The Five Best Episodes of Battlestar Galactica

Written by:  John Edward Betancourt 

The other day we took a good look at the five worst episodes that BSG had to offer, and while they were easy finds, there was much debate here at Girls of Geek as to what episodes represented the finest the show had to offer.

Fact is there were so many great ones.  Thankfully Thursday’s list presented nothing more than anomalies in a show filled with one memorable episode after another.  But after much discussion, the dust has settled and we decided that these five episodes were indeed the best of Battlestar Galactica.  But before we get started let’s go over two important things. 

First, be ready for spoilers if you haven’t seen the show, and if you haven’t get on Netflix and get started, because you are missing out.  Second, yes we are aware that multiple episodes are represented in the same spot.  Simply put, we were left with no choice as since these story arcs are essentially represented as one giant episode.  To not count them as such would be a disservice to the story and you the reader and it perfectly captures the storytelling spirit of BSG. 

5.  “Pegasus” and “Resurrection Ship”

The Plot:  Thought to be the last of humanity the Colonial Fleet is stunned when they cross paths with the Battlestar Pegasus.  But the celebration is short lived as Admiral Helena Cain takes command of the fleet, and her vision of an all out war with the Cylons along with the discovery of what the crew of Pegasus has done to survive leaves Adama worried that she may be leading mankind to extinction.

The Lowdown:  This second season, three-episode story arc provided an amazing contrast between how circumstance can change our destiny.  On one hand we had the Galactica, the noble protector of the last surviving elements of humanity, on the other we had the Pegasus, beaten down and broken, with most of her crew lost and an Admiral determined to destroy the Cylons by any means necessary.  This arc did an amazing job showing of the contrast between our most noble elements and the horrors we are capable of at our worst.  To top it off, the events portrayed here would have lasting repercussions that would extend into season three.

4.  “Revelations” and “Sometimes a Great Notion”

The Plot:  After four years of searching for the lost thirteenth colony known as Earth, the Colonial Fleet and Rebel Cylons at last arrive at their destination.  But instead of finding their fellow man there is only devastation as they discover a radioactive wasteland.  The fallout from this discovery leads to suicides throughout the fleet as hope disappears.

The Lowdown:  This two part, season four episode sets up the darkest story arc to date in the series, and perhaps its most powerful as we watch some of the characters we know and love give in to despair and some turn to extremes as they place their blame upon Adama, who had no way of knowing.  While he does his best to find the fleet a new home, the damage is done and the show was never the same. 

3. The Battle of New Caprica – “Occupation”, “Precipice”, and “Exodus”

The Plot:  The Cylons have found the colony of New Caprica and seized control of the city under a banner of peace.  But Colonel Tigh and the remaining crews of the Pegasus and Galactica see peace as a ruse and organize a resistance.  But as they struggle against the Cylons, Admiral Adama, torn by jumping the fleet to safety and leaving so many behind is preparing a rescue mission to bring all those he abandoned, home.

The Lowdown:  An impressive four-part story arc kicked off season three with a bang presenting us with a story that is truly about survival and how far one is willing to go to live.  The real life events of the invasion of Iraq all served as the inspiration of a story that definitely left us uncomfortable before giving us perhaps one of the best space battle sequences to ever grace film and television.  We learned about the military genius of the Adama family when William drops the Galactica into New Caprica’s atmosphere to begin the evacuation of the city, and when his son Lee sacrifices the Pegasus to save the elder Battlestar and his father from destruction.  This episode was thought provoking, powerful and remains one of the best of the series. 

2. “33”

The Plot:  The Twelve Colonies are gone, destroyed by the Cylons and only a handful of humans remain.  On the run and protected by the Battlestar Galactica they find themselves hunted as they begin their search for the mythical Earth and already the battle is taking its toll as the fleet is unable to sleep.  Only because every thirty-three minutes after a faster than light jump, the Cylons appear and force the humans to escape again.  Without sleep eventually a mistake will be made and the Cylons will strike, unless the crew of the Galactica can figure out how the Cylons are tracking them. 

The Lowdown:  The one that started it all.  This was the Series Premiere that picked up immediately after the Miniseries and the result was nothing short of brutal.  With spot on acting and a story that left you on the edge of your seat, this was a story that let us know we were in for one hell of a ride and hard decisions and consequences would follow.  Yet while this episode set the tone, how it ended was nothing short of amazing. 

1. “Daybreak”

The Plot:  It is the darkest hour for the fleet.  Earth was a lie, mutiny split them apart and the Cylon/Human Hybrid child Hera has been stolen.  To top it off, after fifty plus years of service the Battlestar Galactica is falling apart at the seams.  She is to be abandoned, and the Admiral’s flag transferred to a Rebel Cylon basestar.  But Admiral Adama comes to the realization that the losses have become too great, and that they can no longer leave anyone behind, forcing him to gather up volunteers and take the Galactica on one final mission to the Cylon home world to rescue the child and in the process, save humanity’s future. 

The Lowdown:  This was an episode so polarizing, and controversial that it had no other place on this list than at the top.  It was either loved or hated, and yes it is not without its flaws.  So why then does it make the list as the best episode?  To start with, the sweeping cinematic nature of the whole Series Finale put it on an epic scale, and the incredible performances and battle sequences helped elevate it as well.  But for all the flaws, and issues that people have with it, it found something that science fiction, especially of the dystopian nature has lost, it gave us hope.  While the series showed off the darker side of the species, the finale lifts us up by reminding us that every last one of us deserves a second chance.  That every life is precious, and that maybe, just maybe we can all come together one day and find ourselves in a better world.  

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