WRITER: Anne Cofell Saunders DIRECTOR: Jean De Segonzac
CAST: Edward James Olmos (Adama), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck), Michael Hogan (Tigh), James Callis (Baltar), Aaron Douglas (Tyrol), Tricia Helfer (Number 6), Jamie Bamber (Lee), Mary McDonnell (Roslin), Alessandro Juliani (Gaeta), Grace Park (Sharon) & Lucy Lawless (D'Anna/Number 3)
Starbuck and Tigh spread discontent amongst the crew, while Baltar helps the Cylons combat a deadly disease...Torn finally gives us some deeper understanding of the Cylons through Baltar's experiences on the Basestar, including its architecture of neon circles, and the existence of "Hybrids" (humanoid Cylons who are essentially the face of the ship). It's always a treat to discover more facets to the BSG universe, and the mysterious Cylons are long overdue some deeper explanation, although their motivation for still chasing Galatica and its fleet across deep space remains too ambiguous for my taste.
The repercussions of the New Caprica occupation continues to reverberate in the show, with Starbuck and Tigh ungracefully causing rifts between their fellow insurgents and those who escaped the occupation. It's yet another interesting angle to base a story around, again making two main characters quite unlikeable at times.
Indeed, Tigh (Hogan) is becoming quite unbearable as a misanthropic grouch, while Starbuck (Sackhoff) shows her irritating side. Katee Sackhoff is a rare actress who can make her character intensely unlikeable in one scene, then plausibly endearing the next, and it never jars. It's three-dimensional qualities like this that makes BSG's characters so interesting and frustrating in equal measure.
Anne Cofell Saunders' script is punchy and packs a lot of information for fans of BSG's growing mythology. Of particular interest is a belated explanation, of sorts, for Baltar's "hallucinations" of Number 6. These surreal sequences between the pair have been a staple of the show since the 2003 mini-series, and audience patience is now rewarded with a hint at what might be responsible. Of course, nothing is fully explained, and more questions arise...
There's a definite sense of normality returning to the show, although BSG isn't the kind of show that hits the reset button. A much-needed shake-up has taken place with the characters, and command has been re-structured (Helo as the new XO, etc). However, I'm not sure what Lee (promoted to Commander last season) is going to do now he can't command the Pegasus. He seems to be a ridiculously high-ranking Raptor pilot at the moment! Regardless, I definitely need to know the Lee Adama Diet Plan!
Overall, this is an important transitional from the New Caprica situation. New plots are introduced that will inform the rest of the season (the "road map" to Earth, a Cylon disease), and anyone wondering if the third season hit a premature peak with Exodus Part II, should see this and be envigorated that things are only just getting started...
