Battlestar Galactica: 02-14, “Black Market”
Rating: 
This season is just irritating me. It’s too depressing. I understand and appreciate that these people just had their whole world turned upside down. I do admire the fact that the writers don’t make the show fluffy or fill it with a lot of out of place comedy. Still, I just want something good to happen to them!
Supplies are running low among the fleet, but nothing’s at a critical point yet. Still, a black market has emerged, making it difficult to get to the supplies when they are needed.
“... if we’re not going to part ways with them, can we at least have a likeable, stable Commander over there?"
Within the first 15 minutes, the new Pegasus commander, Fisk had his throat slit. Look, I was just beginning to almost like him. Just as I was almost ready to give Cain a second chance when she was shot. I don’t want Pegasus around to begin with, but if we’re not going to part ways with them, can we at least have a likeable, stable Commander over there?
It’s all just as well that Fisk died because it allowed Lee to discover that he was at least partially responsible for running the black market.
While Lee’s running around investigating black market dealings, he’s also dealing with his personal feelings for a former lover of his on Caprica and a working girl named Shevon who reminds him of his past love. Shevon is trying to get enough money to buy food and medicine from the black market for her young child, Paya. Out of nowhere Dee approaches Lee asking if their recent (news to me!) work-out flirtations are going anywhere. What purpose did this serve? I don’t think there’s ever even been a spark between them before. Didn’t Dee have something going on with Billy, Roslin’s aide? Why would she suddenly want to have a fling with Lee?
Roslin interviews Baltar about Fisk’s death and his possible involvement in the black market Fisk was running. Then she asks for Baltar’s resignation from Vice President. I can’t wait to see where this goes, since she knows about his involvement with the Cylon agent.
“...he’ll fill any need the fleet has, no matter how sick or twisted..."
Lee comes to learn of a freighter ship called Prometheus (I am not liking that it has the same name as a Stargate ship. Way to confuse me, Sci-Fi!) which is so overrun with illegal activities that it’s practically “off the grid.” In Prometheus’ bar, Lee comes across a guy named Phelan who is running the black market and is apparently also Shevan’s pimp. Shevan and Paya are being held captive and Lee warns him to let them go and end the black market or he’ll be dead. Phelan convinces Lee that the black market is good for the fleet, insuring it will get the supplies that are needed as long as they have enough money to pay for it. Phelan takes it too far though, saying he’ll fill any need the fleet has, no matter how sick or twisted, such as providing child prostitution services. Lee steals a gun from one of Phelan’s guards and threatens to kill him if he’s going to continue crossing the line with the black market. Phelan doesn’t back down, so he gets killed.
Lee then informs the rest of the room that he agrees a black market is needed, but threatens if any of their filthy shenanigans continue… well, he doesn’t actually get to the part of what will happen, but it ain’t gonna be pretty. He then tries to comfort Shevan, who doesn’t want his help or pity. She makes it clear to him that they’ll never have a real relationship and she’ll never be able to replace Lee’s lost love. We also find out that Lee lost his love on Caprica because she wanted a child with him and he wasn’t ready.
Roslin isn’t happy about the fact that the black market will continue. Lee tries to assure her that while he agrees with her trade policies, things will never be perfect and at least this way he knows where the black market is running and who is running it.
The episode closes with Dee flirtatiously working out with who I think was Billy, but I can’t really recognize him without his suit. Apparently she gets really horny when she works out. That may explain her out-of-the-blue infatuation with Lee. Lee sees her and her man toy and is depressed. The whole Lee-Dee bit seemed to be contrived just to rub some more salt in Lee’s wound of not being able to have a close romantic relationship.
I did like the fact that this episode didn’t deal with Cylons so much, but it was still boring and depressing.
