The first season’s largest plot arc deals with Cylons who are aboard the Galactica fleet and look like humans. This knowledge leads to paranoia which leads to a near-witch hunt (Litmus), and even to where Roslin believes Adama himself might be a Cylon (Flesh And Bone). Four agents appear in the fleet and cause problems, a Leoben model (Flesh And Bone), an Anton Doral model (Litmus), 6 as Shelly Godfrey (Six Degrees Of Separation), and lastly Boomer, who sets up bombs (Water) and finally shoots Adama during the season finale (Kobol’s Last Gleaming [2]). This paranoia leads to the parallel of America’s current war on terror, with references to sleeper agents, military tribunals (Litmus), and even questionable torture methods (Flesh And Bone). I like this use of science fiction to comment on current events.

The second major theme I latched onto is how the fleet’s needs as a whole are continually subverted by individual desires. Baltar is the worst, constantly saving himself (33, Six Degrees of Separation). But many characters are susceptible to self-preservation: Roslin wants to subvert the vice presidential election because she believes Zarek is a terrorist (Colonial Day), and believes Adama is a Cylon (Flesh and Bone, Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down). She becomes convinced her visions are prophetic and that she is a religious leader (The Hand Of God). Worse yet is Chief and Boomer’s relationship which causes both to lie and neglect their duties (Water, Litmus). Even Adama and Lee make questionable choices when Starbuck is left behind on the deserted planet (Act Of Contrition, You Can’t Go Home Again). Despite my frustration to see the humans sabotage their chances at survival in this manner, it’s entertaining to see flawed characters - they act human.

Third, the show consistently keeps the sense of danger and difficulty of survival in space. Resources keep running out: water (Water) and fuel (The Hand Of God), they are hopelessly outnumbered by the Cylon forces, and the legitimacy of the presidency and the military is called into question. You think it’s amazing they have gotten this far, and that constant tension keeps the stakes high.

The last amusing thing is how little of the Cylons are shown or revealed at this point. All we see is the inside of a captured raider (You Can’t Go Home Again) and a short trip into the Cylon base star (Kobol’s Last Gleaming [2]). We know that the Cylons believe in one God, believe the past will repeat, and each will play their part. There is a glimmer of the next season with Head 6 showing Baltar a baby that will be a “new generation of Gods.” But that’s it - the humans have learned very little about their enemies in Season one and spend the vast majority of time squabbling amongst themselves and screwing themselves over.

I do have a few complaints: Helo and Sharon, other than getting pregnant, spend the entirety of Season One running around on Caprica and achieve surprisingly little in comparison to all that goes on with the fleet. Second, since the rest of the cast is so solid, the weaker actors are Boomer, Billy, and Dualla kind of get lost in the shuffle.

One big amusement I had was watching this season with the knowledge of what happens in Season Two and Three. This adds particularly amusing layers to the episode where Chief is fingered as a possible Cylon collaborator (Litmus), and when Ellen returns and Adama puts her through the Cylon test (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down).

My favorite episodes were:

• 33
  
• Water
• Six Degrees Of Separation
• Flesh And Bone
• The Hand Of God
• Kobol’s Last Gleaming (1)
• Kobol’s Last Gleaming (2).

My least liked episodes were Bastille Day and Colonial Day.

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