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Battlestar Galactica

Valley of Darkness (2)

Season 2, Episode 2, Aired Jul 22, 2005

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9.1

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The Galactica successfully reunites with the fleet, but the Cylons are still onboard the ship. Col. Tigh orders Lee to stop the Centurions from reaching Aft Damage Control before they vent the atmosphere from the ship. On Cylon-occupied Caprica, Starbuck and Helo visit her old apartment. Helo takes note of the abstract paintings on the wall. On Kobol, Baltar has a nightmare about Adama. Tyrol and Cally go on a purported rescue mission.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Lori Stewart

Twinam
GUEST STAR
Brad Loree

Bonnington
GUEST STAR
Michael Tayles

Flyboy

Tricia Helfer

Number Six
Mary McDonnell

Laura Roslin
Katee Sackhoff

Kara "Starbuck" Thrace
James Callis

Gaius Baltar
Grace Park

Sharon "Boomer" Valerii
Edward James Olmos

William Adama

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Fan Episode Reviews (24)

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Valley of Darkness

10

"Perfect"

By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 14, 2012

Valley of Darkness was another perfect and vividly entertaining and character driven episode of Battlestar Galactica. I really enjoyed watching this episode because it had lots of action yet moments of peace as well. There were lots of great moments through out the episode adding to the depth of the characters. How scary it was to be having a good time only for a Cylon to crash the party and start killing every one. There was a lot of urgency and fear along with hope and courage. I look forward to watching the next episode!!!!!!!!!moreless
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The one where: things get bloody.

8.0

"Great"

By MovieMark, Oct 06, 2011

There was always going to be the inevitable decline from last week's amazing episode, but it's only a slight dip. The cylons have boarded the fleet and are causing bloody, bloody havoc. They leave a stream of dead bodies wherever they go; this episode does well to hit home that they're not simply canon fodder. These machines are badass. And speaking of blood, there's so bloody much of it here. Everyone is covered in the red stuff.
Dee and Billy enjoy a cute sub-plot that sees their cold relationship thaw out quite a bit. I have a feeling something horrible will happen to one of them, or both. Billy's close encounter with death here was thankfully cut short by Laura, who dives in to save him from being riddled with bullets. Isn't the opposite supposed to happen? Oh, Billy!
I really enjoyed Starbuck and Helo just chilling out back in Caprica. Starbuck has a sweet pad, in an artsy-fartsy kind of way. Someone really needs to tend to her wounds before they get infected. Doesn't Helo have a medi-kit or something on him? That piece of music that that Starbuck plays is beautiful, by the way.
And on Kobol things aren't looking so bright. At least the guys are breathing fresh air again and are in the open, unlike their colleagues in space, trapped with cylons. Gaius' dream was a little weird. Did Six plant that dream in his subconscious? Bill Adama drowns their new baby in a rather shocking sequence, but I'm not too sure what it all means. Will he be the end of the new cylon race?
Not bad at all!moreless
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A great episode.

9.2

"Superb"

By laveticusprime, Mar 07, 2011

A great episode, but I hope to NEVER hear that damn annoying piano sonata EVER again. I honestly believe the Sound Effects and Sound Tracking is the only part of this show that is at times less than great. They could do SO much better. Last note to reach 100 words: I'm getting a little tired of Gaius' conversations with Number Six(except for seeing Number Six in her sexy outfits). I know it MUST be vital to the storyline. However, after 1 whole season of her dipping in and out and him fumbling over himself, I've grown a bit weary and find myself just checking out Six's body and then wanting to move on. 1 more note: it would be cool if Starbuck and Helo meet the cylons again and another Sharon ends up taking Starbuck's Hummer. "That B**ch took my ride AGAIN!!" lolmoreless
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Only one thing for it then.

8.5

"Great"

By kickdoor, Mar 07, 2011

Baltar's dream was beautifully executed and the high point of the episode for me. Having the rest of the Raptor crews standing around and not reacting as Adama drowns a child was a brilliant choice and added to the already haunting scene. Once again McCreary came through with an incredible piece of music to tie it all together. The other scenes on Kobol were also good. While I had a feeling the med kit wouldn't make a difference, the bitter irony of Tarn dieing so they could retrieve it was still hard to swallow. The silent moment after Socinus' death was played well on all the characters faces.

I also enjoyed the scene in Starbuck's place. She's done some dramatic stuff before but I think the scene in Kobol's Last Gleaming Pt. 2 that I mentioned and this one really helped to prove that she has the chops to pull off some serious emotional moments. The shots of her on the couch combined with her lines and delivery made for a very powerful scene.

Starbuck: "You know, everyone I know is fighting to get back what they had. I'm fighting because I don't know how to do anything else."

The scenes on board Galactica provided some action to contrast with the dramatic story lines. Just the thought of a Cylon raiding party making it aboard is pretty upsetting and what I assume are the newest model of Centurions definitely pose a threat.

Now that I've been watching for awhile, I have to say that love that they don't mind having their younger, more attractive cast members(you know, the lookers) constantly sporting, bruises, scrapes, cuts, gunshot wounds to the face, etc. Given their line of work anything else wouldn't be realistic. And so giving up some of the sex appeal to benefit the story is something I respect. They even got to the always lovely Dee in this episode.

Some excellent dramatic moments and good action sequences.moreless
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Better than the premiere, but still lacking the ability of creating great conflicts.

7.7

"Good"

By Dante_Edy, May 24, 2010

***This review details this is a "I" perspective, based in what I like and recognize to be good or interesting, this is not a "god" where the guy thinks what he thinks is the true or the "you" perspective where I know what you will like and what you dont.***

After the last episode ending, things would be more interesting for this episode and maybe some characters would die and a invasion is something that is interesting to see.

Others storylines was the same Gaius with his dreaming, Starbuck and Helo dialogues. This is why the conflict phase was only attractive because of the situation on Galactica. The climax was very good, but the ending still missing something special. So this situation in Galactica provided tension, some suspense and the necessary amount of action. Chief Storyline provided some drama that didnt touch me at all.

Presentation Phase - (9/10), the beginning was very interesting,
Conflict Phase - (8/10) a rare problem, other plots arent interesting,
Climax Phase - (8/10) in the Galatica was interesting,
Ending - (7/10) nice closure,

Details/Progress (To point A to B) - (7/10) dont expect many progress,
Time and Scene Management - (7/10) some plots are stretching,
Plot Details/Holes- (8/10) the situation on Galactica was exaggerated for only a couple of Cylons, then suddenly they win very fast,

Drama - (7/10) chief provided that,
Action - (8/10) very good,
Suspense/Tension - (8/10) very good tension,

Better than the premiere, but still lacking the ability of creating great conflicts.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- The writing on Kara's wall: Methodicaly Smoking my cigarette with every breath I breathe out the day with every delicious sip I drink away the night stroking my hair to the beat of his heart watching a boy turn into a Man
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QUOTES (7)
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- Kara: You know, everyone I know is fighting to get back what they had. I'm fighting 'cause I don't know how to do anything else.
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- Col. Tigh: Thank the gods I didn't have kids.
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- Col. Tigh: You're not fit to wear that uniform! Lee Adama: Neither are you.
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- Cally: (to Chief Tyrol) Talk to me, you motherfrakker!
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- Lee: Sometimes you gotta roll a hard six. Jammer: What does that mean, sir? Lee: I don't know. Something my dad says.
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- Lee: Marines, let's go toaster shopping.
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- Marine: You alright, Captain? Apollo: Still breathing. I guess that's alright.
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NOTES (3)
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- The piano track played in this episode is by Philip Glass, and is titled 'Metamorphosis One'. The piece is played by Bear McCreary.
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- There are 47,874 survivors in the fleet as of the opening credits, a loss of one from the previous episode.
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- Grace Park (Sharon Valerii) did not appear in this episode, despite being listed in the opening credits.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Upon Tyrol and Cally's return with the medpack, Crashdown uses the military challenge password "Flash" to alert of friendlies in the area. The response was "Thunder". This challenge phrase was only used on D-Day during World War II. Each day thereafter had a different challenge and response which was learned before leaving for the assault.
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