Colonial Military takes over the Cylon's Tyllium asteroid
Ranking in at the bottom of this list is Commander Adama's desperate and daring gamble to ensure the Fleet has enough fuel to survive. Using the out-of-the-box thinking of Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, Adama and the Colonial Military manage to defeat a Cylon force much larger than their own. With the twist of hiding Apollo's strike force in the “decoy” ships and Apollo's daring, Starbuck-like flight into the Cylon refinery, this is truly a high point for the Galactica and her crew.
Episode: The Hand of God
Quotes: “Oh, Lee, don't do this!” - Lee “Apollo” Adama
“If you run from the schoolyard bully, he'll keep chasing you. But the second you turn around and punch him really hard in a sensitive spot, he'll think twice about coming back.” - William Adama
Chief Tyrol builds the Blackbird
While it's not truly explored until later episodes, the Chief's project is a boost for the dejected crew of Galactica. With moral crumbling and the Cylon pursuit finally taking its toll, the men and women of Galactica are in need of a real boost.
Chief Tyrol takes it upon himself to create a new fighter, a project he most likely isn't trained for. Though his deck crew initially rejects his plan, eventually most of the key members of Galactica's crew are involved in the construction of the new ship. It gives them something to live for, something to be excited about. Plus, the Blackbird becomes a key player in the destruction of the Cylon Resurrection ship two episodes later.
Episode: Flight of the Phoenix
Quotes: “Nobody's expecting any miracles.”
“Maybe that's the problem.” - Lee “Apollo” Adama and Galen Tyrol
Racetrack makes contact with the Resistance on New Caprica
This scene is short but moving. As Anders watches skeptically, Chief Tyrol and Colonel Saul Tigh try day in and day out to contact a Raptor sent by Admiral Adama. After days of trying, they finally get through the Cylon jamming and manage to contact the Raptor. Racetrack and her ECO are ecstatic, as is Adama when he learns that the people are ready and waiting.
Plus, the message they sends chills down my spine every time I hear it. It's an amazing moment of hope, and it makes you realize that something big is about to happen.
Episode: Occupation
Quotes: “Have hope. We're coming for you.” - Message to the Resistance
The Pegasus finds Galactica
Even though Admiral Cain ends up being a detriment to the Fleet, the arrival of the Pegasus is a huge lift to the men and women of the Galactica. Finally, they learn they were not the only survivors of the massacre of humanity.
The scene opens dramatically, with Galactica scrambling to action when a large ship appears on DRADIS. As the fleet prepares to jump away, we're hit with the shock that the ship identifies itself as a Colonial ship. Then the human voice identifies the ship as Pegasus, we see the bridge with Admiral Cain, and everything suddenly changes. There's new hope for the Fleet, and the massive new Battlestar is quite a site to behold.
Once Cain finally makes it onto the Galactica and addresses the crew, you can't help but get caught up in the emotion as she welcomes them back into the Colonial Fleet.
Episode: Pegasus
Quotes: “Galactica, Apollo. You're not going to believe what I'm looking at out here; it's like a dream!”- Lee “Apollo” Adama
“On behalf of the officers and crew of
Pegasus, it's a pleasure to see you all. Welcome back to the Colonial Fleet!” - Helena Cain
And now, the top moment in Battlestar Galactica…
But first, an honorable mention.
HM: Starbuck's Return
It doesn't make the Top 5, but it still deserves mention. It's an amazing way to end an episode, let alone a season. She appears out of nowhere still flying the Viper we saw blow up not long before, claims to have been to Earth, and claims to know how to get there. Amazing.
Episode: Crossroads Pt. 2
Quotes: “Don't freak out, it really is me. It's going to be OK. I've been to Earth. I know where it is, and I'm going to take us there.” -Kara “Starbuck” Thrace
And now…
The Rescue from New Caprica
Decoy fleet led by the CAG. Coordinated insurgency. Jumping Galactica into the planet's atmosphere and launching Hot Dog and his fighters through a wall of fire.
This entire sequence is one of the best, edge-of-your-seat moments of any Sci-Fi show I've ever seen. It starts at the end of Exodus Pt. 1 with Adama's speech to the crew of Galactica, telling them how proud he is of them and that they're going to find immortality as only the gods once knew for their heroic actions.
Then Anders and Tigh do their thing, starting an uprising that makes the Cylons jump to in order to try and stop it. Instead of nailing a Raider or two, they set off dozens of bombs around the city and break into the detention center and shipyards, preparing to blast the civilians off the planet.
Even when hope seems lost, Galactica comes to the rescue, jumping into the planet's atmosphere and launching every Viper it has to try and free the colonists before jumping away to fight off the Cylon base-ships.
Again, we reach a point of no hope as Galactica is outnumbered four to one and lacking fighter support. As the ship is torn apart, we suddenly see a base-ship explode as Pegasus, against Adama's orders, appears on the scene, all guns blazing. In a final dramatic gesture, Lee Adama rams his ship into a base-ship to allow Galactica and his father to escape. A touching father-son moment follows Lee's return.
Plus, who can forget the cool scene of Galactica lurking in the nebula like Jaws right before it jumps in to save the colonists?
Episode: Exodus, Pt. 1&2
Quotes: “Well, this will be different.” - “Hot Dog”
“Galactica, Pegasus, let us take some of this work off your hands.” - Lee “Apollo” Adama
“I guess you didn't understand my orders.”
“Never could read your handwriting.” - William Adama and Lee “Apollo” Adama
