'Battlestar Galactica': Demission Statement

Hey, everybody. Hope y'all had a nice week off, one that was filled with barbecue, beer, and paying tribute to our honored dead. But we're back in Galactica-ville, having strapped in to an episode in which stuff happens. Which is no small feat in modern television, given the corporate desire to keep everything as status quo as possible, so as to not strand, isolate, or annoy viewers.

Whether any of the jaw-dropping changes that took place in ''Sine Qua Non'' stick is a matter for Battlestar Galactica TV Watches to come. But for now, for this episode, leaders stepped down and stepped up.

ADAMA: TWISTING IN THE WIND

As of late, the Good Admiral has been swinging like a pendulum between his usual hard-ass self and a softer, more caring version of the Old Man: the one he saves for Laura. But we've never seen him swing this far into both extremes.

The loathe-on he had for Athena, when he dressed her down for murdering Natalie Six, was remarkable. I mean, no one gives angry face like Edward James Olmos, but it looked like he was gonna break that sourpuss frown, he was working it so hard. (And is it just me, or whenever Adama lays into someone he loves, does it bring to mind being, like, 13, and getting yelled at by your dad?)

And Dad, it seemed, had as little patience for visions as I do. Really, ''I shot her because I had a vision'' is a crazy-person excuse. Why doesn't anyone in this world realize that? And beyond that, why don't they see that every vision anyone's ever had has led to nothing but heartache, pain, and disaster?

If Adama weren't peeved enough at Athena's betrayal of his trust, when he found out about Tigh's conjugal visits to Caprica Six, he blew his stack. I got the sense that Adama was so frustrated by everything — the disappearance of Roslin (and most of his fighter wing), Athena's homicidal vision quest, and the prospect of President Tom Zarek — that he needed someone to hit. And Tigh, ever the executive officer, knew it. I think Tigh let himself be manipulated into that fight, because he kind of needed it, too. Maybe just to see if he'd kill his oldest friend if they got in a full-blown fight.

These two old warhorses, both in love with women they shouldn't be in love with.

And that's the other extreme that Adama swung to, signified by his open admission that he can't live without Laura. (He loooooooves her.) He put the entire fleet in jeopardy to search for the president of the Colonies without thinking twice — and when the folly of the situation was pointed out, he gave up his command. Bill ''Husker'' Adama put on a jock smock and took off in a Raptor, to sit by himself in deep space, waiting for the woman he loves to return. (Sniff.)

NEXT: Is Tigh a Cylon baby daddy?

You Might Also Like

• Photo Gallery 'Galactica': 12 things we learned this season | Marc Bernardin
• Television News Eric Stoltz tapped for ''Battlestar'' prequel