Battlestar Galactica: Flesh And Bone

February 29th, 2008

Season 1, Episode 8

Synopsis

Roslin dreams of being chased through a forest by Cylon toasters. A humanoid Cylon model pulls her aside, but is blown away by a strong wind. After awaking, Adama tells Roslin that a “Leoben” Cylon model has been found among the fleet. He recommends killing it immediately, but Roslin wants the Cylon questioned.

Starbuck is assigned to question the Cylon. He claims there’s a nuclear warhead hidden on a ship that is about to go off. Starbuck’s interrogation methods violence and near drowning using a bucket of water.

Worried about the bomb and displeased with the physical interrogation techniques, Roslin talks to the Cylon one on one. He tells Roslin that he made up the warhead and that Adama is a Cylon. The latter bit of information noticeably disturbs her, and she abruptly orders the Cylon to be blown off the ship through the air lock. As the Cylon vanishes into deep space, the scene mirrors what she saw in her dream.

Boomer visits Baltar, curious if she is actually a Cylon. Using his Cylon detector, Baltar runs the test and finds that Sharon is in fact a Cylon. Head Six tells Baltar that Boomer might kill him if he tells her the truth. Baltar hides the result and congratulates Sharon on being a human.

Back on Caprica, Athena meets with 6 and 5 while Helo is asleep. They tell her that she must be prepared to kill Helo, even if she is pregnant with his child. Something shifts in Athena, and she seems ready to revolt against her Cylon brethren.

Thoughts

To this day, I’m still bothered by Leoben’s line: “Adama is a Cylon.” Roslin assumes he’s referring to Adama, but Lee is also an Adama. Whether true or not, it furthers Roslin’s distrust of the military and hammers a wedge between the fleet’s leaders. Adama was right to say the Cylon should have been destroyed immediately.

Leoben’s prediction for Starbuck — about parts they play happening again — comes true in future episodes where Leoben tortures Starbuck on New Caprica. He also tells her correctly that they will find Kobol.

The questionable interrogation methods is similar to our current, controversial treatment of terrorists.

We also get further, intriguing insight into Cylon religion. While the humans created Cylons, perhaps the Cylons have independently evolved beyond humans to come to an awareness of God that is beyond human understanding. The religious concept of resurrection is given a technological angle as a Cylon consciousness “downloading” back to a communal network.

Lastly, regarding Roslin’s seemingly precognitive dream — either she is truly a seer and as we learn later, a religious prophet, or the effects of the kamala drug are merely causing hallucinations. As with much in Battlestar Galactica, every event has several interpretations, either mystical, or downright cynical. This ambiguity is one reason why I love the show.

Next Episode: Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
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