For my money? Last week’s “Bastille Day,” starring cranky Richard Hatch and scripted by showrunner Ron Moore’s “Roswell”/“Carnivale” cohort Toni Graphia, was a bit of a wheel-spinner following Moore’s own spectacular scripts for 1.1 and 1.2. I don’t think Moore takes another teleplay credit until the two-part season finale. Tonight’s installment was scripted by Moore’s fellow “Deep Space Nine” vets Bradley Thompson & David Weddle (they wrote “Extreme Measures,” the final episode about Section 31 operative Luthor Sloan).
The Brits saw “Galactica” 1.4 way back on Nov. 8, and three of them had things to say about it at the time.
We begin with “Tricky”:
Hi Herc,
Apologies for not submitting a review last week – it was me and my girlfriend’s first anniversary since we met so I was otherwise occupied wining and dining. For the record I’d have given the episode 3 and a half stars – nice acting chops from the “two Apollos” and it introduced some interesting themes with the voting for the government but otherwise it just felt like a bit of a “meh” episode to me. Anyway…
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
So what’s the episode called?
Act Of Contrition
So what does the TV guide say about the episode?
In tonight's story, Lt Kara Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) gets into trouble when she leads a training exercise.
Hmmm, that’s a pretty lame summary isn’t it?
Yeah I thought so too so I looked on Sky’s website and they had this to say about it:
When 20 pilots are killed in a tragic accident on the Galactica it evokes painful memories for Kara over the death of Adama's son years before.
So how does it begin?
With Starbuck struggling with her ship out of control and apparently about to crash-dive into something hot – a sun maybe, or a planet’s atmosphere? Then we cut to a group of pilots who are celebrating one of their number’s 1000th landing something goes boom.
More Boomer-esque sabotage?
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Hi Herc,
Apologies for not submitting a review last week – it was me and my girlfriend’s first anniversary since we met so I was otherwise occupied wining and dining. For the record I’d have given the episode 3 and a half stars – nice acting chops from the “two Apollos” and it introduced some interesting themes with the voting for the government but otherwise it just felt like a bit of a “meh” episode to me. Anyway…
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
So what’s the episode called?
Act Of Contrition
So what does the TV guide say about the episode?
In tonight's story, Lt Kara Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) gets into trouble when she leads a training exercise.
Hmmm, that’s a pretty lame summary isn’t it?
Yeah I thought so too so I looked on Sky’s website and they had this to say about it:
When 20 pilots are killed in a tragic accident on the Galactica it evokes painful memories for Kara over the death of Adama's son years before.
So how does it begin?
With Starbuck struggling with her ship out of control and apparently about to crash-dive into something hot – a sun maybe, or a planet’s atmosphere? Then we cut to a group of pilots who are celebrating one of their number’s 1000th landing something goes boom.
More Boomer-esque sabotage?
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
So what’s the episode called?
Act Of Contrition
So what does the TV guide say about the episode?
In tonight's story, Lt Kara Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) gets into trouble when she leads a training exercise.
Hmmm, that’s a pretty lame summary isn’t it?
Yeah I thought so too so I looked on Sky’s website and they had this to say about it:
When 20 pilots are killed in a tragic accident on the Galactica it evokes painful memories for Kara over the death of Adama's son years before.
So how does it begin?
With Starbuck struggling with her ship out of control and apparently about to crash-dive into something hot – a sun maybe, or a planet’s atmosphere? Then we cut to a group of pilots who are celebrating one of their number’s 1000th landing something goes boom.
More Boomer-esque sabotage?
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Act Of Contrition
So what does the TV guide say about the episode?
In tonight's story, Lt Kara Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) gets into trouble when she leads a training exercise.
Hmmm, that’s a pretty lame summary isn’t it?
Yeah I thought so too so I looked on Sky’s website and they had this to say about it:
When 20 pilots are killed in a tragic accident on the Galactica it evokes painful memories for Kara over the death of Adama's son years before.
So how does it begin?
With Starbuck struggling with her ship out of control and apparently about to crash-dive into something hot – a sun maybe, or a planet’s atmosphere? Then we cut to a group of pilots who are celebrating one of their number’s 1000th landing something goes boom.
More Boomer-esque sabotage?
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Yeah I thought so too so I looked on Sky’s website and they had this to say about it: When 20 pilots are killed in a tragic accident on the Galactica it evokes painful memories for Kara over the death of Adama's son years before.
So how does it begin?
With Starbuck struggling with her ship out of control and apparently about to crash-dive into something hot – a sun maybe, or a planet’s atmosphere? Then we cut to a group of pilots who are celebrating one of their number’s 1000th landing something goes boom.
More Boomer-esque sabotage?
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Nah – a clip holding a comms drone into its rack slips (“Metal Fatigue – old equipment”) causing it to fall, start up and aim right for the pilots.
So what’s the beef with Starbuck then?
She starts flashing back to something hinted at in the mini-series – Apollo’s brother, Zak dying in training.
So this is a Starbuck-centric episode then?
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Pretty much. A lot of the episode centres on her and her thoughts - she seems especially distracted by memories of the steamy sex she had with Zak. Then there are the scenes with her starting the training of new recruits to replace the ones lost in the accident – displaying her usual sass along with an air of authority. Unfortunately she’s letting the fact that she feels guilty about Zak’s death affect her – punishing the recruits too hard for mistakes made on their first training flight… and then Commander Adama finds out who’s to blame for his son’s death.
Anything else going on?
Helo and Boomer II find the source of the signal on Caprica – still not much going on there yet…
The President has an appointment with a doctor who, with regards to her cancer “seriously recommends prayer”…
Otherwise… not much really… oh except for some Cylons and one of them tricksy cliffhanger-type “To be Continued” endings.
Pretty spoiler-ific this week then?
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Yeah well, what are you gonna do?
What’s Good?
Katie Sackhoff. I was originally going to give this episode a 2 and a half star rating - it got off to a really slow start after the initial accident and really wasn’t doing anything for me. However, Katie Sackhoff’s portrayal of Starbuck’s guilt ended up really pulling me in. True to what he said, Ronald Moore has created a fine character-driven drama here. Sure much of what happens in this episode is fairly obvious and has been well-trodden in other dramas many times before… but the quality of the performances here really do stand out. Plus she really is kinda hot, ain’t she?
What’s Bad?
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Like I said, the first third of the episode feels kind of slow and doesn’t quite engage, but the last two thirds make up for this quite nicely. Would have been nice to have more from some of the other characters too.
Tricky’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
****
(the last five minutes pulled it up by half a star)
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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
***** 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
And now “LoneGunMan”:
Oh man, after the excellence of the previous 3 episodes, I didn't think they could pull off another frakking good episode, but they did... if anything, this was even better than last week's Richard Hatch-fest... This was hot Starbuck action! If you use it, just call me LoneGunMan again!!
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
"Act of Contrition"
How does it begin?
Celebrating a 1,000th landing is always reason for some frivolity on the flight deck, but this is cut short when a worn strap sends a stored drone into the partygoers, killing thirteen valuable pilots. The loss is made worse due to the pointlessness of it all. Pilots are valuable commodities, but losing them not to Cylon attack, but to an accident... the moving funeral that follows is just a sample of the emotional rollercoaster to follow in the next 42 minutes.
The ads made it look like a Starbuck episode, is this true?
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Hell yeah. "Pilots call me Starbuck, you may call me God." This is really a Starbuck episode, jumping backwards and forwards in time in a similar way to the excellent Firefly episode "Out of Gas". Okay, so it may lack the genius of Joss, this is amazing stuff. The funeral of the pilots is cut with the funeral of Zack, Starbuck's fiance. Moving chats with Adama cut to her being given her new assignment - training new pilots to replenish the numbers. In with all this, we get hot Starbuck action with Zack, with scenes of her viper in a flat spin, burning up re-entry... All becomes clear by the end of the episode...
So what else is going on then?
Not a hell of a lot this episode, and it's all the better for it. There's a little on Cylon occupied Caprica with Helo and Boomer mk2, finding a military shelter, and the President wanting to seek alternative therapies for her cancer, but other than that we focus our sights firmly on the excellent Starbuck.
So Starbuck's good this episode?
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
I always thought she was one of the best bits so far, but this just blew me away. She's particularly hard on the new recruits, not wanting to repeat the mistake that cost Zack his life, but Adama was unaware of her original failings and the emotional confrontation between the two of them, when she finally confesses her guilt and her actions... Man, I am stunned they managed to get the audience's emotional investment in the characters so well established so early in the series that it was a truly heartbreaking scene. Considering this is only episode 4, it really makes you choke up...
It's really that good?
Yeah, the flashbacks of Adama holding Starbuck's hand at Zack's funeral, saying he thought of her as a daughter, only makes the result all the more moving. Topped off with a couple of gratuitous Starbuck sex scenes and some Viper action, TV SF doesn't often get better than this.
What¹s Bad?
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
I have to agree with the wife on this one, the title sequence of each episode is kinda like the old A-Team or Knight Rider episodes, featuring a montage of what's to come. A sort of "Tonight, in Battlestar Galactica." It may get you all fired up for the action, but it sometimes gives too much away...
How does it end?
I'm not going to spoil it, but lets just say that it ends with "To Be Continued..." Damn them!! Damn them for only showing one episode a week!! I'm expecting a reinterpretation of a classic Galactica episode next week, involving a lone Cylon, a deserted planet, and a crashed pilot... Or I may be surprised...
LoneGunMan’s rating for “Battlestar Galactica” 1.4?
*****
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
(or maybe even a ******, just for the hot Starbuck action!)
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
Finally, “Dark Avenger” weighs in:
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Battlestar Galactica 1.4 FAQ
What's it called?
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
"Acts of Contrition.” It's your basic girl-trains-rookies, rookies-flunk-out, rookies-get-second-chance, rookies-save-the-day story. With a little bit of character back story built in for good measure. Which is nice.
What does TV Guide say?
"After a tragic accident leaves 20 pilots dead, Adama orders a new squadron to be trained."
What do we learn?
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
The President's 'condition' is more advanced than hinted at in last week's edition. We get a few flashbacks here and there of Starbuck's relationship with the doomed Zack Adama, his funeral and her first meeting with Adama Sr. And the Cylons appear to know exactly where the fleet is.....
So, this is a Starbuck episode?
Yep but I'm not convinced Katee Sackhoff has the acting chops to add much depth to her character. The script calls for some genuine emotion (guilt, repressed anger, all the good stuff basically) but she basically just stands around and pouts a lot. Not good.
Does Apollo still suck?
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
Doesn't get much to do this week (but I'm a little more forgiving after the last episode). Then again, neither do Baltar, Tyrol or Col. Tigh. Hopefully, they'll all get some more screen time next week.
The good?
In a word? Adama. This is the biggest difference between the original and new series. Go back and watch the original - every time the shit hits the fan, everyone looks towards Apollo and Starbuck but here, it's Adama who's the pillar of strength for the entire crew to depend upon (wonderfully played by Edward James Olmos). Witness the quiet rage he displays when Starbuck comes clean about her role in his son's tragic death - "Walk out this cabin while you still can......"
The bad?
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
The focus is all on Adama and Starbuck this week so no action on the Caprica/Number Six front.
How does it end?
A lone viper burns up in the atmosphere of a nearby planet. To be continued......
To order coffee mugs and boxer shorts adorned with the image of a green, handicapable “Buffy” fanatic, click here.
