by Jonathan Klotz
| Published
when Battlestar Galactica It premiered in 2003, and redefined what it meant to be a sci-fi series, thanks to its dark story and well-written characters, but why it became one of the most beloved series of all time can be summed up in three words: The Adama Gambit. While most science fiction films lean more towards spectacle than substance, Battlestar Galactica One of the most stunning spaceship scenes ever presented as a moment of glorious triumph for our heroes in their darkest hours. It turns out that the light at the end of the tunnel was a massive military ship free falling out of orbit.
Arrival at Calvary
The two-part “Exodus” episode follows the increasingly frustrating episodes that launched Season 3, “Abyss” and “Occupation,” which dealt with the Cylon occupation of the human settlement on New Caprica. By the time “Exodus, Part 2” hit the airwaves, it wasn't clear just how bad things were for the humans facing the firing squad, while the resistance, which included Teg (Michael Hogan), Anders (Michael Trucco), and Tyrol ( Aaron Douglas and SharonGrace Park), were scattered and faced insurmountable odds. Battlestar Galactica He's been stacking the deck against the colonists for two seasons now, but finally, just when the resistance fighters needed a miracle, Adama arrived.
The Galactica ship, sneaking into New Caprica's upper atmosphere, has managed to disappear, prompting Number 4 (Rick Worthy) to happily ask Baltar (James Callis), “Where is Galactica?” Even we, the viewers, don't know where the Galactica ship has gone until the Resistance is cornered, members are being shot left and right by Centurions, and then, there's the ship, which jumps into New Caprica's lower atmosphere for a cruise. He falls into the middle of the fight as the Vipers fly in and turn the tide. The sight of Battlestar Galactica, the ancient, obsolete warship that was never meant to be humanity's last hope, appearing in the sky is a stunning sight, but also a comforting experience for fans accustomed to hero-kicking by Cylons. .
The good guys get to win…sort of
The Adama Gambit remains the most fascinating tactical move in science fiction media, because it doesn't just make sense within the rules established by Battlestar Galactica up to that point (which is why when… The last jedi It is revealed that “hyperspace jumping” was a powerful weapon in Star Wars, and it broke the fandom), and it fits the portrayal of Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos) As a brilliant military mind, he embodied the colonists' desperation by risking their greatest weapons to free the remaining humans on New Caprica. If not for the narrative weight behind the image of a free-falling spaceship, it would not have been fondly remembered decades later.
But that's still it Battlestar Galacticaso when the Cylon Basestars meet on Galactica, and all hope seems lost once again, there's a barrage of missiles like Lee Adama (Jimmy Bamber) arrives with Pegasus to rescue his father. It's another heroic moment in an episode full of them that, unfortunately, results in Pegasus being blown to smithereens while the younger Adama buys Galactica time to escape. In some, lose some; Such is life among the colonial fleet.
Battlestar Galacticawhich is available to stream now on Amazon Prime, has its share of bad lines and Strange fluctuationsbut the first four episodes of season three combined reached a level no sci-fi series has reached since. And there's no unique moment, not from Star Wars, Star Trekor even Stargate, could match the climatic moment of Adama's Gambit: the perfect amalgamation of story, character, and emotion.
