Meanwhile, over on the Demetrius, Starbuck narrowly averts a mutiny, but only after Anders shoots Gaeta in the leg. This buys Starbuck the time needed to talk Helo into letting her take a Raptor (and his girlfriend) to Leobon's jump coordinates. Helo gives Starbuck 15 hours. She, Anders, Leobon, Athena, and some Red Shirt all make the leap, and sure enough, arrive at the site of the Cylon massacre. What's more, Starbuck sees the Basestar, shooting around a planet like a comet ... which is exactly what she has spent weeks painting on the wall of her cabin.

On the Basestar, Athena's fellow Eights express to her that they've lost faith in the Sixes, and she scolds them about picking a side and sticking with it. One of the blonde Sixes remembers that the Red Shirt killed her in a past life, and returns the favor. Things get tense, and one of the less-blonde Sixes takes control of the situation, killing (after kissing) the blonde Six herself before things can escalate further. And Starbuck meets The Hybrid, who slowly and randomly dispenses the following bits of wisdom ...

"The children of the one reborn shall find their own country." (Who is this? Starbuck?)

"The obstinate toy soldier becomes pliant." (Adama?)

"You are a spark of God's fire." (Similar to what Leobon said last week.)

"Thus will it come to pass, a dying leader will know the truth of the opera house." (Clearly Roslin.)

"You are the harbinger of Death, Kara Thrace. You will lead them all to their end." (This is what the hybrid in Razor also told Starbuck.)

"The missing three will give you the five, who have come from the home of the thirteenth." This is of course the key bit of wisdom, and the writers don't leave to us to interpret. D'Anna (Number Three) needs to be unboxed, so she can reveal who the Final Five are, because they'll know where to find the Thirteenth Tribe (Earth). What's interesting about this is that I'm pretty sure we've never had it confirmed or even suggested that the Final Five came from Earth. Although it's certainly consistent with them knowing the words to "All Along the Watchtower".

Okay, so back to my original point. Roslin is previewing through dreams the journey "across the river" from life to death, where her friends and family await her on the other side, and this is a spiritual act for her. Starbuck is likewise trusting Leobon's spiritual entreaties to make a jump across the galaxy to a point in space that she has previewed in her paintings. Once there, she meets the "left for dead" Cylons and brings them back with her. And her reason for doing this is that several months before, she somehow jumped all the way to Earth and returned, and she's been using some subconscious knowledge of where the prophesied Promised Land of Earth is to try and lead the fleet there

So there's all this jumping and crossing going on, and it's all very spiritual, and it all involves death and the nearly dead and the living trying to avoid being dead, and the solution is always somewhere "over there," somewhere that can't be seen from here, somewhere we have to trust is there or we'll never try to find it. In other words, leaps of FAITH. So maybe the episode is aptly titled after all.

This week's Tree Mail looks suspiciously like a bong. Unfortch, it's not. The next immunity challenge is afoot and Cirie lets us know that Natalie is next on the chopping block. Which means she'll probably win immunity, heh. The challenge is a multi-part one where the ladies have to stand on a perch in the water and fill up a chute with water in order to raise up a key. The key will unlock a box on shore which holds a ladder. They must put the ladder together and climb up to a platform to win. Natalie is close, but Amanda gets there first and wins immunity.

Back at camp, Amanda is thrilled to have made Final Three. Natalie tells us that she knows she is probably next to go, but that she's going to fight. Amanda and Parvati talk about how they're totally going to win, and Amanda tells us that it might be time for Cirie to go. I feel like this is a red herring, though. I guess we'll see.

Tribal Council. I wonder if Erik will be clean shaven. He is. He looks like Kristy McNichol.

Jeff congratulates the women on their four straight blindsides and Natalie takes a little bow. Ugh. Jeff wonders if there will be a blindside tonight. He floats the idea of a Final Two instead of a Final Three, and Cirie says that she would be upset about that, as she feels she's the Third of the Final Three. Amanda takes offense to that and things start to get ugly. The two argue for a bit while Natalie sits and looks smug. Voting. Jeff reads the votes. And Natalie is voted out. Yay. Parvati next, please!

As the remaining women arrive back at camp after Tribal, Amanda and Cirie get into it again. Amanda tells Cirie that it looked like she was trying to make Amanda and Parvati look bad at Tribal Council. Well, duh, Amanda, remember when you did it to Erik? Cirie is yelling about Amanda hooking up with Ozzy and Parvati hooking up with James and how she is always at the bottom of every alliance. They sort of yell themselves exhausted and then all apologize to each other and hug and it's actually kind of sweet and sad. Amanda sobs to the camera that she is so tired and reminds us that she came straight from Survivor: China to this one and my god, she must be mentally destroyed.

The next morning, the women decide to let the chicken go and the chicken won't leave. Too funny. They find some tree mail and they find out it's really going to be a Final Two and not a Final Three. O SNAP. They are gobsmacked. Amanda is completely distraught. Cirie tells us they pretty much deserve the shock for what they've done to everyone before them. Heh. Before the challenge, though, they have to go on the Canoe Ride of Fallen Survivors, aka Who The Hell was Mary, Anyway?

Seven hours later, we're finally finished watching that shit. On to the Immunity Challenge! It's hard to explain, but they have a handle in each hand that holds a piece of wood in between. A marble sits in the middle of the wood and they have to keep it balanced. Every few minutes they will have to put it down and then add another piece and pick up the whole thing again. It looks really difficult. Parvati drops hers in the third round. Cirie and Amanda continue. I AM SO STRESSED OUT WATCHING THIS YOU GUYS. Cirie drops hers and Amanda wins immunity! Yay for her!

Back at camp, Cirie tells us she thought she had this one in the bag, as she holds instruments without moving in surgery all the time. Wow, good point. Amanda mopes around, telling everyone she doesn't know what to do, she doesn't know who to bring to the Final Two with her. This goes on for about ten years. Finally, Tribal Council. Natalie has apparently missed her makeup very, very much.

Jeff asks Amanda how she feels and Amanda is all "Wah, it's so hard to be such a winner!" and I'm sort of over her sad face. She walks up to make her final vote and sobs all over the place. Jeff says, "I'll go get the vote," which is always my favorite part of the finale. Amanda votes out Cirie, which means there is a 50/50 chance that Parvati is going to win this game.

The next morning at camp, Amanda and Parvati celebrate with a big breakfast and yadda. They then set fire to the camp and paddle over to the final Tribal Council. Amanda opens by thanking everyone for their friendship and stresses her loyalty. Parvati, on the other hand, talks about how many power plays she made. The jury does not seem to be impressed. Then it's the jury's turn to ask their useless, self-serving questions. This season's winner for Stupidest and Most Random Question ever goes to Natalie when she asks Parvarti about her sex life. Seriously, wtf. Also, Ozzy uses his time to drool all over Amanda.

And the voting begins. Seriously, Eliza, ham it up a bit more. Probst takes the votes and runs off. We arrive at the live show in NYC and damn, Amanda is nearly unrecognizable. She has boobs! Jeff reads the votes: Parvati, Amanda, Parvati, Amanda, Parvati, Amanda, Parvati and ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME Parvati wins.

This entire season has been for nothing. Nothing.

Sweet sixteen party
Matt saves himself and will now
Drag down the women

On Top Chef:

Stay awake for days
Dale complains and then Richard
gives his prize to Steph!

I can't stand her, but the look on her face was priceless.

Increasingly creepy Tory has mastered the art of Baltar-speak at this point, and uses it expertly to deflect Tyrol from questioning the exact nature of Callie's death. "Maybe it was God's will. We don't know why these things happen. But God does. He has a plan for us." She also seems to have bought into Baltar's wonderful philosophy of complete non-accountability. "Whatever has gone before, whatever I have done, it doesn't matter." But while I half-believe that poor deluded Baltar preaches such a concept with some sincerity, I'm not so sure about Tory. You may not have noticed, but she kind of lies a lot. And this makes me wonder if she has an agenda that the rest of the Semi-Final Four aren't aware of.

In spite of Tory's motivational speech, Tyrol decides that he can't live with his past, and goes so far as to shave his head and put a gun to it. He must be working through the stages of grief, because he seems to miss Callie now, after hating the memory of her last week, and he's pushing hard against his Cylon nature. Regardless, his Private Pyle moment passes (Full Metal Jacket? anybody?), he doesn't kill himself, and Baltar visits him to say, "Blah blah blah, I was once a man of science. Blah blah blah, I have committed terrible crimes. Blah blah blah, fate and redemption. Blah blah blah, let's hold hands and sing Kum Ba Yah." And they do. And Baltar has another Cylon convert under his belt.

Meanwhile, on the Demetrius, just as time is running out for Starbuck, she conveniently runs across Leobon, who is fleeing the recent Cylon Civil War massacre. He tells her that the Hybrid back on the Base Star also knows about Earth, and convinces Starbuck and Anders to jump to the site of the massacre to learn more. But when something goes wrong, Leobon starts working from last week's script. Starbuck tenderizes his face and he begs for more, the way Tigh did as Six smacked him around. Then Leobon remembers which week it is, and tells Starbuck that her past life of drinking, frakking, and fighting are now irrelevant. "You have to make peace with your past. Because that part of you is gone." She is now apparently "an angel, blazing with the light of God. An angel, eager to lead her people home." So ... she's got that going for her.

Unfortunately, what she does NOT have going for her is the support of her crew. Mutiny, anyone?

TO BE CONTINUED

So Dave, congrats on winning, and congrats on the pending nuptials! Just drop me a line at geekboy@toomuchfreetime.net with your mailing info, and we'll make sure they get that to you.

By the way, Freakgirl and I saw the movie yesterday, and I just have to say ... it KICKED ASS. Seriously, Robert Downey Jr. was some inspired casting, and the movie struck a pitch-perfect note throughout. I can't recommend it enough, and I'll definitely be going back to see it again.

The Reward Challenge is the traditional family visit, and of course everyone starts crying. Eric's brother is proud that Eric can grow a beard, and Eric excitedly points out Jeff Probst and Jeff calls him a freak. Takes one to know one, mister. Amanda's sister compliments her on smelling better than last time. And it's great to see Cirie's husband again! He brings her a flower. Cute. During the challenge, we learn that Parvati talks too much, nobody wants to have dinner with James, and Amanda totally cannot deal with statues getting smashed. Cirie ends up choosing the winner -- Alexis. Alexis in turn picks Cirie, Natalie and their family members to go on the reward with her. Amanda asks Alexis to send her to Exile Island, and she does.

The medics come to check James' finger, which is still gross. Jeff shows up to watch, which probably isn't good news. And it's not. The medics pull him from the game. Bummer. Now -- Penner said in an interview that if the medics had treated his wound correctly (by NOT stitching up a puncture wound), it probably wouldn't have gotten to the point it did (an extended hospital stay). You've got to wonder -- were the medics this season sub-standard, or were people just ignoring or not recognizing that their injuries needed treatment? Anyway, James and Probst walk over to camp to say goodbye to everyone. Which, since everyone is either at Reward or Exile Island, is only Parvati and Erik, two people James couldn't give a shit about at this point.

Our reward challenge winners hike over to their reward, a dip in something called Jelly Fish Pool, an area in the water full of non-stinging jellyfish. It is truly stunning. Alexis has obvious trouble walking, oh dear. Cirie tells us she feels transformed after swimming with the jellyfish. So cool.

Meanwhile, on Exile Island, Amanda searches for the idol. Production makes it a bit harder to find this time, and after a lot of digging in the sand, Amanda finds out that the idol is actually hidden back at camp. O SNAP. When everyone returns from the Reward Challenge, they're stunned to find out that James is gone. Alexis frets that she might be next. Which is a valid fear, as Parvati says, "So, you don't want us to vote you out?" Nice, Parv.

Immunity Challenge! Guns! Sake bottles! Trigger fingers! Erik wins immunity, which is the one thing the girls didn't want happening. D'oh! Time for the girls to start cannibalizing each other. Amanda shows everyone that she doesn't have the HII by emptying out her bag, but she does lie about not knowing the last clue. Later, she takes Parvati aside and tells her that the HII is at camp and she'll need her help in finding it. Elsewhere, Erik and Alexis talk about voting out Amanda. And then Erik tells Amanda he's probably going to vote for her, which obviously doesn't sit well with Amanda. He also tells Cirie, and Cirie agrees to vote the same way. She talks to Amanda, who begs her to take the vote to a tie, which would be idiotic. Grasping at straws, I guess. While everyone eats dinner, Amanda feverishly looks for the idol.

And then we're off to Tribal Council! James comes to the jury box with an IV bag, and Amanda starts to cry. Awww. She tells Jeff she couldn't find the HII on Exile Island and she just looks so beaten down. If she actually found the idol, she's putting on quite a show. She argues with Erik about loyalty and her lip starts quivering, while Alexis brags about what a great person she is for being honest and telling Amanda that they're voting her out. Parvati and Amanda sadly clutch each other's hands as tears brim in Amanda's eyes.

Voting. Probst asks if anyone has the idol, and after a huge pause, Amanda casually says, "Oh, about that..." OH MY FUCKING GOD, Amanda has the Immunity Idol! The jury goes crazy. Alexis and Natalie go into a complete panic. THE EMMY GOES TO AMANDA! And Alexis is voted out, with only two votes. Amanda flashes a huge smile at the jury, and they all grin back.

You know, as awesome as that was, there's no way the others are going to keep Amanda around after seeing the jury rejoice like that. And I bet Cirie is already formulating a plan.

Make gourmet pizza?
Feels like we've seen this before.
Oh, right - on Top Chef!

On Top Chef:

Uncle Ben's healthy?
"Culinary boner" - WHAT?
Tom doesn't like Mark.

Man vs. Wild - Eating Giant Beetle Larvae

In case you've been living in a hole for the past year, Iron Man is a movie based on a comic book about Tony Stark, a billionaire socialite alcoholic genius industrialist who designs a flying shooting suit of armor and becomes a superhero. The movie was directed by Jon Favreau (Swingers, Elf), and in an inspired bit of casting, stars Robert Downey Jr. as Stark, along with a cast that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, and (of course) Burger King.

Is a poster not enough for you? Would you rather -- I don't know -- live it up Tony Stark style? Then maybe VH1's "Become Tony Stark for a Weekend" contest is more up your alley. First class travel to L.A., two nights of 5-star Beverly Hills luxury, a helicopter ride, and a $1000 shopping spree await the winner of this contest. Sorry, cool flying armor, repulsor rays, and crime fighting are NOT part of the contest package. But the alcoholism can probably be arranged.

To learn more, click the link above, or check out this video ...

VH1's "Fabulous Life" of Tony Stark - Amazing videos are here

Elsewhere, Tyrol nurses the pain of Callie's death -- which everyone but Tory seems to have written off as a suicide -- and it transforms him into a bit of a bastard. The episode begins with him eulogizing her, but it doesn't take him long to find his own "focus". Adama sits down with him at the bar after an incident with one of the ships, presumably to gauge Tyrol's state of mind, and within moments, Tyrol is foaming at the mouth describing Callie as a "shriek" and telling the entire bar how he only settled for her after he learned that Boomer was a Cylon. Which ... you know ... DUH! We all pretty much knew that. But I guess he's only now piecing it together for himself, and realizing that his own ironic bigotry prevented him from being truly happy. The scene ends with Adama kicking Tyrol off his ship, and one suspects that this is exactly what Tyrol wanted to happen all along -- otherwise, he'd constantly be worrying if every "mistake" he made was really a subconscious act of terrorism.

No Cylon Base Star drama this week. Instead, Baltar is back, and Gaius Christ, what a strange plot line for him! How bizarre was that scene where Six held him up and pushed him forward? I replayed it over and over, trying to figure out if the actor was actually supporting his own weight. Because if Baltar has reached a level of delusion where he's physically manipulating himself like this, then he's truly gone right over the edge now, hasn't he? As if the crazy-eyed "God loves us all because we're perfect" speech didn't pretty much confirm this. In keeping with the pain theme this episode, he embraces his savior-ness, abandons the cowardice he displayed earlier in the episode -- when the Sons of Ares came calling -- and allows himself (with some urging from the Six in his head) to get the snot beat out of him by a soldier in an act of civil disobedience. Which "sharpens" him into a hero.

Meanwhile, the Quorum -- increasingly driven by young upstart Lee -- has decided that Roslin's fear of Baltar's potential influence is unfounded. But in those final scenes where Gaius Christ is proselytizing to the masses, we see that she may be right. Although Baltar has of course played the role of a frak-up at times, everybody knows that when he finds his focus, he becomes dangerous. And the pain has indeed focused him. He's now a symbol of the religious war brewing in the fleet, the One New God versus the Twelve Old Gods. Which of course mirrors the Cylon/Human war. Which of course parallels the civil war happening within the Cylon ranks. Bottom line, one gets the impression that we're building toward a showdown here of epic proportions. And Earth will either end up being the prize or the very thing that brings everybody back together again.

As for the title of the episode, my take is that it's a metaphor for what Six is saying. Pain and guilt send you into a nosedive. But if you ride it out, you reach a point where the dive stops, you find clarity, attain escape velocity, and pull back up again. Baltar has clearly done this. But Tigh and Tyrol are still working on it.

Thanks, everyone!