There Ain't No Good Guys

The following may contain MAJOR SPOILERS from all episodes of Battlestar Galactica, up to and including the most recently broadcast episode: "The Road Less Traveled"

Leoben has a death wish. Out of range of the resurrection ship, he's still badass enough to gamble with a life that is now as mortal as any human's. For a moment there I could see it going either way... but no, Starbuck gives in, as she must, to the forces that are pulling her apart. And looking back at all we've been through with them, it's getting really hard to see the Cylons as anything less than human. Which is I guess the point. If you're attempting to blur the lines between good and evil, right and wrong, cylon and human, this is where you end up.

A Cylon Civil War is about the last thing I expected when the series began, though. They seemed so cold... evil, really. United in purpose. They did 'have a plan' you know. About the time Boomer died I began to feel like maybe something massive was going to happen within the Cylon ranks. She and Caprica Six were in position to effect some major change. But all we got was the occupation of New Caprica -- they should have realized subjugating the human race would be a bad idea, and of course Cavil knew that all along.

Now that Caprica Six is in detention on board Galactica, however, and Boomer is perhaps the last of her model, the major change I'd hoped for has finally arrived. I am proud to say I did not see it coming. This show has a way of exceeding my expectations that is quite frankly unparalleled in the history of television. I don't claim to have watched every show, but I've seen enough to know when something brilliant is happening. Which, at this point, is every Friday night on Sci Fi channel. Of all places.

Tremendous insight into Gaius Baltar this week, if you can call it that. With the absence of any Head Six we're left with only his actions to judge. Does he really believe his own bullshit? It's starting to look that way, and I'm fascinated by it. There is no finer actor in television than James Callis. He basically taunts Tyrol into beating the hell out of him, comes back for more, and somehow escapes not only unscathed but having won Tyrol over. This is impressive storytelling -- I have no idea where it's heading. Probably someplace fantastic. Though if the way his current arc is evoking Jesus Christ is any clue, it won't end well for Baltar.

I wonder, who is his Judas? If I were a betting man, and I am, I'd put good money on Galen Tyrol.

Meanwhile, on the Demetrius, or the "Poo Barge" as it's been called elsewhere, Starbuck is finally coming out of her trance. It shouldn't surprise me that it took a visit from Leoben to shake her out of it, but I was delighted nonetheless. Listening to the podcast for "The Ties that Bind" I learned that Helo was an afterthought to the Demetrius crew, which is a shame -- but all is forgiven this week, as he acts like we all know he must, and takes command away from Kara just as she's finally back in control of herself. This scene drew some strong parallels with events that happened during Razor, and while I half-expected Kara to draw her weapon on Helo, I am glad she didn't. These are real people caught up in the hugeness of events, acting out their natures, and it's supremely refreshing to see this kind of character work in a series. Hell of a cliffhanger, though, am I right? I wish I had the patience to wait for the DVDs so I could watch the episodes back to back... but I think maybe that wait would be even more painful.

Battlestar Galactica airs Friday nights in the US on the Sci Fi Channel