The Hub

Lorena Gale reappears as the priest who got mined in S2... The question is, is it really her or some kind of mental projection due to the jumps on a cylon base star?

We will just assume it was really her. Maybe she represents to Roslin the same thing that the Balthar and Caprica "angels" represent to Balthar and Caprica.

But even with this spiritual assistance, Roslin almost screws the duck, by trying to micromanage D-Anna (Lucy Lawless).

Helo also is at his worst by manipulating an Eight... Who actually trusted him. He could have, and should have acted quite differently.

These human failings almost cause the mission to fail, and the aftermath of the mission was a failure.

Meanwhile, the sixes and eights move that failure right along.

And then D-Anna makes a startling statement, basically, it did not matter who spoke to her first, she was going to betray everybody anyway.

This entire show is an exposition of failure of one side or the other- The instant we think there is going to be some understanding, there is self sabotage.

For instance, in season two the cylons decided to try to make nice with humans.

But then we see how they implemented this in the occupation episodes.

And then, in these episodes, what is supposed to be happening is an alliance but what we have are deeply paranoid people on both sides, with knives out ready to slice.

And the only clues given to people from either side are visions of the opera house, which they misconstrue time and again.

This whole show is an exposition which asks the question, how many mistakes are we going to continuously make until we finally figure it out? Which applies to people on earth as well as people on Battlestar Galactica.

Lorena Gale (who, sadly passed away, in real life shortly after the series originally aired), who had played the spiritual leader in the first, and , until her untimely death (by land mine), in the early part of the 2nd series, returns, and helps lead President Laura Roslyn on a journey of her own, in this episode.

Prior to this, we'd seen this time from Galactica's POV, and knew - as Admiral Adama hypothesised - the resurrection hub most likely had been destroyed, but, due to the hybrid's jumping away, just as Roslyn and Batar had arrived, they - and we - knew nothing.

For some reason, whenever the basestar jumps, Roslyn experiences herself - being accompanied by what for better words, is the spiritual essence of Elsoha, who escorts Roslyn aboard an apparently empty Galactica, and acts as a guide to her, explaining things, such as love, mortality, and belonging, as well as the impact these things have on others.

Empty, except for a very close to death Roslyn, and the 'bereaved;' Admiral and Lee Adama, and Starfucks, by her bedside.

Due to Baltar being seriously wounded by being sliced open from a piece of a Cemturion (who Baltar had been explaining - through metaphor - how in god's view, all are equal, but, in Cylon civilisation, Centurion's are nothing more than 'dogs,' with a treat on their noses, waiting for their master's to allow them to eat) which had been destroyed from a blast taking place outside of the basestar the 2 are aboard.

Roslyn attends to Baltar's wound - his 'hole in his hide,' as (Roslyn says) Doc Cottle would've said.

She gives him a shot of morpha, and quickly, the tranquillising of Baltar puts Baltar in a state of relaxed openness - much more-so, than he'd ever be, otherwise.

He mentions he'd been carrying a terrible burden, but, through his acceptance of god, this metaphorical weight has been lifted.

Roslyn asks; 'what burden?'

She's already recalled pieces of images from the last day on Caprica, and other times, she can recall seeing Baltar accompanied by a tall, blonde woman, the woman turning out to be Caprica Six, but, until now, that's all it was; conjecture.

Gaius admits to giving the Cylons access to the colony's CMP, which ultimately led to the holocaust, but, as Baltar says, he didn't know at that time, the 'blonde' was a Cylon.

The revulsion and anger, which come over her, comes across Mary McDonnell's face is palpable.

Gaius asks Laura to pray with him, and as she sits, she notices the blood, already on the floor from his wound, and blood still dripping, but, not nearly as much, before she began to bandage him.

Overcome with the anger, she feels toward him, for the holocaust, as well as the disastrous year of his presidency - under Cylon occupation - on New Caprica, as well as a myriad of other things, all of which stem from his giving the Cyloms access to the CMP, she begins to remove Baltar's dressing, As Gaius weekly protests.

'Shhh, it's all OK,' Roslyn responds.

Just then, the ship makes another jump, Roslyn is again transported to Elosha's side (leaning on the 'dying Roslyn's' bed), and she's speaking;

'I'm not saying that Baltar's done more good than harm in the universe. He hasn't. The thing is, the harder it is to recognise someone's right to draw breath, the more crucial it is. If humanity is going to prove itself worthy of surviving, it cant do it on a case-by-case basis.'

'A bad man feels his death just as keenly as a good man.'

Laura finally asks Elsoha; 'what do you want from me?'

'Just love someone.'

This simple, yet, misunderstood, feared, loathed, hated, and, yes - loved word, is the central theme, here.

The Beatles sang it to the world, with All You Need Is Love.

Marvin Gaye sang about it, with painful urgency in What's Going On?

So much violence in mankind's history, here - on (our) earth), has been done because of the lack of it, is something which god - through his messenger, Elosha, wants the steely president, Laura to let herself be open to.

Here, the president of the last remnants of humanity - someone who has wilfully blocked it, in her own self, is being asked, to let love in, just one person.

I think Roslyn felt it was an 'all-or-nothing' situation, which, in terms of allowing herself to be seems as having emotions, as president, people might say she did/didn't do things based on her being a 'woman.'

But, in reality, if she had allowed her emotions in, would've given her a broader view with decision-making, helped change the view many held of her as being 'an emotionless robot,' (pun intended), as well as possibly might've made the alliance between humans and the Cylons - rebel group, or not.

This episode's defined by the destruction of the central Cylon resurrection hub - from which all other hubs connect, so, with it's destruction, all the hubs, are destroyed, as well.

This allows (as the rebel Cylons say - first or them to have the one thing (aside from reproduction) they wanted; the ability to have a finite end to their lives, making living that much more meaningful, and the lives they've lived that much more valuable.

In essence, we've 2 opposite, but inter-connected points, one being the Cylons wanting to have meaning as part of their (now) solitary lives - and the emotions accompanying them, and the metaphorical opening of president Roslyn to her innate emotions, so she can herself be, more human than she was.

I haven't ever bothered voting or writing comments after watching films and episodes, but this time I just feel I have to.

Why? Because this is my favourite episode of the show so far. It flowed so well (unlike the last episode) with exhilarating, heart-warming, hilarious, and revealing moments at various points.

The music is just fantastic and fits the scenes perfectly, the action and special effects are absolutely stunning, the story progresses dramatically, and the acting is excellent. Roslin's character developed in a major way, and the actor who plays her really deserves an award for her performance in this episode.

Oh, and what about that ending? If the music had gone on for much longer after their embrace, I seriously would have had tears rolling down my cheeks. Simply beautiful...