“A Day In The Life”

I’m not sure what to think about “A Day In The Life” yet. On one hand, it’s an exploration of humanity, which is never a bad start. And it deals with characters you always want to know a bit more about. On the other, the choice of how to handle the exploration sometimes seems mediocre at best.

We have two main stories. The main thrust is Adama’s tale. It is Adama’s anniversary which gives him pause to reminisce about his late ex-wife and what happened over the years. Unfortunately the writers choose to have him remember by using a plot device that’s been used already. Instead of a Virtual Six, we get a Virtual Ex-Mrs. Adama.

What’s worse is that the performance by Ex-Mrs. Adama is cringeworthy at best, and downright annoying at worst.

We see quickly in Adama’s fantasies that their relationship was far from perfect as Mrs. Adama continuously attacks Bill for putting his duty before his family. If you’re going to have a fantasy, a nagging wife shouldn’t be a part of it.

The other main thrust is the troubled marriage of Chief and Cally who share some of the same faults as the Adamas. When people call in sick, Chief and Cally have to pick up the slack and leave Nicky to the daycare. Cally complains, but the Chief reminds her that duty comes first.
They enter an airlock which has been having a problem and sure enough, anyone could predict it…they get into a situation. There is a tiny pressure leak in the airlock, causing the door to automatically shut and lock. Chief doesn’t seem too concerned and goes about finding the leak.

Meanwhile the Adama Roslin “relationship” continues to grow and we get a little more insight through Virtual Mrs. Adama as she laces into him for keeping his distance from her. Roslin wants to set up a trial for Baltar, but twelve colonies had twelve sets of laws and she needs help with creating a common law. She asks Adama to appoint Apollo due to his grandfather’s career. Adama is doubtful because Lee has never shown an interest, but he promises to ask.

Adama makes for the ready room where Apollo is going to be briefing the pilots. This is where the true exploration takes place. Adama’s relationship with his son is what drives the episode, not his relationship with his long dead ex-wife. He watches from afar, as Apollo laces into the pilots for being lax just because it’s been 49 days since an encounter with a Cylon. Through his fantasy we see him struggle over the difference between Admiral – CAG and father – son relationshipsStarbuck applauds Apollo’s speech, but cautions him from using too much of his father’s key words. Apollo laughs and says that if you’re going to steal, to steal from the best. Adama approaches with Roslin’s offer. Apollo is shocked, but agrees.

The Tyrol situation grows to a critical point as the breach that Galen found and tried to fix, has breached further. They are running out of air and freezing quickly. Adama is informed and there is a rescue planning session, but there is too much difficulty. It would take too long to cut through the door, and the glass between the control deck and the airlock is so thick that it would take an explosive so big that the Tyrols would be killed as well.

The plan they come up with is risky but inventive. Athena will pilot a Raptor up to the exterior hatch and they will blow the airlock. The Tyrols will be sucked out and be caught in the Raptor’s open hatch by Apollo and Starbuck. Cally is scared, but Adama assures them they can survive for up to a minute.

As always, right before a risky situation, people realize simple truths. Chief apologizes to Cally, saying he was being selfish and that’s why he brought her along on the mission rather than someone else. They also promise to take better care of Nicky if they survive. In addition Cally makes the Admiral promise to let a woman named Susan Deckler raise Nicky if they don’t. Adama agrees.

The plan is daring and exciting and when it works, the viewer is pleased enough.

Once back aboard, Apollo and his father have a heart to heart about Ex-Mrs. Adama and Apollo vents on how after the marriage ended she turned to drinking and was hard on them. He also claims that he doesn’t think she loved his father. Adama refuses to hear that.

Apollo returns to his quarters where Dee tells him about a package for him. His father had kept his grandfather’s old law books and has gifted them to Apollo. Apollo is touched.

Adama and Roslin meet one last time and reminisce about their conversation on New Caprica regarding Roslin building a log cabin and settling down. Their relationship is growing very slowly, but unlike most tv romances, there is no hurry. It’s a nice change of pace.

Overall “A Day In The Life” is certainly a filler episode and one that does a decent job of pinchhitting. Unfortunately, as it is more and more common in BSG, the execution leaves a lot to be desired making this a just about average episode with some highlights.

C+

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