Written by Mark Verheiden
Directed by Rod Hardy
“We had something…once…”
I could wax lyrically for hours about A Day in the Life – an episode touched with utter magnificence. It’s another character piece, but years from now, people will know it as THE ultimate template for relationship-focused Battlestar Galactica episodes.
It works by subverting expectations from the outset. First of all, these aren’t simple flashbacks to Adama’s wife and married life…these are yearly, anniversary conversations between himself and his divorced, deceased wife, inter-cut with reality – sometimes with an abrasive, blunt power…other times, wistfully sweeping into another scene. Rod Hardy’s direction ensures that the script’s intentions are well served by the visuals, which veer between nostalgic, cunning, and unbearably sad.
I also enjoyed how the imaginary Carolanne is more than an interactive memory…she’s a memory configured by Adama’s desire to remember her in a certain way. But that memory changes when the right person crosses through reality…causing Carolanne to twist and change, and reveal the jealous, ugly, and destructive facets of her character. On occasion, these moments are extremely powerful (Lee’s admission that his mother was a drunk & prone to mood swings) and disturbing (the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it mention that she could have married Tigh!).
I also have to give credit to the writers for completely misleading the audience with the airlock situation. The Cally/Tyrol relationship mess/facing-near-death situation seemed to be a run-of-the-mill B-story distraction…but the longer it went on, the more effective it became as a spotlight on Adama’s inner turmoil. In the end, their reconciliation stands in place of the one he could never have with Carolanne…which only makes it more poignant.
I also love the little details scattered throughout the episode, signifying that the fleet has become a functioning home for the last of mankind, complete with all the little, annoying, irritating problems that life throws at people. Everything from lingering repair needs, dating back to the earliest Cylon attacks…to Roslin going stir-crazy on Colonial One…to the lack of judicial infrastructure for Baltar’s pending trial… to Racetrack’s chaffing rash. The fine details of world building, effortlessly slipped into a magnificent episode of character building.
It’s Edward James Olmos’ episode, through and through, but he’s ably assisted by Jamie Bamber (in yet another stellar turn as Lee…aided by the almost-bursting with pride looks Adama gives his son – a silence that speaks volumes), and by Mary MacDonnell. The chemistry, and building love, between the two leaders of humanity is positively scorching…but it’s also wonderfully innocent and old fashioned. It’s a budding, epic romance, in a modern sci-fi story…and there haven’t been many of those successfully handled in science fiction.
Once again, Galactica throws an unexpected spanner into our preconceptions of episodic, sci-fi television…but this time, it scores beyond all expectations. As we draw (ominously?) near the finish line of what I believe to be Battlestar Galactica’s best season yet, A Day in the Life wins – hands down – the award for best episode this year…
…at least, I think so. 
10
