BSG-Escape Velocity

Wow. Just…wow.

I’m not sure what was more disturbing: Tyrol’s utter, complete meltdown, Baltar’s messianic tendencies, Chip Six’s ability to physically pick Baltar up, or Tigh’s beatdown/makeout session with Six.

One of my old professors likened certain tragic plots as being akin to watching multiple trains on a collision course. We’re starting to see the trains picking up speed and we can tell that it’s gonna be a high body count collision.The dynamic between Laura and Adama just gets more and more heartbreaking with each episode. The parallels between the book Adama’s reading and their relationship are obvious, but they’re aware of it, which just makes it even more poignant. It’s always amazing watching McDonnell and Olmos work together.

When Tigh discovered his identity, he insisted that his identity was a matter of his will, not any programming. But his guilt over Ellen’s death has never truly been resolved, and now it’s starting to bubble to the surface, through the lens of his new identity. And now the cracks are beginning to show. Does he truly feel guilty? If he doesn’t, does that mean he never really loved Ellen–and if that’s true, is he then just another human killing Cylon? That’s the fear that keeps bringing him back to Six, hoping that maybe she can help him understand who he really is. But Six isn’t in on the joke; as a result, she comes up with her own punchline, resulting in first a beat down for Tigh, then a tender kiss. (That’s the problem with Cylons right now–mixed signals).

Tyrol is going through a similar purgation. He goes from the memorial service for Cally–and how heartwrenching was it when Laura tells Adama that she likes that memorial service?–to the mother of all meltdowns, as he tries to purge as much of his identity as possible in an emotional self-immolation. Tyrol is, I think, terrified that his programming led to the mistake that caused the Raptor malfunction, and is trying to get himself as far away from Galactica, from the ship–from the machine–that he loves so much. (there’s irony, and then there’s IRONY).

Tory–she seems to have fallen under Gaius’ spell. This cannot be good. This whole subplot is particularly timely, given the recent events with the polygamist sect in Texas. Unlike Tight and Tyrol, Tory has purged herself of apparently everything, and Baltar’s message has filled the vacuum. Interesting that last week, in saving Nicky, she saved the Cylon hybrid, perhaps atoning for not saving Hera in the exodus from New Caprica? I dunno. Tory doesn’t have the rich backstory of Tigh and Tyrol, making it harder to put her actions into any useful context.

Anders seems about to reveal himself to Starbuck. Given that Kara’s about two seconds away from her own Captain Queeg meltdown, I’ve no idea what’s happening there.

I’ve no idea where Moore and Eick are heading with all of this, but they do seem to have a clear destination in mind. I’m not sure I can stand too many more episodes as intense as the last three, though.

So, What did you think about the episode?