Is there more meaning in this image after seeing the mid-season finale of BSG?
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Mania Grade: A+
TV Series: Battlestar Galactica
Episode: Revelations
Starring: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff
Written By: Jane Espenson
Directed By: Paul Edwards
Network: Sci-Fi

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TV Review: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Revelations

Expectations were high for this midseason finale and the episode did not disappoint. D’Anna, one of my favorite characters, is back and has retaken control of the Cylons, at least this rebellious group anyway. D’Anna and Roslin are two sides of the same coin with both of them making plans against the other out of a lack of trust. D’Anna has decided to make every human, Baltar and Roslin included, a hostage that will be killed unless the final five are allowed to come over to the base ship. In response, Roslin orders Adama to destroy the base ship rather than allow the five to fall under Cylon control.

D’Anna’s failing is that she doesn’t realize the level of humanity instilled within the five. Sure, Tory is downright evil and is ready to embrace her new life for all the wrong reasons but Tigh and Tyrol are ravaged with guilt over what they’ve done and Anders still apparently has love for Starbuck. In one of the most powerful scenes of the episode, and of the season, Tigh admits to Adama that he is a Cylon. This “revelation” is the final straw for Adama – his best friend and confidant is a Cylon. There’s a series of quick shots of Adama reacting to the news, first destroying his office, and second getting drunk or at least close to it. Adama’s son Lee actually takes over dealing with the situation as acting President.

Lee reacts to the hostage threat by gathering Tigh, Anders, and Tyrol and dropping them into the airlock. If D’Anna doesn’t release the hostages he will send these three of the final five into space. The quote “this has all happened before and will all happen again” came to mind during this conflict. If D’Anna or Lee makes the wrong decision could the whole thing start over? Could everyone be destroyed and the cycle starts anew? I was expecting some monumental event that would reveal Earth and all the secrets of the 13^th colony once the final five are together but no such luck. What did happen is that the ship Starbuck returned to Galactica on suddenly displayed the coordinates to Earth and the mysterious music led the Tyrol and Anders to the ship.

The series has only so far revealed four of the final five but the fifth member is nearby, probably already on the base ship. D’Anna doesn’t seem to be concerned with the existence of the fifth member. She knows much more than she is revealing. There is a hint in the previews for the rest of the season that the fifth member does finally get revealed. The question is why hasn’t this fifth member been plagued with the mysterious music and brought together with the other four? Just before all heck breaks loose, Starbuck shows up to tell Lee what she has discovered in her ship. When D’Anna comes over to Galactica to check out the discovery, she offers two quotes we’ve heard before: “this has all happened before and will happen again” and “Where do we go from here?” This scene was a fairly magical moment and evokes the feeling of a new frontier for both groups – the humans and the Cylons. Maybe the true role of the final five is to bring these humans and Cylons together rather than show a glowing and epic path to Earth. Lee and Adama solidify an agreement that Roslin and Caprica could never make work.

“Revelations” was a thrilling and dramatic episode offering everything a fan of the series expects. The drama was some of the best of the series and the suspense was spot on and on top of that the episode title was fitting with many reveals and an inevitable trip to Earth. The final stunning moments of the episode set the stage of the final block of episodes coming early next year. Many questions were answered but many more were asked by the closing moments of the episode. “Revelations” was the pinnacle episode of a season that has been outstanding.