Season 2, Episodes 3 & 4

Episode 3: Fragged

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• I can't get over the smoking doctor.
• Gaius is a compulsive liar.
• It was interesting how Chief Tyrol stood up so vehemently when Gaius suggested they vote on whether or not to go on the mission, and then seemed to regret it immediately.
• Six only considers someone a man once they've killed.
• Tigh saying to the unconscious Adama that he really fracked things up, followed directly by him declaring martial law.

Episode 4: Resistance

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• The other ships in the fleet refusing to resupply the Galactica with coffee is what tips Tigh over the edge and causes him to send in the marines!
• Domestic violence is foreplay with the Tighs.
• I felt genuinely sorry for Sharon when Tyrol joined her in the cell and said he'd kill her if she so much as touched him.
• Awesome move by Gaius to get Sharon to tell him the number of Cylon agents in the fleet. Also, he admitted to her that he hid her true nature from her for his own purposes.
• Laura is awesome. She won't be stopped by a corporeal pointing a gun at her.
• Gaeta covered for Dee's off-logged calls.
• Ellen is so a Cylon, or at least working for them.
• I was impressed that Billy decided not to go with the President.

Quote

• Six (of the word "toaster"): "That word is racist. I don't like it." 

Season 2, Episodes 1 & 2

Episode 1: Scattered, Part 1

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• Ellen suddenly seems very Cylon, wanting Saul to take over command of the Galactica. But her Cylon test was negative, no?
• Chief Tyrol really cares about his officers. This episode did a lot for his character development.
• I enjoyed Saul referring to Gaius as a "shifty son of a bitch" when comparing his work to Gaeta's.
• The space battle above Kobol was awesome. All the little explosions above the Galactica was rather mesmerising, and the way the Galactica jumped away as the Cylon's missiles approached was just great.

Questions

• "Who gave the order to shoot the old man?" Good question. Will we ever know? The Cylons seem so far to be rather Borg-like, without a clear leader.
• Was that woman in Tigh's bed during his flashback when he was told he had been reenlisted in the fleet relevant? Was it Ellen?

Episode 2: Valley of Darkness, Part 2

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• Was it sexist/anti-feminist of Apollo to offer Billy a weapon before offering one to Laura just after she was let out of her cell? Or perhaps I'm overanalysing.
• In his dream in which Commander Adama drowns the baby, Gaius says "how in God's name did you find us?". Notice that he didn't say "how in the Gods' names", but "God's name"; the one God. (Also, I loved the music in this scene)
• I enjoyed Starbuck's reaction to hearing music in her apartment. This was probably the first time either she or Helo had heard any music since the day of the Cylon attack on the Colonies. But perhaps her reaction was more shaped by the fact that it was her father playing.
• I loved that Apollo used a military-sounding abbreviation for "right fracking now" after Tigh gave him orders of where to head! ("Aft damage control, RFN.")
• Apollo shooting the Centurian as it flew over his head was a total fist pump moment.
• Dee and Billy's kiss was really hot.

Questions

• Where had Tigh seen the Cylon's attack pattern before?
• Is this the first time we hear the non-human looking Cylons referred to as "Centurians" (by Jammer) in the small arms locker? Or is that just a general term for soldiers?

Quote

• Apollo: "Let's go toaster shopping."

Season 1, Episode 13 & Thoughts on Season 1

Episode 13: Kobol’s Last Gleaming, Part 2

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• What a perfect mission for Boomer to pretend to be a Cylon agent. I thought she would kill herself.
• Caprica Sharon pregnant! The first Cylon/Human baby?
• Number 6 really loves Gaius. I hadn’t quite realised how much before this episode.
• I loved how Commander Adama and the President were negotiating through Dee and Billy and how they were whispering to each other.
• In the scene when Starbuck shoots the glass case containing the Arrow of Apollo on Caprica, there is quite clearly a camera man in a red t-shirt standing on the other side of it.
• The way the Sharon duplicates (models?) said that they loved her on the Cylon base ship was weird. Also, one of them lovingly stroked the warhead that she left behind like it was a gift. But, cool explosion.
• Starbuck’s reaction to seeing Sharon on Caprica and realising she’s a Cylon was not really what I expected.
• I almost jumped out of my seat when Sharon shot Adama. There was NO WAY that I could have seen that coming. That’s what I love about this show!

Questions

• When Number 6 showed Gaius what I guess was Caprica Sharon’s baby in the cot in the opera house on Kobol, did he think it was his?
• Are the Number 6s on Caprica of the same consciousness as the one in Gaius’ head? I don’t think that one’s just a figment of his imagination, but could it be cut off from the others? They seem to have different motives and objectives.
• Did the Sharons on the Cylon base ship (re-)program Boomer to shoot Adama?

Season 1: Thoughts

Basically, I'm in love with this show. Everything from the dialogue, characters and story to the music, visuals and themes just grab me and compel me to watch. I really enjoy the fact that there is a big over-arching story throughout the series and that it really needs to be watched in order and that it relies on you having paid attention to stuff that happened previously (which, I know, are recapped in the "previously on Battlestar Galactica" clips at the beginning of each episode, but I don't watch) and drops bombs in your lap when you least expect it.

I just love how diverse, effective and well-placed the music in this show has been so far. Within the first few episodes, I was already noticing themes for different characters, and it is quite obvious that a lot of thought went in to the production and editing of the music. I really appreciate that the music for this show is not just incidental and forgettable, but integral to the storytelling and memorable and I often find myself humming the Cylon/Number 6’s theme!

There are just so many great characters here, and I care about and am emotionally invested in all of their stories. My favourite character is probably Gaius Baltar, with Starbuck and Laura Roslin tying in a close second place. I'm also really compelled by Number 6 (at least the one in Gaius' head) and am enjoying trying to figure her out. The only character I don't really care about yet is Tom Zarek, though that's probably simply due to his limited screen time in season 1. I did enjoying discovering from watching the extras, however, that that actor played the character of Apollo in the original BSG series!

I'm really excited about starting season 2 and getting further invested in this story, its characters and their world, but I'm going to take a week's break before releasing a post for the first two episodes of season 2. I predict that Commander Adama is not dead, however, or that if he is, he will be revived somehow. Perhaps with the help of the Cylons? See you in two weeks, when I find out.

Thanks for reading!

Season 1, Episodes 11 & 12

Episode 11: Colonial Day

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• How scary is Number 6 when threating to rip Gaius' heart out? She gives me the wiggins sometimes!
• I'm glad Tom Zarek brought up the point that money is now worthless, as I'd been wondering if they would consider that, especially when watching the Battlestar gang gambling.
• What a great reveal it was that Gaius had been having sex with the reporter in the toilet after the President came in to ask him to run as her vice! Though that whole scene was a little surreal with the cheesy muzak in the background.
• Starbuck and Lee flirting? Wow, I didn't really see that coming. ("I clean up good some times." "Well, let me know when it's one of those times.") They're so hot for each other.
• And, of course, Starbuck in a dress. A once in a lifetime opportunity!
• Just when I was wondering where Commander Adama had been all episode, he shows up and asks Laura to dance, just as I'd hoped. I am totally starting to ship those two!
• I squeed like a girl when Helo saw a copy of Sharon on Caprica. I'm so excited that he knows she's a Cylon!

Questions

• Why did Number 6 want Gaius to second Zarek's motion to open nominations for the vice presidency? Did she know that it would mean that Gaius himself would be nominated and win?
• Does Laura suspect Gaius of something? And is it something in particular, or general? When Commander Adama comments that Gaius was an interesting choice, she said: "the devil you know." Hmm.
• Who did kill Valence? Was it Ellen? And if so, did she get the 3 days for her and her husband in a luxury suite on the Rising Star in exchange for doing it?

Quote

• "All those years I watched you working with Adar, you were always so quiet, so polite, so dignified. I never thought you'd fit in with the bare-knuckle, back-stabbing politicians. I guess I was wrong."

Episode 12: Kobol's Last Gleaming (Part 1)

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• The opening scene with flashes between Gaius & Starbuck, Lee & Commander Adama and Helo & Sharon was really intense and pretty awesome, notably due to the music.
• I'm really enjoying how this show requires you to pay quite a lot of attention and doesn't treat its viewers like idiots.
• I'm now pretty convinced of my theory that Lee and Starbuck are going to get together. The scene with Lee confronting her about why she slept with Gaius made it pretty clear that he has feelings for her and that she likely reciprocates.
• Boomer didn't shoot herself the first time she tried and ended up discovering Kobol (though I didn't get how she knew it was "more important than Earth"; i.e. Kobol) but did do it the second time straight after Gaius' speech in which he basically told her she should.
• The ending of this episode left me in awe. I am so in love with this show! 

 Quote

• Laura & Number 6: "Plaything?"

###

I've decided to give the season finale, episode 13, its own post, which I will put out next Saturday. I will also include thoughts about the series so far and a roundup of season 1. I can't wait to see what happens!

Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10

Episode 9: Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• The opening scene between Laura and Commander Adama was weird and awkward!
• Things seem to have moved pretty fast between Billy and Dee - going on a date and kissing! Did I miss something?
• Tigh pouring his whiskey in to the bin surprised me.
• I enjoyed the mislead with the legs and red shoes aboard Adama's raptor as he came back to the Galactica. Obviously we're supposed initially to think it's Number 6, but was in fact Tigh's wife. Nice.
• The whole thing with the alleged affair between Commander Adama and Ellen became rather ridiculous. It felt to me more like a sitcom than was appropriate to the ethos of the show.

Questions

• Where is Gaius getting all his cigarettes from? He gave one to Starbuck when she was recovering in sick bay and said it was his last. Or was that a cigar?
• What's up with Gaius not revealing the true test result to Sharon? Is she doing this for Number 6?

Quote

• "Doctor Gaius Baltar, department of Cylon detector, how may I direct your call?" 

Episode 10: The Hand of God


Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• Loved that point 5 on Starbuck's board at the pre-flight briefing for the attack of the Cylon base was "pray"!
• So, Laura's dreams/visions are caused by the kamala root, and she's evidently a messiah.
• The music in the scene between Lee and his father reminded me of the theme at the end of the Fellowship of the Ring. (I must say, I really love and appreciate the music in this series.)
• I was thrilled to notice the tiny detail of Starbuck cracking her fingers by bending them on the table during the attack on the base and see it remind Gaius of number 6 having cracked his neck and him flinch.
• Lee flying through the conveyor tunnel to the refinery on the Cylon base was visually very reminiscent of Luke Skywalker's attack on the Death Star!
• Gaius is an instrument of God. Who knew?

Quote

• Starbuck: "Out of the box is where I live." 

Season 1, Episodes 7 & 8

Episode 7: Six Degrees of Separation

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• I thought this episode was amazing. Possibly my favourite yet.
• I just loved the opening scene with Number 6 trying to save Gaius' immortal soul. But then I just love any scene with these two characters!
• Miss Godfrey coming on to Commander Adama was weird, and not that believable.
• Helo & Sharon's copy on Caprica hiding from the Cylons under a bridge was, to me, reminiscent of Frodo and the other Hobbits hiding from the Dark Riders in the Fellowship of the Ring, and just made me laugh because that has been so heavily ridiculed (at least in the Dawn & French parody).
• Gaeta and Gaius talking on the toilet was just weird. Gaius seems to be getting madder and madder each episode.
• Sharon's explanation to Chief Tyrol about why she thought his attempts at making the Cylon raider work were unsuccessful were interesting. Did the way she talked about it make Tyrol even more suspicious of her?
• Starbuck has a tattoo on her right forearm. Never noticed that before.
• The scene with Sharon on the Galactica discovering that someone had written "Cylon" on her mirror and the Sharon on Caprica having sex with Helo felt like it was going to reach more of a climax, but it didn't. The sex scene was hot, though.

Question

• It was interesting to me that the Cylons would send a copy of Number 6 to expose Gaius' actions. I don't think it was simply because Number 6 was angry with him, or frustrated with his blasphemy, but wonder if it was part of their bigger plan? Perhaps a way of stopping the Cylon detector being completed? Or to make Gaius scared in to believing in God? Or to test him and make sure everyone really believed in him, so no one would doubt him again because they have even bigger plans for him?

Quote

• "No more Mr. Nice Gaius!" - Pure gold!

Episode 8: Flesh and Bone

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

•  What was up with Commander Adama holding the phone over the dead copy of Leoben and saying "No"? Perhaps foreshadowing of the copy that Starbuck was interrogating telling the President that Adama is a Cylon? (Sidebar: no way!)
• I just loved watching Gaius freak out as the test for Sharon being a Cylon came back positive.
• The President's decision to throw the Cylon (Leoben) out of the airlock was so great. It came completely unexpected, because we'd been seeing the situation through Starbuck's eyes, and because Laura is just such a damn good liar! ("Tell me what I need to know, and you will live.")
• The following scene between Leoben and Starbuck looking at each other through the glass was perfect, and the music was awesome.
• Starbuck was the last person I expected would pray to the Lords of Kobol.

Questions

• Does this means that the President has the ability to see the future because she saw Leoben flying away from her in her dream, just as he flew out of the airlock?
• Does Laura really suspect Adama of being a Cylon now?

Quote

• "President Adar once said that the interesting thing about being a President is that you don't have to explain yourself to anyone." Basically, I loved Laura in this episode.

Season 1, Episodes 5 & 6

Episode 5: You Can't Go Home Again

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• That was a great and subtle mislead at the beginning when Starbuck was being pulled along by her parachute, and we are (presumeably) supposed to think that a Cylon is dragging her away.
• I'm starting to realise that Number 6 probably won't always be dressed in that little red dress. I guess the casting people want to show off Tricia Helfer's body and not be limited by one outfit for her. It seems like she has signature music instead.
• Even the Cylon ships are organic! Wow, and gross!
• I loved the little punch Commander Adama gave the phone after talking to the President who thought they had given up the search.
• I was a little surprised how everyone was so willing to immediately accept that the Cylon raider that Starbuck had commandeered, was in fact flown by her simply because she'd marked her name under its wings. The Commander, true to his character however, seemed to be the only sceptical one.

Episode 6: Litmus

Highlights/Moments of Revelation

• Because of the "previously on BSG" bit at the beginning, it was quite obvious who the guy the camera was following around was, and that he was probably going to blow something up. Another reason I'd rather just watch the episode (though I understand the usefulness of a "previously" reminder for a show when it's airing week to week, but for someone like me rewatching, it seems rather unecessary, so I'm going to skip them, I think).
• The three Cylons standing on a building opposite Helo on Caprica was a bit ridiculous. He'd surely see them standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM!
• The President taking off her glasses right before saying "Now I'll take your questions": was that so she didn't have to see the people asking her difficult questions? I'm thinking like Giles on BtVS!
• There are pigeons on Caprica!
• Chief Tyrol suspects Sharon of colluding with the Cylons. OMG!

Quotes

• Number 6: "Don't make me angry, Gaius. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
• and then to go from that to the scene on Caprica with Caprica 6 beating up Sharon's copy. Wow!
• Commander Adama: "You. You'll pay a different price. You'll have to walk out on that hangar deck every day, knowing that one of your men is in the brig because you couldn't keep your fly zipped!"