Title: "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down" aka "Secrets and Lies"
Cast and Crew:
Edward James Olmos as Commander Adama
Mary McDonnell as President Laura Roslin
Michael Hogan as Col. Tigh
Jamie Bamber as Lee "Apollo" Adama
Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh
Tahmoh Penikett as Helo
Tricia Helfer as Number 6
Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar
Grace Park as Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
Bodie Olmos as Hot Dog
Aaron Douglas as Chief Petty Officer Tyrol
Kandyse Mclure as Dualla
Paul Campbell as Billy Keikeya
Writer: Jeff Vlaming
Director: Edward James Olmos
Plot:
Tigh’s annoying wife turns up alive and draws suspicion on herself, just as Baltar begins testing for Cylon infiltrators. Meanwhile, a wounded Cylon Viper causes trouble for the Galactica. Is it a source of intelligence information-- or another Cylon trick?
On Caprica, the Cylons lose track of Helo and Boomer, who seems to be actively trying to help the human.
High Points:
The show handles suspense over the wild card elements well. We didn’t know what that Viper was going to do, and we still have a number of questions about Ellen, even if the secrecy surrounding her results from an artificial situation.
On Caprica, Boomer’s motivations become increasingly complicated.
Low Points:
My low point is not the fact that Baltar betrays the fleet by faking the test results, but the fact that he CAN do so. Firstly, he would have an assistant. Too much is at stake. Someone would help him run the tests, because then (1) they could run them around the clock, (2) someone could ensure the integrity of the tests, and (3) someone would know how to run the tests in the event of Baltar’s death. Secondly, his eccentric behaviour and the crew’s understandable paranoia over Cylon infiltration would guarantee that no one would work alone and unchecked on such a sensitive project.
Beyond that, his reasoning, even for a crazy man, seems weak, especially as we know that he has already permitted one Cylon, Boomer, to remain on board. He's going to deliberately now betray his people, putting all of them and himself at serious risk? Why?
The Scores:
Originality: 3/6. The paranoia over the humanoid Cylons is getting a little old already.
Effects: 6/6. This episode features some effective space shots.
Story: 3/6 This is one of the series’ weakest episodes to date, and the entire plot hinges on a matter addressed under "Weak Points."
Acting: 4/6. Generally good, but this group handles drama better than comedy. Tricia Helfer, meanwhile, doesn’t measure up to the rest of the cast.
Emotional Response: 4/6.
Production: 6/6.
Overall: 4/6
In total, "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down" aka "Secrets and Lies" receives 30/42
Additional Comments
Starbuck catching Baltar with his pants down was amusing, in a crude way. The big comic scene in the lab didn’t really work for me, for any number of reasons. This is the sort of thing that Firefly would have handled well; it seems out of place on Galactica, and the poor communication between the President and Adama just came across as annoying and contrived.
