SPOILER Summary: Starbuck confronts the President over the decision to not follow Starbuck’s claim of being able to lead the fleet to Earth leads to her eventual imprisonment. Lee gives up his life as the Viper pilot Apollo and takes over the vacancy on the Quorum of Twelve. Anders, Tyrol, Tory, and Tigh (four of the final five Cylons) meet to discuss the Starbuck situation and the recent called off Cylon attack. Tory is “elected” to fish whatever information Baltar may have on the final five. Adama decides to trust Starbuck and sends her and a hand-piked crew to sewage recycling ship Demetrius to find Earth.
Meanwhile, the Cylons have a crisis of their own when Numbers Six, Eight, and Two feel the Hybrid’s “ramblings” combined with the Raiders calling off their attacks on the colonial fleet mean the final five are near, possibly in the human fleet. Number One rejects this and wants to lobotomize the Raiders so that they can no longer disobey orders. A vote on the matter has the Twos, Sixes, and Eights voting to prevent this while the Ones, Fours, and Fives voting to support the measure. It is an impasse except that one Eight (Boomer) votes to start the lobotomies. As such, the lobotomies start, forcing the Twos, Sixes, and Eights to remove the inhibitors on the Centurions, allowing them to have free will. Since the Ones, Fours, and Fives will not change their minds, the Centurions slaughter all of them.
Thoughts: Well, I have to say that Ron Moore and company have started this final season with a bang. Just absolutely amazing stuff, which if it continues, will ensure the series goes out with a bang.
Well, we get the explanation on the Cylon retreat which means that they still can be used as villains. That said, I completely didn’t expect there to be a Cylon revolt with the Centurions slaughtering all of the Ones, Fours, and Fives (though unless they are boxed, they’ll be resurrected). Very, very interesting stuff there.
The other big surprise for me was Baltar seeing an image of himself rather than Six. Further, it was the image that Caprica-Six sees (or so it appeared to me). Not sure where the writers are going with that, but I liked it (though I could have done without seeing Baltar banging Tory).
I liked how Starbuck is the one going to find Earth. After all, the President had her go find the Arrow of Apollo so they could ultimately find Earth. Therefore, it is poetic and right that she should be the one to find the way, even if the President doesn’t trust her.
Nice touch showing repairs being taken on the damaged ship from last week!
All around, another “win” episode for me.