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

A solid, character-driven episode

[DVD_Connoisseur · 7/10 · 7 February 2007]

Towards the end of this solid episode, I actually felt a little sorry for James Callis' long-suffering but ambiguous Baltar. Trapped aboard the Lynchian nightmare known as the Cylon base-ship, life is no bed of roses. The surreal world of the Cylons is chillingly dark, alien and cold. Even the normally amorous Number Six offers little comfort to Baltar now.

Elsewhere, on the Galactica, tempers are erupting and characters emotions are at breaking point.

An emotional, compelling episode, "Torn" (like "Collaborators" before it) provides a change of pace from the excitement of the earlier instalments of this third series. This is dark, uncompromising science fiction that works brilliantly as it mirrors the uncertainty and concerns of the post-9/11 world.

While all the cast are excellent, Katee Sackhoff delivers a powerhouse portrayal of a shell-shocked Starbuck, still coming to terms with the events of New Caprica and the duplicity of the Cylons.

7 out of 10. Not one of the best episodes but very watchable nonetheless.

The Deterioration Continues

[mstomaso · 8/10 · 30 December 2007]

In their psychologically devastated state, Tigh and Starbuck have found solace in each other's company, and their hopeless negativity and incessant drinking problems have alienated them completely from the crew. What will it take to make Kara face her poorly developed self-concept and allow Saul to get his demons back under some semblance of control? Meanwhile, things are not much better aboard the surreal dream-world of the Cylon base star. En-route to Earth, with Galactica shadowing them, Baltar is sent to investigate a dying base star which has been infected by a killer virus. In Torn, Galactica encounters this same ship, and the speculations begin.

Torn does much to advance the third season's story arc, but very little to provide any form of hope for the human or cylon populations. It's culmination, however, in the intense "Measure of Salvation" is even less upbeat.

The Cylons seek Earth

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 20 November 2011]

In this episode we see that many of the people who suffered on New Caprica are finding it impossible to readjust to life on the fleet; this includes key personnel such as Col. Tigh and Starbuck. The colonel has hit the bottle with a vengeance and Starbuck's reckless flying has got her grounded; with nothing better to do the spread disquiet amongst the crew complaining that those who remained aboard the fleet during the occupation had it easy. Back on the Cylon fleet things are looking slightly better for Baltar as the Cylons are looking for Earth and while he doesn't know where it is he has an idea where to look. His research sends the Cylons to a nebular but when the base ship that is sent to explore the area gets there the entire crew becomes infected with a strange virus. The remaining Cylons are unsure as to what they should do; they can't mount a rescue without getting infected themselves and if any of those infected dies there is a risk that when that Cylon resurrects they will infect the others. At this point Baltar volunteers; possibly a rare show of bravery but more likely the act of a desperate man trying to prove his worth.

This was another episode with little action but with plenty of great character development; Katee Sackhoff and Michael Hogan were great as Starbuck and Tigh; two people who by the end of the episode appear to be taking very different paths after an excellent scene where Adama confronts the two of them. James Callis also puts in a fine performance as the conflicted Baltar; it is always fun to see him taking a leading role in an episode. While it was only a small role I enjoyed Tiffany Lyndall-Knight's performance as the Cylon Hybrid; the apparent gibberish she speaks comes across as almost poetic.