Episode 181 – I Made a Lot of Devil’s Bargains

Episodes discussed: Angel 3×16 Sleep Tight and BSG 3×1 Occupation

Time Stamps: Angel 00:00-55:13; BSG 55:13 to the end

Sleep Tight

Written by David Greenwalt; Directed by Terrence O’Hara

Wesley makes a dark decision in order to protect Connor. Discussion points include:

• Angel’s manic behavior
• Wesley’s isolation
• The mysterious motives of Sahjahn
• Wesley’s epic fail
• Slippery Holtz
• WHERE IS CORDY

Occupation

Written by Ronald D. Moore; Directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan

The story resumes fourth months into the Cylon occupation of New Caprica. Discussion points includes:

• The dark reality of the situation
• Everyone’s trapped
• Gaeta the mole
• Tyrol’s new cause
• Leoben and Kara switch roles
• Frustration aboard Galactica

Next time: BSG 3×2 Precipice and Buffy 6×16 Hell’s Bells.

Episode 180 – The Wheel Never Stops Turning

Episodes discussed: BSG Season 2 Recap and Buffy 6×15 As You Were

Time Stamps: BSG 00:00-1:24:20; Buffy 1:24:20to the end

BSG Season 2 Recap

We discuss the broader themes, character development, and favorite episodes of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica. Discussion points include:

• BSG’s place in the Golden Age of TV
• “Final Cut” and the emphasis on character
• Emotional fatigue
• “Downloaded” and the shift in perspective
• Real World: BSG
• “The Resistance” webisodes

As You Were

Written and Directed by Douglas Petrie

Buffy struggles with her self-confidence when Riley and his new wife come to Sunnydale. Discussion points includes:

• Dullness
• The insecurity of young adulthood
• Confessing to Riley
• The annoyingly nice other woman
• Breaking up with Spike
• “It’s all uphill from here”

Next time: Angel 3×16 Sleep Tight and BSG 3×1 Occupation.

Episode 179 – Outsized, Outmatched, Outnumbered

Episodes discussed: Angel 3×15 Loyalty and BSG 2×20 Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 2.

Time Stamps: Angel 00:00-1:07:38; BSG 1:07:38 to the end

Loyalty

Written by Mere Smith; Directed by James A. Contner

Wesley struggles with what to do after the revelation of the prophecy about Angel and Connor. Discussion points include:

• Cordy’s conspicuous absence
• Wesley’s burdens
• A false sense of security
• Who is the father?
• Wesley starts to snap
• Dreadful surrealism

Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 2

Written by Anne Cofell Saunders & Mark Verheiden; Directed by Michael Rymer

Election Day arrives and produces seismic results for the Fleet. Discussion points includes:

• Bookending the story with occupations
• Ambiguous relationships and reconciliations
• Rigging the election
• Gaeta dooms them all with good intentions
• In bed with the enemy
• One year later…

Next time: BSG Season 2 Recap and Buffy 6×15 As You Were.

Episode 178 – Thanks for the Pep Talk

Episodes discussed: BSG 2×19 Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1 and Angel 3×14 Couplet

Time Stamps: BSG 00:00-1:07:00; Angel 1:07:00 to the end

Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1

Written by Ronald D. Moore; Directed by Michael Rymer

Starbuck leads the rescue mission to Caprica, Tyrol has a disturbing dream, and Roslin and Baltar face off in the fleet’s presidential election. Discussion points include:

• A dark time approaching
• Chief’s nightmare
• Caviling Cavil
• Debate time: Roslin vs. Baltar
• A place to rest
• Rescuing the resistance refugees

Couplet

Written by Tim Minear & Jeffrey Bell; Directed by Tim Minear

Romantic tension between the dual love triangles within the group . Discussion points includes:

• Angel as a rom-com
• Cordy’s visionity
• Groo’s place in the group
• Wesley’s frustration
• Fred & Gunn’s distraction

Next time: Angel 3×15 Loyalty and BSG 2×20 Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 2.

Episode 177 – Here’s Me Basking in the Love

Episodes discussed: Buffy 6×14 Older and Far Away and BSG 2×18 Downloaded

Time Stamps: Buffy 00:00-57:40; BSG 57:40 to the end

Older and Far Away

Written by Drew Z. Greenberg; Directed by Michael Gershman

A wish of Dawn’s goes disastrously awry. Discussion points include:

• Older and farther than what?
• Flavors of vengeance demons
• William and Cecily
• Patronizing Dawn
• Normal vs special
• Tara and Willow starting to reconcile

Downloaded

Written by Bradley Thompson & David Weddle; Directed by Jeff Woolnough

The second lives of Caprica Six and Boomer are explored. Discussion points includes:

• Caprica Six and Head Baltar
• “We’re alive”
• Is this Three D’Anna?
• Boomer’s humanity
• The power of love
• Revolutionary thinking

Next time: BSG 2×19 Lay Down Your Burdens: Part 1 and Angel 3×14 Couplet.