Last season’s finale of Battlestar Galactica, the Sci Fi series that takes place after a war between Cylon robots and humans, was a shocker.

President Laura Roslin lost her office to mad scientist Gaius Baltar, who promised settlement on the planet New Caprica. Then the show jumped a year to show the Cylons have overpowered the citizens. On Friday (9 ET/PT), Season 3 begins. USA TODAY chats with the cast:

Who
Laura Roslin
Mary McDonnell

Where they are
After losing the presidency, Laura returns to teaching on New Caprica. “She’s a much physically healthier person,” McDonnell says.

“Whatever fear, ambivalence and hesitation that was part of Laura’s ascendancy seems to have evaporated. She becomes a much more practically driven, stronger woman.” She aids the insurgency against the Cylons.

What lies ahead
McDonnell says Roslin will have a leadership role, and she continues to protect Hera, the coveted Cylon-human baby. And what about the brief kiss Roslin shared with Adm. Adama last season?

“I do think that they have a relationship that’s becoming more and more compelling and not necessarily identifiable yet, but there’s a lot to be plumbed.”

Moment to watch for
McDonnell says a confrontation with President Baltar is “inevitable.” Roslin has “a deep sensation of that man being attached to the original apocalypse.”