Written by Carla Robinson
Directed by Jonas Pate
“Laura Roslin’s political career is very much alive, and to underestimate her would be a very serious mistake.”
My friend Erin says Galactica has only two elements that continue to bother her: its messed up sense of time, and not addressing many of the little fundamentals of a fleet operating to survive in the void, with civilization gone.
Colonial Day takes the first step in resolving this second problem, by finally giving us a taste of politics. With the re-election of the Quorom of 12, we get wonderful insights into the more everyday people in the fleet, from the guy who gets up every morning to tend the cruise ship gardens, to the people at the bar who want to listen to Tom Zarek speak, to the wonderful way everyone listens to the radio (sorry…wireless). It all ends in a Colonial Day celebration that takes another moment to show a side to everyone in the fleet that doesn’t involve life-and-death struggles. Civilization will continue as long as there are rewards to the struggle…and the dance at the end is a lovely way to say this.
And to see Starbuck clean up nicely…WOW!
Other reasons to like this episode include:
*the bar brawl — nothing sinister except for a political argument that gets out of hand…and what a bloody-well choreographed fight!
*what exactly is going on between Tom Zarek and Ellen Tigh? I knew that women was trouble…and now I’m convinced she has killed Zarek’s friend, who was stuck in interrogation! I’m betting the payoff for this plot strand will be slow burning and long in coming…but I’m patient. 
*Commander Adama charming the President at the dance. Damn, that man is good!
*Poor Helo FINALLY loses it, seeing two more Number Sixes…and ANOTHER Sharon! I’d run off too…although I’m not sure the poor boy has competently put 2 and 2 together. That said, wouldn’t you run away, after seeing what he did?
*again, some fabulous direction on this episode. And some subtle but incredibly stylish special effects (such as the dome of Cloud Nine…a joke name which took me 20 minutes to get!)
*Give Baltar a microphone and the Vice-Presidency…and watch him entertain us as no one can. Many kudos to James Callis — he milks the scene for all it’s worth…as if he were a born politician and an actor.
It’s too transitional & too much of a set up episode to be an overall classic, but it does it’s job extremely well…leaving many questions for the future.
8
