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== Overview ==
{{disline|This article refers to the [[List of All Episodes|episode]] "Colonial Day".  For the holiday itself, see [[Colonial Day (holiday)]].}}
{{Episode Data
| image =bsg-1-11.jpg
| title=Colonial Day
| series=
| season=1
| episode=11
| guests=[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
| writer=[[Carla Robinson]]
| story=
| goof= Y
| director=[[Jonas Pate]]
| production=111
| rating= 2.3
| US airdate=2005-03-18
| CAN airdate=2005-03-26
| UK airdate=2005-01-10
| dvd= {{Season 1 NTSC DVD release date}} '''US'''<br/>{{Season 1 PAL DVD release date}} '''UK'''
| population= 47898
| oldpopulation= 47898
| podcast=y
| prev=[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]
| next=[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]
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: <i>It is Colonial Day</i>


== Summary ==


: ''Colonial Day is due, and [[Laura Roslin]] is using the occasion to institute an interim [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]; then [[Tom Zarek]], duly selected as the representative of [[Sagittaron]], stands for the post of Vice President, a position Roslin is determined he will not hold.''


=== On Caprica: ===
== Summary ==  
*[[Helo]] and [[Valerii]] have reached [[Delphi]]
*Helo considers the [[humano-Cylons]] to be human "replicants", created by the Cylons using human DNA.
*Valerii uses this idea as a means of testing his possible feelings towards her, should she reveal her true identity
*Later, as they try to enter the Cylon base at Delphi, Helo first off witnesses two more copies of Six in conversation. After they part, another copy of Valerii comes into view - and sees him
*As the "new" Valerii goes for her gun, Helo's Valerii shoot her, and suddenly the pieces fall into place for Helo and he takes off at the run, flashbacks of everything that has happened during his time on Caprica flashing through his mind - Valerii rescuing him; asking her why she never gets tired when running; his comments about the two of them never enountering other humans...
*Valerii chases him, calling for him to stop, but he ignores her, and she seems to give up the chase.


*[[Colonial Day (holiday)|Colonial Day]], the annual anniversary of the signing of the [[Articles of Colonization]], has arrived.  President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] has formed a new [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], the legislative branch of the Colonial [[Government]], and has decided to have her unveiling of the new Quorum coincide with the patriotic holiday.
*A tension erupts when terrorist/criminal [[Tom Zarek]] wins nomination as [[Sagittaron]] representitive on the Quorum.  Roslin feels she cannot remove him, as he won the election fairly (many on Sagittaron view him as a hero of their downtrodden Tribe).
*At the first meeting of the Quorum, Zarek creates a crisis by insisting that the vacant post of Vice President be filled by a special vote of the Quorum, in case anything should happen to Roslin – a move that is surprisingly seconded by [[Gaius Baltar]] (when prodded by Number Six)– Tom Zarek is thereupon nominated as a vice presidential candidate.  He has been using his men on the Astral Queen to perform technical favors for several other ships, which has gained him support from many of them.  Additionally he plays on various dissatisfactions in the refugee fleet.
*Roslin responds by pushing [[Wallace Gray]], a presidential aide, into standing as an alternative candidate.
*Manipulating the [[Colonial Gang|media]], Zarek makes headway in his desire to secure the position as Vice President, while a man named [[Valance]] plots in secret to carry out an assassinate plot against Roslin – possibly orchestrated by Zarek.
*Surprisingly, it is Gaius Baltar who comes to her aid:  flashing his pre-attack charisma, he gives an eloquent speech to the media that reminds the people of Roslin’s qualities and Zarek’s questionable background (trying to look supportive of Roslin and look more favorable). Roslin realizes that Baltar is quite popular in the Fleet (particularly following the unmasking of a [[Six Degrees of Separation|Cylon plot to discredit him]]) and has Gray relinquish his position as her nominee in favor of Baltar.
*Baltar wins the nomination through a close vote, as the Quorum is evenly split, but as president Roslin is allowed to cast the tie breaking vote which enables Baltar's victory – but Zarek makes it clear matters are far from over: there is still the presidential elections due in 6 months. Roslin introduces Baltar as the victor at the Colonial Day Celebration. 


== Review==
=== On Caprica ===
*[[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Valerii]] have reached the outskirts of [[Delphi]].
*Agathon ponders how he could have seen two women who look exactly the same helping the Cylons, after recently seeing a [[Number Six]] copy leading a squad of [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurions]].  Quickly putting two and two together, he considers the [[humanoid Cylon]]s to be some sort of human "replicants," created by the Cylons using human DNA.  Agathon realizes that this would explain the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|rapid fall]] of the [[The Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Twelve Colonies]], as the humanoid Cylons must have infiltrated the Colonies to soften them up for an invasion.
*Caprica-Sharon uses this idea as a means of testing his possible feelings towards her, should she reveal her true identity.  She starts to say that maybe the humanoid Cylons are misled, or that their attack on the Colonies were wrong and they might doubt that it was the right thing to do (her own current thoughts), but Agathon dismisses this as he feels they're just more Cylons.
*Later, as they try to enter the Cylon base at Delphi, Agathon sees [[Number Eight|another Valerii copy]], and instantly realizes the truth, flashing through his adventures on Caprica and all of the coincidences surrounding his escape—at which point he immediately runs away from both Caprica-Sharon and the base.


THE CYLONS WERE CREATED BY MAN. THEY REBELLED. THEY EVOLVED.
== Notes ==  
THEY LOOK AND FEEL HUMAN. SOME OF THEM ARE PROGRAMMED TO THINK THEY ARE HUMAN. THERE ARE MANY COPIES.
*10 days have passed since the events of "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]".
 
*The office of the President operates in conjunction with the Quorum of Twelve, a council of representatives of the Twelve Colonies.
AND THEY HAVE A PLAN
*The Articles of Colonization were signed 52 years ago.
 
**Given the Twelve Colonies have been inhabited for millennia, the Articles therefore don't directly relate to the settlement of these worlds.
=== Re-cap ===
**However, given the timeframe (52 years) and its proximity to the first Cylon War, perhaps the original articles were the document that united the Twelve Colonies to fight the threat of the Cylons, and became the basis for their peaceful co-operation after the war.
 
*Issues surrounding the distribution of food and medical supplies are beginning to cause concern within the Fleet.
''[[Galactica]]'' – as [[Roslin]] hears her cancer is too advanced and asking if [[Doctor Cottle]] has ever heard of Kamala extract ([[Act of Contrition]])
*Despite being "isolated" aboard ''[[Astral Queen]]'' {{TRS|Bastille Day}}, Zarek has managed to use his time to build up contacts within the Fleet and offer assistance to other vessels - so much so that the representative from Virgon is only too willing to throw his support behind Zarek.
 
*Apparently convicted felons lose their citizenship under Sagittarion penal law but have it automatically reinstated after they finish serving their sentences. This included the right to vote and to stand for election.
Starbuck confronting Lee Adama telling him he is not everyone’s friend – he is the CAG ([[33]])
*This episode contains the detailed look at the Cylon [[Heavy Raider]], which is seen landing on Cylon-occupied {{RDM|Caprica}}.
 
*After Valance's assassination, the whiteboard on ''[[Colonial One]]'' shows 47,898 survivors in the Fleet, a net loss of 7 since "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]".
[[Tigh]] visiting Starbuck as she nurses her broken leg in sickbay & telling her sarcastically that she should take all the rest she needs ([[Six Degrees of Separation]]), segueing into [[Adama]] asking Starbuck to train new pilots ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*This episode is the first to show (however briefly) a version of [[Number Eight]] other than Boomer and the Sharon with Helo, except possibly the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]].
 
*Boomer only appears in this episode briefly, dancing with [[Felix Gaeta]] at the gala after Baltar's election.
[[Doral]] and [[Six]] on [[Caprica]] as Doral reveals [[Helo]] and [[Valerii]] have slipped through the [[Cylon]] cordon ([[Secrets and Lies]]), together with a shot of Helo and Valerii running through the sewers of the city, with Six stating that Valerii now thinks she loves Helo and can’t live without him. “That bothers you, doesn’t it?” Doral states. “We’ll get them in the end,” Six responds, a pained look on her face, and we see the flashlights bouncing as Helo and Valerii continue down the sewers.
*Dr. Baltar apparently didn't give consent or even know of his nomination to a seat in the Quorum of Twelve, thus making it a little unclear how exactly the elections took place without a preexisting list of candidates.
 
**It is possible that there was a list of official candidates, and Baltar won as a write-in candidate. Alternatively, the quorum members could have been chosen through a caucus system on each ship.
=== Teaser ===
*[[James McManus]], host of [[The Colonial Gang]], doesn't seem to mind using [[frak|the F-word]] on the air.
 
*The controversy surrounding whether [[Laura Roslin]] would shake [[Tom Zarek]]'s hand intentionally mirrored that at the signing of the [[wikipedia:Oslo Accords|Oslo Accords]] in 1993 about whether [[wikipedia:Yitzhak Rabin|Yitzhak Rabin]] would shake hands with [[wikipedia:Yasser Arafat|Yasser Arafat]].
[[Roslin]] holding a press briefing, at which she tries to reassure everyone that the fleet’s fuel shortage is “everyone’s number one priority”, and that the ''[[Galactica]]'' has ships out scouring the nearby star systems for [[tylium]] deposits. As the press conference on board ''[[Colonial One]]'' continues, we learn that the fleet has now been in space for 36 days (putting this episode some 9 days after the events shown in [[Secrets and Lies]]), and is down to 5% of its tylium fuel stocks. When asked about exactly how much fuel is left to the fleet, Roslin tries to avoid revealing this latter point when asked, by stating that it depends on how well they conserve able stocks. However, she is immediately challenged on this when a reporter states that there is only enough fuel for the entire fleet to make two more jumps, forcing Roslin to concede the point.
*Tom Zarek's statement to Laura Roslin, "I shaved very close this morning in preparation for getting smacked by you," is a direct quote from the 1970 movie ''[[IMDB:tt0066206|Patton]]''.
 
This prompts a follow-on question: what happens if the fleet can’t find tylium? Before she replies, Roslin looks down at her podium to find a snake coiled about the microphones. The sight discomfits her – but since no-one else is reacting, she is clearly the only one seeing the snake. She answers the question hesitantly, stating that if no tylium is found, the fleet would use the last of its fuel to jump to the nearest star system – and she is interrupted again by the reporter who challenged her over the remaining fuel levels. Looking down at the podium again, Roslin now sees two snakes as more questions are asked. Her answers become disjointed as the number of snakes she is seeing grows – from two to a dozen.  
 
Aware that she is acting oddly in front of the fleet’s media, she curtails the briefing, slowly withdrawing her hand from the mass of snakes “on” the podium, and then returning to her private quarters on the ship, a confused Billy following her, leaving a stunned press corps behind...
 
Meanwhile, [[Boomer]] and [[Crashdown]] are surveying an asteroid field in a local star system, looking for tylium. Things are a little tense, Boomer teasing Crashdown about his growing romance with an ensign on the ''Galactica''. Crashdown, bored by the flight and not appreciating the teasing, takes it out on his console, convinced that the scanners will take “a hundred years” to locate tylium. As he hits the console, the display flickers, changes and comes up trumps: tylium! The asteroid directly in front of the Raptor is a mass of tylium deposits. “We’re heroes!” Boomer announces. “We’re heroes?” Crashdown counters, “Never fails. Great, Boomer! The second I score, the bus driver jumps in and takes the credit!”
 
Boomer starts to challenge him on this, but breaks off…The asteroid is the home of a major [[Cylon]] base. Crashdown checks his scanners. “We are well and truly frakked,” he announces, “The only tylium within twelve light years and we’ve got to kiss it goodbye.” He and Boomer then make a run for it before they are discovered, and we cut to the opening titles.  
=== Acts ===
 
After the opening credits, we join [[Adama]], [[Tigh]], [[Lee Adama]] and [[Gaeta]] clustered around ''Galactica’s'' plot table. “It figures the Cylons would be sitting on the only source of fuel within our reach,” Tigh mutters. “Still staking out every water hole in the desert,” Gaeta agrees, in reference to a comment he made when the search for [[Starbuck]] was threatened by the possible arrival of Cylon forces ([[You Can’t Go Home Again]]).
 
“Only this time it’s a lake,” Tigh nods. Reviewing the images captured by Crashdown’s sensors, Lee Adama points out that the Cylons are actually mining the tylium themselves. “A refinery this far from their home world?” Gaeta asks. “Why not?” Lee counters, “They need fuel as much as we do.” Gaeta points out that they have indeed got it – and Tigh adds that they have enough firepower to keep it.  
 
Lee suggests that they forgot the asteroid and seek another. Tigh comments that even if they find one, the Cylons will probably be guarding it, so Lee suggests broadening the search. “Send the Raptors out farther – 10, 15 jumps – and find a source they haven’t reached yet…”
 
“And use up all our fuel doing it?” Tigh argues. “How are we going to get our refinery ship…” he is interrupted by Adama stating they are going to take the tylium from the Cylons. Lee and Gaeta are stunned into silence. “With all respect,” Tigh says, “This is hardly a time to attack a superior force.” Adama disagrees. “This is exactly the time. We know where they are. They don’t know where we are. We can catch them with their pants down.”
 
“If we fail…” Lee Adama states. “End of game,” Tigh finishes for him. “So we don’t fail,” Adama informs both of them.  
 
In ''Galactica’s'' functioning ready room, Starbuck is briefing more of her nuggets on fighter techniques – including [[Hot Dog]], [[Chuckles]] and [[Kat]] from her first intake. She is interrupted by Adama. When he tells her he has a job for her, she confirms the rumour mill has it he is planning an “op”. He confirms the rumour mill is right “for a change”, and that Lee and Tigh are working on a plan of attack to secure the Tylium, but he needs some serious out-of-the-box thinking. “Out of the box is where I live,” she replies.
 
On ''Colonial One'', [[Roslin]] admits to [[Elosha]] that she has been taking [[Kamala]] “For a medical condition”. “So what have you seen?” Elosha asks. Roslin reveals she had dreams about Conoy before he was captured and executed ([[Flesh and Bone]]). “The images were…” she states. “Prescient?” Elosha finishes for her. “Uncanny,” is all Roslin will admit to. She then explains that she is now hallucinating while awake: “Snakes….there were snakes crawling all over my podium during a press conference.” Elosha appears more intrigued than concerned. “How many?” she asks. “About a dozen,” Roslin replies. Elosha stands and walks a small circle around her chair. “You’re kidding, right?” she asks. “You read [[Pythia]] and now you’re having me on.” Roslin remains calm. “Noooo,” she replies. “Who is Pythia?”
 
Elosha then explains that Pythia was one of the oracles in the sacred scrolls. “3,600 years ago Pythia wrote about the exile and the rebirth of the human race. And the Lords anointed a leader to guide the caravan of the heavens to their new homeland. And unto the leader they gave a vision of serpents, numbering two and ten as a sign of things to come.” Roslin is stunned, “Pythia wrote that?” Elosha adds, “She also wrote that the new leader suffered a wasting disease and would not live to enter the new land. But you’re not dying. Are you?”
 
In a [[Situation Room]] on ''Galactica'', Tigh and Lee reveal their battle plan to Adama and Starbuck. Adama asks her for her opinion. She admits that it is the perfect plan – which is why it won’t work. Tigh is scathing of the view, “Of course. We bow to your vast experience in strategic planning. Refresh my memory; what year was it you graduated from war college?” The comment is aimed to provoke Starbuck, and does so, but Adama intervenes, warning them both to back down. “We’re not going to win this one by the book,” he informs those gathered at the table. “I’ve asked Starbuck in here because she’s not weighed down by conventional thinking. With all due respect, Gentlemen, we’re not as crazy as she is.”
 
“OK,” Lee acknowledges, looking at Starbuck, “So what would you do differently?”
 
Starbuck then starts pointing out the weaknesses in the original plan – and the action segues very smoothly into a full mission briefing, clearly some time later, as Roslin is now in attendance on Galactica, as is Gaeta and a number of plotters.
 
The new plan centres on using three freighters as decoys – ships that will be set-up to look like they have jumped in-system in search of tylium, and have no awareness of the Cylon presence. When the Cylons take that bait, Galactica will jump in and launch an assault on the Cylon base, the intention being to destroy the base and the Raider refuelling facilities, but to capture the tylium mine. The decoy freighter will jump outsystem as soon as the Cylons get close enough to give them trouble.
 
Roslin wants to know the potential casualty count. Tigh admits it will be high. Roslin then wants to know that even if successful, and the raid defeats the Cylons, what is to stop them coming back with reinforcements. Adama admits there is no guarantee, but that knocking out the base will buy the fleet some time: “If you keep running from the schoolyard bully, he keeps on chasing you. But the moment you stop and you turn around and you punch him really hard in a sensitive spot, he’ll think really hard about coming after you again.”
 
Roslin then gets to the point, “So it’s either this, or run out of fuel and get annihilated?” She gives the go-ahead for the strike.
 
As a result of the go-ahead, [[Baltar]] is appraised of the Cylon base and the plan to destroy it by Thrace and Tigh. As the resident Cylon expert his advice is being sought as to how they can destroy the Cylon base without destroying the tylium reserves on or within the asteroid. Nukes can’t be used – while they’d take out the Cylons, “the radiation would render the ore inert”. Baltar thinks for a moment, then points out that refined tylium has a huge explosive potential which can be triggered by a conventional warhead. Take out the refined fuel at the base, and the base goes with it. All they need to do is hit the staging tanks for the “refined tylium precursor”. Starbuck asks Baltar where such tanks would be located in the base.  
 
The question prompts Baltar into a “meeting” with his [[Six]] in his fantasy home “on” [[Caprica]]. As he lays face-up on a massage table, he admits he needs her advice. “Well, I’m flattered, Gaius,” she replies, rubbing his arm, “But I don’t know the first thing about tylium refineries.” Baltar tries to push her: “You must have an inkling of where I should tell them to bomb?” “No,” Six replies, rubbing his chest, “But God does.” “Oh good,” Baltar replies, “Suppose God doesn’t want me to destroy the base because he’s the Cylon God?” Six stops her massage and looks Baltar in the eyes. “God doesn’t take sides. He only wants your love. Open your heart to him and he’ll show you the way.” She moves to start massaging Baltar’s shoulders, standing over his head as he argues that it would be a lot easier if God just came out and told him what he should do. “You must remember to surrender your ego, remain humble,” Six replies. Baltar’s response is not overly co-operative; “Well, if you ask me, God could do with cleaning his ears out! Then he might hear what I have to say.” Still working on his neck, Six instructs him to relax his neck. He asks what she is going to do. “I said relax!” she repeats, her tone edged with anger. “OK but don’t…” is as far as Baltar gets as she twists his neck with enough violence to break it – and there is the sound of bone crunching and snapping….
 
…And we are back in the situation room, Baltar rubbing his neck. “Where will the staging tanks be, Doctor?” Starbuck presses. A disoriented Baltar continues to check his neck and surroundings, as if surprised to be still alive, prompting Tigh and Starbuck to exchange a look. Realising they are waiting on him, and that he is still none the wiser, Baltar turned back to the wall-projected image of the asteroid base, eyes wandering across it, left right, up, down…he settles on a single part of the image and lifts a hand, pointing to a part of the Cylon base. “There. Right there….hit any one of them and the place will go up like a three kiloton bomb.”
 
Leaving the briefing room, Baltar heads down a corridor, pausing at a set of stacked storage bins, leaning against them and catching himself. As he does so, Six appears and starts rubbing his shoulders, then turns him to face her. “Well done,” she says with a good deal of warmth, “So forceful. So decisive, delivered with such élan,” her tone is decidedly predatory as she rubs against him. Baltar doesn’t respond – in fact, he seems almost despondent. “He didn’t speak to me. God didn’t speak to me. So I was totally lying. I just picked that spot at random.” Six continues to hold his eyes with her own, her look that of a mother watching a sick child. “He doesn’t always speak in words, Gaius.” This does little to comfort Baltar – in fact it does almost the opposite, deepening his despondency, to Six’s apparent delight, as Baltar realises, “The fate of the entire human race depends upon my wild guess?” Her predatory smile returns, and then we see Baltar standing alone in the ship’s corridor, apparently lost in thought.
Elsewhere, Adama visits Starbuck as she exercises her injured leg. She claims she will be able to fly. Adama uses the weight training system to prove her leg isn’t ready for the strain of flying a Viper in combat. Proving he is right, he gets her to brief Lee – whom she obviously doesn’t believe can pull things off.
 
Away on CYLON-OCCUPIED CAPRICA – it is day 37 of [[Karl C. Agathon]]’s (call sign “Helo”) sojourn behind enemy lines. He and [[Valerii]] have found a farm in which to shelter, leading Helo to start musing on things: “Nice thing about being on the run after a nuclear war. Nobody left to complain if we hide-out in their barn or raid their pantry, while you’re on your way to steal a ship and get off the planet. It’s odd, isn’t it…that we haven’t seen a single living human being since the one you shot rescuing me. I mean, we’re still alive; why nobody else?”
 
Valerii ties to convince them others are probably hiding out in their fallout shelters. Helo climbs up into a hayloft of a barn, Valerii following him. Once there, Valerii suddenly appears ill as she stands behind Helo as he unpacks one of their bags. “Hungry?” he asks. “I dunno. What have we got?” she enquiries in reply, trying to mask her condition. She kneels down beside him as he starts working through the “liberated” foodstuffs – peanut butter, beans, corn – as he offers her the option of “some chilli” she rushes forward and throws up. He asks if she has been taking her anti-radiation medicine. She claims it was the cold beans that they had for breakfast that are making her ill. Giving her a drink of water, he asks if she is OK. She states she is, and they discuss the rest of the journey to [[Delphi]] – Valerii estimating they are eight or ten days’ fast travel to the base. “If we start early, we can be there in no time.” Nodding, Helo kisses her forehead and hugs her to his side, but his eyes remain wary; something is bothering him – and it may not be Valerii’s vomiting.
 
On ''Galactica'' Lee Adama is sitting in a bay with a beat-up Mark II [[Viper]] when his father joins him, admitting he could never sleep either before a big operation. They share a moment, Adama giving his son a lighter that belonged to his own father. “My mother bought it for him when he was in law school,” he explains, “He was a better father than I was. Dad used to carry that into court cases; claimed he never lost unless he left it behind.”
 
The comment causes Lee to tap the lighter against his thigh nervously. “So you’re worried too,” he states, irony in the words. “About what?” Adama counters. “Sometimes it feels like the whole ship thinks….Starbuck….would do better,” Lee replies. “I don’t,” Adama states. “How can you be so sure?” Lee asks. “Because you’re my son.” Adama replies, his tone matter-of-fact. The comment drives Lee’s brooding mood from him. They exchange a look before Adama instructs his son to get some rest and then turns to leave. Lee stops him. “Dad. I’ll bring it back,” he states, turning the lighter in his hand. “You’d better,” Adama replies, “Or I’ll kick your ass. It’s a good lighter.” The comment brings an unbidden grin to Apollo’s face.
 
It’s still raining on Caprica. Helo and Valerii are dozing together, but Valerii wakes Helo as she turns in her sleep, a hand slapping against his face. He is about to put his head down again when we hear the metallic thud of feet. Waking Valerii, he crawls to an open door in the hayloft and looks out using binoculars. What he sees confuses him: Six, in her white rain coat, leading a troop of Cylon warriors down the road towards the farm. “How? You killed her!” he states as Valerii takes the binoculars. She determines they must go – now! Helo remains confused, repeating that he saw Valerii kill “her”. “Let’s go Mister!” Valerii orders, prompting Helo to jump from the loft. She throws down their gear and jumps down after him. They head off at the run, “What the hell is going on?” Helo demands. Valerii claims not to know, but that they’ll “figure it out later” as they run from the farm.
 
Out in the asteroid field that contains the Cylon base. the ''Galactica'' arrives with another precision jump. As anticipated, the Cylons didn’t see a thing, but the ''Galactica'' is within strike range of the base. As [[Gaeta ]]reports this in the situation room, a transmission comes in– the decoy freighters are jumping in-system, and apparently reporting their arrival “back” to the fleet as models are moved on the plot table. “You can bet they heard that,” Adama informs Roslin. “Now they’ll try to locate the decoys….if they take the bait, all hell breaks loose.” Roslin nods. “Until then?” she asks. “We wait,” Adama replies.
 
[[Tyrol]] and [[Cally]] wait anxiously down on the hanger deck, Tyrol checking the time. In the situation room, time has passed and people are growing tense – Adama checking the time – when Boomer calls in from her Raptor as she shadows the decoy freighters – 90+ Raiders are going for the bait. Adama orders “Strike Force One” launched from ''Galactica''.
 
On the hanger deck, Vipers are readied and pilots – including Hot Dog – climb aboard. The Vipers are launched and head in towards the Cylon base. As they head in, Starbuck mutters to Adama that she hopes “Lee can….” Adama looks at her. “Lee isn’t the problem,” he tells her. “You should take a good look at yourself…when you’re in the cockpit, you’re in control. It’s hard to give it up,” The comment raises Starbuck’s hackles, “I never wanted this kind of responsibility.” Adama remains uncompromising, “The Cylons never asked us what we wanted. Welcome to the big leagues.”
 
Seconds pass – then Crashdown reports that 50+ Raiders are inbound. “What does that mean?” A highly-strung Baltar asks. Starbuck informs him it means the Galactica’s strike force has been seen and the Cylons are moving to intercept with more Raiders. “Fifty Raiders,” Baltar repeats, “That means we’re outnumbered now, five to one?” Roslin ignores him, asking Adama calmly, “Weren’t the decoys supposed to take care of that?” Adama replies that the Cylons were too smart.
 
In [[CIC]] [[Dualla]] reports to Tigh that the intercept time is two minutes. Out in space, the strike leader reports his squadron has multiple bandits inbound. Seconds later the two sides engage in a dogfight, and the Colonials start taking hits as Vipers are blown apart. “That sounds frakking awful!” a horrified Baltar states as those in Galactica’s situation room listen to the radio broadcasts from the fighters. “They’re getting cut to pieces out there,” Starbuck hisses, glaring at Adama, who crosses to Gaeta. “Abort strike one,” he orders.
 
In CIC Dualla relays the order over the com channel to the Vipers – instantly giving away Galactica’s position to the Cylons. Immediately, the Raiders give chase – and the 90 Raiders going after the decoy Freighters reverse course and head towards Galactica. Hearing this, Baltar is none too happy. “So when are we going to launch the reserve fighters to defend Galactica?” he asks as the big ship faces two big wings of Raiders coming at her. “There are no reserve Vipers,” Adama replies, “Everything is on the board already. Now we play for all the marbles.” He looks across the table. “Starbuck, it’s your plan.”
 
Dramatically walking around the table, Starbuck speaks sotto voice to Gaeta, asking him to get Dualla to use the scrambler to inform Apollo that the “back door” is now open. The message is relayed, and out at the Freighters, an external freight cover is blown clear from one of the ships, revealing 12 Vipers, which power-up and detach from the ship and start towards the Cylon base. At the same time, model Vipers go onto the plot table in ''Galactica’s'' situation room. Roslin’s response is a calm question laced with anger. “Lieutenant Thrace, why didn’t you tell me there was another strike force on the freighters?”
 
“It was my decision,” Adama cuts in. “I routinely restrict tactical details to those who need to know.” He looks across the table at Roslin. “Old habits die hard.” As she returns his look, her anger is evident – but so is grudging respect, “So you still might pull this off.” Adama agrees – if Baltar’s assessment of the Cylon base is right. “And whether we get blown to pieces by those Cylon raiders heading towards us right now,” Starbuck adds. “Speaking of which,” Adama agrees, “I’m needed in CIC.” He leaves the situation room without asking Roslin’s permission – if only for protocol reasons – leaving her nodding to herself in understanding as he goes.
 
Out at the asteroid, Lee Adama is leading his strike force in a low-level run towards the Cylon base. Kat and Chuckles are in his formation. As they pass their [[IP]], Cylon surface guns open up from behind them, launching missiles towards the Vipers, a number of which drop their munitions pods.  Approaching the base, the Vipers loose-off missiles of their own, only to see them veer off, a Cylon jamming system intercepting them before they reach the target.
 
Lee orders the remaining Vipers to hold fire and close the range so they can manually-lock missiles and not have to rely on the guidance systems. Seconds later, Chuckles is hit and goes down, and another nugget takes a direct hit. With the Cylon defence systems zeroed on their attack axis, the Vipers are sitting targets, and Apollo orders them to break off the attack. As he orders his Vipers onto the deck, he spot the underground conveyor used to deliver raw tylium from the mining canyon to the refinery.
 
Out in space, Adama arrives in CIC and gives the order for the remaining Vipers of Strike Force One to turn around and take-on the Cylons hounding them. On the asteroid, Apollo confirms the conveyor tunnel appears clear and, against his better judgement, heads down it, Skywalker-style.
 
Taking the tunnel at speed, Apollo finds himself confronted by blank end – no direct refinery access, just a very steep “upward” angle leading to the surface. Hitting the main reverse motors on his Viper, he slows his vehicle, and then rides the throttle up to the surface, using his smaller manoeuvring thrusters and landing thrusters to bring his Viper to a standstill in the middle of the Cylon plant.  He reports back to Galactica that he is through the tunnel and the Cylons can’t get a firing solution on him. Edging his ship about, he locates the targets picked out by Baltar. Punching power to his main engines, he brings his Viper up from its hiding place, over the Cylon base and neatly deposits his munitions pods right to the target before he goes ballistic.  
 
The pods are clearly set with a delay fuse as seconds pass as he climbs clear of the base, and we get reaction shots from the principal players back on Galactica. Then the pods blow, and the tanks go with them, sparking a chain-reaction throughout the base. “Ah, ''Galactica'', Apollo…” he reports-in, “Mission...accomplished!” His words are greeted with cheering in the situation room and in CIC. Apollo additionally reports that Baltar was right on the money with his selection of target. Gaeta is the one to congratulate a stunned Baltar with a hug. Even Starbuck and Roslin exchange a hug. In CIC Dualla reports that the remaining Cylons are bugging out, and Adama gives the order for the Vipers to go after them.
 
=== Tag ===
 
[[Lee]] returns to ''Galactica'' in the middle of huge celebrations. [[Starbuck]] is on had with champagne and admission that she couldn’t have done it better herself. She gives Lee a cigar which he lights with his grandfather’s lighter, before tossing the lighter to his father.
 
[[Baltar]], meanwhile, meets with “his” [[Six]], this time on the veranda of his home. She asks him if he has read the Pythian prophesy. “No since the sixth grade,” he admits. “I can’t say ancient history is my favourite subject.” Six admonishes him that he should play closer attention. ‘“All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again’.” She quotes – echoing Conoy’s sentiment from “Flesh and Bone” in the process. Baltar isn’t convinced. “Everyone knows that verse. What are you getting at?” he asks.
 
Moving to sit beside him, Six stares at him. “Remember this one? ‘Lead by serpents, two and ten’.” Baltar nods, “The [[Viper]]s….they’re the serpents?” Six moves on, “There’s a later verse, Giaus. You should read it. How the outcome favoured the few and lead to a confrontation….at the home of the Gods.” Baltar looks at her, “Are you telling me God guided my finger to that target for some arcane scriptural purpose?” Six doesn’t move, stating simply that, “You are a part of God’s plan, Gaius.” This keep’s Baltar’s cog whirring: “So God wanted me to destroy the Cylon base.” Six is pleased, “You did well. You gave yourself over to him.” Baltar doesn’t know how to take this, but as he considers her words, so the concept takes hold and appeals to him, “There’s really no other logical explanation for it. I was…” he makes to stand up, “Am,” Six corrects, her expression hardening for a moment, as a berobed Baltar rises from his chair and leans on the railings of his veranda, his arms spread Christ-like as if being crucified. “I am an instrument of God,” he states, his tone certain, and he looks upward as the camera angles down on him from above.
 
--[[User:Ernestborg9|Colonial Archivist]] 20:41, 6 Jan 2005 (EST)


== Analysis ==
== Analysis ==
*By this point in the late first season, the writers and actors seem to have gained an increasingly better grasp of the story they are trying to tell, and the dialogue, characterization, and plot developments are flowing much more smoothly than in the early learning-curve period of "[[Water]]" and "[[Bastille Day]]".
*It seems a small cheat that ''Cloud Nine'' has not been seen before, but this is explained as that she was heavily damaged and undergoing repairs until now.
*It is slightly odd that [[Wallace Gray]] is supposedly one of Roslin's top aides and has played a large role in the work of her administration, but has not been seen until now.  Of course, this is the mechanics of introducing new characters on a tv series at play.  However, Roslin ''is'' often followed around by many nameless aides with the implication that there are more working for her "off screen" than a given episode focuses on (in the podcasts, Ron Moore and David Eick have said that they feel they make Roslin seem more official onscreen). 
*It is ironic that Baltar himself makes no drive to put himself on the road to power; Roslin (and other major characters) make him vice president because they prefer him over Zarek (even though Roslin admits that she does not like Baltar or particularly trust him, and admits that it is a "choose the devil you know" situation).
*Caprica-Sharon is showing more symptoms of being pregnant, as well as guilt over the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies. She now feels the attack was wrong and the Cylons are misguided/self-deluded.
*During Season 1, several critics and fans expressed that they thought it odd that Helo never suspected Caprica-Sharon of being a [[humanoid Cylon]] at all.  However, this is an unfair criticism: Helo was not present on ''Galactica'' when the existence of humanoid Cylon models was revealed, and very probably during their experiment the Cylons attempted to avoid exposing Helo to humanoid models (after his initial "capture" by a single Number Six).  Helo only sees a second Number Six copy in this episode because it is after he and Caprica-Sharon went on the run from the Cylons for real, after Caprica-Sharon's change of heart. —— Putting these accusations of Helo's unperceptiveness to rest, in this episode, soon after seeing a second Number Six (in "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]") Helo ''on his own'' theorizes that the Cylons must have created human models or DNA replicants of some sort, who must have been infiltrating Colonial society as [[w:Trojan Horse|Trojan Horses]], explaining the rapid fall of the Twelve Colonies.  Later, when Helo sees another Sharon-model Cylon copy, after recovering from his shock the events of the past two months instantly fit together in his mind, he realizes he has been duped, and he (prudently) runs away.
*Reporter [[James McManus]] states that Colonial Day will coincide with the first meeting of the interim [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], but Commander Adama also gives the day as "Colonial Day" at Baltar's victory gala, two days later. It is likely that the first meeting of the Quorum of Twelve is a multi-day event, during which Colonial Day would take place.


This is the most poorly-conceived and executed episode in BSG's first season. While it does make valid points about the nature and structure of Colonial society within the fleet (or at least [[Tom]] Zarek does <i>very</i> briefly), outside of the [[Helo]]/[[Valerii]] situation on [[Caprica]], the storyline here is ultimately transparent and weak.
== Questions ==


Specifically:
=== Answered Questions ===


*There has been no real sight nor sound of the Cloud Nine (admittedly a wonderfully-ironic name) in the fleet until now - and this is being passed off as being because she has been "under repair".
{{answered questions|season=1|series=RDM|episode=Colonial Day}}


*"[[Wallace Gray]]" is allegedly the power behind Roslin's throne, setting her agenda and policies, overseeing the distribution of food and medical supplies - essentially performing the role of her Chief of Staff / right-hand-man yet never once has he been previously mentioned or seen!
*Just how much freedom of movement within the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] have [[Tom Zarek|Zarek]]’s people gained since the events of "[[Bastille Day]]?"
*Will Zarek be able to use this apparent freedom to rally support for the forthcoming elections?
*How does the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] relate to the Office of the President? Does it function in a similar manner to the United States Congress?


*Further, Wallace Gray is so clearly a plot tool - and a badly-handled one at that: first he doesn't want the VP nomination, but accepts because Roslin needs him; then when asked to step down, he comes off in an embittered huff (presumably never to be seen again).
=== Unanswered Questions ===


*Zarek's challenge for the position of Veep is an obvious construction to lay the path for Gaius Baltar to become the Vice President.
* Was Zarek really behind the suspected attempt on [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]’s life?
* Who killed [[Valance]]?


*It is surprising that, after her somewhat vicious words to him in [[Six Degrees of Separation]], [[Roslin]] can face off with [[Baltar]] without so much as an apology for past actions - it has already been established ([[Secrets and Lies]]) that since that event she has barely spoken to him - and it hardly seems likely she'd use their time together in the ''[[Galactica's]]''[[Situation Room]] to make her apologies / overtures of friendship ([[The Hand of God]]).
== Official Statements ==


*It is equally surprising that Baltar's ego doesn't offer greater resistance. True, she is to a degree panderin to his desire to be back in the limelight - but given his nature, such an open "forgive and forget" doesn't entirely sit with his nature.
{{from_RDM_blog}}


*Baltar's ascendency to the position of Vice President is badly telegraphed almost as soon as [[Starbuck]] visits Baltar in has lab at the top of the show (following the opening titles) to inform him he has been selected as Caprica's representative in the Quorum.
* ''"I'm part of the nitpick brigade, but since the Colonies are obviously modeled after the US system of government, right down to the line of succession, are legislative and judicial branches? If so what are they called and will we see any manifestation of either branch take shape as series progresses?"''


*The intrigue around Valance and his gun, etc., is heavy-handed and comes across ostensibly as padding for a storyline otherwise short on action.
:In Episode 11, "Colonial Day" we'll see the reinstatement of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], a political body established in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|original series]], which seems to be a cross between a US style Senate and the UN Security Council, where each Colony has a single vote. Presumably there was also a larger representative legislative body and some kind of separate judiciary. There is also a religious body, (unnamed thus far) that acts in some advisory capacity to the government, along the lines of the British House of Lords. Although we haven't dealt with it yet, [[Elosha]] was probably a member of this body.
 
There is still some excellent acting in the episode - especially where Baltar is concerned (his interview with the press and particularly his "Exclusive Interview") in the toilets), but this still doesn't compensate for the rest of the time spent on Cloud Nine.
 
Not even the supposed "intrigue" surrounding Valance's death - and Ellen Tigh's possible role in it - fails to fire on all cylinders.
 
Opposing this is the Helo/Caprica storyline which beautifully encapsulates all we need to know and feel:
 
*Valerii's attempt to probe Helo about his feelings, using his "replicant" theory
*Valerii is showing more symptoms of being pregnant
*They reach Delphi and the chance of a ship off the planet
*Helo is suddenly - and quite unexpectedly - confronted with Valerii's true nature.
 
This is excellent stuff, but amount to less than 10 minutes of screen time, and again, isn't enough to lift this episode.
 
 
Still, every show tends to misfire once or twice through the course of a season - some managing to do so a lot more frequently. We're fortunate that this is the first - and hopefully only - hiccup in what has otherwise been a highly-successful first season.
 
== Notes ==
*Nine days have passed since the events of [[Secrets and Lies]]
*Tylium ore is use to power FTL systems, but probably not through any fissionable reaction
*Cylon technology is clearly a Colonial off-shoot, as one would expect: from the use of tylium down to the shape of doorways
*William Adama’s father was Joseph Adama
*Sharon Valerii on Capica may well be pregnant
*There is an ancient text some 3,600 years old foretelling humanity’s flight – and apparently, Roslin’s leadership
*Mark II Vipers can carry both missiles and munitions pods (bombs)
*The Mark VII Vipers all appear to be out of commission  - even Apollo is now regularly flying a Mk II
*The religious overtones to the human / Cylon struggle are becoming more pronounced, with a now-promised confrontation due at the “home of the Gods”
*The Colonial fleet has a tylium refinery ship among its number
*With the capture of the tylium mining facilities on the asteroid, the Colonials should be able to gather enough tylium to keep them going for about 2 years – assuming they can shift that much tylium to their refinery ship before the Cylons return


== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
== Noteworthy Dialogue ==


<i>Lee Adama sits with a battered Viper before the mission. He is joined by his father, who after a short conversation, Adama hands lee a lighter</i>
* ''Tom Zarek is walking through ''Cloud 9''{{'|s}} simulated environment while talking to reporters:''
 
: '''Tom Zarek:''' We are facing a situation so unique, so specific, that we not only need new leadership, but a whole new way of thinking.
<b>Adama:</b> It belonged to you grandfather. My mom bought it for him when he was in law school. See the engraving on it? <b>Lee:</b> (reading the name "Joseph Adama") Yes I, um, can barely make it out... <b>Adama:</b> He was a better father than I was. Dad used to carry that into court cases; claimed he never lost unless he left it behind. <b>Lee</b> So you’re worried too.” <b>Adama:</b> “About what?” <b>Lee:</b> Sometimes it feels like the whole ship thinks...Starbuck...would do better. <b>Adama:</b> I don’t. <b>Lee:</b> How can you be so sure? <b>Adama: </b> Because you’re my son.
: '''Reporter:''' Like blowing up a building or two?
 
: '''Tom Zarek:''' If things weren’t so serious, I’d say that was funny. Look, there’s no economy, there’s no market, no industry, no capital. Money’s worthless.  And yet we’re all held hostage by the idea of the way things used to be.
== Official Statements ==
 
<!-- Use bullets or standard paragraph form.  Please use links to sources!!! -->
<!-- If you wish to create the source within the Battlestar Wiki, then do so! -->
 
== Statistics ==
 
<!-- All the odds and ends items go here. -->


=== Guest Stars ===
:Look where we are (on Cloud 9, which resembles a natural environment). This man (points to gardener) wakes up every morning, tugs on his boots, and goes to work in this garden. Why? Because it’s his ''job''?!  What job? He labors, but he gets no benefits. And he’s not the only one. Many of us are still going through the motions of our old lives. The lawyers still act like lawyers, but they have no clients. Businessmen still act like businessmen, but have no business!  President Roslin and her policies are all about holding on to a fantasy!
<!-- Please use this format when listing actor/characters. -->
<!-- Also don't forget to link characters through the Wiki by using the brackets: [[ ]] -->
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Richard+Hatch Richard Hatch] as [[Tom Zarek]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Kate+Vernon Kate Vernon] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Robert+Wisden Robert Wisden] as [[Wallace Gray]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Alex+Zahara Alex Zahara] as [[Valance]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Malcolm+Stewart Malcolm Stewart] as [[?]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+David+Kaye David Kaye] as [[?]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Nicki+Cylne Nicki Cylne] as [[Cally]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Cailin+Stadnyk Cailin Stadnyk] as [[Ensign Davis]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Christina+Schild Christina Schild] as [[Playa Kohn]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Biski+Gugushe Biski Gugushe] as [[Sekou Hamilton]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+James+Ashcroft James Ashcroft] as Spectator #1
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Patricia+Idlette Particia Idlette] as [[Sarah Parker]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Mario+Battista Mario Battista] as Gardner


<!-- Please link people to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB). -->
: We want to survive; we need to completely restructure our lives.  We need to think about the community of citizens. The group, not the individual.  We need to completely free ourselves of the past and operate as a collective.
<!-- Example of Link [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Edward+James+Olomos Edward James Olmos] -->


=== Writing & Direction ===
* ''Karl Agathon and Valerii have arrived in the vicinity of the Cylon base at Delphi, and the talk turns to the two women "helping" the Cylons:''
:'''Agathon:''' (Standing as Valerii crouches with her back to him, getting some food) I'm trying to make sense out of two women we saw with the Cylons.
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' (keeping her back to him) And?
:'''Agathon:''' I can't fathom why anybody would want to help the toasters...and they just happen to be twins? It's too weird.
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' You got a better explanation?
:'''Agathon:''' Do you think the Cylons could be messing with human DNA? (Valerii reacts, mouth opening as she looks away). Cloning people or something?
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' (gathering herself and looking over her shoulder at Helo) Could be.
:'''Agathon:''' (nodding and crouching) That would explain how they took us by surprise. They had these...replicated humans infiltrating the colonies, laying the groundwork for the surprise attack.
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' (pausing, as if considering this) You know, if they were human clones, that means they're capable of...complex emotions - maybe even love. Maybe they were misguided in the way they were indoctrinated...
:'''Agathon:''' (interrupting) Whatever they are, they're not human! No human could do the things they've done - killed billions of innocent people (Valerii looks away, hurt)
:'''Agathon:''' They've got to be frakking Cylons, just like the rest of them...


*Written by [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Carla+Robinson Carla Robinson]
* ''Gaius Baltar is interviewed by [[The Colonial Gang]]:''
*Directed by [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Jonas+Pate Joans Pate]
:'''[[James McManus]]:''' We're here with Dr. Gaius Baltar, representative of Caprica. Dr. Baltar, I have one question: is President Roslin's political career terminal, or is there hope of resuscitating it?
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' Laura Roslin's political career is very much alive, and to underestimate her would be a very serious mistake.
:'''Number Six:''' You miss the limelight, don't you Gaius?
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' Yes, I have.
:'''James McManus:''' You have what, Dr. Baltar?
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' Nothing. You were saying?
:'''James McManus:''' Yes. So you seriously believe that this schoolteacher is able to handle the job of presidency?
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' Well I'm glad to hear it, because I think all of us have had teachers who have made a profound impact on our lives. History is full of examples of leaders who have come from the most humble beginnings, and have risen to meet the challenge posed by cataclysmic events. It's very easy to be sitting there in your armchairs ... criticize Laura Roslin for the tough decisions that she has to make every day - especially if you're someone like Tom Zarek, who's never shouldered any real responsibility in your life. To be fair to Tom, how could he? He's been in prison for the last twenty years. Now that he's had a drastic personality makeover, he's posing like he's the savior to all your ills! I think you all have a short memory, really. ... What I have to say is, we must survive, and we will survive. And we will do so through the values that have made our colonies great: courage, truth, justice, liberty, with a firm and deep resolve to make tomorrow better, not just for ourselves, but for our children.


<!-- Please link people to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB). -->
* ''Baltar and Six discuss jealousy and women, prompted by [[Playa Palacios]]{{'}} behavior:''
<!-- Example of Link [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Edward+James+Olmos Edward James Olomos] -->
: '''Gaius Baltar''': She's only human. (notes Six's reaction) You're not jealous?
: '''Number Six''': Love isn't about sex, Gaius.
: '''Gaius Baltar''': Now there's an enlightened point of view.
: '''Number Six''': I've been thinking... and as far as I'm concerned, you can have any woman you want. But always remember, I have your heart.
: '''Gaius Baltar''': Yes, of course you do.  
: '''Number Six''': (deadly serious) I can always rip it out of your chest if I need to.  
: '''Gaius Baltar''': (coughs, as if in reaction to a pain in his chest)


=== Production Notes ===
== Guest stars ==
*Series 1 (2004 / 2005)
*[[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
*Production Number: 1.11
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]
*Airdate Order: 11 (of 13)
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lieutenant [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as Petty Officer [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Paul Campbell]] as [[Billy Keikeya]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Robert Wisden]] as [[Wallace Gray]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[James McManus]]
*[[Alex Zahara]] as [[Valance]]
*[[Patrick Gallagher]] as [[Leon Grimes]]
*[[Malcolm Stewart]] as [[Marshall Bagott]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as Specialist [[Cally Tyrol|Cally Henderson]]
*[[Cailin Stadnyk]] as Ensign [[Davis]]
*[[Christina Schild]] as [[Playa Palacios]]
*[[Biski Gugushe]] as [[Sekou Hamilton]]
*[[James Ashcroft]] as Spectator #1
*[[Patricia Idlette]] as [[Sarah Porter]]
*[[Mario Battista]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gardener|Gardener]]
*Uncredited as [[Robin Wenutu]]
*Uncredited as [[Safiya Sanne]]
*Uncredited as [[Eladio Puasha]]
*Uncredited as [[Perah Enyeto]]
*Uncredited as [[Alisander Asiel]]
*Uncredited as [[Miksa Burian]]
*Uncredited as [[Elrad Hunt]]
*Uncredited as [[Oswyn Eriku]]


=== First Run Air Dates & Releases ===
{{episode list (RDM season 1)}}


*UK Airdate: 10 January 2005 (Sky One)
[[Category:Episodes written by Carla Robinson]]
*US Airdate: (Sci-Fi Channel)
[[Category:Episodes directed by Jonas Pate]]
*DVD Release: N/A
[[Category:RDM]]


{{Category: Episode Guide}}
[[de:Der Zwölferrat]]
[[fr:Épisode:La Fête coloniale]]

Latest revision as of 16:51, 17 February 2024

Battlestar Wiki Story Arc Logo
This article refers to the episode "Colonial Day". For the holiday itself, see Colonial Day (holiday).
 Battlestar Wiki Story Arc Logo


Colonial Day
"Colonial Day"
An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No. Season 1, Episode 11
Writer(s) Carla Robinson
Story by
Director Jonas Pate
Assistant Director
Special guest(s) Richard Hatch as Tom Zarek
Production No. 111
Nielsen Rating 2.3
US airdate USA 2005-03-18
CAN airdate CAN 2005-03-26
UK airdate UK 2005-01-10
DVD release 20 September 2005 US
28 March 2005 UK
Population 47,898 survivors (No population change.)
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous Next
The Hand of God Colonial Day Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
Continuity Errors Present – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery @ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: USA | Canada | UK



Colonial Day is due, and Laura Roslin is using the occasion to institute an interim Quorum of Twelve; then Tom Zarek, duly selected as the representative of Sagittaron, stands for the post of Vice President, a position Roslin is determined he will not hold.

Summary

  • Colonial Day, the annual anniversary of the signing of the Articles of Colonization, has arrived. President Roslin has formed a new Quorum of Twelve, the legislative branch of the Colonial Government, and has decided to have her unveiling of the new Quorum coincide with the patriotic holiday.
  • A tension erupts when terrorist/criminal Tom Zarek wins nomination as Sagittaron representitive on the Quorum. Roslin feels she cannot remove him, as he won the election fairly (many on Sagittaron view him as a hero of their downtrodden Tribe).
  • At the first meeting of the Quorum, Zarek creates a crisis by insisting that the vacant post of Vice President be filled by a special vote of the Quorum, in case anything should happen to Roslin – a move that is surprisingly seconded by Gaius Baltar (when prodded by Number Six)– Tom Zarek is thereupon nominated as a vice presidential candidate. He has been using his men on the Astral Queen to perform technical favors for several other ships, which has gained him support from many of them. Additionally he plays on various dissatisfactions in the refugee fleet.
  • Roslin responds by pushing Wallace Gray, a presidential aide, into standing as an alternative candidate.
  • Manipulating the media, Zarek makes headway in his desire to secure the position as Vice President, while a man named Valance plots in secret to carry out an assassinate plot against Roslin – possibly orchestrated by Zarek.
  • Surprisingly, it is Gaius Baltar who comes to her aid: flashing his pre-attack charisma, he gives an eloquent speech to the media that reminds the people of Roslin’s qualities and Zarek’s questionable background (trying to look supportive of Roslin and look more favorable). Roslin realizes that Baltar is quite popular in the Fleet (particularly following the unmasking of a Cylon plot to discredit him) and has Gray relinquish his position as her nominee in favor of Baltar.
  • Baltar wins the nomination through a close vote, as the Quorum is evenly split, but as president Roslin is allowed to cast the tie breaking vote which enables Baltar's victory – but Zarek makes it clear matters are far from over: there is still the presidential elections due in 6 months. Roslin introduces Baltar as the victor at the Colonial Day Celebration.

On Caprica

  • Karl Agathon and Caprica-Valerii have reached the outskirts of Delphi.
  • Agathon ponders how he could have seen two women who look exactly the same helping the Cylons, after recently seeing a Number Six copy leading a squad of Centurions. Quickly putting two and two together, he considers the humanoid Cylons to be some sort of human "replicants," created by the Cylons using human DNA. Agathon realizes that this would explain the rapid fall of the Twelve Colonies, as the humanoid Cylons must have infiltrated the Colonies to soften them up for an invasion.
  • Caprica-Sharon uses this idea as a means of testing his possible feelings towards her, should she reveal her true identity. She starts to say that maybe the humanoid Cylons are misled, or that their attack on the Colonies were wrong and they might doubt that it was the right thing to do (her own current thoughts), but Agathon dismisses this as he feels they're just more Cylons.
  • Later, as they try to enter the Cylon base at Delphi, Agathon sees another Valerii copy, and instantly realizes the truth, flashing through his adventures on Caprica and all of the coincidences surrounding his escape—at which point he immediately runs away from both Caprica-Sharon and the base.

Notes

  • 10 days have passed since the events of "The Hand of God".
  • The office of the President operates in conjunction with the Quorum of Twelve, a council of representatives of the Twelve Colonies.
  • The Articles of Colonization were signed 52 years ago.
    • Given the Twelve Colonies have been inhabited for millennia, the Articles therefore don't directly relate to the settlement of these worlds.
    • However, given the timeframe (52 years) and its proximity to the first Cylon War, perhaps the original articles were the document that united the Twelve Colonies to fight the threat of the Cylons, and became the basis for their peaceful co-operation after the war.
  • Issues surrounding the distribution of food and medical supplies are beginning to cause concern within the Fleet.
  • Despite being "isolated" aboard Astral Queen (TRS: "Bastille Day"), Zarek has managed to use his time to build up contacts within the Fleet and offer assistance to other vessels - so much so that the representative from Virgon is only too willing to throw his support behind Zarek.
  • Apparently convicted felons lose their citizenship under Sagittarion penal law but have it automatically reinstated after they finish serving their sentences. This included the right to vote and to stand for election.
  • This episode contains the detailed look at the Cylon Heavy Raider, which is seen landing on Cylon-occupied Caprica.
  • After Valance's assassination, the whiteboard on Colonial One shows 47,898 survivors in the Fleet, a net loss of 7 since "Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down".
  • This episode is the first to show (however briefly) a version of Number Eight other than Boomer and the Sharon with Helo, except possibly the Miniseries.
  • Boomer only appears in this episode briefly, dancing with Felix Gaeta at the gala after Baltar's election.
  • Dr. Baltar apparently didn't give consent or even know of his nomination to a seat in the Quorum of Twelve, thus making it a little unclear how exactly the elections took place without a preexisting list of candidates.
    • It is possible that there was a list of official candidates, and Baltar won as a write-in candidate. Alternatively, the quorum members could have been chosen through a caucus system on each ship.
  • James McManus, host of The Colonial Gang, doesn't seem to mind using the F-word on the air.
  • The controversy surrounding whether Laura Roslin would shake Tom Zarek's hand intentionally mirrored that at the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993 about whether Yitzhak Rabin would shake hands with Yasser Arafat.
  • Tom Zarek's statement to Laura Roslin, "I shaved very close this morning in preparation for getting smacked by you," is a direct quote from the 1970 movie Patton.

Analysis

  • By this point in the late first season, the writers and actors seem to have gained an increasingly better grasp of the story they are trying to tell, and the dialogue, characterization, and plot developments are flowing much more smoothly than in the early learning-curve period of "Water" and "Bastille Day".
  • It seems a small cheat that Cloud Nine has not been seen before, but this is explained as that she was heavily damaged and undergoing repairs until now.
  • It is slightly odd that Wallace Gray is supposedly one of Roslin's top aides and has played a large role in the work of her administration, but has not been seen until now. Of course, this is the mechanics of introducing new characters on a tv series at play. However, Roslin is often followed around by many nameless aides with the implication that there are more working for her "off screen" than a given episode focuses on (in the podcasts, Ron Moore and David Eick have said that they feel they make Roslin seem more official onscreen).
  • It is ironic that Baltar himself makes no drive to put himself on the road to power; Roslin (and other major characters) make him vice president because they prefer him over Zarek (even though Roslin admits that she does not like Baltar or particularly trust him, and admits that it is a "choose the devil you know" situation).
  • Caprica-Sharon is showing more symptoms of being pregnant, as well as guilt over the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies. She now feels the attack was wrong and the Cylons are misguided/self-deluded.
  • During Season 1, several critics and fans expressed that they thought it odd that Helo never suspected Caprica-Sharon of being a humanoid Cylon at all. However, this is an unfair criticism: Helo was not present on Galactica when the existence of humanoid Cylon models was revealed, and very probably during their experiment the Cylons attempted to avoid exposing Helo to humanoid models (after his initial "capture" by a single Number Six). Helo only sees a second Number Six copy in this episode because it is after he and Caprica-Sharon went on the run from the Cylons for real, after Caprica-Sharon's change of heart. —— Putting these accusations of Helo's unperceptiveness to rest, in this episode, soon after seeing a second Number Six (in "The Hand of God") Helo on his own theorizes that the Cylons must have created human models or DNA replicants of some sort, who must have been infiltrating Colonial society as Trojan Horses, explaining the rapid fall of the Twelve Colonies. Later, when Helo sees another Sharon-model Cylon copy, after recovering from his shock the events of the past two months instantly fit together in his mind, he realizes he has been duped, and he (prudently) runs away.
  • Reporter James McManus states that Colonial Day will coincide with the first meeting of the interim Quorum of Twelve, but Commander Adama also gives the day as "Colonial Day" at Baltar's victory gala, two days later. It is likely that the first meeting of the Quorum of Twelve is a multi-day event, during which Colonial Day would take place.

Questions

Answered Questions

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.
  • Just how much freedom of movement within the Fleet have Zarek’s people gained since the events of "Bastille Day?"
  • Will Zarek be able to use this apparent freedom to rally support for the forthcoming elections?
  • How does the Quorum of Twelve relate to the Office of the President? Does it function in a similar manner to the United States Congress?

Unanswered Questions

  • Was Zarek really behind the suspected attempt on Roslin’s life?
  • Who killed Valance?

Official Statements

From RDM's Sci-Fi Channel Blog

  • "I'm part of the nitpick brigade, but since the Colonies are obviously modeled after the US system of government, right down to the line of succession, are legislative and judicial branches? If so what are they called and will we see any manifestation of either branch take shape as series progresses?"
In Episode 11, "Colonial Day" we'll see the reinstatement of the Quorum of Twelve, a political body established in the original series, which seems to be a cross between a US style Senate and the UN Security Council, where each Colony has a single vote. Presumably there was also a larger representative legislative body and some kind of separate judiciary. There is also a religious body, (unnamed thus far) that acts in some advisory capacity to the government, along the lines of the British House of Lords. Although we haven't dealt with it yet, Elosha was probably a member of this body.

Noteworthy Dialogue

  • Tom Zarek is walking through Cloud 9's simulated environment while talking to reporters:
Tom Zarek: We are facing a situation so unique, so specific, that we not only need new leadership, but a whole new way of thinking.
Reporter: Like blowing up a building or two?
Tom Zarek: If things weren’t so serious, I’d say that was funny. Look, there’s no economy, there’s no market, no industry, no capital. Money’s worthless. And yet we’re all held hostage by the idea of the way things used to be.
Look where we are (on Cloud 9, which resembles a natural environment). This man (points to gardener) wakes up every morning, tugs on his boots, and goes to work in this garden. Why? Because it’s his job?! What job? He labors, but he gets no benefits. And he’s not the only one. Many of us are still going through the motions of our old lives. The lawyers still act like lawyers, but they have no clients. Businessmen still act like businessmen, but have no business! President Roslin and her policies are all about holding on to a fantasy!
We want to survive; we need to completely restructure our lives. We need to think about the community of citizens. The group, not the individual. We need to completely free ourselves of the past and operate as a collective.
  • Karl Agathon and Valerii have arrived in the vicinity of the Cylon base at Delphi, and the talk turns to the two women "helping" the Cylons:
Agathon: (Standing as Valerii crouches with her back to him, getting some food) I'm trying to make sense out of two women we saw with the Cylons.
Sharon Valerii: (keeping her back to him) And?
Agathon: I can't fathom why anybody would want to help the toasters...and they just happen to be twins? It's too weird.
Sharon Valerii: You got a better explanation?
Agathon: Do you think the Cylons could be messing with human DNA? (Valerii reacts, mouth opening as she looks away). Cloning people or something?
Sharon Valerii: (gathering herself and looking over her shoulder at Helo) Could be.
Agathon: (nodding and crouching) That would explain how they took us by surprise. They had these...replicated humans infiltrating the colonies, laying the groundwork for the surprise attack.
Sharon Valerii: (pausing, as if considering this) You know, if they were human clones, that means they're capable of...complex emotions - maybe even love. Maybe they were misguided in the way they were indoctrinated...
Agathon: (interrupting) Whatever they are, they're not human! No human could do the things they've done - killed billions of innocent people (Valerii looks away, hurt)
Agathon: They've got to be frakking Cylons, just like the rest of them...
James McManus: We're here with Dr. Gaius Baltar, representative of Caprica. Dr. Baltar, I have one question: is President Roslin's political career terminal, or is there hope of resuscitating it?
Gaius Baltar: Laura Roslin's political career is very much alive, and to underestimate her would be a very serious mistake.
Number Six: You miss the limelight, don't you Gaius?
Gaius Baltar: Yes, I have.
James McManus: You have what, Dr. Baltar?
Gaius Baltar: Nothing. You were saying?
James McManus: Yes. So you seriously believe that this schoolteacher is able to handle the job of presidency?
Gaius Baltar: Well I'm glad to hear it, because I think all of us have had teachers who have made a profound impact on our lives. History is full of examples of leaders who have come from the most humble beginnings, and have risen to meet the challenge posed by cataclysmic events. It's very easy to be sitting there in your armchairs ... criticize Laura Roslin for the tough decisions that she has to make every day - especially if you're someone like Tom Zarek, who's never shouldered any real responsibility in your life. To be fair to Tom, how could he? He's been in prison for the last twenty years. Now that he's had a drastic personality makeover, he's posing like he's the savior to all your ills! I think you all have a short memory, really. ... What I have to say is, we must survive, and we will survive. And we will do so through the values that have made our colonies great: courage, truth, justice, liberty, with a firm and deep resolve to make tomorrow better, not just for ourselves, but for our children.
  • Baltar and Six discuss jealousy and women, prompted by Playa Palacios' behavior:
Gaius Baltar: She's only human. (notes Six's reaction) You're not jealous?
Number Six: Love isn't about sex, Gaius.
Gaius Baltar: Now there's an enlightened point of view.
Number Six: I've been thinking... and as far as I'm concerned, you can have any woman you want. But always remember, I have your heart.
Gaius Baltar: Yes, of course you do.
Number Six: (deadly serious) I can always rip it out of your chest if I need to.
Gaius Baltar: (coughs, as if in reaction to a pain in his chest)

Guest stars

Re-imagined Series Episode List — Miniseries and Season 1


Battlestar Galactica (Re-Imagined) Miniseries (2003): Miniseries, Night 1 | Miniseries, Night 2

Battlestar Galactica (Re-Imagined) Season 1 (2004-2005) Episode List

33 | Water | Bastille Day | Act of Contrition | You Can't Go Home Again | Litmus | Six Degrees of Separation | Flesh and Bone | Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down | The Hand of God | Colonial Day | Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I | Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II | Next Season Episode >

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