Merry Christmas!

I believeth in you Gaius, and I want your baby. James Callis too, you are sex. For you, sir, are at the heart of this show and one of the biggest reasons I continue to watch.

The arc that opened season three, where Gaius Baltar spent time aboard a Cylon Basestar, was fascinating. Obviously because it was our first long term glimpse into the Cylon's inner life, but I enjoyed it more as meditation upon the nature of humanity, and what it means to be human. That could said also of Baltar in general. This chameleon has inhabited more roles than any other character and just when you think you can define who Baltar is, he slips away from your fingers.

Baltar is more illusory than the definition of ‘self,’ and until now he could best be described as interested only in his own self preservation. True to form, just when that seemed immutable, he goes all altruistic and willing to surrender his life for some whelp. Back in season one, HeadSix convinced him he was an instrument of God. Has he taken the next step in an evolution? There was certainly something more to it than mere self preservation. I for one, believed the sincerity of his prayer, was moved by it. A day or two earlier he was on trial for his life, for the betrayal of all humanity to their greatest enemy. And today he’s ministering the word of the one true God, direct from his hands to your tits. You go Gauis.

Another crackling scene was the final four Cylons (Tigh, Tyrol, Tory and Anders), hidden away in a room, debating their own nature. Expressing fears of what evil may lurk within as earlier visualized by Tigh horrified at killing imaginary Bill Adama, the man who might as well be his brother.

Sizzling with great potential was their fear of being outed as Cylons. I’m really looking forward to this theme being explored more in the future. With a twist of perspective, we now have Cylons as a hidden minority group. A group that has done no wrong to the fleet, in fact Anders glowy red eye has saved Humanity. A group that has demonstrated humanity via Tigh, and compassion via Tyrol. And a group primed to be persecuted, just like Cult Baltar. As Lee’s conversation with Papadama skirted: are our feelings toward someone enough to make them human? It was enough for Athena.

Not to be omittted: full crazy ass mad props to the Awesome Space Battles Dept. of BSG. Ron Moore once said that every time they went into space, he wanted it done differently. Boy howdy did they succeed this time. A fantastic glimpse into the nugget eye view of a raging space battle. One that shouldn’t have been survivable, but somehow was.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on our first Galactica fix after such a long wait, chime in as you like. Did God actually listen to Gaius? Is Gaius actually listening to God? Is my wild shot prediction of Romo Lampkin as final Cylon correct?