"Battlestar Galactica" Retro Recap: "Kobol's Last Gleaming (Parts 1 & 2)"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Mankind's history is filled to the brim with rich mythology and powerful beliefs that have managed to shape our world and our civilization or better or for worse. Of course we won't be getting into a big discussion or debate as to which religion is the right one or anything like that...instead today we need to discuss an idea that I think has crossed all of our minds when it comes to our modern mythos...what if we discovered irrefutable proof that one particular religion or belief was absolutely real?

It would of course change our lives, change our world in so many incredible ways and it is that concept that was integrated into the first season finale of Battlestar Galactica in stunning fashion. While religious overtones had already played a part in the world building, anything beyond that seemed ambiguous and that made sense, because I'm sure many of us believed that thematic concepts related to religion would have no home in a science fiction show...but "Kobol's Last Gleaming" proved that it could, and it wouldn't be the last time we would see it on the show either, but for the sake of today's recap...none of us ever knew that this episode would become the guiding point for the rest of the series, especially when this episode turned out to be so incredibly dark.

After all, there is an incredible anger hanging over this episode. Every character seems ready to go after their fellow man in some form or fashion and...it works. The plucky joy seen at the end of the last episode is replaced with hints of desperation. This anger isn't out of the blue, they're in the middle of deep space, the void, with no hope in sight  so when the episode does drop Kobol in our laps, it changes everything. I love how suddenly now there is a debate between religion and science, despite the fact that Kobol turns out to be a factual place. It's about the need to believe in something more that drives this episode and some of the character's decisions and those decisions turn out to be so incredibly tense that well, I honestly lost track of time watching this two part finale. It was just that damn good.

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Of course this episode also finally wraps up the long standing side Caprica plot line with Helo that quite frankly I haven't discussed much because it doesn't get interesting until this episode. Sure Caprica-Boomer is pregnant, but it has no weight or power until the opera house scene on Kobol with Baltar & Six when we realize that oh...this little girl is probably the one in the cradle and she's going to be a big freaking deal. I distinctly remember how much I loved the mystery that this episode provided by way of the forthcoming baby and the strength of that mystery still exists after all this time. Despite knowing what "God's Plan" is after all these years, there's something about this mystery that calls to your imagination on a primal level and you're compelled to pop in season two to get started right away.

But the cornerstone of this episode...is Galactica-Boomer. She goes through such a dark and terrifying journey. The whole attempted suicide piece is something I never saw coming and one has to wonder if her programming as a Cylon agent is what kept her from finishing the job if you will and that's horrifying. It means this poor character was always a pawn, always without control and there's a tragedy to that. Especially when she discovers her true identity aboard the Cylon Basestar. It's heartbreaking to see the flock of Sharon's surround her and try to comfort her when it's clear she wants to curl up in a ball and cry. But her terror and her actions in blowing up the Basestar make those final seconds all the more powerful when she pulls her gun up and puts two rounds intp Commander Adama. 

It's done in haunting fashion. That near sly smile on her face while Adama writhes in pain after all these years...it still has the same effect. There's a lump in your stomach as you watch it happen and it only tightens when the credits roll and we fade to black. If anything, the season finale bookends the series premiere/miniseries so well...both are dreary and angry tales that end with uncertainty and I honestly think this particular episode is what brought forth the modern day cliffhanger that so many television series employ these days because let's be honest...we had to know what the hell happened to Adama. Would he live? Would he die? Were the Cylons on their way? Of course we would have to wait until season two...but man...what a ride season one turned out to be. It may have been uneven at times and a little lost but oh well...because the best episodes, the ones like this made everything worth while and the show was only getting better from here. Until next time.

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