Battlestar Galactica is one of the best shows I've ever seen. Seeing them for a second time, on the BBCAmerica rebroadcast, has opened up new views to episodes I'm long familiar with.
The episode FAITH is one of them.
'There's more to this existence than we can see with the naked eye. There's power that we can't begin to understand.'
A powerful message delivered with such quietness, that, I missed it the 1st time I saw it
With this episode, we really see how much has been lost - by both sides, by individuals, and with it, we see there are only two avenues from here.
The story is told in several dialogues, running concurrently. One is between President Laura Roslyn, with a woman named Emily, who's on the brink of losing her own battle to cancer.
'Something is happening here, and, I don't really understand it' - President Laura Roslyn to Commander Adama
This conversation she has, shows Roslyn - the words I quote above, and, the truths these key players learn of mortality, are what will power the series to it's penultimate finale.
'I'm not ready' - President Laura Roslyn to her mother'
In another, Starbucks, and her scout party are on the rebel Basestar, where the Cylons have no way to regenerate - they die, if they are killed.
'You are the harbinger of death, Kara Thrace. You will lead them all to their end.' -rebel Basestar Hybrid to Kara Thrace
In Starbuck's encounter with a Basestar hybrid, the words originally said to Kendra Shaw (Razor), by another hybrid, are repeated.
However, what these words mean, and, how they're interpreted, currently, are not exactly the same.
Felix Gaeta has been wounded - severely - and, while this is of minor importance in this episode, this wound, and what it does to Gaeta, will have very heavy repercussions.
'They call you Athena now
you were the first to say no (to the entire plan)
you showed us we don't have to be slaves to our programming
' - A number 8 to their sister, Sharon Agathon
'You pick your side, your side and you stick - you don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love, no family. No life to call your own. - Sharon Agathon to the gathered 8's
In one of the only times Sharon Agathon encounters her sisters, she tells them they're too unstable. Fascinated by the 'shiny things' as it were. By not making choices - of their own - with the possibility of winning, or losing, they miss out on the point of existence.
The conflict seen in Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii runs throughout the series - and is even mentioned (in the last episode) how she could never commit to anything.
But Sharon Agathon HAS made choices - and HAS Stuck with them. They've brought her tremendous pain, but also great joy, and love. And commitment. From both the human fleet in general, and, from her family.
'You guys make me sick' - Sharon Agathon to the gathered 8's.
In each of these threads, the question of faith - faith not necessarily in a higher being, but, a faith in one's choices, in one's decisions, is played out beautifully.
Watching this episode again, through eyes familiar with what the narrative portends, shows, how this episode, is such an important harbinger of the coming events.
The final dialogue, between Adama and Roslyn - even though they're (all) at such tenuous places, shows, that - through these various threads - with nothing concrete, nothing to hold on to, they're belief in...they're faith, has been restored.
'You made me believe' -Adama to Roslyn
'All of this has happened before - and it will happen again'
Seeing this episode, again, has lead me to get a little teary-eyed. They're all at such desperate states, they all have - in their own ways - so little left. They all take a step from a safe place, into riskier territories, and, as the saying goes; 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.'
