Battlestar Galactica: Season 2 Blog
October 26, 2009
Season 2. Episode 17.
“The Captain’s Hand”
49,584 survivors. Politics comes back ’round again. Chief Tyrol finds a mysterious woman inside a cargo container. Her name is Rya Kibby, a Gemenese girl who is pregnant. She comes to Galactica to find Dr. Cottle, so that he can perform an abortion on her. Presidential elections are coming up, and President Roslin has a new aide by the name of Tory Foster. Tory assures Roslin that she is ahead in the polls with almost no opposition, aside from Zarek. Roslin is ahead in the polls mainly because of her popularity with the Gemenese, who are very religious people. Zarek suggests that Dr. Baltar run against Roslin since Baltar is more popular than Zarek.
Meanwhile, Apollo, now promoted to Major and the XO of the Pegasus, arrives on Pegasus and meets up with CAG Starbuck and Commander Barry Garner. Reports of two missing Raptors are told to Garner but not to Starbuck. Garner scolds Starbuck for not knowing that her pilots were missing. It turns out that the pilots on Pegasus did not want to report to Galactica personnel. Starbuck is furious, and Apollo agrees with her that Garner does not have any experience as a Commander, since he was just an engineer before taking Command. Admiral Adama, Garner, and Apollo speak over communications about the situation of the missing Raptors. Apollo says that it’s a Cylon trap, and the Admiral agrees. Garner is frustrated, and then prepares Pegasus‘ FTL drives for the jump, disobeying the Admiral’s orders. When the Pegasus arrives to the position of the missing Raptors, three Cylon basestars arrive and attack the Pegasus. The FTL drives are damaged, and Garner says that he has to go down to the engineering levels to fix them. Command is handed over to Apollo, and Garner fixes the drives but dies in the oxygen-deprived FTL engine room. Pegasus escapes and jumps back to the fleet. Later on, Admiral Adama gives command of the Pegasus over to Apollo.
Elsewhere, a Gemenese delegate requests for Kibby be returned to her parents. Kibby has declared asylum aboard Galactica, and does not want to go back after her abortion. Adama and Roslin speak about the banning of abortion, and Roslin says that she has been fighting for women’s rights to their bodies her whole life and will not stop now. Adama says that the number on Roslin’s “survivors” board does not go up very often and should consider the fate of the human race. Roslin reluctantly bans abortion, and this causes uproar with the general populace. During Roslin’s press briefing, Baltar addresses the reporters that Roslin’s decision to limit the freedoms of the people is intolerable, and that during his presidency no such thing will happen. Baltar announces his run for the presidency, much to the dismay of Roslin. A projected Six is standing behind him, smiling…
Finally, a great episode! I love how this episode focused on leadership. Mainly, that of Apollo and Roslin. Also, the return of politics is always welcomed because the writers do it so well. I love how the writers brought in real-world debates like the abortion issue used it as a fulcrum to bring Baltar up into the story again. The abortion issue is extremely relevant because today that debate is still going and it’s true that most elections are heavily influenced by it and its influence is powerful enough to sway the polls. This issue is seamlessly weaved into the presidential elections. Also, I loved how write Jeff Vlaming used the endangered human race issue as a purpose for Roslin to ban abortion. And the same goes for how Baltar uses her decision to corner her politically, and gain support for himself. REALLY AWESOME STUFF! Four and a half out of five.
Location viewed: My room
Source: Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
Time viewed: 10:00-10:50 PM
