Collaborators

This is a very heavy-handed, political episode. I strongly recommend it to anybody who can take hard-hitting political criticism without a lot of whining and flag-waving.

The real stars of Collaborators are the exceptionally good script, picture-perfect editing and pacing. This is not intended to down-play the episode's great performances (especially by Hogan, Douglas and Juliani) - indeed, the script and story forced these actors especially to project what had changed in their characters on New Caprica (and not for the better) and really sets each of them in a different, more problematic light.

The reintegration of the New Caprica colonists is fraught with problems. Many of the colonists are psychologically unfit for duty, and military discipline on Galactica is not where it should be.

Basically, a state-authorized witch hunt is on, headed by Tigh and other senior offices who experienced and fought against the Cylon occupation first-hand. They are hunting down and murdering people who they view as Cylon collaborators. Predictably, things get complicated when one of the more cool-headed members of this cabal is forced to question the objectivity of their judgments.