The Best Episodes of Battlestar Galactica Season 1
Every episode of Battlestar Galactica Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Battlestar Galactica Season 1!
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Battlestar Galactica" season 1 is "33", rated 8.5/10 from 3448 user votes. It was directed by Michael Rymer and written by Ronald D. Moore. "33" aired on 10/18/2004 and is rated 0.8 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Water".
8.5/10 3,448 votes#1 - 33
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/18/2004
In the wake of the Cylon sneak attack, the ragtag fleet of human survivors is forced to play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with their pursuers. Every 33 minutes, they make a jump to a new location. And every 33 minutes, the Cylons manage to find them. The pilots are on the brink of exhaustion, relying on artificial stimulants to keep fighting, and the civilians are beginning to doubt the leadership of Commander Adama and President Roslin.
Director: Michael Rymer
Writer: Ronald D. Moore
7.7/10 2,635 votes#2 - Water
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/25/2004
Lt. Sharon Valerii wakes up soaking wet in the tool room with an explosive charge in her duffel bag. Shortly afterward, a mysterious explosion destroys all the port-side water tanks on Galactica, creating a crisis for the entire fleet. Sharon can't remember a thing, but all the evidence points to her as a saboteur. She confesses her concern to Chief Tyrol, but he can't believe she's responsible.
Director: Rod Hardy, Marita Grabiak
Writer: Ronald D. Moore
7.6/10 2,541 votes#3 - Bastille Day
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2004
The fleet has found a source of water, but who will take on the difficult and dangerous job of mining it from the icy planet? Commander Adama and President Roslin send Lee to the Astral Queen, a prisoner transport ship, with an offer for its inmates: Volunteer for this mission and earn "freedom points".
Director: Allan Kroeker
Writer: Toni Graphia
7.7/10 2,463 votes#4 - Act of Contrition
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/8/2004
After a flight deck accident kills 13 pilots and wounds many others, Kara is thrust into service as a flight instructor and ordered to turn a group of civilian pilots and academy washouts into full-fledged Viper pilots.
Director: Rod Hardy
Writer: Bradley Thompson, David Weddle
8.2/10 2,530 votes#5 - You Can't Go Home Again
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/15/2004
When Lt. Kara Thrace goes missing in action after encountering a Cylon patrol while on a training mission, Commander Adama feels responsible — especially in light of her recent admission that she blames herself for his son Zak's death.
Director: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Writer: Carla Robinson
7.6/10 2,322 votes#6 - Litmus
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/22/2004
When a new copy of Doral, a Cylon who had been previously exposed while serving as the Galactica's public-relations officer, sneaks aboard and blows himself up, killing three people, Commander Adama and President Roslin must finally make public the terrifying secret known only to a select few: Cylons now look like humans.
Director: Rod Hardy
Writer: Jeff Vlaming
7.7/10 2,281 votes#7 - Six Degrees of Separation
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/29/2004
When Baltar and the Number Six who lives in his head have a falling out, she abandons him, only to surface a short while later aboard the Galactica. But now she's called Shelley Godfrey, everyone can see her, and she's telling them that she has evidence, passed on by the late Dr. Amarak, that will prove Baltar sold out the human race to the Cylons.
Director: Robert M. Young
Writer: Michael Angeli
8.0/10 2,289 votes#8 - Flesh and Bone
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/6/2004
A Cylon, who calls himself Leoben, is discovered on one of the ships in the fleet. Commander Adama sends Kara to interrogate him — or, rather, it. The Cylon tells Kara that he planted a nuclear device on one of the ships. Although she doesn't believe it, Kara passes on the warning.
Director: Brad Turner
Writer: Toni Graphia
7.5/10 2,254 votes#9 - Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/13/2004
President Roslin's fears that Commander Adama is a Cylon are stoked when she learns he's making secret wireless calls to other ships. Then, to make things worse, a single Cylon raider appears near the Galactica and begins acting strangely after being damaged in battle.
Director: Jonas Pate, Edward James Olmos
Writer: Jeff Vlaming
8.4/10 2,289 votes#10 - The Hand of God
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/3/2005
As its fuel supply dwindles, the fleet must seek out a new supply of tylium ore or risk becoming sitting ducks to any Cylon attack. A recon patrol finds an asteroid full of the fuel, but there's a catch — the Cylons have found it first and established a heavily guarded refining plant.
Director: Jeff Woolnough, Michael Rymer
Writer: Bradley Thompson, David Weddle
7.6/10 2,144 votes#11 - Colonial Day
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/2005
When President Roslin calls an Interim Quorum of the Twelve Colonies, she discovers that democracy brings its ugly stepsisters — politics and deadly intrigue — to the party. Tom Zarek, the charismatic convicted terrorist, is elected as the delegate from Sagittaron and immediately proposes elections for the vice-presidency.
Director: Jonas Pate
Writer: Carla Robinson
8.3/10 2,195 votes#12 - Kobol's Last Gleaming (1)
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/17/2005
While flying a supply patrol, Crashdown and Sharon Valerii discover a bountiful planet that can support human life. Indeed, it might be Kobol, the legendary "home of the gods." The discovery prompts Commander Adama to send a ground team to investigate; it also gives new life to President Roslin's belief that she is a tool of destiny and that this discovery, like her rapidly spreading cancer, is part of an ancient prophecy.
Director: Michael Rymer
Writer: Ronald D. Moore, David Eick
8.8/10 2,367 votes#13 - Kobol's Last Gleaming (2)
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/24/2005
When Commander Adama learns that Kara disobeyed orders and Jumped to Caprica on orders from President Roslin, he demands the president's resignation, with the implied threat of a military coup. Roslin refuses his demand and sparks a confrontation.
Director: Michael Rymer
Writer: Ronald D. Moore, David Eick