“The Son Also Rises”

“The Son Also Rises” takes a true step towards revitalizing the franchise which had definitely been sleepwalking through its peaks and valleys by giving it a focus and a jolt in the arm.

In a very poignant opening, Admiral Adama is leafing through Starbuck’s file finding a humorous birthday card she gave him. Adama laughs and tears up. We are then shifted to another’s grieving of Starbuck — her husband. Sam is inebriated on top of a Viper, causing a scene.

Apollo comes into the hangar and is able to talk him down, but Sam slips and hurts his leg, but not before the two rivals share a moment together in a justifiably yet subtle emotional segment.

We see that the focus on what the upcoming finale will be. Roslin is picking the tribunals to preceed over Baltar’s trial. She is surprised when the final judge is Adama.

On board the Galactica Racetrack is scheduled to take Baltar’s attorney off the ship, when an explosion on board the Raptor killed him. Of course this leads to questioning whether the trial of Baltar is worth it. Roslin, maintains that her administration will not defer in giving him a fair trial. It rings kind of hollow with the viewer honestly given how often she’s swerved around legalities before…but is that any different from any government? To put on a face of justice and law, while picking and choosing what to follow behind the scenes.

We then are introduced to the biggest shot in the arm for the series. Romo Lampkin is assigned to be Baltar’s new lawyer. He is a vibrant character, that contrasts well with the darkness pervading the Galactica. He is well spoken, cocky, and engaging and comes with a cat. The cat belonged to his late wife, although it’s clear he has no real love for the animal. It’s a nice detail to character, something that’s been inconsistent since season 2. It is clear that Lampkin will help in quite a few ways.
It’s clear from a briefing session, that Apollo is being distracted by Starbuck’s memory, even calling Racetrack Starbuck. It leads Adama to ground his son, and place him in charge of security for Lampkin, not wanting him in a ship at the moment. Apollo and Lampkin have good chemistry…although I think Lampkin could have good chemistry with just about anyone. It is helped by the fact that Lampkin apprenticed under Apollo’s grandfather who taught him everything he knows…and he hated him for it.

Lampkin interviews Baltar and is quite obviously manipulating the proceedings, at once encouraging Baltar to continue his writing, and yet stealing his pen.
Lampkin eventually requests to go to Colonial One, but since Apollo is grounded from flight he asks Athena to shuttle Lampkin and himself over. Lampkin’s cat escapes its bag (in an obviously sped up sequence) as the door closes forcing the crew to crawl under the ship to find it. Where Tyrol finds a bomb. Everyone gets off and the bomb doesn’t go off.

Lampkin then interviews Caprica Six, while Roslin and Adama listen in. During the interview, Six says she will cooperate in prosecuting Baltar, but Lampkin tells her that Baltar is still in love with her. Six is touched, when Lampkin gives her the pen as a “gift from Baltar” who gave up his freedom for her. She hands the pen back, noting the guards will take it back anyways.

Lampkin is assaulted when his room key is set to explode. A guard notices a stray screw on the floor and pushed him aside so he does survive. Apollo brings Lampkin his bag and they have quite an interesting conversation, where Lampkin admits to being a kleptomaniac. He has stolen bits and pieces from everyone they’ve been in contact with, except for Apollo, as he’s lost too much recently as it is. It’s humorous, until Apollo finds what he stole from Captain Aaron Kelly, a piece to an explosive device.

Apollo goes after Kelly who admits it and says he’d do it again and again, and that they better put him in prison because he won’t stop. That’s how strongly he feels about it all.

Apollo and Sam share a moment on Memorial Highway where Apollo puts Starbuck’s picture up next to Kat’s, just the way she wanted it.

Adama tries to reinstate Apollo, saying he’s ready now, but Apollo won’t have it. He has been inspired by Lampkin as well as his grandfather. He wants to help Lampkin, especially as he’s injured. The two get into a fight until Adama finally storms out telling Apollo he’s through giving orders.

Lampkin then returns Baltar’s pen with a prescient note:

There’s no greater ally, no force more powerful, no enemy more resolved than a son who chooses to step from his father’s shadow.

It’s a great line that delivers the best ending to an episode this season. Yeah it’s setup, but it’s good setup.

A-

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