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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

I have always thoroughly enjoyed television shows that manage to stay with you long after a particular episode has come to an end. Because if the story is still on your mind, the show has done a phenomenal job of reaching you to the point where you are truly vested in this universe and its characters and everything that happens to them and one show that managed to pull that off from the get go, was Battlestar Galactica. After all, when you think about that series premiere, and the power that came with it...how could we not be vested in such a powerful storyline.  

But with all the changes that came about during season two; with the show more or less pushing its more philosophical concepts to the side...could it maintain it's ability to draw us in? The answer to that question is a resounding yes, because as it turns out...the first six episodes of season two were designed to mess with us just a little bit since the good people of this fleet more or less have forgotten the fact that they set out into deep space not to bicker and divide as they have thus far and well...the time has come to reunite the fleet, but not without a little bit of drama first.

After all, 'Home (Part 1)', opens up with the mess we've become accustomed to thus far, with the fleet in tatters and Adama and Roslin trying to pick up the pieces to their respective problems. For the President, she's struggling to get everyone on the same page so that they can resume the hunt for Earth, since Zarek and the Quorum seem inclined to trust no one from Galactica, despite the fact that Lee helped her escape from the ship, or...they want to arm themselves to the teeth in case the Commander comes looking for them. Plus to make matters worse, when Starbuck returns from Caprica, with Sharon in tow, the ugly greeting we expected to see went down when Lee saw her and for a moment there, it truly seemed like things were about to spiral out of control. But somehow Laura was able to unite this band of insurrectionists...and get them down to Kobol to hunt for the Tomb of Athena.

But of course, the journey would not be easy. In addition to the long trek to said Tomb, the Cylons left on this world were waiting to cause harm with quite the trap and in the midst of springing their violent surprise, the group lost ​Elosha as well, and while the group on Kobol dealt with all of this, the Commander had his hands busy trying to put what was left of the fleet back on track and for angry Adama, that meant forgetting about those that abandoned the Galactica and focus on who remained and well...this idea simply did not go as planned. The people he had fill empty positions on his own ship were grossly unqualified to perform the duties necessary in day to day fleet life and if it wasn't for Dee pointing out that the Commander's anger and pain toward acts that can be forgiven were hurting the fleet, who knows if that all important moment in the final seconds of the episode, when Adama let it be known it was time to reunite the fleet, would ever have come to pass. 

It was that beautiful speech, and the determination in Adama's voice that reminded us of one particular fact when it comes to this story, that this fleet represents the last of humanity. The 47,858 left at the start of this tale have no choice but to put their petty differences aside and work together to survive...or it's the end and just like that, the focus is back when it comes to this series, it's about finding a new home, a place filled with the lost thirteenth tribe and since this one happens to be a two parter, I'm dying to know what comes next. How will Adama reunite the fleet after everything that's happened and what exactly will they find in the Tomb of Athena? Well it's time to find out, so if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch 'Home (Part 2)'! Until next time.

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