Post by Helo on Jan 7, 2005 4:02:43 GMT -5
A Syfi Portal Review by Alan Stanley Blair
The following review contains MAJOR SPOILERS of "Battlestar Galactica."
After watching the 10th episode of the reimagined "Battlestar Galactica" series, I could only take a look back.
In previous reviews, I said that some episodes, like "Bastille Day" and "Six Degrees of Separation", were blends of smart stories, well-executed directing, terrific acting and stunning special effects.
More often than not, however, the stories were anti-climactic, the documentary-style camera bobbing became aggravating after the first five minutes and the stunning effects were nothing more than icing on the cake with very little substance behind them.
If you have read my earlier reviews of the series, then you'll know I wasn't an instant fan. The series had potential, but it took most of the season for it to be tapped into. So when I say "The Hand Of God" was nothing less than an action-packed melee of superb writing, top-notch acting, great effects, all the juicy character interactions you would want and a climax which is worth the wait, I mean it.
The episode was beautifully crafted. Galactica has found herself in another pickle. Hard to believe given that the last of the human race is now on the run from a race of killing machines and they are looking for a home which may not exist. But there you have it. Fuel is running low, and there is only enough for a few more jumps before they are dead in the water.
But like all problems like this, there is a dangerous and equally rewarding solution -- the Cylons have a mine with all the fuel they could need to last for years. So do they risk civilians to seize it, or take their chances with whatever resources they have left?
Well the episode would be a boring one indeed if they chose to continue on their merry way without even trying to tackle the Cylons. And if that happened, then the following episodes would only see what's left of the entire human civilization running out of fuel and starving to death.
So they go after the Cylons using a dangerous and equally cunning plan devised by Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff). Her scenes in the episode seem to be with either Apollo (Jamie Bamber) or Cmdr. William Adama (Edward James Olmos) -- dynamics which have been explored in previous episodes, but which are all still compulsive viewing. Olmos himself gets a bit more depth than usual, picking up on a plotline which has rarely been touched since the miniseries: how he feels about his son.
In the four-hour miniseries, there was a harshly distant relationship between the two as a result of Zack Adama's death. Over the course of the series, however, Apollo has obviously come to accept his brother's fate and also accept his father for who he is.
Unfortunetely, however, the comedy stylings of Number Six (Tricia Helfer) and Baltar (James Calis) were vaguely touched. But their scenes together were no less important, and in fact done more for insight into both characters than all of their moments to-date.
All in all, the episode was engrossing from start to finish and will leave you wanting more. The story was sound, the directing was wonderfully done, the cast all rose to the challenge, and the special effects were nothing less than astoundingly gripping. This is what I was expecting from the miniseries. This is what I was hoping for with the series. But the real challenge however is topping this installment with the season finale in a few weeks time.
Alan Stanley Blair is a writer for SyFy Portal, contributing from his home country of Scotland. He can be reached at ablair@syfyportal.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: "Battlestar Galactica" currently is airing in the United Kingdom on Sky One, as part of that satellite company's agreement with Sci-Fi Channel to produce the series. It premieres in the United States on the Sci-Fi Channel, and in Canada on Space this month.
The Hand of God
Battlestar Galactica
Grade: A
The following review contains MAJOR SPOILERS of "Battlestar Galactica."
After watching the 10th episode of the reimagined "Battlestar Galactica" series, I could only take a look back.
In previous reviews, I said that some episodes, like "Bastille Day" and "Six Degrees of Separation", were blends of smart stories, well-executed directing, terrific acting and stunning special effects.
More often than not, however, the stories were anti-climactic, the documentary-style camera bobbing became aggravating after the first five minutes and the stunning effects were nothing more than icing on the cake with very little substance behind them.
If you have read my earlier reviews of the series, then you'll know I wasn't an instant fan. The series had potential, but it took most of the season for it to be tapped into. So when I say "The Hand Of God" was nothing less than an action-packed melee of superb writing, top-notch acting, great effects, all the juicy character interactions you would want and a climax which is worth the wait, I mean it.
The episode was beautifully crafted. Galactica has found herself in another pickle. Hard to believe given that the last of the human race is now on the run from a race of killing machines and they are looking for a home which may not exist. But there you have it. Fuel is running low, and there is only enough for a few more jumps before they are dead in the water.
But like all problems like this, there is a dangerous and equally rewarding solution -- the Cylons have a mine with all the fuel they could need to last for years. So do they risk civilians to seize it, or take their chances with whatever resources they have left?
Well the episode would be a boring one indeed if they chose to continue on their merry way without even trying to tackle the Cylons. And if that happened, then the following episodes would only see what's left of the entire human civilization running out of fuel and starving to death.
So they go after the Cylons using a dangerous and equally cunning plan devised by Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff). Her scenes in the episode seem to be with either Apollo (Jamie Bamber) or Cmdr. William Adama (Edward James Olmos) -- dynamics which have been explored in previous episodes, but which are all still compulsive viewing. Olmos himself gets a bit more depth than usual, picking up on a plotline which has rarely been touched since the miniseries: how he feels about his son.
In the four-hour miniseries, there was a harshly distant relationship between the two as a result of Zack Adama's death. Over the course of the series, however, Apollo has obviously come to accept his brother's fate and also accept his father for who he is.
Unfortunetely, however, the comedy stylings of Number Six (Tricia Helfer) and Baltar (James Calis) were vaguely touched. But their scenes together were no less important, and in fact done more for insight into both characters than all of their moments to-date.
All in all, the episode was engrossing from start to finish and will leave you wanting more. The story was sound, the directing was wonderfully done, the cast all rose to the challenge, and the special effects were nothing less than astoundingly gripping. This is what I was expecting from the miniseries. This is what I was hoping for with the series. But the real challenge however is topping this installment with the season finale in a few weeks time.
Alan Stanley Blair is a writer for SyFy Portal, contributing from his home country of Scotland. He can be reached at ablair@syfyportal.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: "Battlestar Galactica" currently is airing in the United Kingdom on Sky One, as part of that satellite company's agreement with Sci-Fi Channel to produce the series. It premieres in the United States on the Sci-Fi Channel, and in Canada on Space this month.
The Hand of God
Battlestar Galactica
Grade: A
