WRITER: Michael Taylor DIRECTOR: Edward James Olmos
CAST: Edward James Olmos (Adama), James Callis (Baltar), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), Jamie Bamber (Lee), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck), Tricia Helfer (Number 6/Caprica), Michael Hogan (Tigh), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta), Kandyse McClure (Dee), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol), Michael Trucco (Anders), Kerry Norton (Layne Ishay), Leah Cairns (Racetrack) & Donnelly Rhodes (Dr Cottle)
Baltar faces interrogation to extract information about the Cylons, while there's q possibility for Lee and Starbuck to rekindle their romance...Only Battlestar Galactica could get away with using a line from the Cheers theme tune as its title. Taking A Break From All Your Worries (grimace) is another character-based episode, which sometimes go awry on BSG if the writers don't balance the human drama with compelling action or insights.
Writer Michael Taylor just about manages to make this episode work, furthering the Lee/Starbuck relationship while at the same time providing some intriguing moments with Baltar, Roslin and Adama. The main plot concerns Baltar's treatment by the Galactica crew, as he's drugged and faces freaky hallucinations while being questioned over his actions.
rankly, it's about time some of Baltar's secrets were revealed, as his betrayals and mind-games have just about run their course. Now is a good time to send his character off in a fresh direction, perhaps seeking help in understanding exactly why Number 6 appears to him in visions. If he's not a Cylon, what is going on?
Edward James Olmos (Adama) directs this episode, his second time in the director's chair since season 1's Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down. Olmos does a solid job, although he overuses the show's iconic use of quick zooms and slow pans. The directing could be tighter, but it's not too distracting, Baltar's "visions" are effectively staged and the opening sequence is the most intriguing of recent weeks.
James Callis has been a tremendous asset to the show since day one as Baltar, making a treacherous villain sympathetic and relatable. He's constantly being asked to perform difficult material (the writers really enjoy twisting the knife) and he always rises to the challenge.
Michael Taylor's script finds time to touch on a few ideas and characters usually snubbed by BSG, particularly Dee (Kandyse McClure). McClure is a decent actress who's been given little to do on the show, but there are some good scenes for her to chew on here and her relationship with Lee becomes more interesting as a result.
Likewise, Mr Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani) has a few moments to shine, although every time the writers construct something interesting for Gaeta to do, Juliani never quite convinces. He's too mild-mannered to really sell the bitter and controversial actions he's asked to peform.
It was also a small pleasure to see Taylor's script mention Chief Tyrol's one-time romance with Cylon Sharon (Grace Park). This romance was a prominent and interesting part of BSG in season 1 and the Chief has become hamstrung since with a comparatively boring relationship with Cally.
Indeed, it's interesting to note that most of the relationship changes to BSG have been for the worse, including Lee and Starbuck's on/off romance. The characters were perfectly spread in season 1 and you can sense the growing disdain for how they've all been allowed to lose focus. Only Helo and Boomer/Athena have kept their strained relationship alive and interesting since day one.
Overall, Taking A Break From All Your Worries isn't particularly memorable or necessary, but it's competent and features another knockout performance from Callis. It was unusual to find a "bonus scene" presented at the end of the show, involving Roslin and an imprisoned Number 6. The scene is perfectly fine, but why wasn't it integrated into the show? Odd.
