“The Oath”

Sometimes a fast paced action episode can so quickly that it blows through any inconsistencies there may be or else leave the viewer behind if the viewer chooses to accept it.

This viewer did. 

There are certainly some problems with plausibility and as usual the situation is amped until it is (cue Monster Truck announcer) OUT OF CONTROL!!!!

Par for the course really, but as long as you get past those it’s a fun ride and in all honesty, the characters seemed more genuine than they have been in awhile.

As we saw last week, Gaeta and Zarek planned a revolution of sorts and this week we see it come to fruition.  And that’s part of the problem.  The speed that Gaeta is able to organize such a massive intricated uprising so quickly is hard to believe. 

In short, Zarek is freed and sent back to the Quorum after killing Chief Laird, lynch mobs are sent after Cylons and Cylon sympathizers like Anders, Boomer, Hera, and Helo, and ultimately Gaeta leads an armed revolt taking over the CIC and arresting Adama and Tigh for treason.   

It’s the characters that make it work.  Instead of the floating around aimlessly as they had been since finding Earth, each character made a decision on which side they were on right or wrong. 

Gaeta seems much more humanistic in his going dark.  Gone is the dark cynic and left is the true idealist he always was, doing what he thinks is right and the only way to save the fleet.  And in that comes doubt.  Doubt shows through on occasion and he does not kill Adama.

For the first time since Earth, Roslin is sparked.  In a good choice though it isn’t a sudden turnaround.  It’s a slow burn.  She begins to get involved slowly, and then stopping, but once the mutiny starts, she realizes what she has to do is president.    She also shares a great scene with Baltar who has been aimless since the end of season 3 really.  The two rivals understand that they are two old frauds looking for a way to atone for their mistakes. 

Starbuck also is awakened from her recent stupor, giving her something to focus on.

The interesting point is the brutality.  The sheer lynch mob attitude of the uprising.  It hearkens back to the Pegasus-Galactica conflict and indeed some of those rivalries are brought up.  It is definitely melodramatic how far most of these people are willing to go, stretching credibility even further, but again the message is more important.

As Lee makes his way back to Galactica and Starbuck helps him we see the lines drawn.  Admiral Adama and Tigh escape and the Tyrol breaks out of his most recent funk and helps as well getting Roslin and Baltar to safety while smuggling Lee and Starbuck to places unknown.

Admiral Adama and Tigh choose to make their last stand there as the marines come for them and we are left with a continuation.  It’s a great cliffhanger even if we are sure that Adama isn’t going to die yet….aren’t we?   We are running out of season and it would be like Galactica to pull a shock like that. 

And even the slightest chance of that makes it a good watch.

Overall, it was a good episode and moved along briskly enough to cover the flaws.

B

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