Battlestar Fodder

Season 2 Primer: Episode 2.8 - "Final Cut"

To gear up for the January 6th resumption of Season 2, here's a cheat-sheet of the major plot points from the season so far. SO MUCH has occurred, it's impossible to include everything in a concise way. Of course, it's also hard not to go on and on about the show so I TRIED to be as brief as possible. If you think a major point has been left out, feel free to post it below!

Previously on "Battlestar Galactica"....

Final Cut

Episode #2.8
9 September 2005

All is well now that the fleet is reunited. Right? Not even close. Criticism of the military has reached a boiling point in the aftermath of the civilian massacre during the Galactica's raid for supplies on the Gideon during Tigh's martial law adventure.

Intent on improving relations between the civilian fleet and the military, President Roslin and Commander Adama offer Fleet News Service reporter D'Anna Biers and her cameraman unlimited access to the Galactica officers and crew.

After some sexy footage caught in the crew's locker room when folks were draped in towels - including Lee, who nearly shows us exactly what he's made of - D'Anna starts prodding the crew to get the "true" story of the military personnel on Galactica.

Meanwhile, Tigh has received a poetic death threat resulting from the Gideon event and a shuttle sabotage incident threatens his life, the ship is abuzz with speculation over who might be after him.

It's after pilot "Kat", wired on stimulants, crash-lands her Viper, D'Anna realizes that there is more to the story of this crew. She also stumbles onto one of the Galactica's most explosive secrets when, after following Kat to sick bay, she encounters the Cylon prisoner Sharon whose unborn child is saved by the quick actions of Dr. Cottle following a near-miscarriage. Adama demands her tape (which of course she has switched without him knowing) and tells her to print nothing of the new Sharon's presence aboard the ship.

Afterwards, D'Anna conducts more "serious" interviews - stressed-out pilots, crew hands and officers. The arrival of two Cylon attack ships further demonstrates to her what the crew is capable of (this scene was very well shot from only the CIC's perspective and conveys the helplessness they feel when the Vipers are out facing the Raiders).

The threat on Tigh's life remains, however. While reviewing of some video footage, D'Anna pieces together that Lt. Palladino, who lead the team under Tigh's command in the Gideon incident, is the would-be assassin and the cavalry comes in just in time to... well.. see Tigh talk the guy down.

In the end, D'Anna creates a pro-Galactica piece that "puts a face" on the military for the rest of the fleet. Adama, Roslin and even Tigh are pleased.

Meanwhile, on Caprica, a Sharon, Number Six and Doral are watching the footage and commenting on the resilience of the humans. When Sharon asks to see the cut footage, they are all pleased to learn that Sharon's counterpart is still alive. She wonders if the baby survived. It is D'Anna who tells her that, yes, the baby lived. (You guessed it! D'Anna is a Cylon! I swear, if they later reveal that Starbuck is a Cylon, it'll mean that all the hot chicks on the show are.) They agree that the baby is a gift from god and that it must be protected at all cost.


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