WRITERS: Bradley Thompson & David Weddle DIRECTOR: Michael Nankin
CAST: Edward James Olmos (Adama), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck), Jamie Bamber (Apollo), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol), Grace Park (Athena), Kandyse McClure (Dee), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), Don Thompson (Anthony Fugurski), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta), Bodie Olmos (Hotdog), Erika-Shaye Gair (Child Kara), Georgia Craig (Oracle Brenn), Michael Trucco (Anders), Michael Hogan (Tigh), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Dorothy Lyman (Socrata Thrace) & Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben)
Starbuck starts having strange dreams and, after she hallucinates inside a planet's storm system, she begins to question her own sanity...The mysticism of Battlestar Galactica is something that can divide audiences, particularly because the show is marketed as a gritty series that deals with stark realities. But while many think the "mumbo jumbo" should be kept to a minimum, the truth is BSG has always had a spiritual heart.
Religion has been a part in the series since its rebirth, with both humans and Cylons having clearly defined beliefs in God(s) and often experiencing spiritual moments. In Maelstrom, Starbuck begins having dreams that involve the symbol discovered in the Temple during The Eye Of Jupiter, which is similar to a picture she's been compelled to draw since childhood.
Maelstrom is essentially an extended tease towards the shocking finale, with Starbuck wondering if she really does have a greater destiny after visiting an Oracle. She contemplates her bizarre dream imagery and later hallucinates a Cylon Raider inside a whirling storm system. Starbuck also reflects on her tough childhood, where her strict mother had a tough style of parenting and rarely showed any compassion.
Katee Sackhoff is a great actress, perhaps exemplifying the show's tough attitude better than anyone else. However, Starbuck is a very frustrating creation for a number of reasons. Primarily, she's difficult to find endearing because whenever her tomboy shell is cracked, exposing a sweeter inside, she's quick to throw it all back in your face. Her on-off relationship with Lee is indicative of this: at first it was prickly and real, but it quickly became annoying thanks to Starbuck's constant spurning.
This episode does a good job of entertaining, mainly through the grand themes being explored and the return to the "circular symbol" seen throughout the series. I'm a sucker for a mystery and Maelstrom seems to be building towards a big revelation, but while everything culminates in a tragedy that will slap fans in the face, Maelstrom is disappointing in the cold light of day.
Bradley Thompson and David Weddle certainly craft an entertaining story, but it provokes more questions than answers. I hope the threads left hanging will be explained later in the show's run, but for now it's a slight anti-climax for such an integral character.
