WRITER: David Eick DIRECTOR: Michael Rymer
CAST: Edward James Olmos (Adama), Carl Lumbly (Lt Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), James Callis (Baltar), Tricia Helfer (Number 6), Jamie Bamber (Lee), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), Grace Park (Sharon), Lucy Lawless (D'Anna/Number 3), Aaron Douglas (Tyrol), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dee, Donnelly Rhodes (Dr Cottle), Rekha Sharma (Tory), Luciana Carro (Louanne Katraine), Matthew Bennett (Aaron Doral) & Barry Kennedy (Admiral Corman)
Adama is astounded to find that Lt Danny "Bulldog" Novacek, one of his ex-pilots from the Battlestar Valkyrie, has escaped capture from a Cylon Basestar...Just what is it with all these tough decisions? It seems that every episode of BSG deals with them, and Hero finds Adama regretting a choice he made years ago he was Commander of the Battlestar Valkyrie.
Hero sees Carl Lumbly (Alias) guest star as Lieutenant Danny "Bulldog" Novacek, an escaped P.O.W from a Cylon Basestar who flees to Galactica. Bulldog was presumed dead after a controversial mission three years ago to the Armistice Line (the agreed spacial barrier between humans and Cylons), and his return forces Adama to confront a terrible truth...
David Eick's script is decent, if slightly unfocused at times, but the central mystery and ugly truth behind the Armistice Line mission is handled well as it's gradually revealed. Hero's plot shows another side to Adama and also gets to progress the deterioriating friendship between Adama and his ex-XO (har-har) Tigh.
Michael Hogan is superb as the prickly drunk, although Tigh's anti-social behaviour and spiteful attitude is getting slightly overbearing this season. It's about time he found some focus again and let go of his demons...
The weight of the story is on Edward James Olmos' shoulders as Adama, an actor who remains the backbone of the series. It's a testament to Olmos' abilities that he makes Adama so introverted, yet able to command such loyalty and respect. Olmos is magnetic just through unspoken visuals and a big reason for the show's success.
Carl Lumbly is fine as Bulldog, although I expected more from a potentially recurring character. I hope we get to see more from Lumbly, for while this wasn't a totally convincing debut, it hints at potential. Bulldog's seen the inner workings of a Basestar for the past three years, so that's going to come in handy, surely...
A sub-plot with D'Anna (Lucy Lawless) isn't given much room to breathe, although an important seed is sewn for future stories when she glimpses a strange "limbo" between life and death as she "downloads" following suicides. It's another intriguing addition to Cylon mythology I'm eager to see expanded upon.
Hero offers enlightening new slants on Adama's character and the beginnings of the Cylon War -- even if the massive moral implications are later nullified by Roslin. The introduction of Bulldog is a welcome one and the plot kept my interest, while also introducing new ideas that will likely be returned to later.
A solid episode, if ultimately disappointing in the cold light of day.
