Battlestar Galactica

With Katee Sackhoff’s new show Bionic Woman set to premiere next month on NBC, this seems like the ideal time look back on her best moments in the past three seasons on Battlestar Galactica. Or if you prefer to see what happens when Katee becomes part machine, check out WatchingBionicWoman.com.

5. 33

The first “official” episode of the new Battlestar Galactica is also the episode when the impish nature of Kara Thrace’s Starbuck becomes apparent to the viewers. The scene where she tells Jamie Bamber’s Lee “Apollo” Adama “You’re the CAG, act like it” is one of the defining moments for her character. Simultaneously defiant and loyal, sexy and stubborn, Starbuck’s fiercely feral way of chewing her “stims” set the tone of the relationship between the star-crossed characters, and let the audience know that while Starbuck is in total control of her surroundings, she is not quite in control of herself.

4. Unfinished Business

When a long locked Kara Thrace leaves Lee Adama sleeping in the bushes after a night of joyful sex, you know there is no hope for her to find happiness. Heartbreaking and infuriating, this is the episode that transformed Starbuck from sympathetic heroine to lost cause in the minds of many fans. When she taunts Lee to get into the boxing ring with her towards the end of the episode, the audience wants him to follow her just as much as they want him to walk away.

3. Occupation

Perhaps the darkest episodes of a dark series, “Occupation” featured a thought provoking plot about suicide bombers, introduced a one-eyed Col. Tigh, and featured a disturbing scene of a Cylon deceiving Kara Thrace with a false child. But the reason this episode makes this list is the infamous moment where Starbuck calmly stabs her kidnapper in the neck during dinner, and then sits down and finishes her steak as he dies. “See you soon,” indeed.

2. Kobol’s Last Gleaming II & Scattered

The last episode of season one and the first episode of season two have some of the best Starbuck moments of the series. Her she-devil fury as she fights Tricia Helfer’s Number Six is followed rapidly by her joy at finding Tahmoh Penikett’s Helo … and then her disgust with his weakness regarding Grace Park’s Sharon. Her hatred contrasts with his compassion, his acceptance of his fate contrasts with her fighting spirit. Later Starbuck leads Helo to her old apartment, where her surprising artistic side is revealed for the first time.

1. Maelstrom

Maelstrom, the emotional season three episode where Starbuck “dies,” somehow manages to cram everything Starbuck into less than an hour of television. Kara Thrace alternates between defiant anger and wounded victim, has bittersweet moments betraying how she both despises and adores Lee and Anders, hints at her tragic past and her important future, and then … she is gone. While Season Three had moments that tried the patience of even the most ardent Starbuck fans, Maelstrom brought redemption to the character.

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