Battlestar Galactica: Mutiny on the Battlestar Galactica

When we last left the Galactica crew, Lieutenant Gaeta and Vice President Zarek were plotting to overthrow Galactica and assume control of the military and civilian governments, respectively.  You see after four years, people are a little frustrated that they still haven’t found a permanent place to live and that their leaders, Admiral Adama and President Roslin, are looking to form a permanent alliance with a group of rebel Cylons.  This week, the mutiny ball starts rolling.

Gaeta, with the help of some marines, breaks Zarek out of the brig and gets him back to Colonial One.  Along the way Zarek kills Peter Laird, who, rightfully, wanted to check with CIC before letting Zarek leave.  There’s no turning back now, Gaeta!  With Zarek back on Colonial One, Gaeta and what seems like a supermajority of Galactica’s crew triggers a false fire alarm at the other end of the ship.  This is just a ruse to disable communications and not draw Adama’s attention.  It doesn’t last long, though, as he and Tigh quickly sense something is up.  But before they can leave CIC, Gaeta signals for his marines to come in and place Adama and Tigh under arrest.  Unfortunately, some quick gunfire kills Private Jaffee and signals the loss of innocence on Galactica.

Back on Colonial One, Lee suspects something fishy with Zarek’s return but cannot get through to Adama on Galactica (thanks to Gaeta controlling communications).  Lee heads over and before he can be placed under arrest, Kara busts multiple caps in multiple asses.  Yes, yes, yes!  Finally, Starbuck is back!  The pair of them make their way through the ship, sneaking past the growing insurgency, to Adama’s room.  Roslin, who’s wig must have just come back from the shop, is dressed and ready to go–she wants to get to Baltar’s to address the fleet.

Over in Baltar’s Harem, we get some comic relief as Baltar tries to explain to his “lady friends” why he needs to leave them.  In truth, Baltar’s doing what he does best–self-preservation.  And this time Tyrol is helping arrange his escort off the ship.  Before that happens, Roslin enters and uses Baltar’s wireless to address the fleet about the need for peace with the rebel Cylons.  Of course, Gaeta cuts off the signal before she can finish her message, so it’s off to the escape bay–the secondary storage lock.

Meanwhile, Adama and Tigh escape from their captors and head toward the brig, where Caprica-Six, Athena, Helo and Anders are locked up.  Before they get to the brig, though, dynamic duo Lee and Kara arrive and the four of them head to the storage lock, where Tyrol promised a ship would arrive within the hour to evacuate them to the Cylon baseship.

At the storage lock, Roslin and Adama make-out in front of everyone and she leaves with Baltar toward the baseship.  Lee and Kara go with Tyrol to a secure area, while Adama and Tigh hold a last stand and await the marines heading toward them.  As Adama and Tigh share parting words and position for a gun fight to the death, the marines pry open the compartment and throw in a grenade.  It goes off as we fade to black.

Only seven more episodes left and I’m enjoying everyone one of them.  And since Adama swore neither amnesty nor forgiveness for this betrayal, will anyone be left on Galactica when this is all over?

Season 4, Episode 13: The Oath (originally aired January 30, 2009)

Listen to The J Factor with J.B. and Jaimie here or on iTunes.

For more on Battlestar Galactica, click here.

Sci Fi, Fridays at 10/9c

Photographs courtesy of Sci Fi and IMDbPro