20 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Humanity faces its darkest hour as the Cylons, sentient machines created by humans, have occupied New Caprica, forcing the survivors of the Twelve Colonies into a brutal resistance. Commander Adama, leader of the last remaining battlestar Galactica, desperately seeks to rescue his people, while President Roslin navigates the political turmoil and moral compromises necessary for survival. Meanwhile, Gaius Baltar, the former President, finds himself a prisoner and collaborator with the Cylons.
The season opens with the human resistance, led by figures like Saul Tigh (Adama's loyal executive officer) and Samuel Anders (a former athlete and resistance fighter), fighting back against the Cylon occupation on New Caprica. Adama and his son, Apollo (a skilled pilot), execute a daring rescue mission, but it comes at a heavy cost: the battlestar Pegasus is destroyed in a suicidal attack to save the fleet. Back in space, a secret tribunal forms to punish perceived Cylon collaborators, leading to the death of James "Jammer" Lyman. Baltar is eventually captured and faces an impending trial for treason. The fleet then embarks on a perilous journey, searching for the mythical planet Earth, encountering ancient Cylon artifacts and facing internal strife, including the apparent death of Starbuck (a hotshot pilot) when her Viper explodes.
As Baltar's high-stakes trial concludes, he is surprisingly found not guilty. In a shocking twist, four key members of the fleet—Chief Tyrol (the Chief Petty Officer), Saul Tigh, Samuel Anders, and Tory Foster (President Roslin's aide)—discover they are Cylons. Amidst this revelation, Starbuck miraculously returns in a pristine Viper, claiming to have found the way to Earth.
Season 3 of Battlestar Galactica covers episodes 1-20. Here's everything that happened:
Season 3, Episode 1: Occupation - Four months into the Cylon occupation of New Caprica, a human resistance, led by Anders and Tyrol, attacks Cylon targets. Tigh is freed from Cylon imprisonment after Ellen sleeps with Cavil. On Galactica, Adama and Apollo clash over rescue plans. Duck becomes a suicide bomber, targeting the New Caprica Police graduation. Gaeta is revealed as the resistance informant.
Season 3, Episode 2: Precipice - Following a suicide bombing, the Cylons crack down on the human population, arresting suspected resistance members. Baltar is forced to sign an execution order, resulting in Caprica Six's death. Ellen Tigh betrays the resistance to protect Saul. Jammer helps Cally escape, but gunfire is heard as she flees.
Season 3, Episode 3: Exodus, Part 1 - Tyrol saves Cally from execution, while Sharon secures launch keys, learning Hera is alive. Tigh learns of Ellen's betrayal. Adama prepares to rescue New Caprica's population, ordering Apollo to wait 18 hours before leading the fleet to Earth. Sharon shoots Number Three. The episode concludes with preparations for the human escape.
Season 3, Episode 4: Exodus, Part 2 - Galactica executes a daring rescue of the New Caprica survivors, enduring heavy damage. Saul Tigh poisons Ellen for her collaboration with the Cylons. Pegasus arrives to assist, but ultimately makes a suicidal attack, destroying a Basestar at the cost of its own destruction. The fleet jumps away, reunited, though Hera is lost on New Caprica.
Season 3, Episode 5: Collaborators - Following their return from New Caprica, a secret tribunal called "The Circle" begins executing perceived Cylon collaborators, including James "Jammer" Lyman. Felix Gaeta is also targeted, but Chief Tyrol realizes Gaeta was a vital resistance source and saves him. Roslin then grants a general pardon, while Baltar's fate is debated among the Cylons. The Circle disbands after almost executing an innocent man.
Season 3, Episode 6: Torn - Tigh and Starbuck create divisions among the crew, causing Adama to intervene. Baltar aids the Cylons, who are dealing with a virus infecting a basestar. Baltar volunteers to board the infected basestar, where he kills a Six copy. The Cylons abandon the basestar, and Athena and Racetrack later discover it.
Season 3, Episode 7: A Measure of Salvation - The Galactica investigates a Cylon baseship infected with a virus. Apollo proposes using the virus to commit genocide against the Cylons. Helo, objecting to the plan, kills the Cylon prisoners to prevent the virus's spread. Baltar is tortured by Number Three, seeking information about the virus. The episode concludes with Adama reporting the prisoners' deaths and the plan's failure.
Season 3, Episode 8: Hero - A pilot, Lt. Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek, presumed dead for years, returns, claiming escape from Cylon captivity. Starbuck discovers the Cylons seemingly allowed his escape. Adama reveals he ordered Bulldog shot down to protect the fleet, leading to Novacek's vengeful attack. Roslin refuses Adama's resignation, awarding him a medal for his service. The episode concludes with Novacek leaving to start a new life.
Season 3, Episode 9: Unfinished Business - A boxing tournament is held to relieve tensions, but it stirs up unresolved feelings from New Caprica. Flashbacks reveal the breakdown of Kara and Lee's relationship, fueled by Kara's marriage to Anders. Adama fights Tyrol, expressing guilt over the laxity that led to the Cylon attack. The episode ends with Lee proposing to Dualla, a decision influenced by Kara's actions.
Season 3, Episode 10: The Passage - With food supplies critically low, the fleet faces starvation. Starbuck and other Galactica pilots guide civilian ships through a highly radioactive star cluster to reach an algae-rich planet. Kat pushes herself to the limit to save a lost ship, succumbing to radiation poisoning. Despite her heroic actions, Kat dies, but not before Adama restores her rank and absolves her of her past as a drug runner.
Season 3, Episode 11: The Eye of Jupiter - Tyrol discovers the Temple of Five, drawing both Colonials and Cylons to the algae planet. Starbuck and Apollo's affair intensifies, while Athena learns Hera is alive. Adama threatens to nuke the planet to prevent the Cylons from obtaining the Eye of Jupiter. The episode ends with a tense standoff and the threat of a supernova.
Season 3, Episode 12: Rapture - Adama prepares to nuke the planet to stop the Cylons from reaching the Eye of Jupiter. Helo shoots Athena so she can resurrect and rescue Hera. D'Anna sees the faces of the Final Five but is boxed before she can reveal them. The planet's star goes nova, destroying the temple. Baltar is captured by Tyrol.
Season 3, Episode 13: Taking a Break from All Your Worries - Baltar attempts suicide and is interrogated using hallucinogens, revealing his fears and his belief that he isn't a Cylon. Meanwhile, relationship issues escalate between Apollo, Starbuck, and their spouses. The crew establishes "Joe's Bar". The episode concludes with Roslin and Adama discussing Baltar's fate, setting up his upcoming trial.
Season 3, Episode 14: The Woman King - Helo investigates a series of suspicious deaths among Sagittaron refugees, uncovering that Dr. Roberts was intentionally administering lethal toxins. Roslin and Zarek clash over the impending trial of Baltar. Caprica Six hallucinates Baltar in her cell. Dr. Roberts is arrested for his crimes. Adama apologizes to Helo for not believing him.
Season 3, Episode 15: A Day in the Life - Adama reflects on his wedding anniversary and estranged wife as Tyrol and Cally become trapped in a depressurizing airlock. A risky rescue plan is devised involving blowing the outer hatch. The Tyrols are successfully rescued by Starbuck and Apollo, rekindling Adama's memories. The episode concludes with Adama gifting Lee law books, hinting at unspoken affection.
Season 3, Episode 16: Dirty Hands - A Raptor crash reveals tainted fuel, sparking unrest among refinery workers due to harsh conditions. Inspired by Baltar's smuggled manifesto, they strike, halting fuel production. Adama forces Tyrol to end the strike by threatening Cally's execution, but Roslin agrees to address worker concerns. The episode concludes with potential reforms and Seelix's promotion.
Season 3, Episode 17: Maelstrom - Plagued by nightmares and visions of Leoben, Starbuck seeks guidance from an oracle and confronts her abusive past. While on patrol, she chases a Cylon Heavy Raider into a storm resembling the Eye of Jupiter. Starbuck makes peace with her mother's death before her Viper explodes. Adama, grief-stricken, destroys his model ship.
Season 3, Episode 18: The Son Also Rises - Following Starbuck's apparent death, Lee is assigned to protect Baltar's new lawyer, Romo Lampkin, after the previous one is killed in an explosion. Roslin appoints judges for Baltar's trial, including Adama. Lampkin's eccentric methods lead Lee to question Baltar's guilt and clash with his father. Another bomb explodes, and Lee finds evidence suggesting a conspiracy. The episode concludes with Lee siding with Lampkin, ready to actively participate in Baltar's defense.
Season 3, Episode 19: Crossroads, Part 1 - Baltar's trial begins, focusing on his actions on New Caprica. Roslin and Athena share a vision, while Tigh and Anders hear mysterious music. Lee resigns from duty after a dispute with Adama. Roslin admits to using Chamalla, and the episode concludes with the revelation of a massive Cylon fleet.
Season 3, Episode 20: Crossroads, Part 2 - Baltar is found not guilty, leading to outrage. Tyrol, Tigh, Anders, and Tory discover they are Cylons after being drawn together by a strange song. Power fails, and Starbuck returns in a pristine Viper, claiming to have found Earth. The episode concludes with the fleet preparing for battle against approaching Cylons.
