Highlights

Battlestar Galactica's "Revelations" is a pivotal episode that answers long-standing questions and leaves viewer's desperate for the season's end.
The episode reveals the identities of the Final Five Cylons, the true location of Earth, and the dangerous alliance between humans and Cylons.
"Revelations" ends with a twist as the humans and Cylons discover a decimated Earth, shattering their hopes and dreams.

The Season 4 episode of the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, "Revelations," aired in 2008 and turned out to be one of the most pivotal episodes of the season. It showcased the human fleet closing in on Planet Earth in an agitated and eerie atmosphere. The episode focused on taking forward crucial plotlines and answering long-standing questions, while leaving open ends for the remainder of the season.

Battlestar Galactica's "Revelations" drew widespread appreciation from critics and audiences alike, due to its intriguing screenplay and the way it subtly opened up new mysteries. The episode brought the first season's story full circle by shedding light on Starbuck’s missing time and teased potential larger revelations regarding the human race and their fate. With its numerous plot lines, twists, and mysteries, the episode left viewers on the edge of their seats, desperate to know how the season would end.

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What Happens in “Revelations”?

Battlestar Galactica Season 4, Episode 10: "Revelations"
Director	Michael Rymer
Writers	Bradley Thompson and David Weddle
Cast	Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Lucy Lawless
Runtime	44 minutes
IMDB rating	9.1/10

Revelations continues the storyline from the previous episode, "The Hub," in which D’Anna Biers is resurrected by the rebel Cylons. After the resurrection, Biers reveals that she knows the identities of the Final Five Cylons, who are hidden in the human fleet. She further reveals that the Final Five know the path to Earth, and that she will not share any more information until the Cylons join her on the Cylon base star.

The episode kicks off with D’Anna keeping President Roslin and some Colonial pilots hostage on the base star. Meanwhile, Admiral Adama retreats to Galactica. D'Anna comes up with a demand that the Final Five should come forward and join her cause. She then threatens to execute all the hostages one by one if her demands are not fulfilled. She further iterates that she will attack the fleet with nuclear missiles if anyone tried to attack the base star.

Meanwhile, on Galactica, four of the Final Five Cylons (Colonel Saul Tigh, Chief Galen Tyrol, Lieutenant Samuel Anders, and Tory Foster) are conflicted about whether to reveal themselves. Tory, who has embraced her Cylon identity, decides to go to the basestar, pretending to be Roslin’s aide. The others are reluctant, fearing the consequences of their exposure.

As the situation intensifies, Tigh decides to reveal his Cylon identity to Adama, in the hope that this will help to save his friend and the other hostages. This revelation shakes Adama to his core, and he furiously orders Tigh's arrest. He then instructs his son, Lee, to follow Roslin’s confidential order to launch a fatal attack on the basestar if the Cylons get the Final Five.

But, before the order reaches fruition, Starbuck miraculously discovers a hidden signal in her Viper, which she believes is sent from Earth. She puts a pause to the standoff and persuades both sides to cooperate and track the signal. D’Anna agrees, but with the condition that the remaining three of the Final Five Cylons join her. Tigh, Tyrol, and Anders reluctantly bend to D’Anna’s will, leaving behind their comrades and loved ones. The Galactica and the basestar then make a jump to the coordinates of the source signal and reach the orbit of a planet resembling the description of Earth. The humans and the Cylons celebrate, believing they have reached their target destination.

How Does “Revelations” End?

"Revelations" ends with a nerve-wracking twist. The humans and the Cylons land on Earth and, to their dismay, find a barren wasteland with no indications of life or civilizations. Earth has been decimated by a deadly nuclear war, thus making it uninhabitable for any kind of life.

"Revelations" provided answers to numerous questions about the series. Through the episode, the identity of the Final Five Cylons are revealed, which was a long-standing mystery. Additionally, the episode reveals the true location of Earth, reaffirming its link to humanity’s reality and unveiling its importance as the home of the Thirteenth Tribe.

Further, Revelations handles the ambiguity regarding Starbuck’s resurrection, indicating a magical connection between her and Earth. But as these revelations come through, new inquiries emerge, setting the pitch for the season’s latter half. The cataclysmic fate of Earth due to a nuclear war raised crucial questions regarding survivors and the remnants of the Thirteenth Tribe.

The episode also delves into the dangerous alliance between the humans and Cylons, which was ridden with internal conflict and betrayal. The discontinuity within the alliance escalated thanks to Adama and Tigh’s back and forth, along with Tory’s betrayal. These plotlines showcased the disguised tensions within the alliance. As all the characters cope with the harsh reality of Earth’s situation, they are stressed by an uncertain future, leaving both the viewers and the characters in a state of anticipation for what lies ahead.

Finally, the episode draws curtains with a montage of the characters’ reaction to the dark reality of Earth, as they realize that their hopes and dreams are shattered. The episode further confirms that the decimated planet is indeed Earth, as it shows a familiar map of the continents and a scene of a buried statue that resembles the Statue of Liberty.

"Revelations" turns out to be a crucial episode of Battlestar Galactica as it changes the trajectory of the series and challenges the expectations of the viewers. The episode, with its suspenseful revelations and intriguing screenplay, finds a special place in the hearts of the viewers.