Thoughts on The Hand of God

I can't believe we are already double digits this season... Episode 1.10... The Hand of God... good stuff... The Chicago Tribune calls it the best hour of TV so far in 2005:

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

It was great to see Apollo back in the show. Whenever him, Starbuck and Adama are involved in an episode, I can't help but love it. The last time they were really all working the screen together was in "You Can't Go Home Again" and we all know how excellent that little escapade turned out. That moment with Apollo and Adama where Adama is saying "If it was you we would NEVER leave" was just epic... ok but we are not talking about that episode... so lets move on.

While my favorite episode of the season so far is "33", this one comes pretty damn close to capturing the crown. This week was an excellent blend of action and character moments and further proof that when this show does it right, it does it flawlessly. The CG guys got to show off some animation skills and the actors got to show more of what they show us every week.

Bringing in the storyline of prophecy and pre-destiny added a whole new level of complexity to Roslin and her visions. Baltar as an "instrument of God" has some fun ramifications for his character and the part he thinks he is playing. It does seem that if you think you are being used by God, that is an easy way to clear your conscious about being partly responsible for the whole war in the first place.

Back on Caprica were we witnessing a little bit of "morning sickness" in the Boomer Cylon copy? Does she now have a little robo-bun in the oven?

The transition of Starbuck from pilot to commander is something I didn't see coming. It was fun seeing her kick ass and take names in the mini-series. The fact that she has been out of the cockpit almost the whole first season was initially a disappointment to me, but now I am starting to understand the ultimate wisdom of Ron Moore. It was great watching her strategy unfold and seeing her partly except her new role as a commander. Her moment with the President after the raid was particularly satisfying... Call me a softy, but I just love seeing people on this show really appreciate and acknowledge the roles that they are all playing to help humanity survive.

Some might call the scene with Adama and Apollo and the lighter a little cheese-ball, but I ate it up. The shot of Adama's eyes full of tears after the raid, his silent congratulations toward Apollo on the flight deck are excellent examples of how this show takes the time with the camera to really build a moment and let it register before moving on.

I really finished this episode on a high. Not only is the episode good, but it makes you feel good. I wanted to celebrate with them. I felt they deserved it. The only thing I might have liked to have seen is the burial of the pilots who lost their lives in the raid... another reminder that even the victories come with some loss. The show has been so real in showing us these juxtapositions that I sort of expected the episode to end with another funeral. I can't complain though... I guess this week we are suppose to feel good about their success and not focus on the sacrifice... I can live with that.

I am awarding the MVP of this episode to Jamie Bamber's Apollo. Jamie really used his moments on screen this week to build a relationship with Adama, to differentiate his way of thinking from Starbucks and to prove to himself that he can get the job done. Jamie's character carries so much self-doubt with himself ever week. He even showed that doubt when he was about to enter the mining tunnel. It was great that he was able to overcome all that and succeed in the end, saving everyone.

Make sure to listen to the blog cast and to check out the episode synopsis and deleted scenes on the official site.

Comments

[Formerly Bob]

Best hour of entertainment programming on television today.

I'm partial to the "educational" channels (History/Discovery channels) and I'm not a tremendous sci-fi fan, but this is one show that I never miss.

[Trapper]

I agree. I am a huge Discovery/Science channel watcher. There is only two shows I watch outside of that: Enterprise and Battlestar Galactica... I guess soon that will be only one show.

I have wanted to get into the Stargate shows, but I have never seen an ep and I figure 7 seasons in is a little late to try an catch up.