Final Cut first aired on 9 September, 2005 and was written by Mark Verheiden.

A new journalist is on the scene, D’Anna Biers (Lucly Lawless). She’s doing a piece on the Gideon Incident. As seen in the episode Resistance Tigh (Michael Hogan) ordered supplies taken from the Gideon for the Galactica, and marines accidently opened fire on a group of civilians.

Before she can finish her projectt, she’s brought to meet Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Roslin (Mary McDonnell). They will allow her to tell the story, if they agree to tell both sides of the tale, which means full access to the Galactica and her crew.

Can Biers tell a balanced story about the crew of the Galactica and the terrible events aboard the Gideon. By extension the episode illustrates the real work of the military.

She interviews all of the series regulars and even catches some very goofy and human moments amongst the crew, there’s tension, there’s joy and all of it puts a very human face on the crew.

But that’s not all that’s going on. Someone has left a terrifying note on a mirror for Ellen (Kate Vernon) and Tigh. A death threat against Tigh. Who’s responsible? And will they make their move while the press cameras are rolling? Or will she help figure out who he would-be assassin is?

Oh and Boomer (Grace Park) may have had a miscarriage, losing the first human/cylon hybrid. But Doc Coddle (Donnelly Rhodes) is able to save it.

And speaking of Cylons, looks like we’ve met another one.

There’s also great use of the original Battlestar Galactica theme to underscore D’Anna’s broadcast story.

Fligh of the Phoenix was written by Bradley Thompson and David Weddle and was first broadcast on 16 September, 2005.

Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) is working on designing and building a new fighter. But something he does triggers a dormant Cylon virus in the Galactica, left there when the battlestar was trying to find the FTL course of the fleet. It sends a signal, one that can be tracked by the Cylons… an attack may be imminent.

Helo (Tahmoh Penikettt) is having a hard time being accepted by the rest of the Galactica crew because of his relationship with Boomer. Cally (Nicky Clyne) is having a similar problem with Tyrol now that she’s out of the brig for shooting Boomer.

And there’s a lack of faith among the pilots about the idea of Earth. Tensions are high everywhere. and mistakes will happen. In fact, Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff), Apollo (Jamie Bamber) and Hotdog (Bodie Olmos) are looked in a gun range, with no oxygen. Mistake or virus?

There is a need for a release or things are going to go badly for everyone.

Roslin learns she may only have weeks to live.

We can see that the running and fighting, and struggling to survive is definitely taking its toll on the crew and the fleet. Will Tyrol’s project be the positive release they need? And how will the crew disable the virus? Boomer helps, and the Viper pilots get to relieve some stress by blowing stuff up. And Starbuck, she gets to test the Blackbird, christened Laura.

Despite it’s science fiction trappings, the series continues to deal with important and relevant themes, PTSD, combat stress, tension and the real need for release. It remains smart, well-crafted and damned enjoyable.