hazelk | BSG 3:10 The Passage (Reply)

A very season one feel to this episode and no bad thing. Then we had water and trilithium shortages this time it was food although pointedly no Cylons in pursuit, have they been attacking at all since New Caprica? I’ll admit to being confused by the plot mechanics of jumping the fleet through the cloud but that added to the sense of urgent chaos and directed the focus where it belonged with Kat as bizzaro Kara. Speaking of mirrors another very strong element of the first season was the way the Caprica-Sharon parts of each episode were used to reflect back the themes playing out on Galatica, particularly those of identity and awareness, human or cylon witting or unwitting.

As it was then so it is now beginning with Kat’s hinted drug history co-inciding with Gaius uncovering Three’s revolving death addicition. The latter turned out to be a search for identity not bliss and the big question in both strands became one of “Who am I?’ My past or my present, cylon or human, innocent or traitor.

In Kat’s case death negated all her past sins and she died a hero not a drug runner, sacrificing herself to ensure that her ship made it to safety was how she’ll be remembered. Did the fact that she already knew she was flying over the radiation limit make that a gift with suicidal purchase? Printing the legend not the whole truth is something Admiral Bill learnt from President Laura and he holds to it here but for humanity not PR. Turning last episode’s wisdom that your leader is not your friend over on its hard head, the old man completely out Papa’s his Dama, pulls up that hospital chair and stays.

Kara accused Kat of treachery and unwitting though it might have been she chose death as her punishment where Gaius never has. I wish I had the cylon power to project away his facial hair but that aside loved the return of the basestar. “Fleas on a cat” and what do they do all day anyway? How does Gaius tell the Threes apart when they do wash all the birthing gel out of their hair? Do the cylons not track who downloads because individual identity is irrelevant to the collective? Does Gaius really care whether he’s a final cylon or is that a plausible mask to gain Three’s trust? Is the hybrid chaneling Araucaria?

Big questions all round but with Jane Espenson the angel is in the details. Three immediately assuming the solution had to do with religion where Baltar saw it as a set of directions. Bill and Saul giggling hysterically over the paper shortage. Gaeta not joining in the applause. Saul hesitating before going into the CIC breach. Adama seeing that and smiling. Lee waiting while Kara paid her respects.