Battlestar Galactica: Great Notions

And that's why I need to remember to trust the writers. Usually, I am pretty good at telling myself they have a plan and that even if things don't make sense right away, the writers deserve the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes this lets me down (Heroes), but most of the time, my faith is rewarded. I know that I aired a lot of grievances about the concept of the Final Five cylons last year, and while not every issue has yet been resolved, Galactica's midseason premiere, "Sometimes A Great Notion", did a lot to put my fears to rest. I still don't believe that the writers planned the idea of the Final Five from the beginning, but the direction they've taken the story in is very surprising and fulfilling. There is still some explaining to do, but it looks like the ultimate answers will be good ones.

But not only did we get insane revelations in this episode, we also got some incredible dramatic tension. Battlestar Galactica is known for being dark and depressing, but this episode really took things to a new level. The discovery of Earth was the biggest morale boost the fleet had ever experienced, but like most of the other good moments on the show, it quickly soured (I think the only good thing that didn't somehow turn out bad was the taking of the tylium asteroid in Season 1; the rendezvous with Pegasus, discovery of New Caprica, and Baltar's trial all led to more problems being created than solved). Earth is a nuclear wasteland, and according to Baltar, it has been for 2,000 years, so the radiation will make the planet uninhabitable for many years to come. Most of the episode follows the various characters as they cope with this heartbreaking discovery. The fleet has spent almost three years looking for a home, living in cramped spaceships with little to eat and the constant threat of final annhilation from the cylons. One character loses his/her faith in his/her beliefs, another loses his/her faith in his/her ability to lead, and another loses his/her will to live. Yeah...

It looks like the final nine episodes will follow the fleet and the rebel cylons as the follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. With no set goal in mind, they are venturing out into open space to find any new home they can. The 13 tribes of Kobol did the same when they left Kobol, and somehow were able to settle on 13 different planets and make their civilizations. All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again. Again...

Up next: Life in the mundy world...