TV REVIEW: 'Battlestar Galactica' The Season Four Premiere – 'He That Believeth In Me'

Who/What is Kara Thrace?

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, April 1st 2008 at 5:56 AM

Click the pic for a larger look as well as 48 other Season 4 Images!

"Hi Lee, I've been to Earth. I know where it is and I am going to take us there." – Kara "Starbuck" Thrace

The quote above is the mind-bender that ended the third season of "Battlestar Galactica" and it is exactly where season four picks up with the return of Starbuck after a more than two month absence. Thought dead, her arrival throws everything in disarray. How is this possible? We saw her ship explode. This can only mean one thing… right? But is Kara Thrace a Cylon? Is she one of the "Final Five"?

You aren't getting any answers from me and you aren't even going to get any speculation because even after watching the season four premiere of "Battlestar Galactica" premiering exclusively on the SCI-FI Channel this Friday, April 4 at 10 PM ET/PT, I am still clueless. I was fortunate enough to get a screener copy of the premiere titled "He That Believeth In Me" and this bad boy answers far fewer questions than it actually asks. On top of the conundrum that is Kara Thrace, your jaw will momentarily hit the floor only 4 minutes and 30 seconds into this episode when it appears you may have actually been kept out of one of the biggest primetime television secrets since "Lost" asked, "Who are the Others?"

"Battlestar" continues its ability to be one of the most forward thinking science fiction series I have ever watched. The one constant this show has and it seems will never lose is its ability to span genres while maintaining its sci-fi outer shell. Yeah, its set up for sci-fi geeks, but this is one sci-fi series that would actually appeal to a majority of viewers should they choose to give it a chance. Season three of this series blew me away and season four begins with some outstanding plot threads that let us know the writers have no intention of giving up and fully intend to go out with a bang.

The instructions I was given by SCI-FI for this review were to not spoil the episode, which means the final 15 minutes are off limits. However, that means I could tell you so much more than I am actually willing to. But I will say that the introduction of the four secret Cylon models (Tory, Anders, Tyrol and Saul) aboard Galactica are prime to play a huge role in this final season as they have some of the greatest scenes in this episode including a Viper/Raider in-flight stare down. This show really takes the meaning of sci-fi to new heights and proves there is more to science fiction than space ships and aliens.

If you have yet to catch up with the show there are episodes running on SCI-FI all week along with a pair of half-hour specials that originally aired on March 28th that can get you all caught up. You can also click here to check out the Season 4 preview. I really think this is a show many of you will enjoy provided you give it time. I will admit that at the outset it appeals primarily to sci-fi fans, but if you stay with it season three turns it into something far more than an average space opera.

Below is the official description kicking off the final season, give it a read and be sure to tune in to SCI-FI this Friday and stick with it all season long. Oh, and then there is a pic of Tricia Helfer, a.k.a. the Battlestar Hotness, give her a click to check out our 49 image gallery.

As season 4 opens, the last remnants of humanity continue their search for a new home, the thin line that separates them from the rapidly evolving Cylons is being redrawn. Galactica’s crew, rocked by Starbuck’s sudden and mysterious return from the dead – and her claims that she has been to Earth and can lead them there – attempts to make sense of the inexplicable. Meanwhile, four members of the fleet are still reeling from the revelation that they are Cylons and have been all along.

Click the hotness to get even more!