BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 4.1 & 4.2 – "He That Believeth In Me" & "Six Of One"

Writers: Bradley Thompson & David Weddle (4.1) & Michael Angeli (4.2)
Directors: Michael Rymer (4.1) & Anthony Hemingway (4.2)

Cast: Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck), Tricia Helfer (Number Six/Caprica Six/Natalie), Edward James Olmos (Adama), Jamie Bamber (Apollo), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), Grace Park (Sharon), James Callis (Baltar/Virtual Baltar), Jennifer Halley (Seelix), Leah Cairns (Racetrack), Rekha Sharma (Tory), Michael Hogan (Tigh), Aaron Douglas (Tyrol), Kandyse McClure (Dee), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta), Tahmoh Penikett (Helo), Michael Trucco (Anders), Shaun Omaid (Shaunt), Leela Savasta (Tracey Anne), Lukas Pummell (Derrick), Colin Corrigan (Marine Nowart), Lara Gilchrist (Paulla Schaffer), Heather Doerksen (Marine #2), Ryan Robbins (Charlie Connor), Keegan Connor Tracy (Jeanne) Tiffany Lyndall-Knight (The Hybrid), Sebastian Spence (Narcho), Eileen Pedde (Gunnery Sergeant Erin Mathias), Callum Keith Rennie (Leoben), Matthew Bennett (Aaron Doral), Bodie Olmos (Hot Dog), Dean Stockwell (Cavil), Rick Worthy (Simon) & Colin Corrigan (Marine Nowart)

Starbuck returns and is treated with suspicion by the crew; Baltar takes refuge with some fanatics; Tigh, Tyrol, Anders and Tory consider their next move as Cylons; and an insurgency looms aboard a Basestar...

"Please God, I'm asking you this one last time. Don't let this child die. Has he sinned against you? He can't have sinned against you. He's not even had a life yet. How can you take him and let me live. After all I've done? Really, if you want someone to suffer, take me..."

-- Baltar (James Callis)

Sky One showed the first two episodes of season 4 back-to-back (which is great, as it means the UK are only 4 days behind the US airings), but it has resulted in a very long review. So take a deep breath, and stick with me...

A refresher of season 3's cliffhangers: Gaius Baltar (James Callis) was found not guilty after his trial for crimes committed at New Caprica as president, and was later smuggled away by some women; Tigh (Michael Hogan), Tory (Rekha Sharma), Anders (Michael Trucco) and Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) suddenly realized they were four of "The Final Five" Cylon humanoids; and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) returned from the dead, claiming she's been to Earth and can lead the fleet to sanctuary...

As show-stoppers go, it certainly caused jaws to drop – while helping rescue a season that had begun to swim in circles mid-season with some tedious standalone episodes. Season 4 arrives with a fresh vibe, because it's the last season -- although Sci-Fi Channel might split the final 20 episodes in half, meaning a 10-episode "season 4.5" could air in 2009. Regardless, giving the writers an end-date to work towards should rejuvenate the show and mean less "filler" clogging up the run. Hey, it's working a treat for Lost in its own fourth year...

He That Believeth In Me doesn't advance the storyline a great deal, instead content to reflect on the fallout of that delicious Crossroads finale. That's not to say nothing happens, as there's plenty going on (particularly with Gaius), but after an extraordinary battle sequence against swarms of Cylons (the FX benchmark is raised once again), the episode settles down and finds its characters deliberating their next move...

The returning Starbuck is under immediate suspicion of being a Cylon, as she believes she's only been gone a few hours when it's actually been two months. Despite the crew's misgivings, she's adamant that she arrived in Earth's orbit after being dragged into the maelstrom that (supposedly) killed her, and can now lead the fleet back there. She passes a test to determine if she's human or Cylon, but how can her story possibly be true if her Viper's destruction was caught on tape?

There's also the matter of the Starbuck's Viper being an identical copy, but certainly not the ship she left in. So, we're left to wonder: is this really Starbuck? Is she telling the truth? Or has she been captured and brainwashed by Cylons? Is she a Cylon? Is she something else? Perhaps so, as she's suffering "brain-aches" every time the fleet makes a FTL jump to new co-ordinates...

One certainty is that Tigh, Tyrol, Anders and Tory are definitely "toasters". A switch has been flicked in each of their minds and they're left to wrestle with their duality. All four seem determined to carry on as normal, still imbued with their "human personalities" and belief systems, but worried they'll become slaves to programming and turn bad...

An early scene is very interesting; as Anders leaves for battle in a Viper against masses of Cylons, makes eye-to-"eye" contact with a Cylon Raider that (apparently) scans his retina, identifies him as "friend", and instigates a mass retreat – moments before an assured Cylon victory over the fleet! Or did Anders somehow communicate with the Cylon telepathically, telling it to back-off? Whatever the reason, it seems that the Final Five (the Fifth member is yet to be revealed, as the opening credits tease...) are "untouchable" by the enemy now they've been activated -- which should prove useful...

The only subplot that gets proper development belongs to Baltar, who finds himself whisked away to a cult made up (primarily) of hot, adoring women. Lucky dog! The "counter-culture" group clearly regard Gaius as a messianic figure, and their beliefs are attuned to that of the Cylons (believing in "one true God", rather than the pantheon of Gods the humans believe in.)

For me, this disparity between religious beliefs in humans and Cylons has always been a stimulating aspect of the show, and perhaps the best indication of where BSG will lead us. I've personally suspected, since season 2, that the offspring of humans and Cylons will eventually form "us" on a primitive Earth, with remnants of the "old beliefs" bubbling up in Greek mythology – but, we'll see...

There's also a growing sense that the human characters are now adjusting to the idea of Cylon humanoids, as Lee (Jamie Bamber) asks his father Adama (Edward James Olmos) if it would matter if his dead brother had clambered out of Starbuck's cockpit, revealing himself to be a Cylon, saying: "would that really change how we feel about him?" I get the impression that the prejudice against "toasters" are slowly disintegrating, as Sharon (Grace Park) has become a trusted crewmember -- despite being a Cylon -- and now we know that Tyrol, Tigh, Tory and Anders have spent their whole lives as secret-Cylons. So does it really matter what people are? It's actions that define people – so the Cylons still have to pay for bringing humanity to near-extinction, but I love this grey area BSG plays with...

"Six Of One"

"Well, he is accomplished at two things: lying in a cell and lying in a woman. He poked up a skinjob, he racked up a Six, that's a given."

-- Saul Tigh (Michael Hogan) on Baltar (James Callis)

The second episode really motors along, with a story that takes us behind enemy lines to a Cylon Basestar (always good fun.) It's here that the "Standard Seven" Cylons are beginning to argue. Natalie (gorgeous Tricia Helfer) is concerned about the unusual behaviour of their sentient Raiders – that are refusing to attack the colonial fleet, having sensed the presence of "The Final Five" amongst the human crew. Cavil/Number One (Dean Stockwell; legend) suggests lobotomizing the Raiders to resume the attacks, as it's almost a sin to even think about the Final Five models.

Aboard Galactica, four of The Final Five are still deliberating their next move, but have decided to focus on finding their Fifth member. As each member was "activated" by hearing surreal music, why wasn't the Fifth drawn to them? Tyrol remembers hearing that D'Anna Biers/Number Three saw the Final Five in the Temple, and as Baltar was close to her, maybe he has information on who the Fifth is. Knowing Baltar's weakness has always been a good-looking woman, Tigh orders Tory to use he feminine wiles to get Gaius to pillow talk.

Back with Starbuck, her threatening of Roslin's (Mary McDonnell) life ends without bloodshed, as she reminds the president that she once blindly trusted her (about finding the Arrow Of Apollo to lead the way to Earth in season 1), so can't she return the favour? In a final effort to make Roslin see sense, Starbuck hands over her gun and demands Roslin shoot her if she really believes she's a Cylon agent. Roslin takes the weapon and shoots – narrowly missing Starbuck (probably intentionally) to hit a photo of her and Adama – oooh, omen?

Starbuck is wrestled to the floor by security and thrown into a cell, where she's later berated by Adama. But Starbuck's protests and fierce arguments begin to ware him down behind closed doors. He seeks council with Roslin in her quarters, in another of those excellent scenes Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell are often given – trying to find answers together through quiet discussion, with Adama the no-nonsense sceptic and Roslin the spiritual believer. Only now, after so much that has happened, Adama's more willing to believe than ever before – and still trusts his gut instinct have faith in Starbuck. The ill health of Roslin is also progressed, as she notices clumps of her hair falling out...

Tory tracks down Baltar, who's still flavour of the month with the "sisterhood" who have embraced his teachings (in Charles Manson-like fashion), and manages to draw his attention. During their chat, one of the episode's biggest surprised occurs – as Virtual Baltar (the hallucinatory Baltar Caprica Six has "in her head") appears in front of the real Baltar! Distracted by his invisible doppelganger, Baltar still manages to prick Tory's ears by using metaphors that remind her of the music she heard before "activation", and leaves slightly under Baltar's spell. Now alone, Baltar interrogates the dandyish Virtual Baltar, choosing to believe it's really just Number Six in disguise.

The last major piece of the story concerns Lee Adama's decision to leave the military and pursue a legal career in the Quorum Of Twelve, inspired by his involvement with Baltar's trial. As he leaves for this new life, Lee is surprised to find his friends and colleagues have amassed on the hangar deck and give him a respectful farewell for his years of military service.

It's just unfortunate these scenes make it seem as if Lee were leaving the show forever – as he's not. It's just another chance for BSG to indulge its love of military pomp and ceremony. Which is fine, but it went on too long. The point was made in a prior scene, with Lee hearing echoes of his military past while circling the briefing room. And is it a good idea to put Lee into a civilian role anyway? Does this foreshadow the importance of lawyers in the rest of season 4? Whatever happens, I'm intrigued to see where Lee's story is headed now, as it does strike me as an odd development. But maybe the writers just realize they're up to their knees with hunky, macho flyboys these days.

On the Basestar, the Cylons vote about whether or not to have the Raiders "reconfigured". Number One expects the vote to go his way, but the Number Fours and Fives vote his way, with the Number Twos, Sixes and Eights voting otherwise. It's a stalemate. Until Sharon Valerii (a Number Eight) decides to vote against her model (something unheard of in Cylon culture), tipping the vote in favour of Number One.

With it decided democratically that the Cylon Raiders will be lobotomized, an angry Number Six takes drastic measures – by bestowing the gift of reason on two metal Centurions and having them slaughter Number One and the other models. Of course, all Cylon humanoids can "resurrect" into fresh bodies after dying, but it's not made clear if Number Six has planned ahead and is in control of this resurrection process. Regardless, this schism in Cylon society is definitely a turning point of some magnitude, and its repercussions will be fun to see. Will the Cylons have a civil war?

Tory and Baltar do end up in bed together, although Tory's initial discomfort at having to cheat her way into Baltar's affections diminishes, as it's clear she's genuinely quite taken by his enlightened thoughts on Cylon as emotional beings. As a Cylon herself, in great turmoil over her true nature, she clearly finds it comforting to be with a human who doesn't see her kind as murderous tin cans.

Adama reaches a decision and releases Starbuck, giving her a sewer ship called the Demetrius, with instructions to take Helo (Tahmoh Penikett) and a small crew back with her to Earth, so her story can be corroborated. That seems like the ideal solution to me; I can't believe nobody thought of it sooner!

Overall, this was an assured and confident start to the season. By the end of episode 1, the story hadn't progressed a great deal, but everything was a little clearer in your mind, and the situations with "The Four" and Gaius look particularly juicy. I especially loved how Gaius (one of the most textured characters) seems to really have a divine ability – or was his healing of that comatose boy a fluke? A very interesting development (in BSGs mythology) was how Baltar can now see "Virtual Baltar", as the "in-head" versions of Number Six and Baltar are one of the longest-running puzzles. And what's the significance of Baltar seeing "himself" now anyway? Will Caprica Six soon start seeing Number Six?

The cliffhanger ending to episode 1 wasn't that shocking, as I didn't think Starbuck is crazy enough to shoot President Roslin to get what she wants, but He That Believeth In Me (as a whole) made me very excited to see BSG draw its conclusions this year, while Six Of One definitely advanced the story and laid foundations for the season. And how interesting that the Cylon humanoids are so in the dark about their own origins...

I really hope the show can deliver on audience expectation, but the extra "planning time" afforded by the writers' strike (nothing down on paper, but I bet minds were going like the clappers) can only have been a good thing. As we start the last lap, I'm genuinely excited to see how the multitude of questions are answered, who lives, and who dies.


15 April 2008
Sky One, 9.00 pm (4.1)
Sky One, 10.00 pm (4.2)