Exodus Part II By Luke Hung
On board the Pegasus an angst filled Apollo receives his itinerary from Dualla. She tries to encourage him by both saying that he can do what needs to be done; protect humanity, find Earth, and keep the fleet together, and by reminding him that Adama has pulled off miracles before. Apollo isn’t buying and Dualla can tell, she says he’s already given up hope. Apollo lays it down, that one half strength Battlestar can’t do everything Adama needs it to do to save the colony. He appears to be resigned to his father’s and the colonies fate and kisses Dualla.
On the planet Anders makes it clear that he knows Ellen could have damned them all and suggests that Tigh takes care of her. He leaves with the ominous threat that if Tigh doesn’t someone else will, and it’s better for Ellen if it isn’t someone else. Anders walks out and Tigh looks over at his wife. Later he hands her a cup as she explains that she had to do it. That her treachery was all for him, and that she would have done anything for him. She lets Tigh into the whole deal about sleeping with Cavil to get him out of prison. She cries a little as he hugs her and says that she could use a drink. She looks into his eyes and takes a sip. “You have always been there for me.” She spends her last few moments lamenting that they should have stayed on Galactica and dies quietly in his arms. Tigh cries that he loves her and tears fall from his eyes as he lays her on the bed. Damn, Ellen I hated you for almost everything you did, but you died well.
In Colonial One, Gauis mocks the Cylons for losing Roslin and Zarek and tells them just to leave. Xena counters with if they just left, humanity would take their revenge on their former machine slaves. It might take generations, but humanity would take to the stars for retribution. This little conversation is ended when Gaeta who was quietly drawing in the corner sees explosions all over New Caprica. I said it last episode; when it’s on, it’s on. Wait for it, can you hear it? War-Drums.
In town Tori, Roslin’s assistant, mobilizes the block commanders to take the colonists to their ships. Mya and the baby rushes up to Tori to tell her how much she appreciates their help. Well isn’t that sweet. If you want a clue about what’s going to happen to Mya, I’ll tell you this, Erica Cerra the actress who plays Mya is also a main character on Eureka and Eureka was picked up for season two. In another area of the camp Anders mounts a raid on the prison.
Simultaneously, the Galactica sails like a shark in the nebulous clouds near New Caprica. Her Vipers and Raptors perform some sort of maneuver while releasing drones. The drones appear to be two Battlestar to the Cylons and the hope is that the Cylons will respond with a certain level of panic. Back in Colonial One, Baltar actually expresses some concern for others as his city burns around him. Caprica Six tries to encourage him saying it’s not over and the city can rise from its ashes. That’s until a Cylon Sharon walks in and informs them that two Battlestar have jumped in and that Adama’s back. My boyfriends back and you’re going be in trouble… hey la, hey la... my boyfriends back.
The Cylon predictably launch Raiders and attempt to close with the drones that appear to be the Galactica and Pegasus, but instead of standing and fighting Kat’s Vipers, now called Red Squadron, and the Raptors break and run. That was less predictable, but seeing as the Colonials are way out numbered some creativity is going to be necessary. Helo tells Adama that the jump coordinates are ready and Adama announces to the ship to brace for turbulence. Turbulence? There’s no turbulence in space?
Leoben seeing the mass hysteria in the streets tries to leave Starbuck and Kasey in their little fake home. Starbuck is not happy with that plan and jumps on his back.. In a turn of events he actually slugs her and knocks her out with one punch. See what happens when you become a stay at home wife, you get abused and get a glass jaw. In the midst of that hysteria, Roslin takes her people and make a rush for Colonial One. Zarek who is rushing in the other directions tells her that she has a flair for the dramatic and assigns Jammer to her protect her. That’s kind of funny.
On Colonial One the Cylons finally figure out that the signals that they are receiving are drones and wonder why Adama wanted a decoy. One even turns to Baltar and asks where the Galactica is, like he would know. Out in the city Tigh and Tyrol’s group who I think was trying to assault the Cylon fighter base gets pinned down by a bunch of Centurions who are raining bullets in every direction. They are getting ripped to pieces when the music goes into some Celtic battle hymn and there is a crack like a sonic boom. The Galactica snaps into the air above the city. She starts off as a little dot and gets big fast as she plummets to the ground, the air burning up around her. Well, I didn’t see that coming, but at least I was right that there is no turbulence in space.
The Galactica launches Blue squadron out into the maelstrom that is her re-entry wake. Inside the ship is shaking like a broke crack whore and just before the Galactica smacks into the ground she jumps again. She was so low that little bits of debris rain about Tigh and Tyrol. The Vipers of Blue squadron makes quick work of the Centurions and the Raiders and Tigh’s band takes the spaceport. Anders group breaks into the detention area and releases everyone. He even reaches Starbuck’s gilded cage and drags her unconscious body off as well.
The Galactica is in orbit around New Caprica following her jump. She is shaken and her systems are slowly coming on line. They locate two Cylon Basestar rushing towards them without fighters, as the Raiders are still off chasing the drones, and Helo hypothesizes that they can cover the colonists’ escape. Kelly quick cuts in and adds that it’s not two Baseships but four. Adama muses aloud that they can’t hold off four. Well that’s something I might have kept to myself, considering morale and all. We return from commercial to find out that indeed the Galactica cannot hold off four Baseships. Adama is getting his hands dirty trying to help make repairs, but when Helo warns of possible explosive decompression Adama asks about the status of the jump drives. Unfortunately they are still out. Adama says that’s it and tells his people that it’s been an honor.
We pan out and se the Galactica take a whupping. The missiles are slamming into her hull and the ventral side of the ship appears to be completely covered in fire. The shot pulls out and we see multiple Cylon Basestars launching wave after wave of missiles. The shot keeps pulling out and then we see weapon fire coming from off screen. Here comes the WARDRUMS and the Pegasus. She whacks one Basestar and it looks like the Basestar detonates, but considering the damage the Galactica took and the explosions I saw I’m not calling a kill unless I see it close up and in super-slow mo. Apollo orders the ship right into the center of fire. Dualla warns that they won’t last long in there and Apollo replies “No.” Damn.
Kara comes to on Anders back and with a kiss asks for Kasey her daughter. Anders is understandably confused and has no real response. Starbuck pull a knife from off his web vest and runs back into the prison. On Colonial One the Cylons admit defeat, at least in regard to controlling the citizens of New Caprica and evacuate. Xena offers to remain behind and detonate the nuke. Boy, are they sore losers, she also offers Baltar a seat on the escape ship, a sort of reward for being a patsy and right at the same time. All the Cylons walk out. Baltar hesitates leaving only him, Caprica Six and Gaeta on Colonial One. He’s back to pitying himself and wishes that he could stay here and die. Gaeta stands gun in hand and says, “You’re about to get your wish.” Nice line.
Ships are lifting off from the spaceport and jumping soon as they have some clearance from the ground. The few remaining Raiders are trying to shoot them down but the Vipers are running interference. The Galactica has just gotten her FTL drives back on-line and now the Pegasus is without jump ability. Adama recalls his entire fighter complement and notes that the Pegasus is on her own. The fighters return to base and the Galactica winks out.
Gaeta is still holding the gun on Gaius. Gaeta whines a little, “I believed in you and you (Baltar) believed in yourself. Pills, drugs, hot and cold running interns.” Whatever, shoot him Gaeta, shoot him now. Baltar presses the gun to his neck and says he would welcome death. Which is a lie, Baltar is melodramatic and self-pitying, but he loves living. When Gaeta hesitates, Baltar says he is the only one who can stop Xena from nuking what’s left of the colony. So Gaeta lets him go saying that this is his one chance at redemption. Jesus, Gaeta how dumb are you? Shoot him.
Apollo on the Pegasus orders the crew lock the ship on course and set the weapons to auto-fire. Then he orders them to abandon ship. They have Raptors in reserve to jump to the rendezvous coordinates. He waits on the bridge for a moment, and looks as if he wants to go down with the ship, but Dualla shakes him out of his revelry and he thanks the Pegasus as he leaves. The Pegasus is on fire brilliantly as Raptors launch from her flight deck and snap into nothingness. As the last ship escapes, the Pegasus triumphantly slams into a Basestar blowing both of them up. A landing pylon breaks off the main hull and screams through space for a few moments proudly displaying the name Pegasus clearly until it slams into another Basestar. Damn, that could be four Basestar kills under Apollo, one during the Captain’s Hand and three now. If humanity wasn’t ridiculously outnumbered that would be a great kill ratio.
Starbuck rushes back into her prison and finds Leoben. Shit, that bastard is everywhere. She asks for Kasey and he responds with “I knew you’d come back.” Arrogant Cylon. He basically offers Kasey to Starbuck in exchange for her saying she loves him. So Starbuck does, gives him a kiss and promptly stabs him in front of Kasey. Well that’s going to require a little therapy. Anders bounds into the room and Starbuck rushes out with Kasey over her shoulder. He looks confused and I really don’t blame him.
In another area of the planet, Caprica Six and Baltar are looking for Xena when they hear a baby’s cries. Xena for her part was ripping up the Oracle tent calling her a liar to no one in particular when she hears the crying too. Baltar wanders over to the weeping and pulls a dead Mya off the baby. Everyone instantly knows it’s Hera and Caprica Six calls it a miracle. Bye Erica, I’ll watch your hot self on Eureka. By the way every woman on that show is silly hot too. Xena shows up and takes the baby. Baltar thinks about shooting her, but Caprica Six says it’s unnecessary; she won’t set off the bomb now. They both have to live.
Roslin finally makes it to Colonial One. She headed for the ship in the first ten minutes of the episode and it only seemed a few hundred yards away and she arrives now? Whatever. She finds no one at home. She sits down, unwraps some holy books and says she’s ready to go. Well isn’t that special. In the next scene we see the fleet rallying at the rendezvous site and Tyrol is already back to his old job directing people around the landing bay. He spies Starbuck and Kasey and wonders who the little one is. That’s when Kasey’s real mother pops out of the woodwork and claims the little girl. Sucker, told you that girl was far too old to be her daughter.
Adama welcomes many of the escapees to the Galactica including his son, who claimed he couldn’t read Adama’s orders to stay away from New Caprica, and Tigh. He hugs them both and turns to Tigh congratulating him for bringing the colonists home. Tigh tragically responds with “not all of them.” Before Adama can figure out what he means he is carried off on peoples’ shoulders as they chant “Adama.” Roslin is also informed that Mya and the baby didn’t make it. Her aide, Tori, blames herself and waits for punishment, but none is forthcoming. Roslin says basically that it’s the Gods will.
Overall the episode was an A-
Acting: A-, Last week it was too much of an ensemble piece for an outstanding grade. This week there was too much action for acting to come through, with one notable exception, Hogan and Vernon. Their scene was powerful. The set up was great and the long running character line with Tigh and his wife’s relationship carried impact. Considering the fact that I never liked Ellen or Tigh that much the way the actors related the characters emotions were superior. Conversely I like the characters of Tyrol and Cally infinitely more and I don’t feel Cally’s death, if it had occurred last episode, would have carried the same weight.
Plot: B, This was the completion of the New Caprica story arc. It ended that string nicely but did little else. Aside from Tigh there was little character development.
Action/Episode Energy: A, This episode is not quite up there with Pegasus but it’s up there. Its gets extra points for its space combat and interesting visuals. But it loses its shot at the A+ with it’s comparatively lack luster ground scenes.
