SciFi Friday (Sunday Edition): Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who Premiers; Torchwood Finale

I held off until Sunday once again in order to catch the season premier of Battlestar Galactica, the season (series?) finale of Torchwood, and the season premier of Doctor Who.

Battlestar Galactica started right where the previous season left off with Starbuck returning. Starbuck thinks her trip to Earth and back took six hours when she’s really been gone for about two months. Many are suspicious about her return, and their feelings about her won’t be helped by the manner in which she decided to convince President Roslin to go in the direction she believes Earth is in by gun point, setting up the cliff hanger for the next episode.

Another story line which will probably continue throughout the season is the response of Saul Tigh, Galen Tyrol, Sam Anders, and Tory Foster after finding they are Cylons. They appear to be are a different type of Cylon, and at present are capable of continuing their loyalties towards humans. It is puzzling why the Cylons stopped their attack after identifying Anders. After all, they had previously tired to wipe out all life on all human colonies. That might become clearer as we learn the significance of the five remaining Cylons, including the one whose identity remains a mystery. I suspect that this will end with finding some type of continuing cycle of humans building machines which ultimately become indistinguishable from humans, only to be fated to repeat the cycle when the the joined humans and machine race build intelligent machines of their own.

If I am correct we will see an earlier point in this cycle with the spin off Caprica. TV Squad presents some spoilers as to what the show will be like with casting information which outlines the major characters.

Exit Wounds, The Torchwood finale aired in the U.K. during the past week and works well as both a season finale and, if it comes to this, a series finale. I won’t say very much for the benefit of those watching the series a few weeks behind on BBC America. The show does include the return of Captain John and resolves some continuing plot threads including the story of Jack’s brother. Jack’s personal time line also becomes even more complicated than it has been. Not everyone survives and Torchwood will be different should the show return.

BBC America aired Adrift which was one of the better episodes of the season. We see more of what Torchwood has been up to, and learn that the rift takes as well as gives. I was surprised by the ending. It was stronger leaving Jonah’s mother living with the knowledge of what happened to her son, but based upon past behavior I would have expected Torchwood to have slipped her some Retcon.

Doctor Who also returned in the U.K. and will be resuming soon on the SciFi Channel, along with The Sarah Jane Adventures. Partners in Crime won’t go down as one of the greats but it served its purpose well. It was done as a light episode to bring The Doctor and Donna (Catherine Tate) back together. Donna is less abrasive than she was in The Runaway Bride but is still a far different type of companion than Rose and Martha. After those experiences The Doctor is cautious about another taking on another female companion, setting up a brief misunderstanding:

Doctor: I want a mate
Donna: You want to mate?? You’re not mating with me sunshine!

Donna wasn’t the only familiar face seen in the episode but I’ll leave that as a surprise for those who are waiting to watch on the SciFi Channel. Next week they go to Pompeii on Volcano Day.

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