'Battlestar Galactica' Retro Recap: 'The Passage'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

I have always appreciated the fact that Battlestar Galactica explores ideas and concepts and notions that other science fiction stories avoid and outright refuse to examine and one such element that falls into that category that it has returned to on several occasions to help ground the show...is the whole matter surrounding resources.

After all, it's easy to create or invent technology in these types of stories that solve such matters in order to focus on other topics or to make the tale easier to tell, but BSG loves a challenge and for its next episode, 'The Passage', resources were quite the big deal because something has happened to the food supply in the fleet, and a square meal is now a scarcity. But before the fleet descends into chaos over starvation, the Galactica has discovered a planet covered in algae that can be converted into food and provide everyone with the nutrients they need, there's just one big problem. In order to get to this planet, the fleet will have to navigate through a massive star cluster, and this dangerous quest to feed the fleet will prove to be dangerous...and costly. 

Now this episode, was quite frankly far more incredible than I remember it being the first time I watched it years ago for so many reasons. For starters, rather than focus on the chaos in the fleet that would come with a massive food shortage, the show instead opted to focus on everyone's resolve to get the job done. It was either suck it up, live with the danger and risk that comes with this search for food...or die of starvation, so they might as well give it their all and the heroism that came with that, considering that every single pilot was exposed to heavy doses of radiation was downright incredible and not to mention...there were some serious consequences to go along with this mission since the fleet lost several ships in this story as well, which means more precious lives are lost and quarters are only going to get more cramped for those who weren't aboard those lost vessels.  

But the heroism is the part that sticks with me the most in this episode, especially when it comes to Kat, since her story was truly something else. Because over the course of the hour we learned that this plucky pilot lied and assumed a new identity to get aboard Galactica thanks to her checkered past where she trafficked drugs and people all over the colonies and unfortunately for Kat, that past came back to haunt her when an old friend comes aboard the ship, and to make matters worse...Starbuck finds out all the details about this as well, leading Kat to push herself to incredible limits. She hides just how much radiation she's been exposed to, and stays behind in the cluster to make sure that no more ships are lost during the final run to the planet and well...such a heroic act costs her her life thanks to radiation poisoning and goodness, what a powerful and beautiful storyline. Kat has seen good days and bad days on this show, and she was always a fireball that never quite found her inner hero until now...and while its great she went out on top, it's a shame she didn't discover what she's capable of, or find this kind of inner peace sooner. 

Regardless, this was one intense episode. It truly takes you on an emotional rollercoaster because as the ships continue to burn up in the star cluster, you feel your spirits sink, only to have them lifted once again once Kat saves the day...and then come the tears. But despite the feels this episode provides us with, it's also important to note that this one seemingly lays the foundation for a bigger season three storyline as well, the search to discover the identity of the Final Five Cylons, and it would seem this search, thanks to Baltar's desire to know as to whether or not he's a Cylon as well...will likely force humanity and their enemy to cross paths once again on or around the planet that the fleet is near and it should be interesting to see what clues and conflict come about as the quest for the Final Five kicks into high gear. Until next time. 

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