Battlestar Galactica: Blood on the Scales Discussion Thread

Now that's what I'm talking about. With last week's episode, The Oath, the final episodes of Battlestar appear to have come out of their post-apocalyptic, Emily Dickenson-quoting funk. My short recap of The Oath is below the fold.

Spoiler Policy: Anything from the miniseries and the show up to and including tonight's episode is fair game; no need to warn or in some way obscure text for anything that comes from that material. However, anything you may have heard about future episodes should be kept to yourself. Thanks.

The Oath Recap:

In short, Gaeta and Zarek pull off their coup. Gaeta breaks Zarek out with a military conspiracy, just like Apollo and Billy did for Roslin way back in Season One. In a nice nod toward continuity, the marine guard is the same as in that long-ago episode. Maybe it's time he be assigned to something beside guarding the brig? Just a suggestion, Admiral.

The conspiracy then begins its takeover of the ship. The audience is supposed to have no doubts about who are the good guys and who the bad. Airlock-happy Connor from the third season’s Circle of Secret Death is snapping orders, the rapist from the Pegasus arc comes back to taunt Helo, Creepy Stalker Seelix is mad that Anders never boned her, and newly murderous Zarek are all lined up behind sneaky, lying Gaeta. And it's bloody.

They also round up all the cylons and "cylon-lovers" on Galactica and stick them in the brig, including Athena, Helo, Hera, Anders, and Caprica. In another nice nod to continuity, Caprica, who spent almost the entirety of the last season off screen, is back to going on about God-this and God-that.

Now, don't get me wrong, I know we're not supposed to sympathize with these murderous mutineers. But they have a point. Roslin is just chillin' while her body slowly dies, but she refuses to resign the presidency? And Adama's ready to play house with her? I'd be pissed, too. Both are unfit for command. It's only that there are ways of removing unfit leaders and ways of removing unfit leaders. The conspirators chose Option B with a side of Cold Blooded Murder.

But, the coup spurs Roslin to action and she has a rather clever scene where she and Baltar resume their sparring. She makes a Patrick Stewart speech before getting cut off by Gaeta, who is apparently the only guy who knows how to work the comm console. Baltar also has great scene with Gaeta that just about screams "SPURNED LOVER." Unfortunately, it just makes Gaeta angrier.

At the end, Apollo and Starbuck have been reunited and are up to their old tricks. All the parts still fit for these two. Also, Starbuck shoots a guy in the head and it's pretty damn cool. Adama and Tigh have clearly worked out their issues and are Rambo-ing their way through the ship. The four eventually meet up and retrieve the Roslin and Baltar.

Then, for reasons not clearly explained, they put Roslin and Baltar on a Raptor bound for the Rebel Basestar. Apollo and Starbuck go charging off through the corridors. And Adama and Tigh have a pointless last-stand moment where they're protecting the Raptor...that's already flown away. What was the point of this? Oh, we just wanted to use the tension when Gaeta's stormtroopers throw a grenade at Adama and Tigh's feet. Cut to black.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 09:32 PM

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