The Eye of Jupiter By Luke Hung

We open with a Raptor doing a spicy full spin as she is launched from the Galactica. The Raptor streaks towards the Algae planet as we watch Chief Tyrol wander around the base camp. There are a number of civilians who look delightfully busy. Tyrol bumps into Anders who apparently leads the civilian workers. They mutually complain about the smell and the taste of the algae, and wish for a “hot fudge planet.” Their conversation is broken up by the Raptor ripping through the atmosphere. The Chief follows the Raptor with his eyes for a few moments before reorienting on a mountain crest that doesn’t seem all that far away.
Inside a temporary building Dee divines that the reckless pilot is Starbuck, big surprise, and wonders aloud how odd it is that she ended up on the re-supply run three times in one week. Lee explains that the missions are assigned randomly and Kara must be having a run of bad luck. Dee ‘um hums,’ him and elects to pass on the “meet and greet.” This is a good thing because the “meet and greet” is one huge make out session, and if Lee didn’t start talking about divorcing their spouses it would have turned into some serious fracking. Kara responds to Lee’s suggestion by stating that divorce is sacrilegious. Huh? Divorce is wrong, but cheating like a pair of oversexed teenagers is okay? Apollo is as confused as I and starts demonstrating some moderate moral qualms, which are a little late as far as I’m concerned. Long story short, Starbuck won’t divorce and Lee won’t cheat (they should have added anymore).
Kara is a study in contradictions some make sense, others less so. Given her protracted history of abuse by her mother it is not odd that she is traumatized and has relationship problems. Since abuse occurs across all groups it is not odd that she is religious. It is not even that unusual that religious people do morally objectionable acts, but its weird that she is so okay with it. She seems to be okay with all of her excesses, drinking, sex, recklessness, and insensitivity. Maybe it’s me, but I like to think all the genuinely pious people feel remorse for their transgressions, not revel in it. They try to hide their fallacies not trumpet them.
Meanwhile, the Chief orders Cally (Hi, Cally) to break down the tents, I guess the algae collection is almost complete. In between his ordering and walking he stares off at the mountain. Really funny to me, Tyrol stares off into space as two women try to muscle a very heavy looking container around. Eventually, without helping, Tyrol goes off wandering up the mountainside. On a Basestar, Baltar having his delusions that he is a Cylon, which I continue to submit he is not. Being a Cylon would free him of his moral tribulations, and it would undo all the wonderful angst he has gone through. Baltar later goes to visit Hera (the human/Cylon fusion). Hera cries uncontrollably as Sharon (the first Boomer) tries to console her to no avail, however Baltar does a little better, because he’s the chosen one.
Back on the planet Tyrol wanders like Moses up the mountain and finds the Temple of Five, which contains the Eye of The Jupiter. It looks like a giant corn silo to me, but what do I know. Next scene, Tyrol is explaining it for Roslin and Adama stating that the Temple of Five is an important element of faith. I only wonder if the tribes split up never to be heard from again how do they know anything of the journey of the thirteenth tribe. Tyrol throws out more evidence that proves that this is a temple from the Thirteenth tribe, but I long since stopped listening. Fortunately, battle claxons sound and we learn that four Baseships have leaped into the system.
Following what seems an eternity of time Adama orders the emergency jump of the fleet. He intends to hold the Galactica back in hopes that they will be able to recover the personnel on the ground. Roslin seems more interested in delaying in hopes of deciphering the information in the temple and finding the route to Earth. Tigh then informs Adama that the Cylons are hanging out just beyond weapons range. All of them are confused by this atypical behavior, but only for a short because a new surprise awaits them. They Cylons are radioing the fleet, using Baltar as their mouthpiece. They seek a face-to-face meeting. I am amused by the Cylons’ behavior because, if the Cylons just attacked as they normally do, Adama would have jumped the Galactica, probably after he recovered his personnel, but he would not have thought nor would he of had enough time to destroy the temple. By negotiating they gave Adama an opportunity to use the hammer he held.
After a clip of a heavy raider flying towards the Galactica, a boatload of Cylon humanoids along with Baltar march towards the conference room on the Galactica surrounded by a phalanx of marines. Adama, Roslin, and Tigh make up the human negotiation team. They apparently want to stall so the people on the planet have more time to escape. Baltar looks both fearfully and longingly at the Battlestar’s hallways. He claims that he misses it, much like Lucifer missed Heaven after he was cast out. Holo-Six correctly informs him that if he every returned to the Galactica without a full escort of Cylons they would airlock him and throw a party so fast it would make Mardi Gras look like a church social.
At this point Sharon (Athena Version) sees Sharon (Boomer Version) and informs Tigh of such. “The one that shot the old man?” He questions hostilely with a slight hint of dirty old man. “You just lost your visiting privileges.” He orders the marines to hold ‘that thing’ in the hallway. Take a close look Athena… piss off Adama or Tigh that could be you too. Xena gives Athena a dirty look as she passes by. You know what she is thinking; ‘you capped me in the knees you bitch.’ On to the meeting, Baltar looks pleadingly between Adama and Roslin and whimpers some platitudes. Roslin can’t even meet his eyes. The Cylons are kind of amusing; they are pretending that they are all friendly, peace loving creatures looking to parley, when in reality they are genocidal, homicidal, maniacs. Cavil, Dean Stockton, to you and me goes as far as to say, “We come in peace.” Heh, he just makes me laugh and laugh.
The Cylons bottom line it, they want the Eye and they know that it still on the ground. Baltar starts talking about the coincidence of every character in the show showing up in the same place at the same time. In the real universe that would be very improbable, however in television land its actually pretty commonplace. Roslin gets pretty indignant as if Baltar’s voice is offensive. She storms off mid-Baltar-sentence. I mean, I get it, I find Baltar to be an annoyingly weasel, but Roslin has little right to be insulted by his presence. She, at best, is a woman pushed to the very limit of moral ambiguity by circumstance or at worse is a two faced Machiavellian schemer. Baltar correctly notes that he has saved her life a whole bunch of times; of course he conveniently leaves out the billions he’s incidentally killed.
Adama wants the offer and the Cylons offer them their lives and Baltar. Hee, Baltar starts freaking out right away. Well that was a surprise to Baltar and he starts questioning the suggestion. Cavil says he’s just winging it. Cavil sums up that he’s sure that Adama and Roslin would love some private time with Baltar. Tigh smirks and says, “It’s something to think about.” In the hallway Boomer tells Athena that her daughter is still alive and that the Colonials stole her. She adds that you only could do that if you thought Athena was “a thing.” Athena can’t take it, calls her a liar and stalks off. Adama at about the same time responds to Xena’s threats by stating he will nuke the site from orbit (Yes, that’s an Aliens reference) before he lets the Cylons get the roadmap to Earth. Well we call that a Mexican Standoff boys and girls. He orders the marines to take the ambassadors to the flight deck. In a magnificent shot Baltar is in a three quarters profile, a half an inch from crying. He’s desperate to stay, but terrified of being tossed in the negotiations as a little incentive because he’s equally as desperate to stay alive.
Quickly following the meeting, Adama and Roslin try to fill in Apollo and Starbuck on the details of the ceasefire. Adama orders the temple destroyed if the Cylons look as if they are about to take it. Roslin is asking that they figure out the message and locate the Eye. Apollo wants something concrete and says, ‘does it look like an eye?’ Yeah, like anything is that easy. Starbuck totally frustrated and knowing that they are all screwed just stares at the desk in front of her. Making things worse, before they can receive any further orders ‘the Cylons cut the wireless.’ ‘How can they cut the wireless, they’re just machines?’ (Okay that’s from Aliens too.)
Starbuck suggests using Anders to organize the civilians. Great idea. Anders and Apollo get along just about as well as you would expect considering Anders correctly believes that Apollo is sleeping with his wife. In the next scene, Apollo tries to give Anders some very military sounding orders, which just confuse and frustrate Sam. It gets so fiery in the tent that Starbuck breaks them up. Anders storms out and Apollo comments on how well that went. Tyrol with Cally continues to attempt to decipher the temple. He describes his childhood of disbelief and blasphemy and correlates it with how he now is planting bombs inside the holiest temple and blowing it up.
Out in space, between some glamour shots of the Galactica and the Cylon Baseships, Gaeta informs Adama and Roslin about an imminent supernova, which totally sucks for everyone. Amusingly, the supernova does cause a time limit on the standoff. On a Baseship, the Cylons discuss the situation. The Xenas (Threes) think they can’t do anything that might risk the Eye, while Cavil points out that they are machines and they will eventually find Earth with or without the Eye. Caprica-Six continues to vote with the Threes and is against action. Xena also adds that there are plans in motion. She without permission sent a heavy raider replete with contingent of Centurions to the planet when they jumped in. Cap-Six, Baltar, and the rest of the Cylons wonder why they weren’t informed of this mission and Xena said it was need to know. Cap-Six looks particularly betrayed.
On the planet, Anders is mobilizing the civilians. He gives some orders about passing out ammo and making mines. Apollo tries to make nice and says he would have made a good officer. “Like you?” he snipes back. He also tells Apollo that he knows about his affair with Kara and that Apollo isn’t the first person Starbuck cheated with. Well that’s just sad, if true. Its quite possible that Anders is lying to make Apollo feel even more cheap, but that would be very manipulative in an emotional situation. Apollo tries to deny it, but he just gives up after a few moments.
Xena and Baltar sit in front of the Hybrid both thinking that they are special. Xena thinks she is about to see the final five and possibly the face of God and Baltar is the Chosen One. At least so says the Hybrid. Cap-Six slinks in and says despite sharing a bed and being together all the time she is feeling more and more out of the loop. Baltar tries to deny this, but Xena basically tells her that Baltar and she are special and Cap-Six ain’t. Cap-Six tells them she loves them and Xena says right back at ya, but the fact remains she ain’t special. Six looks like she is about to cry as she stares at Baltar who sides with Xena. Et tu Baltar.
Back to the planet, Dualla is setting up the ground positions and Starbuck’s duties as airborne scout. Kara counters that she has done this “once or twice” before. Dualla ignores her and keeps on going as she finishes she half turns towards Starbuck and asks if she is okay with that. The tension is delicious. It was so good I wanted to see it twice. In the next scene we see Dualla at her sentry post plugged into base camp. Starbuck is flying the Raptor and quickly bumps into the Cylons. Her eyes go wide and her missile alert claxons ring. I counted eight Centurions and a missile launcher, but I could have missed a few. Starbuck jinx and jukes back towards Dualla all along the way pressing a Morse code like light button informing all who could see it of her information. Dualla relays the message to Apollo and all she is able to get to is Centurions before Starbuck is hit. We see a quick flash of the Raptor’s cabin on fire and Starbuck screaming in pain. Then nothing.
Adama stalks into a room on Galactica that appears to be designated for Roslin’s use. Roslin tries to make small talk, but Adama cuts to the chase. He informs her of Boomers accusations about the child and how it was seen in her school. She doesn’t bother denying it and start into her spiel about how the child was well taken care of and it was in the best interest of the Colonies. Adama bends over as if he was punched in the stomach and when he regains his composure he walks out without another word. The very next scene Adama stands in front of Helo and Sharon. Helo lays on the guilt about how much they went through and how Adama should feel extra guilty. Ever the optimist Adama counters that their child is still alive and one day they will be grateful for that.
On the planet, Apollo informs Anders of Starbuck being shot down. He then informs the Sergeant to get her people on the line and the Cylons are coming from the north. Anders wonders about a rescue party and Apollo tells them that they don’t have the manpower to effect a search and rescue. Anders ain’t having any of that and says he’ll go himself. Apollo tells him that they can’t afford that either. Anders responds with he isn’t a soldier and he’s going after his wife. They banter back and forth for a few moments, but ultimately the Sergeant is forced to pull her side arm to keep Sam in line.
In space, six heavy raiders are launched for the planet. Tigh states that the Cylons are testing them wondering if they are bluffing about the nukes. Roslin says, “Unfortunately we are bluffing.” Adama, “Are we?.” I guess not. Adama start going through the nuclear launch procedure with a disbelieving Roslin looking on. She wants to demand that he stand down, but she’s lost all her Adama good will with the stolen baby thing. Roslin offers that Lee and Starbuck are down there, but that seems to have little affect either. Adama authorizes nuclear launch and we have to wait January.

Overall the episode was a B

Acting: A-, Frankly some of the better acting performances of the season, particularly from Sackhoff, McClure, Callis, and Park. It just goes to show that people don’t always have to be arguing to be performing well. The other actors did well also, I don’t want to forget them, but those four were notably spectacular. Though I didn’t much like Sam Anders dialogue he’s a likable character but he just has an incredibly inexplicable attitude and below average dialogue.

Plot: B, The episode was quite exciting. It good but some things didn’t make sense, aside from Starbuck’s bizarre desire not to be sacrilegious. Nor am I a huge fan of the Temple of the Five angle, but I’m not religious so what do I know or care. Despite the things I don’t like there was also good balance between developing characters and moving the plot along. Furthermore they are adding more depth to Tyrol without beating us over the head with him, Cally not so much.

Action/Episode Energy: B, Smooth, the episode was very smooth. There was good dramatic tension, which I gave some credit to in the plot section. I loved the threat of a nuclear launch. I was like every old cold war movie I’ve ever watched and Roslin staring over Adama’s shoulder in disbelief, awesome.