Battlestar Galactica: Guess What’s Coming To Dinner

May 18th, 2008

Season 4, Episode 7

Battlestar Galactica: Guess What's Coming To Dinner

Synopsis

Lee confronts Roslin with a broadcast from Baltar saying that she and the Cylons share prophetic visions. Roslin admits the rumors are true.

The rebel Cylons and the crew of the Demetrius jump back to the Galactica fleet. After some initial confusion where Tigh contradicts Adama’s order to attack, the Demetrius lets the humans know they have control over the damaged base star.

Aboard Galactica, the rebel Six (Natalie) explains to a panel that Number Three was boxed, and that model knows the identities of the final five Cylons who are hidden among the human fleet. The final five know the location of earth. As a “peace offering” she claims to know the location of a resurrection hub, which if destroyed would take away the Cylons’ ability to download, turning them mortal. In return for this information, she wants the final five. Adama, Tigh, Tory, and Roslin listen skeptically (Tigh and Tory in particular). Meanwhile, Doc Cottle is forced to amputate Gaeta’s leg.

The Quorum of Twelve are duly skeptical of this plan to ally with these rebel Cylons. Meanwhile, the final four Cylons meet in secret, worried about the reaction if their identities are revealed.

Roslin tells Tory that she knows of Tori’s relationship with Baltar, and she’s unhappy about the rumors. Tory tells Baltar this, and Baltar predictably defends himself, saying he only reveals the truth.

Lee tells Roslin the Quorum will vote “no confidence” in her leadership (kind of like impeachment). Roslin addresses the Quorum in person, saying the audacious plan is for the good of the fleet. Natalie gives a speech claiming once the Cylons become mortal through destruction of the resurrection ship, they will be more “human” and open to future reconciliation. The Quorum looks doubtful.

The rebel Cylons plan to secretly take human hostages to ensure they’ll get the final five. Six tells the other rebel Cylons about the Quorum’s mistrust, leaving them unconvinced the humans will ever ally with the Cylons.

That evening, Roslin dreams of the opera house, and Athena chasing Hera. A Six model picks up Hera takes her to Baltar. Athena has the same dream, but awakes to see Hera standing next to her bed, saying “bye bye”. Athena opens a book of Hera’s drawings and is horrified to see nothing but pictures of Six. Suddenly, Hera runs off. Athena chases her through the Galactica halls. Hera walks up to Natalie, escorted by soldiers and Tigh. Athena pulls a gun and kills Natalie.

Starbuck, remembering the hybrid’s prophecy about a “dying leader” asks Roslin about the “opera house”. Roslin is shocked that the hybrid knows about her dreams. Later, she and Baltar decide to fly to the base star to talk to the hybrid themselves. Roslin orders the hybrid plugged in, saying “it’s time to get some answers”. As soon as it becomes active, the basestar jumps away, with Baltar and Roslin aboard.

Thoughts

All right. Galactica is back on track. Although I’m not a fan of the rebel Cylons teaming up with the humans, it’s playing out in a very realistic manner, most notably the decision of the rebel Cylons to kidnap Roslin to get at the Final Five. Roslin’s decision to ally with the rebel Cylons may also cost her the presidency, as the Quorum thinks it’s a stupid idea – you can see the distrust and hate in their when Six comes in the room – again, totally realistic. It would have been silly to believe the whole fleet would merrily go along with this idea. The reaction to ludicrous plot events certainly makes them more palatable.

Adding to the drama: the Final Five may have a vested interest in seeing the plan fail, as if successful they’ll be outed as the Final Five and turned over to the Cylons.

Next, we return to Roslin’s prophetic dreams. One probable explanation is the infusion of Hera’s blood linked her with Sharon and Hera and also the other Cylons. Still, the events in this episode don’t entirely eliminate her as the fifth of the final five in my mind.

We also got an intense situation with Sharon protecting Hera, and also deeply ironic as both Tigh and Chief help Sharon, who is unaware both are Cylons. When Chief takes Hera away to safety, Sharon’s statement that the Cylons will “never have Hera” ring rather false. For all we know, Chief may kidnap Hera to form the first hybrid daddy day care with his son.

Several plot threads are finally starting to link up – the identity of the final five, the opera house, the hybrid baby, Baltar and Six, and Roslin’s relationship to the Cylons. We’re also returning to the central theme of the Cylons being completely unmanageable by the humans – there’s a hint of a larger Cylon plan that the humans are completely duped by. For example, it would be awesome to learn that the whole rebel Cylon thing was a complex trap.

This episode also had an awesome ending. Roslin voices a desire many of us have had ever since season 4 began – we want answers. Unfortunately, that opportunity is whisked away at episode’s end, but we’re on the tantalizing cusp of getting some answers, at last.

Next Episode: Sine Qua Non
Previous Episode: Faith

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