WRITER: Michael Taylor DIRECTOR: Michael Rymer
CAST: Edward James Olmos (Adama), Jamie Bamber (Apollo), James Callis (Baltar), Mark A. Shepherd (Romo Lampkin), Tricia Helfer (Caprica Six), Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), William Samples (Tribunal Judge), Lily Duong-Walton (Hera), Susan Hogan (Captain Franks), Nicki Clyne (Cally), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Michael Hogan (Tigh), Keegan Connor Tracy (Young Woman), Alison Matthews (Karen Fallbrook), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Ryan Robbins (Charlie Connor), Chelah Horsdal (Didi Cassidy), Sharma (Tory Foster), Michael Trucco (Anders), Kandyse McClure (Dee), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta) & Bodie Olmos (Hotdog)
Baltar's trial commences and uncomfortable truths come out for Tigh and Roslin, while Lee's involvement damages his relationship with his father...Finally, Baltar's trial begins. After a stretch of standalone episodes (a few boring and unnecessary, most interesting but dull) BSG gets back to its primary concerns. The fact is, BSG only hits top gear whenever the villainous Cylons are involved or its characters wrestle with political and religious dilemmas.
There's plenty of mental wrangling in Crossroads Part 1, as Baltar's trial for allegedly condemning people to slaughter at the hands of the Cylons on New Caprica, not to mention aiding the genocide of humanity on Caprica, gets underway. It's going to take a good lawyer to get him out of this hole, so thank the Gods quirky Romo Lampkin is on his side.
Mark A. Shepherd returns as the tricksy lawyer, now trading in his shades for a cane after the attempt on his life. Shepherd is wonderful and the writing from Michael Rymer is superb throughout; offering intriguing character insights, unpredictable developments and brilliant court room tension.
Crossroads may be dialogue-heavy, but it's never boring. Jamie Bamber gets his best chance to shine in ages as Lee -- helping defend Baltar, to the annoyance of his father, because justice must be served fairly. Lee's standout questioning of President Roslin is brilliant stuff, as is Lampkin's questioning of Colonel Tigh over his wife's death.
As part a season finale it doesn't have any huge twists or jaw-dropping moments (they must be up its sleeves waiting for part two...), but it doesn't matter. This is just great storytelling; intriguing characters in a plausible sci-fi legal drama. Taylor's script is buzzing with intelligence and does a great job of making you side with Baltar's plight. Indeed, BSG continually amazes me with how it shakes up viewer loyalties: one moment you're right behind Adama, next week you're shoulder-to-shoulder with Chief Tyrol, the next you're championing traitorous Baltar!
Superb stuff. But something tells me there's a "frak me! moment stored up for part two, perhaps involving Tigh's bizarre auditory hallucinatiuons aboard the ship...
