Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

BSG: The Plan is a two-hour movie that tells the saga of Battlestar Galactica from the point of view of the Cylons. We were told for years that they had a plan, but there has been massive speculation as to what that plan was. BSG:TP lays it all out for us as we follow two Cylons (two Cavils) during the months after the Cylon attack.

F. Cavil, who we first saw during the series counciling a grieving Tyrol, lived amongst the colonial fleet and C. Cavil lived on Cylon-occupied Caprica with the resistance fighters.

Going into BSG: TP we know this: The final five Cylons were technically among the first. They were descendants of the Cylons (skinjobs) that left for Earth when they split from the 12 colonies of humans that left Kobol. The Cylons on Earth made Centurions that evolved and turned on them. The Five perfected resurrection and used that technology to escape once the Centurions waged war against the Earth Cylons. They traveled 2,000 to stop the 12 colonies from making the same mistake, but they were too late. The colonists had already made their own Centurions who’d also evolved and rebelled. The Five convinced the Centurions Cylons to stop the war in exchange for their knowledge of resurrection.

They created 13 models of Cylons that looked human – just as they did. The Cavil model grew jealous of one model and killed the whole line. He then killed The Five and programmed their resurrected selves to believe they were human. He placed them amongst the humans where they lived for years. They then continued to crank out hundreds of copies of the other models, none of which knew their true origin or the identities of the Five. They plotted revenge on the humans and launched a sneak nuclear attack against the colonies.

Their plan was simple: kill all of the humans. They didn’t count on a band of resourceful resistance fighters on Caprica and they damn sure didn’t count on close to 50,000 survivors led by the lone battlestar to survive the attacks: Galactica.

As BSG: TP opens we learn that Cavil thought the final five would die in the attacks and resurrect aboard a Cylon baseship filled with gratitude. He thought their time as humans would make them see the light: humans are greedy, selfish, and undeserving of their love. They should be annihilated. Of course, it didn’t work out that way. Each of the five survived the attack. That, and the fact that some Cylons are starting to doubt that they’re doing the right thing, leads to all kinds of changes in “the plan.”

What makes BSG: TP so damn awesome, and it is truly awesome, is the little nods to history and the answers to questions big and small. Like:

• In the miniseries, after Caprica Six parts with Gaius in the courtyard, she hands off a case to someone we never see. “It’s about time you got here.” That person was Cavil.
• When Ellen Tigh is found she says that “a mysterious stranger” rescued her. We see in BSG: TP that during the attack she was in a bar with Cavil who introduced himself as “a mysterious stranger.”
• The Cylon base stars are shaped as they are because they were designed to turn so that their points line up.
• Baltar is the one who slips the note to Adama revealing that there were 12 Cylon models.
• F. Cavil orchestrated the attempt to discredit Baltar’s Cylon Detector by instructioning the Shelly Six to show up with the doctored video.

• The Leoben fascination with Starbuck – we see where it begins and how he came to believe that she had a destiny.
• Boomer had conscious conversations with F. Cavil where they plotted the sabatoge of Galactica like ruining the water supply.

There are some new tidbits as well:

• There was a Simon model living on Gemenon. He was married with a child. There was also a Simon model living with the resistance fighters on Cylon-occupied Caprica.
• Tori survived the attack because she was headed to the airport and some surviving flights acted as rescue flights and helped nearby people off the planet.
• F. Cavil used religious phamplets to reach out to the still-undiscovered Cylons living amongst the fleet.
• There was a copy of every Cylon model living in the fleet.

What really works is the contrast between the two Cavils and two new Simons not seen during the series. The Cavil living with the fleet remains hell-bent on the destruction of man and the one with the resistance fighters begins to have doubts. There’s a Simon living with the fleet too. He’s married with a stepdaughter and wants to continue living as human, but F. Cavil wont hear of it. Meanwhile, the Simon on Cylon-occupied revels in destorying man (and performing experiments on the female-survivors) and doesn’t get the change of heart of the C. Cavil. We get to see how the plan had to be changed and improvised as Cylon agents screwed up sabotage attempts or Galactica just proved to be too formidable.

The movie also does a good job of providing insight into the Cylon psychology. For instance, I found it interesting that though they knew they would download and ressurect, most Cylons were still apprehensive about experiencing “death.” And Cavil’s obsession with gaining the approval of his “parents” (The Final Five) is fascinating. You see it the whole time he’s living with the unsuspecting Anders on Cylon-occupied Caprica.

Fans of the show, diehard fans anyway, will recognize how old scenes have been reimagined with new footage and perspectives.

I honestly could have seen this go on for hours, but The Plan stops just as the two Cavils are reunited (and outed/airlocked) aboard Galactica. Of course, we know the story from there.

If you’ve been trying to ease the dull ache left by BSG’s ending this movie may help… somewhat. The opening scene with that haunting score by the awesome Bear McCreary made me both happy and sad. During the commentary Jane Espenson (writer) mentioned that there was originally going to be three post-finale movies, but they decided on one. Such a shame. But this one gets the job done. It answers questions you didn’t even know you had and it gives us one last glimpse into that wonderful BSG mythology we miss so much.

A Vote For Me Is a Vote For Babies & Puppies

I like to win things. I really, really, like to win things. However, very rarely do I win things just because. Like, if I enter a writing contest, I’ll do well. I’ve even placed among the top 40 and will see my piece published in an anthology.

Don’t believe me? Click here.

That’s me under the grand prize winner. And you can read my winning entry, here.

But I don’t want to win something because I put in an honest effort. Been there, done that. I want, like most Americans, to win something just for being lucky. That’s where you come in.

First, everyone here knows I’m the biggest Battlestar Galactica fan in the history of ever. Don’t believe me? Click here. And here. And here. Well @SyFy is giving away an honest-to-goodness Cylon Toaster and I want it. Badly. If you are on Twitter, follow @SyFy and send them a tweet telling them (in 160 characters or less) why I should win the toaster.

Let’s face it, via my blog and my Oprah-like powers of persuasion, I’ve gotten so many people to watch/rent/buy Battlestar Galactica, SyFy probably owes me some dough. But the toaster aside, and I do want the toaster, you should follow @SyFy for updates on Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Caprica, and all your other sci-fi faves.

Also, a friend of mine convinced me to enter my blog in the Black Weblog Awards 2009. My blog is being considered in the following categories:

Blog To Watch

Best Writing

Best Family/Parenting

Best Personal Blog

Best Microblog (if my tweets have you all atwitter)

Of course, I know of a few deserving blogs in each of those categories, but the bloggers aren’t black. I am. So, sucks to be them. Nobody told them to be white.

If you’ve been enjoying my blogs since back in the day (2006), I’d appreciate your votes. Click here to do so.

Vote away! And remember, a vote for me is a vote for babies and puppies.

Thank the Gods for Caprica. So Say We All!

Oh, how I had hoped Caprica, the new Sci-Fi original series – Battlestar Galactica prequel – set to air in 2010, would not suck. When I heard the news that season four would be Battlestar Galactica’s (The Best Show in the History of EVER) last, I was sad. Then I watched 4.0 as it aired and was devastated. How could I not have this show to look forward to for 2-3 months of Fridays every year? During season 4.5 it became my “don’t call here, don’t bug me, and no I’m not cooking tonight” show.

I savored every episode. Some four or five times. When I played Halo 3 online I began to refer to the map displaying bad guys as Dradis. I answered the house phone, “Galactica actual,” and I’d been known to cuss a motherfrakker the frak out. I’ve watched the series finale about 15 times and I refuse to delete season 4.5 from the bedroom TiVo until I have the complete series on Blu-Ray this summer. Yes, I might have to sell an ovary to afford it, but hey, I already have two kids (a girl and a boy) and besides, I have another one. My Rock Band name is Caprica and my band’s name is The Final Five Cylons. (Don’t judge me!)

I cried like Gimpy Gaeta when Anders shot in him in the leg as the show ended and the only thing to keep me from going completely insane with grief was the knowledge that I still had Battlestar Galactica: The Plan to look forward to this fall, and Caprica in 2010.

“Please God, don’t let Caprica suck. Let it be good. And let enough of us diehard BSG fans watch faithfully so that the SciFi Network won’t pull a bonehead move and cancel it after like, three episodes. Please God don’t let me have to go black girl crazy and cut somebody.”

Last night, Donny came home with the DVD pilot of Caprica and I was afraid to watch it. I needed this to be good. I needed it to be great. It did not disappoint. I watched it twice last night and another three times this morning.

Caprica is set 58 years before the fall of the 12 colonies. Daniel Greystone (Eric Stoltz) is like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates rolled into one. He’s perfecting his Cybernetic Life Form Nodes (Cylons) when his teenage daughter Zoe (Alessandra Torenson) dies suddenly. After her death, Daniel discovers that he wasn’t the only brain in the family dabbling in artificial life.

Joseph Adams/Adama (Esai Morales), an attorney, has also lost a daughter and through their mutual grief the two men embark on a journey that questions religion, death, life after death, and playing God (or Gods.)

I think fans of BSG (as the cool kids call it) will be satisfied. It has that same blend of drama and sci-fi that worked so well on Galactica. One of the things that made BSG so appealing was it’s rich history. It’s a sign of a great show that we know how it ends, yet we are still interested in seeing how it began. And once Caprica begins, you stay interested.

Yeah, I was a little disappointed that there were’t more… connections to BSG, but it’s a different show and I know I gotta “let it go.” The only character on Caprica that existed on BSG is young Willie Adams/Adama… and he’s 11! I found myself thinking early on, “Right now, the final five Cylons are on their way to warn humanity. Too bad they won’t arrive for at least another 20 years and we know how that ends up.”

I love that we see the origins of Cylons (at least the 12 colonies’ version) and their belief in the one true God. I love that Caprica looked different than the Caprica we saw in flashbacks during BSG’s run. Things change in six decades. This new vision of Caprica looks old-timey, yet sophisticated. It looks like a culture on the verge of big changes and innovations.

I wondered whether it was a coincidence that two of the people most responsible for the attack on the colonies (Greystone and Baltar) lived in damn near identical homes/areas. Unfortunately, though entertaining, the commentary by Ronald Moore, David Eick, and director Jeffrey Reiner didn’t touch on that – but we do learn that the V-Club seen throughout the pilot is the same as the Opera House in BSG.

There’s lots of good stuff here – Adama and Greystone are both tortured and driven to do bad things in order to hold on to pieces of their beloved daughters, the early Centurions, great acting by Alessandra Torenson, and wonderful music by Bear McCreary. Seriously, can he just score every show on TV from now on? I found myself restarting the show to have it play while I did homework, just to hear the fabulous music.

My only complaint? We have to wait for 2010 to find out what happens next.

Me and BSG

So, I’d been trying to hold on to this good news until I had the pics to share, and they’re finally here!

In December, I had the great honor of visiting the set of Battlestar Galactica and meeting the cast and crew of my all-time favorite show. Everyone was so kind and gracious. I need to give a special shout out to Kelly Marie Sewdapop, one of the make-up artists on set, for taking some great photos for me because my digital camera’s battery died. And thanks for finally emailing them to me, I know you’ve been busy!

Here’s Donny and Jack with Edward James Olmos who played Admiral William Adama on the greatest show on Earth.

Nina’s Top Ten Signs That She Watches Too Much TV

10. While waiting at a red light, Donny asked me if I’d seen the hair-do of a woman that had just driven by.

“No. I missed it.”

Silence.

“Wait. Did you just reach for a TiVo remote to rewind real life?”

I did.

9. True Story: A few weeks ago, while in class, my ear clogged up and everything sounded far away. Then I started hearing some weird staticy sound – like someone tuning a radio.

I briefly wondered if I was a Cylon.

8. Name any day, any hour, and I can name at least three shows coming on at that time. Test me.

7. I know the halls of County General like the back of my hand.

6. I have a soft-spoken white woman do all of my life narrations a la Desperate Housewives. So what if only I can hear her.

5. I end all arguments with, “The tribe has spoken.”

4. Richard is paid to watch TV, and yet I still watch more than he does.

3. I’m a member of an elite squad known as the special victims’ unit.

2. The only thing keeping me from committing murder is Gil Grissom.

1. In times of great indecision I find myself wondering, “WWJBD?”

What would Jack Bauer do?

Nina’s Top Ten Moments of Battlestar Galactica

Until Rescue Me returns, I have an opening in my Wednesday entertainment blog. This is good news for you because that means that today you get two, yes two, Nina’s Top Ten blogs! And since this is supposed to be a TV blog, I’ve decided to follow that theme. (Later today: Top Ten Reasons Donny Will Go White Boy Crazy.)

Warning: This list contains spoilers so do not read, or watch the clips, unless you’ve seen every episode of Battlestar Galactica including the series finale.

In no particular order, I give you the…

Top Ten Moments of Battlestar Galactica

10. The Adama Manuever – Most of the fleet has decided to settle on the planet New Caprica under the leadership of their new president, Gaius Baltar. When the Cylons, the evil robots that look human bent on destroying mankind, show up, Baltar has no choice but to surrender, and Admiral Bill Adama has no choice but to leave his people. When he returns, what follows is hands-down one of the best scenes on television.

He launches two drones, and when the Cylons send their ships after them (thinking they’re Galactica, and the battlestar Pegasus), Adama jumps the battlestar right on their heads. He then launches the viper fighter planes, and jumps out of the planet’s atmosphere. If the clip doesn’t work, click here.

9. “So That’s It. We’re Cylons.” – After hearing pieces of, “All Along the Watchtower,” in their heads for days, the final four cylons are revealed when the song leads them all to the same place at the same. Almost immediately after, Starbuck returns from the dead. If the clip doesn’t work, click here.

8. Hey, I Know That Song! – Starbuck remembers that her father taught her to play, “All Along the Watchtower,” when she was a child. It just happens to be the song that switched on the final four cylons. Goosebumps!

7. Eye Contact – Moments after finding out he’s a cylon, Anders takes to his viper for his first battle with the Cylon raiders. Just when a raider has him dead to rights, he makes “eye contact” with the patroling red light of the raider. A super close-up of Anders’ eye reveals the slightest “glitch” which prompts the cylons to back-off.

6. The Cylons Were Created By Man – The opening scene to the mini-series that launched the show blew me away. It summed up where we were quickly, and it jumped right into action.

5. “Where Have You Taken Us, Kara?” – The final jump that leads Galactica, and her people, to their new home.

4. “She Will Not Fail Us If We Do Not Fail Her.” – In order to save Hera, Galactica and crew embark on their last mission;  jumping dead center of the cylon colony. The moment they jump in, all hell breaks loose. “You sunk my battleship! Sike!”

Honorable Mention from the clip above: Rebel centurions working with the human assault team to attack the cylon colony. Also, there’s neck-snapping in that clip. You gotta love neck-snapping!

3. “You know, I know about farming.” – In the final minutes of the series finale, Gaius shows a moment of heartbreaking humanity. Thanks to, what I think were, wonderfully woven flashbacks, we know that line was filled with all the guilt he has carried through four seasons and even beyond considering Gaius’ treatment of his father. Also, when the scene opens he looks right sexy.

Honorable mention from clip above: Adama speaks to Laura, who he has just buried, about their cabin he will build, and presumably die in.

2. Some Really Great Speeches:

- Adama’s speech at the end of the mini-series – he pledges to lead the fleet to Earth.

- Lee’s speech at the end of Baltar’s trial – he talks about the sins committed since they were forced to run for their lives.

- Roslin’s speech to the rebel cylons – she tells them that when Adama pulls through the mutiny, he will remember who stood with him, and who ran. “Who do you want to be? Who do you want to be?!”

1. Finally, any scene that contained my new favorite word:

There are so many more scenes that I could list; Roslin’s swearing in, Lee rescues Tyrol, Seelix, Cally, and Baltar on the algae planet, Admiral Cain’s end, Ander’s goodbye, the occupation of New Caprica, more of the final battle, the reveal of the final cylon, the return of the final cylon…. but, I’ll leave some for you!

If you’d like me to cover a top ten list, feel free to email a subject to nina@blogitoutb.com

Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Epi. 20: Daybreak, Part 2

So, tonight’s the night. The last frakkin’ episode of Battlestar Galactica ever. (We still get Battlestar Galactica: The Plan. Woohoo!) As usual, I’ll list the questions we have going into tonight’s episode. But first…

… There’s been lots of questions wondering whether or not they can possibly answer all the questions in tonight’s two-hour finale. I think they can. What I’m worried about, is not being able to see reactions to answers. We’ve come to know, love, and loathe these characters and I not only want to know what the deal is with Starbuck, but I want to see some reaction to it. I want an ending and then some.

If it were a perfect world, this episode would include some flashbacks to the Final Five’s time on Earth so we can see who these messengers were that warned them of the coming war with their Centurions. I also wouldn’t mind some flashbacks explaining how the Temple of Five became a tool for D’anna to see their faces.

But the world isn’t perfect, and I suppose I should just be happy with what I get, and appreciate the years of geeky joy this show has brought me.

As usual, the episode’s recap will begin after the last blue header.

Questions I’d Like to See Answered in Tonight’s Finale

1. Why did the 13th tribe of Cylons go to Earth when the other 12 tribes left and founded the colonies?

2. Who were the messengers that appeared to the Five when they were on Earth and warned them about the attacks? I find it funny that Galen thought he had a chip in his head, which is exactly what Gaius thought when Head Six began appearing to him.

3. Why did the Five model/name each of the 8 skinjobs the way they did?

4. Just to clarify then, after John decided to kill the Five and place them in the colonies, he “wiped” all the other Cylons so they wouldn’t remember them and think to ask about them? Also, if John had resurrection and the other models, then killed the five and put them with the colonies, why did it take so long for him to make his move?

5. Who set up the Temple to reveal the faces of the Five? Ellen says they used it as a road marker when making their way to the colonies to warn them.

6. Who is Starbuck’s Daddy and why did he teach her that song?

7. What is Starbuck? How was she able to come back from the dead?

8. What up with Daniel? Is he gone for good?

9. Who switched on The Four? What was going on with Ellen when they were switched on? Did she at least hear the music even though she was already aware of her Cylon nature?

10. Why does Roslin, Caprica, and Athena all have those Opera House visions?

11. Will Tory ever answer for killing annoying ass Cally?

12. Will Anders die a hybrid on Galactica? They better not do that!

13. What’s up with Gaius having a Head Six and Caprica Six having a Head Gaius?

14. Not really a question… but I sincerely hope that the series doesn’t end with the big battle that is gearing up. They cannot spend four episodes preparing us for this full human-Cylon integration aboard the rebel Cylon baseship, and not show us what life is going to be like with the military being run from the Cylon’s ship!

My Predictions

1. Starbuck is half-Cylon. “All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.” Just like Hera, Starbuck is half Cylon. WRONG

2. I think Daniel is the key to the switching on of the Final Four… but that means that he has to have some connection to Starbuck since it’s the song her Daddy taught her. Hmmm. Did Daniel suspect what John was going to do and make his own preparations? WRONG

3. Who’s gonna die? Boomer, for sure. She’ll probably get some kind of redemption by helping Hera, and then bite it. Sadly, I don’t think Gaius is long for this world either. Ditto that, Anders. Oh, and let’s throw in President Roslin for good measure. 3 outta 4 ain’t bad!

4. Gaius will “man up” and join the fight even though he acted like a little bitch last week. RIGHT!

What are your predictions?

Now That I’ve Watched The Episode, Here Are the Answers To My Questions

1. Why did the 13th tribe of Cylons go to Earth when the other 12 tribes left and founded the colonies?

Ans. We really don’t know. I choose to believe that they thought it best to not have Cylons and humans co-exist.

2. Who were the messengers that appeared to the Five when they were on Earth and warned them about the attacks? I find it funny that Galen thought he had a chip in his head, which is exactly what Gaius thought when Head Six began appearing to him.

Ans. Angels. Angels guided by God (though apparently he doesn’t like to be called that) to help those with a destiny fulfill that destiny. Too bad we never got to see what these angels looked like.

3. Why did the Five model/name each of the 8 skinjobs the way they did?

Ans. No one knows. Beyond John being modeled after Ellen’s father, we may never know why Boomer had that nose and Simon had his lips.

4. Just to clarify then, after John decided to kill the Five and place them in the colonies, he “wiped” all the other Cylons so they wouldn’t remember them and think to ask about them? Also, if John had resurrection and the other models, then killed the five and put them with the colonies, why did it take so long for him to make his move?

Ans. Since the latter wasn’t really answered, I’m going with my assumption that his backstabbing took awhile. They were probably living together and getting along quite well before he snapped. And once he made his move, we know he needed time to get the Cylons in place for their various missions.

5. Who set up the Temple to reveal the faces of the Five? Ellen says they used it as a road marker when making their way to the colonies to warn them.

Ans. God.

6. Who is Starbuck’s Daddy and why did he teach her that song?

Ans. Apparently her Daddy was nothing more than a pianist with ants in his pants. He taught her that song ’cause it was her destiny to play those notes, have those numbers, etc. Here’s what I choose to believe, the Final cylons were switched on because she returned. That song was getting clearer the closer she got to the fleet in the Viper that had the coordinates to Earth. If Ellen had not have been killed on New Caprica, she’d have been switched on too. It seems that all of that was in God’s plan too. It was her destiny becuase it all happened before, and it was all set to happen again.

7. What is Starbuck? How was she able to come back from the dead?

Ans. Starbuck was a pigeon.

I kid, I kid, she was apparently sent back to fulfill her destiny of leading them to the real/2nd Earth. Some kind of ghost it seems. But I think it’s pretty clear that she truly did die back in season 3.

8. What up with Daniel? Is he gone for good?

Ans. Daniel was just what they said he was; a model 7 cylon that was killed because John was jealous of him.

9. Who switched on The Four? What was going on with Ellen when they were switched on? Did she at least hear the music even though she was already aware of her Cylon nature?

Ans. Again, now that it’s clear that Starbuck had a connection with the song, it’s my belief that her return is what switched on the cylons. All guided by the one true God.

10. Why does Roslin, Caprica, and Athena all have those Opera House visions?

Ans. Like Starbuck, they had a destiny. Roslin was meant to grab Hera and keep her from harm so that she would end up in the CIC when she did.

11. Will Tory ever answer for killing annoying ass Cally?

Ans. Yes. Yes, she will. And the answer will be delivered with a snap.

12. Will Anders die a hybrid on Galactica? They better not do that!

Ans. Yes. Yes, he will. On the plus side, he remained shirtless.

13. What’s up with Gaius having a Head Six and Caprica Six having a Head Gaius?

Ans. They were, as they said they were; angels. Angels sent by God to guide them to their destinies.

14. Not really a question… but I sincerely hope that the series doesn’t end with the big battle that is gearing up. They cannot spend four episodes preparing us for this full human-Cylon integration aboard the rebel Cylon baseship, and not show us what life is going to be like with the military being run from the Cylon’s ship!

Ans. Oh, they gave us aftermath and then some. Like 150,000 years some.

Daybreak, Part 2

Caprica is so pretty at night. I want to live in Caprica.

Tigh and Adama are in a strip club discussing whether or not Adama should do that thing that will only take one hour of his time, but apparently, lead to lots of money. Ah, he’s pondering retiring from the military. Ellen is there too, and the three of them drink liberally.

At dinner with Lee, Zach, and Starbuck, they’re all drinking heavily too.

Sean shows up for his blind date with Laura Roslin. Turns out, he was a student of hers. What kind of student are we talking? College? High school? It doesn’t matter. They continue on with the date. Roslin was so pretty.

At the strip club, Tigh admits that no matter how much money he was offered, he wouldn’t take a military desk job.

Zach Adama can’t handle his spirits so Starbuck and Lee put him to bed.

Adama apparently can’t handle his either, ’cause he’s all vomiting in an alley and staring up at the stars. Chunks of sick sit on his chin. Gross.

Present Day Galactica…

Gaius is talking to Head Six, and she tells him that he is following God’s plan of leading mankind’s remnants to their end. End of what, he wants to know. A-ha! Clue number one! She doesn’t get to answer though because Paula interrupts.

Doc Cottle tells Roslin she is being left with enough medicine to last two days. She thanks him for all that he has done. Keeping her alive all this time when she should have died years ago. He gets all misty and kisses her hand. Awww, I love Doc Cottle! I hope he doesn’t die.

Helo is preparing the Raptor pilots and tells them it’s gonna be a tough mission. They all volunteer cause really, what else do they have to do?

Lee preps the commandos going in on foot. Adama preps Galactica’s crew and tells them that once they run out of bullets, he wants people to start throwing rocks.

Adama is awesome.

The final cylons discuss moving Anders to the CIC so they can patch him in to the colony’s hybrid faster. They’ll use him to turn off the colony’s guns which will start firing on Galactica as soon as they jump in.

Adama promotes Lt. Hoshi to Admiral and tells him to lead the fleet to the rendevous point. If they’re not there in 12 hours, he should leave. Anders is plugged up and ready to go.

Romo Lampkin is president! I really like that choice ’cause he’s six cups of awesome with three cups of crazy thrown in.

He and Hoshi get on the last Raptor leaving Galactica. Gaius is about to board, but changes his mind. Yah! His nuts finally dropped. Paula begs him to stay. Wait. Didn’t she hate him? Where’s the other chick with the sick son?

Lee tosses Gaius a gun. He’s part of the cool kids now.

The rebel Centurions march along the hangar deck led by a Six. They have red paint across their chests so the humans will tell them from the evil ones.

Tigh gets on the horn to check that all stations are ready to go. Tyrol is on FTL. Roslin is helping set up triage.

Caprica and Gaius are at the same back-up station. She tells him she’s probably seen more combat than he has. True dat. She also looks really proud of him because he’s there instead of hiding under his harem.

Adama gives one last rah-rah, sis-boom-bah, speech. Action stations, bitches!!!

They jump right in front of the damn colony!!! And the colony opens up a massive can of whoop ass… and I think they shook the can before opening. Galactica is taking a pounding.

Ellen switches Anders on and he whispers sweet nothings to the colony’s hybrid. She creams in her bath water and the colony stops firing on Galactica.

Galactica launches her Vipers. The colony launches Raiders. Then…

Galactica rams into the colony. Just like Hera did with the models a few episodes ago. Told you.

Lee leads the assault team on foot into the colony. They’re accompanied by some bad ass Centurions. Lee removes his helmet to reveal his fantastic new hair. Because, is it just me, or did Lee have his regular hair before the mission, and then sexy ass fly boy hair the moment that helmet came off?

He exchanges some hand signals with the Centurions and says, “Move out.” They march into battle with the Centurions who suddenly have some serious attitude. I know I’m a girl and not supposed to like this stuff, but it’s hot!

The Raptors have jumped in from behind and are coming in amongst lots of debris. The colony cylons don’t seem to know they’re there. Racetrack tells Skulls they should go weapons-hot. Skulls makes their nukes hot, and then starts reminiscing. They die immediately after as debris hits their window and busts it.

(Question: weren’t Racetrack and Skulls a part of the mutineers? Didn’t Starbuck shoot Skulls when she rescued Lee on the hanger deck? She then asked, “Who’s next?  Racetrack? Colin?” How are they down with the mission now?)

Starbuck, Athena and Helo’s Raptor team make it inside the colony. They encounter Centurions. The colony rocks the old-school Centurions!

A Simon is performing tests on Hera and Boomer can’t believe he’s still doing it while the colony is falling apart. He says that she is overestimating the humans, they have the numbers and will win. She snaps his neck.

There’s a commercial for Caprica, and one of the houses looks a lot like Gaius’ house on Caprica. Just sayin’.

Centurians are fighting Centurians and Lee’s hair is still fabulous.

Tyrol tells Anders he’s pushing too much power through the ACS and he’s gonna blow the main bus if he doesn’t back off. He totally listens.

John, a Doral, and a Simon find out what Boomer has done. They know she’s taking Hera to the humans.

At their station, Caprica admits that she always wanted to be proud of Gaius. He kisses her ’cause that’s how he rolls; world is literally coming down around his ears and he will still get his.

Head Six and Head Gaius show up and tell them that the pieces are falling into place. They will hold the fate of the Cylons and the humans in their hands. They are both surprised to realize that they can see each other’s visions.

The Cenutrions blow a hole in deck 21 and start taking out a platoon.

Starbuck, Helo, Athena, and co. run into Boomer with Hera. She gives Hera to Athena. Boomer says she wants Adama to know that she owed him one. She says she made a choice and she thinks it’s her last one. Starbuck is all, “Um, yeah, can we get on with it?”

Boomer tells them they can’t go the way they came, but Athena says that wasn’t their plan. Starbuck says, “Can we not tell her the plan?!” I know, right?! But that’s not what Athena had in mind. She shoots Boomer. A lot.

Flashback to Adama and Tigh chewing Boomer out for screwing up her landings. Her gives her another chance, and she says that she owes him one and that one day she will deliver on that when it matters.

1. This is exactly how I hoped this finale would go. I liked the flashbacks they touched on last week, and hoped they could master telling the ending while incorporating flashbacks at key moments like Lost does each week. They’ve done that.

2. I love when a show makes use of history. Starbuck tells Athena (back in season 2.0) that when she looks at her sometimes all she sees is that rookie pilot that kept spooching her landings.

Lee’s team meets up with Starbuck’s team, they plan to retrace his steps. Brilliant plan.

A fire breaks out in the CIC up top where Anders is. I think they should have left some Centurians in the CIC to guard doors and shit. Just sayin’.

Gaius and Caprica are kicking Centurian ass. Gaius gets a little carried away and Caprica has to stop him when Lee and crew show up with Hera.

Roslin gives herself another dose of medicine and has a flash of Hera running through the opera house. She takes off her hospital smock and leaves the triage area.

The assault team are making their way through the halls with Hera when a Doral comes out and shoots a few of them, including Helo. Hera takes off. Athena leaves Helo to run after her. She’s worried that he’ll bleed out, but he tells her to go.

Now, it’s just like the opera house. Roslin gets to her first and finds shelter with her as Cavil and some Centurions march by. While she’s not looking Hera takes off again.

Ok, seriously? Somebody need to teach that little heifer about stranger danger and who she can trust.

Caprica and Gaius find Hera  just as Athena runs into Roslin like in the visions. Caprica scoops Hera up and, like in the vision, they close the door on Roslin and Athena.

They take her into the CIC which has obviously witnessed some kind of major battle. Adama kicks down a Simon that is bleeding from the neck. People are dead at control panels. I would have liked to have seen that battle!

Mirroring the vision, they look up and see the final five on the balcony.

Goosebumps!

Cavil is alive in the CIC and when Galactica shakes, he knocks out a guard and grabs Hera. He wants to take her, but Gaius tells him that she’s the key to humanity. He admits to seeing angels (Head Six and Head Gaius are off to the side looking smug.) He tells him that everyone knows there’s a higher power at play and it’s obvious their two destinies are entwined. Cavil asks how does Gaius know that God is on his side. Gaius says that they don’t know. He doesn’t think that God is on any one side. He creates them and they have a choice on how things will play out. Cavil is worried that giving up Hera means that his people can’t survive.

Tigh offers to give them resurrection if he’ll give up Hera. Cavil agrees and calls off his fighters as a show of good faith.

Frak this mushy shit! I keep waiting for someone to bust a cap in his ass. But they don’t.

In the CIC everyone is checking in. They lost 4 vipers and 7 raptors. The bad cylons are standing around looking suspicious.

Each of the final five know a secret to resurrection. They’re gonna put their hands in Anders goo, compile their info, and then download it to the Cylons via Anders. Ellen explains that for a moment, they’re each gonna know all there is to know about one another.

And Tory shits her pants.

She tries to soften the blow by saying there’s stuff they’re all not proud of and Tyrol just looks at her like, “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”

“I don’t mean to rush you, but you are keeping two civilizations waiting!,” John Cavil shouts.

Tory wants them to agree that they’ll forgive each other no matter what they find out. Tigh is all, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, let’s do this.”

I don’t know why she doesn’t just switch places with Ellen. Standing next to Tyrol is not the move, homegirl.

They stick their hands in the goo and the download begins. A Simon is on the phone… why do the phones still work? A squirrel farts and my DirecTV goes out, Galactica gets lit to holy hell and the AT&T basic phones still work? And to connect to the Cylon ship no less? Anyway, Simon confirms that the plans are coming through.

We get flashes of each of the final five’s lives, but when we come to Tory and her meeting Cally at the airlock, well, Tyrol don’t look too happy. They all see her kill Cally.

Tyrol takes his hand out the goo and chokes Tory. Anders screams. The hybrid screams. Ellen screams. I scream. The only person that doesn’t scream is Tory ’cause she’s too busy getting choked.

The Simon says that the download has been broken, and one of the Dorals yells that it’s a trap and they should open fire.

Yeah, that’s the trap. One of the final five is going to choke another one to trick you guys. Tyrol snaps Tory’s neck. DAYUM! And then pushes her to the floor.

The cylons in the CIC are killed fairly quickly with John Cavil yelling, “Frak,” before killing himself.

I guess ressurection dies, once and for all, with Tory.

Remember the Raptor with dead Racetrack and Skulls and the hot nukes? Well some debris hits it, and Racetrack’s dead hand hits the launch button. The nukes hit the colony with Galactica inside of it. Adama instructs Starbuck to jump them out of there, but she doesn’t know the rendevouz coordinates. Adama doesn’t care. Just jump them anywhere.

“There must be some kind of way out of here,” Starbuck says. Another lyric from the song. She starts remembering how she assigned numbers to the notes of the song and Leoben telling her that she was an angel blazing with the light of God. She starts punching the numbers in. And then she jumps the ship.

And I have more goosebumps and this is just the FIRST hour.

Flashback to Starbuck and Lee drinking while Zach sleeps. She admits that she thinks about death every time she’s in the cockpit, but she’s not afraid of dying. She’s afraid of being forgotten.

Galactica makes the jump, but barely. She’s taking heavy damage. Adama orders Tigh to give a damage report. Galactica’s back is broken. She won’t jump again. Tyrol sits in a corner zoned out. Tory is dead on the floor. Roslin asks Starbuck where she has taken them.

Earth! A new Earth!

12 hours later. A raptor has jumped to the fleet and told them where to find Galactica. They send Raptors down to the new planet. It’s habitable because there are bush people living there. Adama, Hoshi, Gaius, Tigh, and Cottle ponder the odds that a human civilization could have naturally evolved 1 million lightyears from where they lived.

When it’s suggested that lines for a city could be up in days, Lee disagrees. He tells Adama they should learn from their mistake and leave technology behind. They should start over with a fresh slate.

Um, this plan sucks!

For the record though, this is exactly what I was telling my Dad happened with the 12 tribes that left Kobol. They had the technology and ships and stuff back then, but they obviously felt the need for a fresh start on the colonies because they (humans at the time that the show starts) looked at the scriptures and prophecies as fake. Also, they thought they “discovered” Cylon-building technology 50 years prior to the show’s start. This would also explain the Cylons parting ways with them when they left Kobol.

Ok, back to the show. Adama tells the major players (including the Cylons… oh, looky here, a Leoben. Where has his ass/models been?!) that they will distribute humans all over the habitable continents and start over. The sixes, eights, and twos decide to stay with them. They’re giving the Cylon base ship to the Centurions because they earned it.

Sheeeit, I’d wanna go with them.

They run the risk that the Centurions might evolve and decide to come back for them, but oh well. Once all the civilians have been desposited around the planet, the fleet will be programed to rendevouz with Galactica, piloted by Anders, and he will lead the fleet into the sun.

What!? This plan is getting more and more frakked up!

Starbuck says a tearful goodbye with Anders, and I’m not gonna lie, I lose my shit. She puts her dog tags in his goo. He cries and says, “I’ll see you on the other side.”

Frak! I need tissue.

Adama is the last one to leave Galactica. He pilots a Viper out. I love to see Adama’s old butt in his flight suit. Flashback to him taking the lie detector test for his cushy desk job. During the test, he storms out when he realizes that no amount of money is worth his dignity.

Anders pilots Galactica as his interview response from last week’s flashback is played. He talks about being apart of the perfection of creation and the beauty of physics and that’s the kind of perfection he wants to be connected to.

Then he leads the fleet into the sun, and I lose my shit again!

Tyrol tells Ellen and Tigh that the last Raptor out is going to take him to this island up in the highlands that he found. He wants to be alone. Between the music and his name, I told Donny I think Galen’s gonna found Scotland, but I suck at geography and he tells me to shut the frak up.

Flashback to Ellen and Tigh in the strip club where she tells him all she ever wanted was to be with him. I don’t like this ’cause this is all that frakkin’ John programming. I’d have much rather seen flashbacks to the five on Earth… although, as with Anders, I suppose it’s interesting to see their Caprican selves still having some influence on the way their lives turned out. Like, despite their programming, they ended up fulfilling their destinies.

Roslin and Adama sit under trees as she watches gazelles through binoculars. She asks if the world has a name and he says Earth. Since Earth was a dream they were chasing, they’ve earned it. They’re gonna call the new planet Earth. Roslin has trouble breathing and Adama asks if she’d like a better look at the animals.

See, I couldn’t have done it. I like creature comforts! I don’t like creatures!

Adama carries her to a Raptor and Lee and Starbuck follow. He tells Lee that he doesn’t have much time. They hug goodbye.

Adama asks, “What do you hear, Starbuck?”

“Nothing but the rain,” says Nina.

Don’t judge me!

He takes off with Roslin who waves goodbye from the window.

I lose my shit.

Lee realizes that Adama isn’t coming back. Starbuck says she’s not coming back either. She doesn’t know where she’s going, but she knows she’s done and it feels good.

Flashback to Starbuck daring Lee to do her on the dining room table while his brother sleeps in the next room. Classy! They start to, but she knocks over a glass which wakes Zach up and only then do the two fools come to their nasty senses. Lee leaves.

Back on new Earth, she asks what he’s going to do. He says he wants to explore. He turns his back on her and when he turns back, she’s gone.

“Goodbye, Kara. You won’t be forgotten.”

Jesus, could this get any sadder?!

Flashback to Lee waking up the next morning in his apartment and a pigeon flies out of the door. So, Kara was a pigeon?

Flashback to Roslin kicking the younger guy out of her bed and apartment. Then she calls Mayor Adar’s office and agrees to join his campaign. So interesting to see these pivotal moments in these major player’s lives and how things would have been a lot different had they made other choices.

In the Raptor, Roslin comments on how much life there is on the planet, and then she dies. Adama starts talking about the cabin they were gonna build on New Caprica until he realizes she’s gone. He takes off his wedding ring and puts it on her finger.

Do I really need to say I lost my shit?

Ellen and Tigh go off together with a group of civilians. Helo (he’s alive!), Hera, and Athena are walking and talk about building a new life. Caprica and Gaius watch as their angels tell them that they completed their missions.

Flashback to Gaius on Caprica before the fall (my mother points out how good he looks. she’s right) and he agrees to let Caprica Six get a peak into the defense mainframe. How it all began.

On new Earth he points out a spot where they can settle and cultivate land.

“Cultivation?”

“Yes. You know, I know about farming.”

And then he cries… and I do too. Such a great moment. You can see the weight of everything that has happened and the memory of his father hit him at once.

Adama sits on a hill, where he has buried Laura, and talks about the sun coming up over the mountain and how it reminds him of her.

GOD! I’m downright miserable watching this. Like, I knew I would be sad cause it was ending, but not so sad over the content.

Hera walks through the fields and looks up at the sky…

Forward 150,000 years later. Head Six, in what looks to be modern day NYC, reads over a man’s (Ron Moore’s!) shoulder an article about Hera’s remains being found in Tansania. She and Head Gaius comment on the commercialism, decadence, and technology run amok. It reminds them of Kobol, the first Earth, and Caprica before the fall. Caprica doesn’t think the cycle will repeat. Gaius isn’t so sure. When she refers to God, he says, “Now you know he doesn’t like that name.”

They walk off through Times Square as “All Along the Watchtower” plays.

The End

I’m spent. I’ll probably need to watch it for a third time (watched it twice alraedy) before it will sink in. And be less sad. Overall, I loved it. BUT, I must point out one thing. Donny thinks they traveled back in time. I think what we’ve seen these past four seasons was always supposed to be before our time. OK, discuss.

Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Epi. 19: Daybreak, Part I

As usual, the episode recap will begin after the second blue header.

Questions Going Into Tonight’s Episode

1. What’s up with Tyrol? Is he cooling his heels in the brig?

2. How far will Boomer’s tears from last week go? How much longer will she continue to assist John?

3. How much longer does President Roslin have?

4. Will Anders be Anders again?

5. Will we get any answers to Starbucks origin? Gaius’ ability to project and see Head Six? How ’bout the Opera House? What up wit dat?

What questions do you have?

Tonight’s episode is THOs inducing!

Daybreak – Part One

Previously on Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck finds her dead body on Earth and Gaius snitches that to everyone. Anders is shot in the neck and now hooked up to Galactica’s main power grid. Hera wrote the notes to the song that led the fleet to Earth and switched on The Four. Boomer took Hera to Cavil. Galactica is falling apart and Adama orders that it be stripped down.

And now…

Wait. What’s this? We have credits with no episode teaser? And we get the episode without the five second quick preview accompanied by the drums that Jack likes to dance to? AND no commercial? Woohoo!

Caprica City before the fall looks a lot like a Sim City.

Adama is being ordered to do something he doesn’t want to. It’s just one hour out of his life. Suck it up.

Gaius and Caprica Six are riding in the back of a limo. He has on Dr. Seuss socks. This is soon after they’ve just met… they start to make out, and he doesn’t remember her name. Classy. Gaius gets a call and freaks out. He wants someone to “wait there” or he’ll sue them for abandonment. I thought, for a second, they were going to tell us Gaius has a child.

Laura Roslin just threw a baby shower for one of her sisters. She and the other sister drink champange. She looks really happy and young.

Starbuck is… cooking? Starbuck cooks? Anyway, someone rings the bell. It’s Lee! He has flowers. This can’t be a date. Ah, Zach is alive and cuter than I remember him from the season 1 flashback. This is the first time Lee meets Starbuck.

Gaius’ elderly Dad’s nurse is quitting because the Dad stabbed her with a steak knife. Gaius is mean to his Daddy. His Dad calls him out for putting on a fake, posh, accent. Gaius grew up on a farm. He smacks his Dad about with a newspaper. In Gaius’ defense, his father is a lippy old bastard.

Roslin gets a visit from the police. Her father and two sisters were killed in a car accident the night before by a drunk driver. DAYUM. She can’t catch a break. She starts to gather up stuff from the baby shower when she sees a pic of her with her father and sisters. She leaves the house in her nightgown and robe  and walks to a fountain. Some people have their feet in the water, but that’s not good enough for Roslin. She walks in and lets the fountain spray all over her.

Presently, Roslin is unconcious in the sick bay.

Lee is overseeing the stripping of Galactica. He assures a specialist (which would probably be Chief if anyone knew where he was) that the thruster-thingies that help launch the Vipers will be one of the last things to go.

Adama is packing up his quarters and according to the boxes, they will be moved to the Admiral Quarters aboard the rebel Cylon base ship. Oh, this I gotta see.

Paula is trying to convince Gaius that their group is larger than most left in the fleet and that they could have considerable political power. Head Six tells him that humanity’s last chpater is about to be written and he’ll be the author.

Back on Caprica, before the fall, Gaius arrives home with a little hoochie mama and finds Caprica Six in his living room. She has made herself at home with a drink. He’s about to call the cops when she tells him that she found his father a place to live. A really nice assisted living facility. She’s taken care of all the arrangements and his father seems really happy. She shares this news and leaves.

So, that’s how she hooked him.

On Galactica, Starbuck is watching Anders and pondering the notes to the song and some algebraic equations.

In the CIC, Tigh explains that Adama wants to fly the last Viper off of Galactica and a launch tube should be left intact for that. Hoshi wipes up coffee the whole time he talks. He needs a Shamwow!

Tyrol is in the brig! Helo meets with him and for some reason they’re arguing over whether or not all model 8s are like Boomer or different like Athena. Tyrol is just salty ’cause he got puh-layed and not laid.

At the Cylon colony, Hera is still drawing music notes, but no one knows that’s what they are. John, Boomer, a Simon, and a Doral dicuss the fact that Hera won’t eat and she’ll need her energy before they begin testing. Boomer says the girl just wants her Mommy, and John is all, “That’s too bad. We need to crack this nut and figure out what’s what.”

Simon fires up the drill as Hera has a, “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” look on her face.

Adama runs into Hot Dog with Nicky in the halls of Galactica. He has pictures of pilots from the memorial wall. They don’t want to leave those pictures there with the unclaimed pictures. Adama goes to the wall and sees a picture of Athena and Hera before walking away. I guess someone assumes Hera is dead.

Adama stops a few feet away and goes back for the picture.

On the flight deck, Gaius is trying to convince Lee that his people deserve a voice in the government. Lee wants to know what Gaius was thinking when he outed Starbuck’s secret. Oh Jesus, Lee is such a pussy. Focus, fool. Focus. Not everything is about your precious Starbuck. Gaius tells him as much and he agrees to give Gaius five minutes of his precious time.

Meanwhile, Adama meets with Starbuck where Anders is being kept. Anders is going to have some serious raisin skin when this is all over. Just sayin’. Adama wants to know if Starbuck really came back from the dead. She admits that she found her body and burned it on Earth. Adama doesn’t looked phased. I suppose he has seen it all at this point. Adama wants to ask Anders some questions and asks Starbuck to plug him in. Before she can, he tells her that she’s his daughter.

No, she’s not. She’s Dreidle’s daughter and as soon as we learn who Dreidle is, it’s going to be awesome.

Back on Caprica, Anders is in a tub at a gym being interviewed. I’m sure he’s talking about Pyramid Ball, but he’s shirtless so all I hear is, “Blah, blah, blah, I’m hot!”

On Galactica, Anders is doing the hybrid mumbo-jumbo thing and Starbuck tells Adama to ask his question. Adama is all, “Nuh-uh, you ask him.”

Gaius meets with Lee and tells him that once Galactica is gone, a new way of life will begin and it requires a new way of thinking. Gaius thinks the thousands of people he represents deserve to be heard within the government. Lee says Gaius has never done one selfless thing and therefore, no. Gaius is all, “Fine, be like that.”

On Caprica, Lee comes home drunk and chases a pigeon. Yeah, I don’t know what that’s about either.

On Galactica’s flight deck, Adama and Starbuck place a line of red tape down the middle of the room. Adama tells those around that he knows they’ve heard a child was abducted from the ship.He thought a rescue mission was impractical, but he was wrong.

Elsewhere, Hot Dog tells some pilots that Adama didn’t tell him where he got the info, but since Starbuck was there, he assumes it came from Anders.

In the sick bay, the nurse tells Cottle that Adama knows where Hera is. Roslin overhears this and smiles.

Walking through the halls of Galactica, Ellen tells Tory that knowing where the Colony is doesn’t mean they know how they’re gonna get Hera out of it. Ellen tells Tory that all five of them will go with Adama. “Oh, so you’re making decisions for everyone now.” Ellen just smiles and tells Tory that she’ll go cause she never could be alone. Burn.

So, word spreads throughout the fleet that it’s a voluntary mission and you have to declare in person. Anyone over 15.

Helo tells Athena that they’re going after their baby, but Athena thinks that Hera is already been dissected like a fetal pig. She’s being a real Debbie Downer with puffy eyes.

On Caprica, Roslin eats sushi as she speaks on the phone. She says she’s not going to join Adar’s presidential campaign because she hates politics. She agrees to a blind date with someone called Sean Ellison. She says the name sounds familiar, and for some reason it sounds familiar to me too.

On the flight deck, Adama tells everyone that the mission is a one-way trip and if he doesn’t get enough people that can man Galactica, he’ll lead a Raptor assault with anyone that wants to roll.

Starbuck, Lee, Tigh, Ellen, Helo, and Hot Dog join him. Doc Cottle starts to, but Adama says the fleet cannot afford to lose their doctor so he gets a pass. His nurse goes. Caprica Six goes. Chief Tyrol (this show lets mofos out the brig like it ain’t no thang) grips up Tory and basically volunteers for her.

“You got something better to do?,” he asks. But his face said, “Girl, if you don’t bring your ass on…”

Gaius looks at Caprica Six and it seems he wants to go, he just can’t make his feet move. COME ON, Gaius!

Roslin hobbles across the line. Awww, I think I may cry. Ok, I’m not gonna front. I am crying!

Racetrack and Skulls go on a recon mission to the colony and discover it’s near a black hole which keeps the colony bound within it’s gravity well, while allowing it to maintain a stable orbit. There’s a lot of space debris surrounding it too. There’s one parking spot and it’s less than one click from the colony. The Cylons are bound to have every gun aimed at that one spot.

“Let’s get to work,” says Adama ’cause he’s the shit.

OK, my thoughts on tonight’s epi:

Loved it! Most people didn’t like Deadlock and Someone to Watch Over Me and I liked them. I’ve already seen tweeted complaints about this episode, and I think people are insane.

1. Even if the flashbacks don’t go anywhere, I think they lend a lot more to the origins, personalities, and characters of Roslin, Adama, Lee, Starbuck, and Caprica Six. People that may very well die in the final episode. Sure, this could have been done throughout the series, like Lost does, but I thought it worked in this episode. Who knows, maybe they’ll continue it next week. Lord knows they’ll have enough time.

2. No, there weren’t any revelations in this episode. And yes, that makes me a little nervous that they won’t get to all the questions next week, but that’s not a definite.

3. I thought it was a little too neat how Anders was able to communicate just well/long enough to tell them where the Colony was. How did he know?

4. I was disappointed that Gaius didn’t man up, but maybe he will next week.

Questions I’d Like To See Answered in Next Week’s Series Finale

1. Why did the 13th tribe of Cylons go to Earth when the other 12 tribes left and founded the colonies?

2. Who were the messengers that appeared to the Five when they were on Earth and warned them about the attacks?

3. Why did the Five model/name each of the 8 skinjobs the way they did?

4. Just to clarify then, after John decided to kill the Five and place them in the colonies, he “wiped” all the other Cylons so they wouldn’t remember them and think to ask about them? Also, if John had resurrection and the other models, then killed the five and put them with the colonies, why did it take so long for him to make his move?

5. Who set up the Temple to reveal the faces of the Five? Ellen says they used it as a road marker when making their way to the colonies to warn them.

6. Who is Starbuck’s Daddy and why did he teach her that song?

7. What is Starbuck? How was she able to come back from the dead?

8. What up with Daniel? Is he gone for good?

9. Who switched on The Four? What was going on with Ellen when they were switched on? Did she at least hear the music even though she was already aware of her Cylon nature?

10. Why does Roslin, Caprica, and Athena all have those Opera House visions?

11. Will Tory ever answer for killing annoying ass Cally?

12. Will Anders die a hybrid on Galactica? They better not do that!

13. What’s up with Gaius having a Head Six and Caprica Six having a Head Gaius?

14. Not really a question… but I sincerely hope that the series doesn’t end with the big battle that is gearing up. They cannot spend four episodes preparing us for this full human-Cylon integration aboard the rebel Cylon baseship, and not show us what life is going to be like with the military being run from the Cylon’s ship!

Also, I like to see reactions. I hope that once we get the answers, we’re allowed to see the characters deal with them, digest them, act on them, etc. Especially it’s a series finale and never coming back.

Ok, I’ll be back in the a.m. with more. Really sleepy now. Gonna watch the episode again till I fall out.

What did you think? What are your questions?

As usual, more BSG blogging can be found at The TV Tyrant.

Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Epi. 18: Islanded in a Stream of Stars

As usual, tonight’s episode recap begins after the second blue header.

Questions Going Into Tonight’s Episode

1. How much of a beatdown will Tyrol get for his role in Boomer’s escape with Hera?

2. What’s up with Caprica Six? Is she still with Tigh?

3. Will we get anymore Starbuck revelations?

4. Just how damaged is Galactica after Boomer’s jump frakked her up?

5. Will Anders wake up? If so, will his Earth memories still be intact?

6. What’s John’s endgame?

7. Now that Hera is gone, will the shared visions of Athena, Roslin, and Caprica Six return? What do they mean?

8. Is Islanded a word?

Can you think of more questions? See you at the end of the hour…

Islanded in a Stream of Stars

Previously on Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck realizes that her father taught her the song that switched on the final four when she was a kid. Sam is shot and in a coma. Boomer returns to Galactica with Ellen, kidnaps Hera, and causes major damage to the already crumbling Galactica after she jumps away too close to the ship.

And now…

Hera is sitting on the strategy board pushing a model Galactica into a model of a Cylon base ship. Hmmm, sign of things to come?

A six argues with a human worker as they’re trying to repair the ship’s damage. An eight breaks it up.

There’s a close up of an eye blinking in a red room and the lights are flickering with each blink.

Ellen tells Adama, Lee, Starbuck, Tory, and Tigh that John Cavil probably took Hera to their colony. What colony? Oh, you know, the home planet they never bothered to mention till now. That one. Ellen thinks they need to go and find Hera. Lee doesn’t think it’s smart to jump Galactica’s broken down ass into the middle of a Cylon gangbang. With the miscarriage of Caprica Six’s baby, Hera is now more important than ever, Ellen counters. Starbuck agrees and tells Adama and Lee about the mysterious song and Hera’s part in it. Adama has had enough of destiny, fate, prophecies, etc. He even damns the Gods. He eventually agrees to send a Heavy Raider for a recon mission, but wants to keep Athena and Helo out of the loop.

Helo wants to know if Athena hates him. She doesn’t answer. You know she does!

Caprica Six and the President are both in the sick bay having that Opera House dream.

There’s a breach and several workers go flying out the airlock. A six saves a guy and gets spaced for her efforts. Could anyone tell if she was telling him to close the door, and then turning the wheel to lock it OR was she trying to get in? At first I thought she was asking for help, but after watching it two more times, I don’t know.

And we have credits…

61 people are dead, including 26 Cylons. Tigh and Adama discuss Sonya’s inquiry into Galactica’s transition to the Cylon base ship. “That’ll be the day,” Adama grumbles even as the ship farts and coughs around him.

At a fleet captains’ meeting, the captains are incredulous over the possibility of Adama and the military operating out of the Cylon base ship. Sonya tries to reassure them, but they ain’t having it. The captain of the Tylium ship reissues his complaints of the jacked up air on their ship. He wants dibs on Galactica’s CO2 and particulate scrubbers. Lee shoots him his best, “Have you bumped your head?,” look. Another captain wants the FTLs as his apparently are slow. Lee tells the vultures to settle down.

Starbuck sits in the bar listening to Gauis’ broadcast in which he claims to believe in angels because he sees them. Head Six looks on as Gauis speaks. Caprica Six is leaving with rations when Gaius rushes over to give his condolences. (Note: how odd to see Caprica Six is such a position. Such a reversal from the first episode when she snapped that baby’s neck.) He offers her a place to stay if she needs it and she tells Gaius she has no desire to join his harem. Oh, snap. He insists that isn’t what he meant. She tells him that he hasn’t changed, but she has. (I don’t know about the first part of that.)

In the sick bay, a dying eight wants to see Colonel Tigh. He holds her hand and she thanks him for the privlege of meeting her father before she dies. He just grumbles something about spending years trying to kill her kind. She says, “Too much confusion,” before dying. (Another line from the song.)

Boomer is jumping her way back to Cavil and Hera is showing her little ass. “I want my Mommy! I want my Mommy!” Even I want to see her spaced after awhile. Boomer threatens to dope her up again. Hera loses her shit. The Mom in me can barely watch. Boomer needs her ass kicked.

OK, where the hell is Tyrol?! Are we not even going to address his role in Boomer’s escape?

Tigh is searching his quarters for liquor and Ellen tells him they need to do more than send out a recon when their people’s existence is at stake. Tigh claims the people of Galactica are his people. She reminds him that he’s a Cylon even if he doesn’t remember it, and that he needs to remember what they were trying to achieve. She tells him that their children will die off one by one if they don’t act. He said he had a child and it died. Ellen tells him, “You’re wrong Saul. You had millions.”

Boomer tries to get Hera to eat, but she refuses. She doesn’t want to take food from the bad lady that kidnapped her and kept her in a trunk. ‘Magine that! Boomer projects herself into the house on Picon and Hera joins her. For some reason, Hera doesn’t mind eating the cupcake there. O-KAY.

Starbuck is on the toilet watching Gaius shave. She asks if he really believes in angels. He does. He sees them regularly.

“Regularity. Must be important when you’re full of it.”

Burn.

Starbuck gives Gaius her dog tags that she pulled off her dead body on Earth. She wants him to test them.

Note: I really didn’t like this episode, but it’s growing on me after more viewings.

Sam is hooked up to the data stream like a hybrid. Starbuck asks for time alone with him. (He’s the owner of the red blinking eye.) She remembers when she told him if she ever found out he was a Cylon, she’d put a bullet in his head. Turns out, she didn’t mean it. She only wants her Sam back.

Girl, your Sam is gone. The last time we saw him was when he was tossing a pyramid ball before the mutiny.

She goes to kill him… huh?!… and he grabs her arm and starts doing the hybrid mumbo-jumbo including, “You are the harbinger of death, Kara Thrace.”

Roslin and Adama chat while she’s in sick bay. She lights up a joint. And I wish I had one to dull the pain of this awful episode.

Gaius tests Starbuck’s dried blood on the dog tags.

After a bunch of techno-talk, an eight explains to Tigh that Sam could jump the ship if he wanted to, much like their hybrids. He orders Sam taken offline. The electricity stops flickering.

From the recon mission, Adama learns that Cavil moved the colony five months ago and they have no idea where he went. Lovely.

Boomer shows Hera the room her and Tyrol’s daughter lived in within the imaginary house. Hera jumps on the bed.

Seriously? This is how they use the time in the final episodes?

Helo talks to Adama who admits that they sent a Raider out to find the colony, but it was a bust. Helo wants to go alone and look for her. Adama tells him to let it go. Helo says Adama is the one that can’t let go ’cause he’s still trying to repair Galactica’s busted ass. Realizing he’s gone too far, Helo apologizes and asks for a Raptor again. Adama still ain’t havin’ it.

Funeral services are held for those that died in the latest explosion and breach. Ellen, Adama, and Gaius all speak before the bodies are put out the airlock. After the service, Gaius announces to everyone that death is not the end. He says there is one amongst them that has already crossed over and returned. He tells everyone about Starbuck finding her own deady body on Earth and the results of his test confirming that the blood on the dog tags came from dead flesh.

Starbuck slaps the taste out his mouth.

Why, exactly, is everyone so shocked? They know she blew up. They know she returned in a Viper whose signal lead them to Earth. THEY KNOW something ain’t right with her!

At the memory wall, Lee tells Starbuck he doesn’t care what she think she saw, he doesn’t care that he saw her Viper explode, he’s still her friend. Jesus, Lee is desperate. Starbuck returns her picture to the wall in between Kat and Dualla.

Boomer jumps to this kickass Cylon ship. It’s not a base ship, it’s like the thing that poops out a base ship.

She delivers Hera to John and Hera, once again, loses her shit, but this time ’cause she wants Boomer and not the creepy old man with caterpillar eyebrows. John tells Hera that soon she’ll have lots of new playmates. What’s THAT supposed to mean. Boomer cries. Don’t cry now, heifer!

Oh Lord, more shots of Adama staring at the walls of the ailing Galactica. He takes off his Admiral pins and marches to his jacked up bathroom. He starts smearing paint on the walls and has a bit of a breakdown.

You know, I defended the last two episodes when most people shat on them. I cannot defend this. This was worst than filler.

Starbuck sits with Sam and she says she’ll sit in the room with him until they figure out the pattern of the music notes. She plugs him back in.

Tigh arrives at Adama’s quarters. Adama tells him that they’re stopping all the repairs on the ship. He’s gonna have the crew start stripping the ship and packing up. The’re gonna abandon the ship. Tigh doesn’t like it. Adama tells him (and I love this) that Tigh never let him down and he can’t blame Tigh for what he is especially since that includes being the finest XO and friend he’s ever known. Galactica has never let him down either, and he wants to send her off in style. They toast to Galactica.

Questions

1. What up with Tyrol? Is he in the brig?

That’s really all I got since I’m so disappointed.

But, I will say this, if the series goes out with Anders being a damn mumbling hybrid-like vegetable, I will NOT be happy.

Check your local listings for Battlestar Galactica: The Last Frakkin’ Special. It airs between this Frida’s episode and the three-hour finale night.

Also, as always, you can find more BSG blogging every Tuesday at The TV Tyrant.

So, what did you think of this episode?

Battlestar Galactica Season 4.5 Epi. 17: Someone to Watch Over Me

Tonight’s Recap will start after the second blue header.

Thoughts – Theories – Questions  Going Into Tonight’s Episode

1. It seems the other 12 colonies did know that the 13th were Cylons, because Tory said they created them. The original Cylons had some resurrection technology, but it fell out of use when they started to procreate naturally. Why were they not able to procreate now? Obviously, we see now they can with humans, and Tigh could with Caprica Six.

2. We still don’t know the circumstances under which the 13th tribe left Kobol for Earth and under which the 12 tribes left Kobol for their new home.

3. So, Earth being nuked was another Cylon civil war with the Centurions turning on the skinjobs, just like they would later turn on the humans. What are these signs that were shown to the five that no one else could see? Anders said they were warnings that they eventually figured out and it lead them to put the plan in place to have a ship to resurrect on. Who were these warnings from? They backtracked the 13th tribes steps to find the 12 colonies, but who set up the temple as a shrine to them and orchestrated D’Anna seeing their faces?

4. We know that Ellen did know she was a Cylon before the other four, but we still don’t know who or what activated the others. It’s apparent that John was hiding their existence from the other models and it wouldn’t have been in his best interest to activate them. In the time that Ellen spent with Boomer did she convince her to do it? Show her how to do it? OR, is it that one true God that set up D’Anna seeing them?

Epi. 17: Someone to Watch Over Me

Previously on Battlestar Galactica: Galactica is falling apart. Tyrol uses an organic resin from the Cylon base ship to fix the damage. Boomer brings Ellen back to the fleet and is thrown in jail for her efforts. Starbuck finds her dead body on Earth. She asks Leoben, “What am I?,” but he’s too freaked out to answer.

And now…

As someone plays a piano, Starbuck wakes up to start her day. When she goes into her locker, she sees her dead face. She showers and starts her duties as CAG. There are humans, and Cylon sixes and eights flying with them. Their mission, says Starbuck, is the same as it has been week after week; try to find a habitable planet. The first pilot to find one gets the last tube of Turon toothpaste in the whole universe. I’d put that thing on eBay.

(Oddly enough, there’s a commerical offering up the prop at the Galactica auctions.)

Some interesting things of note during Starbuck’s speech: It’s been weeks since they discovered the nuked Earth, their numbers are thinned due to the mutiny so some Raptor pilots are flying solo.Which is important and comes into play later.

When she says that Six has the color assignments, one six in the front row raises her hand – I guess to separate herself from the others. They need names and … hair bows! Yes, they need different colored hair bows to tell them heifers apart. Same with the Eights, but maybe they should have like… scarves.

Anyway…

Tyrol is telling Adama, Lee, and the President that they don’t have that many jumps left withput causing hull damage. Adama isn’t ready to give up on her just yet.

Lee congratulates a Six, Sonya, on her quorum election. (See! That’s what I’m talking about. Names!) She says that when they reconvene, they plan on asking for Sharon (Boomer) in order to try her for treason and if she’s convicted, she’ll be put to death. Tyrol is all, “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?!”

And we have credits…

Various shots throughout Galactica show the ship shaking and the power flickering as the work is being done.

In the sick bay, Cottle doesn’t know what to make of Anders’ condition. He boots Ellen, Tory, and an Eight out of the room when they start offering up Cylon theories about his brain rebooting. I imagine his brain looks like this…

Cottle tells Starbuck that if there’s a change, she’ll be the first to know.

In the bar, Starbuck starts picking on a pianist who is composing a song.

While working on the Galactica, Tyrol has flashbacks to being with Boomer before things went to shit. He remembers kicking her to the curb when they were both in the brig. He wonders how many people end up with who they really wanted to be with and how many settled.

Starbuck arrives at Athena and Helo’s quarters. Hera is drawing circles. Helo managed to retrieve all of Starbuck’s stuff that was auctioned off amongst the other pilots when they thought she was dead. She picks up a cassette of someone playing live music at the Opera House. (And I think it said Thrace Opera House, but I can’t be sure.) The name is Dreilide Thrace. How many of you hit Google to see the meaning of Dreilide and if it’s a form of Daniel? LOL

You didn’t? Well, let me help you out:

The name ‘Dreilide’ is German for ‘third eyelid’ and refers to the inner eyelid, regarded as the gateway to the soul and realms of higher consciousness. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to use their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.

The analog for Dreilide Thrace in the Original Series is Chameleon. Chameleons have a third eye called a parietal eye.

Hera gives Starbuck her paper of circles and Starbuck leaves with the cassette.

Tyrol visits Boomer. She tells him she thought New Caprica was the way to make amends for what she had done. He says that you can’t force people to love you at the tip of a gun. She tells him she thought about him everyday since dying in his arms when pasty-faced Cally killed her. He says he thought of her as well. Cally is now rolling over in her galactic grave. Tyrol and Boomer touch hands through the bars and she projects the home they planned to build on Picon.

He freaks out and breaks the connection. She apologizes, but he runs off.

At the bar, Starbuck tells the pianist she likes the song he’s composing. It’s getting better. She says it reminds her of someone chasing a car and he says it’s supposed to make you think of loss.

Across the bar, Tyrol wants the other Final Cylons to step in on Boomer’s behalf. Tory’s selfish ass keeps her mouth shut, Ellen says they have to let the process play out, and Tigh just drinks. Tyrol sarcastically thanks Tigh for his input and Ellen reminds Tyrol that Tigh just lost his child so leave him be. She jabs a finger at him too. For some reason, I really like that.

In the brig, Boomer admits to Tyrol that she has been going to their home in her mind for awhile. He agrees to let her project him there again. It’s a beautiful house and it makes me want to get up and clean mine. For real. Like, I want to go to Pier 1 Imports and buy some plants and stuff. Apparently, in projection world, they have a daughter and she’s up in her room. OK, this is way too sad for me.

At the bar, Starbuck helps the pianist compose more of his song. She talks about her father teaching her to play and this one song that made her feel happy and sad at the same time. We see her as a child, with her faceless Dad next to her on the piano bench. Is it Tigh? Daniel? Damn this show!!

Starbuck confesses to the pianist that she found her dead body on Earth.

Tyrol begs the President not to sign the extradition order, but she does anyway saying that Sharon is a danger in or out of the brig.  Tyrol leaves and he’s pissed.  In a very comical scene, Tyrol stages another black-out and knocks an Eight over the head with a wrench.

The pianist tells Starbuck that he left his family when the wife pressured him to stop playing music and get a real job.  Starbuck accuses him of being just like her father; abandoning a family with no thought of how it affected the kid.

Chief goes the brig to restore power and the guards leave to check the locks while he does. When he leaves, the knocked out Eight is in Boomer’s place, and Boomer is prancing around the halls of Galactica.

The pianist tries to convince Starbuck to play the song her father taught her after she admits she never played the piano again after he left.  She begins to play.

Athena is in the washroom when Boomer comes in and attacks her.

Helo comes into the washroom just as Boomer is washing the blood from her hands. He thinks it’s Athena!

At the bar, Tigh tells Tory and Ellen that he saw his baby’s body and that his eyes were open. He wasn’t ready for that. And I wasn’t either! Sad.

Helo has sex with Boomer, thinking it’s Athena, as the real Athena watches from the locker Boomer put her in. That’s just wrong.

Starbuck tries to play the song, but something is missing. The pianist starts to draw notes when she remembers the drawing Hera gave her. The circles line up on the music sheet and the pianist adds them. They begin to play.

Boomer, as Athena, takes Hera out of day care and makes her drink some water.

Starbuck and the pianist continue to play and Tigh, Tory, and Ellen take notice.

Tyrol helps Boomer load a crate onto a Raptor. She put that baby in a box?!

Starbuck and the pianist really get into the song. It’s “All Along the Watchtower” song that awakened the Four.

“What the frak?!,” says Tigh.

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!

Every week it gives me goosebumps!

The pianist smiles at Starbuck and touches her like her Daddy used to. Not in an inappropriate way, but you know.

Tigh wants to know who taught her to play the song and she says her Dad. The pianist is gone.

Boomer begs Tyrol to go with her, but he refuses saying they’ll meet again. He has no idea she got that baby gripped up in a crate.

Helo is instructing in the CAG when Athena comes stumbling in bloody and in her underwear. She tells him that it was Boomer in the locker room and asks about Hera. He orders Six to get a medic and alert everyone that Boomer is out and she has Hera. Athena hugs him, screams, and starts pounding on his back. YOU KNOW, she’s just thinking, “I don’t care if we look exactly alike, you should have known it wasn’t me!”

Boomer is wondering why her flight path hasn’t been cleared, and the CIC gives her some bogus excuse.  She doesn’t buy it and fires up the raptor. Adama tells her that she will be fired upon if she launches and she says, “Not with Hera on board you won’t.” Foiled again! Adama orders the flight pods retracted.

Meanwhile, President Roslin is all sweaty (she’s been a shaking hot ass mess all episode) in Adama’s office and can feel that something is wrong.

Boomer spools up the FTL drive and Tigh notes that if she jumps from within the ship, the spacial disruption can tear Galactica’s guts out. Nice. Adama orders the flight pods retracted any damn way. PIMP.

Boomer makes a rush to leave as the pods retract. She makes it through, but not without damage to her ship. Hot Dog is watching from his Viper and says, “Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.”

Boomer does it. She jumps away and it fraks Galactica up! President Roslin can feel Hera’s loss, says her name, and then falls to the floor unconcious. A soldier takes her pulse and calls for help.

On the flight deck, Tyrol is giving orders as everyone rushes to deal with the damage. Athena and Helo are above deck yelling at a flight crew member asking how Hera could have been snuck off the ship. A nearby crew member fills Tyrol in on what happened with Hera. He’s devastated.

In the day care center, Tigh and Ellen discuss what happened. Ellen realizes that her escape must have been a part of the plan to get Boomer there so she could steal Hera. Tigh wants to know how a 3-year old girl could have spontaneously written down the song and Ellen says she must be plugged into something that is manipulating all of them.

She plugged into Starbuck’s Daddy, Daniel! Or the One True God! AGGH! Questions!

Ellen wonders if Anders could help and Tigh says, “If he ever wakes up.”

Starbuck rests with Anders as her Dad’s music plays. His picture on the flier for the live performance shows him with long blond hair. And it doesn’t say Thrace Opera House, but Helice Opera House.

All I know is that her Dad looks like Jay from Jay and Silent Bob.

Tyrol projects himself into his home with Boomer and finds her and their daughter gone. He cries.

And it just might be the saddest shit I’ve ever seen.

Questions Answered and New Ones Posed

So, I was right in that “it will all happen again” also refers to the fact that there are once again 12 colonies of humans and 1 colony of Cylons. We know they have representation on the Quorum.

Cavil has been craftier and more deadly than I thought. He gave up Ellen to gain Hera. Now, Liam dying is not just sad, but critical.

Boomer has been a bad, bad, girl.

Tyrol is in big, big, trouble.

Will they try what the Eight suggested, and put Anders in the goo and hook him up the Cylon mainframe like a hybrid.

And I’m not gonna lie and say that I saw the double cross coming, but I did pause and wonder why the Centurion didn’t lose his shit when Boomer and Ellen got aboard that Raptor.

What did you guys think?

Remember, you can get more BSG blogging over at The TV Tryant every Tuesday.

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