Pegasus

Tonight's episode of Battlestar Galactica. "Pegasus", was the summer season ender, and the best episode I have seen. It opens with Galactica picking up the presence of an unidentified ship. When it comes a bit closer, Petty Office Dualla (Kandyse McClure) reports that she is receiving Colonial signals. Cmdr. Adama (Edward James Olmos) tries hailing the ship, and receives the answer that the ship is the Battlestar Pegasus.

Adama speaks with the Admiral in command of Pegasus (Michelle Forbes), and tells her he is delighted to hear her voice. The Admiral and her command crew come to the Galactica, and are greeted by Adama's crew on the flight deck, in dress uniforms, standing at attention to welcome her aboard.

After a celebration on the flight deck, Adama, the Admiral and President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) meet in Adama's ready room, where they catch up on what has happened to each ship and crew. To the surprise and consternation of President Roslin, Adama answers "Yes, Sir" when the Admiral says she wants to read his logs. Adama tells her the Admiral is his superior officer, and he is used to taking orders. Though when he is alone, he is clearly unhappy about it.

Meanwhile, Coloonel Tigh (Michael Hogan) and the XO of Pegasus are conferring and drinking. The XO tells Tigh the Admiral ordered her previous XO to attack a very large Cylon fleet, and when he refused, she took his gun and shot him in the head, then tells Tigh he was kidding. Tigh later tells Cmdr. Adama he thinks she actually did it, but Adama says they have too many problems in their logs to worry about.

The Admiral tells Adama after reading his logs that she will integrate the two crews, and gives him a list of people who will transfer to the Pegasus. The list includes Apollo (Jamie Bamber) and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff). When Adama tries to reason with her, she tells him he has his orders, and that's the way it is going to be.

Apollo and Starbuck angrily protest the decision, but Cmdr. Adama tells them to act like officers, pack their bags, and report to the Pegasus.

Chief Petty Officer Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) and Helo (Tahmoh Penikett) are drinking with some of the Pegasus crew, when they learn the Pegasus has an officer who interrogates Cylons, brutally. They learn he has raped and beaten the female Cylon prisoner on the Pegasus. The men make crude remarks about what he will do to Cylon Sharon (Grace Park). Helo and Tyrol take off running to Sharon's cell, where they find the interrogator preparing to rape Sharon, with an audience of several guards.

Helo and Tryol attack the men, and one of them (I don't remember which one) tosses the interrogator against a bulkhead, where his head strikes a bolt that is sticking out several inches. The officer dies, and the guards subdue the two men and take them prisoner.They are transferred to the Pegasus, against the protests of Cmdr. Adama. The Admiral assures Adama they will have a fair trial, but proceeds to hold the Court Martial quickly and without notifying Adama. She finds them guilty and sentences them to execution.

When Adama learns of this, he is astonished and angry. He orders Vipers be launched to attack the Pegasus, then calls the Admiral and tells her he is sending the ships to pick up Tyrol and Helo. She tells him they will stay on the Pegasus and await execution, and prepares to defend the Pegasus.

There are many powerful scenes in this episode, but the best is between Dr. Baltar (James Callis), Number 6 (Tricia Helfer), and the female Cylon prisoner held on the Pegasus. The Admiral has asked Baltar to examine the prisoner. Number 6 accompanies him to the holding cell, where they are both horrified by the prisoners condition. She is a Number 6 model, and is chained to the bare floor, covered with blood and bruises, and apparently unconscious.

Number 6 is distraught at her condition, in tears and begging Baltar to help her. He is firm with her, quieting her and telling her he will do everything he can do to help, and asking her to leave them alone.

He brings the prisoner some food, tells the guards to remove her shackles, then to leave them alone in the cell. He sits on the floor across the cell from her, and tells her about knowing Number 6 on Caprica, and falling in love with her. He tells her he will not take her food away, and is there to help her. She finally reaches for a piece of fruit, and is so weak, she has to drag it along the floor to her mouth. She is evidently so hungry, we see her cry when she tastes the fruit.

This is an incredibly moving scene. Both Callis and Helfer give outstanding performances. Baltar is at his strongest and most effective here, but he is also very honest and tender when he tells the woman of his love for Number 6. The music in this scene is beautiful and moving, different from anything I have heard during the series. I would love to know what this piece of music is, and who wrote it. If anyone knows, please tell me.

As I said before, I think this episode is the best I have seen in the series. Powerful writing and acting are accompanied by even stronger music. Fine performances were given by Olmos, Forbes, Callis, Helfer, and Hogan.

It's a very long time until January and the next season!!

Comments

[fred]

Great review, and couldn't agree more about Baltar and Number Six. I think the test of wills between the two battlestar commanders was in a word palpble, and the taking of Galactica's 2 officers a final straw. The end confrontation seemed a bit too predictable, you just feel it coming, but it fits well, making it hard to bitch to much about it.