Battlestar Galactica 3.16: "Maelstrom"
Airdate: Sunday, March 4th, 2007

Everyone who's been whining for the last few weeks about the lack of Big and Important Events can shut up now, I guess. And that includes yours truly. I'm so wrecked that even conjuring the magical image of a post-coital Anders is doing nothing for me.

So. Kara Thrace and Her Special Destiny. Kara's dreaming of painting the Eye of Jupiter and having paint-enhanced sex with Leoben. Pervy Hot Dog eavesdrops on her heavy breathing, perhaps to distract himself from his still-unexplained crotch itch. On Helo's advice, Kara visits one of those nutty Oracles, who says Leoben's coming for her. Shortly thereafter, she starts going even crazier than usual, and thinks she sees a Cylon Raider whilst out piloting her Viper one day. Only she's the only who can see it. You know how everyone on this show just loves their random hallucinations!

Back on Galactica, Kara proceeds to have a bunch of capital-M Moments with people and I must say that every single one is pretty excellent. First off, she and Lee discuss their eventual placement on The Death Wall in a scene that is simultaneously touching and dread-filling, because it sort of clues you in to what's coming and you kind of want to stop watching, and yet you can't (I really expected the last shot of the eppy to be Lee pinning her picture next to Kat's…just me?). Then they share a nice little moment wherein Kara notes that she's happy for Lee and Dualla and that she and Lee are basically back where they started: he's CAG and she's his hotshot pilot. Both of these moments are beautifully played by Sackhoff and Bamber, replete with emotion-packed glances that mean so many things. They also manage to re-ignite my love of the star-crossed Starpollo ‘ship after all of that Quadrangle of Doom stupidity.

Other Moments to savor include a quick meeting with Adama and Roslin (odd and exciting, since Roslin and Starbuck are two of my all-time favorites and don't share many scenes) and a brief interlude with Sam. And though I enjoy my Starpollo ‘ship very much, I have to say: I think Sam may ultimately be the one for Kara. Something about the way he looks at her melts my heart every damn time (although I guess it could also be Michael Trucco's dimples and rugged handsomeness that are responsible for all the meltiness. I'm not made of wood!).

Anyway, Kara and Lee are out flying when Kara once again spots a Raider and goes after it. Only this time, she gets knocked out and is transported to some sort of Bajoran Orb vision, wherein Leoben takes her on a tour of her tormented past. Here, we learn that Starbuck's mother has a special place reserved in the pantheon of Evil TV Moms, right next to Irina Derevko and Ellis Grey. Even a little cancer can't stop her from cutting down her daughter in every way possible. Leoben – who we know is not actually Leoben, given the noticeable lack of creepiness in his general demeanor – allows Starbuck to finally say goodbye to her mom. Then Kara's mind returns to her crashing Viper and she tells Lee she's no longer afraid and the whole thing goes up in a blaze of fireworks. And Kara Thrace dies.

Overall, this whole hour is just amazingly crafted – it's essentially a one-woman show for Katee Sackhoff, and she turns in the best performance of the season, all barely suppressed torment as Kara's mind and soul slowly unravel. I was halfway between tears and terror the entire time -- jaw on the floor, edge of my seat, pick your cliché, etc. And while I've felt emotionally entwined with many episodes this season, I can't think of another one that's devastated me in this particular way. The focus on Kara is intense and intimate, and yet there is definitely the sense that something else is going on here, something that's going to have ramifications for the show's grand mythology.

Because here's the thing: as wrecked as I am by her demise, I really believe this is only Part 1. I don't think many of us think that Kara Thrace's Special Destiny is to merely embrace death and go up in flames. There has to be more to it. I'm not quite on the "She's a Frakkin' Cylon!" train -- that seems too obvious a route for Galactica. But somehow, she has to come back. Or at least Sackhoff does, because she's part of this show's lifeblood. I'm desperately hoping that the writers have something incredible in store for her.

iTunes Links

Battlestar Galactica - Series
Battlestar Galactica - Season 3
"Maelstrom"