This Dee/Lee thing is a mess! She woke up in the morning after a night romping in a tiny bunk with perfectly coiffed hair?!? Now I am a black woman with a similar hair type to Dee and I can assure you- IMPOSSIBLE. Their chemistry also sucks.

I was glad to see a battle scene again. Though I knew the cylons were setting a trap, I did get a season one level chill to see those big dudes jump out into view.

I was okay with the engineer going down there. (maybe because i haven't seen the star trek movies). At least he was kind of able to admit a mistake and get down there and try to do what he could.

Mostly I was just glad to see Starbuck flying and things blowing up. And that angry Gemenon lady who looks like the other religious lady who blew up. She makes me laugh with her over-acting.

I was torn on this episode. It had inklings of greatness, but the plot direction feels so forced and half-assed.

But to the good: Though predictable, I loved the rescue attempt finding the two Raptor crews dead, only to have the "OH SHIT!" moment as 3 Basestars pop in and start firing nukes. Pandemonium and blowin' up ensues. Super-duper.

The frustrating: "We want Apollo and Dee to start gettin' busy. Ok, let's kill off Billy and the whole back story we've told about him and Dee over the last 1.5 seasons." And the Harry Potter Dark Art teacher dilemma (i.e.- Pegasus Captain) trend is killing me. 3 Captains in about as many weeks, all as interesting as the Galactica crew, knocked if as an afterthought? And now Apollo is Captain of the Pegasus? A fighter pilot to warship Captain in a couple months, while the rest of the Pegasus officers with more experience can suck it.

The whole story is taking on this Star Trek feel-- EVERYTHING happens to the same characters whether it makes sense or not. Special Ops Ground Combat Mission? Send in the pilots! Need a P.I? Call in Magnum Apollo! Need a new Captain? It's Apollo!Need some love interest with a prostitute! It's Apollo! Need a conlict? How about Abortion! Roslin's gonna die? The hybrid blood will fix that, no problem.

What happened to the intrigue, (which, thankfully though lamely, was injected a bit this episode), the quest for Earth, crew conflict that felt genuine, plot lines and characters that extend beyond an episode and the cylon threat? What are the cylons doing these days anyway? They're just around as a big fat McGuffin.

I'm still watching, but man- this "take all the short-cuts" season is driving me bonkers.

I totally agree with you Chark Hammis. Well said.

Chark Hammis- GREAT Potter reference!

Excepting that tasteless push or suck comment, I have to agree with J-Unit. This show has lost it's way. Last summer it came strong with a story arc that included grim desperation and revelatory wonder. The conflict between Roslin and Adama was archetypal in that he was the Father figure concerned with the practical survival of the people while she was the nurturing Mother looking to realize a dream beyond hope.

None of that has happened since the winter return. Admiral Cain got off easy to be frank. She wasn't made to answer for her war crimes and she never truly had to go to toe with Adama. They introduced the concept of the Black Market recently, which expands the view of the society reforming within the fleet.

The only thing I'm certain of now is that the Cylon plan is going along smoothly. They sent the miracle baby into the belly of the beast for a reason. They knew the humans would be unable to kill it.

How 'bout Mr. Gaeta? How's he doing? His issues seemed minimal.

I notice that Roslin wore pants for the first time ever. When will she use her memory of Gaius/Six against him? You know she will.

I thought this episode (while still not as good as season 1) did step it up a notch. And I would like to point out that it wasn't three commanders in three weeks just three episodes and while yes to the viewers this is repetitious if you paid attention months have gone by in Gallactica time.

I would have rathered the Engineer captain not die and instead realize he's unfit for command and that his place is in the engine room and step down. I think that would have been just as heroic as dieing for your ship and still be a little change of pace for us viewers.

Still the show is good even if its lost a bit of its new car smell. I think they are setting up some interesting things that will really take us to some nice places. Consider it a mid 24 season lull and keep watching for bad-assness.

Oh, and Barnes going into the breached compartment reminded me of both "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" when Mr. Hyde did that, and "Crimson Tide" when Ricky Schroder had to seal the flooding hatch with men still trying to get out of the compartment.

I am starting to believe that the whole Lee/Dualla thing is happening just to give the writers a chance to show off some new flesh. As far as what to do with the pegasus, it looks to me that the rogue nuke will somehow show up on the ship somewhere and blow it up. Why else would it keep showing up at odd times?
In all, this ep was ok, but not what I had hoped for a "sweeps" month. Ijust hope they are setting us up for a great season finish.

Oh yeah and I forgot to mention: I know this is a "reimagining" of BSG but in the original series the Gallactica was not the only Battlestar in the fleet. If memory serves they had 4 at one time.

MODULUS-- I understand months have passed, but the episodes are still weekly-- that's what I was referring to. But having the writers offhandedly throw in a comment saying it's been a month doesn't really satisfy and goes to my point about "short-cuts". The way they're mowing through these captains (played by some interesting and legit actors, no less) still feels unsatisfactory to me.

But you're right- there were 12 Battlestars- one for each colony (boy, this is sounding nerdtastic)-- this whole Pegasus arc is an homage to an original two part episode where they run into Pegasus whose Captain was played by Lloyd Bridges. To be honest, I hope they keep it- it adds another interesting dynamic. Though at this point, I think Chenthorn's nuke comment smacks of the way this season is playing out-a cheap and easy way to get rid of the Pegasus story element.

But, it'd be nice to be wrong.

I can't remember if the original Admiral Cain was guilty of war crimes too.

TV people always have neat hair unless it's a gag. The texture of Dee's hair doesn't really have any bearing. It's pretty much the same as the rest of the cast's. Roslin was dying and her hair looked the same.

I find this show's emotional relationships very hard to connect to. Starbuck was getting interested in Lee, then sleeping with Gaius, then she went home and fell for the basketball player, and as soon as she got back she was flirting with Lee, then she was guilty about the basketball player. WTF? Lee was interested in Starbuck, then he was secretly self-flagellating with hookers over his dead girlfriend, he didn't want Dee and now he's shacking up with her.

How are we supposed to invest in these haphazard, incomprehensible relationships?

Lady J- True the TV people in general tend to look better than in real life, but one of the things I liked about the show was that it's populated with real people (with the exception of six)- starbuck is not stick thin, adama's face is full of pock marks, roslyn is wrinkly. slowly everyone is starting to look all modely and thats less fun.

you are right on the relationships. couldn't buy starbuck and the baseketball guy, couldn't buy lee and the prostite, becuase we don't get the know these characters at all or in the Lee/Dee case see a relationship grow. He body slams Dee and then three episodes later she's like 'are we in love?' huh?

Of course I'm just still bitter becuase I wil shipping for Billy and Dee.

To all of those who are still watching bsg: I would like to ask all of you to stop watching this crap. If you all stop it will go away. My wife and I stopped watching 2 weeks ago and we are much better for it. We like to check out the blog here to see if anyone still watches and what they think but other than that the show holds no interest at all. You allready know that the "cylons" or "machines that look like you and me" can't and won't mount any kind of serious offensive since they lost their "death ship" or whatever you call it. Even if the cylons do attack all the gallactica has to do is go into hyperspace or whatever and just get away. The point is it is a really poorly written show that if it wasn't for the sci fi channel it wouldn't have been made in the first place. Has there been anything on that channel worth watching anyways? "Stargate" and all the other crap on that channel? I mean yes I watched bsg for awhile but that was because I was hoping it would be better than the original,more exciting, more special effects things like that but geez it is a joke and so is that whole channel. My advise for those who like this show are to get out of your mom's basement once in a while, date a woman, and join the rest of us in this reality. However, when you do have a minute to relax try watching the shield on FX. If you do you will understand how bad bsg and all the other sci fi nerd shows are. Thanks for your time and good luck with that dating thing....:)

So the nerd in the basement who watched the show but hasn't for two weeks condemns the other nerds in the basement for holding out.

Written like a true deuchebag, Yota. Well done.

Chark Hammis - yeah, quitting a show two weeks before others doesn't quite give you enough credibility to put up a post like that. I'm sure our love lives will be just fine if a person like that got someone to marry them.....

(though i do agree that everything else on sci fi looks like garbage)

Silly Yota, scifi is for all the people. My mom lives on the other side of the state. I would never live in a basement. And I don't date women because I am one and just don't have any interest.

The point of watching these shows is to make sure that the tv gatekeepers know there is an audience and keep cranking out new ones. I hate Stargate, but now that Ben Browder is on it, I watch. Ben Browder headlined Scifi's stupendous, groundbreaking "Farscape" and I want tv honchos to know that Ben Browder comes with a built in fanbase. He will not always do "Stargate" and I will be there for him when he takes his many skills back to an over the top project.

In conclusion, "The Shield" is a fantastic show. I am riveted and wonder how Aceveda is going to keep IAB from finding out he murdered the guy who mouth-raped him (and thus, that he was mouth-raped). Personally, I think Aceveda should have killed the witness (and their families and friends just to be sure) in Keyser Soze fashion. (But then, I would have chosen the bullet over the mouth-rape and trusted the Strike Team to hunt down my killer and bring in the Ukrainians to inflict bloody torturous death on them.) Mackey has his uses.

Peace.

Lady J, at first I couldn't believe that you left out Delroy Lindo melting like the Wicked Witch of the East to save the ship in The Core. But then I realized that none of the other 3 people who actually watched that movie (because, like me, they were too lazy to find the remote and change the channel) are present. Hats off to you, for your lives are better because of it.

Oh, Chark and Leah you guys are right. I am truly sorry for condeming you. It will never happen again. I will never bash your show because I know now how much they mean to you. To Lady J: Do you know why no one like J-unit reviews the Shield? I mean it is a show that has won emmys and has great writing. Maybe that kind of show being reviewed would bring more interesting comments and discussion. Oh and by the way Chark and Leah: my wife and I are very happily married and share a bond and a give and take that few people could ever know. We do watch tv and enjoy it but we like other things better like making love and raising a family. When someday you two become lucky enough to find the love of your life you may understand what I'm talking about. However, you never will find it at home watching bsg or shield or sci fi anything. You've got to get out more!

'Tater: you so right. I have never even thought of watching "The Core."

Yota: Recaps for "The Shield" could be awesome given the helter-skelter plots and overall griminess of the show. And the good times we could have with Walton Goggins' teeth! Or Dutch's cat-strangling. And now with Forrest Whitaker's creepy eye-lid and weirdo ways of talking to people... Oh the times we could have... I don't think Kavanaugh will get Mackey, but it is so fun watching Mackey claw his way out of the corner.

As it happens, I too like things better than tv. I would have to say that there are only a few hours a week that I needs must tune in. That's not much to give up in the city that never sleeps. Especially if you tape it, or do other things while watching. And it's nothing to the Buffy/ Angel/ Xena/ Hercules/ Farscape/ Lexx/ Invisible Man/ The Crow/ La Femme Nikita/ X-Files/ Charmed/ First Wave/ G vs. E days.

Do you know why no one like J-unit reviews the Shield?

Mainly because I don't watch it.

I will say that I don't believe there is a high correlation between watching SciFi and one's ability to find a spouse.

All,

I did like this episode a little more than some of the older ones, but as somebody else said, it is OK to have some people not named Starbuck and Apollo involved in some of these stories. I really can't stand any of the humans, and like Lady J keeps saying, I think the Cylons are setting them up perfectly.

I have to say, I am very interested in next week's episode deep in the belly of the Cylon beast. I would match rather be getting insights into what make Sharon and Gina/Six tick than Apollo and Starbuck.