This is the most poorly-conceived and executed episode in BSG's first season. While it does make valid points about the nature and structure of Colonial society within the fleet (or at least Tom Zarek makes them very briefly), outside of the Helo/Valerii situation on Caprica, the storyline here is ultimately transparent and weak.

Specifically:

There has been no real sight nor sound of the Cloud Nine (admittedly a wonderfully-ironic name) in the fleet until now - and this is being passed off as being because she has been "under repair".

"Wallace Gray" is allegedly the power behind Roslin's throne, setting her agenda and policies, overseeing the distribution of food and medical supplies - essentially performing the role of her Chief of Staff / right-hand-man yet never once has he been previously mentioned or seen! Wallace Gray is so clearly a plot tool - and a badly-handled one at that: first he doesn't want the VP nomination, but accepts because Roslin needs him; then when asked to step down, he comes off in an embittered huff (presumably never to be seen again)

Zarek's challenge for the position of vice president an obvious construction to lay the path for Gaius Baltar to become Roslin’s VP

It is surprising that, after her somewhat vicious words to him in Six Degrees of Separation, Roslin can face off with Baltar without so much as an apology for past actions - it has already been established (Secrets and Lies) that since that event she has barely spoken to him - and it hardly seems likely she'd use their time together in the Galactica's Situation Room to make her apologies / overtures of friendship (The Hand of God)

It is equally surprising that Baltar's ego doesn't offer greater resistance to her request. True, she is to a degree pandering to his desire to be back in the limelight - but given his nature, such an open "forgive and forget" doesn't entirely sit with his nature

Baltar's ascendancy to the position of Vice President is badly telegraphed - given the synopsis, it is apparent as soon as Starbuck informs Baltar he has been selected as Caprica's representative in the Quorum

The intrigue around Valance and his gun, etc., is heavy-handed and comes across either as illogical or as padding for a storyline otherwise short on action

Security is meant to be heavy aboard the Cloud Nine - yet there is no intervention from any security personnel in what amounts to a brawl in the bar

Why, when Lee Adama has expressed concern over just about every aspect of security on the Cloud Nine, is Valance held on the ship in an obviously insecure area (air vent access) - rather than being shipped back to the Galactica, with her brig, for proper interrogation?

Indeed, it is the Valance sub-plot which is most poorly explained / illogical. Assuming Valance was working for Zarek, and was on the Cloud Nine to kill Roslin - then his presence undermines Zarek as a clever manipulator. Positioning himself for the roll of Vice President, getting the vote and then having Roslin killed - all at the same event - would inevitably point the finger at Zarek and place him at the centre of a major investigation, under the control of William Adama, which is unlikely to relent until his complicity has been proven. In short, he would be paralysing his ability to act as the President.

As Lee Adama himself states to Starbuck - once Zarek has secured the position of Vice President, he can have Roslin taken care of at any time. Indeed, given the resources now clearly at his disposal (witness the Virgon representative's comment about Zarek's people coming to his aid ahead of Roslin's), there is no reason not to suppose Zarek could arrange for Roslin to meet with an "accident" - perhaps a failure with her shuttle as she moves around the fleet - which would make his complicity very much hard to prove.

That said, there is still some excellent acting in the episode - especially where Baltar is concerned. His interview with the press and particularly his "exclusive" to Playa Palacios in the toilets and both particularly noteworthy examples of James Callis’ marvellous handling of the character but this still doesn't compensate for the rest of the time spent on Cloud Nine.

But other than this, the major story arc is a missed opportunity. Presented with a chance to explore the state of Colonial society within the fleet, and address key issues, the producers frittered the opportunity away with shallow intrigue and hollow political manoeuvring. The West Wing this was most certainly not.

The only time the episode truly comes alive is during the all-too-brief scenes on Caprica. These scenes beautifully-encapsulates all we need to know and feel:

Valerii's attempt to probe Helo about his feelings, using his "replicant" theory

Valerii is showing more symptoms of being pregnant

They reach Delphi and the chance of a ship off the planet

Helo is suddenly - and quite unexpectedly - confronted with Valerii's true nature.

This is excellent stuff, but amounts to less than 10 minutes of screen time, and it unfortunately, isn't enough to lift this episode.

Still, every show tends to misfire once or twice through the course of a season - some managing to do so a lot more frequently. We're fortunate that this is the first - and hopefully only - hiccup in what has otherwise been a highly-successful first season.
 

NOTES

Richard Hatch played the character of “Apollo” in the original Battlestar Galactica television series

10 days have passed since the events of “The Hand of God”

The office of the President operates in conjunction with the Quorum of Twelve, a council of representatives of the 12 colonies

The Articles of Colonisation were signed 52 years ago

o Given the 12 colonies have been inhabited for centuries, the Articles therefore don't directly relate to the settlement of thses worlds

o However, given the timeframe (52 years) and its proximity to the first Cylon War, perhaps the original articles were the document that united the 12 colonies to fight the treat of the Cylons, and became the bases for their peaceful co-operation after the war

Issues surrounding the distribution of food and medical supplies are beginning to cause concern within the fleet

Despite being "isolated" aboard the Astral Queen (Bastille Day), Zarek has managed to use his time to build up contacts within the fleet and offer assistance to other vessels - so much so that the representative from Virgon is only too willing to throw his support behind Zarek