Fun with Flashbacks

Spoilers

A pretty good (not mindboggling great, but good) episode last Friday. The crew of the Galactica discover a burning Cylon Raider on the run from two other Cylon Raiders. The two raiders get smoked and the smoking raider gets escorted onto the Galactica.

Out of the raider drops a human pilot named Lt. Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek, who once served under Adama. He disappeared from sight 3 years previous, during a secret mission at Adama's behest. when Adama was at the helm of another Battlestar named Valkyrie (the third one seen on the new show!).

It turns out that "Bulldog" appears to be exactly what he says he is, genetically (and not a brand new form of Cylon). Which leads to a lot of flashbacks from all parties-- in which we see that Adama senior was once very highly regarded in the fleet, and that his post prior to the Galactica was a bit of a plum-- the Valkyrie being in the same class as Pegasus (apparently). Furthermore we also learn that because of events that transpire with Bulldog as the focal point, Adama was in something like a career exile on the Galactica. There's some serious soul-searching that goes on with all concerned.

The denouement is somewhat anticlimatic, and I don't need to go into it. I'm glad they introduced a new character and I hope he becomes a regular (frankly, the cast is a tad lilly-white in my opinion).

The Cylons were pretty confusing in this episode.. the D'Anna model (Lucy Lawless) has most of the screen time, with Baltar having no speaking lines at all and Caprica 6 only 2 or 3 lines. D'Anna has become somewhat taken with Baltar, if the evidence of a threesome with Caprica and Baltar is any clue (and thank you, Ms. Lawless, for the wonderful walkaway right after that scene.. you are a work of art!). I actually think the "D'Anna's nightmares" subplot seems to be pointless meandering, but you never know with Ron Moore. Everything connects.

In sum, a good not great episode, with some high points. Keep showing us the cylon point of view, Ron Moore! That's what is making this show great.