Bureau 42 | Battlestar Galactica: A Day in the Life

Written by Mark Verheiden

Cast
Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama
Aaron Douglas as Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol
Nicki Clyne as Cally
Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin
James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar
Katee Sackhoff as Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
Grace Park as Athena
Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
Jamie Bamber as Lee "Apollo" Adama
Grace Park as Athena
Tahmoh Penikett as Helo
Doonnelly Rhodes as Dr. Cottle
Kandyse McClure as Anastasia "Dee" Duall

Premise

An accident traps the Chief and Cally together, with their survival in question. Admiral Adama reflects on his past and his failed marriage; Apollo receives an unusual assignment.

High Point

The genuine suspense about the rescue. We still do not know for certain if everyone will survive, or in what state we will next see Cally. The writers of this show understand that, even in this show, every week doesn’t need to be about the End of the World.

Low Point

The episode jumps too abruptly from rescue to sickbay, hours later. I found that story compelling, and I wish we would have stayed with the characters after the first stage of the rescue.

The Scores:

Originality: 3/6. Due to the lack of oxygen, we didn’t get to listen to an extended conversation between Cally and the Chief about their problems. However, a situation where characters experiencing problems are forced together and have their lives threatened is old indeed. The use of Baltar-like circumstances to explore Adama’s past was a somewhat original twist on a series convention.

Effects: 6/6. The rescue in space looked great.

Story: 5/6. This episode, like last week’s, was character-driven and focussed on smaller stories. I find these episodes often preferable to the Cylon ones, or, at least, a welcome break from them. I’m glad they’re handling them so well, because if Galactica is to survive, it’s going to need more of these lower-budget episodes.

I wondered if the references to Adama’s "façade" needed to be quite so blatant. I think we would have understood the concept even if the writers had not hit us over our heads with it.

Acting: 5/6. The series continues to feature excellent performances. Adama’s wife seemed too reminiscent of Saul’s, performed a little less effectively.

Emotional Response: 5/6. The use of techniques reminiscent of the Cylon visions to explore Adama’s mental landscape was interesting, but confusing because of its similarity to those scenes. I suppose it’s possible (if unlikely) they’re foreshadowing that Adama is a Cylon.

Production: 6/6. I really appreciate the attention to smaller details, such as the leak into space and the physical damage to Cally’s eyes.

Overall: 5/6.

In total, "A Day in the Life" receives 35/42

Really Pointless Notes

Last week’s ep featured a "Doctor Roberts," and this one bears the title, "A Day in the Life." What’s up next week? "Revolution Nine" on the soundtrack?

Of course, we accept the Colonists’ complete similarity to Terran humans as a show convention. Apparently—according to Roslin—Galactica’s world even has cats.