Cast

James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar
Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama
Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin
Jamie Bamber as Lee "Apollo" Adama
Michael Hogan as Col. Tigh
Tricia Helfer as Number 6
Grace Park as Sharon "Athena" Agathon/Boomer
Tahmoh Penikett as Helo
Aaron Douglas as Galen Tyrol
Kandyse McClure as Anastasia "Dee" Dualla
Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta
Mark A. Sheppard as Romo Lampkin
Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
Michael Trucco as Samuel T. Anders

Synopsis

The trial of Gaius Baltar begins, leading to a revelation about the President and widening the breach between Apollo and Adama.

High Points

• The prosecutor's opening argument
• Apollo interrogating Roslin on the witness stand

Low Points

• The preview of next week's episode. Seriously, if you've not seen this episode yet, stop watching before the preview kicks in at the end because it contains a possibly serious spoiler (or possibly a red herring, but either way it's irritating).

The Scores

Originality: nothing remarkably innovative really shows up in this episode, but as usual it's treated with enough flair to stop you noticing. Five out of six.

Effects: there aren't a huge number of effects shots again, but some absolutely beautiful space shots which are timed to perfection give a score of five out of six.

Story: hoo. Well. Baltar's trial finally begins, and we're also back on the plotline of Roslin as the prophesied leader, with tantalising clues of getting closer to Earth as well. Everything here is of crucial importance and I can only hope that next week's episode delivers on some of the potential seen this week. Six out of six.

Acting: Mary McDonnell gets to shine on the witness stand and at the following press conference. It is extremely satisfying to see her able to show off some of her abilities, as she's not played a huge part in the last few episodes. I must also mention Sheppard again, who seems to have Campbell's character absolutely spot on, without any hints of Badger from Firefly. Six out of six.

Production: this wouldn't warrant much of a mention except for how the producers decided to handle Tigh and the music he keeps hearing. It's clearly an important upcoming plot point (at least, I hope it is) and we get just the right amount of it to keep us intrigued as well. Five out of six.

Emotional response: more major events about characters who have worked their way into our affections over the last three years. A significant emotional response is almost a given, yet I suspect we're in for more of it next week. They haven't got to the really serious part yet. Five out of six.

Overall: this episode is a fine example of a modern TV show at its peak. Six out of six.

Crossroads, Part One receives a rather large grand total of thirty-eight out of forty-two.