4.14 Blood On The Scales

It was a shame I had a week to wait in between this episode and the previous one – all of the momentum and emotion had kind of dissipated a lot more from my initial reaction. So whilst this episode did present the 'payoff' that the previous one had set up, it wasn’t quite the climax I would have had were I to have seen the two back-to-back.

That’s not to say it wasn’t a great episode, though.

The major portion of the show was concerned with Adama and Roslyn. Adama had been captured and was being forced into a trial that was little more than a sham. As he eloquently put it, when they rolled out Rollo Lamkin, they needed a pimp. I had no doubts that they were not going to be successful in executing the old man, but it was enjoyable to see his steely-eyed glare staring down those that intended to. Adama is just not a man to cross!

Roslyn, meantime, displayed some new-found allegiance from her Cylon Renegades. At first they were all too willing to abandon the fleet to save themselves, but she convinced them that being on the wrong side of Adama would not be a smart move and they had to show some courage and stand by. And then she delivered that terrific threatening speech about using every gun and bullet; there’s fire in her belly now! I can’t help but think that she, over the course of these two episodes, has not only reclaimed her thirst to lead the fleet, but also acquired the power to lead the Cylons, also. (At present the Cylons just seem to be kind of standing around. . . What are they doing?)

Less interesting, but pivotal, was that Gaius found his conscience. Even when a brunette Six was hellbent on screwing him, New Gaius was dismissive of it and wanted to return to the flock of his people; not because he liked them, purely out of a sense of obligation. That’s a major turnaround for him, and he needs something – at present his character is in a no man’s land with no real sense of purpose. With so few episodes remaining I am sure Gaius is going to be instrumental, but I can’t see how.

Apollo and Starbuck rescued the prisoners on Galactica and then they all marched off to rescue Adama from the firing squad just in time. Seeing Gaeta and Zarek get their just desserts wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been, perhaps deliberately. They didn’t seem sorry for what they had done – just accepted their actions had failed. There’s no doubt that Zarek’s slaughter of the quorum was probably one of BSG’s coldest moments, so he definitely had it coming.

That we never saw what happened with Anders, dragged away by Starbuck and Lamkin (for once he proved to be an enjoyable and worthy part of the episode rather than the irritation I’ve found him to be previously), makes me assume he’s going to be OK. Unless all the next episode is going to be about him on his death-bed! I’d hope not. But what was interesting was Starbuck showing she still cared enough about the guy; between her kiss of Apollo last episode, and this saving grace here, she’s clearly a woman with a mind to make up!

Lastly, there was that curious moment with Tyrol, having shut down the FTL drive. He gazed upon the opened fissures in the side of the ship. At first I couldn’t understand what the significance of this was – whether it meant some new crisis was emerging, or it betrayed knowledge of something that had gone on that I wasn’t seeing. Now I just think it’s Tyrol’s eyes being opened to how battered the ship has become over the years – and perhaps it’s an indication that it’s not set to last much longer.

Battlestar Galactica is breaking up, and the human race will need to find somewhere else to call home before too long. . .