Battlestar Galactica: Fragged

April 10th, 2008

Season 2, Episode 3

Battlestar Galactica: Fragged

Synopsis

On Kobol, the crash survivors see Cylons building a missile battery in the woods. Crashdown wants to attack them since they have the element of surprise. Chief tries to dissuade him of this bad idea, saying Seelix, Callie, and Baltar have no military training. Crashdown pulls rank on Chief.

The plan basically requires Callie to draw fire while the others take out the Cylons. Head Six tells Baltar that someone will betray the others.

At the moment of truth, Callie refuses to participate. Crashdown orders her to move out and distract the Cylons, pointing a gun at her head. Chief levels his gun on Crashdown, and Baltar shoots Crashdown, killing him.

Hearing the gunfire, the Cylons attack. After heavy fire, a raptor arrives to take out the Cylons and rescues the survivors. Chief and Baltar cover for one another and say Crashdown was killed by the Cylons.

On Galactica, Doc Cottle operates on Adama. Tigh watches nervously and takes a swig from a flask. Lee prepares a search for the downed raptor on Kobol. Tigh doesn’t like being in command, and his temper starts to flare.

The Quorum of Twelve arrives and demands to see Roslin. Zarek considers martial law since Roslin cannot act as president. Tigh doesn’t allow them to see her, approaching things from a military point of view.

Ellen Tigh visits Roslin – who is suffering from medicine withdrawal – and sees how out of sorts she is. She tells to let the Quorom of Twelve see Roslin, in her incompetent and embarrassing state. Tigh agrees to let the Quorom to see Roslin.

Roslin gives a speech, saying her imprisonment is a threat to democracy. She tells the Quroum that she is the prophet written about in the prophecies of Pythia. Some of the Quroum are highly receptive to this religious admission, surprising Tigh.

Worried that he will lose control of the fleet to Roslin, who he considers unstable, Tigh declares martial law and dissolves the Quroum of Twelve. He becomes the de-facto military “dictator” of the fleet.

Thoughts

The fact that Crashdown is a complete idiot comes to a head with his ridiculous military operation. He see things solely from a military perspective. But Tigh is in a similar situation – thrown into a leadership role because of Adama’s condition, and his inability to see his own failings and respect politics leads him to declare martial law. On Kobol, the unfair and incompetent leadership results in a small rebellion, and the same will happen on Galactica in the next episode.

Also interesting: Head Six tells Baltar that he must “be a man” and protect the baby.

Next Episode: Resistance
Previous Episode: Valley Of Darkness

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