Battlestar Galactica — Season 3
All 20 episodes in airing order, with first-run dates and viewer ratings.
- 01
The Cylons have now been in control of New Caprica for over four months. Gaius Baltar is under their collective thumbs and essentially follows their orders. Tigh, Tyrol and Anders lead the Resistance on New Caprica to increasingly deadly attacks against the Cylons. Kara finds herself trapped in a new life with Leoben Conoy, and Duck makes a fateful decision. Meanwhile on Galactica, Adama struggles with the question of whether to return to New Caprica to mount a rescue attempt.
- 02
As a result of the most recent suicide bombings, some of the Cylons are now arguing that they need to retaliate. Laura Roslin, among others, is in custody and Gaius Baltar tries to get her to cooperate. Tigh however absolutely refuses to stop the suicide bombings. Nighttime raids also leads to Cally's arrest but they leave her baby alone. Sharon Valerii sees what she can do about it. John Cavil meanwhile tells Ellen Tigh she is to provide the date and location of the next meeting of the resistance commanders.
- 03
The secret source in the administration has provided Tyrol with a list of all humans scheduled for extermination. Tyrol's wife Cally is on the list and he sets off to rescue her. Sharon Agathon has made it safely to the planet but they are ambushed by Cylons lying in wait. They realize they were betrayed and Anders finds damning evidence that points to the identity of the traitor. D'Anna Biers has been having strange dreams of late and an oracle tells her that the child Hera is alive and she will hold her in her arms.
- 04
The attack to rescue everyone on New Caprica begins. The Galactica encounters four rather than the expected two Cylon Basestars. The end appears in sight but they get help from a welcome but unexpected source. On the planet below, Tyrol and Anders lead the attack to free everyone from the prison. Anders finds Starbuck but she won't leave without Kacey. Her successful return to the Galactica results in mixed emotions. Colonel Tigh must decide what to do about his wife Ellen after she admits to giving the rendezvous coordinates to the Cylons.
- 05
Now safely back in the fleet, those who managed to escape from New Caprica are seeking revenge against those they believe collaborated with the Cylons. Six of them, including Chief Tyrol and Col. Tigh, have formed the Circle and are acting as judge, jury and executioner. Those found guilty are blown out of an airlock. Lee Adama has noted that in the three days since everyone was reunited, 13 people have simply disappeared without a trace. The morale aboard the Galactica is not good with perceived collaborators being shunned by the others. Baltar faces a similar jury among the Cylons, who must decide whether he is allowed to stay with them.
- 06
Baltar learns from Caprica Six of their ability to project themselves and imagine different surroundings which leads him to wonder if he too is a Cylon. He has told the Cylons what he knows about the location of Earth and they dispatch a Basestar to investigate. In the end, the survey ship is infected with a virus killing everyone aboard. Aboard the Galactica, Lt. Gaeta has been reviewing Baltar's work in deciphering the map they recovered on Kobol.
- 07
When a group of ill Cylons from the infected Basestar is brought to Galactica, Lee discovers a way to solve the Cylon problem forever - by destroying the whole Cylon race. Meanwhile, D'Anna Biers (Number Three) believes Baltar knows who created the virus that infected and disabled the Cylon baseship. She is willing to take extreme measures to learn the truth.
- 08
A figure from Adama's past returns to haunt him. His return raises questions about why the Cylons launched their initial attack against the Twelve Colonies.
- 09
A look at the events that took place during the year-long gap from the storyline in the Season Two finale. The story reveals the reasons for the rift between Kara ("Starbuck") and Lee ("Apollo").
- 10
The Colonial fleet faces starvation when the food-processing machines are contaminated. Kat plays a vital role in the success or failure of the "Passage" through space.
- 11
The crew of Galactica makes a stop at the barren Algae planet.
- 12
The Cylons descend upon the re-supply mission as the Chief races to decipher the markings in the temple believed to hold The Eye of Jupiter, a sacred icon that is believed to contain a map to Earth.
- 13
Taking a Break from All Your Worries
Baltar plays a game of cat and mouse with Adama and the President, thinking they will kill him once they've gotten out of him what they want to know. Lee deals with his feelings for Kara, while struggling to hang on to his marriage.
- 14
When a group of refugees board Galactica with a curable illness, it becomes very mysterious when they begin to die after taking the injection they do not believe in.
- 15
The Chief and his wife get trapped in an airlock on a routine maintenance job, while the Admiral copes with his wedding anniversary and the memories of his ex-wife.
- 16
When the head of the fuel production plant holds the fleet hostage by providing unsafe fuel, he's arrested for treason, which results in the Chief sent to the ship and held responsible for getting the plant back up and running.
- 17
The Admiral is forced to make the decision of whether to ground Kara Thrace when she begins to show signs of an oncoming nervous breakdown.
- 18
Besides having to deal with the loss of Kara Thrace, the crew of the Galactica is also charged with the security surrounding the trial of Dr. Baltar and his defense attorney, who is replacing one lawyer that has already been killed.
- 19
Baltar goes on trial for his life, and it affects everyone from Lee on up to the president.
- 20
Coincidences creates new alliances aboard Galactica. The identities of the final five are revealed.
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