We haven’t talked about Battlestar Galactica much lately.

Season 3 ended not too long ago, and I never had a chance to sit down and really formulate my thoughts beyond a surface analysis of what’s going on.

Spoilers follow.

I think the show did an admirable job of mixing a lot of disparate elements in the final few episodes.  You have the apparent death of Kara Thrace (Starbuck), the estrangement of Lee Adama from his father (a common theme), the trial and acquittal of Gaius Baltar (and his subsequent rise to cult status), and the revelation of four of the final five cylon “skinjobs.”

I suppose you could argue that Starbuck is the fifth cylon that was not explicitly revealed.  After all, how else could she die and be “reborn” without a resurrection ship?  Unless of course, the maelstrom that she fell into was some kind of wormhole (please, God, not like Deep Space 9) that took her to Earth and she returned to Galactica to lead them home.  I personally like the idea that Admiral Adama is a cylon.

The other four cylons, Chief Tyrol, Colonel Tigh, Tory (Roslin’s aide), and Samuel T. Anders (who comprise four T’s, the fifth of which could conceivably be Kara Thrace) discover their identity when they all come together in a remote part of Galactica during the final minutes of the season finale.  They choose to honor the side that they’ve given their lives and honor to. My initial thought on this was that the producers were pulling a con job on the audience, but Ron Moore has recently said that these four are definitely cylons.  So what gives? 

Why are these four characters Cylons?  Tory, Roslin’s aide, wasn’t even in a position of influence or authority prior to Season 2. Anders, a former jock, led the revolution on Caprica.  Tigh led the underground on on New Caprica with his de facto second-in-command as Chief Tyrol.  Does this mean that the chief and Cally’s baby is a hybrid?  Does the daughter of the Galactica Sharon suddenly become less important?

Notice that the cylons are all in positions of authority.  It would make a great deal of sense for Adama to be the fifth cylon, rather than Starbuck.

And this still doesn’t answer the question…how were the final four (five?) cylons activated?

Baltar poses an interesting dilemma.  He is obviously unhinged by his experiences as a captive, but there are elements in the fleet which would make him into their messiah.  I’m not sure I like where this is going, but I trust the producers to bring the series to a strong close in the fourth and final season.