Battlestar Galactica - Exodus Part One

Part one of Exodus is more about the preparation for Admiral Adama’s plans to send his Vipers to New Caprica in a rescue operation as the resistance down below do the same. The Pegasus, as ordered by Admiral Adama to his son, Apollo, is to move onward to Earth with plans to rendezvous later. The episode spends more time on New Caprica, though, as Sharon, sent to help Sam Anders and the Resistance by acquiring the launch keys for the ships grounded on the planet. The shootout at the end of Precipice was, as expected, a swerve as the humans gathered up by Brother Cavil (including Cally, Roslin, and Zarek) are rescued by Sharon’s select Galactica crew and Anders’ resistance fighters, taking out the human officers who work for the Cylons and the Cylon “toasters” in attendance.

The episode also focuses a great deal of attention to Lucy Lawless’ Cylon, D’anna, dreaming about Hera, the human/Cylon hybrid from Sharon and Helo. She visits an oracle (Amanda Plummer) who tells her about a “fruit child” who will teach her “true love”. She is on the lookout for the baby while Roslin holds Anders responsible for him and the adoptive mother’s safety and departure from New Caprica. Sharon enters the facility holding the launch keys, encounters D’anna who informs her of the baby (the trip to the building is a bit intense as humans eyeball her and one even tosses a liquor bottle at her) being alive—Dr. Cottle, getting a smoke after saving a wounded Cavil, tries to hide the secret of Hera’s true mortal status from D’anna, but the eyes give him away—but this doesn’t stop Sharon from taking out both of D’anna’s knees and securing the keys. Sharon and Tyrol have an awkward exchange about his child and she sort of questions about the ashes of her baby. This is obviously a seed planted and what will grow from it could very well splinter Sharon and Adama forever.

Although brief, Starbuck continues to find herself forming a bond with her daughter as Leoben clearly feels he’s making headway, while Baltar’s responsibilities for New Caprica’s surrender during the  occupation and increasing tensions between humans and Cylons’ relations at an all time high leave him rife with self-loathing and self-hatred. Six (not the one in Baltar’s head) tries to get through to him but the other Cylons ponder abandoning this whole human/Cylon co-existence. Cavil and Aaron are up for just dropping a bomb on the humans if need-be. Leaving Cavil for dead, the resistance enjoys seeing him suffer…good enough for him.

And Tigh learns of his wife’s betrayal of the insurgency when a member of the resistance finds the map where they were to meet Sharon inside the pocket of a Cylon. The scene is certainly impactful with how Tigh’s one eye realizes Ellen’s actions and the repercussions of them. Even as it was meant to keep Tigh alive, Ellen is caught and in deep trouble. He WAS NOT HAPPY.

And then there is the emotional scene between father and son again as Admiral Adama and his son, saluting each other, part ways. Admiral Adama prepares his crew for the upcoming mission, giving them their respect and making sure they know how much he appreciates their service. It sets up Exodus II perfectly.