Overall, an okay episode. But here's the thing. It would have been obvious to Adama at the time of the stealth mission that destroying a ship would immediately supply evidence to the Cylons that the armistice line had been breached. In the BSG universe humans and Cylons are the only intelligent beings, so any wreckage would be a sign of human intrusion.
8 Reviews
A dark moment in Adama's past
Tweekums23 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
As this episode begins it looks as if things will be cheerful for a change; Roslin discovers that Adama has been in the military for just under forty five years and plans to give him a medal and an old shipmate of Adama's turns up after escaping from the Cylons. Things are far from cheerful however; we learn that Bulldog had apparently been lost a year before the destruction of the colonies during an operation against illegal miners near the border with Cylon space... we later learn that this was a lie... he was shot down on Adama's orders in an attempt to prevent the Cylons from capturing him. Not surprisingly when he learns what happened he in not happy to put it mildly. The episode also introduced a secondary story; the Cylon D'Anna Biers is having dreams about death and is even killing herself to explore what happens between death and rebirth; no answers were given but no doubt it will be explored more in later episodes.
This was an entertaining stand alone episode but wasn't without its faults; the main one doesn't become apparent till later episodes... Bulldog is never seen again despite the fact that he is a skilled pilot! Guest star Carl Lumbly does a good job as Bulldog and his story unfolds well. It could be argued that Bulldog's escape was a bit unlikely but the way it plays out makes it plausible. The secondary story was a minor part of the story but was interesting and appears to be setting up something that will be important in later episodes.
This was an entertaining stand alone episode but wasn't without its faults; the main one doesn't become apparent till later episodes... Bulldog is never seen again despite the fact that he is a skilled pilot! Guest star Carl Lumbly does a good job as Bulldog and his story unfolds well. It could be argued that Bulldog's escape was a bit unlikely but the way it plays out makes it plausible. The secondary story was a minor part of the story but was interesting and appears to be setting up something that will be important in later episodes.
One of the better episodes this season!
ajansub19 November 2006
BSG has a habit of airing impressive episodes followed by terrible ones. I personally liked this episode as it establishes the Admiral's history a bit. It gives us a look into why the Admiral is given command of such an outdated ship when its clearly established in previous episodes that Adama was an excellent Viper pilot and Commander.
I also found the Cold War influenced storyline very interesting. Although Hero is about a soldier under Adamas command prior to the Cylon invasion, the episode is very much about Adamas past.
Overall, a better than normal episode which gives us a lot more background into pre-Cylon Invasion military life in the 12 Colonies
I also found the Cold War influenced storyline very interesting. Although Hero is about a soldier under Adamas command prior to the Cylon invasion, the episode is very much about Adamas past.
Overall, a better than normal episode which gives us a lot more background into pre-Cylon Invasion military life in the 12 Colonies
When Something Seems to be a Miracle, be suspicious!
mstomaso30 December 2007
Mike Rymer cleverly directs this seemingly impossible (in more ways than one) episode.
The impossibilities are:
> This is a stand-alone episode more directly related to the themes of the mini-series and first season than anything happening in the intense third season story arc.
> A great pilot, Bulldog, who worked under Adama years ago, has escaped from the cylons in a raider and miraculously found his way to Galactica.
Although it is never made completely clear how these miracles took place, the episode provides all the clues necessary to figure it out. Adama would have figured it out long before it was too late had he not been blind-sided by Bulldog's return and his own emotions. The resolution is remarkably subtle and intelligent, but you need to think creatively to really get it.
The impossibilities are:
> This is a stand-alone episode more directly related to the themes of the mini-series and first season than anything happening in the intense third season story arc.
> A great pilot, Bulldog, who worked under Adama years ago, has escaped from the cylons in a raider and miraculously found his way to Galactica.
Although it is never made completely clear how these miracles took place, the episode provides all the clues necessary to figure it out. Adama would have figured it out long before it was too late had he not been blind-sided by Bulldog's return and his own emotions. The resolution is remarkably subtle and intelligent, but you need to think creatively to really get it.
There comes a time....
UNOhwen26 November 2011
Initially, I didn't think HERO was one of Battlestar's better episodes.
But, after watching it again, I realised just how important it is - and, also why I had issues with it:
It's because it purposefully makes you uncomfortable.
In a way, HERO is a 'quiet' episode. There's not really much going on in the way of battles, but, what HERO does do, is ask questions, that are uncomfortable for the characters, and, for us the viewer
Up until now, the world of BSG has been defined by a predominantly white lead cast. But, in HERO, a black man literally flies in. His call sign is BULLDOG, and who, and what BULLDOG represents on different levels is what this episode is all about.
I don't want to give much of the plot away. Suffice it to say some truths that have been held by both the humans, and Cylons are put into play. Questions that will ultimately play very important parts of the rest of BATTLESTAR are begun.
Let me last say, that, one reason for the 'uncomfortability' in this episode is done whenever a character appears in a series we've become familiar with. Into this, a person, who seems to almost be a fish-out-of-water is thrown in - and given a backstory that appears to be instant.
In the Battlsstar movie, RAZOR, the plot follows another character of this type. Kn Kendra Shaw. But, whereas her integration with the plot threads is woven into the story so as not to 'warp' the fabric, I think that in HERO, Bulldog's character is intentionally dropped in cold.
But, after watching it again, I realised just how important it is - and, also why I had issues with it:
It's because it purposefully makes you uncomfortable.
In a way, HERO is a 'quiet' episode. There's not really much going on in the way of battles, but, what HERO does do, is ask questions, that are uncomfortable for the characters, and, for us the viewer
Up until now, the world of BSG has been defined by a predominantly white lead cast. But, in HERO, a black man literally flies in. His call sign is BULLDOG, and who, and what BULLDOG represents on different levels is what this episode is all about.
I don't want to give much of the plot away. Suffice it to say some truths that have been held by both the humans, and Cylons are put into play. Questions that will ultimately play very important parts of the rest of BATTLESTAR are begun.
Let me last say, that, one reason for the 'uncomfortability' in this episode is done whenever a character appears in a series we've become familiar with. Into this, a person, who seems to almost be a fish-out-of-water is thrown in - and given a backstory that appears to be instant.
In the Battlsstar movie, RAZOR, the plot follows another character of this type. Kn Kendra Shaw. But, whereas her integration with the plot threads is woven into the story so as not to 'warp' the fabric, I think that in HERO, Bulldog's character is intentionally dropped in cold.
A figure from Admiral Adama's past comes back to haunt him.
catalin_din_nord19 November 2006
I have to say, once again, that this show is probably one of the best on TV right now. As usual, the story is fantastic.
The "Hero", Bulldog, a POW, somehow manages to get away from a Cylon Basestar aboard a Raider, like Starbuck did before. Everybody is stunned by his flashy appearance with two Cylon raiders on his tail, and seem to forget this move might belong to the Cylons who, like always, have a plan.
Bulldog fits in the big picture that is Adama's past and we get to see the Admiral on his previous command, aboard the Battlestar Walkyrie, doing a black-ops mission close to the Cylon neutral zone. Bulldog gets shot down by unknown contacts in Cylon territory and Adama is forced to leave him behind. Here's a question for you: is Adama responsible for the war?
The "Hero", Bulldog, a POW, somehow manages to get away from a Cylon Basestar aboard a Raider, like Starbuck did before. Everybody is stunned by his flashy appearance with two Cylon raiders on his tail, and seem to forget this move might belong to the Cylons who, like always, have a plan.
Bulldog fits in the big picture that is Adama's past and we get to see the Admiral on his previous command, aboard the Battlestar Walkyrie, doing a black-ops mission close to the Cylon neutral zone. Bulldog gets shot down by unknown contacts in Cylon territory and Adama is forced to leave him behind. Here's a question for you: is Adama responsible for the war?
HERO - unforgivably stupid plot line (spoilers)
Enigma385 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I'm a fan of this generally excellent though sometimes rather dull show but Season 3 has taken some terrible plot directions. The episode HERO is an example of what I mean.
The story as it eventually unravels is that the Cylons deliberately allow Bulldog - a pilot captured several years earlier during a black ops mission - to escape, steal a Cylon ship and get back to Galactica. The plan is that when Bulldog gets back he will figure out that Adama left him to his fate and be so enraged that he will kill Adama, which he very nearly does.
Now the problem is this - the Cylons set it up so that Bulldog thinks he has escaped by himself. This means that Bulldog gets off the Cylon ship with no assistance. So he kills a Cylon and walks out of his holding cell - that much we see. Then, we must suppose that he walks to the flight hangar, manages to get into a Cylon fighter ship and learn how to operate it, takes off and flies back to Galactica. Just like that.
Now Starbuck managed to get one of them working in Season One, which was barely believable in itself, but she only had to fly it visually out of orbit before making contact with Galactica. Bulldog has to programme his ship so that it makes several jumps through hyperspace and manages to catch up with Galactica somewhere thousands of light years away, in an unknown direction. How does he manage to programme a ship that contains completely alien technology? Cylons connect to their computers by touch, there are no visual consoles or keyboards. And having managed that miraculous feat, how does he then know where Galactica is, bearing in mind that Galactica took off some 3 years before and is trying ever since to evade the Cylons - it does not leave beacons behind? Even allowing for the suspension of disbelief that must apply to any sci-fi show, this episode still absolutely no sense whatsoever.
The story as it eventually unravels is that the Cylons deliberately allow Bulldog - a pilot captured several years earlier during a black ops mission - to escape, steal a Cylon ship and get back to Galactica. The plan is that when Bulldog gets back he will figure out that Adama left him to his fate and be so enraged that he will kill Adama, which he very nearly does.
Now the problem is this - the Cylons set it up so that Bulldog thinks he has escaped by himself. This means that Bulldog gets off the Cylon ship with no assistance. So he kills a Cylon and walks out of his holding cell - that much we see. Then, we must suppose that he walks to the flight hangar, manages to get into a Cylon fighter ship and learn how to operate it, takes off and flies back to Galactica. Just like that.
Now Starbuck managed to get one of them working in Season One, which was barely believable in itself, but she only had to fly it visually out of orbit before making contact with Galactica. Bulldog has to programme his ship so that it makes several jumps through hyperspace and manages to catch up with Galactica somewhere thousands of light years away, in an unknown direction. How does he manage to programme a ship that contains completely alien technology? Cylons connect to their computers by touch, there are no visual consoles or keyboards. And having managed that miraculous feat, how does he then know where Galactica is, bearing in mind that Galactica took off some 3 years before and is trying ever since to evade the Cylons - it does not leave beacons behind? Even allowing for the suspension of disbelief that must apply to any sci-fi show, this episode still absolutely no sense whatsoever.
By the numbers
pninson9 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
To all the people who laud BSG as great television, as superb drama that is superior to traditional SF, I present this lame, supremely unoriginal episode as an example of why I disagree.
There is not a shred of plot or characterization in this episode that hasn't been done a dozen times before, on TV and in film. The military commander sacrifices his friend, who survives, and agonizes over his decision. And of course the friend, who escapes from the enemy, is actually allowed to escape to cause dissension and doubt in the ranks.
Despite the welcome appearance of Carl Lumbly, who I haven't seen since "Alias", this plodding and predictable episode is a prime example of why I'm unable to stay interested in BSG for any length of time. Periodically there is a good episode, but then they keep turning out photocopied crap like this, and the thought of watching another episode fills me with dread.
There is not a shred of plot or characterization in this episode that hasn't been done a dozen times before, on TV and in film. The military commander sacrifices his friend, who survives, and agonizes over his decision. And of course the friend, who escapes from the enemy, is actually allowed to escape to cause dissension and doubt in the ranks.
Despite the welcome appearance of Carl Lumbly, who I haven't seen since "Alias", this plodding and predictable episode is a prime example of why I'm unable to stay interested in BSG for any length of time. Periodically there is a good episode, but then they keep turning out photocopied crap like this, and the thought of watching another episode fills me with dread.
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