Maren Jensen

As conflicts reach a climax, Cylons and humans face a stark choice.

Battlestar Galactica: Phenomenon is a celebrity-studded celebration of the show's impact on pop culture. Seth Green, Brad Paisley, Joel McHale, and others, wax poetic about why Battlestar Galactica is one of the best frakkin' shows on television.

The trial of Gaius Baltar (James Callis) is underway. Unable to prove his role in the genocide of the Twelve Colonies, prosecutor Didi Cassidy (Chelah Horsdal) focuses on the charge of treasonous collaboration with the enemy on New Caprica that resulted in the loss of 2,600 human souls. With Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber) as his now-willing associate, Romo Lampkin (Mark Sheppard) opens the defense by arguing that the trial is motivated by mob bloodlust and Laura Roslin's (Mary McDonnell) need for vengeance. But with a succession of powerful witnesses lined up to testify against Baltar - including President Roslin and Colonel Tigh (Michael Hogan) - the defining issue becomes how far will Lee go to question the word of the fleet's leaders, while risking the increasing enmity of the chief judge: his own father, Admiral Adama (Edward James Olmos). And the Machiavellian Lampkin isn't shy about exploiting Lee's antagonistic relationship with the Admiral to gain an edge in the hostile courtroom. For his part, the Admiral must also deal with the possibility that the Cylons, conspicuous by their absence, have been secretly shadowing the fleet as it jumps from one sector of space to another, gradually closing in on the Ionian Nebula, the next stop on the route to Earth. Meanwhile, as each new jump brings the fleet closer to its destination, a series of strange hallucinations, visions and dreams begin bedeviling several members of the fleet, including President Roslin. By the time Roslin takes the witness stand, the stage is set for the trial against the "most hated man in the universe" to take a surprising twist.

Incorporating footage from the original miniseries and the show's first two seasons, Battlestar Galactica: The Story So Far will serve as a refresher for current fans and as a primer for anyone new to the world of Galactica.

As the sun rises on Caprica, Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and Anders (Michael Trucco) discover that the Cylons have vanished. Brother Cavil declares it a miracle. But when they return to Galactica, the real reason for their survival become clear. Brother Cavil is a Cylon – his double counseled Tyrol (Aaron Douglas) – and he’s here to deliver a message: The Heroes of the Cylon – Number Six (Tricia Helfer) and Sharon (Grace Park) – have persuaded the leadership that trying to destroy the humans was an error. From now on they will live apart, in peace. At the same time, voting continues in the presidential election. Laura (Mary McDonnell) approaches Baltar (James Callis) and proposes that, whoever wins, they agree that colonization of the newly discovered planet will wait for further study. When Baltar spurns her offer, she confronts him about Number Six and, when he remains unmoved, she instructs her aide to take steps to steal the election. The plot, however, is discovered and Laura and Adama must choose between denying the will of the people and letting a man they suspect to be a Cylon collaborator take power. For Laura, the question is difficult but the answer is never in doubt. As President Baltar is sworn in, his lover, Gina, enacts a final vengeance against the fleet. Despite that, colonization of the new world goes ahead over Adama’s objections, who remains uneasy, anticipating the return of the Cylons. As the colonists set to work, Adama remains aboard Galactica with a few loyal crew, but what good is an old warhorse in time of peace? Perhaps the time has come – again – to turn out the lights...

President Roslin treks with her confederates in search of the Tomb of Athena while Commander Adama mounts a rescue mission to Kobol.

Following a firefight with Cylon Centurions and the death of her spiritual advisor Elosha, President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) treks onward with her confederates in search of the Tomb of Athena. Heavy rain and Kobol's rugged terrain make the journey difficult for all except the tireless Sharon (Grace Park). Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch) again butts heads with Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber), inspiring Zarek's henchman Meier (James Remar) to consider drastic measures that will clear the path to power for his old friend. Meanwhile, aboard the Galactica, Gaius Baltar (James Callis) questions his sanity as Number Six (Tricia Helfer) toys with him, and Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) mounts a rescue mission to Kobol. Adama enlists presidential aide Billy Keikeya (Paul Campbell) to join his quest for peace with the rebels. After discovering Elosha’s grave on Kobol, the Galactica landing party continues its search and finally intercepts Roslin and her group. Putting aside old conflicts, Adams opens the door to peaceful reconciliation for all. Meier, however, sees the détente between Adama and Roslin as a renewed threat to the rightful power of Tom Zarek, and he conspires with Sharon to murder Adama, Lee and the president. Finding the ransacked tomb, the unified team struggles to unlock its secrets with the Arrow of Apollo. Before they can do so, however, Meier and Sharon spring their ambush, leaving everyone’s fates uncertain as the triggers are pulled.

Following the lead of President Roslin and Tom Zarek, more than one-third of the fleet has split from the Galactica and jumped into orbit around Kobol.

Following the lead of President Roslin (Mary McDonnell) and Tom Zarek (Richard Hatch), more than one-third of the fleet has split from the Galactica and jumped into orbit around Kobol. Tensions arise within the rebel ranks on the Astral Queen as Zarek and his security Chief, Meier (James Remar), face off with Lee Adama (Jamie Bamber). Those tensions increase when Kara (Katee Sackhoff) and Helo (Tahmoh Penikett) return from Caprica with Sharon (Grace Park), who is now pregnant and a dead ringer for the Cylon who tried to assassinate Commander Adama. Roslin orders Sharon put to death, but after meeting with her, she learns that the Cylon might be their best hope for finding the Tomb of Athena and the route to Earth. Doubt nags at Roslin, however: is Sharon motivated by love for Helo, or by a desire to betray her captors? Regardless, she's a key player in Roslin's team as it lands on Kobol. With Zarek and Meier plotting fresh treacheries, the prophecies continue to unfold in bloody fashion. On the Galactica, Adama (Edward James Olmos) and Col. Tigh (Michael Hogan) weigh their losses and rebuild the air group's chain of command, which has been plunged into disarray by the defections of Lee and Kara. Adama selects Lt. George "Catman" Birch (Ben Ayres) to replace Lee as CAG (Commander, Air Group). Birch's first day on the job begins with a harrowing mishap during Viper-pilot training exercise, and then he turns a routine refueling operation into a near-disaster. Following an uncomfortable meeting with Dualla (Kandyse McClure), Adama is forced to admit that there is no substitute for the people the fleet has lost. He orders a Raptor to be prepped to take him and a small team back to Kobol, so that he can find Roslin and Lee and put the fleet back together. Also available on NBC

A Cylon virus has penetrated the Galactica's computers, while Cylon Centurions have boarded and are battling toward the ship’s vulnerable centers.

Following the lead of President Roslin and Tom Zarek, more than one-third of the fleet has split from the Galactica and jumped into orbit around Kobol.

Interim Commander Tigh starts to realize that there’s more to being a leader than giving orders. Overwhelmed, he feels himself being drawn to alcohol again.