In the beginning of each episode of Battlestar Galactica, we begin with 'previously, on Battlestar Galactica.'
Most of the times, the clips shown are from the previous episode, but, this is not always the case,many this episode's one of them.
The focal point of this episode's 'previous' clips are on 'Dee,' who, though she's been along for the entire ride, her role - whilst quiet, in comparison, contains much gravitas, because, Dee is our representative for the fleet's citizens, by-and-large.
She is WHAT this whole, painful trip is about, and WHO it ultimately will,fulfill their hope.
In Dee's position, as the CIC's lieutenant who handles most fleet communications, as well as for the Admiral, she IS the 'nerve centre,' and in Dee's previous time of voicing the concerns and hopes, she spoke to both the Admiral, and to (her then-husband) Lee, who was serving as the commander of Pegasus, and she told both of these men that THEY are the fleet's 'light,' - the beacons, and they needed to fulfill their positions, as such, so as to enable all of the fleet to have their hope, as well.
In a very real sense, the crux of this episode is Dee's life.
She has always been - as even she herself, once pointed out to the Admiral - 'quiet,' but, sometimes, it's the quietest, who 'speaks the oldest,' and Dee does, here, in Sometimes A Great Notion.
In this episode, we do finally get to the earth, prophesied by Pythia, and, what we find is a devasted, radiation-filled, toxic wasteland.
Who the 13th tribe were, and why Earth is as decimated as it is, brings very clearly to mind the saying, in all it's permutations throughout it The series' run; 'all of this has happened before, and it will happen again.'
We learn that, no matter how far away from home one runs, the problems go with them.
It also reminds us that no matter how far one goes, problems are the same all over, and, in this case, so we're the results.
We've all had our hopes dashed, at some point during our lives, and, depending on the situation, the disappointment can be deeply profound, devastatingly upsetting.
But, the question here, is in light of the disappointment the members of the (combined, now) fleet has felt, how much more hurt can one sustain, if they even can?
One reviewer, who understood this episode, beautifully, is a different drummer.
They said how important hope is to the very idea of being human, and when it's taken - or, as during this episode, ripped violently away, can one even go on?
In another's review (written during the series' original run) - I chuckled over their Because, even thought they believe themselves to be 'smart,' (as well as having loved the series, early on), they're lost, and felt it the show's creators fault, for just adding more questions, without answering any of those originally asked,
I watched Battlestar Galactica, then, as well, but, I am not put off by this, as life doesn't come with a book of answers.
While I know that, ultimately, answers are forthcoming, and as BSG now heads into it's last episodes, things will get darker, before the light, and, even then, it's through hope and conviction, it disappoints me whenever I read how people felt 'cheated' when things aren't clearly spelt out to them, as happened with the final scene of the final episode of The Sopranos.
Instead of understanding the writers' saying 'use your brains,' these half-wits I are disappointed.
If you fall into this 2nd group, then not only is Galactica not for you, but, many of the best films, TV shows, books, aren't as well.
I hope you're the first type, the type who likes to be challenged, because you'll find life to be so much more rewarding, as is Battlestar Galactica.