Fragged

Mark here…we're on to episode 3 of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica.  This episode is called "Fragged" and it's very interesting.  The premise is basically Col Tigh is barely holding on to leadership of the fleet while the team on Kobol struggles to survive, awaiting rescue from Galactica.  On Galactica, Roslin is dealing with withdrawl from the drug she's been taking for her cancer (she' still incarcerated).  At the same time the Quorum (the fleet's version of Congress) is demanding to see her.  Tigh is reluctant to let them but his wife has visited Roslin in withdrawal and is convinced she is crazy.  Tigh then allows the Quorum to see her, thinking she'll be talking nonsense.  Unfortunately, her religious guard has snuck her some of the drug she needs.  The Quorum encounters a lucid Roslin who declares her incarceration unconstitutional.  This all prompts Tigh to declare martial law.  It's all very interesting as Tigh, being a drunk is clearly unable to negotiaite politics as Adama could.  Adama may not have agreed with Roslin, but he generally came around to seeing her point of view.  Tigh hates this role and doesn't get politics.

Meanwhile on Kobol, the team there is barely surviving and is forced to make some fatal decisions in a an effort to take down the Cylon force there.  Basically, they need to prevent the Cylons from shooting down their rescue team.  As annoying as Baltar is, it's an opportunity for him to be valuable.

Laurel here…not much to add except this is the first episode in a while that Baltar (the doctor who is enraptured by the cylon "6") actually does anything of value.  When the team scoping out Kobol are in the thick of it he actually steps up and does some work to protect the team.  I am totally surprised that this complete douchebag finally decided to do something of value.

Also wanted to give a shout out to the old, craggy, grumpy, chain smoking doctor Cottle who seems to be saving Adama's life.  We'll see what happens?!?

Mark and I are finished doing our "work" for the night and are about to watch the new footage from the director's cut of Alien…so excited!!

Valley of Darkness

Mark here… this episode, 'Valley of Darkness" picks right up at the end of last episode.  Cylon Centurions have gotten aboard Galactica and managed to cut the power (or at least the lights).  The episode is very tense.  It's a sort of typical writing concept, everyone fumbling around in the dark, but it's done well.  Lee Adama and Roslin are stuck making their way through Galactica with a team trying to avoid and yet destroy the Cylons.  It plays out very interesting and even though it's sort of a "filler" episode in that it doesn't really address any overall plot issues, it's still interesting.  Commander Adama is still in critical in sick bay.  We also get some glimpses of the team on Kobol, although it's not super interesting.

Separately we see Helo and Starbuck back on Caprica.  Compared to the drama on Galactica, this is a bit boring.  They make their way to Starbuck's old apartment, where we learn that Starbuck was a painter and liked classical music.  As Laurel said, the show is better than that.  We're supposed to be seeing another side of Starbuck, but it's a bit obvious and dull.  I was happy when they moved on.  There are better ways of showing us Starbuck's character….

Hey Laurel here…Not much to add as this was pretty much just a continuation of what had been started last episode.  The only thing to comment on really is to reiterate what Mark has said about Starbuck.  Her character came on so strong so fast it seems like now they are trying to correct themselves and it is definitely an overcorrection.  She was so hard and masculine in the beginning in almost a comical way,  like a caricature now they are trying to right the ship and it goes to far the other way.  Sensitive artist?  Ok we get it.  She's a "complicated woman".  Quit shoving it in our faces!  Many layers to the onion that is Starbuck!  Enough already!  All of the other ladies in the show are bad ass and feminine at the same time, not flopping from one extreme to the other.  Starbuck's character is so painfully contrived.  Hopefully she will find herself and level out, and this will quit being so annoying!

I think that Roslin is on her way to redeeming herself in the eyes of the crew.  Fingers crossed!  Although I have never doubted her.

Scattered

Mark here…Laurel and I are on to our first round of Season 2 episodes!  I made us Ina Garten's Green Risotto and herb wrapped fish and Laurel made a delicious kale salad to accompany.  And we're off with season two of Battlestar Galactica.  I'm excited to move on to Season 2s of our shows as we don't have to deal with the set up and establishment stuff of Season 1.

On to the episode!  This episode picks up right after the cliffhanger from Season 1.  Adama has been shot by Cylon Sharon and the entire fleet is thrown into disarray.  Tigh takes over and orders an emergency jump, leaving behind Chief, Cally, Baltar and an expeditionary force on the planet Kobol.  Fearing that Sharon has revealed their location to the Cylons, the fleet does the jump, and in the confusion, the civilian fleet ends up at a different location than Galactica.  It's a tense and fast paced episode as the crew on Galactica struggles to find a way to locate the civilian fleet.  At the same time Adama is in critical condition while Dr. Cottle is still lost with the civilian fleet.  Col. Tigh struggles with the responsibility of leadership and eventually they devise a plan to find the fleet.  All the while Roslin is still in Galactica's brig for sending Starbuck back to Caprica to retrieve the arrow of Apollo (a key to finding Earth).

In the end after a battle with the Cylons, Galactica does locate the fleet, but a ship full of Cylon Centurions has crash landed in one of Galactica's flight pods…unbeknownst to anyone…

Hey Laurel here…I'm a little confused about Sharon.  It seems like she is still the same old Sharon that we love and trust, and just got taken over by her programming temporarily when she shot Adama.  It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

I'm also interested to see how Roslin being in prison plays out.  Will Starbuck come back with the arrow and save the day?  Will Roslin be exonerated?

Also just wanted to add a note about Starbuck's makeup…when we see her this episode she is a little bloodied and beaten.  It just so happens that some of the blood runs down her face in the shape of a goatee?  Accidental or on purpose?  hmmm..

Also is Adama going to survive?  If not will Tigh be able to handle it?  So far he seems emotional but is handling things well?