! Kara!" Kacey's mom, Julia Brennam(sp?) follows right behind. She tells Kara that she and Kacey are staying at "Camp Oilslick" - a sort of refugee camp in the hangar deck. Kacey has been asking to see Kara. Julia has apparently been leaving messages for Kara, but they've gone unanswered. Kara tells Julia that the last thing she needs is a two-year-old friend and Kacey sure as hell doesn't need her, so don't bring her around any more. Kara picks up Kacey and hands her to her Julia. Slighted, Julia says "Sure. Sorry. Don't let us keep you up." Kara storms off to bed.

Next we join Apollo in the gym with Helo. Apollo is now thin and ripped! He's back to his superstar self. Guess all that jump roping worked. He tells Helo "Remind me never to let that happen again!" "You got it, Slim," Helo returns. Thus, we have the end of Fat Apollo. (See more on this below.)

Elsewhere on the ship, Gaeta is meeting with Roslin and Adama. He's been trying to piece together Baltar's research on the route to Earth. Roslin asks the smart question of whether or not they can trust Baltar's work. Gaeta says in his experience with Baltar, the one thing he doesn't doubt is Baltar's sense of self preservation. Gaeta trusts the research because he believes that Baltar wanted to get to Earth. Gaeta shows them various documents and compares them to the language set out in the Scroll of Pythia (a holy document that supposedly chronicles the path the 13th Tribe took to Earth). The scroll describes a "lion" with a blinking eye of red and blue. Baltar had surmised that the blinking was the result of the intermittent radio wave pulses of a pulsar. Baltar found a set of pulsars near a nebula that could appear as a lion head to the naked eye. Eureka! They decide to go hunting.

In the rec room, the pilots and crew are playing cards, drinking and having some laughs. Sharon and Racetrack discuss Adama's plan to track down the pulsar. Racetrack will gladly be her second in the Raptor. She mistakenly calls Sharon Boomer, though. Sharon stumbles a bit and says, no.. that was someone else. Helo raises his voice and calls out to everyone in the room, asking for suggestions for a new call sign for Sharon. Some amusing suggestions fly like Chromedome, Titanium, Raptor Adapter, and Toasterbabe. Hot Dog makes a good suggestion, though. He recommends Athena. The Goddess of Wisdom and War, usually accompanied by the goddess of Victory (according to Hot Dog, anyway). Helo and Sharon/Athena are moved by the suggestion. Athena it is. They kiss. The pilots seem to be in good spirits about having a Cylon in their ranks. The good time doesn't last long, though. Colonel Tigh enters, dragging his miserable mood with him. He approaches Kara who is playing cards. She shares her booze with him. Let the wallowing begin!

Kara and Tigh are in a foul mood. Tigh complains about the long line of civilians waiting to take showers. There are just too many people -namely, civilians - on the ship. One of the pilots makes the mistake of engaging Tigh by saying "Well, it's better than it was before. It felt like a tomb." Here we go! Tigh starts in with "You want to know what alone feels like, try spending a few weeks in a Cylon holding cell." Kat tries to mediate and says that things sucked on both sides. Tigh and Kara don't go for that. They don't believe that the suffering of folks who were left in the fleet and escaped the Cylon rule on the planet comes anywhere close to the suffering that they endured.

Tigh and Kara continue to pound drinks. Kara raises her glass and says "Here's to knowing someone will always have your back." Tigh says, "That's a nice sentiment, but trust is overrated." Kat has had enough of the whining. "Frak you guys. I'm tired of all this 'us against them' crap." she says. Kat says that they still busted their asses to get folks off the planet. Tigh says that doesn't mean anything. Everyone who landed on New Caprica was loyal - to a point. It was amazing watching people you thought you knew go over to the Cylons. Kara says, "At least in the end, you knew where you stood." "Is that so?" he returns. "Then how come you're off flight duty and a Cylon lover is holding down my post?!?! We're all on our own." Kat hisses at him, "Why don't you tell that to the pilots who died getting you off that rock." Tigh just smirks and swishes his drink.

Helo is in Adama's quarters discussing Athena's mission to the pulsar. Adama has heard about Tigh spending a lot of time in the rec room. Helo describes Tigh and Kara's rantings and says that it's destroying morale. Adama is dismayed. They know better. Helo doesn't think they care.
Adama has had enough. He heads to the rec room to confront Kara and Tigh. He clears the room and demands Kara's side arm. Reluctantly, she turns it over to him. He pulls back the slide and loads a bullet into the chamber and throws the gun down on the table. "One of you pick that up and shoot me," he says. Kara starts to say something, but Adama cuts her off saying that she's done enough talking. "Pick up the weapon and shoot!" Adama growls. "What's the matter? No guts? Don't got a pair? You're fraking cowards." "Watch your mouth!" Tigh returns. "Or what?" Adama fires back. "You're going to turn the rest of the pilots against each other? Poison the crew? You've already done that." Kara leans back in her chair and says, "If you're looking for an apology, you ain't gonna get it." Adama has had enough. He kicks the chair out from under her and she hits the floor with a hard thud. Oh yeah. He's pissed. Adama tells her that she once was like a daughter to him, but not now. She's off the ship if she can't figure out a way to be an officer again. He dismisses her and she slinks out. Then he turns to Tigh. "The last thing I need is a one eyed drunk sowing discontent. You can either kill me or go back to your quarters and stay there until you start acting like the man I've known for the last thirty years." Tigh picks up the gun and unloads it. He says, "That man doesn't exist any more, Bill. You won't be seeing me again." Tigh walks away.

Kara heads to the showers. She walks up to the mirror and pulls out the knife strapped to her leg. The other pilots and crew in the bathroom slowly back away from her. She's got that crazy look in her eyes. Kara pulls back her hair and hacks away at it. Well, I guess it's cheaper than Supercuts. After giving herself a new do, she dresses in her uniform (presumably for the first time since she settled on New Caprica with Anders). All dressed and pretty, she goes to Oilslick City and finds Kacey, who is glad to see her. Kacey hands her a stuffed animal, smiles then lunges at her for a hug. Kara holds Kacey and swallows back her tears.

Meanwhile, Tigh has returned to his quarters and drinks, drinks, drinks. Behind him, Ellen's clothes still hang in the closet. He is lost. He sits and morns.


Baltar and life on the Basestar

In the land of Cylons, we open with Baltar and Fantasy Six on a bright, sparkling beach at sunset. Naturally, Fantasy Six is wearing a skimpy red bikini. The scene is extra fuzzy so we can't see what they're actually saying. It's effective as a dream sequence, but slightly distracting/annoying. Baltar asks Fantasy Six what she really is. A dream? A connection with other Six? She says that she's an angel of god sent here to help him, just as she always has been. Baltar wakes again in the Cylon room. There are lots of dizzying cuts, mimicking his disorientation. A creepy piano theme cues. Caprica Six enters the room as Baltar feels up the wall. She tells him that they (the Cylons) are all part of one big ecosystem. Baltar says he can feel the ship breathing. D'Anna enters and begins to ask questions about Earth. Does he know where it is? Not really. Hmm. That would have helped with his usefulness. D'Anna and Six begin to leave. Baltar stammers and says that he can predict its "probable" location, though. "What do you care about finding Earth?" he asks. D'Anna tells him that Earth will be the new Cylon home.
Later, Baltar has told them about the lion's head and the pulsar. A Basestar has been sent out to investigate. Baltar is trying to convince Caprica Six of his continued usefulness despite his extreme ambivalence. She simply remarks that it's amusing how he becomes less ambivalent when his life is on the line. They walk through corridors and rooms on the ship. The walk past a naked Sharon doing some sort of Tai Chi. Baltar is embarrassed and lamely covers his eyes. Six tells him to keep moving.

More surreal and dizzying dissolves. Baltar asks if they are going around in circles. Six comments that it must all look the same to him, that it must be hard for any human to navigate the ship without projecting. She explains that Cylons project what they want to see - they chose to see their environment however they want to see it, whenever they want to see it. Baltar sees it as a hallway, she sees a pretty forest. She chooses to envision "god's creation."
We flash back to the fantasy beach. He is asking the Fantasy Six about his ability to dream and interact with her so fluidly. Is that a coincidence? Is there some connection? "Am I a Cylon?!?!?" Baltar demands. The question goes unanswered.

Continuing on his walk with Caprica Six, she tells him he can rest easy for now because his information on Earth and rescue of Hera has earned him enough points... for now. Baltar is still grappling with the notion that he might be a Cylon and unaware of it. He grills Six about what she knows of the other five Cylon models that he hasn't seen yet. "Who are the final five?!?!?" he demands. "I can't talk about them. It's complicated, but we don't talk about them... ever," Six responds uncomfortably. "You'd know one if you saw one, right?" he presses further. (Note: Moore said that the currently revealed models don't know anything about the "final five" - what they look like, etc. They are programed that way. .. Thanks for the heads up Fan and Newt!)
Before he can continue the cross-examination, D'Anna and Doral rush by saying that there's a problem with the Basestar they sent to the pulsar. They've lost contact after receiving a garbled distress call. The "hybrid" is trying to analyze the data. Six and Baltar follow them into the control room. As the Cylons interface with the ship by laying their hand in a water-like substance, we get our first real glimpse of the Cylon control room. Water is definitely the theme here. It's everywhere. In the panels, streaming from the ceiling. Everywhere. The Cylons learn that the Basestar has been infected by something that is killing them. They make sure the Resurrection ship is out of range so those infected can't download and possibly infect others. They want to save the Basestar, but are in a quandary. The disease has infected everything - all the models, the Centurions, the Raiders, and even the Basestar itself. No Cylon can board or even get very close to the Basestar without risking infection. What to do, what to do. We flash again briefly to the beach. Fantasy Six tells Baltar to volunteer to go to the ship to prove his usefulness. Besides, if he's one of the Final Five models, he'd certainly find out this way. She notes that he'd probably rather die than be a Cylon anyway, so where's the real risk? Back in the control room, Baltar volunteers. He explains that because he's a scientist, he can collect data and report back. He'll use one of Colonial ships seized during the occupation so as to avoid infecting a Raider. The Cylons are skeptical, but know it's very likely the only thing they CAN do.
Later, dressed in a flight suit and ready to head out, Baltar enters the room where the hybrid lays in her tank. She/it is rambling a mix of what sounds like diagnostic system checks and prophesy. Baltar marvels at her. Her "data stream" flows out of tubes that connect her to the ship. Six explains that the hybrid controls everything - she IS the Basestar. What she speaks, though, is never clear. Most of the models believe her words to be random gibberish. The Leoben models, however, think that every word from her mouth means something - is a message from god. (Ron Moore likens the hybrid to a prophet like Cassandra in Greek mythology - one who sees truth of the universe but can't effectively communicate it to others.) The hybrid rambles, pauses, and then says "jump." The Basestar jumps to the pulsar coordinates and to the Basestar in distress. Baltar departs in a Colonial Raptor to inspect the troubled ship.

Once on the diseased/dying Basestar, Baltar first sees a D'Anna dying. There are bodies everywhere. They are all dying. He snaps pictures of the carnage. The control room itself looks sick - the lights are yellow instead of bright white. Baltar sees a large capsule on the floor. He inspects it and determines that it's "Definitely man made." (Er... how'd you know that? Because it wasn't fancy?) He notices a fungus-like thing growing on the outside of the object. From behind, a Six - sick and dying on the floor - grabs his ankle. Baltar spins around to see the Raven Haired Six (she's got black hair... from the disease? The hair of the other models didn't seem to change.) She begs him to kill her. He frantically tries to help. He tells her that there is no resurrection ship nearby so he needs to save her. He takes a blood sample to take back and find an antidote. He asks her what that "thing" is, pointing to the capsule. She says they found it floating. It's some kind of beacon marker left by the 13th Tribe. She believes that it is a human device infected with pestilence to destroy the Cylons. Realizing who Baltar is, she hisses at him "YOU DID THIS! YOU'LL LIE TO THEM AND INFECT THE OTHER BASESHIPS." She's freaking out. He quickly tries to allay her fears to no avail. He screams "SHUT UP!" Panicking, he squeezes her neck to silence her. Harder and harder he squeezes and crushes her neck. She's dead. Baltar's first kill was a Six. Conveniently, just after the Raven Six dies, the other Cylons call in to check on Baltar's status. "What do you see?" They ask. "Nothing," he responds. "Nothing of consequence." (Insert innocent whistling here.)

Let's all go to the pulsar

Back in the control room on the Basestar, the Cylons are still trying to figure out what to do. They want to help the Basestar and its crew, but they don't know how. They argue. The resolve on a bigger question - "How did this happen?" Not surprisingly, like the Raven Six, they quickly conclude that it was Baltar. He lead their ship there and now all of a sudden there's a mysterious disease killing them? They argue more. Frustrated, D'Anna slams her hand down into the interface. She wants to resolve the question of the Basestar. They have to jump. The hybrid objects with ear piercing whines that travels throughout the ship and says "Mists of dreams drip along the nascent echo and love no more. End of line." D'Anna is unmoved by the hybrid's feelings. "She doesn't get a vote," D'Anna says. They jump away from the dying Basestar. Having won that battle, D'Anna turns to the larger question again. Where did the disease come from? She asks Baltar if he saw anything suspicious. Nope. Nothing, he says. Behind them, Caprica Six is reviewing Baltar's photos. She sees the device in the picture of the control room and zooms in on it. She knows he's lying. Saying nothing (yet), she glares at him.

Meanwhile, Galactica has sent out a Raptor with Athena and Racetrack to investigate the pulsars. They jump to the coordinates gleamed from Baltar's notes. Racetrack is excited that things are as they were described in the scrolls (or at least their interpretation of them). She doesn't have long to be overjoyed, though. She barely gets the words "Holy crap, it's the road to Earth!" out of her mouth when a dead Raider passes overhead. The Raptor spins and sees the Basestar. Racetrack leaps to the back to prepare to jump the ship away. Athena knows something is amiss, though. She says "When god's anger awakens, even the mighty shall fall." She feels the death/disease that has befallen the Cylons.

to..be..continued

SciFi EXTRA bit

Using the "secret code word" that aired during the episode, the website revealed an "exclusive" scene from the next episode. Apollo and a team board the dead/dying Basestar. Athena is with the team! She puts her hand in the sick, green slime where the water/controls used to be and attempts to interface with the computer. She recoils with a gasp!

Observations, Thoughts and Questions

Obviously, the big questions after this episode revolve around the mysterious Cylon disease. Can it effect humans? If not, can they harvest it and use it as a weapon against the Cylons? If so, they'd better be careful around Sharon so as not to kill her off before she has a chance to get revenge on them for lying to her about Hera's death. Sharon will likely be a guinea pig of sorts to test out all the variables of the disease. I suspect that even if the disease CAN be used against the Cylons, Baltar will recall that Hera's blood cured Roslin's terminal cancer. It was a magical cure for the deadly human disease (annoying as that plot device may have been at the time). Why, then, couldn't Hera's blood be used to cure a deadly Cylon disease as well? Hey, this is science fiction, right? Hybrid blood could be a cure-all for both humans and Cylons. You don't know. Whether it's via Hera or some other lab experiment he concocts, finding a cure for the deadly disease would win him a few points with the Cylons -- and I think he'll need all he can get soon enough.

In a related thought, if the disease is deadly to Cylons, could it also be harmful to Roslin as someone who was a recipient of Cylon blood - blood that effected her entire body? Or, could her altered physiology - however influenced by Hera's blood as it was - lead the humans to a cure for the Cylon disease (one that they could use as a bargaining chip)? I've held out hope since last season that the "Roslin magical cure" storyline would morph into something other than a random plot device to save her at the last second. I'm still hoping something new/interesting will come of that. Yep. Still hoping.

Where is Hera, by the way? Is the New Caprica D'Anna caring for her? One of the Sharons? I want to see what a Cylon nursery looks like. If it's anything like Baltar's room, they don't need extra night lights.

The big "oohh... ahhh" before the season launched was that we were finally going to get a serious look into Cylon life on a Basestar. In this week's Podcast, Ron Moore said that whatever our imaginations might have come up in terms of how the Basestar actually looked would be way cooler that what he could actually create - no matter what. So, he went for a stripped down version with some surreal elements (e.g. the fancy chaise lounge in the stark room) and added Beethoven inspired simple piano music to create an "out of body" quality to the episode. Are you satisfied with how it's turned out? I gotta say, I'm torn. I like the surreal aspects to it - the almost dreamlike blur though which we view everything. It makes you wonder if you're seeing it that way as if through Baltar's drug addled eyes or if it's just a heavy moisture brought about by all the water elements. A high humidity would account for all the skimpy clothes that Six wears (har har). On the other hand, the soupy feel and quick cuts are rather distracting. There may be a smidge too much of the fuzzy lights and Baltar wooziness. Well, at least the outside of the basestars look super sweet.

I must briefly morn the loss of Kara's lovely golden locks. (Katee Sackhoff was really cutting her own hair in that scene!) Sure, the short hair is more in keeping with military "regulations," but she looks so beautiful with the long flowing mane that it's hard to watch it be hacked to bits. The cutting of her hair is an obvious statement that Kara is cutting away the past and transforming back into the kickass warrior Starbuck again (especially since Adama told her she had to basically shape up or ship out). We have to feel slightly bad that a more "casual" Kara wasn't able to find peace and happiness as a civilian and a wife. It just wasn't in the cards. A brief moment of silence for the long haired, civilian Kara. Ok. That's enough. Three cheers for the return of Starbuck! Actually, we might find a new Kara/Starbuck hybrid evolving. After all, she did go see Kacey after she cut her hair. I doubt that means her vexations are over, though. She's not really the type to bounce back so quickly - despite how neatly the episode seemed to tie that up.

Speaking of appearances and bouncing back, should we comment on Apollo's loss of the fat suit? I know I'm not alone in hating that particular storyline. Instead of ranting about stereotypes of laziness, body image and weight, I'll just tell you what Moore said in the Podcast. Moore admitted that Apollo's rapid weight loss isn't believable at all. He said that Apollo's weight gain at the end of last season was just an idea that they didn't know what to do with. They had all these complex psychological rationales relating to his new marriage to Dualla, unresolved issues with Starbuck, and job complacency, but it ended up being just that Apollo got fat and lazy. Moore said that they tried to come up with storylines where Apollo would lose weight by doing this, that or the other thing, but they just kept getting pushed off the table. Eventually they just said, "Fine, he's not Fat Apollo anymore. See, he's jumping rope and the scale says so." Done and done. Thank the gods.

Finally, the survivor count. This week it was 41,422 (down 13 from the count in last episode). Initially, that looks like that's the 13 that Apollo mentioned who had gone "missing" during the work of The Circle. We know the number was actually 14, though, because The Circle's "people" carried out the execution of a woman they convicted between Jammer and Gaeta. So, I guess we assume someone in the fleet had a baby. Down 14, up one. Down 13 total. I know, now I'm nitpicking.

The next episode, "A Measure of Salvation," airs November 11 at 9pm ET. In the previews, the Galactica discusses the Cylon disease and its possible advantages. The president decrees that all Cylons be made extinct. Err... what about Athena?

BSG Season 3 review to date

Battlestar Galactica - (Commentaries from first four episodes)

by Angel Cohn October 27, 2006: The Circle of Death

Oh. My. Gods. Those were the words that came out of my mouth as I saw the little two second preview (in the opening credits – more on that topic later) of Laura Roslin leaning in to kiss (Yes, Kiss!) Gaius Baltar. I sat jaw agape and at the end of another mind-blowing episode am still sitting here with my mouth wide open in utter amazement.

Thank those same gods for letting that unholy union of all that is good and all that is evil and selfish in this world just be a fantasy on the part of the most selfish human being left in the universe. That said, there are only slightly over 40 thousand humans left on the planet and the Cylons have decided to spare this one, and even give him fresh clothing. This wimpy bit of flesh must have some value in this world. His silly babbling at Number Six in order to get her to spare his life (this after he'd been pleading for death on New Caprica) was just plain pathetic. "You need me…. And I need you too. Maybe I should have started with that." Um, yeah. He's completely clueless about how to treat a woman or machine or really whatever she is. The best part of his confinement aboard the Cylon base ship (aside from that disturbingly eerie pulsing red light which I sort of hope will drive him even madder) was hearing the way that D'Anna said the word "controversy." I love a Cylon with an accent!

But while I've grown accustomed to think of the Cylons as bad and the humans as good, it is becoming more and more evident that on this show there are many shades of gray. That line blurred a lot tonight with the creation of "The Circle" by the acting President Tom Zarek. Baltar may be easily manipulated and completely unfit for the office, but it is nearly as dangerous to have someone as opinionated and uncontrollable in such a position of power. Judging people based on their acts of survival, which may have cost human's lives is a touchy and sensitive subject indeed. It's fairly clear that there isn't a "right" answer, but tossing people out the airlock without a proper trial isn't necessarily the humane way to go. Watching Jammer beg for his life through the soundproof glass, knowing that he had indeed tried to help Callie at the very least, was almost as difficult to watch as Ellen's poisoning last week. Those who watched the webisodes know that Jammer was in an emotional state when he began working for the Cylons. It is hard to know what many people would have done in a similar situation. I thought the new/old president Laura's decision, while it will ruffle many feathers, was somewhat sensible. I just can't help but wonder if she'll keep her promise to name Zarek as her second-in-command. Sometimes it is best to keep those troublesome sorts close. At least that's what Adama does with Tigh. He's able to keep a watchful eye on him when he gets too far out of line.

Speaking of Adama, he had the best line of the night hands down. Apollo slyly tried to slip in the fact he taking his dad's advice and exercising into their conversation, "I have a date with a jump rope." [Adama's deadpan patented deadpan stare.] "Hey, I dropped half a stone." Adama's response? "Keep jumping." I (and probably the makeup department) will be glad to have "normal" Apollo back. He was the reason that I started watching this show in the first place.

That said, the reasons for sticking around are many, but chief among them was my adoration of Kara Thrace. The easygoing trigger happy gal of the earlier seasons, who would have fit in well in the Wild West, is gone. Now my favorite little space cowgirl is filled with complex emotions and Katee Sackhoff has taken her to a completely new level. She's understandably angry and mad about being held captive and manipulated by the Cylons into thinking that she had a daughter. But she's also having a hard time accepting the fact that she's back on the ship and she has no one to take her anger out on, hence her screaming at Gaita to beg for his life. Her instant change from wanting to claw Sam's eyes out to kissing him, surely doesn't bode well for their continuing couplehood, but I think if he gives her time and space… a lot of space, she'll eventually come around.

I mentioned before the preview of the lip-lock in the opening credits, which brought my to my random question of the day: What do you think of the fact that there is a sequence before each episode that shows clips of each episode? Do you view it as a spoiler, or something to whet your appetite for the coming hour? I'm still on the fence. I used to hate them but now they've grown on me. I'd love to read what you think.

Now that I've shared my thoughts, I'm going to go back and watch that dream sequence again. I really am still having a hard time processing that one.

Posted by Angel Cohn 10/27/06 11:27 PM

October 20, 2006: A Close Shave

In an episode full of gritty and very realistic battle scenes with a lot of casualties, the thing I had the hardest time watching was Kara and Leoben's kiss. Sure, I had seen Starbuck snag that knife from Anders and knew she'd kill him (though in front of the kid surprised me), but watching him force her to say she loved him and then kiss him was so genuinely uncomfortable it gave me chills. And when Kara encountered Casey's real mother, it was positively heartbreaking. I'm so used to thinking of Starbuck as this badass who is amazing in battle, but to see her softer side is touching. She seemed so disappointed that the child wasn't hers. I just knew that the child couldn't be a Cylon/human hybrid — otherwise what would the big deal have been about Hera? But having the human mother retrieve her presumed dead daughter from Kara's arms was a particularly cruel twist.

Hera is now in the care of one of the D'Annas. But I can't figure out what D'Anna was searching for in the human temple... perhaps the old, psychic woman who told her about the baby's existence? Or was that where they were hiding the nuke?

I found it hard to be too sad that Tigh had to poison his backstabbing wife. Not sure if it made him feel any better that she told him she slept with one of the Brother Cavils in order to free him. He seemed pretty upset by the whole situation, and understandably so. This may sound harsh, but he has always been the one to preach about the casualties of war, and sad as he may be, Ellen is one of them.

Gaius impressed me with his wimpy attitude tonight. He practically begged Gaita to kill him. "I just want to sit here and die." That would be too easy a punishment for him. Baltar needs to suffer for the pain that he's caused the existing human race. I presume that since Laura took back her ship, she's back in charge as interim president. Even though she did lose the hybrid baby, which she originally lied about and hid, she's much more competent than Gaius will ever be. Plus, she realizes her place in society: "This is bigger than us, this is life." Well said, Madame President (or whatever she should be called).

I'm saving my favorite for last. The sky war was absolutely amazing to watch. (Truly, the special effects are a marvel, especially since I can compare it to an unfinished version I saw of this episode.) And the Pegasus did not go down in vain.... It was responsible for destroying several Cylon base ships in the progress. I was actually clapping when Apollo and the Pegasus soared in and saved Galactica before the ship and entire crew were destroyed. Adama had already told his crew how much it was an honor working with them. He was willing to go down with the ship in order to save the stranded humans on New Caprica. He deserved the cheers from the adoring crowd when they had all escaped to a safe (for now) area. The father-son moment was sweet without being all touchy-feely. "Guess you didn't understand my orders?" "I never could read your handwriting." And Adama's mustache shaving was a perfectly subtle way of showing that it is time for a new beginning. This show just does a masterful job of portraying emotions and events without spelling out every small detail. It truly is one of the best shows on television right now, and I just can't wait for next Friday to roll around.

Posted by Angel Cohn 10/20/06 11:55 PM

October 13, 2006: "Don't Make Me Cry on My Own Airdeck"

These cliff-hanger endings might be the death of me. All that discussion and planning, only to leave the episode with Galactica on the verge of saving the entire human race. I was all sniffly when Adama told Apollo, "Don't make me cry on my own airdeck." I'm more addicted than ever, and that's saying a lot.

So here's my weird theory of the night. I don't think that Casey is actually Starbuck and Leoben's kid. It is possible that she was created with the ovary that they removed from Starbuck, but I just don't buy that she's a joint venture. I got to pondering this because D'Anna seems gung ho to find Hera. If there were other Cylon/human babies out there, Hera wouldn't be such a big deal. And feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Number 6 tell Gaius a while back that the Cylons hadn't been successful in producing offspring and that was why Good Sharon (she proved herself trustworthy tonight by shooting D'Anna in the kneecaps so she's good for now) and Helo's kid would be so special? If this thought is true, that's just wrong since it seems like Kara is getting really attached.

I was more than a little excited that Anders caught right on to Ellen's betrayal. I know that she was doing it to save Saul, but why, since Saul was already out of jail, was she granting sexual favors to a Brother Cavil? With her indiscretions and his violent tendencies, he really had no idea how accurate his comment was, "The last thing your son wants is me and Ellen for parents."

Last week's cliff-hanger had me biting my nails wondering the fate of Callie, though I was only mildly worried for Roslin — they just can't kill her off, she's too amazing. I'm glad that the insurgence was able to track the Cylons and save them, though a Brother Cavil model was more than a little miffed to be left to suffer. This from a being who was trying to exterminate a third of the human race. He's lucky all he got was a headache.

Then there's Gaius. He's in a depression and full of self-loathing. Makes sense considering that his easily manipulated mind is one of the major reasons why the humans are in this major predicament. He should be regretful and drowning his sorrows in alcohol because he is one of the most pathetic men in the known universe. There's got to be a moment this season where he has an opportunity to step up and prove himself and I'm really curious to see what he does.

I still can't believe we have to wait a whole week to find out what happens next. This is the problem with getting hooked by watching it on the DVDs; one episode is just never enough.
Posted by Angel Cohn 10/13/06 11:47 PM

October 6, 2006: "How Many Times Do I Have to Shoot You, Anyway?"

I hate to start off my post with the profanity of the future, but holy frak, I missed Battlestar so much! My head is spinning after watching this episode. There's so much to take in from this huge, two-hour episode, and the cliff-hanger ending has left me completely breathless. Wow!

I'm really glad that I watched the webisodes first because they filled in some of the blanks, at least — like giving Jammer's backstory of why he joined the New Caprica police force, and the history of the self-sacrificing Duck. But those took place about Day 67, and this premiere picked up at Day 134, so clearly a lot has happened in that gap.

Tigh was detained by the Cylons and lost an eyeball in the process. They plucked it right out of the socket and showed it to him. But apparently freed from jail, he's got a new perspective on life and that means not only is it OK to endanger innocent humans, it is also fair game to have people do suicide bombings, provided that it somehow distracts the Cylons. Too bad that he seems clueless to the fact that those Cylons don't miss a beat. One of the Cavil Cylons is sleeping with Colonel Tigh's wife and is forcing information about the resistance out of her. Interesting how Ellen is willing to cheat on her husband with one of the toasters but still agrees to get them the information that they need in order to save his life. I guess they are a good pair because they both sort of stretch the moral code in order to suit their purposes.

On the flip side, there is the sweet couple of the resistance, Cally and Chief Tyrol. They've got an adorable little baby, they genuinely want to help the dwindling human population, and yet she's the one who gets abducted by the New Caprica Police and is left running for her life from the Cylons. But I couldn't tell if those Cylon shots were in her direction, or if she was just hearing the other detainees being destroyed. There's part of me that hopes that it is Sam and Sharon who are trying to destroy the Cylons, but they seem to have their hands full with Cylons in another location. I'm so nervous for Roslin and even Zarek.

My other favorite good guys of the night were Gaeta, who was Tyrol's secret source, and vainly attempted to give Gaius a much-overdue wake-up call, and Sam, Starbuck's real husband who is working with the resistance, much like he did on Old Caprica. Unfortunately for Gaeta, Gaius is just a self-serving idiot whose only motive is saving his own skin. He might as well be a Cylon after signing an order to execute nearly 200 people. No wonder the Cylons realized that sacrificing him would probably draw cheers from the humans instead of eliciting the proper display of fear. So much for the Cylons playing nice and creating a peaceful society. Unfortunately for Sam, his wife is being held captive by the creepy Leoben. While Starbuck isn't subjected to the dingy prison cells that the other detainees are tossed in, she's not really much better off with her prettily decorated cell. Leoben's got the idea in his head that Starbuck is really meant to be his life companion. Um, ew. If a girl succeeds in killing you on five separate occasions, it's probably a sign that she's just not that into you. (Did any other Lost fans have flashbacks to Kate and Ben's brunch earlier this week, during that scene when Starbuck and Leoben were dining?) But the fact that he used Starbuck's stolen ovary and created a little half-toaster-half-human offspring with it is just downright terrifying. I loved Kara's reaction to seeing her toddler: "What's that?", "take this with you" and "don't leave me alone with this." I was actually surprised that she sort of came around after the child's accident, and even held Leoben's hand. Very bizarre.

Then in a galaxy far, far away, Adama Sr. and Apollo butted heads about tactics to rescue the remaining humans on New Caprica. I loved Adama's no-nonsense speech. "You are weak, soft, mentally and physically.... I want you to turn around and get your fat ass out of here." He's not really one to mince words, even on the best of days, and in this situation it was totally called for. A father would be able to tell his son that he's losing his edge and fast, especially considering the fact that they finally got word that there are living humans on Caprica and they are in dire need of assistance. Some may question his decision to place so much faith in the Cylon Sharon since another one of her model did try to kill him, but they've really been developing this relationship. I just hope for Adama and Helo's sake that this Sharon is true to her word... at least until she finds out that her baby is actually still alive.

Phew, that's it from me for now. I am so excited for next week. I know there are probably some minute details that I missed, but I fully intend to give this premiere at least a second viewing, and I look forward to reading all your thoughts and comments on the episode.

Posted by Angel Cohn 10/7/06 12:47 AM

The Webisodes
"War is messy, it gets people killed. Good people. Nice people. Get that through your head, or get out. We don't need any babies in this outfit."

Well a lot may have changed since the Cylons invaded New Caprica, but the irascible Colonel Tigh hasn't changed one bit. The webisodes pick up on the 67th day of Cylon occupation, and Tigh is spearheading a resistance movement. But his who cares about the casualties of war attitude rightly has made some of his followers, like Jammer more than a little bit skeptical.

If you haven't had a chance to check out the scifi.com Battlestar Galactica webisodes here are the highlights:

- Chief Tyrol and Cally had a baby, and baptized it.
- Tyrol, Tigh and Jammer try and recruit Duck, who is married to Nora, to join the resistance. But when his wife is killed by a Cylon attack that was brought on by the resistance he instead joins the Cylon's human police force.
- Jammer is taken in to talk to the Cylon Doral who tries to convince him that sharing information about the resistance's dangerous attack plans will actually help save human lives.
- Tigh is making a plan to create an explosion that might cause more human fatalities because of its location.

I thought the webisodes in general were a grim look at the bleak society that the humans have been stuck living in. It's cold, they live in tents, the sun never seems to shine and they fear the imminent threat of Cylon attack. I just can't wait to see how some of my faves, like the outspoken Starbuck or the stubborn Roslin, have been adapting to these circumstances. My guess is not well, which should make for such interesting television tonight.

Random question of the day: Do you think the FCC will have to add "Frak" to its bad word list since it is becoming such a mainstream thing now?

"LOST" Recap October 25th episode

2006 October 26 Lost Recap ( http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6867118/from/ET/)

A con within a con: Still keen on escape, Sawyer tried to put together a plan to shock one of his captors, but Ben pulled the plug on it and gave Sawyer a walloping. Waking up strapped to a table, Sawyer took a syringe to the chest only to wake up again in a stranger state. Ben sat a caged rabbit on top of Sawyer and shook the animal furiously, presumably killing the rabbit. He explained that the rabbit had a pacemaker, and Sawyer now had a matching one of his own. If his heart rate exceeded 140 bpm, his heart would explode — so, no point in trying to escape. Oh, and if told Kate, they’d put one in her, too. Back in flashback, Sawyer was still a prisoner, as he convinced new inmate Munson that the warden was pulling a scam with his wife to get his hands on the money he stole. Munson trusted Sawyer enough to tell him where the money was, but ever the conman, Sawyer took the info straight to the warden for a commuted sentence.

Who do you love? Realizing that something wasn’t right with Sawyer when he returned, Kate pushed to find out what happened. He denied anything happened, but Kate knew better. When Pickett found out about Colleen’s death, he dragged Sawyer to Kate’s cage demanded to know if Kate loved Sawyer, all the while beating him to a pulp. “Yes, I love him!” Later her thoughts were back to freedom for her and lover-boy. She conveniently noticed that the top of her cell had easily accessible gaps that she could fit through. Monkey-barring her way out, she went over to release Sawyer, but he begged her to leave him. She hopped back in her cage and reminded him, “live together, die alone."

Rabbit season: Ben, and a few of his Other-pals, led Sawyer on a hike. When his heart-rate monitor started beeping, Sawyer wanted to know if Ben brought him up there to kill him. Ben told him that his heart wouldn’t explode. “The only thing we put in you was doubt.” He then produced the not-at-all-dead bunny from his sack. Turns out the bunny was sedated and it all part of an elaborate hoax, because “the only way to gain a conman’s respect is to con him.” Sawyer then saw the real reason for their excursion. It was all about the view. Looking out over the peak, he could see that they weren’t being held on the main island at all; it was their very own version of Alcatraz.

On call: Colleen wasn’t completely dead when she came back to camp, and Juliet enlisted Jack’s help in trying to save her. Jack played island-ER with Juliet, under the watchful eyes of the gallery, but Colleen died. Noticing a series of X-rays, Jack suspected there was another reason he was brought there. The X-rays showed a man with a tumor on his spine, and being a specialist in the field, Jack thought it was too much of a coincidence.

Suddenly psychic: Seems that electromagnetic blast that pitted the hatch also gave Desmond special powers of prescience. Just as he was wise to Locke’s speech before he gave it last week, this time he knew precisely when the forecast called for rain. After rounding up odds and ends from the beach Desmond put it all together. “Is it art?” Hurley asked. Explaining that it was an experiment, Desmond told an exiting Hurley that he might want to wait a minute before he left. Just then rain poured down and moments later a bolt struck Desmond’s makeshift lightening rod.

Babes of BSG (Photo Gallery)

Babes of BSG: http://tv.msn.com/tv/gallery.aspx?gallery=13608

"Lost" recap 10/18

'Lost' returns to Locke, hatch implosion

By ERIN CARLSON, Associated Press Writer
Thu Oct 19, 5:20 PM ET

Forget those Others. In Wednesday's episode, "Lost" turned its attention back to the castaways' community and addressed what happened when the hatch imploded.

Here's a refresher: Last season, John Locke (Terry O' Quinn), Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) were all in the hatch when Desmond turned the fail-safe key to diffuse the electromagnetic energy that was rocking the island. An implosion ensued — try surviving that.

(Don't read further unless you want to know what happened Wednesday.)

Well, they did survive. Locke awoke in some brush and grabbed a walking stick — Mr. Eko's? — that appeared to fall from the sky. It was etched with the cryptic line, "Lift up your eyes and look north." Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) happened by and Locke, rendered temporarily mute, enlisted his help (through hand-gesturing and note-writing) to stand guard outside a tent while he meditated alone.

Inside the tent, Locke had a vision in one of the show's most thrilling moments. Boone (Ian Somerhalder), who died in the first season while helping Locke look for the hatch, made a cameo, popping up beside a speechless Locke.

"Don't worry, you'll speak when you have something worth saying," he told his former father figure. "I'm here to help you find your way again. So you can bring the family back together."

The vision continued as Boone pushed a wheelchair-bound Locke through an airport scattered with familiar faces. "Someone in this airport's in serious danger," he said. "You are the only one who can save them."

Locke pointed at Charlie, Claire (Emilie de Ravin) and her baby. "Not them," Boone said. "They'll be fine for awhile."

Uh, okay. Then Locke spotted Sun (Yunjin Kim), Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sayid (Naveen Andrews). "I think Sayid's got it," Boone said.

The victim isn't Hurley (Jorge Garcia), said Boone, who also warned not to bother with Desmond, who's "helping himself."

In another part of the airport, Kate (Evangeline Lilly) and Sawyer (Josh Holloway) chatted happily. Jack (Matthew Fox) went through a security gate manned by Ben (Michael Emerson).

Boone said: "There's nothing you can do for them. Not yet. First, you have to clean up your own mess."

Back to reality: Locke, emboldened by a new purpose, regained his speech. "I'm going to save Mr. Eko's life," he told Charlie.

Locke and Charlie walk through the jungle, where Locke has a weird hunch that Eko was attacked by a polar bear. He warned Charlie not to tag along. "Bad things happen to people who hang out with me," he said.

In a series of flashbacks, it was revealed that Locke resided in a close-knit commune whose members grew marijuana in a greenhouse. Locke picked up a hitchhiker, Eddie, one day, who turned out to be an undercover cop. An angry Locke set out to kill Eddie, but didn't pull the trigger.

Back in the present: A killer polar bear was, in fact, on the hunt and chased Locke and Charlie in the jungle. Locke followed his instincts and rescued Eko in a cave, where the African priest was dragged by the bear. The Cujo-like creature ran away after Locke burned its face by aiming hairspray through the flame atop his torch.

Hurley, meanwhile, found Desmond naked in the jungle and gave him a T-shirt to wear. Desmond surprised Hurley by breaking the news that Locke would try to save Jack, Kate and Sawyer. "He said so in his speech," Desmond said.

"All he said was he was going to save Eko and kill bears," said Hurley, who ran into Locke earlier in the episode.

Back at camp, Locke ended up making such a speech after Eko gave him a pep talk. "I'm gonna find our friends," he said.

Yeah, somehow Desmond knew that already. Did the hatch implosion give him psychic powers?

Rebelde - Univision

Summary of Rebelde

Rebelde is the story of four teenagers who go to the "Elite Way School" a famous international private school. In the school we find Miguel. Miguel is a kid who goes to school due to a scholarship. His goal in life is to become rich and get a revenge on the man who ruined his father and caused his dad to commit suicide. During his plan of revenge he realizes that the man he hates the most is the father of the love of his life, Mia. She is the daughter of Franco, a rich powerful man. Mia is the most popular girl in school and is always happy. She hates the fact that her dad is with a singer Alma Rey, mother of Roberta. Roberta is a girl who has always lived in her mom's famous shadow. For that reason she always doubts her great beauty and her talent. Then there's Diego, a boy who grew up knowing that his destiny was to be in politics. His role model is his dad, a mean cold man. And because of that Diego is mean and cold as well. In the school the four teens meet Enrique, a young teacher that will change their lives forever.

CAST

Anahí .... Mía Colucci - main heroine
Alfonso Herrera .... Miguel Arango - main hero
Dulce María .... Roberta Pardo
Ninel Conde .... Alma Rey - singer
Juan Ferrara .... Franco Colucci - father of Mía
Enrique Rocha .... León Bustamante - villain
Manola Diez .... Pepa
Christopher Uckermann .... Diego Bustamante - in love with Roberta
Felipe Najera .... Pascual Gandía
María Fernanda García .... Alicia Salazar
Zoraida Gomez .... Jóse Luján Landeros
Estefania Villarreal .... Celina Mitre
Christian Chávez .... Juan / Giovanni Méndez Lopez
Luis Fernando Peña .... Simón
Fabian Lavalle .... Fabian
Leticia Perdigon .... Mayra Fernández - aunt of Lupita
Karla Cossio .... Pilar Gandía
Angelique Boyer .... Victoria Paz
Mayte Pelroni .... Lupita Fernández
Pedro Weber Chatanuga .... Peter - choffer
Julio Camejo .... Mauro Mansilla
Gabriela Bermudez .... Elena Arango - mother of Miguel
Carmén Muñóz .... Marina Carcéres - mother of Mía
Luis de Alba
Patricio Borghetti .... Enrique Madarriaga
Tiaré Scanda .... Gália de Gandía
Daniela Luján .... Bianca
Franceca Guillén .... Ana
Roberto Carlo .... Roberto
Aitor Iturrioz .... Estebán Nolasco Landeros
Jack Duarte .... Tomás Goycolea
Eddy Villard .... Téo Palacios
Zadkiel Garza .... Zadkiel
Abraham Stavans .... Joel
Alejandra Peniche .... Damiana de Ferrer
Alejandro Duran
Sharis Cid
Montserrat Olivier .... Montserrat
Ana Bolena .... Belén Menendéz Pacheco
Ashley Ericka .... Paola
Carlos Balart .... student
Cinthia Copelli .... Mabel
Clarisa Fendon
Cynthia Capelinni .... Mora Bustamante
Dobrina Cristeva .... Yulí
Dylan Deed
Enrique del Olmo
Fernanda Polín .... Karen
Fernando Morán
Francisco Avendaño .... Gustavo Ruiz Palacios
Grettel Valdez .... Renata
Nailea Norvind
Hilda Aguirre
Itzamna Orizaga Sodi .... Iker
Jacqueline Voltaire
Jesús Falcón .... Augusto
Juan Acosta
Juan Pardo
Karen Rico
Karen Juantorena
Liuba de Lasse .... Katta
Lourdes Canale
Malisha
Maria Fernanda de las Fuentes .... Raquel Sender
Marligue Orea
Mauro Mercado
Michelle Guffanel
Michel Gurfinkell .... Joaquín Mascaro
Natália Teller
Nicolas .... Francisco Blanco
Oscar Ferreti
Paola Lart
Patricia Martinéz .... Luisa
Paula Rodriguéz
Roberto 'Puk' Miranda .... Cosme Mendez Lopes
Rodrigo Nehme Gurrola .... Nicolas 'Nico' Huber
Rodrigo Vasquéz .... Rodrigo
Ronald Duarte .... Jack
Salvador Lujan
Samantha Lopez .... Julieta
Samuel Gallegos
Sérgio García
Sérgio Garza
Siny .... Dulce Fernandéz
Tereza Ruiz
Tessa Norvind .... sister of Miguel
Victor González .... Facundo
Xochitl Vigil .... Rosa Fernandéz
Zamorita .... Mauricio

Writing credits
Patricia Maldonado (original story)
Cris Morena (original story)
Pedro Armando Rodríguez (adaptation)
María Balmori (adaptation)
Iván Cuevas (script editor)

Song "Rebelde"
Written by Carlos Lara and Max Dicarlo
Singing: RBD
Lyrics

Song "Malas Intenciones"
Written by Luis Gerardo Garza (Chetes)
Singing: Erick Rubin

Song "Solo quedate en silencio"
Written by Mauricio Lopez Arriaga
Singing: RBD

Song "Plastico"
Written by Natasha Dueñas
Singing: Natasha

Music arrangers
Miguel Ángel Mendoza
Alfredo Azamudio

Set Decoration
Mario Sánchez

Editors
Luis Horacio Valdés
Julio Abreu
Juan Franco

Art Director
Alexis Covacevich

Production co-ordinator
Jaime Gutiérrez

Production manager
Betsabeé Alaniz

Chiefs of production
Juan Manuel Puerto
Rocío Ornelas

Cinematigraphy by
Vivian Sánchez Ross
Daniel Ferrer

Directed by
Juan Carlos Muñoz
Luis Pardo

Produced by
Pedro Damián
Luis Luisillo Miguel (associated producer)

Televisa

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

"Rebelde" is a remake of telenovela "Rebelde Way" (2002, Argentina) with Luisana Lopilato and Felipe Colombo

BSG Season Three Premiere tonight!!!

Just watched the first Act of "Occupation" on line, it was pretty awesome!!

Can't wait to see the full episodes tonight!

BSG - Cylon "Family" picture

It begins again!! Season 3 - 2hr episode on October 6th at 9pm Pacific Daylight Saving Time (check your local listings) on Scifi Network!

Battlestar Galactica - Coverstory on EW

Great Space Coasters
''Battlestar Galactica'': Inside TV's next great cult hit. If you're already into this sci-fi series, you know it rivals ''Lost'' and ''24'' among TV's best. If you're not, catch up with our preview of the new season by Jeff Jensen



'BATTLE' STARS (From left) Olmos, McDonnell, Callis, Sackhoff, Helfer, Park, and Bamber, ready for season 3's liftoff

In English, the word ''frak'' means...absolutely nothing. But in the not-so-faraway fantasyverse of Battlestar Galactica — Sci Fi Channel's critically exalted reboot of the 1978–79 TV series about space-faring humans fleeing genocidal robots known as Cylons — ''frak'' is similar to a certain FCC-unfriendly epithet that also begins with f and ends with k. Judging from a recent visit to the show's Vancouver set, the multipurpose word will be heard frequently when Galactica returns for its third season on Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. It will be used to express angst when married military man Lee ''Apollo'' Adama (Jamie Bamber) finds himself yearning for married fighter pilot Kara ''Starbuck'' Thrace (Katee Sackhoff) and mutters ''Frak me.'' It will be used to express awe once chief mechanic Gaelin Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) discovers a secret saloon inside the titular battleship and marvels, ''Holy frak!'' And it will be used to express rage after a high-ranking officer (nope, we ain't tellin') drives a pen into the neck of tortured traitor Gaius Baltar (James Callis) and screams ''MOTHERFRAKKER!''

Yep: There sure is a lot of frakkin' human drama on this sci-fi show. Sometimes there's more of it than there is actual science fiction — and that's exactly how they like it in Galactica's little corner of the cosmos. To be certain, the show has its fair share of far-out bits, like visually stunning F/X, trippy concepts (a half-Cylon/half-human baby whose blood has cancer-curing powers), and, of course, Number Six (Tricia Helfer), an immortal platinum blond Cylon partial to wearing crimson red dresses and high heels. But more than that, the show has distinguished itself as one of television's very best dramas — on a par with 24, The Wire, and Lost — because it so utterly transcends both its genre and its source material.

The original ABC series was a one-season wonder of Star Wars-era escapism that over time has attracted a nostalgic, multigenerational cult following. But this gritty new version has taken the same bleak conceit of its predecessor — the unceremonious obliteration of humanity on the peaceful planet of Caprica by cybernetic invaders — and rewired it with prickly, challenging post-9/11 relevance. No longer are the Cylons chrome-plated toasters with oscillating LED eyes — they've evolved into flesh and blood, which allows them to hide in plain sight, like, say, as a muckraking journalist (D'Anna, played by Lucy Lawless). Moreover, they're now motivated by their radical belief in one God to wipe out their creators from existence. Fortunately, the Capricans are as resilient as cockroaches.

Exactly 50,298 surviving souls soon boarded a fleet of star cruisers — led by the massive battleship Galactica — and embarked on a possibly fruitless quest for a mythical lost colony called Earth. They were led by Adm. William Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell), along with ace fighter pilots Apollo and Starbuck; once-trusted pilot — and Cylon sleeper agent — Sharon Valerii (Grace Park); and the brilliant but slightly mad scientist Baltar, whose feverish visions of Number Six propelled his unlikely ascension to the presidency in season 2. That disastrous development only led to more problems once the refugees found a home on the barren planet of New Caprica; by the finale, their bid for a new beginning came to an end when the Cylons returned.

For nonviewers, this may induce a massive headache. But the series' sophisticated stories have also attracted a distinctively new breed of fan, one who's not necessarily a sci-fi buff. ''Some of the smartest people I know are addicted to this show,'' says McDonnell. ''All it takes is one or two episodes and you're hooked.'' Though routinely snubbed by the Emmys (yeah, it stings them), Galactica recently won a prestigious Peabody award, and the affirmation has the cast and crew psyched. ''The last thing that I wanted to be doing was science fiction on cable television,'' says Olmos. ''But this, to me, is a real gift. I'll be in science fiction every day of my life if they can give me this kind of drama.''

Now, if only they could give him a bigger audience. Galactica averaged 2.3 million weekly viewers in season 2, and while that's impressive by Sci Fi's standards, conventional wisdom says its ratings could — and should — be much larger. Blame the complicated plots and the genre's fringy rep, a stigma that's only exacerbated by a glut of similar-sounding (and inferior) shows like Stargate Atlantis, Farscape, and Andromeda. Says Callis: ''It's strange to exist in the popular consciousness, but so few people actually watch the show. I can't tell you how many times I've had to tell people, 'No, we're not Stargate. Really.'''

''Our name has always been a blessing and a curse,'' says exec producer Ronald Moore. ''Now it's really a curse. We've done market research. People who would watch Nip/Tuck, The Shield — that's our audience. But the minute you say Battlestar Galactica, you can see the lights go off in their eyes.'' Adds Park: ''I can't even get my agent to watch the show. I appreciate your laughter, but it's true. Sooooo true.''

And yet. Mounting buzz and fan-generated ardor have raised hopes that a giant leap forward in popularity is at hand. At the same time, the show is about to make some of its riskiest moves yet. In a strategic shift, Galactica will return in early October — not during basic cable's usual summer-launch season — but for the first time against the broadcast networks' big guns. ''Moving to fall isn't going to hurt,'' insists Sci Fi president Bonnie Hammer. ''With the right product, we can go toe-to-toe during network season. And we truly believe Battlestar Galactica can do it.''

But this is its third season, a critical time when even the best TV series start to struggle with maintaining their creative vitality. So Moore and coexec producer David Eick are, ironically enough, ramping up some of those allegedly alienating sci-fi elements for season 3, which features an exploration of Cylon society via an extended stay inside one of their base ships. Eick, naturally, feels compelled to share some jumping-the-shark anxiety here at the moment of Galactica's breakout opportunity. ''We approach season 3 with nothing but terror, insecurity, and sheer liquid horror that we're going to screw it up if we're not really, really careful,'' he says. ''That's our mantra: Don't screw it up.''

Then again, it seems that Battlestar Galactica has actually done pretty well for itself by trying to steer prospective viewers in the other direction. When Sci Fi relaunched the franchise with a 2003 miniseries, there was certainly a ragtag band of enthusiasts — including original star Richard Hatch — clamoring for it. Since 1998, Hatch had led a charge to get Galactica's copyright owners to resume the saga via a new show. He nearly got his wish: In 2001, a concept developed by director Bryan Singer and his X-Men producer Tom DeSanto for Fox focusing on a new generation of Galactica denizens imploded after delays infringed upon Singer's commitment to X-Men United. Enter Sci Fi — and exit the whole ''continuing the saga'' idea. The network instead optioned the property with the intention of ''reimagining'' the franchise — same characters and concept; different actors and aesthetic approach — and hired former USA Cable exec Eick. He, in turn, snagged Moore, well-known in sci-fi circles for his years as an acclaimed writer and producer in Paramount's Star Trek factory. Neither man had any nostalgia for the original series; to this day, Eick still hasn't watched the entire pilot.

The faithful got their first glimpse of Galactica 2.0 at a 25th-anniversary convention organized by Hatch at a Hollywood hotel. Reports of Moore's revisionist plans had already reached and irked fans (Starbuck's now a chick?! Heresy!), so Hatch invited him over to respond to his critics. Moore accepted, and even brought clips from the still-in-production miniseries. The reaction: boos, hisses, even threats of popcorn throwing. ''At one point,'' recalls Moore, ''they asked me, point-blank, 'Will you pledge to make a different show if this goes to series?' And I said, 'No.'''

And you know what? Those angry fans all probably watched anyway: The miniseries garnered promising ratings for Sci Fi, and the series launched in January 2005 (though not until a foreign partner was recruited to help underwrite the costly enterprise). This version still has its dissenters; you can Google ''Galactica in name only'' to sample their vitriol. Most of their fury is still directed at the now-female Starbuck. Her sex change rankled diehards because of affection for original portrayer Dirk Benedict (who reportedly was going to reprise his role in the Singer/DeSanto version), and because it represented the death of a dream: to see a continuation, not a revamp, of the saga. ''At first, it totally sucked,'' says the new Starbuck, Sackhoff, of the derision. ''There were petitions on the Internet to, like, save Starbuck's genitalia. I started becoming obsessed. I'd be up until 2 a.m. after every episode, trying to figure out if I won them over. And because it takes 100 positive remarks to let go of one negative comment, I would be going, 'Okay, one more positive, one more positive… S---! It's a negative!' I was like, I've got to stay off the Internet.''

For his part, Hatch thinks they just need to get over it. ''The miniseries was very hard to watch for the original fans, and for me, not because it wasn't wonderful, but because it was so different,'' says the actor, who has a recurring role on the new Galactica as a political dissident-turned-leader. ''It's the same thing as life: We grudgingly yield to change, and ultimately realize that change is good. This Battlestar has balls. It has guts. It digs more deeply into the premise than the original ever could.'' Under Moore and Eick's watch, Galactica has thus become a TV think piece teeming with politically potent issues. Moore said he felt the very premise — a society is devastated and transformed by a catastrophic terrorist attack — demanded that the show's fiction speak to our post-9/11 environment. Embracing the opportunity, they resolved that Galactica ''was going to be about us,'' says Moore, ''about the experience that we're having right now.'' He and Eick praise Sci Fi for the freedom they've been given, although their penchant for coloring heroes with disturbing moral ambiguity (Starbuck brutally torturing a prisoner; Adama drowning a baby in a dream sequence) has sparked some clashes with network brass. ''They could be a wee bit more hopeful and aspirational,'' says Hammer. ''But it's a huge learning curve, and they're finding the right balance.''

Still, don't expect the bleak skies to clear up completely. The fleshbots may have again found their targets, but they're increasingly conflicted over their genocidal policy: They've set up Baltar as a puppet leader, and are making the New Capricans live under their boot instead of crushing them with it. Galactica's geopolitical touchstone, meanwhile, has shifted from Patriot Act America to occupied Iraq. As such, the rooting interest for viewers has become murkier. In the season premiere, for instance, human insurgents make a shocking choice to employ suicide bombers. For the actors, bringing to life this juicy dilemma was a mixed blessing. ''I was thrilled by the possibility of taking people that we know and love and seeing them put in a circumstance where anyone can become [someone] they don't want to be,'' says McDonnell. ''Shooting that particular episode, everybody looked sad, everybody felt sad. We realized we were all sort of going through the same thing: the hopelessness of an occupied nation.''

If relating to an oppressed people was rough for the cast, venturing behind the iron curtain of Galactica's oppressors was just plain weird, and not everyone believes that getting to know the Cylons is a good idea. ''My personal jury is still out,'' says Bamber. ''I think where the show really works is in the daily grind aboard the Galactica, trying to run from this unknown and therefore ultimately terrifying enemy.''

The encouraging news is that the creative gambit has been given considerable thought. To prep the Cylon actors, Moore wrote a veritable Cylon manual called ''Life on a Base Ship.'' ''It was like gold,'' says Helfer, who declined to divulge any nuggets. ''But I did share it with other actors who didn't get copies. Not any humans, mind you, just my fellow Cylons.''

For all the hand-wringing, Hammer believes the Cylon plotline enriches the provocative question at the center of season 3's stories: ''How do you know which side you should root for?'' She hopes Galactica's audience can grow this season; if it doesn't, its current ratings and network-enhancing reputation — combined with ancillary revenues from DVD sales and the hugely popular original webisodes that have netted 1.8 million downloads since launching earlier this month — still make it a very valuable asset. Sackhoff puts it in perspective: ''The show is good because we're on a smaller network that allows us the freedom to take chances. I don't know if this show could go mainstream, and if we'll get any bigger than we already are. Let them have their Grey's Anatomy, you know? We'll keep our secret to ourselves until it's time to give it up and move along.''

Like the original Galactica, this version has an implicit conclusion: the eventual discovery of Earth. Moore and Eick say they have an ending in mind, but won't say if it involves the Galactica and its fleet actually reaching our fair planet. Ask the cast, and they'll tell you (after insisting that Galactica is really about the journey, not the end...blah blah blah) about a popular joke on the set: The series' climactic scene will find the fleet being blown to bits by America's president. ''You know it's never going to end happy,'' teases Park. ''They think Earth is this magical Eden, but we all know how we treat each other here. Then again, you know the Cylons are just going to follow them to Earth and bring their little war to our backyard. So maybe it would be better all around if [the American president] ordered a nuclear strike on Galactica. That would be like the biggest 'F--- you.''' Or frak you, as it were.

(Posted:09/21/06)

BSG Webepisode 2 Transcript

Outside - New Caprica - Duck, Jammer, and Galen around what looks to be a small water tower

Duck: Look, part of me would love to kick some chrome plated ass with you guys. But, it?s not gonna happen. I just?.got other plans.
Duck leaves
Jammer sighs
Galen: Other plans. What the frak is that?
Jammer: Nora.
Galen: So what! I?ve got a wife and a kid - you don?t think I worry about them? What kind of a future are we gonna leave them if we just lay down and quit?! That?s just a spineless excuse.
Jammer: Duck?s no coward, Chief. He made his choice, we made ours. Let?s just leave it at that.
Galen: Frak that.
Galen walks away.
Jammer fumbles with the water hose.

Inside - Temple Tent - Jammer, Jean, Tigh, Sister Tivenan

Sister Tivenan walks by with an offering.
Jean: We give thanks for the food you have presented us. May this harvest be spared the blight.
Jammer & Tigh: So say we all.
Jean: So say we all.
Sister Tivenan exits.
Jean: We picked up all the weapons from the other sites. They?re in crates marked ?machine parts?. We?ll smuggle them over here a few at a time.
Jammer: Wait a minute?You want to hide the firearms in the temple?
Jean: Something wrong with that?
Jammer: This is sacred ground. The cylons respect that. Which is why we should leave the temple alone.
Tigh: And that makes it the perfect hiding place.
Jammer: But it?s sacrilege!
Tigh: I?ll tell you what - you say a prayer, ask the Gods to forgive us. We move the guns in tonight.
Tigh and Jean exit.

BSG Webepisode 1 transcript

New Caprica - 67th day of occupation.

The Tyrol's Tent

Cally (handing out jackets to their guests) : Here you go.

Galen (Offering alcohol): One for the road? Keep off the cold and wet?
Duck: Oh, no. Not for me. Curfew?s in twenty minutes, the sun?s goin down even quicker. The last thing I wanna do is spend the night in a Cylon jail cell.
Jammer: Cylon?s show up to help us - first thing they do is build a jail.
Baby Tyrol cries.
Nora (Looking at Baby Tyrol): He?s so beautiful.
Cally: You two should have one!
Duck: We?re working on that!
Jammer: Great work if you can get it!
All laugh
Nora: Thanks! Bye.
Cally: Bye, be safe.

Outside, walking

Duck (to Jammer): We need to find you a lady buddy, you?re starting to walk funny.
Laughing
Jammer: Yeah, if Nora has a sister, I?m there!
Nora: Sorry, I can?t help you!
Jammer: Story of my life!
Jammer offers Duck and Nora a Cigarette.
Duck: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, we quit.
Nora: If we?re gonna have a baby, we gotta clean up our act.
Duck and Nora kiss.
Jammer: You hear about Longo(?)
Duck: No, what?
Jammer: Toasters got him. Found his weapons stash.

Back to Galen?s Tent

Tigh: You think Duck?ll bite?
Galen: Jammer?s finding out right now.
(opens stash of weapons)
Galen: At least the cylon?s didn?t get um all. Longo had these hidden under his latrine.
Tigh: This is all that?s left? This is frakking pathetic. If this keeps up, we?ll have nothing but rocks left to throw at the bastards.
Galen: Yeah. And nobody to throw um.

Back outside to Jammer, Nora and Duck.

Nora: They shot him in cold blood?
Jammer: Toasters claim when they found his stash, he was reaching for his gun.
Duck: What? Charlie?s not that stupid. Those frakkers murdered him.
Nora: Gods! Poor Charlie. Hiding weapons in his tent? What does he expect.
Duck sees a recruitment poster for the New Caprica Police
Duck: And now they want us to do their dirty work for them? Are you kidding me? New Caprica Police? What a bunch of crap!
Jammer: Some people say it?s a good thing.
Duck laughs
Jammer: Get the centurions off the streets and let us patrol them ourselves? Maybe Charlie would still be still be alive if they had human..
Duck (interrupting): Oh no, no, no, no. No matter how you try to swing this, you work for the toasters, it?s treason.
Duck rips the add off the wall, crumbles it, and throws it away looking suspicious.
Duck: Lets go.
Jammer: Oh hell. Hey! I forgot my hat back at the chiefs. I?ll see you later.
Jammer kisses Nora and shakes Duck?s hand.
Jammer (to Duck): See ya man.
Jammer walks back towards the Chief?s tent.
Duck (to Nora): What do you think about him being a Godfather?
Nora: Yeah.
Duck: Yeah!
Nora: Yeah!
Duck: Haha, Yeah!

Back to The Tyrol's Tent.

Cally (whispering to baby Tyrol): bedtime..
Galen: Adama?s not gonna have a hope in hell of getting us off this rock if we don?t put together an effective fighting force.
Tigh: We?ll have to keep these here until we find a better hiding place.
Cally looks concerned.
Galen: Colonel, I?ve got a wife, a newborn.
Tigh (interrupting): We?ll move them as soon as we can.
Jammer enters.
Galen: Well?
Jammer: Duck hates the toasters, no doubt about that.
Tigh: He?s also an ex Viper jock with forty kills! Talk to him, make him understand that we need him! Throw in some poetic crap about the struggle for liberty against the cylon oppressors, whatever it takes! We need more people or this resistance movement is going to die in it?s crib.

Battlestar on earlier

BSG Moving to 9pm Friday

Source: Futon Critic

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Sci Fi is expanding its signature Friday lineup with repeats of NBC's newcomer "Heroes" and CBS's short-lived drama "Threshold" while October will see the return of "Ghost Hunters" and the launch of a new weekly newsmagazine "Sci Fi Investigates."

Said moves, along with several other developments, were confirmed today with the release of the network's schedule for October.

"Heroes," which bows Monday, September 25 at 10:00/9:00c on the Peacock, will encore each Friday on Sci Fi at 7:00/6:00c starting September 29 while "Threshold" will take over the Friday, 10:00/9:00c hour starting October 13. The pair join new seasons of "Doctor Who" and "Battlestar Galactica" as well as repeats of ABC's "Night Stalker" revival.

To review, here's a breakdown of Sci Fi's Friday lineup for the fall:

6:00/5:00c - "Night Stalker" (as of September 29)
7:00/6:00c - "Heroes" (as of September 29)
8:00/7:00c - "Doctor Who" (as of September 29)
9:00/8:00c - "Battlestar Galactica" (as of October 6)
10:00/9:00c - "Threshold" (as of October 13)

The delayed starts for "Galactica" and "Threshold" are due to the expanded season premieres of both "Doctor Who" and "Galactica" itself.


Newshound: SciFi
posted by Blade Runner @ 05:11