The Best Episodes of Battlestar Galactica Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.5/10(3740 votes)

   #1 - 33

   S1:E110/18/2004

   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

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   Director:Michael Rymer

   Writer:Ronald D. Moore
2. 

   7.7/10(2873 votes)

   #2 - Water

   S1:E210/25/2004

   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.

   Directors:Rod Hardy, Marita Grabiak

   Writer:Ronald D. Moore

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   Directors:Rod Hardy, Marita Grabiak

   Writer:Ronald D. Moore
3. 

   7.6/10(2775 votes)

   #3 - Bastille Day

   S1:E311/1/2004

   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

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   Director:Allan Kroeker

   Writer:Toni Graphia
4. 

   7.7/10(2686 votes)

   #4 - Act of Contrition

   S1:E411/8/2004

   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

   Writers:David Weddle, Bradley Thompson

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   Director:Rod Hardy

   Writers:David Weddle, Bradley Thompson
5. 

   8.2/10(2756 votes)

   #5 - You Can't Go Home Again

   S1:E511/15/2004

   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

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   Director:Sergio Mimica-Gezzan

   Writer:Carla Robinson
6. 

   7.6/10(2530 votes)

   #6 - Litmus

   S1:E611/22/2004

   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

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   Director:Rod Hardy

   Writer:Jeff Vlaming
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7. 

   7.7/10(2484 votes)

   #7 - Six Degrees of Separation

   S1:E711/29/2004

   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

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   Director:Robert M. Young

   Writer:Michael Angeli
8. 

   8.0/10(2490 votes)

   #8 - Flesh and Bone

   S1:E812/6/2004

   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

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   Director:Brad Turner

   Writer:Toni Graphia
9. 

   7.5/10(2461 votes)

   #9 - Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down

   S1:E912/13/2004

   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.

   Directors:Jonas Pate, Edward James Olmos

   Writer:Jeff Vlaming

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   Directors:Jonas Pate, Edward James Olmos

   Writer:Jeff Vlaming
10. 

    8.4/10(2492 votes)

    #10 - The Hand of God

    S1:E101/3/2005

    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.

    Directors:Jeff Woolnough, Michael Rymer

    Writers:David Weddle, Bradley Thompson

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    Directors:Jeff Woolnough, Michael Rymer

    Writers:David Weddle, Bradley Thompson
11. 

    7.6/10(2337 votes)

    #11 - Colonial Day

    S1:E111/10/2005

    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

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    Director:Jonas Pate

    Writer:Carla Robinson
12. 

    8.3/10(2404 votes)

    #12 - Kobol's Last Gleaming (1)

    S1:E121/17/2005

    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

    Writers:David Eick, Ronald D. Moore

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    Director:Michael Rymer

    Writers:David Eick, Ronald D. Moore
13. 

    8.8/10(2585 votes)

    #13 - Kobol's Last Gleaming (2)

    S1:E131/24/2005

    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

    Writers:David Eick, Ronald D. Moore

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    Director:Michael Rymer

    Writers:David Eick, Ronald D. Moore