Battlestar Galactica - Lay Down Your Burdens

 

That Roslin and Admiral Arama debate Gaius Baltar as a disastrous President and contemplate with great stress the prospects of Cylon attack once a miscalculated space jump locates a world that can sustain human life, it was a foregone, predictable conclusion that it would happen...kind of took some of the potency away from the second season conclusion of a two-part episode. It was heavy on political intrigue--Roslin initiates a coup to swing votes her way with Tigh and Roslin's new aid culpable, the planet Zarek and Baltar dub New Caprica their golden ticket to the presidency--and included a successful trip back to Caprica to save Anders and further tensions between Apollo and Starbuck continue.

Apollo and Dualla actually marry and serve on Pegasus, while Starbuck and Anders move with most of the Colonial fleet to New Caprica. As expected, once Gina detonates her nuclear weapon, provided by Baltar, in a suicide meant to take out as many as possible; Baltar has only the presidency to seek after, later on New Caprica a millstone to those who voted for him, wasting his days on booze and women. Tyrol, dealing with nightmares that visit him regularly, viciously assaults Callie without realizing it. That later on New Caprica she's pregnant with his child as he serves as a union organizer and thorn in Baltar's side probably wasn't expected.

 Dean Stockwell as Cylon twins, one from Caprica and the other on the BG, both as spiritual advisors, eventually parlaying news to Roslin and Admiral Adama regarding a cease in the extermination of humankind, is a welcome presence, firstly as Tyrol's therapist looking to unlock the nightmare code and secondly to stowaway with Starbuck's forces back to the BG. Sharon's unwillingness to expose Stockwell's Brother Cavill is later confirmed to Helo who frustratingly won't give up on her although it does appear she no longer cares. Adama and Roslin discussing a trick to help her formulate her speech and later discussing the ethics and morality of avoiding illegally securing the election were my favorite scenes although Baltar barely holding it together when Gina's death is made known to him is a major highlight due to the superior acting. All three actors are at the top of their game.

The Cylon occupation, and how the barely-equipped and barely-manned Galactica and Pegasus must space jump before an attack would render them powerless, leaving the colonies behind hesitantly, with how Baltar surrenders almost immediately could be seen coming a mile away. Still how the Caprica Six and Boomer clones, accompanied by Conoy and other Cylons, arrive more or less without using immediate violence creates intrigue moving forward. Tigh and his wife arriving on New Caprica at Adama's urging, after 380 days of no Cylon activity, and the later knowledge of Gina's use of the nuclear device causing a disturbance noticeable by the Cylons from a light-year away, offer ironies all their own...seeing Starbuck hug Tigh and the two plotting a resistance against the occupation is quite a sight considering past difficulties. 3.5/5