“Dirty Hands”

“Dirty Hands” is yet another filler episode, but again it’s one that explores a worthy topic. It is also one that is very relevant to society as a whole and grays a line usually viewed as black and white. We begin with Seelix explaining that she got turned down for flight training due to her being indispensable in her current job.

The subsequent Raptor flight they have been preparing for has an accident that nearly kills the President and her aide. It is discovered that there was impurity in the fuel, which leads them to question the man in charge. Zeno Fenner admits the impurity and implies that it was a glitch that could happen again unless someone would meet with them about their working conditions. After quoting from pamphlets that Baltar has snuck out, Roslin grows agitated and has him arrested.

Adama reacts by having the Chief go over and take command, continuing to try to figure out what was going on there.

Roslin meets with Baltar to discourage his writing, by lying and saying she has intercepted all he’s tried to smuggle out. She has him searched and she finds pages of the manuscript. It comes across as very tryannical, causing Roslin to look dicatorial. I’m not sure how intentional it is, but it wants you to almost feel for Baltar. I like the idea and let’s face it, Roslin has never had far to fall, and Adama with her.

Tyrol is led around by Cavett and we find that there are children working and conditions are worsening. Tyrol doesn’t like it and is reluctant to continue, but works over it. He is informed by a 12 year old boy that the pressure seals are not working. Tyrol discovers that the seals are actually missing. He is even more reluctant as he realizes it is over Zeno’s arrest.

Tyrol reaches out to Adama and Roslin trying his best to be truthful while still fighting for what he believes in. He’s caught in between a rock and a hard place. Roslin though, remains harsh as anything. She orders Tyrol to provide the names of those in charge of the protest. Tyrol reluctantly gives up Cavett.

Cavett is arrested and is placed in a cell near Fenner. Tyrol demands to know where the seals are as Cavett is hurting himself from post-traumatic stress due to being tortured by the Cylons on New Caprica. Fenner finally gives them up and Tyrol is able to get the work started again.

He goes back to Colonial One to talk to Roslin again, trying a different tactic, explaining the problem as he sees it. Skills are being passed down to children with no hope for them to achieve anything other than what their parent are.

Roslin agrees and they attempt to make a list of colonists with relevant skills to supplemnt those on ships with shortages. It’s not the perfect system, but it is a start.

Tyrol, against all he holds dear goes to Baltar to confront him about the pages that have gotten out regarding class structure and the difference between the aristocracy of Capricans and the like versus the Sagitarons and the lower class. Baltar learned that his truth had been getting out. We also learn that Baltar is from the lower class and he spent years losing his accent. It’s interesting again to get a different look at Baltar, humanizing him a bit more.

Tyrol goes back to the refinery and there’s a problem with the machine. After a young boy fixes the problem, it lashes out and hurts his arm. The Chief decides to stop everything and the refinery goes on strike.

The work stoppage spreads to the fleet and only vital missions would be supported. This enrages Adama who arrests Tyrol and orders him to stop the strike. Tyrol tries to tell Adama that he only wants to discuss help for their working class, but Adama won’t budge and we see a reason why. In his mind his fleet depends on following orders. If one person thinks an order is optional for any reason than the fleet could be destroyed. Adama goes over the top and orders Cally arrested for being a mutineer. If Tyrol doesn’t call off the strike, than he will put Cally against a bulkhead and shoot her dead. Tyrol is shocked and doesn’t think Adama will do it, but Adama doesn’t flinch. It’s a game of chicken, and Tyrol blinks, calling off the strike.

Then Adama surprises him by telling him that Roslin wants to talk to him about working conditions. They reestablish the union the Chief had started back on New Caprica. It’s a nice moment. We see the coming together of two classes and that there is hope for humanity.

As we go back to the deck, Chief is mustering his crew for work, when Starbuck comes in a charging asking where the hell Seelix is. Confused she steps forward. With a knowing smile, Chief apologizes for not getting to her part of the work announcments. Starbuck continues to yell at Seelix for being out of uniform. The Chief apologizes and says he can fix that, pinning officer pins to her uniform. Seelix runs out, excited to join flight training.

Overall it’s a fine look at society as a whole although somewhat overdone and dramatic. The sequence involving Adama and Cally was particularly overblown causing an important idea to be somewhat lost in the process, but overall the message is the same. The main problem is that there are no Cylons! BSG without the threat of the Cylons is alright once in a while, but it’s been too long, and it becomes less focused.

B-

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