I am – Hercules!!

The United States’ SciFi Channel gets “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4 on Friday. The final episode of the first season, 1.13, was satcast to the United Kingdom on Sky One Monday night.

Will there be more?

Six additional scripts were ordered, but remain unfilmed. “They will decide whether to pick up the second season probably in early February — after they’ve seen a few airings in the U.S.,” showrunner Ron Moore told the trekBBS on Jan. 12.

The regular series premiere was watched by 3.1 million viewers, and was the highest-rated January show in SciFi history. Which means about one out of every 100 Americans watched. Will it be enough?

Here’s what “LoneGunMan” says about the finale:

Holy Frak!!!

Holy Frak!!!

Holy Frak!!!

Battlestar Galactica 1.13 FAQ

What’s it called?
"Kobol's Last Gleaming pt II"

How does it begin?
After last week's nail biter, we're back in the thick of the action. Raptor I has crashed on Kobol and the survivors are struggling to clamber out of the burning wreckage. Boomer v2 on Caprica leads Helo to the Caprica Museum, the location of the "Arrow of Apollo" - the artifact that will lead humanity to Earth. Handy, as this is just where Starbuck is heading in the captured Cylon Raider. Not so handy is the revelation that Boomer v2 is pregnant, the next step in the Cylon experiment to get closer to God. Meanwhile, Adama is furious that the President asked Starbuck to go, saying it has put the lives of those on Kobol in danger - they needed the Raider to take out the Cylon Basestar. Adama demands the instant resignation of the President, she refuses...

Sounds pretty intense, surely that's about all that could happen isn't it?
Tip of the iceberg of action... This episode is relentless. I'm only happy it was split into a two parter, cause watching the two episodes together would be like watching that first episode ("33") on an overdose of caffeine. The two parter would rival a lot of the cinematic releases we've seen recently and put them all to shame.
Without the Raider, Adama asks Boomer v1, still injured from her attempted suicide, to take a Raptor to the Cylon Basestar, armed with a Cylon transponder (so they think it's a Cylon vessel) and a nuke. She agrees. Meanwhile, Adama executes his power to forcibly remove the President from office - he assigns Apollo and Tigh to send strike teams to Colonial One. The President, however, decides to call his bluff.

What happens?
The strike teams arrive at the President, and Apollo has a change of heart. He pulls a gun on Tigh. The President surrenders to avoid bloodshed, and she and Apollo are lead away, Apollo in cuffs for mutiny. The President is locked away in the brig. Meanwhile, Boomer v1's nuke malfunctions and won't launch. The Raptor is forced to go into the Basestar's docking bay, and Boomer activates the nuke. The inside of the Basestar is organic and freaky, a bit like the inside of the Raider, but that is the least of Boomer's problems - she is confronted by many copies of herself (all nekkid, cool!). She flees, and the nuke goes off as the Raptor flies to safety. Excellent.
Meanwhile, Starbuck arrives on Caprica and manages to get past the swarms of Raiders and the orbiting Basestars. She gets to Caprica city and to the museum, recovering the Arrow of Apollo, only to confront Six. Big punch up ensues...

What's Good?
All of it. Fantastic, intense, gripping... It is everything a good TV series end of season episode should be... so many questions left for the next season (thank the Gods of Kobol there's another season in the works) - there are still people left on Kobol, Baltar's dreamlike encounter in the ruins of the city, the Cylon/Human offspring raises many questions, Starbuck and co are still on Caprica, the President's in the Brig, and Boomer's fears of being a Cylon are realized. Excellent, intelligent and action packed.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Sci-Fi Channel and Sky One for allowing us humble Brits to witness this excellent series so early.

What's Bad?
How Starbuck managed to avoid being impaled with that metal spikey thing, I don't know...

How does it end?
Boomer v1 is lead to Galactica's bridge to be congratulated on her successful mission. She pulls a gun and shoots Adama... TWICE!! Nooooooooooo!!!

“LoneGunMan’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

easily *****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“BadCherub” adds:

Battlestar Galactica Series Finale...... O My Gods!!!

What's it called?
-pass

How does it begin?
Continuing straight from the end of the previous episode, Starbuck has gone awol and jumped straight to Caprica, Adama is not a happy bunny and starts to point the finger of blame towards the president and the surviving raptor crew scramble out of the wreakage on to the runied world of Kobol......O MY GOD.....it gets better... Boomer confirms to Helo that she is carrying his baby!!!

So What Happens Next??
... to cut to the chase, Adama sends Apollo and a swat team including the XO to arrest the president, Apollo mutiny's and sides with the president ending up getting arrested with her! Starbuck lands on Caprica enters a museum, finds the arrow of Apollo(the god not Lee, keep up!) and then gets suprised by number 6. Fights, falls, kills 6 and is found by Helo and bad Boomer. Starbuck realises Boomer is a cylon and trys to shoot her-but Helo saves her because of the little cyber baby thing inside her....phew! And O MY GOD!!!
And, IF Thats Not Enough???
In the meantime... Adama asks good 'face shot up' Boomer to go fly a raptor into the cylon base star above Kobol, using the other cylon transponder they found. It works she gets to the base star safely but the nuke 'cliche' wont fire! Boomer decides to land raptor into base star to manually drop it off. She gets out and is greeted by... O MY GOD...... hundreds of NAKED BOOMERS!!!! great! She realises shes a cylon, runs back to raptor, fly's off and blows base star up into little tiny bits..... And apart from Balter being dragged off for smoochies and the revealing of the cylon/ human hybrid baby by 6(the one in his head) thats about it. Well apart from the O MY GOD end series Finale twist!!! (see whats good for complete spoiler)

So, Whats bad?
Well to be honest, nothing! By far my favourite episode. Apart from the hundreds of naked Boomers having their bouncy bits being covered by a convieniently placed shadow! Damn those cylon base stars!

And Whats Good??? COMPLETE SPOILER!!!
HONESTLY YOU WONT GUESS IT!!?? well the best bit, of course the end.....O MY GOD x2!! Boomer lands back on battlestar all is good, meets Adama with her co-pilot to get a pat on the backa nd a handshake and with no hint at all.....O MY GOD..... shoots Adama and kills him!!!! Yup the end, see you next series!

“BadCherub’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Fandango” says:

What's it called
Episode 13: "Kobol's Last Gleaming: Part II"

How does it begin?
Continuing straight from the end of the previous episode, deliciously maverick Starbuck has jumped "hopefully" to Caprica, "mad-as-a-bag-of-ferrets" Baltar crashes to Kobol along with the chief and a lot of Star Trekkish Red Shirters, and "oddly not as cute as her counterpart on Caprica even though it's the same actress" Battlestar Boomer has blown part of her face off rather than live with the possibility that she is a cylon. Oh, and deliciously maverick Starbuck was supposed to be flying a nuke into the base ship above Kobol before she decided instead to hop home.

Adama won't be best pleased...
Nope. At first he politely asks the President to resign, she refuses, so he breaks out the marines, and blocks transmissions from Colonial 1. Meanwhile Adama turns to Battlestar Boomer to tackle the Base Ship, using the cylon transmitters to fool the cylons into letting her unload a nuke into their landing bay.

Is Helo still pissed at "Surprisingly more attractive than her Battlestar counterpart even though she's played by the same actress" Caprica Boomer ?
Yep. He insists she is a machine, and she leads him to (Um, coincidence police, we have a sighting), the museum containing "Apollo's Arrow" She also drops into conversation that she's pregnant. Cue much staring into the middle distance and frowning.

Wouldn't it be wild if they bumped into Starbuck !
Oh yes. But first there is the little matter of Starbuck having a mother of a bitch-fight with yet another chiselled blonde Baltar-loving Cylon, just after finding "Apollo's Arrow" The fight does not go well, but as the end looms for our feisty cigar-chewin' heroine, she throws herself and slinky cylon over a ledge where they plummet to a concrete crunch.

Starbuck is dead ?
No. Luckily she lands on sexy cylon's softer body parts. Enter Helo and Caprica Boomer. Starbuck is no slouch in the mental department, and immediately starts blasting at Caprica Boomer, yelling "She's a frackin' cylon". Of course Daddy Helo cannot let Starbuck harm her.

Wait, what happened to Gauyus and the chief
Well, the chief offered advice to an out-of-his-depth lieutenant. Meanwhile Gauyus followed sexy cylon to the ruins of some former temple, and told him he was instrumental in the protection of God's children. She then showed him something or someone in a mystical bright font. "Isn't she beautiful" And then there was much kissing.

There's too many plot strands ! What happened to Cancer President ?
Ah, well, the marines cut their way in to colonial one, there was a stand off between the presidents guards and the military, but Apollo switched sides and pulled a gun on the Colonel. Luckily the president intervened and surrendered rather than see blood spilt on Colonial 1. Back on Battlestar Adama had her thrown in the brig, and Apollo put under arrest.

Phew. And the base ship ?
Ah, well, Boomer and co-pilot had to fly inside the ship because the nuke wouldn't disengage (Pesky Mass Produced Nukes !) While inside, Boomer came face to face with a large crowd of naked Boomers. I lose track a little here due to some uncontrollable drooling, but the gist of it is, Boomer's brethren told her they love her and would always be there for her, and then she ran away, flew out of the base ship and blew it to Kingdom Come.

So, Boomer is a hero !
Yep. Looks like she finally made her choice. Rejoicing all round!

What's Good?
Absolutely every frackin' second. Only occasionally do I watch a show where I hate the minutes ticking away, knowing that the end is drawing ever closer.

What's Bad
That it ends, and there is a monumental gap before the next season starts !

How does it end, spoiler boy ?
Well, everyone's happy and cheery, and Adama offers his congratulations to Boomer, who promptly pulls her gun and blasts him in the chest, twice. A montage of images : Apollo screaming in horror, Adama lying in a pool of blood, Baltar and Cylon Blonde locking lips on Kobol, and Battlestar Boomer looking like she has just woken from the world's worst blackout.

“Fandango’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Solo4357” says:

Hiya Herc.

Just got done watching BSG 1x13, which is Part 2 and not just a cliffhanger, there are all sorts of people hanging by their fingertips.

Galactica 1x13 FAQ

What's it called?
"Kobol's Last Gleaming -- Part II"

So what happened when we left?
Starbuck had just jumped back to Caprica to get the Arrow of Apollo, based on the president's vision of what Kobol is and how it is the key to lead them to earth. Gaius and the ground crew had just crash-landed on Kobol.

So is Adama on board with the whole "vision" thing with the president?
Hardly. He's decided to stage a coup of sorts. He sends over a team with Lee and Tigh commanding to arrest Rosalyn. She will not go quietly into that good night.

How about Baltar?
Baltar's cylon babe/hallucination leads him to a temple where he makes a discoverey and a decision.

Wait! What about Starbuck?
She's made it back to Caprica. Thanks to the little cylon transponder, she goes in undetected.

Really?
No. Not really. She makes it to the museum where the arrow is, has it in her hand, when she runs into hot blond cylon, known as Six to Baltar.

Do they make out?
Grow up.

Well then what happens?
Chick fight! Actually, it appears the cylons take lessons from the Flash. She pretty much kicks Starbuck's ass.

Pretty much?
Helo pops in at the last minute with his newly discovered cylon lover. Who is preggers by the way. Starbuck takes advantage of the situation. The arrow makes a final kill.

So now Starbuck knows about Boomer?
Yup.

So what about Boomer 1?
Adama sends her to the cylon base ship to take it out with a nuke. This seemed to be way over the top that it was successful until you find out why.

So how does it end?
Boomer returns to Galactica, Lee is under arrest for switching sides during the presidents arrest. Adama is set to dress him down as soon as he congratulates Boomer on a job well done, when in a shocking turn of event, Boomer shoots Adama twice. We're left with Lee howling in anguish over his father's body.

“Solo4357’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Wolf at the Door” opines:

Battlestar Galactica 1.13 review

What’s it called?
Kobol’s Last Gleaming, Part 2.

Remind me, what happened in Part 1?
A lot: Starbuck and Gauis get it on. Starbuck and Apollo fight it out. BSG Boomer starts cleaning her gun in the unsafe, suicidal way. Caprica Boomer gets shot and browbeaten by an angry Helo. The crew discover an earth-like world that may or may not be Kobol - the fabled lost homeworld of humanity. A hallucinating President comes to believe she has the gift of prophecy. A cowardly vice-President (heeding the advice of his possibly-imaginary but highly-jealous Cylon ex-girlfriend) flees Galactica by joining the Kobol survery team. The Kobol survery team runs into a Cylon fleet, leading Gauis’s ship to crash on the surface. Starbuck comes up with the idea to rescue the stranded crew by nuking the Cylon baseship above Kobol with the stolen Cylon raider. But the President reveals to her that Adama doesn’t know the way to Earth and persuades her instead to follow the path of scripture...

What’s that scripture say again?
Apparently something called the Arrow of Apollo can be used on Kobol to reveal the location of Earth. The President proposes that Starbuck use the Cylon raider to jump all the way back to Caprica to retrieve the arrow. Part 1 ends with Starbuck jumping to Caprica.

Where does Part 2 begin?
On Kobol, with the flaming wreckage of the crashed ship and a very worn-looking crew. Gauis is looking particularly shell-shocked.

And on Galatica?
A furious Adama demands the President’s resignation. When she refuses, he orders her ship to be taken by force. He also asks a wounded BSG Boomer to fly a nuke into the baseship above Kobol.

How does little Boomer take the request?
With surprising alacrity. It seems she welcomes the opportunity to blow up a bunch of Cylons.

How about Starbuck?
Starbuck reaches Caprica and attempts to retrieve the Arrow of Apollo, only to run into some familiar faces.

You mean Caprica Boomer and Helo?
Plus a less-than-friendly and indeed quite-openly-hostile Number Six. We also learn that Caprica Boomer has a bun in the oven. Apparently her relationship with Helo is meant to be “the next step”.

How fares Gauis on Kobol?
A hallucinating Gauis gets led through the ruins of Kobol by Number Six. He is learns that he is to be “the guardian and protector of a new generation of God’s children”. We even see a crib.

So what’s the big cliffhanger? Does BSG Boomer manage to blow up the baseship?
Yes, but not before she meets an entire pack of sexy Boomers. However, the destruction of the baseship is but a prelude to the episode’s big twist…

What's the big twist?
That would be telling.

What’s good?
The general abundance of Boomers. The fight between Number Six and Starbuck. The episode’s big twist…

What’s not so good?
The confrontation between Adama and the President in general and the hopeless predictability of Apollo’s last-minute change of sides in particular. The whole ‘civilian vs military’ subplot is feeling a mite worn at this point. Also, the continuing lack of specific detail as to the Cylon plans is a little frustrating. Nonetheless, these specific weaknesses do not detract from the general excellence of the finale as a whole.

Wait – aren’t you the guy who once said that the BSG cast had less chemistry than the Voyager cast?
Yes, but hear me out. What I failed to appreciate at the time was the method in Ron Moore’s madness – the unlikeability of certain characters (i.e. Starbuck) works as much as the more sympathetic ones. BSG could still use a little more funny but it has plenty of the other ingredients that are required for a good show.

Nonetheless, you don’t rave about this show as much as other reviewers. What gives?
Some reviewers I’ve noticed have handed out five star ratings for nearly every episode this season. I’m not nearly so generous. BSG is good but it’s not yet Firefly-good or last season of Angel-good (nor should we forget that not every episode of Firefly, for instance, is automatically a five-starrer). What I will say is that BSG is now well-placed to regularly achieve 4- and even 5-star greatness in season 2.

How does it end?
Starbuck howls with outrage at the news that Helo has knocked up his Cylon girlfriend. Apollo cradles his father’s head. Plus a final shot of the ruins of Kobol.

“Wolf at the Door’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Chorlton” says:

My God that was good.

Have really liked the entire series but have only infrequently loved it. However, the last episode rules with enough fights, plot progression and genuine jaw dropping moments for a series of Star Trek. I am now completely converted.

Please America, love Galactica as much as me - if there isnt a series 2 I will personally come round and slap every last one of you.

“Fop” says:

If you’re interested, Battlestar Galactica 1.13, shown earlier this evening in the UK was every bit as good as it should have been. I’ll try to keep this light on spoilers; dramatic tension was wound up to it’s limit, as the differing approaches of Adama and Laura Roslin came to a head in a big way leading to a nail-biting standoff. The surviving crew of last week’s amazing Raptor crash were in total disarray – ranking officer Crashdown, after pulling Baltar from the wreck, rapidly began to show his inexperience in leadership. In a tantalising cliffhanger, Six shows Baltar his ‘destiny’ within a vision of an ancient Kobol theatre.

While on Caprica, Six also shows just how dangerous she can be in a gruelling fist fight with Starbuck. Boomer 1 and rookie take on the mission that Starbuck should have completed last week and Boomer is treated to something of an epiphany, leading to a shocking ending to the episode.

For me, this series has been the best thing on UK television in years, and probably the best sci-fi show I’ve ever seen. It reminds me of Iain Banks’s novel Use of Weapons – an epic science fiction story where the plot and characters are so strong, the sci-fi is almost irrelevent – it could just as easily been a historical epic. What I’ve found with this almost from the beginning is that the bond with the characters is so effective, that scenes like last week when the three raptors came out of their jump in a sea of Cylon ships literally leave me slack-jawed.

I had a couple of very minor gripes tonight –I thought Adama was just a little smug in the face of Apollo and Roslin when Boomer returned, and Starbuck’s instant realisation that Boomer 2 was a Cylon was a bit too quick, but generally a stunning finale to an amazing series. The thought of waiting for series two before I find out what happens next is just too frustrating!

“Lil Toot” says:

I've never been able to post any reviews before, but I just watched BG 1-13 and thought I'd drop you a line. Call me Lil Toot

What's it called?
I don't know.

How does it begin?
Raptor 1 crash lands on Cobol.

Does anyone survive?
Yes, but there is at least one casualty.

So what else is going on?
Adama asks for the President's resignation... Boomer is given a special mission... While on Caprica, Boomer has something to tell Helo...

What's good?
We get to see the inside of a Cylon Basestar... and a Cylon-human catfight... and Lee "listens to his instincts."

What's bad?
A surprising ending which caught me offguard (that's not bad)... now I have to wait for the next season (that is!).
I didn't expect to like this series as much as I have...

“Lil Toot’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Mephit” says:

What's it called?
Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2.

How does it begin?
Right where the first part left off. Survivors are being pulled from the Raptor that crashed on Kobol, Adama is pissed that Starbuck took off, and the President faces his wrath rather abruptly as he puts two and two together.

How far does this go?
It's obvious that this is a season finale by the ten-minute mark. The military/executive conflict that's been brewing since the series began will finally come to a coup, so to say, and loyalties are quickly tested. And while all of this is going on, Adama sends someone else on what was to be Starbuck's mission... while Starbuck and Helo both make their way toward Apollo's Arrow for their own reasons.

What's good?
All the layers that have been built on through the whole series suddenly come together. Loyalties are indeed tested, people are forced to choose, and the choices people make are both surprising when you see them and then logical once you think about it. If tension is your thing, you'll be sitting squarely on the last inch of your seat through most of this ep.
If I keep using the word loyalties, it's because this is what this is about, and in ways that people don't want to be. Adama and the President may take some loyalties for granted that they shouldn't, and Helo may hate Boomer now, but he'll find reasons to keep her alive.

What's bad?
There's this whole "Return of the Jedi" vibe as the standard plot device of flying a bomb into a giant ship shows up. Can we have one sci-fi series that doesn't do this at some point?

So what makes you say this thing is definitely a season-ender?
It's not that this episode ties up all the loose ends; I hope you're not expecting them to have found Earth already. But decisions are finally forced from a number of characters, which have both immediate and long-term consequences for not only those they're close to, but for the survival of the human race. That is, those who survive to the end credits...

Wait, someone dies?
Have you been watching? Someone dies in practically every episode. You shouldn't be surprised that people die in this one as well.
But you will be anyway.
I give it five freakin' stars.

“Mephit’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Abe Sapien” says:

Hey Herc,

Just come into work and checked the site and there’s no new Battlestar review. Long time reader, first time writer thought I’d have to share my thoughts on what was an outstanding finale to an outstanding series. No structure to this one I’m afraid it’ll probably be stream of consciousness and hopefully not too spoilerific.

Carrying straight on from the last Episode the series sees Starbuck taking the Raider back to Caprica and Adama reasonably pissed that the President has interfered in matters military. The downed transport on Kobol are struggling out of their crashed ship and Helo is still coming to terms with the fact that the woman he thought he loved is in fact a toaster.

Where can it go from here? As a tribute to the strength of this series it took us into some fairly unpredictable scenarios but that were not unbelievable given the character development that has gone on in the show. The pacing, acting and effects work were all top notch, the final part of the show being so expertly paced that it quite literally had me on the edge of my seat something that virtually no other sci fi show on TV has ever managed.

From the Starbuck, Blonde cylon knock down fight, to the multiple naked Boomers and the completely unexpected (to me anyway, it had me shouting ‘Jesus F’ing Christ’ in shock and making the wife jump out of her skin) ending it was start to finish superb. The only downside, when’s series 2 (oh and Starbuck, you’ve just flown across the galaxy inside the guts of a ship and your hair is so bouncy and groomed – what’s going on there? – but that really is a minor quibble)

Hats off to Sky for producing a Science Fiction show that stands right up there with best dramas of HBO. For years we had quality serious science fiction books, then serious films started to show up but this is the first series I’ve ever seen that treats science fiction as a starting point for character development and plotting that takes the drama to new levels and that’s not afraid to have whole Episodes without any action and an entire series without prosthetics or muppets (I love Farscape but this series just takes everything to a new level). A genre show yes, bnut first and foremost great frakkin drama.

Best TV sci fi series ever, I think so.

“EightHours” says:

Hey Herc,

First-time reviewer here. No doubt you'll be getting a mountain of these. Pick me, pick me, etc etc. Nah, I won't beg, but this episode deserves a load of write-ups, and Moore deserves the plaudits. Call me Eighthours, you'll be hearing a lot more from me. Cheers bud!

What's it called?
Kobol's Last Gleaming (Part 2)

So what's the story?
A direct continuation of Part 1, let's hop around the various plot threads quickly. Commander Adama is royally pissed with President Roslin for coercing Starbuck to jump to Caprica in the stolen Cylon ship to steal the mythical "Arrow", and sends in a strike team to stage a coup as a result. Galactica Boomer is charged with a special mission to nuke the Cylon Base Ship above Kobol, the same mission that Starbuck should have been on. Gaius has crashlanded on Kobol with Chief Tyrol and others, having been shot down in the previous episode, and is compelled to decide where his loyalties lie. Helo is still stuck on Caprica with Caprica Boomer (who he now knows is a Cylon of course), and is still trying to figure out a way to get off the planet. And, of course, Starbuck is jumping towards Caprica in the stolen Cylon ship...

So what happens?
You really want to know?! Suffice to say, all the above plot threads are taken a long way forward. Helo discovers that Caprica Boomer is pregnant, Roslin's hopes that Adama is bluffing with his coup attempt turn out to be misguided when the strike team storm Colonial One, and Gaius is led through the ruins of Kobol by Six where she reveals the Cylons' next plan, which appears to involve Boomer's forthcoming baby.

Does Apollo continue his path towards not sucking?
Oh yes. While part of the strike team, he makes an instinctive decision that what he's doing is wrong, and faces off with Colonel Tigh in a nice, diplomatic way – by pointing a gun at his head. Good way to ensure promotion, right?

Does Starbuck kick ass and take names?
Well she tries. Arriving on Caprica to take the Arrow, she has a bruising mano-a-mano confrontation with another incarnation of Six, who's way faster and way stronger. Ouch. Time for you to get a messy face, Lt Thrace!

What about Galactica Boomer?
When the mission to nuke the Cylon Base Ship goes awry, due to the missile refusing to launch, she has to fly inside the impeccably alien and well-designed ship, and land to release the weapon manually. When she does that, she finally gets confirmation of what she's been dreading all along… That she's a Cylon. Pretty easy to work out, what with multiple naked versions of her coming towards her and telling her so!

The good?
Just about everything. Great scripting, marvellous FX work, incredible drama. Ron Moore's been leading up to this episode all season and it doesn't disappoint. He knew where he wanted to go, right from the start. And that ending…… THAT ENDING!! You're going to be talking about it for months, boys and girls!!

The bad?
The nuke not firing is a bit of a cliché, but I'll let the creators off by saying that maybe Boomer unconsciously sabotaged it before her ship took off. Apart from that, the episode is practically flawless.

How does it end?
President Roslin ends up in the brig, her presidency seemingly over. Gaius ends up snogging the face off Six in the middle of Kobol's Great Hall, next to a crib containing a vision of what we can only presume is a half-human, half-Cylon baby. Probably Boomer's. Caprica Six ends up impaled a number of feet below the scene of the big fight, with Starbuck injured on top of her, and Helo observing from above. And the Cylon base ship is destroyed by the nuke.

But what's the bit that everyone's going to be talking about for months?
Now you're sure you want to read this, right? Are you absolutely sure? Don't want to ruin it for you… OK. Your choice. Don't say I didn't warn you. Adama is congratulating Boomer on her successful mission to destroy the base ship, when without any warning at all, no telegraphing, no nothing, she pulls out a gun and shoots him. Once….. then twice. Adama falls onto the control console as Boomer stares impassively. Slow motion mayhem erupts, as blood flows everywhere. While Apollo and Tigh desperately try to revive him, Boomer seems to regain awareness and looks dazed but horrified at what she's done. Looks like the "sleeper" element of her programming kicked in, then went off again. The final shot of the season, the shot that's going to keep us guessing for months, is of Adama still lying on the console, quite obviously dead. DEAD, I TELL YOU!!

If this doesn't get a second season and tons of money pumped into it, it'll be the biggest televisual injustice of all time. Yes, including Firefly. I can't wait to see what Ron Moore has cooked up for us next.

We are not worthy.

“EightHours’” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

(But frankly, there's not been anything in sci-fi as good as this for a long time…. Possibly ever. It's hard to believe that, 2 years ago, everyone was saying this show would never work. I thought it would be a big pile of shit. We were all wrong… so wrong. And I personally can't be happier about that. Renew the show, or face the biggest mountain of protest letters you've ever seen!)

“Mr Jones” says:

Morning!

Thought I'd chime in again.... probably more spoilers ahead, although I apologise to anyone who didn't catch the warning last week.

Last episode of the series (ever? nah....) of BG just aired here in the UK, and it kinda followed the trend of the others, being rather good. Although I have to say I felt that last week was probably the best in the series, this one does run in pretty close, and in fact, if you actually played them back-to-back, they would fit together top-to-tail perfectly, (the first ep having a stunning opening, while this one has a stunning ending - more of which later....)

We open as we closed last week, Starbuck off trying to save the world, Gaius et al landing (crashing) on Kobol (?), and go from there...

Gaius continues to have visions of cute Cyborg, which have become more intense as the series moves on. Naturally, in the finale, they reach their peak, with Baltar able to see 'old Kobol' and something of the future at the same time. See, I'm trying not to tell you anything! I don't think it works so well as his visions have increased massively as the series reaches it's end, and to some extent ties the creators into a corner for any further episodes.

The Pres, certain in her own visions, ends up in a Mexican stand-off with BGs forces, which does come to a rather cliched ending, (and frankly a rather weak one, if you ask me).

Lee returns to a weaker character in this episode, and again falls somewhat into cliche as the good guy, and I felt that he was much less effective for it.

Boomer (BG version) again is probably the most well-defined and well-acted character in this episode, confused over who she is and who she might be, and playing is brilliantly.

Spoiler-ish bit....Starbuck, (who I personally find a little cliched as the cute but hard chick - it's just a rubbish version of Alien's Ripley), goes off to Kobol, and here I find the most disturbing area of the episode, (and I'm not spoiling much here, really). She takes a Cylon raider, flies down to Kobol, lands, and then merrily strolls about the ruins without so much as anyone even asking what she's doing!!?!?!!! While Helo and Boomer (Caprica version) hide for their lives.... talking of whom, the earlier reviews were correct, and it turns out Helo's gonna be a dad! Anyway, we get a face off between Starbuck and the cute Cylon, which, unsurprisingly, Starbuck wins. But Helo does find her, which I guess answers the talkbacker last week who wondered if he'd find his way back onto Galactica. Cause I'm guessing he will from here, (oh, and I agree it would have been more fun to leave him there on his own).

There's a big ending, which is below, but just a few things I'd like to point out first. I don't normally watch sci-fi, (in fact, I never watch it normally), so I'm nto a Sci-Fi buff. And this show is really more of a character drama, without aliens or too much technology, to be honest... BUT, it is one of the better-written shows of the last couple of years, in my mind. It's main problem, though, has been that the series was presumably commisioned as a single series, and therefore storylines have accelerated far more rapidly than longer series, (like, presumably, Star Trek and stuff). For example, Gaius' visions, which are a neat idea, started off being very occasional and an interesting plot device which could go on indefinitely. Yet the speed with which his visions have intensified has made it almost impossible for them to re-use this if they make a second series. Similarly, having the President have cancer is a nice touch, but having her have visions and suddenly be quite near death paints the writers into another corner. It's a pity, because having compressed several plot strands into a short series where in fact they could have pushed it out into two has probably hurt the show in the long run. We go, from the first five or six episodes where nothing really happens, (it's episodic and works well), to a sudden shift as though the writers were worried they wouldn't get any more episodes and then wrote everything they could. Which does work, but just leaves it short for series 2, (if there is one, and judging from feedback, I'd be amazed if there isn't).

Okay, so now it's the big ending, which I should say, does not fail to impress almost as much as the opening to the previous episode. And this really is 'don't tell' territory, I know. So, with the amazing Invisotext, I'll tell you the rest. But listen very carefully, if you don't want to know EVERYTHING, do NOT read the below bit. Cause it's a pretty big spoiler. And will make the show lose some of it's edge. But if you HAVE to know, feel free.

So, Boomer has to fly in a Raptor with the Cylon beacon and launch the nuke to destroy the Base Star as Starbuck has gone AWOL. Which, knowing what we do, strikes us all as not necessarily a bad idea. Anyway, they fly upto the Base Star without getting destroyed, but the weapon release mech is broken, (surprise, surprise), forcing them to land inside. So we get our first vision of the inside of a Base Star, which is pretty good. So they land, and Boomer gets out, and releases the bomb, and is then confronted with ten Boomers, (now that'll confuse you!). She jumps back in the ship and flies back, and we realise that Cylons can have minds of their own and reject their masters!

Okay, now one last warning. Below is the really big spoiler. So be very careful if you highlight this. Last warning!

And so they get away, and blow up the Base Star, and land back on BG, where they are called to congratulate with Adama in the main control room. At which point Boomer shoots him. Twice. Dead. Completely out of the blue, incredibly well done, and really quite shocking in it's own way. Yeah, told you it'd surprise you! But it's brilliant.

Anyway, that's all from me.

Take it easy

“Mrellis” says:

Seen it, seen it seen it!!

Hi Hercules, I'm mrellis and I've just watched the final episode of the Battlestar Galactica that has been shown over here in the UK. Firstly, wow, what an absolute fantastice episode. It will have you gipped to your seat and the cliff-hanger ending will make you shout at your TV.. "more, more..........please just a little more". God I hope this gets a second series. Below is a little summary, sorry for any spoilers.

It carries on from last weeks show. The fleet have found Kobol which is being protected by a small Cylon army. A raptor was shot down with the good Doctor Balzar on board. Starbuck has stolen the Cylon fighter and jumped back to Caprica to retrieve an ancient arrow the President believes will show the way to Earth.

The episode begins with Adama realising the President talked Satbuck into returning to Caprica and orders her to be arrested. There is a stand off which sees Appollo take the presidents side and he gets arrested as well. There is some great acting from Appollo in this episode. He still doesn't hold a candle to Starbuck and Adama though, they steal this episode like all others to date.

Starbuck gets back to Caprica where she finds the arrow and a copy of the lovely No.6. They have one hell of a fight which sees Six kick the crap out of Starbuck until they fall and Six lands on a spike. Helo and the Caprica Boomer find her but she shoots at Boomer, realising she is a Cylon (not a good episode for Boomer).

Adama plans to retrieve the fallen Raptor from Kobol by sending his Boomer to blow up the Cylon ship. Sha lands in the hanger to drop a nuke and sees loads of copies of herself (naked by the way!!). She leaves trying to deny that she is a Cylon.

The episode ends with the President arrested, Appollo tied up and under guard on the bridge, Starbuck and Helo in Caprica with the arrow (and a Cylon ship to get back to the Battlestar), Caprica Boomer pregnant, and Adama congratulating Boomer on her successful mission. This is where I nearly jumped right out of my pants as Boomer shoots Adama twice on the chest as her Cylon mission is revealed to us. Tyrol and Appollo try to stem the flow of blood but it ends with us not knowing if he is dead or not (he looked like a goner to me).

I haven't mentioned Guius as I was confused to hell about his story. He was lead by Six to some ruins and shown the future (a baby crib I believe). He was really happy as she told him that gods will is for this new race to happen and he kissed her.

The whole episode was awesome and it ended magnificently. Definitely Five Stars!!!!

“Mrellis’” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

“Mark” sums:

I wrote a quick review of the first episode of Mini Series 2, and so it seems only fitting to cover the last episode and talk about the development seen in between.

As you nice American folks are just beginning the journey that was Battlestar Galactica I’m not about to spoil it for you, I’ll just say now - what a ride, what a rush, what an ending….

Over the 13 episodes this amazing show has demonstrated exactly how good a TV show can be, with some remarkable cast performances and gloriously crafted plot development. No one phoned their in performance, but special recognition must go to Jim Callis as the duplicitous Dr. Gaius Baltar, and his ever present Cylon companion Tricia Helfer - Number 6. One minute you pity Baltar, then you’re scared what he might do and then you wonder if he’s even human…On the other side of the coin the manipulation dolled out by number 6 is clinical in the extreme, until you realise she’s as trapped by her relationship as the good doctor. Those who feel betrayed by the re-imagining of Galactica might want to consider the pantomime performance of Baltar in the original series, which only lacked a moustache to twist. If Battlestar returns I can image that Baltar might ultimately become a hero, if such things are possible.

Very early on BSG set high levels of emotional investment in its characters, later episodes then placed those forces in opposition. I was often left wondering who exactly to root for, and would it eventually be the Cylons?

The journey taken by the characters seems to be a dark twisty tunnel, a surprise at every turn that contradicts all your best expectations. Who’d of thought that the Cylons might be religious, believe in fate or feel part of a greater destiny?

In reworking the concept a number of decisions were made which now look very sound. Namely no Boxey (ok, he was briefly in Mini Series 1), no daggits, no casinos, no four eyed women, and no chiffon clothed damsels shot in soft focus close-up.

Some people don’t care for Boomer and Starbuck being women, but it makes for much less two dimensional interactions with other people, especially Starbuck who’s a lot deeper and more complex a person than portrayed by Dirk Benedict. The female roles in BSG are now the pivotal ones, men for the most part being defined by their relationships with them.

What strikes me, having just viewed the final episode, is just have far this is from what Ron Moore was doing with Deep Space 9 and Star Trek in general. The degrees of character friction and dissent reaches such levels that if played out in Trek universe the whole of Star Fleet would of hung up their comm badges and retired. These are desperate people on the very edge, and extreme reactions and events is what we should expect. In DS9 he explored friction somewhat, but in BSG he lets fly completely, if two people in the show agree on something you immediately wonder if one or both have a hidden agenda.

If you’re expecting either ‘closure’ or ‘resolution’ of almost anything in the finale then you’ve been watching the wrong show, as almost X-Files like each revelation brings with it more questions, and for now they remain mostly unanswered.

This series must return….we need to find out what happens to these people…machines…people…whatever….

5 Stars and a golden daggit, for this episode and the season.

“Mark’s” rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.13?

*****

The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
***** better than we deserve
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins

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