My thoughts last week be dammed, not exactly “Die Hard in space” was this episode.

As with “Scattered”, the episode follows multiple points of view. The primary story arc is concerned with a Cylon raiding party aboard Galactica, but we also visit with Starbuck and Helo on Caprica (Starbucks drives a humvee), and the stranded crew of Raptor 1 on Kobol.

Generally, a lot of tv shows will have an episode that can best be described as “Die Hard” … for example, in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Starship Mine”, Captain Picard takes on the John McClane role. Replace the MP5 with a phaser, and terrorists after gold with terrorists after something from the warp core, and you’ve essentially got the plot, which involved Picard running around the Enterprise clobbering people with - among other things - a saddle.

But this isn’t that for Battlestar Galactica, not by a long shot. There are only two combat sequences, and they’re both over with rather quickly. The best parts of the episode come not from the combat, but rather, the race against time — see, Tigh’s familiar with the Cylon tricks (he’s fought them before), and knows they’re trying to get to the aft damage control where they can ventilate the ship to space. Enter Apollo and a ragtag group of Viper pilots, Marines, and technicians, who race to intercept the last few Cylons before they can finish their deadly mission. Also throw in - just for fun’s sake - the ousted President Roslin, her aide, and a couple of random crewmembers (including the Marine I mentioned here as being a new recurring character, he got a name but I forgot to make note of it) trying to reach sickbay and instead straying directly into harm’s way. In good news, though: Dualla and Billy have dirty-dirty sex in sickbay!!!!! (In bad news: we don’t get to see them have sex. I’d've settled for a shot of Dualla’s boobs.)

What makes the threat of the Cylons so awesome is the status of the ship - main power is out, backup power is sporadic. Exterior shots show Galactica slipping out of alignment with the civillian fleet and “falling” clear. Inside the ship, corridors are littered with boxes and crates and dead bodies everywhere. Lighting is provided almost entirely by flashlights mounted to the Marines’ weapons or the dull glow of a console on a crewmember’s face. And in the background — gunfire, and the rythmic step of the Cylon centurion’s cold, metal feet as they march onward. The episode doesn’t quite work on a horror film level, but its certainly suspenseful and well worth the watching.

We don’t see Boomer this episode, although Starbuck and Helo have it out about his releationship with her. Tyrol’s decision to end the life of his crewman despite all he, Callie, and Tarn went through (Tarn got killed) is particularly harsh but well played.

There’s a frantic pace to this series which is so often missing in other hour-long dramas. There’s a sense of urgency - we don’t move, we die type of deal. Paul’s Blog is right when he writes, “WOW! They’re going places with this [series].” It’s going to be a hell of a fun journey … (already is)!

Upcoming:

The crew of Raptor 1 might be rescued next week, but I think it’ll be a long time before Starbuck and Helo are back aboard Galactica. If they ever get back, that is. Roslin looks like she’s shit-out-of-luck at being reinstated any time soon, but that’s okay because Richard Hatch is back next week as sly-villain Tom Zarek.