A Mind Frak of a Premiere

Sorry for the delay on writing about the Battlestar Galactica season premiere, but other things came up (like, you know, the Inauguration). So before tonight's hugely anticipated season premiere of Lost (recap special at 8, premiere from 9-11), let's go through through BSG's crazy premiere twist by twist. Now's the time to stop reading if you still haven't seen it.

Earth Was a Cylon Colony
They keep saying "All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again," so...um...that's gotta be relevant, right? We do at least know how the Final Five differ from the previous seven models - they lived on Earth. So how do they keep being reborn? And what have they been doing for the last two thousand years? For every answer, there's five more questions. That's how good TV works.

Starbuck Finds Her Own Skeleton
It seems Starbuck really did go to Earth during the time of her presumed death, but did she really return? How long has that skeleton been there? And what does that make Starbuck? Since even Leoben had no frakking idea, I think the rest of us are doomed.

Dualla Kills Herself
Dualla never gets this much screentime, so you knew she had to be important. I of course fell for the writers' ploy and believed she was the Final Cylon. But no - she just gave in to the utter despair felt by everyone who believed Earth could save them. Dee may have been a minor character, but her tragic exit - choosing to end her life after giving herself one good final day - is among the show's best.

Ellen Tigh is the Final Cylon
While the rest of the episode was blowing my mind every 5 minutes or so, the final reveal was a bit of a letdown. I mean, Ellen was certainly a logical choice. We've all suspected her ever since Baltar wouldn't say if he lied about her Cylon test results in season 1. But after all that "One will be revealed" build-up, I expected some huge surprise. Tigh and Tyrol were both way more unexpected. I guess it's surprising it wasn't someone big like Roslin or Baltar, but that doesn't make it any more satisfying. Still, the idea that she and Tigh have been reborn together repeatedly is kind of cool (even if a lot like Hancock).

Despite all the big answers - the final Cylon, what happened to Earth - there were so many new questions that this final season has a lot to cover. Sure, the premiere was depressing and bleak, but that's BSG at its best. If the rest of the season can keep up this intensity, I'll follow Galactica wherever the frak it's going.