Review: Battlestar Galactica - Exodus Part 1
Written by Bradely Thompson & David Weddle

Come on, they wouldn't kill off Laura Roslin, would they? Would they...?

After the frantic cliffhanger of an ending to last week's season 3 premier, I found myself asking these kinds questions in preparation for Exodus Part 1. It seems they kind of wrote themselves into a corner on it--either 2 main characters would need to be killed off or they would have to pull some freak plot device that cops out of the situation. Either way, Exodus Part 1 had the difficult task of both concluding the premier's end point as well as transferring the show's tremendous momentum to the rest of the season. Not an easy task by any stretch, but this episode made it look easy.

In episode 3.3, Exodus Part 1, the Cylon occupation of New Caprica is nearing its climax. With the human resistance continuing its suicide bombing and hit and run campaign against their oppressors, the Cylon leadership is beginning to question their goals. The beleaguered President Baltar (James Callis) finds himself in a depressed stupor, isolated from the rest of a humanity that hates his very being. Meanwhile, the Cylon D'Anna has a series of dreams that reveals the possibility that Sharon's Cylon/Human child may still be alive. But with the Galactica preparing for a daring raid, things are about to get dicey on New Caprica.

As has been the case thus far with this show, it never seems to pan out as I anticipate. I came up with what I felt to be the most satisfactory resolution to the premier's cliffhanger but was instead presented with something I never even considered. Chief Tyrol and crew interrupting the execution squad was an acceptable choice, only it felt like something wasn't right. I don't know if it was because Exodus Part 1 had a different director than Precipice, or what, but there was a noticeable break in continuity. It was a trivial matter, but noticeable nonetheless.

With the cliffhanger resolved, Exodus Part 1 featured a couple of scenes that I felt were quite outstanding in their dramatic effect. First of these was the inevitable revelation to Colonel Tigh that his wife sold out the insurgency to the Cylons. Man, the look in Tigh's good eye was disturbing to say the least. Of all the characters on Battlestar Galactica, Tigh is the one I'd least want to be pissed at me. Seriously, it looked like he was going to snap. This poor guy was tortured for days--now he has to deal with his wife being a traitor? Ouch. Not sure what's going to happen to Ellen, but she really frakked up big this time.

The other scene of importance that I feel stood out was the departure ceremony between the Galactica and Pegasus crew. The spreading and subsequent blending of a line of salt was a powerful visual representation of the crew's determination and camaraderie. Also, Fat Lee getting choked up when he said goodbye to his father was powerful stuff. Fat suit or not, Jamie Bamber is still a helluvan actor.

Primarily a build-up episode, build up the plot it did. There was nothing terribly explosive that went down, but it has certainly set the stage for Part 2. Ending with the Galactica about to jump into orbit around New Caprica, Exodus Part 2 looks to be a cant miss episode for the series.

Rating: 9/10 "Exceptional"

~Khyron, 2006