A fairly mild conclusion to the "Battlestar Galactica" cliffhanger from a month or so ago. Admiral Adama has the Galactica's nukes ready to fire, but the Cylons recall all of their Raiders ... save one. The Xena (Lucy Lawless) Cylon refuses to recall that one, stating that Adama will never waste the whole planet solely on one Raider. She's right. Adama orders a stand-down. (Who was on that Raider again ...?)
Next, there's frackin' Helo. This guy is royally pissing me off. First, he thwarts the fleet's efforts to virtually wipe out the Cylons; now, he places the entire fleet in 
jeopardy by killing Athena so that she can be "resurrected" onboard the adjacent Cylon base ship ... and thus will be able to see her (their) baby. In other words, Athena -- who has intimate knowledge of the fleet's (Galactica's) defenses -- is now in the hands of the Cylons. Thanks to Helo. Because his wife wanted to see their baby. At the potential cost of the remainder of humanity. Oh.
How is this guy still in uniform?? If the writers were smart, they'd have a crew member "wack" Helo clandestinely very shortly.
Later, it appears the Cylons will successfully infiltrate the temple which houses the Eye of Jupiter, especially since the explosives set up by the humans won't work! DOH! Did Tyrol purposely sabotage them (the religious guy that he is) or what? The Xena Cylon stands upon the Eye and has a vision. (OK, was it me or just what the HELL was up with that scene? How did the Eye give a Cylon such a vision?) The vision showed the Xena Cylon the identities of the remaining five humanoid Cylons that exist. Of course, none are shown to US, but Xena Cylon seems quite surprised by the ID of one of them. (Hint or Misdirection: In the scenes for next week's episode, it shows Baltar apparently being "resurrected" in a Cylon "birthing bath." Is he one of the five remaining humanoid Cylons?)
The Cylons don't have much time to ponder the Xena Cylon's vision as she "dies." The system's sun is going supernova! When the Xena Cylon is "resurrected," the Dean Stockwell Cylon informs her that her model is being terminated for the time being as she was "getting too big for her britches"!! The other good news is that Baltar is now in the hands of the humans once again!! HOOO-BOY!
All in all a so-so conclusion.
1) I assumed the explosives didn't work because Xena and Dean Stockwell got them all disarmed in time.
2) No way Baltar is a cylon. It's a misdirection. Baltar has literally worked for the cylons since the miniseries. What kind of dramatic payoff would there be if the explanation was...he's a cylon.
Posted by: The Unabrewer at January 24, 2007 09:37 PMDid anyone notice that six nuclear warheads were aimed at the Temple of the Five, and when the crisis reduced with two of the Cylon raiders returning to their base ship, Adama ordered launch bays four through ten closed? Count them out, and you will find that means seven launch bays. Someone wasn't careful with the script.
Posted by: Mark F. at January 24, 2007 09:54 PMUndoubtedly the writers will show Baltar getting his just desserts but Helo gets a pass, how can that be? One is actively working for them the other tacitly so. How is one worse than the other. As noted, Athena has the keys to the kingdom (so to speak). Baltar may be craven and cowardly but he's more open about it.
Posted by: Duffy at January 25, 2007 09:01 AM"How is this guy still in uniform?? If the writers were smart, they'd have a crew member "wack" Helo clandestinely very shortly."
I stopped watching Galactica because frankly the entire crew is like this. Apollo has done any number of things that should have gotten him court marshalled. But no. I finally couldn't take it anymore.
Posted by: Jeff the Baptist at January 25, 2007 09:56 AMJeff,
Skirting regulations in such a dire situation would probably get you in trouble but quite frankly, they can't afford to court martial him. As noted in an earlier episode, they're putting people of questionable ability in Vipers just to put butts in the seats (sort of like Congress).
Posted by: Duffy at January 25, 2007 03:16 PMThe show clearly showed Baltar and the Deanna clone pulling the detonators from the explosives before Adama the lesser could get the ignition device out of Chief's hands. Surprised you missed it-- there were several cuts back and forth to attempt to build suspense. Then, though, that's kind of what's been wrong with the show the whole season-- the writers will get a good plot idea going and then screw it up in execution.
As far a Helo goes, he needs to be a civillian but commenter Duffy makes a valid point- they have an extremely limited talent pool to choose from and bridge officers are going to be indispensible. Also, Galactica is not precisely a military ship anymore and a breakdown in discipline is in some ways ineveitable. On the other hand, this is the second time he's really unilaterally taken the whole fleet's lives in his hands. He needs to be cashiered. Maybe politics-- he'd make a great aide to Roslin.
Posted by: JR at January 25, 2007 03:59 PMHelo murders his wife without repurcussions?
oh, it's the old "I knew she would be resurected" defense". Does that mean anyone can kill her if they think she will be recycled?
How does Galactica know they got the right one back from the Cylon ship?
expect more bad writing to follow.
Posted by: steamboat willy at January 27, 2007 12:55 PM