Battlestar Galactica - A Measure of Salvation

What a compelling episode! Again, alternating between the Baseship with Baltar being “interrogated” (tortured) by D’anna in regards to how he was responsible (or those he represents) for the diseased beacon that is infecting their Cylons while Apollo offers a solution to their “Cylon crises” by forwarding a genocide option to President Roslin and Admiral Adama. Helo, “married” to Sharon, is opposed egregiously to wiping out an entire race, even if they are a “mechanical” one. Helo’s conscience won’t allow him to just stand idly by while Roslin “authorizes” Adama to set in motion their far-reaching virus plan, to send executed dying Cylons taken from a diseased Basestar by Apollo and Sharon as a dangled carrot for opposing Cylon forces engaging the Galactica so that their Resurrection Ship would carry the virus and infect their entire race. So while D’anna uses a punishment machine to torture Baltar, his “Head Six” tries to console him by inviting his body to be surrendered only to her in order to combat the pain and agony while encouraging him to use his intellect to duel with his torturer. All of this builds dramatically over the course of the episode.

Tahmoh Penikett, as Helo, has a great piece of acting in this episode. His “we could lose a piece of our soul” speech to Roslin (hoping, instead, to get through to Admiral Adama) and the “if I go down, I don’t care because I still have you” to Sharon provide good moments for Penikett. And again, as I can’t stop praising Olmos all the time, his facial expression as Helo goes off is the kind of subtle masterclass of acting that can’t be taught but is just a gift. You see Adama trying not to agree with Helo but understanding his points despite perhaps attempting to fight them off. When sitting with Roslin, he uses the procedure of Presidential order so he isn’t the one left to make this call because what Helo said—if they execute the genocide are humans any better than the Cylons?—left an impact he can’t shake. Roslin rationalizes why the genocide is important once they question a dying Cylon and gain insight from him that Baltar has given them information on how to direct a course for Earth, the same heading as the Fleet—but Helo responds with why doing so is simply wrong. That “what separates us from others who might be willing to annihilate a race of beings” argument is at the heart of the episode and really the entire series story arc. And it is challenged when Apollo raises the genocide plot to his superiors, pointing out that in doing so they can end the threat to them all. While Helo might argue that the Cylons tried to co-exist with humans on New Caprica, it doesn’t ring true with Roslin who was on the planet when that disastrous occupation took place. So Helo will take matters into his own hands and take advantage of a busy crew off in Vipers encountering a Cylon fleet while Adama and his CIC are accessing the space fight with the genocide set in motion…undermined by Helo who disconnects the oxygen so that the Cylon captives die before they can be used to infect the Resurrection Ship and entire race. Adama deciding not to persecute Helo and Roslin just having to concede because the effort to duel over this just isn’t worth it sort of left me amused. Helo and Sharon embraced after his actions kept from her mechanical race being terminated, perhaps even closer than ever while Adama informs Roslin that the beacon was an actual accident, more or less a “sneeze” that could have been totally detrimental to all of the Cylons. God, the irony. 4/5