Not so much a bang as a whimper

Only very minor spoilers.. It's not cool to give it away.

A very sedate, yet powerful, first show of Season Three for Battlestar Galactica, the New Series. I've made no secret that I'm a big fan of this show, and consider it one of the best written new shows being made (and it's only coincidentally a SF show)

The cowardly Baltar is now being forced to work with his new "allies" the Cylon occupation force. James Callis gives us his best performance of the series as the tragically haunted (yet incredibly cowardly) Baltar, visibly looking sick to his stomach as he signs orders for the execution of humans at gunpoint.

Humans are being forced to work with the Cylon "occupiers" as their collaborators.. a whole new human police force is being created to keep the peace among the human settlers-- they are the targets of the Resistance, humans that won't give up the fight no matter what. Up to and including suicide bombing.

William Hogan comes into his own as Saul Tigh in this episode. At the start of the episode he is released from prison missing an eye, gaunt, and bearded.. looking 20 years older than when we last saw him in his ridiculous hunting hat, gazing up at Cyclon aircraft streaking by overhead. Here, is a much reduced Colonel Tigh, but not unbroken.. still defiant and full of hatred. I love this character -- not perfect, plenty of flaws, and entirely believable.

Katie Sackhoff's usually powerful performance is quite subdued. The same weird Cylon she spaced a season ago has come back with delusions that he loves Starbuck and she loves him. The appearance of a real human/cylon hybrid as a result of the events of The Farm episode last season is supposed to be a shocker but it plays out in a disappointing way.

Another strong point is Olmos, as always, playing Admiral Adama determined to go back to New Caprica to rescue his people from occupation. The tension between him and his son is quite palpable and at one point he turns on Lee with uncharacteristic fury, shouting -- "You've gone soft.. physically and mentally! If you don't get off your fat ass and perform, I'll find someone who can!" Not bad at all.. Jamie Barber's transformation into a fat-gutted, slovenly Lee (hardly Apollo any more) is quite effective as well. I suspect he will redeem himself soon.

The rather brutal ending is a shocker and it would be totally unfair to reveal the details. I just wonder how certain characters will be alive next week...

I was impressed overall, but not blown out of my seat as I have been in the past. The writing is far more mature than previous years and much more thought provoking, if possible. The parallels between the Cylon occupation of New Caprica and America's occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan are, of course, intentional and rather ham-fisted. That doesn't mean they weren't executed with skill and artistic vision... there is a suicide bomber sequence that really made the show work (setting up the rather brutal reprisal at the end). It's interesting to hear the OTHER side's point of view occasionally.

Can't wait til next week...