Exodus Part 1 was written by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson, it debuted on 13 October, 2006.

There is lots going on in this episode; it picks up moments before the previous episode ended. Cally (Nicki Clyne) avoids execution by the Cylons, but what about Zarek (Richard Hatch) and Roslin (Mary McDonnell)?

We find out as the story moves back one hour.

Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani) supplied Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) with a list of human prisoners to be rounded up and executed. Tigh (Michael Hogan) orders a team out there waiting for them to ambush the Cylons.

D’anna (Lucy Lawless) comes to believe the child Hera is still alive and that she will hold her. She’s been having dreams about her and has the idea confirmed by an oracle? a wise woman? a medicine woman? played by Amanda Plummer.

And Sharon (Grace Park) and her team arrive from Galactica and immediately come under fire. Is there a traitor? Anders (Michael Trucco) finds evidence of one… Ellen Tigh (Kate Vernon).

Once safely in the camp, Sharon is going to hunt down the ship launch keys and prepare for Galactica’s arrival.

Adama (Edward James Olmos) orders Apollo (Jamie Bamber) and the Pegasus to take the fleet to the rendezvous point, and if Galactica doesn’t arrive in eighteen hours, he is to proceed with the hunt for Earth. Vipers and Raptors are preparing, but there’s a quick time-out for a nicely poignant goodbye between father and son.

There is definitely going to be a reckoning for a number of characters once they get off New Caprica and back into space… if they’re lucky enough to survive.

How is Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) dealing with a version of motherhood? It’s a different side to her than we’ve seen before.

It’s a smart episode; Weddle and Thompson, like all the writers on the Galactica staff, know how to deliver a fantastic story. As the episode closes, the Galactica prepares for its combat jump.

Part 2 dropped on 20 October, 2006. It was also written by Thompson and Weddle.

This is it! The Galactica has launched its plan, and jumps to New Caprica to begin the rescue of her people. But there are not two basestars in orbit; there are four. The stakes are high all around.

On the surface, the launch keys have been found, but there are complications along the way, and Anders, in his search for Starbuck, learns that she won’t leave without her child, Kacey (Madeleine Parker). That’s going to lead to a confrontation between her and Leoben (Callum Keith Rennie).

There are heroes and villains on both sides, and this is an episode you simply buckle up for and hold on. Instead of facing a brutal and violent execution, Tigh poisons his wife as a consequence for her actions.

Apollo wrestles with his assignment, convinced his father and Galactica are not coming back from this, but there are surprises all around, and some incredible action beats throughout. And they all pay off even more because of the character development we’ve had through the course of the series, and especially the buildup of the last three episodes.

And the Adama maneuver – holy frak!

We say goodbye to a number of story threads in this episode: the Pegasus, Hera, and wait… Baltar (James Callis) is with Caprica Six (Tricia Helfer) on New Caprica, but for how long?

And holy crap, the kick in the butt for Starbuck when she gets back to Galactica with Kacey. Heartbreaking.

But there is joy to be had in reunification, and maybe we can find Earth…

So say we all.

This two-parter is arguably one of the best episodes in the entire series, and remains powerful storytelling.