A few months ago, I couldn't contain my excitement for the return of [url http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/Battlestar-Galactica-2004/Battlestar-Galactica-2004-General-Comments/21694]Battlestar Galactica[/url].

But after Friday night's hug and declaration of love between Adama and Roslin, I realized what the Hybrid was referring to when it was plugged back in and yelled, "Jump!"

The show is still worth watching, but it's missing on a few levels this season, specifically:

Allegory: In earlier seasons, the BSG storyline reflected what's happening in today's world. I don't expect an episode about rising gas prices, but I can't draw a single real-life parallel to this season's plot.

Cylons: The toasters are waaaaaay too accessible. A cylon civil war is intriguing, but the only remaining cylon mystery is, who is the last of the final five. And what's with unboxed D'Anna (Cylon No. 3) teasing Roslin about being the fifth? Xena should know better. Plus cylon Presidential assistant Tory, who no one knows or cares about, kills cylon Chief Tyrol's wife with little consequence, and cylon second-in-Command-of-Galactica Tigh knocks up Cylon No. 6 while she's in captivity. Cylons are all over the place. Let's see less of the skin jobs, and more of the survivors.

Baltar: Allow me to draw a parallel to my day job... Gaius Baltar is Ralph of The Howard Stern Show — the guy you love to hate (although Baltar does a bit better with the ladies). This season, Gaius has become more than a martyr — he's just plain annoying, and not in a good way. I can't pity Baltar, nor can I hate him surrounded by his cult-like following. As Baltar finds more religion, I lose more patience and interest in his fate.

Starbuck: Maybe it was her stint on [url http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/Bionic-Woman/Bionic-Woman-General-Comments/700000355]Bionic Woman[/url], but what has gotten into Starbuck? She comes back from the dead and everyone thinks she's a cylon. Next, she's obsessively focused on a mission to find the cylon who is obsessed with her. Now she's suddenly back on Galactica as cool Kara Thrace in command. Huh?

Adama: Soft, soft, soft. It's OK for the commander to have a bit of a breakdown, but falling so hard for cancer-laden President Roslin? Keep that tension alive and don't make the same mistake [url http://www.jumptheshark.com/topic/Moonlighting/Moonlighting-General-Comments/1342]Moonlighting[/url] did. Oops, too late.

Following this season's finale, there are ten more BSG episodes that will air some time next year. We'll learn who the fifth of the Final Five is and Earth will eventually be found.

Cross your fingers for a finale with "assumed dead Starbuck waving to Lee" impact so this season can go out with a bang.

Or at least unplug the Hybrid, before it can say "jump" for a final, and fatal, time.

Related

[url http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Hein-Sight/800006183]• Read Jon Hein's TVGuide.com Blog[/url]

[url http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TV-Show-Blog/Battlestar-Galactica/800065186]• Read Erin Fox's Battlestar Recap on TVGuide.com[/url]