Torn

In their psychologically devastated state, Tigh and Starbuck have found solace in each other's company, and their hopeless negativity and incessant drinking problems have alienated them completely from the crew. What will it take to make Kara face her poorly developed self-concept and allow Saul to get his demons back under some semblance of control? Meanwhile, things are not much better aboard the surreal dream-world of the Cylon base star. En-route to Earth, with Galactica shadowing them, Baltar is sent to investigate a dying base star which has been infected by a killer virus. In Torn, Galactica encounters this same ship, and the speculations begin.

Torn does much to advance the third season's story arc, but very little to provide any form of hope for the human or cylon populations. It's culmination, however, in the intense "Measure of Salvation" is even less upbeat.

Towards the end of this solid episode, I actually felt a little sorry for James Callis' long-suffering but ambiguous Baltar. Trapped aboard the Lynchian nightmare known as the Cylon base-ship, life is no bed of roses. The surreal world of the Cylons is chillingly dark, alien and cold. Even the normally amorous Number Six offers little comfort to Baltar now.

Elsewhere, on the Galactica, tempers are erupting and characters emotions are at breaking point.

An emotional, compelling episode, "Torn" (like "Collaborators" before it) provides a change of pace from the excitement of the earlier instalments of this third series. This is dark, uncompromising science fiction that works brilliantly as it mirrors the uncertainty and concerns of the post-9/11 world.

While all the cast are excellent, Katee Sackhoff delivers a powerhouse portrayal of a shell-shocked Starbuck, still coming to terms with the events of New Caprica and the duplicity of the Cylons.

7 out of 10. Not one of the best episodes but very watchable nonetheless.