Season Three of Galactica got underway on 6 October, 2006. Occupation was written by showrunner Ronald D. Moore.

New Caprica, and its human inhabitants are under Cylon rule. It’s been four months since the Cylons arrived, and Baltar (James Callis), as president, is little more than a figurehead, doing everything the Cylons ask.

There is an interesting dynamic going on amongst the Cylons as some of them are advocating for a form of peace between humans and Cylons, while others want a more manageable number. They are also getting some humans to help police the rest of humanity, and that raises all kinds of moral and ethical questions.

There are detention camps, torture, abuse… it’s examining a number of questions and behaviours on both sides, and damn if it’s not well-executed.

But there is a resistance at work. They are working to disrupt Cylon activities. But the Cylons are also working to break humanity. Tigh (Michael Hogan) is being held by the Cylons, being tortured for information, and even when they take an eye, he still gives them nothing.

Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon) is working to get her husband free, and sleeping with a Cavil (Dean Stockwell) model in an effort to make that happen.

Leoben (Callum Keith Rennie) is holding Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) in an apartment, and she is killing him over and over again, and he’ll let her, telling her that she will tell him she loves him before it’s all over.

And where is the fleet? Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Apollo (Jamie Bamber in a fat suit) are kind of at odds with one another; father has accused son of getting too soft – is it the weight, or has he lost his edge? But there may be a plan already in the works to free New Caprica, and perhaps escape to resume their quest for Earth. But the Viper exercises aren’t quite as good as they should be.

There are some fun reveals throughout; Apollo and Dualla (Kandyse McClure) are married. Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) and Cally (Nicki Clyne) have a child, and the resistance and their activities are impressive and risky. There’s also a source inside Baltar’s cabinet feeding info to the resistance… I’m looking at you, Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani).

There is some good news to be had though: contact with the Galactica is established… there’s hope.

How long will this occupation go on? Will Starbuck break? Will others be sacrificed before everyone is reunited? And who are the other Cylon models amongst the population?

The episode closes with a suicide bomber taking out a bunch of Cylons and humans at a ceremony to induct new security officers. And it’s shocking!

Precipice under right after Occupation, a two-hour season premiere event on 6 October, 2006. Moore wrote this one as well.

Tigh’s organization of suicide bombers continue, and the Cylons are retaliating by taking prisoners and applying pressure. Among those being held are Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Cally, which leaves Cally’s baby alone. The human police force conducts a number of raids, seizing prisoners, and when their identities are learned, they are gonna be in so much trouble.

Baltar turns a blind eye to the torture that is being done, and Ellen is told by Cavil that she must provide information on Resistance meetings. Roslin tries to convince Tigh to stop his actions, but he’s a soldier in a war, and the Cylons are the enemy.

Meanwhile, Adama is preparing a plan to rescue those on New Caprica, but they will need the launch keys for all the ships that have landed on the planet. And in a surprise move, he commissions Sharon ‘Boomer’ Agahon (Grace Park) as an officer to help him better understand the Cylons.

Apollo is finding himself increasingly on the outs with those making plans, and taking action. Has he really lost his edge?

Starbuck’s isolation continues, and Leoben brings her a surprise: a little girl named Kacey (Madeleine Parker), her daughter, from eggs harvested while she was in The Farm. That’s a bit of a gut punch. Can she be manipulated into caring for her?

Pieces are put into play, and it looks like we’re getting close to something big happening. But the Cylons are also up to stuff as well; who is going to be able to get off New Caprica alive?

And the episode ends with what sounds like the Cylons executing a number of people, including Roslin and Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch)! Let’s see how that plays out next week.