So, to start my blog off in the most wonderfully geeky way possible -- & to celebrate the return of Battlestar Galactica to the airwaves -- here is my list of the 13 best moments of season three. I have been rewatching this for the past 2 weeks on DVD, & it's even better than I remembered (well, except for "The Woman King").

13.    Three Sees the Final Five - “Rapture” - Watch

“You… Forgive me, I-I had no idea.”

Because I love any scene that takes place in the Opera House. Because why was she the only one able to see them, to whom did she apologise, & why did it kill her? Because the shot of her dying in Baltar’s arms was strangely beautiful. And because Baltar kicking her aside in an attempt to see for himself said so much about his character.

 
12.    Baltar’s Torture - “Taking a Break from All Your Worries” - Watch

“Look for the light. Can you see the light? Try to reach for the light."

Because while it was difficult to watch, it was a very different & interesting take on torture, & absolutely packed full of all kinds of symbolism. Because it actually forced Baltar to face his worst fears & examine his conscience, really for the first time. And because his thoughts on Caprica/Head Six & the accompanying montage are a wonderful recap of their crazy relationship & what it might mean.
 

11.    The Pres & the Admiral Let their Hair Down - “Unfinished Business” - 1 - 2 - 3

“Didn’t expect to find you playing in the sand.”
“It’s not sand. It’s alluvial deposits. This used to be the river mouth.”
“And you just had to take off your shoes and play in the alluvial deposits. How romantic.”

Because, just for a few hours, these two leaders, who usually have no less than the fate of all humanity resting on their shoulders, can relax & cut loose. Because you’d be hard-pressed to find two more grown-up characters on TV, & yet here they are behaving llike a couple of teenagers: drinking, smoking “New Caprican Weed”, & having giggle fits while snuggling under the stars & indulging in that rarest of pastimes, talking hopefully about the future. And because it’s so wonderful to see characters on this show be happy & carefree.
 

10.    Roslin, Athena, & Six in the Kobol Opera House - “Crossroads Part I/Part II” - Watch

"Were you with us a moment ago? In the lobby of the Opera House?"

Because I’m a sucker for mythology, visions, & beautiful music. Because I think (I hope) that these visions that no-one, not even Six or Roslin, can explain are somehow the answer behind it all. And because this interpretation of the scene made me think in of it a whole new way, & love it even more.
 

 9.    Mr. Lee Adama Takes the Stand at the Trial of Gaius Baltar - “Crossroads Part II” - Watch

“We make our own laws now, our own justice.”

Because Jamie Bamber acts the frak out of this scene – it’s basically just one character’s monologue for almost 7 minutes (an eternity on a 1-hour TV show), & yet it doesn’t get boring. Because his character has been building up to this for the entire series. And because everything he says is true.
 

8.    Starbuck Crosses to the Other Side - “Maelstrom” - Watch

“See, there’s nothing so terrible about death. When you finally face it…it’s beautiful.”

Because even though her death was heavily foreshadowed throughout the entire episode, it still came as a shock. Because it was as a result of a choice Kara made, after coming to terms with her painful past, rather than as a way of escaping it. Because it simultaneously made perfect sense & no sense at all. And because the Adama men’s response – Lee’s anguished cry; the Admiral destroying his model ship & actually crying – was so raw, & so real it was uncomfortable to watch.
 

7.    Tigh Lovingly Kills his Wife - “Exodus Part II”

"I love you, Ellen. Do you hear me?"

Because watching Tigh having to choose between the two things he loves most is absolutely heartbreaking – Michael Hogan does a marvellous job showing the agonising decision Tigh makes – & it continues to haunt him still.  
 

6.    The Adama Manoeuvre - “Exodus Part II” - Watch

“This is the Admiral. All hands, brace for turbulence.”

Because it was completely unexpected, & probably the single most awesome battle plan I have ever seen put into action, in the movies -- never mind on TV. (& this is coming from someone who sometimes finds battle scenes boring…)
 

5.    Lee & Kara Shout Their Love to the Skies - “Unfinished Business” - Watch

“My naaame is Leeee Adaaamaaa and I loooove Kara Thraaace!”
“Kara Thrace loves Lee Adama!”

Because I can’t even begin to describe how great it is to see these characters I love be happy for once. They go through so much, & spend so much time being miserable for various reasons that to see them just smile & laugh & enjoy themselves – & dare to plan for the future – for once is a rare treat. Because for these two to express their feelings at all, never mind in such a dramatic way, is incredibly satisfying & heart-warming – even if they almost immediately frak it up by marrying other people out of fear and spite. But mostly because I can never watch this scene without ending up with a huge grin on my face.

 
4.    Four of the Final Five Are Revealed - “Crossroads Part II”  - Watch

“We’re cylons – and we have been from the start.”

Because it was such a crazy & unexpected way to orchestrate the Big Reveal, & one that raises so many interesting questions: Why music? Why then? Why an unfamiliar version of a familiar Earth song? Because those four, particularly the three leaders of the resistance, seem like the least likely candidates for cylonhood. Because each of their reactions is so perfect & says so much about their character (I love Tigh’s little speech the most though). Because when they go back to their posts, it’s suddenly obvious how important they are to the fleet & how much damage they could potentially do. And because the impact of this is so huge – this arc will no doubt last for the rest of the series.

 
3.    The Prodigal Son Returns – with the Cavalry - “Exodus Part II” - Watch

“Damn you, Lee… Thank you, Lee.”

Because it restored Lee as a hero who does the right thing rather than a defeatist who follows the path of least resistance – both in his father’s eyes & those of the audience. Because even though we knew the Galactica wouldn’t really be destroyed, it did seem like it might, just for a moment, when the camera pulled back to show it surrounded by Basestars, and emptiness. Because of the relief as the Pegasus soared in overhead to save the day. And because the look on Adama’s face as he prepared to go down with his ship, with the knowledge that he had tried his best but failed, was heartbreaking.

 
2.    Post-New Caprica Hangar Deck Reunion - “Exodus Part II”

“You did it, Saul. You brought them back.”
”Not all of them.”

Because it was an enormously satisfying cap to a ¼ season-long arc. Because it simultaneously embodied hope & despair, victory & loss – the whole range of human emotion, really – with great economy yet maximum impact. Because it made me grin foolishly, & want to cry at the same time, yet that emotion never felt cheap or manipulative because it had been hard-earned, along with humanity’s freedom: even in a moment of great triumph, the knowledge of what has been lost weighs heavily. That exchange between Tigh & Adama, followed by the crowd chanting Adama’s name & carrying him on their shoulders while Tigh watches, alone & broken, kind of sums it all up.

 1.    Starbuck Returns from the Dead - “Crossroads Part II” - Watch

“It’s gonna be okay. I’ve been to Earth. I know where it is. And I’m going to take us there.”

Because it ended the season on an increasingly rare note of hope: the return of a beloved character, & our first glimpse of Earth. Because lurking just underneath that hope are ominous, yet intriguing questions: Is Starbuck a Cylon? Where has she been all this time? Because those questions only became more important with the Hybrid’s prophecy in Razor that Kara Thrace is the herald of the apocalypse. Because the look on Lee’s face when he saw her was priceless. And because that final shot, pulling back to abandon Lee & Kara, the fleet, the cylons, the entire nebula, the galaxy itself, in the vastness of space before zooming in to end, for the briefest of moments, on Earth, all accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful version of “All Along the Watchtower”, was uncanny, yet gorgeous, perfection.