"Battlestar Galactica" is a character driven show. And to that end, the characters ? all of the characters ? take precedent over any individual storyline. These two are not mutually exclusive however, and in most cases manage to complement each other in the telling of a very different tale.

Gone are the sweeping visuals, stunning action scenes or revelations of an Earth-shattering nature. "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" does everything it says so on the box, charting the rapidly growing disquiet among the fleet following the revelations that Earth is a radioactive cinder. Locating Earth and the thirteenth colony has been the driving force ? and only hope ? behind every action taken by the surviving colonials since their bombardment, so with the hope of a new home now eliminated, it is only natural that many would give up.

The episode is accused of "doing nothing" or simply existing as format for staging future events to wrap up the series, but in reality Ronald D. Moore knew exactly what he was doing when he crafted this outing and he tells a vey intricate and personal story of how the colonials' lives have changed.

To that end, it is the characters that really carry this story alone as new facets to their personality begin to arise; Tom Zarek, the corrupt politician who once again finds himself at odds with the military leadership; Gaeta becomes a mal-content and revolutionary; Tyrol, as a duped husband, takes a whole new approach to parenting; and Adama quite literally leaves his uniform behind to become the lover that has been teased since the sophomore year.

Despite the Cylons, talk of half breeds and engine upgrades to the FTL drive, "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" remains a hard hitting drama episode with the interests of the characters at its core in true "Battlestar Galactica" style.

What Worked

Surprisingly, the mystery surrounding the identity of Tyrol Jr.'s father created a fantastic personal element for Galen and, even though she is deceased, re-affirmed Callie's own fire cracking personality that led to her death. Tori may have opened the airlock but it was Callie's own actions that led her to that place. The big reveal though that Hotdog is the father seemed a little underplayed and could have had a larger significance ? especially given the belief that Herra was dubbed the salvation and future of the Cylon race.

Even as Baltar's religious rally transformed into a testosterone-fest, the impact that the chief is not the baby's father is not really felt until the final moments when Hotdog looks upon his son's face in the Hospital wing.

And there was also the underplayed ? yet strangely poignant ? story of the tangled political system and its descent from government to circus. "Battlestar Galactica" has always been dubbed "The West Wing In Space" and although there may not be much in the way of complex negotiations that have featured in other episodes (for example, "Colonial Day"), the political views and their relationship with the sense of directionless spreading through the fleet is hard to ignore.

What Didn?t Work

Adama and Roslin getting together may be something that a lot of fans have wanted for a long time, but it the previous seasons it was always the notion that the two might have a romantic interest in one another that made the relationship so fluid, dynamic and fascinating. Their mid-Galactica rendezvous in the corridors led to a wonderful exchange (topped with a very subtle and endearing kiss) which could have sufficed. Now that Roslin has essentially given up the Presidency though, the ties that kept the two apart no longer apply and they are free to choose their own destinies.

It is a true testament to how far these two characters have travelled when at the end of the first season there was a tense standoff onboard the Colonial One, with Lee Adama in the middle.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Battlestar Galactica" stars Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Michael Hogan, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff and Jamie Bamber. "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" was written and directed by Ronald D. Moore. "Battlestar Galactica" airs on The SciFi Channel Fridays at 9 p.m.

Alan Stanley Blair is the Assistant News Editor for Airlock Alpha and its sister site Rabid Doll. He is currently studying for a diploma in Freelance Journalism and can be reached at ablair@airlockalpha.com.."

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