Battlestar Galactica Razor is a two-part episode that picks up a story thread first introduced in the shows second season, when a second battlestar, Pegasus, emerged out of nowhere to join Galactica and its ragtag civilian fleet.
This is a spoiler-free review of the two-parter.
The story is told through the eyes of Lieutenant Kendra Shaw (Stephanie Chaves-Jacobsen) who is young, wide-eyed and eager to please.
Razor begins in Galactica continuity shortly after Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber) has been made Commander of the Battlestar Pegasus, and here we learn that it is Kendra whom he names as his XO (executive officer). Lee has read her files and has his reasons for picking her, and flashbacks begin to show the events that forged Kendra, as we alternate between the time she has been given her new position under Lee, and ten months earlier, when she was first assigned to Pegasus.
When she first boards the Pegasus you realise immediately how differently this ship is run from Galactica. She’s wandering around the hallways with her duffle bag and no one bothers to help her. When she finally finds the bridge she has her first encounter with the tough as nails Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes, reprising her role from Battlestar Season 2) who immediately reprimands her. There’s a rare moment where Cain smiles and laughs after Shaw leaves.
Kendra is just learning her way around Pegasus and just getting to know Admiral Cain when the Cylon attack occurs. Cain does what she feels is right in order to unite the crew in the face of such atrocities and it’s a severe contrast to what William Adama (Edward James Olmos) did in the miniseries while facing the same situation. What follows is a situation in which Kendra is tested and pushed to her limits until she becomes the sharp instrument of the episode title.
I took an immediate dislike to Cain in season 2 and Razor does nothing to change my view of her. It did give some insight into why she was such a bitch. The revelation of how Gina (Tricia Helfer) infiltrated the crew was awesome and confirmed my suspicions of Cain.
If you haven’t seen Razor, I suggest you watch it. It’s an amazing ride plus there is a small reveal towards the end regarding Cara Thrace and her special destiny.
I thought this was an amazing two part episode. You forgot to mention the flash back to a young bill Adama, although that did raise a few question for me.