When I first watched this week’s episode, it was clear from the beginning that the score would require new musical ideas. The story centers around Danny “Bulldog” Novacek, a pilot long left for dead who mysteriously returns to the fleet and immediately raises suspicion within the crew.
Well, you asked for it! Here is the second part in my exploration of thematic material in Battlestar Galactica. If you missed part one, you’ll find it here. As for this week’s A Measure of Salvation, I don’t really have much insight to offer. After last week’s wacky solo piano craziness, the music this week plays it pretty straight. The only musical oddity is the re-appearance of the long-dormant…
This simple chordal pattern was written for 33, and was designed to express Helo’s dread and fear as he was pursued and captured by the Cylons. It was performed with strings, synths and a dark choral, vocal texture and is comprised entirely of shifting minor chords, ending with a major chord. 
“Torn” is the first episode in Season 3 to truly move on from the New Caprica storyline and take us into uncharted territory. The insights into the inner workings of Cylon society are reminiscent of the revelations in Season 2’s “Downloaded,” but this time around we get to see the Cylons in their own environment.
This week’s episode, “Collaborators,” is one of the best of the entire series. However, I don’t really have much insight to offer, since it uses a relatively minimal amount of score — a welcome change of pace after the epic grandeur of the first four shows. This decision was made because the drama functioned so well without music, there was no reason to over-saturate it with unnecessary emotion.
So instead, let me introduce a performer whom you’ve heard on virtually every episode of Battlestar Galactica, since the very first episode.
“Exodus, Part II” is epic enough to be a season finale. Hell, even a SERIES finale would be lucky to get an episode this jam-packed with frantic battle sequences and powerful story resolutions. But no, on Battlestar Galactica, we’ll do it on episode FOUR just to keep you on your toes.
© 2022 Bear McCreary. For promotional purposes only. Images and audio are copyright of their respective copyright owners. Website by stateofthedesign.com