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

Pure suspense.

[coy_dog0 · 8/10 · 28 July 2008]

This is the very episode that assured me that the quality of the series had maintained its high standard through the second season. There is no other show on TV that keeps me on the edge of my seat for nearly every second that its on. I didn't enjoy the love triangle, simply because Apollo seemed to be done with Duala a few episodes ago, so it shouldn't even be an issue. However, the danger was real. In Starbuck's few minutes on screen, we jump from admiring her smiling at her audacity, to admiring her courage, to shaking our heads at her recklessness. Its sad to see Billy go, but in a realistic war drama like this, everyone is at risk, aren't they?

Bravo! 8/10

Just what will Adama do to protect Sharon?

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 17 July 2011]

This may be another stand-alone episode and it might not include an encounter with the Cylon fleet but it still manages to be gripping and have a surprise or two. After Dee has told Billy that she can't marry him she heads off for some R&R on the luxury ship Cloud Nine with Apollo; there they meet Billy which is awkward for all concerned and Ellen Tigh. An awkward situation is the least of their worries though as a small group of terrorists take everybody in the bar hostage. The have only one demand: they want the Cylon prisoner Sharon Valerii. Things don't go entirely the terrorists' way as Apollo manages to trigger a low Oxygen alarm before he is captured. This enables Starbuck to come enter the room in the guise of a technician; unfortunately this plan goes badly wrong and several people end up getting shot including Apollo. With no other options left Adama decides that he must give them Sharon; of course he still has a trick or two up his sleeve!

This was a pretty good episode that sees the departure of a fairly major character; something I didn't see coming when I first watched the episode despite the regularity with which characters die. We also learn just how far Adama will go to protect Sharon; a character he would happily have had killed at the start of the season… this emphasised the development his character has slowly undergone throughout the series. Interestingly while we are shown just how much Adama now trusts her the episode also manages to plant seeds of doubt in the viewers mind as to her trustfulness despite her doing nothing treacherous.

Unlikely, but okay

[Hillius · 7/10 · 21 August 2012]

As a former member of the military, I find it very hard to believe that three civilians could take hostage an entire bar filled with many military members. Cpt. Adama even manages to subdue one terrorist but fails horribly to use this to any advantage. Secondly when the "repairman" comes and all terrorists have their back to all the hostages, why in blazes did they not rush & disarm them? Pretty unrealistic for battle hardened cylon killers. More than anything else I cannot believe a highly trained service person like good old Cpt. Starbuck could possibly be so woefully incompetent as to manage to shoot Capt. Adama instead of the terrorists. What the frack? Of course this series is good and fun to watch, but I cannot help but wonder why they call women "sir" and why censor profanity in a series with so much casual sex and elicit drinking?

Losing quality

[gonzalouc · 3/10 · 24 April 2021]

Very entertaining series so far but last 3 episodes have been lame, also that love triangle coming out of nowhere... Hope BSG get back it's quality from these episodes.

Dumb

[ryshtyan · 1/10 · 31 May 2006]

This was the very episode that turned me away from the series. I had already felt the quality of the series was beginning to decline as of Season Two, but the way the love triangle type storyline involving Apollo, Billy and "airhead chickie" had been brought about was by far one of the dumbest I had ever seen. Love triangles don't bother me as long they're written with intelligence and perhaps a touch of class, but when it comes across as an uncreative slop (like this particular one) then forget it.

I understand the actor playing Billy was bound for termination anyway, but this was a terrible way to go about it. It felt like this particular episode was thrown together at the last minute by drunk, sleep deprived dolts who should have gone back to whatever school they came from to be re-educated.

Sacrifice

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 9 March 2022]

BSG seemed to have become uneven in the quality since the halfway point of the second series.

This episode concentrates on Sesha Abinell, widowed as her husband was killed in a cylon attack.

With rumours that Galactica has a cylon clone imprisoned. Sesha and several others takeover the Cloud Nine lounge and holds everyone hostage.

This includes Apollo. It is up to Starbuck to lead a rescue party.

Admiral Adama has to decide whether to give the clone of Sharon to the hostage takers if all fails.

There were issues with the story. Sesha and her cohorts took over too easily with security very lax at the lounge. Apollo lacked tactical nous when he confronted Sesha after he disarmed one of the hostage takers.

Even Starbuck ended up joining the gang who couldn't shoot straight.

Then there was the unnecessary love triangle featuring Apollo, Billy and Anastasia Dualla. At least it got resolved to the dissatisfaction of the one of the parties.

Dumb, and the worst episode of the series thus far

[grantss · 4/10 · 8 November 2023]

Apollo and Dualla are having a romantic evening on Cloud 9 when the lounge is stormed by three terrorists and the guests taken hostage. Also present are Ellen Tigh and Billy, the President's aide. The terrorists have one demand: release the Cylon, Sharon, to them.

A weak, badly-written episode. It started intriguingly enough, with terrorists taking some of our favourite characters, plus Ellen Tigh, hostage. It seemed set up for a Die Hard situation with Apollo as John McClane. However, that quickly comes to nought in very silly circumstances, giving the first indication that this is not going to be a great episode.

A rescue attempt by Starbuck is similarly thwarted, in similarly dumb circumstances, and this is where I just gave up on any chance of enjoying the episode.

Even the presence of Dana Delany as the leader of the terrorists can't lift this episode. In fact, she seems woefully miscast and don't put in a very convincing performance. So, par for the course considering the mediocrity on display here.

Dana Delaney is a terrible actress

[melcauble · 2/10 · 17 August 2020]

Dana Delaney has always been a terrible actress. Her character is completely unsympathetic and her acting doesn't help.