'Battlestar Galactica' Retro Recap: 'Exodus (Part 1)'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It's a truly special moment when a television show, or a movie for that matter, finds a way to get your blood pumping and your spirits soaring to the point where you're desperate to see how the story ends and one such show that managed to pull that off on a regular basis was the often brilliant Battlestar Galactica. 

Because this show knew how to reach us on a fundamental level and tug at our heartstrings in the best and worst of ways and one particular set of episodes that truly accomplished this in magnificent fashion was the powerful two parter 'Exodus', since this particular tale set up and delivered the grand showdown between Cylon and man that has been brewing since the season two finale, and the first part of this powerful epic, created a build up so strong that I distinctly recall being downright desperate to see how the story ends and it pulled off such a feat by taking us through peaks and valleys, emotionally. 

For example, it built fury in our hearts by allowing for the audience to hate the Cylons once again. Granted we've always known they're the heavy of the story, but considering the amount of time spent on seeing these angry creations of man work hard to redeem themselves for committing genocide, some of that power went away...only to return here. Because after the Chief and his small group of soldiers save Laura Roslin and Cally and anyone else on the list, the reality and the horror of that moment settles in, and considering that the Cylons are ready to murder with impunity once again, you suddenly feel the need to see the Toasters get what's coming to them and that surge of adrenaline only continues as the episodes progresses.

It reaches its pinnacle however, aboard the Galactica. Because everything on that vessel in this story revolves around final preparations for the forthcoming Battle of New Caprica and the acting in this segment of the story is simply sublime. Because every pilot, and every solider on board this proud ship are suddenly focused and ready for a fight and you want nothing more than to see them punch the Cylons right in their mechanical mouths and despite the joy this bravado brings, the valleys I spoke to earlier come about in this segment of the story as well because there is a powerful and beautiful exchange between father and son, wherein Lee breaks in down in tears over the possibility of never seeing his dad again and it leaves one to wonder...in a show that holds nothing back...will everyone make it back when all is said is done? 

Regardless, this is an episode that leaves the audience hungry for more. Because in its closing moments, when Adama adds fuel to the fire with another powerful and inspirational speech, you want to see the battle happen right then and there, and you want to see the crew succeed and that's because this episode delivers some damn fine storytelling, and another raw experience for the audience. You're simply required to sit back, observe and feel and steel yourself for this epic showdown and I truly appreciate the fact that the series has reached a point where it can pull such a feat off and save the brainier stories for after the fight. Either way, this is it. The Battlestar Galactica is headed back to New Caprica, and they're going to be in for one hell of a thrilling fight. Until next time.

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