Battlestar Recap: Daybreak, Part 1

At last, the first half of the Battlestar Galactica series finale. We have flashbacks, tough decisions and folks trying to get right with the gods. Join us as the old battlestar prepares for her last gasp.

We flash all the way back to Caprica City to see what some of the main characters were doing before the Cylons frakked everything up. Thanks, Gaius. Speaking of Gaius Baltar, we know what he was doing, spending quality time with Caprica Six. They’re having fun when Gaius gets a call and has to respond because it’s an emergency. And we get to meet Gaius’ father! Seems he stabbed his caretaker and understandably, she quits. There’s a very uncomfortable exchange between Gaius and his dad, causing Caprica Six to actually have some pity for the old man and a little contempt for Gaius.

Gaius quickly moves on to another conquest, but Caprica breaks into his house to tell him she found the perfect place for his father to stay. The “humanization” of Caprica Six continues. Yes, they want us to sympathize with her but she still helped blow the planet up.

Laura Roslin is throwing a baby shower for one of her sisters. Her happiness doesn’t last long, as the following day she finds that both her sisters and her father were killed by a drunk driver. She walks out into the park in her pajamas, finds a water fountain and breaks down as the water washes over her. We flash forward a few months and she’s on the phone talking with someone who wants her to get out more. They discuss a political rally and Laura mentions how much she hates politics. She does agree to go on a blind date but sounds reluctant.

Bill Adama is talking to somebody about a task that should only take an hour of his time. I’m not sure what the guy’s asking Bill to do. Decommission Galactica maybe? Remember at the beginning of the show, it had been years since the Cylons attacked and Galactica was in crummy shape. Not as crummy as now, obviously. Bill’s flashback isn’t quite as interesting as the others, at least not yet.

And speaking of Adamas, here’s our boy Zak! He and Starbuck are still dating here and Lee stops by for a visit. Zak makes a joke about Lee being a girlfriend stealer. Later we catch a drunk Lee at his apartment, trying to chase a pigeon that caught got in there. I’m assuming that’s symbolic of something, but I don’t know exactly what.

In the past, Sam Anders was a star athlete and he’s getting interviewed. He tells the reporter, it’s not about the game for him. It’s about the search for the perfect throw, the perfect play, the mathematics and physics behind it all. The reporter probably thinks he’s a fruitcake, but we know why Sam’s head is full of all those numbers. Cut to Galactica, fans.

It really all comes back to Hera. Starbuck is still trying to make sense of the notes in the song that Hera drew, while at the Cylon Colony Cavil just dismisses them as a “bunch of dots.” Cavil prides himself on being a cold, unfeeling machine and he shows it here. You’d need a human side to figure out the significance of musical notes.

Cavil simply wants to crack Hera open and learn the secrets of survival. Boomer and Hera really bonded on their interstellar car trip and Boomer’s upset about what Cavil’s ready to do.

There’s still the whole issue of exactly what Kara Thrace is. Bill asks if the story about finding her body on Earth is true. She says that it is and that she no longer knows what she is. Bill tells her “You’re my daughter.” The old man always knows just what to say. They plug Sam Anders back in to get some answers.

Baltar’s friends tell him that their “group” has a majority in the fleet now and thus they should have a voice in the quorum. Hungry for even a piece of political power, Gaius talks to Lee. Lee asks Gaius to name one altruistic act he had done in his entire life. Gaius has nothing and admits to Lee that if the roles were reversed, Gaius wouldn’t trust Gaius either.

In the brig, we see Helo talking to Chief Tyrol, imprisoned for his role in helping Boomer escape. Tyrol says he was an idiot for believing Boomer was anything other than a machine. Helo says his wife is no machine, but Tyrol is convinced that’s all Cylons are or could ever be.

Hot Dog is taking pictures from the memorial wall, but notes that some remain because any family they had left is dead too. Bill takes down a picture of Hera and you know he’s about to do something: Bill Adama-ish.

Skulls and Racetrack go on a recon mission and find the Cylon colony. Problem is, it’s right near a black hole and there is effectively only one way in. That way, of course, will be heavily guarded.

So Bill has a red tape line put down the middle of the old ship. He tells them they’re going on what will likely be a one-way trip to save Hera. Volunteers on one side, those who are staying on the other. Caprica Six gives a Gaius a look and he starts to move, but no. He’s still our Gaius. Tyrol crosses and takes Tory with him, asking her what else she has to do. A weakened Roslin even limps in to stand at Bill’s side. Kudos to Mary McDonnell and whoever did her makeup, she really looks like she’s about to die in this scene.

I can’t wait a week to know how this plays out, aarrgh! Readers, what did you think?