Editing Bastille Day

{{Episode Data
| image =bsg-1-03.jpg
| title=Bastille Day
| series=
| season=1
| episode=3
| guests=[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
| writer=[[Toni Graphia]]
| story=
| director=[[Allan Kroeker]]
| production=103
| rating= 2.3
| US airdate= 2005-01-21
| CAN airdate=2005-01-29
| UK airdate= 2004-11-01
| dvd= {{Season 1 NTSC DVD release date}} '''US'''<br/>{{Season 1 PAL DVD release date}} '''UK'''
| population=
| prev=[[Water]]
| next=[[Act of Contrition]]
| amazon=y
|archives=y
|series=TRS}}

:''After the Fleet finds a source of water to replace that which was [[Water|lost in sabotage]], ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'' and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] face a shortage of manpower to mine it, turning to their [[Astral Queen|prisoner population]] for help, with [[Tom Zarek|unexpected complications]].''

== Summary ==

===In the Fleet===
* After ''{{RDM|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} extensive water supplies are sabotaged {{TRS|Water}}, a source of water is found on a nearby moon—but it is in the form of ice, and must be mined. This will require a crew of around 1,000.<ref group="footage" name="galactica_water_mining_requirement">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|03m13s}}</ref>
* As that number cannot be spared from ''Galactica''{{'|s}} crew, and it is unlikely civilians will volunteer for the dangerous work, [[Lee Adama|Captain Adama]] suggests enlisting the help of the prisoners on ''[[Astral Queen]]''.<ref group="footage" name="lee_suggests_prisoner_labor">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|03m18s}}</ref>
* [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] refuses to force the prisoners into the work,<ref group="footage" name="roslin_refuses_forced_labor">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|03m39s}}</ref> so Lee suggests that volunteering prisoners could be awarded points toward earning their freedom.<ref group="footage" name="lee_suggests_freedom_points">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|03m45s}}</ref>
* The idea does not go over well with Commander [[William Adama|Adama]], who is already at odds with his son over his new position as "special advisor" to the President.<ref group="footage" name="adama_opposes_sons_role">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|05m24s}}</ref>
* However, Roslin decides to send a delegation led by Lee Adama to ''Astral Queen'' to put the idea to the prisoners. To address Adama's fears that they might inadvertently release dangerous prisoners into the Fleet's community, [[Billy Keikeya]] is selected to go as well and screen the prisoners prior to selection.<ref group="footage" name="delegation_plans_prisoner_screening">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|04m18s}}</ref>
* As a further snub to his son, Commander Adama insists that military personnel also go – [[Anastasia Dualla]] is "volunteered" by Keikeya to assist in the screening and report directly back to Adama, and [[Cally Henderson]] is selected to ensure the chosen prisoners can handle the mining equipment.<ref group="footage" name="military_personnel_added_delegation">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|04m40s}}</ref>
* On ''Astral Queen'', Captain Adama outlines the deal to the prisoners, but no one volunteers.<ref group="footage" name="prisoners_refuse_initial_offer">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|07m29s}}</ref>
* The nominated leader of the prisoners, whom Billy Keikeya recognizes as the infamous political agitator [[Tom Zarek]] from [[Sagittaron]], politely refuses the offer.<ref group="footage" name="zarek_identified_sagittaron_agitator">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|08m07s}}</ref><ref group="footage" name="zarek_refuses_offer">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|09m30s}}</ref>
* While Dualla and Keikeya argue the merits of Zarek as a "prisoner of conscience" or terrorist, Lee meets with Zarek to try and persuade him to help.<ref group="footage" name="delegation_debates_zarek_character">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|11m54s}}</ref>
* On ''Galactica'', Commander Adama confronts [[Gaius Baltar]] about the [[Cylon detector]]. When Adama pushes him, Baltar almost admits he can't actually build it.<ref group="footage" name="adama_confronts_baltar_detector">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|18m33s}}</ref>
* This releases a torrent of anger from Baltar's [[Virtual Six|virtual Six]], which terrifies him into submission. She instructs him on what to ask for to make the detector: a nuclear warhead.<ref group="footage" name="virtual_six_angry_reaction">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|19m57s}}</ref><ref group="footage" name="six_demands_nuclear_warhead">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|21m40s}}</ref>
* Baltar realizes her instructions will actually work, and Adama agrees to provide the warhead.<ref group="footage" name="adama_agrees_warhead_request">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|22m21s}}</ref>
* On ''Astral Queen'', Zarek's elaborately orchestrated prison break takes place, and ''Galactica's'' delegation is taken hostage.<ref group="footage" name="zarek_orchestrates_prison_break">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|14m01s}}</ref>
* With the ship in his control, Zarek broadcasts a message demanding the immediate resignation of President Roslin and her government, claiming that since they were never elected, they do not legitimately represent the people.<ref group="footage" name="zarek_demands_roslin_resignation">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|25m31s}}</ref>
* As Zarek uses Lee Adama to try and gain insight into the dynamic between Roslin and Commander Adama, an assault mission consisting of [[Marines]] and led by [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] is assembled. A crack sharpshooter, Thrace is ordered by Adama to kill Zarek if she gets a clear shot.<ref group="footage" name="starbuck_ordered_kill_zarek">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|27m05s}}</ref>
* Commander Adama's attempt to negotiate with Zarek is rebuffed.<ref group="footage" name="adama_negotiation_attempt_fails">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|31m08s}}</ref> Lee Adama realizes the truth: Zarek wants the commander to send in the troops, believing a bloodbath aboard ''Queen'' will bring down Roslin's government through scandal.<ref group="footage" name="lee_realizes_zarek_strategy">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|32m21s}}</ref>
* The Marines and Starbuck arrive in Raptors and cut their way into the ship.<ref group="footage" name="marines_board_astral_queen">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|32m42s}}</ref>
* In the cells, a prisoner named [[Mason]] attempts to rape Cally Henderson. She bites off a piece of his ear, and he shoots her in retaliation.<ref group="footage" name="mason_attacks_cally">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|32m08s}}</ref><ref group="footage" name="cally_fights_back_shot">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|34m32s}}</ref>
* Lee Adama rushes to the cell and puts a sidearm to Zarek's head, giving him a choice: die now, or work with his men to supply the Fleet with water in exchange for control of ''Astral Queen'' and a guarantee of future elections.<ref group="footage" name="lee_threatens_zarek_deal">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|35m40s}}</ref><ref group="footage" name="deal_terms_elections_guarantee">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|37m02s}}</ref>
* The Marines storm the area. Thrace takes a shot at Zarek, but Lee Adama pushes him to safety.<ref group="footage" name="starbuck_shot_lee_saves_zarek">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|37m34s}}</ref>
* Roslin and Commander Adama are initially displeased with Lee's arrangement, but he argues that the prisoners, while in control of their ship, are still reliant on the Fleet for supplies, and that under Colonial law, Roslin would have to face elections in seven months anyway.<ref group="footage" name="lee_defends_deal_colonial_law">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|38m51s}}</ref>
* Later, Captain Adama tells Roslin he'll vote for her when the time comes. His honesty prompts her to reveal the truth: she has cancer and might not be alive to run for re-election.<ref group="footage" name="roslin_reveals_cancer_diagnosis">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|42m29s}}</ref>

===On Caprica===
* {{callsign|Helo}} and the [[Caprica-Valerii|Caprica copy]] of [[Sharon Valerii]] reach a relatively undamaged city.<ref group="footage" name="helo_sharon_reach_city">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|10m07s}}</ref>
* As they explore, they are observed by a [[Number Five]] and a [[Number Six]] from a rooftop.<ref group="footage" name="cylons_observe_helo_sharon">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|11m32s}}</ref>
* The two Cylons discuss their heritage as the "children of humanity." While Six expresses regret that humans must be destroyed, the Five is less compassionate, stating that parents must die to allow their children to come into their own.<ref group="footage" name="cylons_discuss_human_heritage">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|11m51s}}</ref>

== Notes ==

=== Behind the Scenes ===
According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', this episode was a pivotal moment for the series as it introduced the character of [[Tom Zarek]], played by [[Richard Hatch]], the star of the [[Original Series]].<ref group="production" name="sswa_zarek_introduction_pivotal">{{cite book/sswa|598}}</ref> The writers' room, led by [[Ronald D. Moore]], saw the prison-ship storyline as the "perfect opportunity" to bring Hatch into the new series. The idea was to have the original Apollo play a character who voiced skepticism about the new leadership, creating a meta-narrative that the creative team found "a lot of fun."<ref group="production" name="sswa_writers_room_opportunity">{{cite book/sswa|598}}</ref> In the episode's [[Podcast:Bastille Day|home video-only podcast commentary]], Moore elaborated on this, stating he loved the "delicious" irony of having [[Apollo (TOS)|the original Apollo]] play a character whose role was to say, "Everything about this show is wrong. All of this must be destroyed."<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_delicious_irony">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 04:04</ref>

The producers considered the casting a "stunt," enjoying the dynamic of having the "two Apollos" confront each other on screen.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_two_apollos_stunt">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 10:20</ref> The casting choice was initially met with some trepidation by actor [[Jamie Bamber]] (Lee Adama), who was "terrified" to work with Hatch, given Hatch's previous outspoken criticism of the reimagining.<ref group="production" name="sswa_bamber_terrified_hatch">{{cite book/sswa|626}}</ref> However, Hatch proved to be a consummate professional. Moore recalls that Hatch arrived at the table read completely "off book" and fully embraced the complex role.<ref group="production" name="sswa_moore_hatch_professional">{{cite book/sswa|627}}</ref> Co-executive producer [[David Eick]] noted that Hatch, who had been one of the most "vocally opposed" critics of the remake, ultimately became one of its "chief advocates" after joining the cast.<ref group="commentary" name="eick_podcast_hatch_advocate">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 03:45</ref> Fellow actor [[James Callis]] ([[Gaius Baltar]]) noted that Hatch, a "prince of a man," relished playing a character so different from himself.<ref group="production" name="sswa_callis_hatch_prince">{{cite book/sswa|626}}</ref>

=== Continuity Notes ===

* Events here take place 2 days after those of "[[Water]]".
* In the [[Miniseries]], ''[[Astral Queen]]'' is apparently a liner, rather than a prison ship. In the [[Podcast:Bastille Day|home video release commentary for this episode]], [[Ronald D. Moore]] explains that the ship's mention in the Miniseries was just a "throwaway line" to establish that there were prisoners in the Fleet. The name itself was a ''[[w:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' homage, and the idea of a full-blown prison riot episode was a natural extension of that initial mention when the writers were planning the series.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_astral_queen_throwaway">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 07:05</ref>
** During a briefing, [[Billy Keikeya|Billy]] informs [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that: "The Captain of ''Astral Queen'' wants you to know that he has nearly 500 convicted criminals under heavy guard in his cargo hold. They were being transported to a penal station when the attack happened."
** In the re-cap clip shown at the top of this episode, Keikeya's lines are re-dubbed so that he says, "The Captain of ''Astral Queen'' wants you to know that he has 1,500 prisoners under heavy guard."<ref group="footage" name="recap_redubbed_prisoner_count">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|00m45s}}</ref>
** Instead of being taken to a penal station, as in the [[Miniseries]], {{callsign|Lee Adama}} states that the prisoners were being transferred to {{RDM|Caprica}} for parole hearings.<ref group="footage" name="lee_states_caprica_parole_hearings">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|03m22s}}</ref>
** For the purposes of the increased number of prisoners, ''Astral Queen'' becomes a prison ship.
* The Colonials will face a fuel shortage at [[The Hand of God (RDM)|some point]].
*Major [[Cottle]], ''Galactica''{{'|s}} ship doctor, is first mentioned in this episode, although he will not appear until the next episode.<ref group="footage" name="cottle_first_mentioned">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|04m02s}}</ref>
*President Roslin's hair style changes starting with this episode, from the straight-down hairstyle she had since the [[Miniseries]], to the swept-back style which she would sport through the end of Season 2.
*''Galactica'' is referred to by Viper pilots as the "[[Big G]]." <ref group="footage" name="galactica_nicknamed_big_g">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|16m33s}}</ref> This mirrors the nickname pilots have given to the aircraft carrier [[w:USS Enterprise|USS Enterprise]], the "Big E". The introduction of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' would later change this; ''Galactica'' would be nicknamed "[[The Bucket]]," with ''Pegasus'' being nicknamed "[[The Beast]]."

=== Production Notes ===

* Richard Hatch played the character of {{TOS|Apollo}} in the [[Original Series]] and is the first cast member of the 1978 show to participate in the [[Re-imagined Series]].
*This is one of only two Season 1 episodes to deal extensively with another ship in the Fleet. The other is "[[Colonial Day]], which features ''[[Cloud 9]]'' heavily and has few scenes on ''Galactica''. Originally this was planned to happen more often, but building new sets turned out to be much more expensive than anticipated.
*This is the only regular-series episode in which [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]] appears, outside of his appearance in the [[Miniseries]]. According to the podcast, when the Miniseries was created, the writers envisioned Boxey as being a major recurring character in most episodes of the series. However, on a case-by-case basis, they found that inserting a child like Boxey did not harmonize with many of the dark scripts on the series, and once the show got underway and found its flow, they simply couldn't think of ways to write him into upcoming scripts. By the beginning of Season 2, they realized they hadn't been using him, and officially decided to simply abandon the character and consciously never tried to use him again.
*Starting with this episode, [[Cally Henderson]] started to become a larger character on the series, as noted by Moore and Eick in the podcast (see [[Bastille Day#Official statements|Official Statements]], below). Originally she was supposed to die, but instead they rewrote the scene to give her an attention-getting grittiness and in turn, survival.
* The quip made by ''[[Astral Queen]]''{{'|s}} captain, "I'm a bus driver, not a warden," is a homage to the original ''Star Trek'' television series.<ref group="footage" name="captain_bus_driver_star_trek_homage">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|05m50s}}</ref> It is similar to Doctor Leonard McCoy's trademark quote, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer," or whatever fits at the time in the latter portion of the statement.
* The setup for this plot might have been inspired by the TOS episode "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I]]". In both episodes, a group of criminals was conscripted from a prison ship to work on the icy surface of a hostile planet. A notable difference between the two episodes lies in how the workers were chosen. While the workers in "Bastille Day" were chosen in part for their expendability, the conscripts in "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I]]" were chosen for their expertise in harsh environments and in demolition work. Also different was the prisoners' motivation to take on the work. In "Bastille Day," the prisoners are offered the possibility of earning their freedom, whereas the prisoners in "[[The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I]]" were offered nothing overtly other than the fear that the fleet might be destroyed without their services. A number of them take the assignment in the hopes of escaping during the action.
*According to the DVD commentary for the episode, the startling scene when Number Six yells in Baltar's face that "they're going to throw you out of an airlock!" was a visual homage taken from the film "[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099871/ Jacob's Ladder]," which has a similar startling close up shot.<ref group="footage" name="virtual_six_jacobs_ladder_homage">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|19m57s}}</ref> Tricia Helfer was given scary makeup for the shot, but in such a slight way that it is difficult for the eye to see what's wrong with the shot, but the audience can tell on some level that something's wrong. If you pause during her close-up shot, you can see that she's wearing contact lenses that make her eyes look unnaturally bright, and a mouthpiece of fake teeth which are bent out of shape and unnaturally large.
*The building seen in the first scene with Helo and Sharon is actually the [[wikipedia:Vancouver Public Library|Vancouver Public Library]], one of the most recognizable buildings in the city of Vancouver.<ref group="production" name="companion_vancouver_library_caprica_scenes">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
*The scene where {{callsign|Lee Adama}} holds his pistol to a kneeling [[Tom Zarek]] is a recreation of ''[[wikipedia:Dirty Harry|Dirty Harry]]'', according to [[David Eick]]'s comments in the DVD commentary. "That is the 'I know what you're thinking, punk' shot, down to the move, the lens, the distance of the camera away from the actor."<ref group="footage" name="lee_zarek_dirty_harry_homage">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|35m40s}}</ref>
* ''Bastille Day'' was helmed by [[Allan Kroeker]], a veteran TV director whose credits include multiple episodes of such series as ''[[w:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'', ''[[w:Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' and ''[[w:Roswell (TV series)|Roswell]]''.<ref group="production" name="companion_kroeker_directing_credits">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
* Much of the episode was filmed at the disused Port Mann Power Station in Vancouver's Surrey district. This location was transformed into the ''Astral Queen'' using a combination of practical sets and CGI set extensions.<ref group="production" name="companion_port_mann_filming_location">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
* The episode's title was chosen by [[Toni Graphia]] because its plotline reminded her of the historic march on the Bastille which triggered the French Revolution in 1789.<ref group="production" name="companion_graphia_bastille_title_origin">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=53|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>

=== Character Development and Casting ===

* [[Toni Graphia]] and [[Carla Robinson]] were responsible for naming [[Tom Zarek]]. Graphia recalls: "We knew we probably wanted something starting with a 'Z' for his surname, because a 'Z' sounds strong and futuristic. And we wanted him to have a religious-sounding name for his first name, so we looked at a number of Saints' names. His original name was Peter Zarek, but that didn't clear with our legal department. So we changed it to Tom."<ref group="production" name="companion_graphia_zarek_naming_process">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=52|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
* Initially, [[Tom Zarek]] was described by [[Ronald D. Moore]] as "a Nelson Mandela-style prisoner of conscience" before developing into one of the show's most intriguing and ambiguous characters.<ref group="production" name="companion_moore_zarek_mandela_comparison">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=53|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
* [[Richard Hatch]] had previously declined to make a cameo appearance as the then-male [[Elosha]] in the [[Miniseries]], but was intrigued by Moore's description of Zarek and quickly signed on to play the potentially recurring character.<ref group="production" name="companion_hatch_declined_elosha_role">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=53|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>

=== Set Design and Costumes ===

* Production designer [[Richard Hudolin]] designed the prison cells aboard ''Astral Queen'' with a specific twist: "The bars aren't a normal size and the prison cells are reminiscent of chicken in cages."<ref group="production" name="companion_hudolin_prison_cell_design">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=55|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>
* Costume designer [[Glenne Campbell]] explains that the prisoner costumes were based on real-life prison clothing: "The prisoner's costumes are much like the orange coveralls prisoners in transport wear. We changed the color from orange to red because orange was just too close to reality, while deep red gave a good 'danger' signal. Richard Hatch loved wearing it. He said it was the most comfortable costume he'd ever worn!"<ref group="production" name="companion_campbell_prisoner_costume_design">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54|chapter=|chapterurl=|quote=}}</ref>

== Analysis ==
*The Cylons didn't nuke every city on Caprica, although they did nuke most of them, including [[Caprica City]]. [[Ron Moore]] and [[David Eick]] point out in [[Podcast:Bastille Day|the home video-only podcast]] that at first this was a plot expediency, as showing the destruction of every city would have been prohibitively expensive. This production reality led to the story element of {{Callsign|Helo}} questioning why some cities were spared.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_eick_podcast_caprica_cities_spared">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 06:10</ref> The answer to this question comes in the episode "[[Downloaded]]," when viewers see the Cylons rebuilding and inhabiting a city themselves. The intense radiation exposure killed most humans on [[Caprica]] without the necessity of destroying all infrastructure.

*It seems strange that Agathon would be shouting loudly to see if anyone might hear him, as this might draw Cylon attention.<ref group="footage" name="agathon_shouting_loudly">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|00m51s}}</ref> However, viewers can't tell how many hours [[Caprica-Valerii]] and Agathon might have spent discovering that the city is apparently empty. Moreover, it has only been 12 days since the Cylon attack, and Agathon has no idea how far over Caprica they have spread yet.

*The flight briefing {{Callsign|Starbuck}} gives as acting-[[CAG]] seems a bit "out of character" compared to her personality as developed later in the series. She is in full "[[w:Top_Gun_(film)|''Top Gun'']]" mode: wearing aviator sunglasses, sporting a cigar, and giving a very irreverent briefing. Actress [[Katee Sackhoff]] and the writers have said that after the first few episodes they learned to start adding "more of Katee into Starbuck," and Thrace's characterization is smoothed out further by the middle of the season.

*Another oddity with this scene is that [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]]'s presence seems a bit forced. In the [[Podcast:Bastille Day|podcast commentary]], Ron Moore explains that the original concept was for Boxey to form a "family unit" with [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Sharon Valerii]], living with them and acting as a sort of mascot for the pilots. This plot point was abandoned when Sharon's Cylon storyline was accelerated in "[[Water]]". The writers considered re-purposing him as an "[[w:Artful Dodger|Artful Dodger]]" character, but the idea was never developed, leaving his appearance in this scene feeling somewhat out of place.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_boxey_family_unit">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 14:40</ref>

*At the end of the [[Miniseries]], [[Saul Tigh]] chooses to quit drinking. In "[[33]]," Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] notes how good it is that Tigh isn't drinking anymore. However, Tigh has a relapse, having a few shots, and is a little tipsy in front of some crewmen (although he is not slurring his speech and stumbling over furniture).<ref group="footage" name="tigh_drinking_relapse">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|01m29s}}</ref>

*The notion of Starbuck being a sharpshooter, "best shot in or ''out'' of the cockpit"<ref group="footage" name="starbuck_best_shot_description">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|26m51s}}</ref> stretches the credibility of these scenes: shooting in a Viper and shooting a sniper rifle are entirely different things. [[Podcast:Bastille Day|In the podcast]], Ron Moore concedes this was a "concession to the form" for dramatic purposes. Rather than introducing a new [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] sniper character the audience had no connection to, they made Starbuck the sniper to heighten the tension and drama of the final sequence, especially since it put her in the position of having her friend [[Lee Adama]]'s life in her hands.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_starbuck_sniper_dramatic">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 26:25</ref> Moore also addressed this in his earlier [http://blogs.scifi.com/battlestar/2005/04/production-update-q-a.php blog entry] of April 11th, 2005, following the episode's airing:
<blockquote>"Kara might be the best shot in the fleet...but being a good shot is far from being a trained sniper. And she missed in that episode, a huge faux-paux for a scout sniper. In addition, she could not have been conducting unit training and sustainment training with the Marines...and fly her Viper.</blockquote>
<blockquote>In the season finale, with the Marine boarding party assaulting into the President's office...her guards would have had to put down their guns..or they would have been shot quickly..or at least physically detained at gunpoint. There is no way a standoff that close would ensue."</blockquote>
<blockquote>I think both comments are well taken and I concede the points. In both instances, we chose to go with the dramatic needs rather than the "real" choices. Making Kara the sniper was simply a way of providing more tension and drama into the final sequence of "Bastille Day" rather than going with a brand-new Marine sniper who the audience would have no investment in or identification with. Likewise, the stand-off aboad [sic] Colonial One would've probably never occured [sic] with real Marines and Secret Service agents, and indeed, early drafts of the script had the final beats playing out on either side of a barricaded hatch that separated the two sides. However, the feeling was that separating Laura et al from Tigh et al dissipated the drama and felt less suspenseful, so we decided to go for the stand-off. It's a judgement call, frankly. We're always striving to keep things as "real" as we can make them, but we are still producing a television series and we're telling a story, so sometimes we bend the rules to make the show more compelling or to avoid awkward scenes that actually slow it down and dissipate the momentum.</blockquote>
== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

{{answered questions|season=1|series=RDM|episode=Bastille Day}}

*Is [[Tom Zarek]] genuinely willing to die for his beliefs?
*Can [[Gaius Baltar]] really use a nuclear warhead to build a [[Cylon detector]], or does [[Head Six]] have some other plan?
*Will elections really be held in seven months?

=== Unanswered Questions ===

: ''None yet.''

== Official Statements ==

=== Concept and Development ===
This section covers the episode's origins as a vehicle for the show's political themes and the pressure of writing the first episode following the pilot.

{{Quote
| text = When we were originally talking about doing a series, the network and studio asked me to give them an idea of the variety of stories we could tell, and one of the things I said we would do was the 'prison riot episode'. I actually mentioned the prison ship in the miniseries specifically so we could do something with it. I saw this episode as an opportunity to really set up the politics of the show. I wanted the audience to know that politics were going to be an important part of the show as it continued.
| sign = [[Ronald D. Moore]]
| source = ''Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion'' <ref group="production" name="companion_moore_prison_riot_origins">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=52}}</ref>
}}

{{Quote
| text = Coming in as the first person to write an episode apart from Ron Moore, I did feel a lot of pressure. Ron is so brilliant and created such an epic piece. Coming in after him, I really wanted to match his voice and do justice to the material.
| sign = [[Toni Graphia]]
| source = ''Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion'' <ref group="production" name="companion_graphia_writing_pressure">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=53}}</ref>
}}
=== The Zarek and Apollo Legacy ===
The inclusion of [[Richard Hatch]] (the original series' Apollo) as [[Tom Zarek]] served as a bridge between the two iterations of the franchise.

{{Dialogue
| context = On developing the character of [[Tom Zarek]]:
| lines = 
'''Toni Graphia:''' We saw Tom Zarek as someone who had created a lot of trouble for the 'right reasons'. He had committed terrorist acts in the name of preventing his colony and his people from being exploited. Zarek is not a moustache-twirling villain. He's something of a rogue hero, and he's supposed to be very likeable.

'''Ronald D. Moore:''' Tom Zarek is idealistic in his own way. But I think he has more personal ambition than even he would care to admit.
| source = ''Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion'' <ref group="production" name="companion_graphia_zarek_character_development">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=53}}</ref>
}}

{{Quote
| text = Before I read the script, I had my misgivings because there's always the danger you might be accused of tokenism or doing it as a marketing ploy... But once I read the script, all my misgivings were gone. I thought Richard's character was very strong and interesting, and Richard was just lovely to work with. He's a cool guy, and he's very supportive of what we're doing.
| sign = [[Jamie Bamber]]
| source = Working with Richard Hatch <ref group="production" name="companion_bamber_hatch_working_relationship">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54}}</ref>
}}

{{Dialogue
| context = On acknowledging the "Apollo" name:
| lines = 
'''Richard Hatch:''' Jamie is a terrific actor and I was so grateful that he's such a gracious and nice guy. He plays the character very differently from how I played him. He made it clear to me that he was actually playing Lee Adama, and Apollo was his call sign! I found it interesting that I was given those lines to talk about who Apollo is and what that name signifies. I think that was a great way to basically pass the mantle between us.

'''Ronald D. Moore:''' It was tricky to get that right. I wanted to make sure it wasn't too overt and stuck out too much, but you kind of want to acknowledge it and deal with it in some way.
| source = ''Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion'' <ref group="production" name="companion_hatch_bamber_mutual_respect">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=54}}</ref>
}}

=== The Cally Henderson Crisis ===
The survival of [[Cally Henderson]] marked a turning point for the character, moving her from a background extra to a member of the core ensemble.

{{Dialogue
| context = Eick and Moore on Cally's survival:
| lines = '''[[David Eick]]:''' Nicki Clyne... was somebody who in the [[Miniseries]], I remember Michael (Rymer) and I cast just on the basis of her look... she turned out to be so good that we— in launching the series we started talking about ways to involve her...
'''[[Ronald D. Moore]]:''' Well she almost died! '''She was gonna die in the initial drafts of this.'''
'''Eick:''' That's right! He kills her! He rapes and kills her! [...]
'''Moore:''' Nicki, I hate to tell ya, but the bullseye was on Nicki here. [...] You [Eick] said you wanted Cally to fight back and really show some balls in this scene. She bit his ear off...
'''Eick:''' I said, "She bites his frakking ear off" and I was totally being... you know, just ''illustrative''! I didn't really mean it!
'''Moore:''' And I wrote, "she bites his ear off"! '''And from that moment on, I think, she really became part of the show'''.
| source = Podcast for "Bastille Day" <ref group="commentary" name="eick_moore_podcast_cally_survival">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 29:55</ref>
}}

{{Quote
| text = In the first draft of the script, Cally was killed. But several people, including Ron, felt that they didn't want the show to portray any of our female characters as victims, because our women are very strong. So we changed it to Cally fighting back, and I was actually very happy about that.
| sign = [[Toni Graphia]]
| source = The decision to save Cally <ref group="production" name="companion_graphia_cally_survival_decision">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=55}}</ref>
}}

{{Quote
| text = They used this mixture of corn syrup and coloring for the blood, which was extremely sticky... I had it on ''whole'' day. [...] I was walking around, throwing popcorn in my mouth and everyone was backing off and staring at me. I'm going "Hey, what's your problem?" Then it occurred to me, "Oh yeah, I look like Death! Right. OK!"
| sign = [[Nicki Clyne]]
| source = Blood makeup experience <ref group="production" name="clyne_starlog_blood_makeup_experience">{{cite magazine|title=Battlestar Galactica|magazine=Starlog|issue=348|pages=31}}</ref>
}}

=== Cast Reflections ===

{{Quote
| text = I relished doing that episode because Lee finally gets to stand up on his own two feet. You get an insight into how Lee views the military and civilians, and he gets to do something that's slightly controversial and may not prove to be the best decision in the long term.
| sign = [[Jamie Bamber]]
| source = Lee Adama's character arc <ref group="production" name="companion_bamber_lee_character_development">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=55}}</ref>
}}

{{Quote
| text = It was so creepy being locked in that cage. It was an intense and very eerie environment.
| sign = [[Kandyse McClure]]
| source = Prison set atmosphere <ref group="production" name="companion_mcclure_prison_set_atmosphere">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|year=2005|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=1-84576-097-2|pages=55}}</ref>
}}

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

{{Dialogue
| context = On choosing sides:
| lines = 
'''[[William Adama]]''': Every man has to decide for themselves which side they are on.

'''[[Lee Adama|Lee Adama]]''': I didn't know we were picking sides. ''[walks off]''

'''William Adama''': That's why you haven't picked one yet.
| source = {{TRS video|Bastille Day|05m24s}}
}}

{{Dialogue
| context = On Cylon-occupied [[Caprica]]:
| lines = 
'''[[Number Five|Doral]]''': She's good. 

'''[[Number Six|Six]]''': So far. 

'''Doral''': Jealous? 

'''Six''': [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|This all]] makes me so sad. 

'''Doral''': ''(matter-of-fact)'' They would have destroyed themselves anyway. They deserve what they got. 

'''Six''': We're the children of humanity. That makes them our parents in a sense. 

'''Doral''': True — but parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own.
| source = {{TRS video|Bastille Day|11m32s}}
}}

{{Dialogue
| context = Aboard ''[[Astral Queen]]'', in a broadcast by [[Tom Zarek]]:
| lines = 
'''Tom Zarek''': I make these demands not for me....but for you, the people. The survivors of the holocaust and the children of humanity's future. I am Tom Zarek, and this is the first day of a new era.
| source = {{TRS video|Bastille Day|25m02s}}
}}

== Guest stars ==

=== Credited ===

*[[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[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]]
*[[Connor Widdows]] as [[Boxey]]
*[[Alonso Oyarzun]] as Specialist [[Socinus]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as Specialist [[Cally Tyrol|Cally Henderson]]
*[[Pat Adrien Dorval]] as [[Wilkens]] 
*[[Ron Selmour]] as [[Seaborne]]
*[[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Aaron Doral]]
*[[Brent Stait]] as [[Mason]]
*[[Graham Young]] as [[Marine Lead (Constellation Team)|Marine #1]]
*[[Curtis Lee Hicks]] as [[Marine Sergeant (Bravo Team)|Marine #2]]
*[[Colby Johannson]] as [[Dwight Saunders|Dwight "Flat Top" Saunders]]

=== Uncredited ===

*[[Scott Nicholson]] as [[Starke]]/Stunt Guard #1 and Stunt Con #6<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_stunt_personnel">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]]. Note that there are some misspellings on the call sheets.</ref>
*[[Guy Bews]] as Stunt Guard #1<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_day_six_stunts">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day#Day 6 of 7]]. Note that [[Starke]] is credited as "Stunt Guard #1" on Day 7, whereas Bews's character is called this on Day 6.</ref>
*[[Lou Bollo]] as Stunt Guard #2<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_bollo_stunt_guard">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Duane Dickinson]] as Stunt Guard #3<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_dickinson_stunt_guard">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Tony Morelli]] as Stunt Con #1<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_morelli_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Ernest Jackson]] as Stunt Con #2<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_jackson_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Gaston Howard]] as Stunt Con #3<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_howard_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Scott Atea]] as Stunt Con #4<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_atea_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Simon Burnett]] as Stunt Con #5<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_burnett_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Gerald Paets]] as Stunt Con #7<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_paets_stunt_con">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Charles Andre]] as Stunt Marine<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_andre_stunt_marine">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>
*[[Dave Hospes]] as {{callsign|Lee Adama}} (stunt)<ref group="production" name="call_sheets_hospes_lee_stunt">See: [[Sources:Bastille Day]].</ref>

== References ==

=== Footage and Scenes ===
{{reflist|group=footage}}

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}

{{episode list (RDM season 1)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Toni Graphia]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Allan Kroeker]]
[[Category:RDM]]

{{audio playback
| diff= 87913
| filename= Bastilleday_episodeguide.mp3
}}

[[de:Meuterei auf der Astral Queen]]
[[fr:Épisode:Révolution]]
@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 == Analysis ==
+*The Cylons didn't nuke every city on Caprica, although they did nuke most of them, including [[Caprica City]]. [[Ron Moore]] and [[David Eick]] point out in [[Podcast:Bastille Day|the home video-only podcast]] that at first this was a plot expediency, as showing the destruction of every city would have been prohibitively expensive. This production reality led to the story element of {{Callsign|Helo}} questioning why some cities were spared.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_eick_podcast_caprica_cities_spared">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 06:10</ref> The answer to this question comes in the episode "[[Downloaded]]," when viewers see the Cylons rebuilding and inhabiting a city themselves. The intense radiation exposure killed most humans on [[Caprica]] without the necessity of destroying all infrastructure.
-=== Production Realities and Plot Development ===
+*It seems strange that Agathon would be shouting loudly to see if anyone might hear him, as this might draw Cylon attention.<ref group="footage" name="agathon_shouting_loudly">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|00m51s}}</ref> However, viewers can't tell how many hours [[Caprica-Valerii]] and Agathon might have spent discovering that the city is apparently empty. Moreover, it has only been 12 days since the Cylon attack, and Agathon has no idea how far over Caprica they have spread yet.
-* '''Cylon Strategy on Caprica:''' While the Cylons nuked most major population centers, including [[Caprica City]], several cities were left intact. [[Ron Moore]] and [[David Eick]] explain that this was originally a production expediency to save on visual effects costs. This reality was turned into a story element, prompting {{Callsign|Helo}} to question why some areas were spared. The answer is later revealed in "[[Downloaded]]," where the Cylons are shown rebuilding and inhabiting these cities. The primary goal of the initial attack was to kill the human population through intense radiation exposure rather than total infrastructure destruction.
-* '''Starbuck's Characterization:''' [[Katee Sackhoff]]'s portrayal of [[Kara Thrace]] in this episode is noticeably different from her later characterization. She is presented in a more stereotypical "Top Gun" mold—sporting aviator sunglasses and cigars with an irreverent attitude. Sackhoff and the writers later refined the character by integrating more of the actress's natural personality, smoothing out Thrace's rougher edges by mid-season.
-* '''The Role of Boxey:''' [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]]'s inclusion in the flight briefing feels forced because his original character arc was abandoned. Moore explains that Boxey was intended to form a "family unit" with [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Sharon Valerii]], acting as a mascot for the pilots. When Sharon's Cylon arc was accelerated in "[[Water]]," the writers considered making him an "[[w:Artful Dodger|Artful Dodger]]" type, but the idea was never realized, leaving the character underutilized.
-=== Dramatic Licenses ===
-* '''Starbuck as Sniper:''' The decision to make Thrace the fleet's premier sniper was a "concession to the form" for dramatic purposes. Moore admits that being a pilot and a scout sniper are entirely different skill sets, and a real sniper would not have missed the shot Thrace did. However, using Thrace instead of a new [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] character heightened the emotional stakes, as it placed [[Lee Adama]]'s life directly in the hands of his best friend.
-{{Dialogue
+*The flight briefing {{Callsign|Starbuck}} gives as acting-[[CAG]] seems a bit "out of character" compared to her personality as developed later in the series. She is in full "[[w:Top_Gun_(film)|''Top Gun'']]" mode: wearing aviator sunglasses, sporting a cigar, and giving a very irreverent briefing. Actress [[Katee Sackhoff]] and the writers have said that after the first few episodes they learned to start adding "more of Katee into Starbuck," and Thrace's characterization is smoothed out further by the middle of the season.
-| context = [[Ronald D. Moore]] on choosing drama over "real" military choices:
-| lines =
-"Kara might be the best shot in the fleet...but being a good shot is far from being a trained sniper. And she missed in that episode, a huge faux-paux for a scout sniper. In addition, she could not have been conducting unit training and sustainment training with the Marines...and fly her Viper."
-"In both instances, we chose to go with the dramatic needs rather than the 'real' choices. Making Kara the sniper was simply a way of providing more tension and drama into the final sequence of 'Bastille Day' rather than going with a brand-new Marine sniper who the audience would have no investment in or identification with."
+*Another oddity with this scene is that [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]]'s presence seems a bit forced. In the [[Podcast:Bastille Day|podcast commentary]], Ron Moore explains that the original concept was for Boxey to form a "family unit" with [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Sharon Valerii]], living with them and acting as a sort of mascot for the pilots. This plot point was abandoned when Sharon's Cylon storyline was accelerated in "[[Water]]". The writers considered re-purposing him as an "[[w:Artful Dodger|Artful Dodger]]" character, but the idea was never developed, leaving his appearance in this scene feeling somewhat out of place.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_boxey_family_unit">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 14:40</ref>
-"We're always striving to keep things as 'real' as we can make them, but we are still producing a television series and we're telling a story, so sometimes we bend the rules to make the show more compelling or to avoid awkward scenes that actually slow it down and dissipate the momentum."
+*At the end of the [[Miniseries]], [[Saul Tigh]] chooses to quit drinking. In "[[33]]," Commander [[William Adama|Adama]] notes how good it is that Tigh isn't drinking anymore. However, Tigh has a relapse, having a few shots, and is a little tipsy in front of some crewmen (although he is not slurring his speech and stumbling over furniture).<ref group="footage" name="tigh_drinking_relapse">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|01m29s}}</ref>
-| source = SciFi.com Production Update Blog (April 11, 2005) <ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_starbuck_sniper_dramatic">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 26:25</ref>
-}}
-=== Character Continuity ===
-* '''Helo's Survival:''' Helo's shouting to find survivors on Caprica appears risky given the Cylon presence. However, viewers are unaware of how much time he and [[Caprica-Valerii]] spent scouting the area. Furthermore, at only 12 days post-attack, Helo has no clear understanding of the extent of the Cylon ground occupation.
-* '''Saul Tigh's Sobriety:''' Despite his resolution to quit drinking at the end of the [[Miniseries]], Tigh suffers a relapse in this episode. While not shown as severely incapacitated, his tipsy behavior in front of the crew indicates the beginning of a recurring struggle with alcoholism throughout the season.
-* '''Early Clues:''' Tigh's relative resilience to sleep deprivation compared to the younger crew is noted by Commander [[William Adama|Adama]]. Along with Chief Tyrol's similar endurance, this serves as an early, subtle nod to their [[Final Five|true nature]] {{TRS|Crossroads, Part II}}.
+*The notion of Starbuck being a sharpshooter, "best shot in or ''out'' of the cockpit"<ref group="footage" name="starbuck_best_shot_description">{{TRS video|Bastille Day|26m51s}}</ref> stretches the credibility of these scenes: shooting in a Viper and shooting a sniper rifle are entirely different things. [[Podcast:Bastille Day|In the podcast]], Ron Moore concedes this was a "concession to the form" for dramatic purposes. Rather than introducing a new [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] sniper character the audience had no connection to, they made Starbuck the sniper to heighten the tension and drama of the final sequence, especially since it put her in the position of having her friend [[Lee Adama]]'s life in her hands.<ref group="commentary" name="moore_podcast_starbuck_sniper_dramatic">[[Podcast:Bastille Day|Podcast for "Bastille Day"]], timestamp 26:25</ref> Moore also addressed this in his earlier [http://blogs.scifi.com/battlestar/2005/04/production-update-q-a.php blog entry] of April 11th, 2005, following the episode's airing:
+<blockquote>"Kara might be the best shot in the fleet...but being a good shot is far from being a trained sniper. And she missed in that episode, a huge faux-paux for a scout sniper. In addition, she could not have been conducting unit training and sustainment training with the Marines...and fly her Viper.</blockquote>
+<blockquote>In the season finale, with the Marine boarding party assaulting into the President's office...her guards would have had to put down their guns..or they would have been shot quickly..or at least physically detained at gunpoint. There is no way a standoff that close would ensue."</blockquote>
+<blockquote>I think both comments are well taken and I concede the points. In both instances, we chose to go with the dramatic needs rather than the "real" choices. Making Kara the sniper was simply a way of providing more tension and drama into the final sequence of "Bastille Day" rather than going with a brand-new Marine sniper who the audience would have no investment in or identification with. Likewise, the stand-off aboad [sic] Colonial One would've probably never occured [sic] with real Marines and Secret Service agents, and indeed, early drafts of the script had the final beats playing out on either side of a barricaded hatch that separated the two sides. However, the feeling was that separating Laura et al from Tigh et al dissipated the drama and felt less suspenseful, so we decided to go for the stand-off. It's a judgement call, frankly. We're always striving to keep things as "real" as we can make them, but we are still producing a television series and we're telling a story, so sometimes we bend the rules to make the show more compelling or to avoid awkward scenes that actually slow it down and dissipate the momentum.</blockquote>
 == Questions ==