Last time, we left Starbuck (Katee Sackoff) coming down for a crash landing on a barren moon. In You Can’t Go Home Again, written by Carla Robinson, and first airing on 4 February, 2005, the story picks right up from there.

Starbuck is struggling to survive and find a way off planet and back to the fleet, when she comes across the Cylon Raider she shot down. Can she find a way to fly the biological craft home?

Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) refuses to leave Starbuck behind, despite putting the fleet at risk. The last conversation he had with her, about Zak, is hanging over him. He keeps searching for her, even when he knows her air is gone. Apollo (Jamie Bamber) gives ideas to help with the search.

Something that brings both Adama’s in conflict with Tigh (Michael Hogan) and Roslin (Mary McDonnell).

When Starbuck makes it home, you see how strong the bond between Starbuck and Adama is, as well as a hint of something possible between Apollo and Starbuck. It’s a great scene between Adama and Starbuck in the sickbay, one of my faves.

On Caprica, Helo (Tahmoh Penikett) and Boomer (Grace Park) are still resting in the bomb shelter they found, but they are still trying to find a way back to the fleet. That is until Cylons show up and Boomer goes missing. So it looks like the Cylons have a new plan when it comes to what to do with Helo.

I honestly forgot how much I loved this show, and the emotional wringer it puts you through on the regular.

Litmus first aired 11 February, 2005 and was written by Jeff Vlaming.

Paranoia strikes the fleet when one of the Doral (Matthew Bennett) humanoid Cylons blows themselves up, claiming human lives. Roslin and Adama have to publicly admit that the Cylons look like us, and that sets off panic and paranoia everywhere.

The Master-At-Arms, Sgt. Hadrian (Jill Teed) is given a free hand in her investigation into Doral, but it becomes more of a witch hunt, and Boomer and Tyrol’s (Aaron Douglas) own actions may be drawn into the light.

What is discovered is a variety of infractions and mismatching stories, and we are left to wonder where the lines are drawn for justice. I like the fact that Roslin is initially against the tribunals because she knows that things will turn into a witch hunt.

There are lots of tiny character-driven scenes that explore the impact of the reveal of human Cylons and how it affects perspective. Tyrol gets some amazing moments, and to see him struggling with what his crew does to protect him, and how things play out… fantastic. It’s going to cause him to reevaluate his relationship with Boomer.

Meanwhile, on Caprica, Helo is faced with a troubling choice: look for Boomer or attempt to make an escape. All of his movements are watched by Six (Tricia Helfer), Doral and Boomer, and when he makes his decision, they have to make Boomer look like she’s been beaten to further bait the hook for Helo.

This is a smart, well-written episode. It’s tense, it’s got fantastic moments, and once again deals with current themes of justice and post-9/11 politics. And I absolutely love Adama’s tribunal scene where he’s questioned by Hadian. Olmos is amazing. And this show continues to excel.

I remember talking about it at work the following day, and all of us would be listening to Ronald D. Moore’s accompanying podcast. We were hooked!