Battlestar Galactica (TV Series) Scar (2006) User Reviews

Remembering the fallen

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 22 June 2011]

Since the destruction of the Cylon's resurrection ship we haven't seen the Cylons but now they are back and one raider in particular is picking off Galactica's pilots one by one; this raider has been nicknamed Scar by the viper pilots. Galactica and her vipers are protecting a mining operation while Pegasus has gone ahead with the rest of the fleet; as the mining is taking place in an asteroid field the raiders are practically invisible until the moment the strike. As the mission progresses a rivalry develops between top pilots Starbuck and Kat as two who is the better pilot and which of them will ultimately destroy Scar; at first this seems fairly harmless but as time progresses the rivalry becomes more and more bitter with Kat needling Starbuck about her drinking and Starbuck striking back with comments about Kat's one time addiction to stimulants. Of course when the moment of truth arrives they must work together or die in front of Scar's guns.

When I first watched this I thought it was yet another filler episode; albeit one with some great action scenes but further viewing made me think of it as something much better than that. Usually when a character is killed they are forgotten about by the end of the episode but here they spend quite a lot of time talking about their constant losses and at the end the long list of lost pilots is said in a moving toast to the fallen. As always the main cast put in a fine performance; especially Katie Sackhoff as Starbuck and Luciana Carro who played Kat.

The ending saves it some. Scar was a cool idea but poorly executed.

[reb-warrior · 6/10 · 2 February 2021]

I felt confused in the beginning as they were talking about Scar and Beano like we were supposed to know all about them. Made me think I missed an episode. Kara is all over the place here. Her pining for a guy she knew for like 5 minutes just seems stupid to me. She seems depressed, then angry, then, bullying as usual. Her and Apollo's interactions seemed so soapy and stupid. Anger sex or what? They didn't, but almost, but wtf was that? Stupid. The rivalry between Kat and Kara seemed so forced and over-the-top.

Scar was a cool idea. Too bad they didn't get some mentions of him in previous episodes to make this work better. From how Sharon described Scar, he ended being the most interesting character in this episode. But not enough of him. Wanted to see more of the rage he supposedly has.

Only the ending saves this episode a bit, when Kara read off the names of the fallen viper pilots, and later her playful interactions with Agathon. I also like her conversation with Sharon. 6/10

Not BSG's finest, still better than most of what was - and is - on television

[ceesco · 6/10 · 13 June 2009]

Perhaps it's because I revisited BSG on DVD and watched the last half of S1, all of S2 and all of S2.5 in a marathon, but in viewing 'Scar' within that context the episode does not seem nearly as weak as it may have when originally aired and viewers were waiting a week (or sometimes more) for new content. The rivalry between Starbuck and Kat does not at all seem to "come out of nowhere," in fact it seemed perfectly in keeping with what had previously transpired. It had not been a time-consuming plot point, but it was hardly out of place, and it is these studies in relationships that helps make BSG one of the best television shows ever made.

Granted, this is not BSG's finest hour by any means, but it is not awful, it does build on our understanding of the toasters and of two major characters, and it is at this point a pleasurable view. Again, I understand that at time of the original airing it may have been more frustrating given each week's anticipation, but it is far, far above the true disappointments of the series such as 'Black Market.'

A sore spot in the series

[crozierm · 8 October 2006]

BSG has an incredible story and cast, but there are a few episodes that are not of the usual caliber. This is one of those, a real stinker.

The show follows the "introduce the beginning of the climax, then dribble out the rest, interspersed with the proceeding events" format. BSG has used this effectively, but in this episode the drama isn't strong enough to keep you interested across all the time shifts. I found myself hollering "come on already, stop teasing!" throughout the show.

All the characters are "off", so to speak. Obviously the writers wanted to explore yet-unseen aspects of the Viper pilots, particularly Starbuck, but the presentation conflicts with what we've seen in previous episodes. The antagonistic behavior between the pilots is taken to extremes and instead of increasing the tension or raising new questions, it just magnifies the flaws of the episode and feels contrived. I was less interested in several characters after this episode.

I'm only this critical because I'm so invested in the show from previous installments. The bar has been set so high that when it's lowered, golly does it seem low.

Scar

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 22 February 2022]

This is another character based episode. The inspiration seems to be Top Gun and The Lion King.

With the destruction of the of the Cylon resurrection ship. The Cylons tactics have changed now that they cannot be reborn.

Scar is the most feared of the Cylon fighters. The Red Baron of space and he fights dirty. Hiding behind asteroids and sneaking up behind a viper for an easy kill.

Both Starbuck and Kat are determined to kill Scar. It becomes a personal rivalry.

The episode might have benefitted if you got to know more about characters such as Beano and Scar in previous episodes.

The friction between Starbuck and Kat was forced. Also someone should had told Starbuck to cut down on her boozing.

Unlike the redshirts of Star Trek. The episode ends with the remembrance of Scar's victims accompanied by Cavatina, The Deer Hunter theme.

Stands on its Own: Baa, Baa Blacksheep in Space

[pmartin13-1 · 9/10 · 18 August 2010]

I am surprised by the negative comments on "Scar." Battlestar Galactica wasn't trying to be "Lost." It thrived on building the story around the characters lives and character flaws ... like real-life. Too many shows today are all about driving towards a conclusion with twists and turns that make you care more about getting to the end then appreciating the levels of the journey. I really enjoyed how much this episode reminded me of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" where the pilots (and show) were only living to get through the day. I think some people have trouble with how much Kat and Kara fill traditionally masculine roles without any trouble pulling it off. Finally, the way the story time unfolded was brilliant. They used probably thirty minutes of footage to fill forty minutes of show and it works so well.

As good as it gets...

[mannimario · 10/10 · 1 May 2024]

I realy don't understand the negative reviews. This episode, I under very strange circumstances skipped and after the 18th episode of this series returned to... Wau, what a treat. The story of longing, loneliness, love and desperation in times of war belongs to one of the best. This is such pure and human display of our lives in difficult times. I love the intertwining story lines that create and outstanding story. Katee Sackhoff as Kara is outstanding as ever, all other actors play second violin in this episode. Her struggle is real and tangible, displaying her personality traits perfectly, hence she is absolutely believable. Thumbs up for this one!

Best TV Episode Ever Made

[pwinkler-745-308741 · 10/10 · 12 June 2014]

I just watched "Scar" again. It was, easily, my favorite episode of BG. #2 being when Starbuck hot wired the raider. Has been several years but this is still the best. Kat's redemption from stimulants and Starbuck's dealing with her love of dead men culminates so well as she fills Kat's cup and recites the names of those lost. You have to watch it again, as the flashbacks, overly used in BG, I admit, bring around a story of redemption. Not only that but there are the best dogfights ever in this episode. These pilots are stressed out on a thin line to protect the mining operation and the creation of Scar makes this a great episode. Especially following the elimination of the resurrection ship, so that he finally is gone forever.

Better than "Black Market," but still weak and simply off-putting

[emailgershman · 5/10 · 19 April 2009]

I agree with the commenter who said the characters seem "off" in this one. While the vast majority of BSG episodes are phenomenal, this one never works. I never bought the tug-of-war between Starbuck and Kat--it seemed to come out of nowhere, a consistent problem with this stretch of late Season 2.5 episodes (like the preceding "Black Market" and the following "Sacrifice"). I commend Ronald Moore for admitting on his commentaries that these episodes are far from BSG's finest hour. As for "Scar," it's not a bad concept, but it is poorly executed. (And the acting is just plain hammy at times.) Still, it probably gets more credit than its due from fans simply because it's MUCH better than the mind-blowingly awful "Black Market," which was poorly conceived AND executed. Thankfully, BSG soon rallied with much better shows in the grand tradition of Season One and the first half of Season Two.

Skip it

[bsimpson189 · 5/10 · 11 February 2022]

This is a good episode to skip. You will not miss anything in the storyline by doing so. Also, the shaky camera usage just does not work here.............

To die and fight another day.

[UNOhwen · 8 October 2011]

In the 1st series episode, YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN, Kara is shot down on a barren moon. The Cylon raider that had engaged her in battle - and that was ultimately her ticket off the moon, is back.

The Cylon Raiders, like the humanoid models are re-born, as, it's through that, that their battle skills increase. As (good) Sharon says;

'It takes months to turn a 'nugget' into an effective Viper pilot - and then they get killed. then you lose their experience, their knowledge, their skill sets. It's gone forever. So, if you could bring them back, and put them in a new body, wouldn't you do it? Death, then becomes a learning experience.'

She closes, by telling Kara, that because of his many previous lives, the anger Scar has - especially for Kara - grows, just as hers has.

An enemy that, you cant stop, that learns from previous experiences.

It's in this episode,that we first learn that Raiders have 'basic consciousness and survival instincts - like an animal.' There's more to the mechanised killers. There's a sentience.

It's also here, that Kara looks into (good) Sharon's face, and reflects on how there are times when she looks at her, and remembers her, as the Viper pilot who was freaking the chief.

This Sharon - the 'good' Sharon recalls them to - but, it's not 'her' memories, they're 'bad Boomer,' another Eight's she's recalling.

I point that put, because the whole story is really a hall-of-mirrors of memories.

The 'real' memories, of Kara's, the 'memories' (good) Sharon has, that are someone else's, and, the memories of Scar.

What makes the memory 'yours,' and, what is a 'real memory?

Many people who've reviewed this, weren't that crazy about this episode, as I, but, this continuing battle, that Kara has, has stayed with me, since BSG's initial run.

The reality of memory, and the enemy that doesn't stay dead - that keeps coming back, has been the backbone of many a horror film, and, to me, these are what stick in my mind.

An interesting metaphor for BSG as a whole

[delnegro-IMDb · 1/10 · 24 April 2015]

About 39 minutes into the episode, when Kat asks for a drink, the following sequence of shots plays out:

1) Starbuck grabs a bottle with her thumb pointing down (i.e., as one would grab a club). Cuts to:

2) Slightly different point of view, Everything looks the same but Starbuck is grabbing the neck of the bottle in the opposite way (thumb at the top, as one would normally hold a bottle). She lowers her arm (bottle and hand go out of shot) and starts walking towards Kat. Cuts to:

3) Different shot of Starbuck walking, bottle and hand still out of shot. Cuts to:

4) Starbuck stops in front of Kat and raises her arm, revealing that she's holding the bottle with her thumb at the bottom (i.e., "club grip"). She reverses her grip and pours Kat a drink.

It's not just that it looks amateurish to have such glaring continuity mistakes in such a simple scene. And it's not just that the whole point of using a "club grip" until she reaches Kat was to make viewers wonder if she was going to pour her a drink or hit her with the bottle (a narrative device that is completely destroyed by shot #2, ruining one of the few interesting scenes in this episode).

What's really telling is that it could easily have been fixed during editing by cutting a single second off the start of shot #2.

The fact that neither the editor nor the director nor anyone else involved in assembling the finished episode noticed (or seemed to care enough to fix it) is an interesting metaphor for the show as a whole.

Maybe that's why Galactica is so full of nonsensical pseudo-science, internal contradictions, continuity errors, plot holes, and characters acting in illogical and inconsistent ways. It's not that the people making the show think those things are necessary to push the story along. It's not that they think no one else will notice them. It's that they just don't care.