'Battlestar Galactica' Retro Recap: 'Razor'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​It’s been a little over ten years since Battlestar Galactica went off the air, but I can still distinctly recall all the buzz that came about when it was announced that the fourth season of the show, would be its last. Because such news not only meant that BSG was going out on its own terms, but also at long last, all the answers that the fans had been brooding upon since the miniseries would likely present themselves over the course of that final year, and the buzz only grew louder when it was announced that a special two-hour movie was going to air months before the season four premiere.
 
Because there was a possibility that the movie could speak to how Kara Thrace was alive and well and shed some light on the Final Five and the location of Earth. But as it turns out, ‘Razor’ was merely the appetizer for season four, one that took the time to setup several important plot lines that would play out over the course of the final year and while it seems as though there’s disappointment in my reflecting upon not getting answers sooner, make no mistake about it, this side story was a welcome addition to the BSG universe because it featured some damn good storytelling through and through.
 
In fact, what made this story so unique, was that it took us into the past, to the early days of Lee Adama’s tenure as Commander of the Battlestar Pegasus and through the wonder of reflection with the crew he inherited, we came to learn more about Admiral Cain’s tough journey through the stars after the attack on the Twelve Colonies, and we were finally able to bear witness to all the stories and rumors that were floating about the fleet shortly after the battered crew’s arrival in season two. If anything, it was wonderful to fill in those all-important gaps and it was neat to see cast members long gone reprise their roles one more time before the series came to a close.
 
But truly, the centerpiece of this story, is Major Kendra Shaw and her journey toward redemption. Because she has some serious skeletons in her closet, ones that haunt her daily and it’s just wonderful to see her go from lost officer to outright hero in this tale. As for the setup for season four, well that was all accomplished by pitting the Pegasus against an ancient Basestar, one that was last seen by the Admiral on the final day of the First Cylon War and aboard this vessel, horrible experiments were being conducted on humans to create the perfect hybrid, and before the episode closed, the only successful product of this butcher work warned Shaw that Starbuck will lead the human race to its end, thus making the cliffhanger at the end of season three, suddenly seem incredibly ominous.
 
If anything, this really was just a fun ride, and I love the mystery surrounding the Cylons in this tale, and the fact that the series was able to resurrect the classic ‘Chrome Dome’ look for this episode and show us a young Adama for that matter as well. But what matters most, is that ‘Razor’ really does do a fine job of setting up season four and what’s truly strange, is that even after re-watching this one, the powerful sense that this journey is about to come to an end hasn’t sunk back in yet, and I recall going through something similar emotionally back during its original air date because this is a one off in its own right, a quick celebration of Battlestar Galactica if you will, and heavier and more powerful stories await, as does the end and well…I think the time has come to brace myself as we barrel toward the truth and one of my all-time favorite series finales. Until next time. 

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