'Battlestar Galactica' Retro Recap: 'The Oath'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Despite the fact that Battlestar Galactica is in essence a fairly dark show since it began in bloody and genocidal fashion and has featured many a harrowing episode following that powerful series premiere, the saga has in fact always focused on one particular thing over all else; being the best that we can be during a time of crisis. Sure, we’ve seen the Fleet stumble and falter, but they’ve always held themselves to higher ideals rooted in morality and that has allowed for the last vestiges of mankind to endure and push forward toward a better tomorrow.
 
However, the next episode in this wonderful series, ‘The Oath’, decided to change all of that. Because with the hope of Earth ripped away from the Fleet, and without a leader to guide and comfort them, some of the people struggling to find purpose in this trying time finally came to realize, that they have nothing to lose and they indulged their darker side and made an effort to make someone, anyone atone for the fact that the universe is a cruel place and well, things are never going to be the same aboard the Galactica after this tale because how does one go back after committing mutiny?
 
Or a coup for that matter as well? Because that’s precisely what Tom Zarek and Felix Gaeta made happen in this tale, since Gaeta helped Tom escape from his cell so that he could return to Colonial One, and more on that in a moment because that was just the beginning when it came to Gaeta’s machinations. For Felix orchestrated a brilliant and twisted plan that allowed for his own little band of mutineers to take the ship deck by deck, cutting off communications to the CIC in order to see his plan come to fruition and sadly, it worked like a charm. Gaeta was able to arrest the Admiral and assume command of the ship, and well…things only got worse from there.
 
After all, we cannot forget about Zarek, who managed to get Lee out of the way, so he could assume the power of the presidency and it seemed that he and Gaeta would be successful in their coup d’état, but they didn’t count on the Admiral or the real president’s ingenuity. Because Laura found a way to speak directly to the people and rattle Zarek’s plans and the Admiral…well there was no way he was going into a cell and really, this one ends on quite the powerful note, with the Galactica covered in blood and the Admiral and the Colonel ready for one hell of a fire fight.
 
Needless to say, I loved this episode, it’s powerful and poignant and well, heartbreaking as well. Because if this is what mankind has been reduced to, one has to wonder if there’s any hope left for the species in the slightest and it’s going to take quite the miracle for the Admiral to retake the ship and his command since so many of the crew have turned on their leader and I really am in awe of this tale when all is said and done. Which means there’s no time to waste, I need to know how this chapter ends, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to see how the Admiral gets out of this pickle. Until next time.

---