Although I enjoy the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in general, there's one episode in particular that I enjoy the most.
It's Season 1, Episode 1: 33. And for some reason, I can watch it over and over.
Synopsis
The Cylons (bad guys) are attacking the fleet every 33 minutes, going on five days, and it's getting on everybody's nerves.
Nobody knows why the Cylons attack every 33 minutes. The fleet repels each attack as best it can, narrowly jumping away only to do it all over again.
Background
Although this is the pilot episode of the series, the prior miniseries sets up the situation.
In the miniseries, the Colonies experienced a surprise attack from the Cylons, which wiped out humanity. Only a rag-tag fugitive fleet, protected by a single Battlestar, known as Galactica, remains.
In this episode, we join the fleet as the Cylons continue to chase them, unrelentingly.
Primary Plot
The fleet has to plot a jump every 33 minutes to keep ahead of the enemy. We join the fleet while they struggle to keep on top of the logistics involved with these tactics.
Someone on a civilian vessel, the Olympic Carrier, wants to have a word with the President, who's on Colonial One. This person possibly has information about a traitor in the fleet.
However, after the next jump, the Olympic Carrier is missing. Also missing are the Cylons. They didn't attack after 33 minutes.
The fleet stands down and starts to take advantage of the time. Basically, they're sleeping with one eye open in case the Cylons appear.
They end up waiting about 3 hours when the Olympic Carrier appears. And 33 minutes later, so do the Cylons.
So they blow up the Olympic Carrier because it had nukes. Turns out the Cylons were tracking the ship all along. And once it was destroyed, the Cylons couldn't find the fleet. At least for a while.
Secondary Plot
Helo is still on Caprica and he's running from the Cylon occupation. But he gets captured by Number Six. Then he gets rescued by Boomer, which is a plot twist because she's supposed to be on Galactica, way past the red line.
Strange Escapism
I think it's the atmosphere I like the most. There's even some dialog between Colonel Tigh and Commander Adama that summarizes this atmosphere:
Tigh: Oh, couple'a hours rack time does sounds awfully sweet right
about now.
Adama: You deserve it.
Tigh: Like hell. Truth is, all this has me feeling ... well, more
alive than I have in years.
Adama: You look that way too. It's good to see you without the cup
in your hand.
Tigh: Ehh, don't start.
I think people romanticize the kind of situation where they're under constant attack and just have a particular job to do. It's a strange form of escapism.
Imagine your job is suddenly very important. So important that no one can replace you. You have to do your job correctly or else everyone dies. Your job is so important, you even have to give up sleep.
This is what happened to Galactica. A week ago, the crew were merely curators on a self-contained museum, getting ready for decommission. Now, they're fighting for their lives.
How is this escapism? Well, your job doesn't have to be that complicated in this situation. Maybe you just have to turn a wrench, for instance. But if you don't turn that wrench, everyone dies.
Sure, not everyone in this situation has a simple job. But a vast majority do. They just have to work and keep their heads down. No one can be critical of anyone's work because as long as they do it, and no one dies, there's nothing to complain about.
And if they do make mistakes, even if people die because of someone's mistakes, they have the excuse that they're so very tired like everyone else.
Apollo: Combat landings expected again to be the order of the day,
so double-check your undercarriage before ... Look, you've all
done this 237 times. You know what to do. No mistakes, and
let's make it to 2-3-8. And good luck, and be careful out there.
Lifeboat Dilemma
Also in this episode, there's a dilemma resulting in the destruction of one of the civilian ships, known as the Olympic Carrier. I'm calling it a lifeboat dilemma because it's the kind of situation most people don't encounter their entire lives.
It's beyond just a regular dilemma like having no jelly for your peanut butter sandwich and having to resort to apple sauce. That, or opt for just peanut butter. I mean, sure, that's a dilemma. But it's not on the same level.
The scenario around the civilian ship is a lifeboat dilemma. Either you do the unthinkable or something unthinkable happens.
The President has to give the order to destroy the Olympic Carrier because the circumstances don't add up right.
Number Four
It's just a fan theory, but the voice we hear over the wireless, while Boomer makes initial contact with the Olympic Carrier, sounds like it might be Number Four, the Cylon known as Simon.