Battlestar Galatica: Season 2 Blog
October 26, 2009
Season 2. Episode 14.
“Black Market”
49,597 survivors. First off, I will say that I am a little bit disappointed in this episode, but more on that later. Writer Mark Verheiden explores the economic hardships of living on the run in this episode. President Roslin holds a meeting with Admiral Adama, Apollo, Commander Fisk, and Dr. Baltar about eliminating the black market–great subject matter, since it’s never been addressed yet. Adama asks Apollo to lead the investigation, and Commander Fisk agrees to help if ordered. Back on Pegasus, Fisk is confronted with a man in a suit–there is evident fear in Fisk’s eyes–and he is then garroted by one of the man’s thugs. Apollo is depressed and has been ever since the Blackbird incident. Apollo visits a woman on Cloud 9 named Shevon, who is a prostitute, and frequently sleeps with her. It is revealed that Apollo is using her because she reminds him of a girl he left on Caprica. Later on, Apollo finds out that Fisk was involved with the black market. While in Shevon’s room on Cloud 9, the man in the suit and his men break in and garrote Apollo, though not killing him, telling him to back off the investigation. The men take Shevon and her daughter, Paya.
Fisk’s murder is handed over to Apollo with a bullet in his head. Zarek tells Apollo that this is an offer to end the investigation without probing into dangerous territory. Apollo refuses, and Zarek reveals that the man behind the black market is someone named Phelan. His main operation is in the Prometheus. Apollo later confronts Phelan and they both have a colloquy on why the fleet needs a black market. Supplies and medicine are scarce, and the fleet needs the black market as a way to relieve the burdens of a trade system with high demand and low production. Apollo then shoots and kills Phelan. He informs the rest of Phelan’s men that he will allow the black market to continue under close scrutiny, and the illegal practices will no longer be tolerated. Roslin is upset with Apollo’s decision, but Apollo justifies it by saying that a perfect system under these conditions can’t be achieved and that the black market is necessary.
The idea and subject matter, in my opinion, are excellent. My main problem with this episode was that it was unfocused. The character focus was obviously on Apollo, but even that left me feeling unfulfilled. Apollo’s story was too garbled in the affairs of the black market problem, and that in turn, for editing’s sake, led to some sacrifices being made on the subject of the black market. I would’ve loved the episode more if the Apollo storyline was saved for another episode and the black market was addressed more in depth, i.e., focusing on the detrimental effects of its illegal practices as well as its positive effects in relieving the fleet’s pressure. Great potential, but not good enough. Two and a half stars out of five.
Location viewed: My room
Source: Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (Blu-Ray)
Time viewed: 10:00-10:50 PM
