“Lay Down Your Burdens Part II”

The Season Two finale did it’s best to be a unique piece of television. And it certainly was that. Does that mean it was good? Well it was in spurts. However, it was hard for me to get over the disjointedness of the episode, despite my respecting the direction they were trying to take the show.

We open in the midst of the firefight we left on Cylon-Occupied Caprica, as the resistance is pinned down by heavy fire. They find a spot to hole up in, but Sharon is not convinced, knowing that they are most likely going to get non-lethal weapons so they can interrogate them further.

After eighteen hours, nothing happens, and Starbuck runs a recon where they discover that the Cylons have left. Suddenly Brother Cavil appears behind them declaring that the gods be praised, the Cylons had left the Twelve Colonies…revealing to the viewer that he is a Cylon.

Back in the fleet, Dr. Cottle clears Cally to work and she shares an awkward moment with the Chief which is going to clear the way to a bad personal decision for Tyrol, but an interesting one for the viewer.

Baltar continues to gain support in the polls, and Roslin quickly comes to the determination that she will lose unless something is done. Tory lets it be known that she had a backup plan, but it is implied that it would be better if Roslin didn’t know.

Roslin attempts to talk with Baltar, suggesting that the colonization of a new planet was much too important to be researched, and deliberated, than to be used as a talking point. She suggests that they table the issue until after the election. Naturally, Baltar rejects that idea and gets rather cocky. Roslin then finally brings up the vision she had while on treatment of Baltar and Six on Caprica. Baltar doesn’t answer her accusations and walks away.

Roslin shows the seedier side of herself again. I am impressed with the way the creators have handled her. She is obviously someone that you are supposed to be impressed with and generally sympathize with but she is used to ramrodding and bullying things through just because she can. She has a dark side and it gives great depth to her character.

As Starbuck’s rescue team makes it back to Galactica, Adama is delighted, but as soon as Chief sees Cavil come out of a raptor, he calls a “code blue”, claiming that Cavil is a Cylon. Cavil gladly admits it, saying he has a message for their leader.

Adama orders that both Cavil and Boomer (due to her not telling them about Cavil), to the brig. Boomer couldn’t care less at this point. She still feels they murdered her baby, and no one’s trust matters to her anymore.

The problem with this nihilistic attitude is…if that’s the case, why did she help on the Caprica mission?

They soon get the Cavil within the fleet and bring him to the bridge, claiming not to be a Cylon — until he see’s his “brother”. A nice touch of humor there. The message they deliver to Roslin is that the Cylons and Humans will go their separate ways. The Cylons have abandoned the Colonies and will no longer chase the fleet. Naturally Roslin and Adama are suspicious of this and Roslin does her usual: Walk the airlock routine.

Meanwhile Starbuck and Anders do a sickening junior high make out session in front of Apollo who is clearly disturbed by it. It’s sophomoric and really belongs on Dawson’s Creek really. It took me right out of it.

As the election unfolds Baltar has a clear advantage when most of the votes are counted, sending Tory to initiate Plan B. It is a success as Roslin wins the election.

Lt. Gaeta however, realizes a problem with the ballots and reports first to Colonel Tigh, and then after he acts suspiciously to Admiral Adama. Sure enough, the election was rigged by Tory. When Adama confronts Roslin, she admits it all claiming that it is more important to keep Baltar out of the presidency.

Adama is extremely disappointed until Roslin brings up her vision to him. Adama agrees with her feeling, but ultimately decides that they can’t become criminals. He pardons Roslin though and marks the rigging up to an tabulating error.

Gaius Baltar is the new president and his first act is to begin settlement. After a tearful lovemaking/goodbye session Baltar, Pegasus Six sets off the nuclear warhead that Baltar had given her, destroying the Cloud 9.

Adama suggests beefing up internal security before moving to Caprica, but Baltar won’t hear of it.

In a unique and interesting twist, the story jumps forward an entire year and New Caprica has been settled. It’s not often done in television, but it made sense to try to shake things up for the new season. It set the tone that the third season would be completely different than the previous ones.

The year has not gone well for Baltar. He is lackadaisical, a womanizer, and an alcoholic. Gaeta serves as his presidential aide.

The Chief, with a pregnant Cally in tow has been put in charge of the union and is fighting for better conditions for their workers.

Meanwhile Anders is sick with pneumonia, but Cottle doesn’t have any more antibiotics. Apollo is supposedly hoarding them aboard the Pegasus. Tigh suggests that Starbuck call him, but she doesn’t seem too thrilled.

She sucks it up and makes the call but then the unbelievable happens. The Cylons jump in and the Battlestars are woefully underprepared, and lax. They can barely field a squadron. Apollo suggests they jump immediately. Adama is unsure. He hates leaving everyone, but he knows that Apollo is right. They can’t win now, but they can escape to come back later.

The Cylons storm Baltar’s office and he is forced to surrender and the Cylon occupation of New Caprica has begun.

Overall it took a lot of risks, some of which worked, some of which didn’t. Unfortunately the risks also made the episode very disjointed with very little flow. That hurts the overall viewability and thus the overall story.

Great concept, but it doesn’t always work the way you want it to.

C+

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