Battlestar Galactica

“Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1”

3.5 stars.

Air date: 3/25/2005
Teleplay by Ronald D. Moore
Story by David Eick
Directed by Michael Rymer

Review Text

The opening sequence of "Kobol's Last Gleaming" sets the stage for a two-part season finale in which a multitude of characters will go in many different directions. This opening does not tell you where the story is ultimately going to end up, but it tells you where the story starts, and in some ways that in itself reveals the unexpected.

Cross-edited to a musical piece that has a classical bent unlike most of this series' more avant-garde fare, we see several things happening: Lee and his father are boxing. Kara is having sex with ... somebody. The Galactica version of Sharon puts a gun in her mouth. Helo runs away from the Caprica version of Sharon and eventually is forced to draw his gun on her.

Adama knocks Lee to the ground, telling him that Lee was too much in control of himself. Helo shoots Caprica Sharon in the shoulder and takes her prisoner. Galactica Sharon can't pull the trigger. Kara calls out Lee's name while having sex with ... oh, look, it's Baltar. Whoops. (This is hilarious when you consider whose ego is being taken down several notches.)

What's nice about this sequence is that it's based on character rather than just plot. It's about these people and the messy, complicated relationships they have with other people. In the case of Galactica Sharon, the relationship is with the Cylons, which she suspects but is determined to suppress. There's a sort of epic foreboding in the way characters crash into each other to the tune of classical music, and it makes for a memorable sequence.

From here we have Baltar descending into a drunken funk over, apparently, the realization that Kara does not worship him — indeed, does not much like him beyond the role of a temporary placeholder. Six finds this funk disappointing, and mainly wants to know whether Baltar has fallen for another woman. There's a card game where Baltar gets hostile with Lee for "competing" with him. Lee is nonplussed. When Kara shows up and Baltar grumpily insists she call him "Mr. Vice President," the cards are on the table.

Ah, Baltar. What a great, entertaining character. Where else can you find a guy who is simultaneously so lovable and detestable? We root for the guy even as we laugh at his misfortune. There's a scene where he's talking to Roslin while Six keeps buzzing in his ear, and he loses his patience. "I'm not your plaything!" he shouts. "Plaything?" asks Roslin and Six, in perfectly synched stereo. Funny stuff. And yet this isn't all just zany fun and games. Six warns Baltar that Galactica isn't safe, and that he needs to get off the ship. What's going to happen?

Perhaps it has something to do with Roslin's latest drug-induced, hallucinated premonitions. Roslin's doctor gives her six months to live, and the fact that she's dying only fuels Priest Elosha's belief that Roslin will lead humanity to Kobol. "I know you're the one," Elosha tells her. If Roslin is The One, then I guess that makes Elosha the Oracle. Just remember: There is no spoon.

But I suppose if I were Roslin, I might begin to believe too, especially after Boomer and Crashdown return from a recon mission having found a planet that turns out to be Kobol. When looking at orbital photographs of the ruins, Roslin's hallucinations allow her to instead see buildings and a famous opera house, suggesting that the prophecies are true.

The mythology surrounding Kobol/Earth is intriguing material that expands the canvas of the series. It ties into various aspects of Colonial religion and history. As such, it's not something that everybody agrees on. The seeds of discord between Adama and Roslin are planted when she suggests using the Cylon Raider to jump back to Caprica to retrieve the historic Arrow of Apollo from a museum (this presumes the museum hasn't been nuked, which is a big presumption). The Arrow, legend has it, can be used on Kobol to open the Tomb of Athena, which will reveal the location of Earth. The whole concept of Earth is its own potential trouble point for Adama. He used it in the miniseries, in the form of a lie, to inspire a reason for hope. That lie is now about to come back and bite him.

What's kind of amazing about this episode is how many characters it keeps track of, and how much justice it's able to do their storylines. For instance, we have the Lee/Kara friction over her sleeping with Baltar, including a moment where the two actually come to blows. What could've potentially come off looking petty and obvious instead reveals true pain and regret in the characters. This apparently isn't the first ill-advised affair Kara has had, and Lee holds a certain resentment for it. The irony is that Kara obviously has feelings for Lee that she's suppressing (or more specifically, had channeled through sex with Baltar), and the unfortunate end result is that now Lee is pissed off at her.

There's also a wonderful scene where Baltar visits a visibly suicidal Sharon in her quarters. Six tags along in Baltar's head for good measure. Sharon knows deep down she's a Cylon, but doesn't want to accept it. Six notes that "the model is weak, always has been." That brings up an interesting point: Perhaps the Sharon model is actually strong, in that it has more free will than the other Cylons. I suppose it depends on your point of view.

Baltar, who knows Sharon is a Cylon but lied to her about it ("Flesh and Bone"), shows a sympathy and kindness toward her that transcends his usual selfishness, even as his fear that she'll carry out a Cylon mission led him here for partially self-serving reasons. What he says to her walks a fine line that tells her she's a Cylon without explicitly saying so. "There are worse things than death in this world," he notes ominously. In a very delicate way (and I loved the complexity of this scene), Baltar pushes Sharon over the edge into suicide. Actually, it's more of a suicide gesture; she shoots herself but doesn't die, which leads to a scene where Tyrol visits her in sickbay and Sharon realizes just how alone she is. Poor Sharon, living a cursed existence.

Meanwhile, the tactical situation turns grim when a Raptor survey team jumps right into the middle of a Cylon fleet now orbiting Kobol. One Raptor is destroyed, one crashes on the planet surface, and one returns to warn the Galactica. The crashed Raptor contains key characters, including Tyrol, Crashdown (Sam Witwer), Cally (Nicki Clyne), and Baltar, the latter who volunteered because it got him off the Galactica and he thought he'd be safe. Did Six manipulate him to come to Kobol for a more specific reason?

Starbuck comes up with a plan to use a confiscated Cylon transponder and the Raider to get close enough to the Cylon base star to nuke it. This military plan is interrupted when Roslin thwarts chain of command and calls Kara in to tell her about the Arrow of Apollo on Caprica, its importance to the future (as she believes it to be), and the fact that Adama has lied about knowing the location of Earth. Roslin invokes religious scripture in making her case, and it's notable that Kara is willing to listen in part because she is a believer.

This episode is filled with intersecting and diverging plots and paths. But what makes it truly work is its commitment to characters who have free will and make big decisions — choices that will have severe consequences.

There's a scene right before Roslin calls in Starbuck where Billy questions Roslin's plan and warns that it's likely to bring her and the government down. It's reassuring to see prudent thinking like that. Similarly, there's the scene where Starbuck goes to Adama and asks him about Earth. The answer he gives is ambivalent, but the answer Kara hears is clear in light of her new information. Adama has his own defense for lying about Earth, which comes down to a simple matter of having no regrets. He can live with the consequences; can Kara if she abandons the fleet?

It's this level of detail that keeps "Kobol's Last Gleaming" grounded in choices, and governed by its characters rather than simply a clever writer setting up pieces.

Previous episode: Colonial Day
Next episode: Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 2

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9 comments on this post

    Now that the series has ended, the best moments are pretty much finite and set... my favorite episode of all might well end up being this one. This part one of two, a non-stop suspense masterpiece, edging everything towards the epic cliffhanger to come. I have some issues with the fight scene in part two, otherwise, this two parter is just the best thing ever. The opening musical montage of brief moments cutting back and forth from the two Sharons, one about to attempt suicide, the other about openly accept the love or murder, whatever may come, from Helo on Caprica -- it's so beautiful, so raw, so enthralling, so sexy, so sad. The best, best, best moment in the series, methinks, now that it's over. Sure, the Galactica appearing in the skies of New Caprica comes close, and so does the similar opening of Occupation/Precipice, but this is unparalleled. Magnificent TV.

    The teaser is a riveting masterpiece. It's so heartbreaking to see Caprica-Sharon willing to die because she has fallen in love with Helo (which has probably been my favorite storyline this season). The look on her face is just perfect, and her actions in the past few episodes for me redeem any immoral acts she may have committed before. I only wish she had actually said "I love you" at one point instead of just "I have feelings for you."

    I loved how after Kara punched Lee, he punched her back. It's kind of representative of how Lee sees Kara. He respects her and treats her as an equal. He knows that she can take and and I even think that Kara would have resented it had he not fought back. He is so jealous and she is so ashamed. LOVE IT! Also the fact that Baltar's hair the first time you see it is short...just like Lee's!

    K+L Forever

    Awesome Episode, and I LOVED Lee punching Starbuck, but unlike Corrine above, because I HATE starbuck, if only he wouldv'e accidentally snapped her neck, the episode would have been perfect. But as usual, the completely underqualified Starbuck is somehow, once again, the only person that could come up with the ?genius? idea of using the Cylon raider to nuke the mother ship. wow. We got some true military morons if it took a retarted, daddy issues pilot to think of something that pretty much anyone could have thought of.

    But anyways, I agree, the opening montage was incredible, I also think my favourite plot-line is carpica sharon, she just IS a devastated tortured soul. Although I still don't know what she never just said, "I am a Cylon, but I fell in love with you, and have been trying to protect you, sorry."

    BTW, one question, What made them so sure the planet was Kobol? Basically, they found a nice planet, and the president had a dream, THUS it is Kobol. Yeah, there was the surveilence pictures of ruins, but 1st) that came AFTER everyone was pretty much convinced it was Kobol, and 2), how could they know from the air it was 2000 years old ruins, and even if, how does that make it conclusively Kobol?

    Minor nitpick, other wise awesome.

    The scenes with Caprica and Galactica Boomers at the beginning, tormented, conflicted... - heart-rending. And Helo's realization she's a Cylon... Just when he thought he had a partner through thick and thin, he's suddenly all on his own. Forget shooting her; I'd very probably kill myself in his shoes.

    How the hell did Baltar end up bumping uglies with Starbuck?! When did THAT happen?? I don't like the guy but at least he's not dry-humping a desk anymore :D

    I find the religious angle annoying from my atheistic perspective--particularly the depiction of all the religious mumbo-jumbo as actually turning out to be true--but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the show.

    Another spectacular episode :)

    @Nick:
    "I LOVED Lee punching Starbuck" Yeah, I thought you'd have enjoyed that moment! LOOOOOOOOOOL!! I'm personally looking forward to someone giving a great big kick to Baltar's nuts.

    Nope, Jammer, I can't ever find it in my heart to cheer for Baltar. Funny? Yes. Detestable? Yes. Lovable? No.

    @Michael: Yeah, there's a big religious aspect. I try and think of it as a fantasy element. I don't believe in Elves, but love LOTR.

    Regarding the religious aspect.... Roslin's visions -- whatever their source -- are *accurate*. It's one thing for Adama to say "I don't believe in religion", it's quite another to ignore reality because it doesn't fit your world view. At some point, disbelieving in a inexplicable, but obviously true fact is itself irrational. I always felt like Roslin should have pushed the "Yeah, but they're accurate" angle harder. She didn't, and paid the price.

    There's no way Tyrol should have left sickbay -- even after Sharon ordered him out. He is her only friend....

    I don't understand why Lee was so pissed with Kara that he decided to go harass her over it. Unless for over a decade now I've missed a crucial plot point Kara and Lee were not in a relationship at this time. No relationship, absolutely no right to criticize or demean someone's sex life.

    I know at this point in the timeline, long before the series, they had "almost" had sex, but other than that there is literally nothing about them being in a committed, monogamous relationship. In fact there's almost nothing at all about them even liking each other; I always thought they worked better as brother/sister types.

    It would work if it was explored, but it's not even acknowledged and even undercut by Kara stupidly apologizing for her own personal life that in no way affects him. Sadly poor writing.

    Throughly enjoying these reviews Jammer.

    I look forward to when you mention the character Jammer and hope you don't fall into some existential nightmare scenario.

    Very compelling in the 2nd half -- felt like a number of characters are heading for their breaking points, conflict. Pretty dark for the most part but Roslin's idea about how to find Earth is ... interesting. Feel like it would have been good to watch the original BSG to have more background on Kobol / Earth, what the history / ancient teachings are in the BSG-verse. Pretty good foreboding from No. 6 to Baltar about not remaining on Galactica and a cliffhanger ending as Starbuck takes off during the Cylon test.

    Felt forced with Kara and Baltar shagging, which then leads to pissing matches between Baltar & Kara and then Kara & Lee, who were on good terms after "Colonial Day". Presumably Baltar initiated it with Kara now that he's VP. This series likes its pissing matches. Liked how Kara admits she's a screw up.

    More piqued by the history of BSG's humanity -- 13 tribes leaving Kobol, the birthplace of mankind. Roslin's hallucinations and urging from her priestess give the ancient history/myth some new life. But it's strange how Adama himself doubts there's an Earth yet he uses it to motivate those under him and doesn't come out strongly in favor of it to Kara after Roslin alerted Kara to Adama's "deceit". At least if Kara's on her way to Caprica, this should be the ticket for Helo, one could think.

    Good action scene with the Cylon attack and 3 different fates for the 3 raiders: 1 destroyed, 1 falls to Kobol, 1 returns to Galactica.

    Baltar and Sharon had a powerful scene I thought -- really thought she had committed suicide, pained from being a Cylon and not wanting to hurt anybody else.

    3.5 stars for "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part 1" -- getting to the heart of the purpose of humanity here and the essence of the BSG-verse - pretty intriguing to think about and that lends more significance to this, another terrific episode. Quite a lot going on here -- many character machinations with all of it weighty.

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