Editing The Oath
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
:''The opposition to the alliance with the rebel Cylons reaches its zenith, [[Felix Gaeta]] leads a mutiny aboard ''[[Galactica ( | :''The opposition to the alliance with the rebel Cylons reaches its zenith, [[Felix Gaeta]] leads a mutiny aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' and frees [[Tom Zarek]] from incarceration in ''Galactica''{{'|s}} brig.'' | ||
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
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* In [[CIC]], [[Hoshi]] notes a ship launch that he can't authenticate in the flight log--and [[DRADIS]] does not show any [[IFF|transponder ID]]. Gaeta, taking his place at his station, stalls Hoshi, advising him to look at other logs from the flight deck. | * In [[CIC]], [[Hoshi]] notes a ship launch that he can't authenticate in the flight log--and [[DRADIS]] does not show any [[IFF|transponder ID]]. Gaeta, taking his place at his station, stalls Hoshi, advising him to look at other logs from the flight deck. | ||
* When Tigh tells Adama quietly that he has had [[ | * When Tigh tells Adama quietly that he has had [[Nowart]] gather marines for further action to compel other civliian ships to comply, Adama warns that doing the same thing as was done with ''[[Hitei Kan]]'' a few days prior would likely destroy the likelihood of anyone in the Fleet supporting the fragile Cylon alliance. | ||
* Hoshi continues to try to verify the flying contact as Gaeta tries to stall. | * Hoshi continues to try to verify the flying contact as Gaeta tries to stall. | ||
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* As Adama runs out, Thrace follows, warning the rest, "Follow me. Please," so she could have a better excuse to shoot them as well. | * As Adama runs out, Thrace follows, warning the rest, "Follow me. Please," so she could have a better excuse to shoot them as well. | ||
* As | * As [[Sharon Agathon]] feeds her [[Hera Agathon|daughter]], [[Karl Agathon]] gets his uniform on and warns Sharon to get Hera to daycare. | ||
* Just then, the hatchway on their quarters is being jostled. Someone is trying to get in, and soon succeeds: an angry mob, led by [[Gage]], a former ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' crewman who remembers Agathon's role in the accidental death of [[Alistair Thorne]]. | * Just then, the hatchway on their quarters is being jostled. Someone is trying to get in, and soon succeeds: an angry mob, led by [[Gage]], a former ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' crewman who remembers Agathon's role in the accidental death of [[Alistair Thorne]]. | ||
* Gage gloats that he plans on raping Sharon Agathon later as marines beat Helo into unconsciousness. | * Gage gloats that he plans on raping Sharon Agathon later as marines beat Helo into unconsciousness. | ||
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==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
*In the previous episode, it was said that two marines were killed by the rebellious crew of the tylium ship. Yet in this episode, the survivor count is down by just one - accounting for Laird's death prior to the opening sequence. This can be explained by births in the fleet. | *In the previous episode, it was said that two marines were killed by the rebellious crew of the tylium ship. Yet in this episode, the survivor count is down by just one - accounting for Laird's death prior to the opening sequence. This can be explained by births in the fleet. | ||
*The on-screen time code shows [[Lee Adama]] landing on Galactica at 0902. [[Kara_Thrace|Starbuck]] rescues him from the flight deck and, after an interruption and cutaway, they regroup in a secure area, with the time once again listed as 0902. [[Ronald D. Moore]] explains in the [[Podcast:The_Oath#Teaser|DVD commentary]] that timestamps were used to convey a faster pace to events. The identical timestamps may have been intended to convey that the two segments, despite the interruption and cutaway, were part of the same scene, and that the events of that scene were occurring at exactly the same time as the arrest of [[Sharon_Agathon|Sharon]] and | *The on-screen time code shows [[Lee Adama]] landing on Galactica at 0902. [[Kara_Thrace|Starbuck]] rescues him from the flight deck and, after an interruption and cutaway, they regroup in a secure area, with the time once again listed as 0902. [[Ronald D. Moore]] explains in the [[Podcast:The_Oath#Teaser|DVD commentary]] that timestamps were used to convey a faster pace to events. The identical timestamps may have been intended to convey that the two segments, despite the interruption and cutaway, were part of the same scene, and that the events of that scene were occurring at exactly the same time as the arrest of [[Sharon_Agathon|Sharon]] and [[Karl Agathon]], shown during the interruption and cutaway. | ||
== Analysis == | == Analysis == | ||
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots [[Noel Allison|Narcho]], [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Hamish McCall|Skulls]], [[Paolo McKay|Redwing]] and [[Diana Seelix]], marines [[Maldonaldo]] and [[Allan Nowart|Nowart]], specialists [[Vireem]] and [[Gage]], Captain [[Aaron Kelly]], and civilian [[Charlie Connor]]. In this episode, Maldonaldo is killed by Adama, Skulls is shot and wounded by Kara Thrace, and Nowart is captured and later released by Adama. | *Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots [[Noel Allison|Narcho]], [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Hamish McCall|Skulls]], [[Paolo McKay|Redwing]] and [[Diana Seelix]], marines [[Maldonaldo]] and [[Allan Nowart|Nowart]], specialists [[Vireem]] and [[Gage]], Captain [[Aaron Kelly]], and civilian [[Charlie Connor]]. In this episode, Maldonaldo is killed by Adama, Skulls is shot and wounded by Kara Thrace, and Nowart is captured and later released by Adama. | ||
*The Adama/Roslin loyalists include [[Saul Tigh]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Kara Thrace]], [[Galen Tyrol]], | *The Adama/Roslin loyalists include [[Saul Tigh]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Kara Thrace]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Helo]], [[Athena]], and [[Hoshi]]. [[Gaius Baltar]] has also sided with Roslin out of self-preservation. By the end of the episode, the only known characters on ''Galactica'' capable of retaking the ship are Lee Adama, Kara Thrace, and Galen Tyrol. Roslin and Baltar have fled ''Galactica'', Admiral Adama and Saul Tigh are cornered, and Helo, Athena and Hoshi were captured before they even knew what was happening. | ||
*Among those whose status is unclear is | *Among those whose status is unclear is [[Hot Dog]], who is flying a patrol as the mutiny erupts, and Doctor [[Cottle]], who is not seen. Also not seen is [[Tory Foster]]. | ||
*In the previous episode, [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]], Gaeta begrudgingly berates Kara Thrace for her role in his would-have-been execution at the hands of the circle, along with two other [[The Circle|Circle]] members who have since been revealed to be Cylons. However, this is clearly an act, as both of the remaining living Circle members, [[Diana Seelix]] and [[Charlie Connor]] ([[Jean Barolay]] was killed some time ago), are part of his mutiny, not to mention Tom Zarek was the man who instituted the Circle in the first place (though Gaeta may not know that detail). | *In the previous episode, [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]], Gaeta begrudgingly berates Kara Thrace for her role in his would-have-been execution at the hands of the circle, along with two other [[The Circle|Circle]] members who have since been revealed to be Cylons. However, this is clearly an act, as both of the remaining living Circle members, [[Diana Seelix]] and [[Charlie Connor]] ([[Jean Barolay]] was killed some time ago), are part of his mutiny, not to mention Tom Zarek was the man who instituted the Circle in the first place (though Gaeta may not know that detail). | ||
*The mutiny seems to have revitalized Kara Thrace and Laura Roslin. Thrace is the first one to organize any form of resistance against the mutineers. Roslin has openly addressed the Fleet for the first time since the discovery of Earth. | *The mutiny seems to have revitalized Kara Thrace and Laura Roslin. Thrace is the first one to organize any form of resistance against the mutineers. Roslin has openly addressed the Fleet for the first time since the discovery of Earth. | ||
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* "It's been an honor serving with you," appears to be Adama's preferred final words; he stated the same when he believed his and his crew's deaths were imminent in "Exodus part 2". | * "It's been an honor serving with you," appears to be Adama's preferred final words; he stated the same when he believed his and his crew's deaths were imminent in "Exodus part 2". | ||
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line toward the Cylons still held by the younger Adama, which has been displayed in earlier episodes such as "[[A Measure of Salvation]]" when he proposed a genocidal biological attack on the Cylons. Despite this Lee tempers his feelings with his pragmatic attitude to the Cylon alliance alongside his loyalty to Roslin and his father, noting that it is all they have left to survive. However, despite this, he expresses gratitude and no hostility to Galen Tyrol when he gives Lee and Roslin the news of the Admiral being transported to the brig and offers to get the Admiral off the ship. | *Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line toward the Cylons still held by the younger Adama, which has been displayed in earlier episodes such as "[[A Measure of Salvation]]" when he proposed a genocidal biological attack on the Cylons. Despite this Lee tempers his feelings with his pragmatic attitude to the Cylon alliance alongside his loyalty to Roslin and his father, noting that it is all they have left to survive. However, despite this, he expresses gratitude and no hostility to Galen Tyrol when he gives Lee and Roslin the news of the Admiral being transported to the brig and offers to get the Admiral off the ship. | ||
*Baltar attempts to blackmail Gaeta into abandoning the mutiny by reminding him of his knowledge of Gaeta's complicity in the deaths of Resistance members on [[New Caprica]]. Ironically in a broad manner, they were victims of similar circumstances. Both were victims of duplicitous Cylon females who using sexual affection were able to get them to pass them sensitive secret information and use it against humanity. In the case of Baltar, he gave [[Caprica | *Baltar attempts to blackmail Gaeta into abandoning the mutiny by reminding him of his knowledge of Gaeta's complicity in the deaths of Resistance members on [[New Caprica]]. Ironically in a broad manner, they were victims of similar circumstances. Both were victims of duplicitous Cylon females who using sexual affection were able to get them to pass them sensitive secret information and use it against humanity. In the case of Baltar, he gave [[Caprica Six]] the back door codes to the Colonial defense systems allowing the Cylons to shut it down, resulting in the deaths of billions of people. In the case of Gaeta, he gave the names of Resistance members to an [[Eight]] he was having an affair with and who he believed was aiding the humans. In reality, she was responsible for the deaths of many of those on the list he gave her to help. The two main differences between the two situations are that Baltar didn't know Caprica Six was a Cylon while Gaeta did and Baltar's mistake resulted in billions dying instead of the relative few in Gaeta's case. | ||
*No one referenced Felix Gaeta's being complicit in the | *No one referenced Felix Gaeta's being complicit in the [[Karl Agathon]]-led mutiny on the ''[[Demetrius]]'', the ship Admiral Adama gave Kara Thrace to command to find an alternative route to Earth. Everyone seemed surprised that Gaeta would mutiny and lead a rebellion against the Admiral. President Roslin said to Baltar "who would have thought" that it would be Gaeta? This would seem to indicate that certainly Roslin and Baltar, and very likely Adama, Tigh and others who weren't aboard the ''Demetrius'', do not know of the incident. It would also indicate that the crew of the ''Demetrius'' - including those who opposed Agathon and Gaeta, like Kara Thrace and Samuel Anders - thought it was in their self-interest to keep the incident to themselves. | ||
*It has been argued that Gaeta had also committed mutiny before when aiding Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' when it was commanded by Colonel Tigh during "[[Resistance]]". However, since the Colonial government seems to be much like the real world US government and other democracies it is highly likely that the actions of then Commander Adama in seizing control of the civilian government was the mutinous act and Gaeta and Lee Adama acted in ''defiance'' of a mutiny, which is actually the lawful thing to do. | *It has been argued that Gaeta had also committed mutiny before when aiding Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' when it was commanded by Colonel Tigh during "[[Resistance]]". However, since the Colonial government seems to be much like the real world US government and other democracies it is highly likely that the actions of then Commander Adama in seizing control of the civilian government was the mutinous act and Gaeta and Lee Adama acted in ''defiance'' of a mutiny, which is actually the lawful thing to do. | ||
*"Semper Fidelis" is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. It is a Latin phrase meaning "always faithful." Kara Thrace's disgusted paraphrase of it after she had witnessed marines breaking faith with Adama suggests that the Colonial Marine Corps may have adopted the same motto. | *"Semper Fidelis" is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. It is a Latin phrase meaning "always faithful." Kara Thrace's disgusted paraphrase of it after she had witnessed marines breaking faith with Adama suggests that the Colonial Marine Corps may have adopted the same motto. | ||
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*Ironically, Baltar, who had asked the question of whether the leaders of the Fleet will ever be anyone without the name Adama or Roslin, has sided with the Adamas and Roslin out of his need for self-preservation. | *Ironically, Baltar, who had asked the question of whether the leaders of the Fleet will ever be anyone without the name Adama or Roslin, has sided with the Adamas and Roslin out of his need for self-preservation. | ||
*Gaeta does not seem to have a large number of ''Galactica''{{'|s}} senior staff on his side during the mutiny, lines of dialogue in the episode indicate the senior staff are in fact being taken into custody, suggesting the mutiny is more of an uprising of the "lower classes" . Notably Gaeta also relies heavily on civilian support to achieve his goals. Certainly none of the major characters in the show who are senior officers support Gaeta. | *Gaeta does not seem to have a large number of ''Galactica''{{'|s}} senior staff on his side during the mutiny, lines of dialogue in the episode indicate the senior staff are in fact being taken into custody, suggesting the mutiny is more of an uprising of the "lower classes" . Notably Gaeta also relies heavily on civilian support to achieve his goals. Certainly none of the major characters in the show who are senior officers support Gaeta. | ||
*Racetrack is perhaps the most surprising member of Gaeta's mutiny. Although she did previously participate in Lee Adama and Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]], | *Racetrack is perhaps the most surprising member of Gaeta's mutiny. Although she did previously participate in Lee Adama and Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]", she has always displayed an unwavering loyalty to Adama (technically speaking, Tigh was commanding ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]"). While her general participation in the mutiny can be explained by her natural hatred for the Cylons, her willingness to lead Lee Adama into a possibly fatal trap was highly uncharacteristic. It is possible she thought Lee Adama would only be taken prisoner upon arrival. | ||
*Given Gaeta's comment to Zarek that he should control Lee Adama's dissenting voice in the Quorum by "pushing his buttons" it seems unlikely that Gaeta would have then ordered Lee Adama executed upon returning to the ship. The actions of Connor and Skulls and the marine guard were possibly a spontaneous reaction to Lee's role in defending Baltar and supporting his father. It is unknown if Zarek gave the order to have the younger Adama killed. | *Given Gaeta's comment to Zarek that he should control Lee Adama's dissenting voice in the Quorum by "pushing his buttons" it seems unlikely that Gaeta would have then ordered Lee Adama executed upon returning to the ship. The actions of Connor and Skulls and the marine guard were possibly a spontaneous reaction to Lee's role in defending Baltar and supporting his father. It is unknown if Zarek gave the order to have the younger Adama killed. | ||
*Gaeta's opposition to allowing the Cylons to network the Fleet's ships is somewhat ironic given that he was the one who suggested networking ''Galactica'''s computer systems in "[[Scattered]]". | *Gaeta's opposition to allowing the Cylons to network the Fleet's ships is somewhat ironic given that he was the one who suggested networking ''Galactica'''s computer systems in "[[Scattered]]". | ||
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* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]] | * [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]] | ||
* [[Alain Chanoine]] as Marine Reb | * [[Alain Chanoine]] as Marine Reb | ||
== References == | == References == | ||