Written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle
Directed by Michael Nankin
“That was lovely.”
It was, wasn’t it? Not bad for what felt like a left-over episode of Star Trek - The Next Generation…but, at the very least, it was a decent left-over.
You could write out the episode’s plot beats on the back of a napkin. See the virus spread throughout the ship. See the crew unable to do anything except wipe and reboot (another Next Generation idea, done way back in 1989’s Contagion). Watch as Adama struggles to ask Cylon-Boomer for help. Watch as Adama asks Roslin for key emotional advice. Watch as Cylon-Boomer saves the fleet by reversing the virus onto the oncoming Cylon fighters.
As for the subplot…see Tyrol build a fighter, against impossible odds. See everyone slowly pull together to make it work. Watch as Starbuck is apparently lost in the test flight…only to return in triumph.
Again, just like last week’s Final Cut, it’s a set of ideas that’s been done before, and that Battlestar Galactica manages to rehash with a nice degree of finesse. BUT…it’s still a rehash.
Luckily, there’s lots of little things to keep us interested:
*Roslin’s silent near-breakdown, upon hearing of her virtual death-sentence from Doc Cottle…
*The “thing” that seems to be developing between Dee and Apollo…
*Tyrol’s opening caressing of the damaged Viper…counterpointing to his memories of being with Boomer. It’s simultaneously creepy AND powerful…
*Speaking of counterpoints: look at the moments between Apollo and Starbuck…watch as they basically move as one, escaping the shooting range…and watch as they link up ship-to-ship…ying and yang, even in ship colour! I WISH these two would clue in about their feelings…but dammit, it’s fun to watch!
So, another run-of-the-mill episode, with Galactica spice. It was a nice, simple piece of feel good warm fuzziness…but can we now get back to epic and end of the world, please?
6
Teleplay by Deborah Cahn
Story by Deborah Cahn & Lauren Schmidt
Directed by Alex Graves
“What is your exit strategy, sir?”
“I don’t have an exit strategy.”
This episode grew exponentially powerful as the minutes passed. The Cold plays on its title in all sorts of brilliant, sad, and electrifying ways.
We watch — with a song in our heart — the jubilation at the good polling news for the Santos ticket. We watch as Santos comes out of the cold, gaining new friends, new popularity, and new momentum. We watch as a tired team comes out of the frigid climate of being the underdog to being a contender…and we watch love bloom…
…and YES YES YES we watch Josh and Donna realize that they’ve been madly, deeply, passionately in love for seven years! We watch them KISS!! West Wing fanwanks everywhere faint with happiness!
But we also have to contend with the Vinick campaign slowly de-railing into the cold…the cold hands of possible defeat…the cold knives of right-wing Republicans, smelling blood in the water…and, as Vinick himself descends into cold symptoms, we watch as his most trusted advisor pushes herself into the cold for the good of his campaign.
Did I also mention the giant freezer into which the President is sending a hundred thousand troops? Did I mention his hair-raising, electrifying briefing of the candidates ? informing them that their election platforms are now on ice, as his mess will shortly become their mess?
That’s The Cold: brilliant in its plot machinations, and wondrous & terrifying in its thematic games. This is The West Wing firing on all cylinders, as it enters the home stretch…and just to rub salt into the wound…we get an upcoming teaser with SAM! ROB LOWE! SAM RETURNS!
I hate you, NBC. I hate you for cancelling this god-like television masterpiece. I hate you!
10
