People always say that breakups are bittersweet. No television breakup is sadder than the one happening right now. Yes, we're talking about the Sci-Fi show Battlestar Galactica dumping us nerds for greener pastures. It's worse than the time that Ross and Rachel broke up. Yeah, it's like that. Part one of the series finale, "Daybreak" was a sweet song of expository flashbacks that leads us down a path toward bitterness.
The very first scene was a full circle moment with Bill Adama in a heated meeting with someone who was probably his boss on Caprica. The line that stuck out was when this gentleman said, "It's one hour of your life. Look, sometimes there are things that you just gotta do, alright?" We assume this is the fateful (and we don't use the word lightly) decision by the Colonial Admiralty to send Adama and the Valkyrie on a surveillance mission across the Armistice Line. This is the mission that broke the treaty with the Cylons, setting off the chain of events that is the foundation of the series.
We move on the key points in the lives of key characters. We see the beginning of Gaius Baltar's relationship with Caprica six. The happy couple, Kara Thrace and Zak Adama host big brother Lee Adama for dinner. It is the first time that Kara and Lee meet. We also see Laura Roslin all smiles with her sisters, only to lose them in a car accident that included her father and both sisters. Roslin goes crazy and jumps in a water fountain.
When we are snapped back into present day, we catch up with President Lee Adama giving orders on Galactica. We presume that they are in the middle of the process of dismantling Galactica. Kara Thrace a.k.a Starbuck is still obsessed with the musical notes that Hera wrote. John Cavil a.k.a. Number One wants to start immediate experiments on Hera. Bill Adama is moping around the hallways of Galactica. Gaius Baltar is asking Lee Adama to give his harem a seat on the council. Starbuck and Bill Adama have one of their quasi-father-daughter moments about her obsession with the musical notes and mystery of her death on Earth. Bill Adama tells her that she's his daughter and to never forget it. They decide to plug in Sam, who is now a hybrid, we guess. They have questions about Hera and the Colony.
Everything comes to a head when Bill Adama draws a line down Galactica's hangar and tells the crew to choose a side. We don't know what Sam said to Bill Adama and Starbuck, but through a series of gossipy conversations we learn that Bill Adama thinks it's worthwhile to send out a rescue mission to the Colony -- they think they've found the location.
The tense moment of climax shows Bill Adama making an announcement to a sea of Galactica crew and residents. With urgency and intensity he begins his speech...
"No one should feel obligated to join this mission in any way. This is a decision I have made for myself. If it turns out that there are not enough personnel to crew Galactica, I will lead a Raptor Assault with anyone who is willing to join me. Let there me no illusions this is likely to be a one way trip, so don't volunteer out of sentiment or emotion."
He asks the people of Galactica to make a choice by standing on either side of the line. In the end, about two-thirds of the people choose to remain with the fleet.
The final scene has the Adamas, the Tights, Starbuck, Tory Foster, and the Galen Tyrol planning their strategy for penetrating the Colony. They realize that there is only one safe jump spot on top of a "singularity" or a black hole. After a few words back and forth, Bill Adama ends the episode in style with just a few words.
"Alright. Let's get to work."
Next week's two-hour series finale looks like it is full of action. The preview promises to reveal all secrets. We know that the writers have no more room to yanky our wanky. This is the moment that has us tuning in every week and enduring the slow buildup that is also known as the past three weeks.
Although, we're excited to see this series explain all of our questions, we are also sad that such a quality show is coming to an end. What are we left with? Dollhouse a.k.a. an excuse to see a scantily clad Eliza Dushku? Seriously, Lost, alone, cannot satiate our appetite for mystery, drama, sexual tension, and action. We won't cry our eyes out until next week, so until then, get the frak out of here.
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