Battlestar Galactica: No Exit

Way back when, I said this episode was one of my least favorites of the series, going so far as to throw it in with the likes of "The Woman King" and "Black Market". Admittedly, that was a bit harsh, and I can at least say now, that while it will probably never be one of my favorites, it's really not that bad.

We actually get answers to some long-standing questions. A lot of background information is revealed, to both us and some ultra-curious Cylons. And we get to see Ellen Tigh square off with her ungrateful first born (who seriously needs a nap). And we get to see what has become of the great ship Galactica, whose very bones are rotting out from under her.

Not bad for an hour of television. I wish it felt less like housekeeping, but what can you do.

The big theme of this week's episode is about the distinction between machines and humanity. Yes, that's been the theme of the show since the beginning (at this point, even Galactica is getting in on that plot as Tyrol starts mending her with organic material), but here we see it in the fight between Ellen and Cavil.

Cavil has always had a problem with humanity, and here we see that he hates them because of who he is; an imperfect machine. He wants to be perfect, but because his parents designed him as a Cylon, he's stuck with machine thoughts in a human body. Forever. And well, he's pissed about it, and since he was created and not born, he gets the rare opportunity to both torture and rail against his maker.

He may have some legitimate grievances and all, but he sounds more like an angry kid who blames all the problems of his life on other people. Sure, maybe he was made to be a certain way, but so was Athena, and she choose to go against her programming and be something new. He has done so many horrible things to humans, Cylons and Centurions that he's well past the point of sympathy.

And at least for me, his suicide is beginning to make a lot more sense; I really don't think he could take living in a world where he didn't win.

And good on Ellen for fighting the good fight for Boomer's soul, even if Boomer is already lost. Like Cavil, if she could, Boomer would burn all that humanity out of her and just be a metal machine. But before that, she's got some more treachery and side-switching ahead of her. Can't wait.

Stray thoughts

• One standout scene amid all this exposition is Tigh with his sweet girlfriend and their baby. He's never been a father (at least as far as he can remember), and here the parents are, happy and in love with the only child they'll ever have. Considering what happens next, it's both sweet and a heartbreaker. I expect no less from my beloved show.

Next up: "Deadlock"