GALACTICA

For once I have to fully agree with you. After seeing Apollo resigning his commission in the teaser for the episode, I was pretty ready to scoff at whatever justification the script made up for his doing so. But it is the elder Adama who is the one acting out of character here, both in the meeting with Apollo and during the trial itself.

The episode had a lot more meat in it than a lot of other recent ones, including (thank god!) some actual Cylons, and it has a bit of a rushed feel. The plot could've used another meeting between Apollo and Lampkin, for instance.

The most serious unexplained jumps in the plot are 1) how the hell Lampkin knew to ask about Ellen Tigh, since neither Apollo nor Baltar told him (I have some theories about this) and 2) why the chamala extract was such an issue.

For 1), here is my wild speculation. We've heard Lampkin's sob story to Six in the last episode: I predict that like other characters with a lost love, he sees her in his head, and it was her who fed Lampkin the information about Ellen. That probably means his ex was a Cylon.

For 2), the prosecution needn't rely on Roslin's credibility alone: anyone who was on the trucks can attest to the fact that they were intended to be killed, and Baltar's death list was seen by lots of other people, including Gaeta and Tyrol.

As for the weird radio business, we are obviously meant to suspect that Anders, Foster, and Tigh are "special" in some way. (I don't think I really need to fill in the blanks here.) I predict their "specialness" will continue to become apparent the closer the fleet gets to the nebula, but I'm hoping their specialness isn't the obvious thing.
 

Three things:

First: There is a bonus scene with Apollo and Lampkin that helps slow down the plot a little bit.

Second: I imagine that the radio phenomenon is something akin to the cylon projection phenomenon. Somebody will make the connection next episode, because in the preview at the end of the show we heard a voice say, "This means we're all cylons." I think I know who the voice belonged too, but I can't be sure.

Third: Also in the preview it looks like all hell breaks loose, both internally and externally, probably right at the end of the show. Hopefully this will turn the plot around for the start of next season and put an otherwise great show back on course after an embarassing season 3.
 

Adama's reactions can be understood based on the facts that his "daughter" is gone, his "girlfriend" is dying and his son is doing something that at least has the perception of being disloyal. He is not the same man from season 1. On some level he might be glad that Lee is not military anymore, less chance of getting killed.
SAF is correct in that the prosecution does not need Roslin. Baltar did sign the death order. It looks like he's gonna get off. That's disgusting, but it does happen. What did they do to the women who "fraternized" with the enemy in WW2? Didn't they shave their heads?
 

I still find it interesting that the guy couldn't take his sunglasses off last week, and didn't wear them once since. He has only had them on once since he met in with Six..

Now here is the interesting thing.. While they couldn't get Baltar on the attack of the colonies thing. I think it would be interesting if the Six they have was the same Six who orchestrated the thing (and some have said that it is). Might be an interesting thing for them to reveal. Of course how would you punish her. The ol' Airlock method would just send her back to the ol' Cylons..

On "Aint it cool News" (http://www.aintitcoolnews.com) someone who did a pre-screening put a spoiler out on this and next Sundays finale on who will be cylons. I won't spoil it here, however there will be more than one. I think it will be interesting to see how the crew reacts to others cylons, especially cylons who haven't turned against the crew or done anything wrong..

Also there is a bit about what happens at the very end and who shows up.. Sounds like a wild ride..

JT
 

Well, on the topic of the sunglasses: it's not so odd that Lampkin wasn't wearing them this past episode: he spent almost the whole time in court. It is reasonable for him to alter his appearance in order to make a more positive impression on the audience and the judges.
 

O.K if we are nitpicking.....How can the six in the brig stay perfectly coiffed and have flawless make up if she does not even have access to a change of clothes? Did Sharon pass her a make up kit but forget that she's been wearing the same hoochie shirt for weeks?
 

Good point.. How can Baltar look so darn haggared after his prison time.. But ol' Six gets to wear hoochie skirts and look hot. When Sharon was in prison she got the orange jumpsuit treament.. Or at least wore old fatigues.

I guess continuity can't always be right..

But yeah I was being nitpicky with the glasses on ramkin. It just seemed like it was emphasized one episode and dropped the next. But then they might have just used them to establish his personality. He admitted to using this just to get famous..

JT
 

Ramkin is all about manipulating people and while he wore the glasses he gave off a feel that intimidated others. He isn't wearing them now because he wants to look tragic with his cane and the cuts on his face. It helps Baltar's case so he keeps the glasses off.

The episode was great and the next one promises to be one of the best episodes EVER!
 

Anyone notice that every season finale on BSG ends with us and/or the characters finding out that someone is a Cylon?
 

I thought the trial was boring and fast forwarded through a lot of it. And I thought that Apollo's actions were despicable. I mean come on, the mileau he owes his allegiance to is the military, and his decision to suddenly become lawyer, and use his closeness to tigh and roslin to enable him to bring dirt to the trial was disgusting. That guy has serious loyalty issues.
 

Why does Baltar even have an attorney? I mean what's the point, its not like Lampkin is going to get paid, or gain any kind of fame and fortune from this. I haven't understood anything this show has done all season.

But then again, I have to step back and realize most of "Galactica" is totally contrived and ridiculous anyway. After all this is the show were a Cylon prisoner escaped from her cell, made it all the way across the Pegasus with a gun in her hand, shot an ADMIRAL in the head, and we got absolutely NO follow up. I've still not gotten over the fact that Admiral Cain was murdered in her cabin and there was NEVER any investigation, unless I missed the episode where they tore the fleet apart looking for the killer.

So it all stands to reason that Baltar would get a creepy attorney who shows up out of nowhere in typal daytime soap fashion. Ugh.

I have no idea why I continue to watch this show, maybe it's because I regard it like an accident on the highway; it's so dreadful that I can't help but stare to see what happens next.
 

A good episode - I almost felt I was back in season one when the show was excellent rather than good but hit and miss.

It almost made me believe the creators have their mojo working again (now there's something that should have been the musical theme they all heard).

I'll see how it all pans out next week. Considering all the foreshadowing that's going on, next week will either be one of the best hours of BSG ever, or a shark jump like no other. But since the trial has been excellent so far, I'm hopeful.
 

I actually felt sorry for Laura Roslin in this eppisode. Especially when she told Lee about the Capt. Appollo thing. Pity her credibility was destroyed though, i want to see baltar hang

Unlike most people, i don't hate Lee as much as i want to. Note: Awesome comeback from Admiral Adama, " I don't want an officer who has none" [integrity]

Personally, i wonder where this" wow i'm a lawyer" thing has come from, I mean Lee isn't Exactly an academic, he's in the Military!(was...)

Old Adama has become bitter and twisted. Even though his Father was Lawyer, what makes him think he's qualified to be a lawyer? Wow, the guy who possibly sparked a Clylon war, the guy who was promoted because he planned to assasinate his superior officer, thinks he has the moral high ground?

This quite from Black market: " It's hard to find the moral high ground when we're all standing in the mud" It's so TRUE!

PS. I hope Tori is a Cylon, she's so annoying!
 

....Lee lawyer "thing" started simmering long ago, remember he was getting out of the military before the attacks. Also, remember the look on Lee's face when Kara said something like, "Your the CAG and I'm your troubled pilot and that's all we'll ever be. I don't hate Lee either, he'll come around. - Glad Dualla left him, she's boring.
If Tyrol is a cylon, is Cally going to go crazy and kill their baby?
 

This anonymous' comments are spot-on.

My in-depth comments are here.
 

The old radio thing is picking up signals transmitted hundreds (or even thousands) of years ago, and only now is the radio picking them up because the Fleet is hundreds (or even thousands) of light years away from the origional source.

But what is the source of the 100+ year old transmissions? Is it their destination EARTH!?!?

And is Starbuck one of the final 5, and when she woke up in that cylon hospital, was that because she died, and they planted her in that hospital when she woke up?

Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of Battlestar Galactica!!
 

Well...most military people who become officers are pretty sharp, and actually end up with more of a liberal arts education than you might think. At West Point "Killing 101" is not the only course offered. I had forgotten that Lee was on his way out of the military. Still, I agree that they should have spent more episodes prepping us for it. The transition seemed a little rough. Unfortunately the season just now seems to be getting its act together.

Can I make the radical suggestion that perhaps, in terms of the law, Baltar really *is* innocent? If memory serves he was manipulated into giving Six access to Caprica's security systems. And we do have to remember that Baltar refused to sign the order until they put a gun to his head and told him that if he didn't sign it they would shoot him and carry out the execution anyway. We want him dead because he is a bad person, but does that make him guilty? The writers are playing with morally gray areas again and we should pay attention.
 

I actually liked this one a little bit, though Adama's behavior on the bench was cringe inducing. It seems as though they're gatting back to the mysticism and main story arc finally. They better be careful with the "Final Five", I think I hear a speedboat pulling the "Fonz".
 

Uh, the trial was terrible! Very Perry Mason. As a matter of fact, this whole season sucked. The fact is, the cylon story lines are more interesting than the human story lines. but that's the point, isn't it? the cylons are easier to relate to. they shouldn't have cast Really Bad Actor as Lee Adama. It's disappointing to see Kara back although we all knew that was coming. She is Really Bad Female Actor. Just get back to the cylon/earth/G-d story lines, please.
 

BALTAR GAVE A NUKE TO GINA A KNOWN CYLON!
BALTAR IS GUILTY OF MANY, MANY THINGS.