Review: Unfinished Business
Written by: Michael Taylor

With a syndicated drama in its third season such as Battlestar Galactica, it's hard for someone who has never seen an episode to just jump into the story already in progress. Although some episodes are able to stand alone as a one-off narrative, there are others that are so intertwined with backstory that only the diehards will fully appreciate it. Unfinished Business is just such an episode.

In episode 3.9, Unfinished Business, in an attempt to relieve the building stress among the Galactica's crew, Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) sets up a ship-wide boxing match. The rules are simple: place your dog tags in the pile and call out someone who has wronged you to fight it out. After the event comes to a close, however, Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and Apollo (Jamie Bamber) attempt to resolve their unfinished business in the boxing ring.

Henceforth, I will always refer to this ep. as 'the boxing episode.' It was such an unexpected plot line for this sci-fi soap opera, but despite all the odds, it has become not only my favorite episode of the season thus far, but is probably one of my favorites of the entire series as well.

As I stated above, this was an episode for the long-time viewers. If you haven't been following the story and the various dynamics between the characters, the boxing episode probably wouldn't mean much to you. Far the fans, however, there were more shocking revelations and heartbreaking resolutions in this single episode than in nearly the entire 2.5 season. Not only did it take us back and fill in the holes regarding the marriages of Lee/Duala and Kara/Anders, it also progressed the hinted at relationship between President Laura and Admiral Adama.

Consistently good throughout the entire episode, there wasn't really a single moment or scene that stood out as exceptional. Hotdog calling out Starbuck in the ring was quality Battlestar comdey and Adama getting in a couple cheap shots in on Tyrol was golden as well. Though if I had to chose a defining scene, it would be the final match between Starbuck and Apollo. Combining flashbacks to their turbulent relationship aboard the Galactica as well as their falling out on New Caprica, their fight was as brutal as it was emotionally disturbing.

Well paced, well edited, and undeniably powerful, the boxing episode of Battlestar Galactica is a dream come true for long time fans and a crowning achievement of science fiction television (despite the fact there really wasn't much sci-fi in it...). A love it or hate it kind of episode, this viewer loved the frak out of it.

Rating: 10 / 10 "A knock-out!"

~Khyron