“Lay Down Your Burdens Part 1″

The creators of BSG decided to end the second season much like the first — a two part finale. It is unfortunate that “Lay Your Burdens Down Part 1″ does not have the same impact as “Kobol’s Last Gleaming Part 1″ had. They are both setup episodes, but “Burdens” setup is just not quite as exciting. In fact by the end, only a burst of action sequence really reminds us that this is supposed to be a slam bang finale.

I do have to admit that it is better the second time if only because watching concurrently with Season four makes you see perhaps a whole lot more than you were originally intended to see…or the creators are that damn good.

We open, as we often do with decisions made and actions already started. In this case it seems Adama has given Starbuck’s rescue mission to Caprica the green light. Why now? Well, obviously because the season finale needed it. Duh.

The plan is to use all of their Raptors and align them with Sharon’s help with a Cylon Raider computer, allowing them to make the jump back to Caprica in only ten jumps.

Meanwhile, the long discussed Presidential election is upcoming, and Roslin is heavily favored, while Baltar is struggling to find an issue that resonates with the voters. Some may find the political intrigue boring to be honest, but I’m not one of those people. I’m always entertained by it.

In a scene that had very little build up we see Chief Tyrol sleeping on the hangar deck floor when Cally wakes him up. Obviously having a nightmare, and having Cally startle him awake sets off the Chief until he beats Cally to a bloody pulp, until he realizes what he’s doing.

It frightens him enough to get religious counseling from a Brother Cavil. Brother Cavil comes off very interesting, a priest who does not act quite like a priest, but is at the center of the issues. He knows what is going on inside the Chief’s head even if Chief won’t admit it. But honestly, it’s pretty boring overall. It’s only interest is if you’ve seen later episodes. Otherwise it doesn’t go very well.

Back to the rescue attempt, the squad loses its first raptor on its first jump. It’s not completely unexpected, but it is not a good sign. However, it’s a bit of luck as the lost raptor discovers what could be a habitable planet. Even better there’s so much activity from a nearby nebula it makes it almost impossible to find.

Now this springs forward an intriguing decision the Colonies have to make. Continue the journey to discover Earth and the long lost thirteenth colony, or settle here so they’d no longer have to be on the run living on a ship.

And Baltar has his issue. He understands that whether it’s intelligent or not, people want to settle on a planet again.

It’s believable, but perhaps it’s the execution, it doesn’t seem too exciting…or at least as exciting as it should be.

The most impacting moment of the episode happens at the very end, when after losing 2 raptors who jumped inside a mountain, the rescue mission is a success as Starbuck and Anders are reunited. The happy reunion is brief though as the combined squads are attacked by the Cylons.

Overall it’s kind of a ho-hum beginning to the finale and although overall competent, and even in some ways an engaging story, it just doesn’t knock your socks off.

C+

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