Review: Collaborators
Written by Mark Verheiden

Following up the New Caprican plotline is no easy task. There are so many different possibilities to elaborate on, I was interested in where the writers would take us first. Wasting as little momentum as possible, they decided to take a look into the aftermath of the Cylon collaborators.

In episode 3.5, Collaborators, a council of Caprican survivors decides the fate of known Cylon collaborators. Meanwhile, Laura Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and the new President, Zarek (Richard Hatch), conspire to bring Laura back into office. Elsewhere, the exiled Gaius Baltar (James Callis) finds himself an uneasy guest aboard a Cylon Baseship.

With a full, uninterrupted season this year, I think we're going to have to get used to more than a few 'filler' episodes. I'd say Collaborators was essentially one, though even filler episodes of Battlestar manage to stay engaging and continue to advance the story.

The main plot--the 'trials' given to the Cylon collaborators--was rightfully the most important of the episode. Not only did we see the fate of one of the show's most visible snitches, Jammer, but it also set the stage for how the new post-Caprican fleet would operate. The general pardon given to the entire human race will certainly be referenced again. Because, by definition, Gaius Baltar should be allowed to re-join the fleet without reprisal. If such an event were to occur, I'm sure it would make a nice plot with Roslin having to choose between vengeance and ideals.

Though from the looks of it, Gaius may not be getting back to the human race. I've been waiting for the moment Gaius would board a Baseship, and although the experience thus far has been a little underwhelming (the situation, certainly not Callis' performance), I continue to hold out hope that this plot will be going somewhere delicious.

Rating: 7 / 10 "Good stuff"