2.1 Scattered

So this second series kicked off smack bang where the other left off, with Adama sprawled over the deck with blood coming out of him, and Boomer holding the smoking gun, and Starbuck and Helo together on Caprica and down on planet Kobol Gaius was in dreamland with Six whilst the rest of the crew tried to gather supplies and figure out their next move.

It was a smart idea to devote the thrust of this episode to Tigh, giving the show a bit of a fresh feel. Though his flashbacks to how Bill Adama got him back into the fleet and ultimately to the position he was in today were interesting (and the suicidal Tigh shows a damaged liability about this guy that may develop) Adama could not help but look ridiculous with that bizarre facial hair.
On the flipside, President Laura and her containment was dull dull dull. The trouble with having a presidential character as a main character is that the democracy aspects of the show always have to be taken into consideration. When it's a show that fires best when it's Cylon attacks and daring-do, all that politics stuff is a total drag.

But the Cylon attack business in this episode was terrific. The requirement to jump the whole fleet away was well-handled, and that moment Galactica jumped to find the rest of the fleet missing was knockout stuff. Once again, in vast space, the point of how desperate and precarious humanity is at the hands of the Cylons was hammered home. That Galactica managed to find the fleet at the end was a triumphant finish rather than a cheap happy ending, and that can only be testament to the quality of how the drama was handled.

Gaius on planet Kobol was revealed to have a 'child' with Six, though the child was not shown and I'm given no real idea if it's a future event, or another play in his mind, or something else entirely. Once again this season has started where the last one finished when it comes to Gaius; ambiguous and vague and irritating. Thankfully there was that sniper attack on Tyrell and his other two people to keep things interesting on the planet because it seems they may be there for the long haul. (Actually a welcome development, as the planet Kobol and perhaps some truths about the ancient civilisation can be explored properly.)

Whilst Adama's life is still 'critical' I have no doubts he will live, so it was left to the ending for a shock treat, with Battlestar Galactica actually daring to deliver a thrilling 'cliffhanger' rather than the usual ponderous finishes of the first season. Cylons are onboard Galactica, having crashed there in their new ship! Terrific stuff. I look forward to the forthcoming havoc!