3.2 Precipice

My goodness. The relentless tone continues, increases even. I have to say I am rather agog at the sheer boldness in Battlestar Galactica’s shift as precipitated at the end of Season 2. I don’t know if this is going to continue or whether there will be some lightness introduced, but even if it is that still doesn’t detract from the steps taken here.

So this episode continued the story of the insurrection of Tigh and his men, continuining a campaign of suicide bombers to distract the Cylons from the rescue mission as being formulated by Adama. First things first, Gaeta survived! Up he popped, alive and well. Something of a relief, there. Perhaps I missed him slipping clear of the blast that ended the previous episode.

This was an episode of bold decisions all right, as the title suggested: plots and characters were standing on an uncertain precipice. Jammer, for instance, was a new character who drew us into the perspective of the Cylon Police (and would prove crucial towards the end). Their night raid on civilians, filmed in night vision for extra harrowing quality, showed the scale by which things had now moved to. And it was set to get a lot worse.

Gaius, unravelling and pressured, was at the centre of the latest storm. The Cylons are almost all united in their lack of humanitarian qualities. It’s a rather sinister turn. The majority of them appear to have turned their back on the sense of moral imperative towards the human race and would probably lead the slaughter at the drop of a hat. Only the likes of Capica Six and Cylon Boomer speak up in man’s defence.

Interesting that the moment Caprica Six got a bullet in the head Gaius got visited by the mental version of her. As though her physical presence blocks the mental apparition. I don’t know if this is a peculiarity of Gaius’ psyche or something deeper. (Indeed, I am still not wholly clear on the exact nature of how the same mould of Cylons communicate – whether there exists a form of telepathy or not. The decision-making around the table seemed to suggest that each mould has an insight into their own ‘kind’, but maybe I was just seeing the airing of conversations and agreements that had been made previously.)

Gaius signed the form, under duress, that has apparently led to the execution of notable characters Laura and Skarek. We didn’t actually see them shot, but the set-up, and the line of Cylons, and the gunfire. . . they all pointed towards as much. Unless there’s something to be revealed next episode – but if not then, once again, it’s a seriously bold move to kill off one of its principle character in such an ignoble fashion. (Though that moment of bonding between Laura and Tom, remarking about how he wished she had rigged the election, was a nice touch.)

Meanwhile Adama has ordered Apollo to take the Pegasus and take the two thousand people in the fleet away, on to Earth, whilst he continues the mission to rescue those on New Caprica. His first controversial decision has been to put faith in Galactica Boomer (as she has now been named by me!) and sent her out to meet up with Anders and Tyrell. Then they were attacked, betrayed by Tigh’s wife (the woman’s a firecracker in bed but she cannot be trusted, Tigh!). Who knows where that will end up?

And I’ve not even mentioned poor Callie, left to flee for her life when Jammer set her loose in the nick of time.

And I’ve not even mentioned what was happening with Starbuck, apparently meeting the product of her surviving ovary to create a half-human, half-Cylon child with her Cylon captor. The whole set-up feels deceptive, though. I mean, wouldn't the kid be as much a miracle as Helo and Galactica Boomer's baby? And I’m not convinced the Cylon didn’t have a hand in how the child hurt herself, manipulating Starbuck into compassion and reaching for his hand when the kid regained consciousness. How far will Starbuck go here? Will she really unify with this weird Cylon family? It would certainly be a major about-face for the one-time Starbuck that vowed to fight the Cylons until she couldn’t fight anymore, but I’m only two episodes into this new season and the only thing I am sure of is all bets are off.