Revelations

It's been well documented that Revelations was a mid season finale with no one knowing whether the final 1/2 would be made (writers strike). But in its own right, it's some of the best 40 minutes of TV that's ever been made.

The tension is relentless as the story builds to a climax, or at least what everyone thought.

What is often overlooked is the quality of the acting in this episode. It's never been better. Olmos, Hogan, and supporting cast have rightly won plaudits over the preceding seasons for their acting and portrayal of their characters. But many of the cast, particularly Hogan, reaches new heights in this episode. His portrayal of his tortured mind and how he tries and fails to deal with the realisation of who he actually is, is brilliant.

Finally the human traits of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness are all in evidence here making this episode all the more touching.

I always wondered what would happen when the Colonial found Earth. It is very interested that we do not actually see Earth from space, only from the sad faces of the people who have rediscovered it ...

How did that Colonial transmitter get to Earth? Why was Starbuck's old viper crashed on the planet? Her ship was destroyed by the gravity well of a large gas giant, some three months (or more) before they arrived at Earth. Her new Viper was the only ship that could initially pickup the Colonial beacon. We did see a glimpse of 'present day' earth from the end of season 3, where Starbuck comes back, showing what is the South East United States: Floridia, Gulf of Mexico, south east US coastline.... So they may have arrived 50,000 years in our past or 50,000 years in our future (or somewhere in between) and probably not during a major ice ages.

I think it would have been nice had they stayed in orbit, checking out what actually happened (this could take months)... but I would image they were so depressed at their discovery, they decided to put some distance between.

Who or what is the 5th cyclon? How did the final 5 get to Earth? How did they get off? When did the skin jobs start? Tigh was around for 30 + years. More importantly what or who is orchestrating all this?

There's only 2 reasons I watch this show...I invested the time already in previous episodes and Col Tigh. For all you supposed Sci-Fi fans out there who love the new BSG, give me a break! Go read some classic Sci-Fi novels by the true greats or watch some of the milestone films and TV shows from days gone by and you'll see what hacks these BSG writers are. Their only gimmick is "who is the fifth cylon". Poor writing and really, truly no sense of character development. If Adama resigns or tries to take power or cries again or discovers the inner father he should have been one more time...ahhhhh! And Roslin is as annoying a character that's ever been put aboard a starship. Out the airlock with her. I could care less if it's six more months before they conclude. These wannabe writers were out of tricks in season one. If you don't know that, you just don't know writing.

Be prepared to hit rewind on your Tevo.

Great mid season climax even if slightly rushed.

A lot of questions answered and sub plots brought full circle.

A lot of decent acting to accompany a good script. It isn't often that so many actors and actresses can take on they're roles so aggressively.

One of the best shows on television, cant wait to see the writers close this series up, wouldn't be shocked to see a "not so Hollywood" ending for this one.

So many issues left to ponder despite resolving what they did, meanings behind the riddles have yet to be illuminated, and with the occurrences of this mid season climax, a boat load of new questions need to be asked as well.

Prepare yourself... This episode is bound to spark much speculation in the forums.

Cheers:) pro

Battlestar Galactica; REVELATIONS (I originally saw this episode on it's original broadcast date. I'm writing this several years later after viewing it again).

In this - the first episode of the last ½ of the 4th season, (some of) the questions that had been asked, are answered.

From the profound devastation, of the irradiated Earth the Cylon/Human alliance finds, Revelations explores facets, of both of how this find impacts on individuals and the fleet as a whole.

There are several threads in this episode, three of which I want to discuss.

The first is Kara Trace - who finds her decimated remains in her shattered viper. THe question she asks - 'if that is me, what am I,' echoes both the whole idea of the series (what IS 'human,' as we've seen both the 'skin-jobs, and the 'final four' wonder - in different ways about that question.

But, in Kara's case, who has wanted to 'belong,' her own sense of self is now in doubt.

What is she, and why?

Another thread is also profoundly sad end of Dee - Anastasia Dualla's suicide.

In an early episode of Battlestar, she was sitting in Adama's quarters, and, she said she said the reason Adama asked her to 'talk,' is because he believed she was the 'quiet one,' and, though spare of words - when she did speak, she never wasted words.

She told Adama then, that he lost his foresight, and he needed to get it back - to help guide humanity.

At this point in time - when so much has been lost - both individually, and, for what seemed to be all of humanity - the spark that kept Dee going had burnt out.

It was a devastating moment - for the crew and the viewer.

The old (AA) saying about hitting 'rock bottom' is applicable here. You can't begin to rise until you hit that deepest low.

WIth the loss of Dee, the findings of Starbuck, and the general malaise that's begun to run throughout the fleet, the stirrings - ever slight - are beginning to happen.

These last 6 episodes show what's best about this series, and, in doing so, show us - humanity - what is our greatest strengths, and deepest weaknesses.