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Someone to Watch Over Me

2012-08-18T19:48:55Z

AlanHK: /* Galactica's condition */ formatting, condense

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
| hulu=y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| amazon=Y
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== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] rediscovers a memory of a [[The Music|musical piece]] taught by [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]], while [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] awaits her fate at the hands of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons, who want to execute her for treason.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: the Cylons are going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''Galactica'' continues to experience tremors and power fluctuations all across the ship.
* Kara, Doc Cottle, and the Cylons are observing Anders, who is still not conscious despite showing brain activity. Cottle has no explanation for any of this.
* When the Cylons theorize that Anders' brain is "rebooting," Cottle tells them that he does not want to hear their "quack" ideas. He also tells Kara that it is time to "move on" with her life.
* After Cottle leaves, Kara starts to cry.
* In Joe's Bar, Kara complains to the piano player about performing "the same lame-ass song" over and over. He counters, saying that he has been in the process of composing for four days, and that his music is meant to bring beauty to a terrible existence. Kara reacts angrily, asking him rhetorically whether his music stopped one bomb during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
* Human and Cylon workers are struggling to repair ''Galactica''. Tyrol looks up from his own work and stares at a Cylon Eight. He recalls moments spent with Boomer, good and bad. In his mind, he asks, "How many of us ended up with the people we really wanted to be with?"
* Kara visits Helo's quarters, who surprises her with a box of Kara's belongings, found and bought and stolen back over the past few months since her return. She takes only one item from the box, a cassette tape labeled "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House." Before Kara leaves, Hera hands her a crayon drawing of stars.
* Tyrol visits Boomer in the reinforced brig reserved for Cylons. The two look at each other tentatively for a moment before beginning to talk. Boomer explains New Caprica as a "way to set things right" with Tyrol after her shooting of William Adama. They both admit thinking about one another on a daily basis. Boomer puts her hand on the glass. Tyrol reaches out--and is instantly transported to the house they had planned to build on Picon after mustering out of the Colonial Fleet. Tyrol is confused and angered by the illusion, disconnects from Boomer, and runs away.

=== Act 2 ===
* On another night, Kara listens to Slick play again. She applauds his work, and offers him a mix of praise and criticism. She perceives the music as conveying a sense of loss, of trying to catch someone who is moving away too fast.
* Tyrol asks for help from the Five to save Boomer from execution. They refuse, with Ellen Tigh telling him that they will not set themselves up as gods for the rebel Cylons.
* Later, Tyrol visits Boomer again. She tells him that the house in her projection was a "secret retreat" that she built in her mind and visited on a daily basis after being shot by [[Cally]]. The two talk about the extensive plans they had made for building the house; Boomer calls the Chief's planning "obsessive," but he describes them as "thorough." He reaches through the wire mesh, and Boomer places her hand to the glass. Tyrol looks around the house, appreciates it and Boomer's company--and then finds signs of a child, [[Dionne Tyrol|their daughter]]. He goes into their child's room and sits with her. Outside the projection, he laughs and cries happily.
* Back in the bar, Slick announces that the first movement is finished. He starts the second, with Kara accusing him of stealing material from Nomion's 3rd Sonata. She sits with Slick, talking about her father teaching her to play the piano and her pleasant memories of the experience, particularly a song that made her "happy and sad at the same time."

=== Act 3 ===
* The flight deck is completely empty, except for Starbuck (wearing a [[flight suit]]) and a blond girl playing a piano. Starbuck slowly approaches the girl from behind, places a hand on her sholder, and turns her around. Instead of the girl's face, she sees her own burned remains – and bolts awake, covered in sweat.
* Holding her recovered dog tags, Starbuck tells Slick about the experience of finding her body on Earth. Slick claims to be unable to answer her questions. She goes on to say that the search for Earth gave her clarity and focus, but since discovering the planet and abandoning it, she feels lost again. Slick tells her that sometimes "lost is where you need to be."
* Tyrol pleads with Roslin for Boomer's life. Roslin abruptly tells him to stop, reminding him that Boomer preys on personal feelings, and that by asking for a personal favor from her, Tyrol is doing the same thing. She signs the order turning Boomer over to the rebel Cylons, and curtly dismisses him.
* At one of the repair sites, Tyrol stares at an Eight who is busy applying the Cylon resin. He grabs a wrench. The lights go out, and mixed in with the sounds of people yelling is a heavy thump.
* Slick hits a wall in his composing. Starbuck and Slick talk about him leaving his family because his wife wanted him to quit music. Starbuck scolds him for ditching his family just like her own father did.
* Tyrol helps the guards in the brig to reactivate the security cameras following the blackout. The unconscious, or dead, Eight has taken Boomer's place in her cot.
* Slick assures Starbuck that her father left her something valuable: the ability to play the piano. At first, Starbuck refuses to play, but she is coaxed by Slick to play a few hesitant notes. She tears up, stops playing, and asks him to play. He agrees to play if she does.
* In the locker room, Athena finishes washing up when an Eight walks in. She believes it is someone assigned to fixing the shower, but then she turns to face the Eight and instantly recognizes her: "Boomer." Before Athena can do anything else, Boomer punches her in the face. Athena's head hits the sink hard and she falls to the floor. Boomer continues to pummel her.

=== Act 4 ===
* Boomer finishes washing blood off her hands when Helo comes into the locker room. She tries to pull away when Helo suggests an intimate moment before she leaves on her recon mission, but she eventually gives in. Boomer and Helo continue having sex. In a stall, Athena, bound and gagged, slowly comes back to consciousness and sees the two through the slightly opened door.
* In Joe's, Saul Tigh tells Ellen Tigh and Tory Foster about the pain of seeing Liam after Caprica Six's miscarriage.
* Slick realizes where Starbuck's hesitant music is going and writes a few notes. Starbuck realizes that his notes line up perfectly with the stars in Hera' drawing. The two resume playing, and the music flows more confidently. Saul, Ellen, and Tory stop their conversation and listen to the music.
* Dressed in a flight suit, Boomer finds Hera in the day care center, and encourages her to drink something on the way out.
* Tyrol helps Boomer to lift a box onto a waiting raptor. She tries convincing him to come, but he turns her down, assuring her that they will meet again in the future.
* Slick and Starbuck play the music faster and stronger – until it becomes [[The Music]]. Once the piece is finished, the three who were listening to Starbuck appear next to her demand to know how she was able to play it. She tells them it was something she had learned as a child. Slick is nowhere to be seen.
* As Helo gives a briefing on combat tactics, Athena, bloodied and weak, crawls into the room. She tells Helo what happened. Helo orders the others to get medical help and to contact CIC. He tries to comfort Athena, but she yells in anguish and hits him.
* Boomer waits for departure clearance in the port flight pod. Suspecting that she has been caught, she starts the raptor's engines. Adama threatens to shoot her down, but she warns him that he will not be willing to fire on a raptor carrying Hera. As she spools up the raptor's FTL, Adama orders the flight pods retracted. She launches, racing toward the narrowing gap and clearing it, but clipping the raptor in the process. She jumps away close to ''Galactica'''s hull. The jump rips a hole in the battlestar, shakes the ship violently, and triggers power outages and explosions seemingly everywhere.
* In Adama's quarters, Roslin whispers, "Hera," and collapses.
* Tyrol spots Helo and Athena arguing with a guard. He is horrified to learn that Boomer has kidnapped Hera.
* In the day care center, Ellen tells Saul that her escape from [[Cavil]] had been a ploy, nothing more than a way of getting Boomer close enough to abduct Hera. They wonder aloud about how Hera and the music, and whether Sam can help.
* In sickbay, Starbuck plays a tape of her father's music for Sam, and lies next to him.
* The Chief runs frantically through ''Galactica''. In the projected version of the house built by Boomer, he runs through all the rooms, and finds no one.

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EEG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished. In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
*The seven notes that Slick plays over and over again after completing his 1st movement — identified by Kara as "[[Nomion's 3rd Sonata]], second movement" — was actually used in the [[Original Series]] as the somewhat sinister sounding fanfare of the "Exploration Theme" which served as the intro to "[[Saga of a Star World]]". This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshit toothpaste."
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to join the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeably after the two married.

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' – which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now – particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]] – as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ship's hull – or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot concept now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects – though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling.
** A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. If the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't have come up.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive – more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===Boomer's actions===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would have recognized Boomer if she only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smelled good, not different, and she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willingness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C.
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could have been projection.

===The Seven and the Five===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the loss of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically, but in the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]," it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing."
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits without insignia and none is addressed by rank.
* Many of the Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs. For example, at the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see. Likewise, Helo addresses one as "Six" when ordering her to fetch a medic.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction. However, a true death sentence could have been accomplished earlier simply by executing a prisoner after jumping out of resurrection range.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Will Boomer take Hera to Cavil? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* Why does Cavil want Hera? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Answer]])
* Why did Boomer sleep with Helo? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the source of Starbuck's visions of her father? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be discovered? How will Athena and Helo react? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What is Roslin's physical status after collapsing at the end of the episode? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* How does Roslin know of Hera's abduction without being informed? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* What was Boomer writing in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum?
* Why did nobody say anything about Kara talking to herself before Saul, Ellen, Galen, and Tory realised what she was playing?
* If FTL drives cause spacial distortions with the potential to significantly damage ships, then why hasn't the FTL drive been weaponized by either side?
*In "[[Rapture]]", Hera recognizes Athena as her mother even though they had been separated since her birth and even though Boomer had been caring for her. Has Hera lost that ability, or did she recognize Boomer and go with her anyway?

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:'''Saul''': Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

*''Cottle gives a response to the Cylons' observations about Anders' condition:''

:'''Cottle''': The last thing we need is you jerking our chains with a lot of quack ideas. So why don't you take them someplace else?

*'''Slick''' ''(to Starbuck)'': Listen. It may feel like hell, but sometimes lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Kaine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

[[de:Der Pianomann]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2012-08-18T19:41:51Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
| hulu=y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| amazon=Y
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] rediscovers a memory of a [[The Music|musical piece]] taught by [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]], while [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] awaits her fate at the hands of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons, who want to execute her for treason.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: the Cylons are going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''Galactica'' continues to experience tremors and power fluctuations all across the ship.
* Kara, Doc Cottle, and the Cylons are observing Anders, who is still not conscious despite showing brain activity. Cottle has no explanation for any of this.
* When the Cylons theorize that Anders' brain is "rebooting," Cottle tells them that he does not want to hear their "quack" ideas. He also tells Kara that it is time to "move on" with her life.
* After Cottle leaves, Kara starts to cry.
* In Joe's Bar, Kara complains to the piano player about performing "the same lame-ass song" over and over. He counters, saying that he has been in the process of composing for four days, and that his music is meant to bring beauty to a terrible existence. Kara reacts angrily, asking him rhetorically whether his music stopped one bomb during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
* Human and Cylon workers are struggling to repair ''Galactica''. Tyrol looks up from his own work and stares at a Cylon Eight. He recalls moments spent with Boomer, good and bad. In his mind, he asks, "How many of us ended up with the people we really wanted to be with?"
* Kara visits Helo's quarters, who surprises her with a box of Kara's belongings, found and bought and stolen back over the past few months since her return. She takes only one item from the box, a cassette tape labeled "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House." Before Kara leaves, Hera hands her a crayon drawing of stars.
* Tyrol visits Boomer in the reinforced brig reserved for Cylons. The two look at each other tentatively for a moment before beginning to talk. Boomer explains New Caprica as a "way to set things right" with Tyrol after her shooting of William Adama. They both admit thinking about one another on a daily basis. Boomer puts her hand on the glass. Tyrol reaches out--and is instantly transported to the house they had planned to build on Picon after mustering out of the Colonial Fleet. Tyrol is confused and angered by the illusion, disconnects from Boomer, and runs away.

=== Act 2 ===
* On another night, Kara listens to Slick play again. She applauds his work, and offers him a mix of praise and criticism. She perceives the music as conveying a sense of loss, of trying to catch someone who is moving away too fast.
* Tyrol asks for help from the Five to save Boomer from execution. They refuse, with Ellen Tigh telling him that they will not set themselves up as gods for the rebel Cylons.
* Later, Tyrol visits Boomer again. She tells him that the house in her projection was a "secret retreat" that she built in her mind and visited on a daily basis after being shot by [[Cally]]. The two talk about the extensive plans they had made for building the house; Boomer calls the Chief's planning "obsessive," but he describes them as "thorough." He reaches through the wire mesh, and Boomer places her hand to the glass. Tyrol looks around the house, appreciates it and Boomer's company--and then finds signs of a child, [[Dionne Tyrol|their daughter]]. He goes into their child's room and sits with her. Outside the projection, he laughs and cries happily.
* Back in the bar, Slick announces that the first movement is finished. He starts the second, with Kara accusing him of stealing material from Nomion's 3rd Sonata. She sits with Slick, talking about her father teaching her to play the piano and her pleasant memories of the experience, particularly a song that made her "happy and sad at the same time."

=== Act 3 ===
* The flight deck is completely empty, except for Starbuck (wearing a [[flight suit]]) and a blond girl playing a piano. Starbuck slowly approaches the girl from behind, places a hand on her sholder, and turns her around. Instead of the girl's face, she sees her own burned remains – and bolts awake, covered in sweat.
* Holding her recovered dog tags, Starbuck tells Slick about the experience of finding her body on Earth. Slick claims to be unable to answer her questions. She goes on to say that the search for Earth gave her clarity and focus, but since discovering the planet and abandoning it, she feels lost again. Slick tells her that sometimes "lost is where you need to be."
* Tyrol pleads with Roslin for Boomer's life. Roslin abruptly tells him to stop, reminding him that Boomer preys on personal feelings, and that by asking for a personal favor from her, Tyrol is doing the same thing. She signs the order turning Boomer over to the rebel Cylons, and curtly dismisses him.
* At one of the repair sites, Tyrol stares at an Eight who is busy applying the Cylon resin. He grabs a wrench. The lights go out, and mixed in with the sounds of people yelling is a heavy thump.
* Slick hits a wall in his composing. Starbuck and Slick talk about him leaving his family because his wife wanted him to quit music. Starbuck scolds him for ditching his family just like her own father did.
* Tyrol helps the guards in the brig to reactivate the security cameras following the blackout. The unconscious, or dead, Eight has taken Boomer's place in her cot.
* Slick assures Starbuck that her father left her something valuable: the ability to play the piano. At first, Starbuck refuses to play, but she is coaxed by Slick to play a few hesitant notes. She tears up, stops playing, and asks him to play. He agrees to play if she does.
* In the locker room, Athena finishes washing up when an Eight walks in. She believes it is someone assigned to fixing the shower, but then she turns to face the Eight and instantly recognizes her: "Boomer." Before Athena can do anything else, Boomer punches her in the face. Athena's head hits the sink hard and she falls to the floor. Boomer continues to pummel her.

=== Act 4 ===
* Boomer finishes washing blood off her hands when Helo comes into the locker room. She tries to pull away when Helo suggests an intimate moment before she leaves on her recon mission, but she eventually gives in. Boomer and Helo continue having sex. In a stall, Athena, bound and gagged, slowly comes back to consciousness and sees the two through the slightly opened door.
* In Joe's, Saul Tigh tells Ellen Tigh and Tory Foster about the pain of seeing Liam after Caprica Six's miscarriage.
* Slick realizes where Starbuck's hesitant music is going and writes a few notes. Starbuck realizes that his notes line up perfectly with the stars in Hera' drawing. The two resume playing, and the music flows more confidently. Saul, Ellen, and Tory stop their conversation and listen to the music.
* Dressed in a flight suit, Boomer finds Hera in the day care center, and encourages her to drink something on the way out.
* Tyrol helps Boomer to lift a box onto a waiting raptor. She tries convincing him to come, but he turns her down, assuring her that they will meet again in the future.
* Slick and Starbuck play the music faster and stronger – until it becomes [[The Music]]. Once the piece is finished, the three who were listening to Starbuck appear next to her demand to know how she was able to play it. She tells them it was something she had learned as a child. Slick is nowhere to be seen.
* As Helo gives a briefing on combat tactics, Athena, bloodied and weak, crawls into the room. She tells Helo what happened. Helo orders the others to get medical help and to contact CIC. He tries to comfort Athena, but she yells in anguish and hits him.
* Boomer waits for departure clearance in the port flight pod. Suspecting that she has been caught, she starts the raptor's engines. Adama threatens to shoot her down, but she warns him that he will not be willing to fire on a raptor carrying Hera. As she spools up the raptor's FTL, Adama orders the flight pods retracted. She launches, racing toward the narrowing gap and clearing it, but clipping the raptor in the process. She jumps away close to ''Galactica'''s hull. The jump rips a hole in the battlestar, shakes the ship violently, and triggers power outages and explosions seemingly everywhere.
* In Adama's quarters, Roslin whispers, "Hera," and collapses.
* Tyrol spots Helo and Athena arguing with a guard. He is horrified to learn that Boomer has kidnapped Hera.
* In the day care center, Ellen tells Saul that her escape from [[Cavil]] had been a ploy, nothing more than a way of getting Boomer close enough to abduct Hera. They wonder aloud about how Hera and the music, and whether Sam can help.
* In sickbay, Starbuck plays a tape of her father's music for Sam, and lies next to him.
* The Chief runs frantically through ''Galactica''. In the projected version of the house built by Boomer, he runs through all the rooms, and finds no one.

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EEG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished. In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
*The seven notes that Slick plays over and over again after completing his 1st movement — identified by Kara as "[[Nomion's 3rd Sonata]], second movement" — was actually used in the [[Original Series]] as the somewhat sinister sounding fanfare of the "Exploration Theme" which served as the intro to "[[Saga of a Star World]]". This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshit toothpaste."
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to join the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeably after the two married.

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull — or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot concept now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects — though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that smaller objects should feel much less shear in the wash of another nearby ship jumping. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. That's how the microfractures developed. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. If the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't have come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===Boomer's actions===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would have recognized Boomer if she only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smelled good, not different, and she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willingness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C.
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could have been projection.

===The Seven and the Five===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the loss of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically, but in the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]," it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing."
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits without insignia and none is addressed by rank.
* Many of the Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs. For example, at the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see. Likewise, Helo addresses one as "Six" when ordering her to fetch a medic.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction. However, a true death sentence could have been accomplished earlier simply by executing a prisoner after jumping out of resurrection range.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Will Boomer take Hera to Cavil? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* Why does Cavil want Hera? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Answer]])
* Why did Boomer sleep with Helo? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the source of Starbuck's visions of her father? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be discovered? How will Athena and Helo react? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What is Roslin's physical status after collapsing at the end of the episode? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* How does Roslin know of Hera's abduction without being informed? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* What was Boomer writing in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum?
* Why did nobody say anything about Kara talking to herself before Saul, Ellen, Galen, and Tory realised what she was playing?
* If FTL drives cause spacial distortions with the potential to significantly damage ships, then why hasn't the FTL drive been weaponized by either side?
*In "[[Rapture]]", Hera recognizes Athena as her mother even though they had been separated since her birth and even though Boomer had been caring for her. Has Hera lost that ability, or did she recognize Boomer and go with her anyway?

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:'''Saul''': Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

*''Cottle gives a response to the Cylons' observations about Anders' condition:''

:'''Cottle''': The last thing we need is you jerking our chains with a lot of quack ideas. So why don't you take them someplace else?

*'''Slick''' ''(to Starbuck)'': Listen. It may feel like hell, but sometimes lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Kaine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

[[de:Der Pianomann]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2012-08-18T19:38:27Z

AlanHK: /* Act 4 */

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
| hulu=y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| amazon=Y
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] rediscovers a memory of a [[The Music|musical piece]] taught by [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]], while [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] awaits her fate at the hands of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons, who want to execute her for treason.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: the Cylons are going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''Galactica'' continues to experience tremors and power fluctuations all across the ship.
* Kara, Doc Cottle, and the Cylons are observing Anders, who is still not conscious despite showing brain activity. Cottle has no explanation for any of this.
* When the Cylons theorize that Anders' brain is "rebooting," Cottle tells them that he does not want to hear their "quack" ideas. He also tells Kara that it is time to "move on" with her life.
* After Cottle leaves, Kara starts to cry.
* In Joe's Bar, Kara complains to the piano player about performing "the same lame-ass song" over and over. He counters, saying that he has been in the process of composing for four days, and that his music is meant to bring beauty to a terrible existence. Kara reacts angrily, asking him rhetorically whether his music stopped one bomb during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
* Human and Cylon workers are struggling to repair ''Galactica''. Tyrol looks up from his own work and stares at a Cylon Eight. He recalls moments spent with Boomer, good and bad. In his mind, he asks, "How many of us ended up with the people we really wanted to be with?"
* Kara visits Helo's quarters, who surprises her with a box of Kara's belongings, found and bought and stolen back over the past few months since her return. She takes only one item from the box, a cassette tape labeled "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House." Before Kara leaves, Hera hands her a crayon drawing of stars.
* Tyrol visits Boomer in the reinforced brig reserved for Cylons. The two look at each other tentatively for a moment before beginning to talk. Boomer explains New Caprica as a "way to set things right" with Tyrol after her shooting of William Adama. They both admit thinking about one another on a daily basis. Boomer puts her hand on the glass. Tyrol reaches out--and is instantly transported to the house they had planned to build on Picon after mustering out of the Colonial Fleet. Tyrol is confused and angered by the illusion, disconnects from Boomer, and runs away.

=== Act 2 ===
* On another night, Kara listens to Slick play again. She applauds his work, and offers him a mix of praise and criticism. She perceives the music as conveying a sense of loss, of trying to catch someone who is moving away too fast.
* Tyrol asks for help from the Five to save Boomer from execution. They refuse, with Ellen Tigh telling him that they will not set themselves up as gods for the rebel Cylons.
* Later, Tyrol visits Boomer again. She tells him that the house in her projection was a "secret retreat" that she built in her mind and visited on a daily basis after being shot by [[Cally]]. The two talk about the extensive plans they had made for building the house; Boomer calls the Chief's planning "obsessive," but he describes them as "thorough." He reaches through the wire mesh, and Boomer places her hand to the glass. Tyrol looks around the house, appreciates it and Boomer's company--and then finds signs of a child, [[Dionne Tyrol|their daughter]]. He goes into their child's room and sits with her. Outside the projection, he laughs and cries happily.
* Back in the bar, Slick announces that the first movement is finished. He starts the second, with Kara accusing him of stealing material from Nomion's 3rd Sonata. She sits with Slick, talking about her father teaching her to play the piano and her pleasant memories of the experience, particularly a song that made her "happy and sad at the same time."

=== Act 3 ===
* The flight deck is completely empty, except for Starbuck (wearing a [[flight suit]]) and a blond girl playing a piano. Starbuck slowly approaches the girl from behind, places a hand on her sholder, and turns her around. Instead of the girl's face, she sees her own burned remains – and bolts awake, covered in sweat.
* Holding her recovered dog tags, Starbuck tells Slick about the experience of finding her body on Earth. Slick claims to be unable to answer her questions. She goes on to say that the search for Earth gave her clarity and focus, but since discovering the planet and abandoning it, she feels lost again. Slick tells her that sometimes "lost is where you need to be."
* Tyrol pleads with Roslin for Boomer's life. Roslin abruptly tells him to stop, reminding him that Boomer preys on personal feelings, and that by asking for a personal favor from her, Tyrol is doing the same thing. She signs the order turning Boomer over to the rebel Cylons, and curtly dismisses him.
* At one of the repair sites, Tyrol stares at an Eight who is busy applying the Cylon resin. He grabs a wrench. The lights go out, and mixed in with the sounds of people yelling is a heavy thump.
* Slick hits a wall in his composing. Starbuck and Slick talk about him leaving his family because his wife wanted him to quit music. Starbuck scolds him for ditching his family just like her own father did.
* Tyrol helps the guards in the brig to reactivate the security cameras following the blackout. The unconscious, or dead, Eight has taken Boomer's place in her cot.
* Slick assures Starbuck that her father left her something valuable: the ability to play the piano. At first, Starbuck refuses to play, but she is coaxed by Slick to play a few hesitant notes. She tears up, stops playing, and asks him to play. He agrees to play if she does.
* In the locker room, Athena finishes washing up when an Eight walks in. She believes it is someone assigned to fixing the shower, but then she turns to face the Eight and instantly recognizes her: "Boomer." Before Athena can do anything else, Boomer punches her in the face. Athena's head hits the sink hard and she falls to the floor. Boomer continues to pummel her.

=== Act 4 ===
* Boomer finishes washing blood off her hands when Helo comes into the locker room. She tries to pull away when Helo suggests an intimate moment before she leaves on her recon mission, but she eventually gives in. Boomer and Helo continue having sex. In a stall, Athena, bound and gagged, slowly comes back to consciousness and sees the two through the slightly opened door.
* In Joe's, Saul Tigh tells Ellen Tigh and Tory Foster about the pain of seeing Liam after Caprica Six's miscarriage.
* Slick realizes where Starbuck's hesitant music is going and writes a few notes. Starbuck realizes that his notes line up perfectly with the stars in Hera' drawing. The two resume playing, and the music flows more confidently. Saul, Ellen, and Tory stop their conversation and listen to the music.
* Dressed in a flight suit, Boomer finds Hera in the day care center, and encourages her to drink something on the way out.
* Tyrol helps Boomer to lift a box onto a waiting raptor. She tries convincing him to come, but he turns her down, assuring her that they will meet again in the future.
* Slick and Starbuck play the music faster and stronger – until it becomes [[The Music]]. Once the piece is finished, the three who were listening to Starbuck appear next to her demand to know how she was able to play it. She tells them it was something she had learned as a child. Slick is nowhere to be seen.
* As Helo gives a briefing on combat tactics, Athena, bloodied and weak, crawls into the room. She tells Helo what happened. Helo orders the others to get medical help and to contact CIC. He tries to comfort Athena, but she yells in anguish and hits him.
* Boomer waits for departure clearance in the port flight pod. Suspecting that she has been caught, she starts the raptor's engines. Adama threatens to shoot her down, but she warns him that he will not be willing to fire on a raptor carrying Hera. As she spools up the raptor's FTL, Adama orders the flight pods retracted. She launches, racing toward the narrowing gap and clearing it, but clipping the raptor in the process. She jumps away close to ''Galactica'''s hull. The jump rips a hole in the battlestar, shakes the ship violently, and triggers power outages and explosions seemingly everywhere.
* In Adama's quarters, Roslin whispers, "Hera," and collapses.
* Tyrol spots Helo and Athena arguing with a guard. He is horrified to learn that Boomer has kidnapped Hera.
* In the day care center, Ellen tells Saul that her escape from [[Cavil]] had been a ploy, nothing more than a way of getting Boomer close enough to abduct Hera. They wonder aloud about how Hera and the music, and whether Sam can help.
* In sickbay, Starbuck plays a tape of her father's music for Sam, and lies next to him.
* The Chief runs frantically through ''Galactica''. In the projected version of the house built by Boomer, he runs through all the rooms, and finds no one.

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EEG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished, although exactly what that punishment is remains unknown.
** In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
*The seven notes that Slick plays over and over again after completing his 1st movement — identified by Kara as "[[Nomion's 3rd Sonata]], second movement" — was actually used in the [[Original Series]] as the somewhat sinister sounding fanfare of the "Exploration Theme" which served as the intro to "[[Saga of a Star World]]". This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshit toothpaste."
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to be elected to the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeably after the two married. Boomer's shared projection with Tyrol and their imaginary marriage may be the reason why she ceased calling him solely "Chief."

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull — or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot concept now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects — though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that smaller objects should feel much less shear in the wash of another nearby ship jumping. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. That's how the microfractures developed. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. If the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't have come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===Boomer's actions===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would have recognized Boomer if she only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smelled good, not different, and she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willingness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C.
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could have been projection.

===The Seven and the Five===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the loss of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically, but in the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]," it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing."
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits without insignia and none is addressed by rank.
* Many of the Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs. For example, at the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see. Likewise, Helo addresses one as "Six" when ordering her to fetch a medic.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction. However, a true death sentence could have been accomplished earlier simply by executing a prisoner after jumping out of resurrection range.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Will Boomer take Hera to Cavil? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* Why does Cavil want Hera? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Answer]])
* Why did Boomer sleep with Helo? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the source of Starbuck's visions of her father? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be discovered? How will Athena and Helo react? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What is Roslin's physical status after collapsing at the end of the episode? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* How does Roslin know of Hera's abduction without being informed? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* What was Boomer writing in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum?
* Why did nobody say anything about Kara talking to herself before Saul, Ellen, Galen, and Tory realised what she was playing?
* If FTL drives cause spacial distortions with the potential to significantly damage ships, then why hasn't the FTL drive been weaponized by either side?
*In "[[Rapture]]", Hera recognizes Athena as her mother even though they had been separated since her birth and even though Boomer had been caring for her. Has Hera lost that ability, or did she recognize Boomer and go with her anyway?

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:'''Saul''': Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

*''Cottle gives a response to the Cylons' observations about Anders' condition:''

:'''Cottle''': The last thing we need is you jerking our chains with a lot of quack ideas. So why don't you take them someplace else?

*'''Slick''' ''(to Starbuck)'': Listen. It may feel like hell, but sometimes lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Kaine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

[[de:Der Pianomann]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2012-08-18T19:37:27Z

AlanHK: /* Act 4 */

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
| hulu=y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D306574263%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| amazon=Y
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] rediscovers a memory of a [[The Music|musical piece]] taught by [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]], while [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] awaits her fate at the hands of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons, who want to execute her for treason.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: the Cylons are going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''Galactica'' continues to experience tremors and power fluctuations all across the ship.
* Kara, Doc Cottle, and the Cylons are observing Anders, who is still not conscious despite showing brain activity. Cottle has no explanation for any of this.
* When the Cylons theorize that Anders' brain is "rebooting," Cottle tells them that he does not want to hear their "quack" ideas. He also tells Kara that it is time to "move on" with her life.
* After Cottle leaves, Kara starts to cry.
* In Joe's Bar, Kara complains to the piano player about performing "the same lame-ass song" over and over. He counters, saying that he has been in the process of composing for four days, and that his music is meant to bring beauty to a terrible existence. Kara reacts angrily, asking him rhetorically whether his music stopped one bomb during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
* Human and Cylon workers are struggling to repair ''Galactica''. Tyrol looks up from his own work and stares at a Cylon Eight. He recalls moments spent with Boomer, good and bad. In his mind, he asks, "How many of us ended up with the people we really wanted to be with?"
* Kara visits Helo's quarters, who surprises her with a box of Kara's belongings, found and bought and stolen back over the past few months since her return. She takes only one item from the box, a cassette tape labeled "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House." Before Kara leaves, Hera hands her a crayon drawing of stars.
* Tyrol visits Boomer in the reinforced brig reserved for Cylons. The two look at each other tentatively for a moment before beginning to talk. Boomer explains New Caprica as a "way to set things right" with Tyrol after her shooting of William Adama. They both admit thinking about one another on a daily basis. Boomer puts her hand on the glass. Tyrol reaches out--and is instantly transported to the house they had planned to build on Picon after mustering out of the Colonial Fleet. Tyrol is confused and angered by the illusion, disconnects from Boomer, and runs away.

=== Act 2 ===
* On another night, Kara listens to Slick play again. She applauds his work, and offers him a mix of praise and criticism. She perceives the music as conveying a sense of loss, of trying to catch someone who is moving away too fast.
* Tyrol asks for help from the Five to save Boomer from execution. They refuse, with Ellen Tigh telling him that they will not set themselves up as gods for the rebel Cylons.
* Later, Tyrol visits Boomer again. She tells him that the house in her projection was a "secret retreat" that she built in her mind and visited on a daily basis after being shot by [[Cally]]. The two talk about the extensive plans they had made for building the house; Boomer calls the Chief's planning "obsessive," but he describes them as "thorough." He reaches through the wire mesh, and Boomer places her hand to the glass. Tyrol looks around the house, appreciates it and Boomer's company--and then finds signs of a child, [[Dionne Tyrol|their daughter]]. He goes into their child's room and sits with her. Outside the projection, he laughs and cries happily.
* Back in the bar, Slick announces that the first movement is finished. He starts the second, with Kara accusing him of stealing material from Nomion's 3rd Sonata. She sits with Slick, talking about her father teaching her to play the piano and her pleasant memories of the experience, particularly a song that made her "happy and sad at the same time."

=== Act 3 ===
* The flight deck is completely empty, except for Starbuck (wearing a [[flight suit]]) and a blond girl playing a piano. Starbuck slowly approaches the girl from behind, places a hand on her sholder, and turns her around. Instead of the girl's face, she sees her own burned remains – and bolts awake, covered in sweat.
* Holding her recovered dog tags, Starbuck tells Slick about the experience of finding her body on Earth. Slick claims to be unable to answer her questions. She goes on to say that the search for Earth gave her clarity and focus, but since discovering the planet and abandoning it, she feels lost again. Slick tells her that sometimes "lost is where you need to be."
* Tyrol pleads with Roslin for Boomer's life. Roslin abruptly tells him to stop, reminding him that Boomer preys on personal feelings, and that by asking for a personal favor from her, Tyrol is doing the same thing. She signs the order turning Boomer over to the rebel Cylons, and curtly dismisses him.
* At one of the repair sites, Tyrol stares at an Eight who is busy applying the Cylon resin. He grabs a wrench. The lights go out, and mixed in with the sounds of people yelling is a heavy thump.
* Slick hits a wall in his composing. Starbuck and Slick talk about him leaving his family because his wife wanted him to quit music. Starbuck scolds him for ditching his family just like her own father did.
* Tyrol helps the guards in the brig to reactivate the security cameras following the blackout. The unconscious, or dead, Eight has taken Boomer's place in her cot.
* Slick assures Starbuck that her father left her something valuable: the ability to play the piano. At first, Starbuck refuses to play, but she is coaxed by Slick to play a few hesitant notes. She tears up, stops playing, and asks him to play. He agrees to play if she does.
* In the locker room, Athena finishes washing up when an Eight walks in. She believes it is someone assigned to fixing the shower, but then she turns to face the Eight and instantly recognizes her: "Boomer." Before Athena can do anything else, Boomer punches her in the face. Athena's head hits the sink hard and she falls to the floor. Boomer continues to pummel her.

=== Act 4 ===
* Boomer finishes washing blood off her hands when Helo comes into the locker room. She tries to pull away when Helo suggests an intimate moment before she leaves on her recon mission, but she eventually gives in. Boomer and Helo continue having sex. In a stall, Athena, bound and gagged, slowly comes back to consciousness and sees the two through the slightly opened door.
* In Joe's, Saul Tigh tells Ellen Tigh and Tory Foster about the pain of seeing Liam after Caprica Six's miscarriage.
* Slick realizes where Starbuck's hesitant music is going and writes a few notes. Starbuck realizes that his notes line up perfectly with the stars in Hera' drawing. The two resume playing, and the music flows more confidently. Saul, Ellen, and Tory stop their conversation and listen to the music.
* Dressed in a flight suit, Boomer finds Hera in the day care center, and encourages her to drink something on the way out.
* Tyrol helps Boomer to lift a box onto a waiting raptor. She tries convincing him to come, but her turns her down, assuring her that they will meet again in the future.
* Slick and Starbuck play the music faster and stronger – until it becomes [[The Music]]. Once the piece is finished, the three who were listening to Starbuck appear next to her demand to know how she was able to play it. She tells them it was something she had learned as a child. Slick is nowhere to be seen.
* As Helo gives a briefing on combat tactics, Athena, bloodied and weak, crawls into the room. She tells Helo what happened. Helo orders the others to get medical help and to contact CIC. He tries to comfort Athena, but she yells in anguish and hits him.
* Boomer waits for departure clearance in the port flight pod. Suspecting that she has been caught, she starts the raptor's engines. Adama threatens to shoot her down, but she warns him that he will not be willing to fire on a raptor carrying Hera. As she spools up the raptor's FTL, Adama orders the flight pods retracted. She launches, racing toward the narrowing gap and clearing it, but clipping the raptor in the process. She jumps away close to ''Galactica'''s hull. The jump rips a hole in the battlestar, shakes the ship violently, and triggers power outages and explosions seemingly everywhere.
* In Adama's quarters, Roslin whispers, "Hera," and collapses.
* Tyrol spots Helo and Athena arguing with a guard. He is horrified to learn that Boomer has kidnapped Hera.
* In the day care center, Ellen tells Saul that her escape from [[Cavil]] had been a ploy, nothing more than a way of getting Boomer close enough to abduct Hera. They wonder aloud about how Hera and the music, and whether Sam can help.
* In sickbay, Starbuck plays a tape of her father's music for Sam, and lies next to him.
* The Chief runs frantically through ''Galactica''. In the projected version of the house built by Boomer, he runs through all the rooms, and finds no one.

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EEG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished, although exactly what that punishment is remains unknown.
** In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
*The seven notes that Slick plays over and over again after completing his 1st movement — identified by Kara as "[[Nomion's 3rd Sonata]], second movement" — was actually used in the [[Original Series]] as the somewhat sinister sounding fanfare of the "Exploration Theme" which served as the intro to "[[Saga of a Star World]]". This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshit toothpaste."
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to be elected to the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeably after the two married. Boomer's shared projection with Tyrol and their imaginary marriage may be the reason why she ceased calling him solely "Chief."

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull — or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot concept now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects — though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that smaller objects should feel much less shear in the wash of another nearby ship jumping. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. That's how the microfractures developed. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. If the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't have come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===Boomer's actions===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would have recognized Boomer if she only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smelled good, not different, and she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willingness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C.
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could have been projection.

===The Seven and the Five===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the loss of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically, but in the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]," it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing."
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits without insignia and none is addressed by rank.
* Many of the Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs. For example, at the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see. Likewise, Helo addresses one as "Six" when ordering her to fetch a medic.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction. However, a true death sentence could have been accomplished earlier simply by executing a prisoner after jumping out of resurrection range.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Will Boomer take Hera to Cavil? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* Why does Cavil want Hera? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Answer]])
* Why did Boomer sleep with Helo? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the source of Starbuck's visions of her father? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be discovered? How will Athena and Helo react? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What is Roslin's physical status after collapsing at the end of the episode? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* How does Roslin know of Hera's abduction without being informed? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* What was Boomer writing in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum?
* Why did nobody say anything about Kara talking to herself before Saul, Ellen, Galen, and Tory realised what she was playing?
* If FTL drives cause spacial distortions with the potential to significantly damage ships, then why hasn't the FTL drive been weaponized by either side?
*In "[[Rapture]]", Hera recognizes Athena as her mother even though they had been separated since her birth and even though Boomer had been caring for her. Has Hera lost that ability, or did she recognize Boomer and go with her anyway?

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:'''Saul''': Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

*''Cottle gives a response to the Cylons' observations about Anders' condition:''

:'''Cottle''': The last thing we need is you jerking our chains with a lot of quack ideas. So why don't you take them someplace else?

*'''Slick''' ''(to Starbuck)'': Listen. It may feel like hell, but sometimes lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Kaine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

[[de:Der Pianomann]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2012-08-18T19:34:42Z

AlanHK: /* Act 3 */

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
| hulu=y
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== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] rediscovers a memory of a [[The Music|musical piece]] taught by [[Dreilide Thrace|her father]], while [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] awaits her fate at the hands of the Colonials and the rebel Cylons, who want to execute her for treason.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: the Cylons are going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''Galactica'' continues to experience tremors and power fluctuations all across the ship.
* Kara, Doc Cottle, and the Cylons are observing Anders, who is still not conscious despite showing brain activity. Cottle has no explanation for any of this.
* When the Cylons theorize that Anders' brain is "rebooting," Cottle tells them that he does not want to hear their "quack" ideas. He also tells Kara that it is time to "move on" with her life.
* After Cottle leaves, Kara starts to cry.
* In Joe's Bar, Kara complains to the piano player about performing "the same lame-ass song" over and over. He counters, saying that he has been in the process of composing for four days, and that his music is meant to bring beauty to a terrible existence. Kara reacts angrily, asking him rhetorically whether his music stopped one bomb during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.
* Human and Cylon workers are struggling to repair ''Galactica''. Tyrol looks up from his own work and stares at a Cylon Eight. He recalls moments spent with Boomer, good and bad. In his mind, he asks, "How many of us ended up with the people we really wanted to be with?"
* Kara visits Helo's quarters, who surprises her with a box of Kara's belongings, found and bought and stolen back over the past few months since her return. She takes only one item from the box, a cassette tape labeled "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House." Before Kara leaves, Hera hands her a crayon drawing of stars.
* Tyrol visits Boomer in the reinforced brig reserved for Cylons. The two look at each other tentatively for a moment before beginning to talk. Boomer explains New Caprica as a "way to set things right" with Tyrol after her shooting of William Adama. They both admit thinking about one another on a daily basis. Boomer puts her hand on the glass. Tyrol reaches out--and is instantly transported to the house they had planned to build on Picon after mustering out of the Colonial Fleet. Tyrol is confused and angered by the illusion, disconnects from Boomer, and runs away.

=== Act 2 ===
* On another night, Kara listens to Slick play again. She applauds his work, and offers him a mix of praise and criticism. She perceives the music as conveying a sense of loss, of trying to catch someone who is moving away too fast.
* Tyrol asks for help from the Five to save Boomer from execution. They refuse, with Ellen Tigh telling him that they will not set themselves up as gods for the rebel Cylons.
* Later, Tyrol visits Boomer again. She tells him that the house in her projection was a "secret retreat" that she built in her mind and visited on a daily basis after being shot by [[Cally]]. The two talk about the extensive plans they had made for building the house; Boomer calls the Chief's planning "obsessive," but he describes them as "thorough." He reaches through the wire mesh, and Boomer places her hand to the glass. Tyrol looks around the house, appreciates it and Boomer's company--and then finds signs of a child, [[Dionne Tyrol|their daughter]]. He goes into their child's room and sits with her. Outside the projection, he laughs and cries happily.
* Back in the bar, Slick announces that the first movement is finished. He starts the second, with Kara accusing him of stealing material from Nomion's 3rd Sonata. She sits with Slick, talking about her father teaching her to play the piano and her pleasant memories of the experience, particularly a song that made her "happy and sad at the same time."

=== Act 3 ===
* The flight deck is completely empty, except for Starbuck (wearing a [[flight suit]]) and a blond girl playing a piano. Starbuck slowly approaches the girl from behind, places a hand on her sholder, and turns her around. Instead of the girl's face, she sees her own burned remains – and bolts awake, covered in sweat.
* Holding her recovered dog tags, Starbuck tells Slick about the experience of finding her body on Earth. Slick claims to be unable to answer her questions. She goes on to say that the search for Earth gave her clarity and focus, but since discovering the planet and abandoning it, she feels lost again. Slick tells her that sometimes "lost is where you need to be."
* Tyrol pleads with Roslin for Boomer's life. Roslin abruptly tells him to stop, reminding him that Boomer preys on personal feelings, and that by asking for a personal favor from her, Tyrol is doing the same thing. She signs the order turning Boomer over to the rebel Cylons, and curtly dismisses him.
* At one of the repair sites, Tyrol stares at an Eight who is busy applying the Cylon resin. He grabs a wrench. The lights go out, and mixed in with the sounds of people yelling is a heavy thump.
* Slick hits a wall in his composing. Starbuck and Slick talk about him leaving his family because his wife wanted him to quit music. Starbuck scolds him for ditching his family just like her own father did.
* Tyrol helps the guards in the brig to reactivate the security cameras following the blackout. The unconscious, or dead, Eight has taken Boomer's place in her cot.
* Slick assures Starbuck that her father left her something valuable: the ability to play the piano. At first, Starbuck refuses to play, but she is coaxed by Slick to play a few hesitant notes. She tears up, stops playing, and asks him to play. He agrees to play if she does.
* In the locker room, Athena finishes washing up when an Eight walks in. She believes it is someone assigned to fixing the shower, but then she turns to face the Eight and instantly recognizes her: "Boomer." Before Athena can do anything else, Boomer punches her in the face. Athena's head hits the sink hard and she falls to the floor. Boomer continues to pummel her.

=== Act 4 ===
* Boomer finishes washing blood off her hands when Helo comes into the locker room. She tries to pull away when Helo suggests an intimate moment before she leaves on her recon mission, but she eventually gives in. Boomer and Helo continue having sex. In a stall, Athena, bound and gagged, slowly comes back to consciousness and sees the two through the slightly opened door.
* In Joe's, Saul Tigh tells Ellen Tigh and Tory Foster about the pain of seeing Liam after Caprica Six's miscarriage.
* Slick realizes where Starbuck's hesitant music is going and writes a few notes. Starbuck realizes that his notes line up perfectly with the stars in Hera' drawing. The two resume playing, and the music flows more confidently. Saul, Ellen, and Tory stop their conversation and listen to the music.
* Dressed in a flight suit, Boomer finds Hera in the day care center, and encourages her to drink something on the way out.
* Tyrol helps Boomer to lift a box onto a waiting raptor. She tries convincing him to come, but her turns her down, assuring her that they will meet again in the future.
* Slick and Starbuck play the music faster and stronger--until it becomes The Music. Once the piece is finished, the three who were listening to Starbuck appear next to her demand to know how she was able to play it. She tells them it was something she had learned as a child. Slick is nowhere to be seen.
* As Helo gives a briefing on combat tactics, Athena, bloodied and weak, crawls into the room. She tells Helo what happened. Helo orders the others to get medical help and to contact CIC. He tries to comfort Athena, but she yells in anguish and hits him.
* Boomer waits for departure clearance in the port flight pod. Suspecting that she has been caught, she starts the raptor's engines. Adama threatens to shoot her down, but she warns him that he will not be willing to fire on a raptor carrying Hera. As she spools up the raptor's FTL, Adama orders the flight pods retracted. She launches, racing toward the narrowing gap and clearing it, but clipping the raptor in the process. She jumps away close to ''Galactica'''s hull. The jump rips a hole in the battlestar, shakes the ship violently, and triggers power outages and explosions seemingly everywhere.
* In Adama's quarters, Roslin whispers, "Hera," and collapses.
* Tyrol spots Helo and Athena arguing with a guard. He is horrified to learn that Boomer has kidnapped Hera.
* In the day care center, Ellen tells Saul that her escape from [[Cavil]] had been a ploy, nothing more than a way of getting Boomer close enough to abduct Hera. They wonder aloud about how Hera and the music, and whether Sam can help.
* In sickbay, Starbuck plays a tape of her father's music for Sam, and lies next to him.
* The Chief runs frantically through ''Galactica''. In the projected version of the house built by Boomer, he runs through all the rooms, and finds no one.

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of ''[[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EEG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished, although exactly what that punishment is remains unknown.
** In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
*The seven notes that Slick plays over and over again after completing his 1st movement — identified by Kara as "[[Nomion's 3rd Sonata]], second movement" — was actually used in the [[Original Series]] as the somewhat sinister sounding fanfare of the "Exploration Theme" which served as the intro to "[[Saga of a Star World]]". This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[Tauron (RDM)|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshit toothpaste."
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to be elected to the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeably after the two married. Boomer's shared projection with Tyrol and their imaginary marriage may be the reason why she ceased calling him solely "Chief."

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull — or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot concept now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects — though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that smaller objects should feel much less shear in the wash of another nearby ship jumping. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. That's how the microfractures developed. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. If the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't have come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===Boomer's actions===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would have recognized Boomer if she only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smelled good, not different, and she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willingness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C.
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could have been projection.

===The Seven and the Five===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the loss of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically, but in the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]," it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing."
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits without insignia and none is addressed by rank.
* Many of the Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs. For example, at the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see. Likewise, Helo addresses one as "Six" when ordering her to fetch a medic.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction. However, a true death sentence could have been accomplished earlier simply by executing a prisoner after jumping out of resurrection range.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Will Boomer take Hera to Cavil? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* Why does Cavil want Hera? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Answer]])
* Why did Boomer sleep with Helo? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the source of Starbuck's visions of her father? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be discovered? How will Athena and Helo react? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What is Roslin's physical status after collapsing at the end of the episode? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])
* How does Roslin know of Hera's abduction without being informed? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Partial Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* What was Boomer writing in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum?
* Why did nobody say anything about Kara talking to herself before Saul, Ellen, Galen, and Tory realised what she was playing?
* If FTL drives cause spacial distortions with the potential to significantly damage ships, then why hasn't the FTL drive been weaponized by either side?
*In "[[Rapture]]", Hera recognizes Athena as her mother even though they had been separated since her birth and even though Boomer had been caring for her. Has Hera lost that ability, or did she recognize Boomer and go with her anyway?

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:'''Saul''': Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

*''Cottle gives a response to the Cylons' observations about Anders' condition:''

:'''Cottle''': The last thing we need is you jerking our chains with a lot of quack ideas. So why don't you take them someplace else?

*'''Slick''' ''(to Starbuck)'': Listen. It may feel like hell, but sometimes lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Kaine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

[[de:Der Pianomann]]

Deadlock

2012-08-17T15:39:19Z

AlanHK: /* Official Statements */

{{Episode Data
| image=Deadlocked.jpg
| title=Deadlock
| season= 4
| episode=16
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Robert Young]]
| production=418
| rating=1,528,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/24/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-monk-lead-weekly-cable-viewing/13386|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and Monk lead weekly cable viewing|date=24 February 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 20, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 20, 2009
| UK airdate=February 24, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
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| next=[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]
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== Overview ==

:''[[Ellen Tigh]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] return to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], prompting the rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to consider parting ways with the Colonials.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*A mixed Cylon and human work force is making repairs to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' using the [[Cylon organic resin|organic resin]] [[Galen Tyrol]] described. [[William Adama]] asks if he can touch it. After doing so, he asks Tyrol if it is alive.
*In [[Dogsville]], a group of Marines are distributing food. The civilians in line become rather unruly, pushing and shoving despite the Marines assurances that "everyone will get their share."
*[[Caprica-Six]] is walking nearby with her head covered. She is recognized by a group of civilians who attack her. She beats them back, but is struck in the process.
*Adama tells Tyrol that the use of the resin "had better work."
*In [[Sick bay]], [[Sherman Cottle]] tells Caprica and [[Saul Tigh]] that their baby is perfectly healthy and "has a heart like a kettle drum." He shoos them away but Tigh wants Caprica to stay in sick bay just in case. They have a good laugh about the fact that he doesn't trust the machine. She says that [[Liam]] is fine and she would sleep better at home.
*In [[CIC]], [[Louis Hoshi]] detects the Raptor that [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] and [[Ellen Tigh]] are on, reporting that it ([[Raptor 702]]) was logged as missing over a year ago. The [[CAP]], led by [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], moves to intercept and communicate with it, but 702's transmission is garbled. Valerii acknowledges she can hear them via signal light. A [[Number Six]] flying a [[Heavy Raider]] with the CAP reports that the voice sounds like an Eight. Adama orders the CAP to bring it in.
*On the [[Hangar Deck]] Ellen steps out of the Raptor. She states how thrilled she is to see everyone. [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]] wonders aloud "How many dead chicks are out there?" Tigh is elated to see Ellen, and the two kiss passionately. Tyrol approaches Valerii, grins slightly, and says, "Nice to see you again." He informs Adama that the Eight is Boomer and Adama quickly and angrily orders her taken to the [[brig]].

=== Act 1 ===

*In the Admiral's quarters Ellen is speaking with [[President Roslin]], [[Lee Adama]], Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama. She reports that the destruction of the [[Resurrection Hub]] has resulted in [[Number One]] becoming psychologically unbalanced as he does not feel biological procreation can assure Cylon survival. Noting the wary look on all of their faces she says that she is still the same Ellen and asks if anyone has a flask. Adama hands her one. She reports that Boomer helped her escape and hopes they won't treat her too badly. She asks to see the rest of the [[Final Five]]. Ellen says they are like family, asking the others to imagine what it would be like if, instead of 50,000 survivors, there were only 5 and how close they would all be. She asks Tigh how much he remembers. He replies "just flashes." Lee tells her about the condition of [[Sam Anders]]. She asks to see him and the others. Adama says he'll see what he can do, exchanging concerned glances with Lee and Roslin.
*Once Ellen and Tigh are alone, he tells her there is so much to ask her and tell her. She is not interested in talking, asking him "floor or table?" He says that he doesn't care, and she sweeps everything off the table. Just before they make love, Tigh briefly projects the face of a Six over Ellen's features.
*Meanwhile, in Tigh's quarters, Caprica-Six has a sudden flash of pain. She drops the bowl she is eating from, clutches her belly and groans.
*The followers of [[Gaius Baltar]] are loading pistols and discussing supplies as he walks in. [[Jeanne]] is excited to see him, running over and kissing him immediately. [[Paulla Schaffer]] is somewhat less enthusiastic, saying that they "wondered if he was coming back." He replies that his return was always a matter of course and asks what he missed. She states that people started stealing their food, prompting them to take guns from the bodies of dead mutineers once they realized they had "been abandoned." He replies that he never abandoned them, prompting Jeanne to amend "abandoned by God." He replies that he knew his extended absence would teach them self-reliance and that is why he stayed away for so long. Paulla sarcastically remarks that is very wise of him. Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears to tell him that "The sheep have a new shepherd."
*Ellen and Tigh are getting dressed. She compliments him on his sexual technique and asks whom he's frakked. She states that after thousands of years of marriage she is quite familiar with his lovemaking style, adding that she's not mad as he thought she was dead. He admits to sex with a Six but added he always thought of her. She reminds him of the incestuous nature of the relationship as they created the Sixes and is not happy about being his "mental porn." He admits that he is still seeing Caprica but does not mention Liam.

=== Act 2 ===

*Adama is once again inspecting a work area.
*In sick bay, an Eight, a Six, [[Tory Foster]], Tigh, and Tyrol are visiting Anders. Cottle tells them not to unplug anything. Ellen enters and says that this was "how it was" as she gently brushes Sam's cheek. The Six tells her that the others are considering jumping away and starting a new life with the Final Five. Tigh is incredulous at the suggestion that they abandon the fleet. The Eight says they are not safe there, mentioning the attack on [[Caprica-Six]]. Tory agrees, leading Tigh to accuse her of plotting this all along and argue that Sam could not survive on the baseship. The Eight disagrees, and Ellen tries to change the subject by saying "Caprica-Six is pregnant?" She argues with Tigh, but Tyrol says the two should stick to the matter at hand and argue in private. The Eight says they should have a binding vote as that is the way the Five taught the other Cylons. Tory and Tyrol vote to go, Tigh votes to stay and points out that is exactly what Sam said they should do before losing consciousness. Ellen abstains and walks out the door, leaving the Five deadlocked.
*Paulla leads Gaius and the others to [[Dogsville]]. Jeanne remarks on their improved living conditions since arming themselves. Gaius greets a beautiful young woman with a small boy. She says that her name is [[Naia]] and her son is named Gaius, and Baltar assumes the child was named after him, which pleases him but Naia said he was named after his father. Baltar smoothly but noticably segues into saying he is pleased that the child is named after his father. Gaius asks Gaius if he is hungry, to which the boy nods. Baltar makes a grand speech promising to feed all the people of Dogsville. Naia embraces him in gratitude, but Paulla is not happy about it.
*Roslin walks up to Caprica-Six in the corridors of ''Galactica''. She congratulates her on her pregnancy and personally apologizes for the assault in Dogsville. She mentions their shared visions, and Caprica says she has not had them since becoming pregnant. Laura says she has not either and asks if this child is "important." Caprica pretends to not know what she means stating that all children are important and walks off.
*Tyrol walks into [[Joe's Bar]] and orders a drink. Starbuck is there and remarks on how watching Ellen and Tigh felt like watching her parents make out. She asks Tyrol if he has visited Boomer in the brig. He says no. She suggests that he do so while she is sleeping, and says that she could no longer stand to watch Sam sleeping. Tyrol takes a bottle and walks out. Starbuck plays with the bullet removed from Sam's brain.

=== Act 3 ===

*Adama is inspecting the repairs yet again.
*Ellen walks into to Tigh's quarters and tells Caprica-Six they should talk. In explaining her relationship with Saul she lets it slip that they made love, and realizes from the look on Caprica's face that she did not know. Ellen tells her not to worry as their baby is living proof that Tigh loves her. Ellen remarks that they tried to have children earlier, implying that he does not love her as much, and reassures Caprica she will not make him choose between them.
*In Dogsville, Gaius and company are distributing food. Paulla makes a worried remark that when the Marines tried this a riot broke out, but Gaius states that here there are no uniforms, assault rifles or other symbols of oppression. A group of rough-looking men led by [[Enzo]] walk up to them and demands they surrender their food. Gaius defies him and asks his followers to show they are armed. When they nervously do so, Enzo replies "ours are bigger" and the strong-arm men pull out Colonial military sidearms. They take the food and walk away.
*Adama and Tigh are getting drunk. Adama has clearly had more and is constantly refilling his glass. He asks Tigh if there have been any "mythic revelations" since Ellen's return, to which Tigh replies "Nothing new to report, sir." Adama asks if Tigh was actually born on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. Tigh nods. Adama states that is "not very machine-like" of him. Tigh jokingly defends his machinehood by saying his "great-grandpa was a power sander." They have a good laugh. Adama confesses to mixed feelings about using Cylon technology to repair ''Galactica'', fearing that she will no longer know who she is, but that combined with Cylons flying CAP, it might just be enough for the fleet to survive. He says that he needs the help of the Cylons in general and Tigh in particular, and Lee and Laura know it. Tigh has no response to this.
*Gaius dresses Paulla down for not telling him that the [[Sons of Ares]] have begun hoarding food. Paulla replies that this should have been obvious. Messenger Six appears and asks Gaius if he really wanted to feed those people, to which he replies that it felt good to help people. Six tells him to give his people the hope that Paulla can't. He proceeds to berate his followers for "lapping up Paulla's icy pragmatism." At Six's prompting he promises to get them "more guns, bigger guns, better guns!" The cultists are quite enthusiastic about the idea.

=== Act 4 ===

*Adama inspects the repairs, again.
*Ellen and Tigh meet alone. He tells her to hate him if she must but ''Galactica'' needs the [[Rebel Basestar]]. She ignores him, asking why he made love to her when his real love is at home. Tyrol and the others enter, leading Tigh to realize that this meeting was anything but private. Ellen says she has voted to join the baseship and they are leaving. Tigh refuses to leave, pointing out the millenia-long cycle of human/machine violence and claiming that only by coming together can either form of intelligence hope to survive. Ellen seems to gloat, pointing out to Caprica-Six that there is something he loves more than her and the baby, namely ''Galactica'' and Adama. Caprica grabs her stomach, groans and falls over.
*In sickbay, Cottle tells Tigh, Ellen and Caprica-Six that the baby is fighting back. Tigh blames Ellen, stating that she should have known what forcing him to choose would mean. She apologizes, saying she was only trying to hurt Saul and of course humans and Cylons should stay together. Caprica yells at them to stop fighting. Ellen walks away, but then walks back to put her hand on Saul's shoulders.
*Adama is once again inspecting the repairs.
*Ellen tells Tigh to talk to the now sleeping Caprica-Six and tell her that he loves her. He tries, but is unable to and asks why he should have to say it when she knows he feels it for all of them.
*Adama is still inspecting the repairs.
*[[Liam]]'s heart rate drops. Caprica-Six begs Cottle to cut him out of her, even if it means her death. Cottle refuses, stating that not even a Cylon baby could possibly survive outside the womb after only four months. Ellen tells her that Tigh loves her more and promises to go to the basestar so that the three of them can be a family. Liam flatlines. Tigh says that it is his fault and he is sorry. Cottle shoos them away. Caprica cries the cry of the bereaved mother.
*Gaius is talking to Lee, Roslin and Adama. Adama refuses to listen at first, saying that he is going to the head for a "project I've been working on." Gaius stops him, warning him that the decreased security in Dogsville resulting from losing so many Marines during the mutiny is causing a revolution to brew. He states that Adama has two options for stopping it. He can either bring Centurions over from the baseship or take the "last human solution" that Baltar is offering him.
*Apparently Adama has agreed to arm Baltar's cultists as some kind of auxiliary security force, as the Marines are passing out assault rifles to them. Paulla is impressed. Gaius clearly has no idea how a rifle works.
*Tyrol comes to visit Boomer in the brig while she is sleeping.
*In sick bay Sam's brain waves suddenly become very active.
*Tigh enters Adama's quarters weeping uncontrollably and nearly collapses. Adama says that Liam is a good name, short for William. Tigh says that "it's not like [[Zak Adama|Zak]]." Adama embraces and comforts him.
*Roslin and Adama are walking arm in arm through the [[Memorial hallway]]. Laura notices a Six putting up pictures of the Cylons who have been lost since joining the Fleet. Laura is taken aback, stating "Oh my Gods, it's already happening isn't it?"
*Adama touches the ID of an Eight.

== Notes ==

*[[Joe's Bar]] now has a piano and [[Bear McCreary]] drinks there.
*The rebel Cylons have now taken to putting up photos in the [[Memorial hallway]] of those who have died since the start of the alliance.
*Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears for the first time since "[[Escape Velocity]]", discounting a deleted farewell scene from "[[The Road Less Traveled]]" (included on the DVD release) that now appears to be moot.
*More so than previous episodes, "Deadlock" establishes that the rebel Cylons now have freedom of movement, at least aboard Galactica, with [[Caprica-Six]] seen visiting [[Dogsville]] (for reasons unknown), another Six in the Memorial Hallway, and assorted others working or performing flight duties.
*Roslin addresses Caprica by her name for the first time.
**This casts doubt on the canonicity of the bonus scene for "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries#Bonus Scene|Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]".
*The Cylon practice of democracy by majority rule came from the Final Five.
*The arrival of Ellen Tigh in a Raptor, with the camera initially focusing on her legs, parallels her introductory scene in "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]".

== Analysis ==

*Cylon pilots have begun participating in the CAP with [[Heavy Raider]]s, presumably because of a shortage of Colonial pilots. As explained by [[Ronald D. Moore]] in his [[Podcast:Deadlock#Act_3|podcast for this episode]], surviving mutineers (including numerous pilots) were imprisoned on the [[Astral Queen]].
*Foster's plan to rebuild a pure Cylon society seems ill-considered even in light of the unborn Tigh baby. There is no evidence that pairings of Number Twos with Number Sixes or Number Eights will suddenly be fertile after so many failures. All the pregnancy really proves is that the Final Five could reproduce with Twos, Sixes, and Eights, which is hardly a broad genetic base.
*In this episode, Ellen Tigh shows more characteristics of the "old Ellen", though she is still more intelligent and compassionate. Adama [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down|once said]] that Ellen brings out Saul's worst instincts; obviously the reverse is also true.
*After [[Ellen Tigh]] exits the [[Raptor]], she meets with [[William Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Laura Roslin]], and [[Saul Tigh]] just like she did after she exited a Raptor in [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]].

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

*Are the Cylons now flying regular joint CAPs with ''Galactica'''s vipers? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*Has Sharon "Boomer" Valerii genuinely under her own free will defected with Ellen Tigh from Cavil or is she part of a plot by Cavil either voluntarily under her own free will or programmed? Alternately is she a dupe under her own free will but Cavil knowing how the Eight model acts and Sharon Valerii in particular so well he manipulated her in to "escaping" with Ellen for his own purposes? Is she working for a third party? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*What will happen to Boomer? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Will Caprica seek revenge on Ellen for the death of her unborn child? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How will the death of Liam affect Ellen and Saul's relationship? How will it affect Saul and Caprica's relationship? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How did Ellen Tigh and Sharon "Boomer" Valerii find the Fleet? Is Cavil tracking them? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer]])
*Why was Tyrol so eager to leave the Fleet? ([[Deadlock#Official Statements|Answer]])
*What has happened to Karl Agathon? Is he still recovering from his injuries received in [[The Oath]]? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*How close will the Cylon and Colonial pilots become now that they fly together? Will the Cylon pilots receive callsigns? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Why has Baltar's Messenger Six returned after a long absence? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

*What will be the consequences of Baltar's cult being given access to weapons?
*How did the Cylons imagine they could take Anders aboard their Baseship without Thrace's approval?
*Why has Anders' brain suddenly started showing activity again? What is his exact condition? Does he still possess his Cylon memories?
*What was the biological cause of Liam's death?
*Is Tyrol able to identify the Eight piloting the Raptor as Boomer due to his personal experience with her, or by the previously demonstrated ability of Cylons to distinguish between copies by sight?
*Who has been placing photographs of Cylons on the memorial wall? Other Cylons, Colonials or both?
*Will any of the humans object to the Cylon pictures?
*Just how close were the Final Five in their former lives?
*How many Cylon practices come from the Final Five? For example, the Cylons have been shown to accepting of nudity and sexual threesomes.
*Why was Caprica visiting Dogville?
*Although previous episodes have had Roslin basing herself aboard ''Galactica'' due to her health issue, beginning with this episode it is made clear that her "flag" so to speak, as well as the new Quorum's, is now aboard ''Galactica''. Given the precedent set back in the Miniseries, shouldn't ''Galactica'' now carry the call sign ''[[Colonial One]]''?
*Does Saul still see Caprica as Ellen?
*What are the legal ramifications of Ellen's [[Resurrection]]?

== Official Statements ==

*Aaron Douglas addresses the Chief's vote on his livejournal community<ref> http://community.livejournal.com/aarondouglas/150842.html?thread=972858 </ref>: Galen does not believe that he and the other Cylons will ever be accepted in the fleet.
**He is the Chief in name only, because Adama asked him to be. This was a recognition of the fact that he is the best person to fix the ship, not true acceptance.
**He has no strong emotional ties to ''Galactica'''s people now that he knows Nicky isn't his son.
*In the Podcast for this episode, RDM mentions that the remaining mutineers (Racetrack, Skulls, etc) were deported to the prison ship the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Upon seeing Ellen Tigh emerge from the Raptor:''

:[[Brendan Costanza|Hot Dog]] (with Starbuck standing right next to him): How many dead chicks are out there?

*''Tyrol examines Boomer for a moment before figuring out who she is''

:[[Galen Tyrol]] (to Boomer): Nice to see you (she smiles; to Adama) This is Boomer.
:Adama: Marines!
:Marine: Sir!
:Adama: Take this Number Eight to the brig!

*''Dr. Cottle remarking to Tory, Tyrol, a Number Six and a Number Eight gathered around Anders's bedside in vigil:''

:[[Cottle]]: Lot of visitors. Just don't anybody unplug anything!

*''Baltar is in a meeting with Admiral Adama, Delegate Lee Adama, and President Roslin. Baltar is urging the Admiral to allow his followers to be armed to do the distribution of food and to keep order and other police work instead of having, eventually, inviting over Cylon Centurions to maintain order and security.''

:Adama (taking to Lee and Roslin): The two of you can stay here listening to this

:Roslin Where are you going?

:Adama: I'm gonna go to the head. Do something constructive. A little project I've been working on.

:Baltar: Listen to me. Admiral!

:Lee (to his father softly, respectfully, but insistently) Just wait...wait (Lee turns to Baltar) Explain what you mean.

:Baltar: What you have right now are starving civilians, (looks down at Roslin) with no representation, no recourse. (looks back to Lee) They're broken, they're exhausted. They've had enough. That is not a mutiny Admiral, that is a revolution.

:Lee: And you think you can maintain order...?

:Baltar (directly to the Admiral who is walking by him): Listen to me! Listen.... '''PLEASE ADMIRAL!''' (Adama stops at the doorway and faces Baltar)

:Baltar: Galactica is slipping away from you, drop by drop. You are pouring Cylon blood into her veins. I see the Cylon pilots (turns to Lee and Roslin) We all see them! (turns back to Adama) We all see the Cylon work force. Where they're going into the far recesses of the ship? When are you inviting the Centurions over, to join in all the fun we're having over here? Of course when you do that, that very moment. this becomes a blended ship. Only half human. And right now I am here to tell you your people...(pauses and then looks over to Roslin).....your people, are not ready for that.

:(looks back to Adama who makes a move to walk out but Baltar catches his arm. Adama looks down and slowly looks up at Baltar but he isn't intimidated)

:Baltar: I am offering you the last human solution you will be ever presented with.

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]] (credited as Piano Player)
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
*[[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
*[[G. Patrick Currie]] as [[Enzo]]
*[[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
*[[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
*[[Rebecca Davis]] as [[Naia]]
*[[Merwin Mondesir]] as Marine #1
*[[Tammy Gillis]] played Marine #2
*[[Bear McCreary]] as [[Joe's bar]] patron (uncredited)
*Unknown as Marine [[Nathanson]]
*[[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%"><references /></div>
{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

<br/>[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson|Episodes_written_by_Jane_Espenson]] <br/>[[Category:Episodes directed by Robert Young|Episodes_directed_by_Robert_Young]] <br/> [[de:Systemblockade|de:Systemblockade]]

Deadlock

2012-08-17T15:37:55Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */ Bear in the bar

{{Episode Data
| image=Deadlocked.jpg
| title=Deadlock
| season= 4
| episode=16
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Robert Young]]
| production=418
| rating=1,528,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/24/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-monk-lead-weekly-cable-viewing/13386|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and Monk lead weekly cable viewing|date=24 February 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 20, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 20, 2009
| UK airdate=February 24, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[No Exit]]
| next=[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]
| forumthread= 2728
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== Overview ==

:''[[Ellen Tigh]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] return to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], prompting the rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to consider parting ways with the Colonials.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*A mixed Cylon and human work force is making repairs to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' using the [[Cylon organic resin|organic resin]] [[Galen Tyrol]] described. [[William Adama]] asks if he can touch it. After doing so, he asks Tyrol if it is alive.
*In [[Dogsville]], a group of Marines are distributing food. The civilians in line become rather unruly, pushing and shoving despite the Marines assurances that "everyone will get their share."
*[[Caprica-Six]] is walking nearby with her head covered. She is recognized by a group of civilians who attack her. She beats them back, but is struck in the process.
*Adama tells Tyrol that the use of the resin "had better work."
*In [[Sick bay]], [[Sherman Cottle]] tells Caprica and [[Saul Tigh]] that their baby is perfectly healthy and "has a heart like a kettle drum." He shoos them away but Tigh wants Caprica to stay in sick bay just in case. They have a good laugh about the fact that he doesn't trust the machine. She says that [[Liam]] is fine and she would sleep better at home.
*In [[CIC]], [[Louis Hoshi]] detects the Raptor that [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] and [[Ellen Tigh]] are on, reporting that it ([[Raptor 702]]) was logged as missing over a year ago. The [[CAP]], led by [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], moves to intercept and communicate with it, but 702's transmission is garbled. Valerii acknowledges she can hear them via signal light. A [[Number Six]] flying a [[Heavy Raider]] with the CAP reports that the voice sounds like an Eight. Adama orders the CAP to bring it in.
*On the [[Hangar Deck]] Ellen steps out of the Raptor. She states how thrilled she is to see everyone. [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]] wonders aloud "How many dead chicks are out there?" Tigh is elated to see Ellen, and the two kiss passionately. Tyrol approaches Valerii, grins slightly, and says, "Nice to see you again." He informs Adama that the Eight is Boomer and Adama quickly and angrily orders her taken to the [[brig]].

=== Act 1 ===

*In the Admiral's quarters Ellen is speaking with [[President Roslin]], [[Lee Adama]], Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama. She reports that the destruction of the [[Resurrection Hub]] has resulted in [[Number One]] becoming psychologically unbalanced as he does not feel biological procreation can assure Cylon survival. Noting the wary look on all of their faces she says that she is still the same Ellen and asks if anyone has a flask. Adama hands her one. She reports that Boomer helped her escape and hopes they won't treat her too badly. She asks to see the rest of the [[Final Five]]. Ellen says they are like family, asking the others to imagine what it would be like if, instead of 50,000 survivors, there were only 5 and how close they would all be. She asks Tigh how much he remembers. He replies "just flashes." Lee tells her about the condition of [[Sam Anders]]. She asks to see him and the others. Adama says he'll see what he can do, exchanging concerned glances with Lee and Roslin.
*Once Ellen and Tigh are alone, he tells her there is so much to ask her and tell her. She is not interested in talking, asking him "floor or table?" He says that he doesn't care, and she sweeps everything off the table. Just before they make love, Tigh briefly projects the face of a Six over Ellen's features.
*Meanwhile, in Tigh's quarters, Caprica-Six has a sudden flash of pain. She drops the bowl she is eating from, clutches her belly and groans.
*The followers of [[Gaius Baltar]] are loading pistols and discussing supplies as he walks in. [[Jeanne]] is excited to see him, running over and kissing him immediately. [[Paulla Schaffer]] is somewhat less enthusiastic, saying that they "wondered if he was coming back." He replies that his return was always a matter of course and asks what he missed. She states that people started stealing their food, prompting them to take guns from the bodies of dead mutineers once they realized they had "been abandoned." He replies that he never abandoned them, prompting Jeanne to amend "abandoned by God." He replies that he knew his extended absence would teach them self-reliance and that is why he stayed away for so long. Paulla sarcastically remarks that is very wise of him. Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears to tell him that "The sheep have a new shepherd."
*Ellen and Tigh are getting dressed. She compliments him on his sexual technique and asks whom he's frakked. She states that after thousands of years of marriage she is quite familiar with his lovemaking style, adding that she's not mad as he thought she was dead. He admits to sex with a Six but added he always thought of her. She reminds him of the incestuous nature of the relationship as they created the Sixes and is not happy about being his "mental porn." He admits that he is still seeing Caprica but does not mention Liam.

=== Act 2 ===

*Adama is once again inspecting a work area.
*In sick bay, an Eight, a Six, [[Tory Foster]], Tigh, and Tyrol are visiting Anders. Cottle tells them not to unplug anything. Ellen enters and says that this was "how it was" as she gently brushes Sam's cheek. The Six tells her that the others are considering jumping away and starting a new life with the Final Five. Tigh is incredulous at the suggestion that they abandon the fleet. The Eight says they are not safe there, mentioning the attack on [[Caprica-Six]]. Tory agrees, leading Tigh to accuse her of plotting this all along and argue that Sam could not survive on the baseship. The Eight disagrees, and Ellen tries to change the subject by saying "Caprica-Six is pregnant?" She argues with Tigh, but Tyrol says the two should stick to the matter at hand and argue in private. The Eight says they should have a binding vote as that is the way the Five taught the other Cylons. Tory and Tyrol vote to go, Tigh votes to stay and points out that is exactly what Sam said they should do before losing consciousness. Ellen abstains and walks out the door, leaving the Five deadlocked.
*Paulla leads Gaius and the others to [[Dogsville]]. Jeanne remarks on their improved living conditions since arming themselves. Gaius greets a beautiful young woman with a small boy. She says that her name is [[Naia]] and her son is named Gaius, and Baltar assumes the child was named after him, which pleases him but Naia said he was named after his father. Baltar smoothly but noticably segues into saying he is pleased that the child is named after his father. Gaius asks Gaius if he is hungry, to which the boy nods. Baltar makes a grand speech promising to feed all the people of Dogsville. Naia embraces him in gratitude, but Paulla is not happy about it.
*Roslin walks up to Caprica-Six in the corridors of ''Galactica''. She congratulates her on her pregnancy and personally apologizes for the assault in Dogsville. She mentions their shared visions, and Caprica says she has not had them since becoming pregnant. Laura says she has not either and asks if this child is "important." Caprica pretends to not know what she means stating that all children are important and walks off.
*Tyrol walks into [[Joe's Bar]] and orders a drink. Starbuck is there and remarks on how watching Ellen and Tigh felt like watching her parents make out. She asks Tyrol if he has visited Boomer in the brig. He says no. She suggests that he do so while she is sleeping, and says that she could no longer stand to watch Sam sleeping. Tyrol takes a bottle and walks out. Starbuck plays with the bullet removed from Sam's brain.

=== Act 3 ===

*Adama is inspecting the repairs yet again.
*Ellen walks into to Tigh's quarters and tells Caprica-Six they should talk. In explaining her relationship with Saul she lets it slip that they made love, and realizes from the look on Caprica's face that she did not know. Ellen tells her not to worry as their baby is living proof that Tigh loves her. Ellen remarks that they tried to have children earlier, implying that he does not love her as much, and reassures Caprica she will not make him choose between them.
*In Dogsville, Gaius and company are distributing food. Paulla makes a worried remark that when the Marines tried this a riot broke out, but Gaius states that here there are no uniforms, assault rifles or other symbols of oppression. A group of rough-looking men led by [[Enzo]] walk up to them and demands they surrender their food. Gaius defies him and asks his followers to show they are armed. When they nervously do so, Enzo replies "ours are bigger" and the strong-arm men pull out Colonial military sidearms. They take the food and walk away.
*Adama and Tigh are getting drunk. Adama has clearly had more and is constantly refilling his glass. He asks Tigh if there have been any "mythic revelations" since Ellen's return, to which Tigh replies "Nothing new to report, sir." Adama asks if Tigh was actually born on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. Tigh nods. Adama states that is "not very machine-like" of him. Tigh jokingly defends his machinehood by saying his "great-grandpa was a power sander." They have a good laugh. Adama confesses to mixed feelings about using Cylon technology to repair ''Galactica'', fearing that she will no longer know who she is, but that combined with Cylons flying CAP, it might just be enough for the fleet to survive. He says that he needs the help of the Cylons in general and Tigh in particular, and Lee and Laura know it. Tigh has no response to this.
*Gaius dresses Paulla down for not telling him that the [[Sons of Ares]] have begun hoarding food. Paulla replies that this should have been obvious. Messenger Six appears and asks Gaius if he really wanted to feed those people, to which he replies that it felt good to help people. Six tells him to give his people the hope that Paulla can't. He proceeds to berate his followers for "lapping up Paulla's icy pragmatism." At Six's prompting he promises to get them "more guns, bigger guns, better guns!" The cultists are quite enthusiastic about the idea.

=== Act 4 ===

*Adama inspects the repairs, again.
*Ellen and Tigh meet alone. He tells her to hate him if she must but ''Galactica'' needs the [[Rebel Basestar]]. She ignores him, asking why he made love to her when his real love is at home. Tyrol and the others enter, leading Tigh to realize that this meeting was anything but private. Ellen says she has voted to join the baseship and they are leaving. Tigh refuses to leave, pointing out the millenia-long cycle of human/machine violence and claiming that only by coming together can either form of intelligence hope to survive. Ellen seems to gloat, pointing out to Caprica-Six that there is something he loves more than her and the baby, namely ''Galactica'' and Adama. Caprica grabs her stomach, groans and falls over.
*In sickbay, Cottle tells Tigh, Ellen and Caprica-Six that the baby is fighting back. Tigh blames Ellen, stating that she should have known what forcing him to choose would mean. She apologizes, saying she was only trying to hurt Saul and of course humans and Cylons should stay together. Caprica yells at them to stop fighting. Ellen walks away, but then walks back to put her hand on Saul's shoulders.
*Adama is once again inspecting the repairs.
*Ellen tells Tigh to talk to the now sleeping Caprica-Six and tell her that he loves her. He tries, but is unable to and asks why he should have to say it when she knows he feels it for all of them.
*Adama is still inspecting the repairs.
*[[Liam]]'s heart rate drops. Caprica-Six begs Cottle to cut him out of her, even if it means her death. Cottle refuses, stating that not even a Cylon baby could possibly survive outside the womb after only four months. Ellen tells her that Tigh loves her more and promises to go to the basestar so that the three of them can be a family. Liam flatlines. Tigh says that it is his fault and he is sorry. Cottle shoos them away. Caprica cries the cry of the bereaved mother.
*Gaius is talking to Lee, Roslin and Adama. Adama refuses to listen at first, saying that he is going to the head for a "project I've been working on." Gaius stops him, warning him that the decreased security in Dogsville resulting from losing so many Marines during the mutiny is causing a revolution to brew. He states that Adama has two options for stopping it. He can either bring Centurions over from the baseship or take the "last human solution" that Baltar is offering him.
*Apparently Adama has agreed to arm Baltar's cultists as some kind of auxiliary security force, as the Marines are passing out assault rifles to them. Paulla is impressed. Gaius clearly has no idea how a rifle works.
*Tyrol comes to visit Boomer in the brig while she is sleeping.
*In sick bay Sam's brain waves suddenly become very active.
*Tigh enters Adama's quarters weeping uncontrollably and nearly collapses. Adama says that Liam is a good name, short for William. Tigh says that "it's not like [[Zak Adama|Zak]]." Adama embraces and comforts him.
*Roslin and Adama are walking arm in arm through the [[Memorial hallway]]. Laura notices a Six putting up pictures of the Cylons who have been lost since joining the Fleet. Laura is taken aback, stating "Oh my Gods, it's already happening isn't it?"
*Adama touches the ID of an Eight.

== Notes ==

*[[Joe's Bar]] now has a piano and [[Bear McCreary]] drinks there.
*The rebel Cylons have now taken to putting up photos in the [[Memorial hallway]] of those who have died since the start of the alliance.
*Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears for the first time since "[[Escape Velocity]]", discounting a deleted farewell scene from "[[The Road Less Traveled]]" (included on the DVD release) that now appears to be moot.
*More so than previous episodes, "Deadlock" establishes that the rebel Cylons now have freedom of movement, at least aboard Galactica, with [[Caprica-Six]] seen visiting [[Dogsville]] (for reasons unknown), another Six in the Memorial Hallway, and assorted others working or performing flight duties.
*Roslin addresses Caprica by her name for the first time.
**This casts doubt on the canonicity of the bonus scene for "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries#Bonus Scene|Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]".
*The Cylon practice of democracy by majority rule came from the Final Five.
*The arrival of Ellen Tigh in a Raptor, with the camera initially focusing on her legs, parallels her introductory scene in "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]".

== Analysis ==

*Cylon pilots have begun participating in the CAP with [[Heavy Raider]]s, presumably because of a shortage of Colonial pilots. As explained by [[Ronald D. Moore]] in his [[Podcast:Deadlock#Act_3|podcast for this episode]], surviving mutineers (including numerous pilots) were imprisoned on the [[Astral Queen]].
*Foster's plan to rebuild a pure Cylon society seems ill-considered even in light of the unborn Tigh baby. There is no evidence that pairings of Number Twos with Number Sixes or Number Eights will suddenly be fertile after so many failures. All the pregnancy really proves is that the Final Five could reproduce with Twos, Sixes, and Eights, which is hardly a broad genetic base.
*In this episode, Ellen Tigh shows more characteristics of the "old Ellen", though she is still more intelligent and compassionate. Adama [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down|once said]] that Ellen brings out Saul's worst instincts; obviously the reverse is also true.
*After [[Ellen Tigh]] exits the [[Raptor]], she meets with [[William Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Laura Roslin]], and [[Saul Tigh]] just like she did after she exited a Raptor in [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]].

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

*Are the Cylons now flying regular joint CAPs with ''Galactica'''s vipers? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*Has Sharon "Boomer" Valerii genuinely under her own free will defected with Ellen Tigh from Cavil or is she part of a plot by Cavil either voluntarily under her own free will or programmed? Alternately is she a dupe under her own free will but Cavil knowing how the Eight model acts and Sharon Valerii in particular so well he manipulated her in to "escaping" with Ellen for his own purposes? Is she working for a third party? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*What will happen to Boomer? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Will Caprica seek revenge on Ellen for the death of her unborn child? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How will the death of Liam affect Ellen and Saul's relationship? How will it affect Saul and Caprica's relationship? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How did Ellen Tigh and Sharon "Boomer" Valerii find the Fleet? Is Cavil tracking them? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer]])
*Why was Tyrol so eager to leave the Fleet? ([[Deadlock#Official Statements|Answer]])
*What has happened to Karl Agathon? Is he still recovering from his injuries received in [[The Oath]]? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*How close will the Cylon and Colonial pilots become now that they fly together? Will the Cylon pilots receive callsigns? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Why has Baltar's Messenger Six returned after a long absence? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

*What will be the consequences of Baltar's cult being given access to weapons?
*How did the Cylons imagine they could take Anders aboard their Baseship without Thrace's approval?
*Why has Anders' brain suddenly started showing activity again? What is his exact condition? Does he still possess his Cylon memories?
*What was the biological cause of Liam's death?
*Is Tyrol able to identify the Eight piloting the Raptor as Boomer due to his personal experience with her, or by the previously demonstrated ability of Cylons to distinguish between copies by sight?
*Who has been placing photographs of Cylons on the memorial wall? Other Cylons, Colonials or both?
*Will any of the humans object to the Cylon pictures?
*Just how close were the Final Five in their former lives?
*How many Cylon practices come from the Final Five? For example, the Cylons have been shown to accepting of nudity and sexual threesomes.
*Why was Caprica visiting Dogville?
*Although previous episodes have had Roslin basing herself aboard ''Galactica'' due to her health issue, beginning with this episode it is made clear that her "flag" so to speak, as well as the new Quorum's, is now aboard ''Galactica''. Given the precedent set back in the Miniseries, shouldn't ''Galactica'' now carry the call sign ''[[Colonial One]]''?
*Does Saul still see Caprica as Ellen?
*What are the legal ramifications of Ellen's [[Resurrection]]?

== Official Statements ==

*Aaron Douglas addresses the Chief's vote on his livejournal community<ref> http://community.livejournal.com/aarondouglas/150842.html?thread=972858 </ref>:*Galen does not believe that he and the other Cylons will ever be accepted in the fleet.
**He is the Chief in name only, because Adama asked him to be. This was a recognition of the fact that he is the best person to fix the ship, not true acceptance.
**He has no strong emotional ties to ''Galactica'''s people now that he knows Nicky isn't his son.
*In the Podcast for this episode, RDM mentions that the remaining mutineers (Racetrack, Skulls, etc) were deported to the prison ship the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Upon seeing Ellen Tigh emerge from the Raptor:''

:[[Brendan Costanza|Hot Dog]] (with Starbuck standing right next to him): How many dead chicks are out there?

*''Tyrol examines Boomer for a moment before figuring out who she is''

:[[Galen Tyrol]] (to Boomer): Nice to see you (she smiles; to Adama) This is Boomer.
:Adama: Marines!
:Marine: Sir!
:Adama: Take this Number Eight to the brig!

*''Dr. Cottle remarking to Tory, Tyrol, a Number Six and a Number Eight gathered around Anders's bedside in vigil:''

:[[Cottle]]: Lot of visitors. Just don't anybody unplug anything!

*''Baltar is in a meeting with Admiral Adama, Delegate Lee Adama, and President Roslin. Baltar is urging the Admiral to allow his followers to be armed to do the distribution of food and to keep order and other police work instead of having, eventually, inviting over Cylon Centurions to maintain order and security.''

:Adama (taking to Lee and Roslin): The two of you can stay here listening to this

:Roslin Where are you going?

:Adama: I'm gonna go to the head. Do something constructive. A little project I've been working on.

:Baltar: Listen to me. Admiral!

:Lee (to his father softly, respectfully, but insistently) Just wait...wait (Lee turns to Baltar) Explain what you mean.

:Baltar: What you have right now are starving civilians, (looks down at Roslin) with no representation, no recourse. (looks back to Lee) They're broken, they're exhausted. They've had enough. That is not a mutiny Admiral, that is a revolution.

:Lee: And you think you can maintain order...?

:Baltar (directly to the Admiral who is walking by him): Listen to me! Listen.... '''PLEASE ADMIRAL!''' (Adama stops at the doorway and faces Baltar)

:Baltar: Galactica is slipping away from you, drop by drop. You are pouring Cylon blood into her veins. I see the Cylon pilots (turns to Lee and Roslin) We all see them! (turns back to Adama) We all see the Cylon work force. Where they're going into the far recesses of the ship? When are you inviting the Centurions over, to join in all the fun we're having over here? Of course when you do that, that very moment. this becomes a blended ship. Only half human. And right now I am here to tell you your people...(pauses and then looks over to Roslin).....your people, are not ready for that.

:(looks back to Adama who makes a move to walk out but Baltar catches his arm. Adama looks down and slowly looks up at Baltar but he isn't intimidated)

:Baltar: I am offering you the last human solution you will be ever presented with.

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]] (credited as Piano Player)
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
*[[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
*[[G. Patrick Currie]] as [[Enzo]]
*[[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
*[[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
*[[Rebecca Davis]] as [[Naia]]
*[[Merwin Mondesir]] as Marine #1
*[[Tammy Gillis]] played Marine #2
*[[Bear McCreary]] as [[Joe's bar]] patron (uncredited)
*Unknown as Marine [[Nathanson]]
*[[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%"><references /></div>
{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

<br/>[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson|Episodes_written_by_Jane_Espenson]] <br/>[[Category:Episodes directed by Robert Young|Episodes_directed_by_Robert_Young]] <br/> [[de:Systemblockade|de:Systemblockade]]

Deadlock

2012-08-17T15:32:30Z

AlanHK: /* Answered Questions */ deleted pure speculation -- not an "answer"

{{Episode Data
| image=Deadlocked.jpg
| title=Deadlock
| season= 4
| episode=16
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Robert Young]]
| production=418
| rating=1,528,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/24/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-monk-lead-weekly-cable-viewing/13386|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and Monk lead weekly cable viewing|date=24 February 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 20, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 20, 2009
| UK airdate=February 24, 2009
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.5 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[No Exit]]
| next=[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]
| forumthread= 2728
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| amazon=Y
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== Overview ==

:''[[Ellen Tigh]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] return to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], prompting the rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to consider parting ways with the Colonials.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*A mixed Cylon and human work force is making repairs to ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' using the [[Cylon organic resin|organic resin]] [[Galen Tyrol]] described. [[William Adama]] asks if he can touch it. After doing so, he asks Tyrol if it is alive.
*In [[Dogsville]], a group of Marines are distributing food. The civilians in line become rather unruly, pushing and shoving despite the Marines assurances that "everyone will get their share."
*[[Caprica-Six]] is walking nearby with her head covered. She is recognized by a group of civilians who attack her. She beats them back, but is struck in the process.
*Adama tells Tyrol that the use of the resin "had better work."
*In [[Sick bay]], [[Sherman Cottle]] tells Caprica and [[Saul Tigh]] that their baby is perfectly healthy and "has a heart like a kettle drum." He shoos them away but Tigh wants Caprica to stay in sick bay just in case. They have a good laugh about the fact that he doesn't trust the machine. She says that [[Liam]] is fine and she would sleep better at home.
*In [[CIC]], [[Louis Hoshi]] detects the Raptor that [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] and [[Ellen Tigh]] are on, reporting that it ([[Raptor 702]]) was logged as missing over a year ago. The [[CAP]], led by [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], moves to intercept and communicate with it, but 702's transmission is garbled. Valerii acknowledges she can hear them via signal light. A [[Number Six]] flying a [[Heavy Raider]] with the CAP reports that the voice sounds like an Eight. Adama orders the CAP to bring it in.
*On the [[Hangar Deck]] Ellen steps out of the Raptor. She states how thrilled she is to see everyone. [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]] wonders aloud "How many dead chicks are out there?" Tigh is elated to see Ellen, and the two kiss passionately. Tyrol approaches Valerii, grins slightly, and says, "Nice to see you again." He informs Adama that the Eight is Boomer and Adama quickly and angrily orders her taken to the [[brig]].

=== Act 1 ===

*In the Admiral's quarters Ellen is speaking with [[President Roslin]], [[Lee Adama]], Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama. She reports that the destruction of the [[Resurrection Hub]] has resulted in [[Number One]] becoming psychologically unbalanced as he does not feel biological procreation can assure Cylon survival. Noting the wary look on all of their faces she says that she is still the same Ellen and asks if anyone has a flask. Adama hands her one. She reports that Boomer helped her escape and hopes they won't treat her too badly. She asks to see the rest of the [[Final Five]]. Ellen says they are like family, asking the others to imagine what it would be like if, instead of 50,000 survivors, there were only 5 and how close they would all be. She asks Tigh how much he remembers. He replies "just flashes." Lee tells her about the condition of [[Sam Anders]]. She asks to see him and the others. Adama says he'll see what he can do, exchanging concerned glances with Lee and Roslin.
*Once Ellen and Tigh are alone, he tells her there is so much to ask her and tell her. She is not interested in talking, asking him "floor or table?" He says that he doesn't care, and she sweeps everything off the table. Just before they make love, Tigh briefly projects the face of a Six over Ellen's features.
*Meanwhile, in Tigh's quarters, Caprica-Six has a sudden flash of pain. She drops the bowl she is eating from, clutches her belly and groans.
*The followers of [[Gaius Baltar]] are loading pistols and discussing supplies as he walks in. [[Jeanne]] is excited to see him, running over and kissing him immediately. [[Paulla Schaffer]] is somewhat less enthusiastic, saying that they "wondered if he was coming back." He replies that his return was always a matter of course and asks what he missed. She states that people started stealing their food, prompting them to take guns from the bodies of dead mutineers once they realized they had "been abandoned." He replies that he never abandoned them, prompting Jeanne to amend "abandoned by God." He replies that he knew his extended absence would teach them self-reliance and that is why he stayed away for so long. Paulla sarcastically remarks that is very wise of him. Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears to tell him that "The sheep have a new shepherd."
*Ellen and Tigh are getting dressed. She compliments him on his sexual technique and asks whom he's frakked. She states that after thousands of years of marriage she is quite familiar with his lovemaking style, adding that she's not mad as he thought she was dead. He admits to sex with a Six but added he always thought of her. She reminds him of the incestuous nature of the relationship as they created the Sixes and is not happy about being his "mental porn." He admits that he is still seeing Caprica but does not mention Liam.

=== Act 2 ===

*Adama is once again inspecting a work area.
*In sick bay, an Eight, a Six, [[Tory Foster]], Tigh, and Tyrol are visiting Anders. Cottle tells them not to unplug anything. Ellen enters and says that this was "how it was" as she gently brushes Sam's cheek. The Six tells her that the others are considering jumping away and starting a new life with the Final Five. Tigh is incredulous at the suggestion that they abandon the fleet. The Eight says they are not safe there, mentioning the attack on [[Caprica-Six]]. Tory agrees, leading Tigh to accuse her of plotting this all along and argue that Sam could not survive on the baseship. The Eight disagrees, and Ellen tries to change the subject by saying "Caprica-Six is pregnant?" She argues with Tigh, but Tyrol says the two should stick to the matter at hand and argue in private. The Eight says they should have a binding vote as that is the way the Five taught the other Cylons. Tory and Tyrol vote to go, Tigh votes to stay and points out that is exactly what Sam said they should do before losing consciousness. Ellen abstains and walks out the door, leaving the Five deadlocked.
*Paulla leads Gaius and the others to [[Dogsville]]. Jeanne remarks on their improved living conditions since arming themselves. Gaius greets a beautiful young woman with a small boy. She says that her name is [[Naia]] and her son is named Gaius, and Baltar assumes the child was named after him, which pleases him but Naia said he was named after his father. Baltar smoothly but noticably segues into saying he is pleased that the child is named after his father. Gaius asks Gaius if he is hungry, to which the boy nods. Baltar makes a grand speech promising to feed all the people of Dogsville. Naia embraces him in gratitude, but Paulla is not happy about it.
*Roslin walks up to Caprica-Six in the corridors of ''Galactica''. She congratulates her on her pregnancy and personally apologizes for the assault in Dogsville. She mentions their shared visions, and Caprica says she has not had them since becoming pregnant. Laura says she has not either and asks if this child is "important." Caprica pretends to not know what she means stating that all children are important and walks off.
*Tyrol walks into [[Joe's Bar]] and orders a drink. Starbuck is there and remarks on how watching Ellen and Tigh felt like watching her parents make out. She asks Tyrol if he has visited Boomer in the brig. He says no. She suggests that he do so while she is sleeping, and says that she could no longer stand to watch Sam sleeping. Tyrol takes a bottle and walks out. Starbuck plays with the bullet removed from Sam's brain.

=== Act 3 ===

*Adama is inspecting the repairs yet again.
*Ellen walks into to Tigh's quarters and tells Caprica-Six they should talk. In explaining her relationship with Saul she lets it slip that they made love, and realizes from the look on Caprica's face that she did not know. Ellen tells her not to worry as their baby is living proof that Tigh loves her. Ellen remarks that they tried to have children earlier, implying that he does not love her as much, and reassures Caprica she will not make him choose between them.
*In Dogsville, Gaius and company are distributing food. Paulla makes a worried remark that when the Marines tried this a riot broke out, but Gaius states that here there are no uniforms, assault rifles or other symbols of oppression. A group of rough-looking men led by [[Enzo]] walk up to them and demands they surrender their food. Gaius defies him and asks his followers to show they are armed. When they nervously do so, Enzo replies "ours are bigger" and the strong-arm men pull out Colonial military sidearms. They take the food and walk away.
*Adama and Tigh are getting drunk. Adama has clearly had more and is constantly refilling his glass. He asks Tigh if there have been any "mythic revelations" since Ellen's return, to which Tigh replies "Nothing new to report, sir." Adama asks if Tigh was actually born on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. Tigh nods. Adama states that is "not very machine-like" of him. Tigh jokingly defends his machinehood by saying his "great-grandpa was a power sander." They have a good laugh. Adama confesses to mixed feelings about using Cylon technology to repair ''Galactica'', fearing that she will no longer know who she is, but that combined with Cylons flying CAP, it might just be enough for the fleet to survive. He says that he needs the help of the Cylons in general and Tigh in particular, and Lee and Laura know it. Tigh has no response to this.
*Gaius dresses Paulla down for not telling him that the [[Sons of Ares]] have begun hoarding food. Paulla replies that this should have been obvious. Messenger Six appears and asks Gaius if he really wanted to feed those people, to which he replies that it felt good to help people. Six tells him to give his people the hope that Paulla can't. He proceeds to berate his followers for "lapping up Paulla's icy pragmatism." At Six's prompting he promises to get them "more guns, bigger guns, better guns!" The cultists are quite enthusiastic about the idea.

=== Act 4 ===

*Adama inspects the repairs, again.
*Ellen and Tigh meet alone. He tells her to hate him if she must but ''Galactica'' needs the [[Rebel Basestar]]. She ignores him, asking why he made love to her when his real love is at home. Tyrol and the others enter, leading Tigh to realize that this meeting was anything but private. Ellen says she has voted to join the baseship and they are leaving. Tigh refuses to leave, pointing out the millenia-long cycle of human/machine violence and claiming that only by coming together can either form of intelligence hope to survive. Ellen seems to gloat, pointing out to Caprica-Six that there is something he loves more than her and the baby, namely ''Galactica'' and Adama. Caprica grabs her stomach, groans and falls over.
*In sickbay, Cottle tells Tigh, Ellen and Caprica-Six that the baby is fighting back. Tigh blames Ellen, stating that she should have known what forcing him to choose would mean. She apologizes, saying she was only trying to hurt Saul and of course humans and Cylons should stay together. Caprica yells at them to stop fighting. Ellen walks away, but then walks back to put her hand on Saul's shoulders.
*Adama is once again inspecting the repairs.
*Ellen tells Tigh to talk to the now sleeping Caprica-Six and tell her that he loves her. He tries, but is unable to and asks why he should have to say it when she knows he feels it for all of them.
*Adama is still inspecting the repairs.
*[[Liam]]'s heart rate drops. Caprica-Six begs Cottle to cut him out of her, even if it means her death. Cottle refuses, stating that not even a Cylon baby could possibly survive outside the womb after only four months. Ellen tells her that Tigh loves her more and promises to go to the basestar so that the three of them can be a family. Liam flatlines. Tigh says that it is his fault and he is sorry. Cottle shoos them away. Caprica cries the cry of the bereaved mother.
*Gaius is talking to Lee, Roslin and Adama. Adama refuses to listen at first, saying that he is going to the head for a "project I've been working on." Gaius stops him, warning him that the decreased security in Dogsville resulting from losing so many Marines during the mutiny is causing a revolution to brew. He states that Adama has two options for stopping it. He can either bring Centurions over from the baseship or take the "last human solution" that Baltar is offering him.
*Apparently Adama has agreed to arm Baltar's cultists as some kind of auxiliary security force, as the Marines are passing out assault rifles to them. Paulla is impressed. Gaius clearly has no idea how a rifle works.
*Tyrol comes to visit Boomer in the brig while she is sleeping.
*In sick bay Sam's brain waves suddenly become very active.
*Tigh enters Adama's quarters weeping uncontrollably and nearly collapses. Adama says that Liam is a good name, short for William. Tigh says that "it's not like [[Zak Adama|Zak]]." Adama embraces and comforts him.
*Roslin and Adama are walking arm in arm through the [[Memorial hallway]]. Laura notices a Six putting up pictures of the Cylons who have been lost since joining the Fleet. Laura is taken aback, stating "Oh my Gods, it's already happening isn't it?"
*Adama touches the ID of an Eight.

== Notes ==

*[[Joe's Bar]] now has a piano.
*The rebel Cylons have now taken to putting up photos in the [[Memorial hallway]] of those who have died since the start of the alliance.
*Baltar's [[Messenger Six]] appears for the first time since "[[Escape Velocity]]", discounting a deleted farewell scene from "[[The Road Less Traveled]]" (included on the DVD release) that now appears to be moot.
*More so than previous episodes, "Deadlock" establishes that the rebel Cylons now have freedom of movement, at least aboard Galactica, with [[Caprica-Six]] seen visiting [[Dogsville]] (for reasons unknown), another Six in the Memorial Hallway, and assorted others working or performing flight duties.
*Roslin addresses Caprica by her name for the first time.
**This casts doubt on the canonicity of the bonus scene for "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries#Bonus Scene|Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]".
*The Cylon practice of democracy by majority rule came from the Final Five.
*The arrival of Ellen Tigh in a Raptor, with the camera initially focusing on her legs, parallels her introductory scene in "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]".

== Analysis ==

*Cylon pilots have begun participating in the CAP with [[Heavy Raider]]s, presumably because of a shortage of Colonial pilots. As explained by [[Ronald D. Moore]] in his [[Podcast:Deadlock#Act_3|podcast for this episode]], surviving mutineers (including numerous pilots) were imprisoned on the [[Astral Queen]].
*Foster's plan to rebuild a pure Cylon society seems ill-considered even in light of the unborn Tigh baby. There is no evidence that pairings of Number Twos with Number Sixes or Number Eights will suddenly be fertile after so many failures. All the pregnancy really proves is that the Final Five could reproduce with Twos, Sixes, and Eights, which is hardly a broad genetic base.
*In this episode, Ellen Tigh shows more characteristics of the "old Ellen", though she is still more intelligent and compassionate. Adama [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down|once said]] that Ellen brings out Saul's worst instincts; obviously the reverse is also true.
*After [[Ellen Tigh]] exits the [[Raptor]], she meets with [[William Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Laura Roslin]], and [[Saul Tigh]] just like she did after she exited a Raptor in [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]].

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

*Are the Cylons now flying regular joint CAPs with ''Galactica'''s vipers? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*Has Sharon "Boomer" Valerii genuinely under her own free will defected with Ellen Tigh from Cavil or is she part of a plot by Cavil either voluntarily under her own free will or programmed? Alternately is she a dupe under her own free will but Cavil knowing how the Eight model acts and Sharon Valerii in particular so well he manipulated her in to "escaping" with Ellen for his own purposes? Is she working for a third party? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Analysis|Answer]])
*What will happen to Boomer? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Will Caprica seek revenge on Ellen for the death of her unborn child? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How will the death of Liam affect Ellen and Saul's relationship? How will it affect Saul and Caprica's relationship? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
*How did Ellen Tigh and Sharon "Boomer" Valerii find the Fleet? Is Cavil tracking them? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer]])
*Why was Tyrol so eager to leave the Fleet? ([[Deadlock#Official Statements|Answer]])
*What has happened to Karl Agathon? Is he still recovering from his injuries received in [[The Oath]]? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*How close will the Cylon and Colonial pilots become now that they fly together? Will the Cylon pilots receive callsigns? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Why has Baltar's Messenger Six returned after a long absence? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

*What will be the consequences of Baltar's cult being given access to weapons?
*How did the Cylons imagine they could take Anders aboard their Baseship without Thrace's approval?
*Why has Anders' brain suddenly started showing activity again? What is his exact condition? Does he still possess his Cylon memories?
*What was the biological cause of Liam's death?
*Is Tyrol able to identify the Eight piloting the Raptor as Boomer due to his personal experience with her, or by the previously demonstrated ability of Cylons to distinguish between copies by sight?
*Who has been placing photographs of Cylons on the memorial wall? Other Cylons, Colonials or both?
*Will any of the humans object to the Cylon pictures?
*Just how close were the Final Five in their former lives?
*How many Cylon practices come from the Final Five? For example, the Cylons have been shown to accepting of nudity and sexual threesomes.
*Why was Caprica visiting Dogville?
*Although previous episodes have had Roslin basing herself aboard ''Galactica'' due to her health issue, beginning with this episode it is made clear that her "flag" so to speak, as well as the new Quorum's, is now aboard ''Galactica''. Given the precedent set back in the Miniseries, shouldn't ''Galactica'' now carry the call sign ''[[Colonial One]]''?
*Does Saul still see Caprica as Ellen?
*What are the legal ramifications of Ellen's [[Resurrection]]?

== Official Statements ==

*Aaron Douglas addresses the Chief's vote on his livejournal community<ref> http://community.livejournal.com/aarondouglas/150842.html?thread=972858 </ref>:*Galen does not believe that he and the other Cylons will ever be accepted in the fleet.
**He is the Chief in name only, because Adama asked him to be. This was a recognition of the fact that he is the best person to fix the ship, not true acceptance.
**He has no strong emotional ties to ''Galactica'''s people now that he knows Nicky isn't his son.
*In the Podcast for this episode, RDM mentions that the remaining mutineers (Racetrack, Skulls, etc) were deported to the prison ship the ''[[Astral Queen]]''.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Upon seeing Ellen Tigh emerge from the Raptor:''

:[[Brendan Costanza|Hot Dog]] (with Starbuck standing right next to him): How many dead chicks are out there?

*''Tyrol examines Boomer for a moment before figuring out who she is''

:[[Galen Tyrol]] (to Boomer): Nice to see you (she smiles; to Adama) This is Boomer.
:Adama: Marines!
:Marine: Sir!
:Adama: Take this Number Eight to the brig!

*''Dr. Cottle remarking to Tory, Tyrol, a Number Six and a Number Eight gathered around Anders's bedside in vigil:''

:[[Cottle]]: Lot of visitors. Just don't anybody unplug anything!

*''Baltar is in a meeting with Admiral Adama, Delegate Lee Adama, and President Roslin. Baltar is urging the Admiral to allow his followers to be armed to do the distribution of food and to keep order and other police work instead of having, eventually, inviting over Cylon Centurions to maintain order and security.''

:Adama (taking to Lee and Roslin): The two of you can stay here listening to this

:Roslin Where are you going?

:Adama: I'm gonna go to the head. Do something constructive. A little project I've been working on.

:Baltar: Listen to me. Admiral!

:Lee (to his father softly, respectfully, but insistently) Just wait...wait (Lee turns to Baltar) Explain what you mean.

:Baltar: What you have right now are starving civilians, (looks down at Roslin) with no representation, no recourse. (looks back to Lee) They're broken, they're exhausted. They've had enough. That is not a mutiny Admiral, that is a revolution.

:Lee: And you think you can maintain order...?

:Baltar (directly to the Admiral who is walking by him): Listen to me! Listen.... '''PLEASE ADMIRAL!''' (Adama stops at the doorway and faces Baltar)

:Baltar: Galactica is slipping away from you, drop by drop. You are pouring Cylon blood into her veins. I see the Cylon pilots (turns to Lee and Roslin) We all see them! (turns back to Adama) We all see the Cylon work force. Where they're going into the far recesses of the ship? When are you inviting the Centurions over, to join in all the fun we're having over here? Of course when you do that, that very moment. this becomes a blended ship. Only half human. And right now I am here to tell you your people...(pauses and then looks over to Roslin).....your people, are not ready for that.

:(looks back to Adama who makes a move to walk out but Baltar catches his arm. Adama looks down and slowly looks up at Baltar but he isn't intimidated)

:Baltar: I am offering you the last human solution you will be ever presented with.

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]] (credited as Piano Player)
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
*[[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
*[[G. Patrick Currie]] as [[Enzo]]
*[[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
*[[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
*[[Rebecca Davis]] as [[Naia]]
*[[Merwin Mondesir]] as Marine #1
*[[Tammy Gillis]] played Marine #2
*[[Bear McCreary]] as [[Joe's bar]] patron (uncredited)
*Unknown as Marine [[Nathanson]]
*[[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%"><references /></div>
{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

<br/>[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson|Episodes_written_by_Jane_Espenson]] <br/>[[Category:Episodes directed by Robert Young|Episodes_directed_by_Robert_Young]] <br/> [[de:Systemblockade|de:Systemblockade]]

The Face of the Enemy

2012-08-11T19:11:25Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */

{{Episode Data
| image=TFOTE3.jpg
| title=The Face of the Enemy
| series=
| special= Y
| season=
| episode=
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]<br/>[[Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 12 December 2008 through 12 January 2009
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| oldpopulation= 39651
| population= 39650
| prev= [[Sometimes a Great Notion]]
| next= [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]
| hulu=Y
}}

"'''The Face of the Enemy'''" is a webisode series featuring [[Felix Gaeta]] and two [[Number Eight]]s who, along with a handful of humans, are stranded on a [[Raptor 718|Raptor]] and mysteriously begin to die one by one. These events take place six to nine days after the [[Revelations|discovery of Earth]], between the episodes "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" and "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]", although the webisodes were released prior to the first airing of "Sometimes a Great Notion".

The series is not included on the [[Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.5 (Region 1 DVD)|Region 1 box set]] for "Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5" (episodes 12-22) or the "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series]]" box sets. Although listed on the distributor's website for the Region 2 DVD box set of "Battlestar Galactica: The Final Season" (episodes 12-22)<ref name="Battlestar Galactica: The Final Season content">{{cite news | author = Unknown | url = http://www.universal-playback.com/battlestar-galactica/products/battlestar-galactica-the-final-season-dvd | title = BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - THE FINAL SEASON [DVD] | date = Unknown | work = Playback | accessdate = 2009-06-06}}</ref> the series is absent from the released version.<ref name="Sci-fi online DVD review">{{cite news | author = Charles Packer | url = http://www.sci-fi-online.com/00_revs/r2009/dvd/09-06-01_battle-galactica-fin.html | title = DVD Review: Battlestar Galactica - The Final Season | date = Unknown | work = Sci-fi-online.com | accessdate = 2009-06-14}}</ref>

== Summary ==
===Episode 1===

* Release date: December 12, 2008
* Running time: ~4:11

[[Image:GaetaHoshi.PNG|thumb|Gaeta and Hoshi kiss.]]
A blood-covered Felix Gaeta is in a Raptor adrift in deep space, nine days after the events of "Revelations". Flashbacks of a list of names being written on a pad, a Number Eight cutting into her palm, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a struggle inside the Raptor segue to three days before (six days after "Revelations").

Over his protests, an exhausted Gaeta is ordered by Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] to take a week's leave aboard the ''[[Zephyr]]'' to recover. On his way to the hangar bay, Lt. [[Louis Hoshi]] catches up with him in the hallway, gives him [[morpha]] for his pain, then kisses him goodbye, evincing a romantic relationship. Joining Gaeta on the flight are [[deckhand]] [[Brooks (RDM)|Brooks]], two Number Eights, and the Raptor shuttle flight crew, Lt. [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] and [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]].

With the Raptor 15 minutes away from the ''Zephyr'', [[DRADIS]] picks up hostile [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] contacts and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is forced to make an emergency [[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series#Faster-Than-Light travel|jump]]. The Raptor completes its jump, but discovers that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is nowhere to be seen.

===Episode 2===

* Release date: December 15, 2008
* Running time: ~3:42

[[Image:TFOTE2.JPG|thumb|The occupants of the stranded Raptor.]]
Shark broadcasts on [[wireless]] to any ships that might be nearby, Easy says she entered the right coordinates, and Gaeta's stump starts to act up. A worried Brooks suggests jumping back, thinking the Fleet might have left a Raptor behind for a little while, but the Eights don't think so, since that could give away their position to Cavil's ships. Gaeta is sure that the Fleet knows that they are missing and sent someone back to look, but that they can't find out because the jump drive isn't responding. Brooks begins to pray to [[Poseidon]], puzzling the Eights since they are a long way from water, but Brooks replies they are in a ship after all. Shark discovers that the drive isn't responding because they have jumped over the [[red line]] and are thus unable to jump back to their starting point. The Eight in a Cylon [[flight suit]] ("Hard Eight") says she suspects as much, since she doesn't recognize the star patterns. Gaeta sits at the aft workstation and determines that the FTL computer's calculations were corrupted. Shark reasons that getting back to the Fleet is not impossible, just harder, and as Hard Eight and the others continue their discussion, the other Eight ("Sweet Eight") asks Gaeta if he recognizes her.

Back on ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Hoshi is clearly worried for Gaeta. The DRADIS contact was a false alarm, the Fleet has jumped back to their original coordinates, and there has been no sign of the missing Raptor for two days. He asks Tigh for a Raptor and a pilot to search for the missing Raptor, explaining that just as something in the universe led them to Earth, he knows he can find them. He stops short of revealing just how close he is to Gaeta and instead asserts that there has been too much loss already. Tigh agrees to Hoshi's request, but will have to run it by Admiral [[Adama (RDM)|Adama]].

Back aboard the Raptor, Shark determines how long they can last out there. The limiting factor is the air supply; since the Raptor was on shuttle detail, the CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers were not fully functional. They have only 20 ½ hours with the air thinned out to 68% of ship-normal O<sub>2</sub>, so everyone must limit their exertion and sleep as much as they can to stretch out the supply. Easy points out that at that oxygen level people experience memory loss, irrational behavior, depression and dizziness.

===Episode 3===

* Release date: December 17, 2008
* Running time: ~2:42

[[Image:TFOTE3.jpg|thumb|Gaeta meets with an Eight on New Caprica.]]
Brooks offers to take a look at the Raptor's CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers and opens a side panel. Meanwhile, Gaeta recognizes Sweet Eight. A flashback to 15 months earlier on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]] shows the two meeting in a tent, with Gaeta looking over a list of names and handing it to the Eight. Gaeta looks concerned as Sweet Eight leaves the tent.

Brooks finds a loose connection, but has trouble reaching it. Hard Eight offers to take over, and Brooks hands her his pliers. She reaches it, then stiffens as she is electrocuted. Esrin kicks her free, and Gaeta checks for a pulse before declaring her dead. Brooks is stunned, exclaiming, "My gods, I was just doing that! I was just doing that same thing!" Sweet Eight calls attention to the pliers. Gaeta finds that the insulating grip has been stripped off and asks, "Who did this?"

===Episode 4===

* Release date: December 22, 2008
* Running time: ~3:12

[[Image:TFOTE4.jpg|thumb|Gaeta asks what to do with the dead Eight's body.]]
Shark examines the pliers and observes they are old and that the grips wore off, but Sweet Eight suggests that it wasn't an accident, that "someone didn't like the idea of a machine breathing their air." Brooks points that the pliers were his and he was the one who was supposed to have been killed, but Sweet Eight replies not unless he was the one who stripped the grips and questions how he could not have noticed the bare metal. Gaeta quashes the growing argument, saying it was an accident, and asks what to do with the corpse. Sweet Eight wants to jettison her, noting that she will otherwise begin to decay and corrupt the air, and that the oxygen in the cabin can be sucked back into the tanks with only a little loss. As flight suits are broken out and put on, Sweet Eight whispers to Gaeta that she has an idea how to get them home, that she will tell him when the others are asleep, and asks her him to trust her.

In a flashback to New Caprica, Gaeta writes down a list of names and what look like serial numbers for Sweet Eight. He tells her he hasn't seen some of these people in a long time, and they may already be dead. Sweet Eight reassures Gaeta that the [[Number One]]s keep good records, and if some of them are locked up, she can find them and get them out, and reassures him that they can do this.

Back in the Fleet, Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and Hoshi launch from ''Galactica'' in [[Raptor 1029]].

===Episode 5===

* Release date: December 24, 2008
* Running time: ~4:42

[[Image:TFOTE5.jpg|thumb|The dead body is jettisoned.]]
The crew jettison Hard Eight's body. Afterwards, they settle down to sleep. Gaeta, apparently in pain, touches his stump and injects himself with a dose of morpha. Sweet Eight sees this but pretends to be asleep. Gaeta falls asleep as well and flashes back to New Caprica again, remembering Sweet Eight telling him she managed to get some of the people on his list out of detention. Others, she says, were already dead. She is particularly upset about a child whose fate is still a mystery and begins crying. Gaeta reassures her that they've done good and slowly leans in to kiss her.

In the present, Sweet Eight wakes Gaeta while the other three still sleep and proposes her plan. She will hook into the Raptor's systems much as [[Sharon Agathon]] once did on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]), in order to determine the corrupted memory address that made them jump to the wrong location. However, she is afraid that the others will think she is sabotaging the ship, so she asks Gaeta to cover for her while she works. Gaeta accidentally jars Brooks, who doesn't move. The two notice that Brooks has died of an overdose of Gaeta's morpha. Shark and Easy wake up and accuse Sweet Eight of having killed Brooks. Easy aims her pistol at Eight, who is shackled. Gaeta protests, but Eight tells them that she understands.

===Episode 6===

* Release date: December 29, 2008
* Running time: ~4:06

Raptor 1029 jumps into empty space on the first leg of Hoshi and Racetrack's search for the missing Raptor. They are disappointed to find nothing within DRADIS range, and make a second FTL jump to continue the search.

Back on the stranded Raptor 718, Easy and Shark are apparently asleep in the cockpit with the chronometer between them indicating the occupants’ available air supply counting down from nine hours and twenty-five minutes. A sleeping Gaeta dreams of Hoshi, then of his recent experiences aboard the Raptor. He awakes to find that Sweet Eight has freed herself from her bonds. When she asks if he’s going to restrain her again, he says his intention was to free her. After Eight cautions him against waking Shark and Easy, Gaeta hands her a scalpel and agrees to her earlier plan to physically interface with the Raptor’s systems. Eight slices open her palm and Gaeta helps her plug a data cable into the wound. Once Eight is connected, she says that the low oxygen levels in the compartment are making it difficult to project. When Gaeta asks what she is projecting, she replies, “You know where I am.” A flashback shows Gaeta and the Eight back on New Caprica, where the Eight gently kisses Gaeta. Back in the present, Eight attempts to do the same, but Gaeta interrupts her by saying he’s involved with someone. Though Eight tells him that she’s pleased and that he deserves his current happiness, the two kiss passionately until the Eight abruptly gasps, saying that she has found the Fleet. She then tells Gaeta to prepare for a jump, as she is about to take the Raptor home.

===Episode 7===

* Release date: December 31, 2008
* Running time: ~2:06

Aboard Raptor 1029, Racetrack mentions to Hoshi that she had hoped he and Gaeta would get together and was glad they finally did. Hoshi mentions Gaeta’s drive to do the right thing, which Racetrack inadvertently makes an offhand remark in response about the rarity and mortality attached to such a well-developed moral core and quickly admonishes herself for it. Hoshi absolves her of her slip of the tongue and encourages her to continue the search.

Raptor 718 completes its jump. The countdown on the occupants’ air supply reads eight hours and eleven minutes. Gaeta checks the rear console and finds to his chagrin that not only did the jump drain nearly all of the Raptor’s power reserves, but that neither the Fleet nor any other vessels are in DRADIS range. Gaeta surmises that the Fleet may still be nearby, but out of the Raptor’s DRADIS radius. Eight says she will send a pulse that will alert the Fleet to their position and estimates a ten-hour window for rescue. Gaeta heads to the cockpit to wake Shark and Easy, but is horrified to find them both dead, their throats slashed open. His hands are covered with their blood from his attempts to wake them. Gaeta then looks accusingly at Eight, whose only response is to silently meet his gaze.

===Episode 8===

* Release date: January 5, 2009
* Running time: ~3:06

Raptor 1029 completes its third jump, and, again, Racetrack and Hoshi see no sign of Raptor 718. Racetrack offers to plot another jump, and Hoshi agrees, but then asks Racetrack if she thinks it's crazy to continue the search. Racetrack reluctantly says she does, and adds that if Gaeta was in their position, he would also call off the search for Hoshi once it became clear that further searches were futile. After an uncomfortable silence, Racetrack finally asks if Hoshi wants to call off the search and return to ''Galactica''. After a few seconds of pained consideration, Hoshi says yes.

Back on Raptor 718, Gaeta begins to piece everything together, realizing to his horror that Sweet Eight was responsible for every single death, an accusation Eight responds with sedate confirmation, claiming that she did it to give the two of them more air. She then says to an increasingly frantic Gaeta that she killed them all to protect him from his own desire to kill them all. Gaeta angrily denies Eight's words, tearing the data cable out of her palm. She then affirms that Gaeta is a killer at heart, that he was when he gave her the list of names.

Another flashback to the tent on New Caprica shows a sleeping Gaeta oblivious to Sweet Eight handing the list to another Eight, instructing her to kill everyone on it.

The flashback ends, as the realization draws over Gaeta's face.

===Episode 9===

* Release date: January 7, 2009
* Running time: ~3:41

Gaeta listens in horror as Sweet Eight reveals that she had most of the people on the lists he gave her killed, leaving only enough of them alive to make him think she had saved them all, fooling him into thinking he was doing some good by collaborating with her. She states flatly that in a war, a basic tactical maneuver is to kill the people your enemy values. She also forces him to acknowledge that Baltar knew what Gaeta and "his Eight" were doing all along. In a flashback to the Season 3 episode "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" where Gaeta interrogates Baltar before his trial, the words Baltar whispered to him which triggered Gaeta's attack are revealed: "I know what your Eight did." In a rage, Gaeta in the present mimics the Gaeta in the flashback – he picks up the scalpel and stabs Sweet Eight in the neck just as he stabbed Baltar.

===Episode 10===

* Release date: January 12, 2009
* Running time: ~5:36

As the last survivor aboard the ship, Gaeta tries to kill himself with an overdose of morpha but fails to inject the second dose. He starts to sing when suddenly the cabin is illuminated from outside. He is hailed by Raptor 1029.

Back on ''Galactica'', Tigh tells a recovered Gaeta that the incident will not be investigated, as Admiral Adama does not wish to jeopardize the alliance with the Cylons. Gaeta bluntly asserts that the alliance should not exist at all, and requests to speak with Admiral Adama directly, on the grounds that the Colonel is a Cylon. Tigh agrees reluctantly, and invites Gaeta to [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul#Act 1|a meeting of senior staff later that day to discuss the alliance.]] Gaeta leaves the CIC and meets Hoshi in the corridor. Gaeta insinuates gloomily that he has a plan and that something important will happen soon.

== Notes ==
*This story reveals that Gaeta is bisexual, as he is shown being romantically involved with both Hoshi (who in turn is also revealed to be either gay or bisexual as well), and one of the Number Eights.
*According to [[Jane Espenson]]'s writer's commentary, Gaeta and Hoshi's relationship ends at the end of episode 10.
* Espenson's commentary highlights some changes that were made to the script during development.
** Gaeta's present human lover was changed from [[Noel Allison]] to Louis Hoshi, because [[Sebastian Spence]] was not available.
** Gaeta's Cylon ex-lover was changed from a [[Number Six]] to a Number Eight.
** The two Cylons onboard were changed from two Sixes to a Six and an Eight when it became known that Grace Park would be available, and then to two Eights when it became known that [[Tricia Helfer]] would not be available.
** Using two of the same model made it more practical to kill off one of the Cylons first, because scenes with multiple copies are difficult to shoot. Espenson says that this was retrospectively a blessing, because it made the conclusion that "Sweet Eight" is the killer less obvious.
** "Sweet Eight" would originally have said that humans can delude themselves, but Cylon brains record only the truth. This was changed to a line about the similarity of human and Cylon brains after Grace Park pointed out that Eights have been some of the most self-deceiving characters on the show.
* Felix Gaeta has a metal [[w:prosthesis|prosthetic]] leg.
* The two Number Eights are nicknamed "Sweet Eight" and "Pilot Eight" in the commentary by Jane Espenson, the latter being the one in a Cylon flight suit. However, the script for this webisode lists "Pilot Eight" as "Hard Eight."<ref>See: [[Sources: The Face of the Enemy]].</ref>
*"The Face of the Enemy" takes place between "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" and "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]". Although shot after the conclusion of the fourth season, the events depicted in these webisodes help to explain Gaeta's animosity toward the Cylons in the latter episode.
*Flashback footage from "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" is incorporated, and this story reveals what Baltar whispered to Gaeta during the earlier episode.
*All Ten episodes are available in HD and Standard Definition from iTunes.
*This story takes the form of a murder mystery.
*The events on the Raptor directly lead to Gaeta teaming up with Zarek for an eventual failed mutiny and coup.
* An error was made during webisode 6. While "Sweet Eight" attempts to plug a cable into her arm, Gaeta says "Oh, God," rather than "Oh, gods."

== Analysis ==
: ''Note: some of the following comments are based upon the fact The Face of the Enemy was webcast before the broadcast of "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" in which these facts are already in evidence as that story takes place prior to this one.''
* The [[Rebel Basestar|rebel Cylon basestar]] is still with the Fleet.
* Saul Tigh has returned to duty, despite being outed as one of the [[Final Five]] Cylons.
* It now does not appear unusual to have Number Eights (besides [[Sharon Agathon]]) aboard ''Galactica'', or for them to be riding aboard Colonial shuttles.

== Questions ==
*What is Gaeta's plan? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])

== Official Statements ==
''Not yet available.''

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* [[Louis Hoshi]] and [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] discuss continuing the search for the lost Raptor:
: '''[[Louis Hoshi]]:''' Is this crazy?
: '''[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]:''' Yeah. I'm sorry, but yeah... But look, he [Gaeta] wouldn't give up on you. Eventually, if it didn't make sense anymore, he'd have to. He'd understand.

== Cast ==

* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Grace Park]] as "Sweet Eight" and "Hard Eight"
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Michael Rogers]] as [[Brooks (RDM)|Brooks]]
* [[Jessica Harmon]] as [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]]
* [[William C. Vaughn]] as Lieutenant [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] (credited as "Finn")
* [[James Callis]] as [[Gaius Baltar]] (flashback footage)




== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{episode list (RDM season 4)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Face of the Enemy, The}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Episode Guide]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)|*]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

The Face of the Enemy

2012-08-11T19:06:58Z

AlanHK: /* Episode 9 */

{{Episode Data
| image=TFOTE3.jpg
| title=The Face of the Enemy
| series=
| special= Y
| season=
| episode=
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]<br/>[[Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 12 December 2008 through 12 January 2009
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| oldpopulation= 39651
| population= 39650
| prev= [[Sometimes a Great Notion]]
| next= [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]
| hulu=Y
}}

"'''The Face of the Enemy'''" is a webisode series featuring [[Felix Gaeta]] and two [[Number Eight]]s who, along with a handful of humans, are stranded on a [[Raptor 718|Raptor]] and mysteriously begin to die one by one. These events take place six to nine days after the [[Revelations|discovery of Earth]], between the episodes "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" and "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]", although the webisodes were released prior to the first airing of "Sometimes a Great Notion".

The series is not included on the [[Battlestar Galactica - Season 4.5 (Region 1 DVD)|Region 1 box set]] for "Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5" (episodes 12-22) or the "[[Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series]]" box sets. Although listed on the distributor's website for the Region 2 DVD box set of "Battlestar Galactica: The Final Season" (episodes 12-22)<ref name="Battlestar Galactica: The Final Season content">{{cite news | author = Unknown | url = http://www.universal-playback.com/battlestar-galactica/products/battlestar-galactica-the-final-season-dvd | title = BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - THE FINAL SEASON [DVD] | date = Unknown | work = Playback | accessdate = 2009-06-06}}</ref> the series is absent from the released version.<ref name="Sci-fi online DVD review">{{cite news | author = Charles Packer | url = http://www.sci-fi-online.com/00_revs/r2009/dvd/09-06-01_battle-galactica-fin.html | title = DVD Review: Battlestar Galactica - The Final Season | date = Unknown | work = Sci-fi-online.com | accessdate = 2009-06-14}}</ref>

== Summary ==
===Episode 1===

* Release date: December 12, 2008
* Running time: ~4:11

[[Image:GaetaHoshi.PNG|thumb|Gaeta and Hoshi kiss.]]
A blood-covered Felix Gaeta is in a Raptor adrift in deep space, nine days after the events of "Revelations". Flashbacks of a list of names being written on a pad, a Number Eight cutting into her palm, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a struggle inside the Raptor segue to three days before (six days after "Revelations").

Over his protests, an exhausted Gaeta is ordered by Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] to take a week's leave aboard the ''[[Zephyr]]'' to recover. On his way to the hangar bay, Lt. [[Louis Hoshi]] catches up with him in the hallway, gives him [[morpha]] for his pain, then kisses him goodbye, evincing a romantic relationship. Joining Gaeta on the flight are [[deckhand]] [[Brooks (RDM)|Brooks]], two Number Eights, and the Raptor shuttle flight crew, Lt. [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] and [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]].

With the Raptor 15 minutes away from the ''Zephyr'', [[DRADIS]] picks up hostile [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] contacts and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is forced to make an emergency [[Propulsion in the Re-imagined Series#Faster-Than-Light travel|jump]]. The Raptor completes its jump, but discovers that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is nowhere to be seen.

===Episode 2===

* Release date: December 15, 2008
* Running time: ~3:42

[[Image:TFOTE2.JPG|thumb|The occupants of the stranded Raptor.]]
Shark broadcasts on [[wireless]] to any ships that might be nearby, Easy says she entered the right coordinates, and Gaeta's stump starts to act up. A worried Brooks suggests jumping back, thinking the Fleet might have left a Raptor behind for a little while, but the Eights don't think so, since that could give away their position to Cavil's ships. Gaeta is sure that the Fleet knows that they are missing and sent someone back to look, but that they can't find out because the jump drive isn't responding. Brooks begins to pray to [[Poseidon]], puzzling the Eights since they are a long way from water, but Brooks replies they are in a ship after all. Shark discovers that the drive isn't responding because they have jumped over the [[red line]] and are thus unable to jump back to their starting point. The Eight in a Cylon [[flight suit]] ("Hard Eight") says she suspects as much, since she doesn't recognize the star patterns. Gaeta sits at the aft workstation and determines that the FTL computer's calculations were corrupted. Shark reasons that getting back to the Fleet is not impossible, just harder, and as Hard Eight and the others continue their discussion, the other Eight ("Sweet Eight") asks Gaeta if he recognizes her.

Back on ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Hoshi is clearly worried for Gaeta. The DRADIS contact was a false alarm, the Fleet has jumped back to their original coordinates, and there has been no sign of the missing Raptor for two days. He asks Tigh for a Raptor and a pilot to search for the missing Raptor, explaining that just as something in the universe led them to Earth, he knows he can find them. He stops short of revealing just how close he is to Gaeta and instead asserts that there has been too much loss already. Tigh agrees to Hoshi's request, but will have to run it by Admiral [[Adama (RDM)|Adama]].

Back aboard the Raptor, Shark determines how long they can last out there. The limiting factor is the air supply; since the Raptor was on shuttle detail, the CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers were not fully functional. They have only 20 ½ hours with the air thinned out to 68% of ship-normal O<sub>2</sub>, so everyone must limit their exertion and sleep as much as they can to stretch out the supply. Easy points out that at that oxygen level people experience memory loss, irrational behavior, depression and dizziness.

===Episode 3===

* Release date: December 17, 2008
* Running time: ~2:42

[[Image:TFOTE3.jpg|thumb|Gaeta meets with an Eight on New Caprica.]]
Brooks offers to take a look at the Raptor's CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers and opens a side panel. Meanwhile, Gaeta recognizes Sweet Eight. A flashback to 15 months earlier on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]] shows the two meeting in a tent, with Gaeta looking over a list of names and handing it to the Eight. Gaeta looks concerned as Sweet Eight leaves the tent.

Brooks finds a loose connection, but has trouble reaching it. Hard Eight offers to take over, and Brooks hands her his pliers. She reaches it, then stiffens as she is electrocuted. Esrin kicks her free, and Gaeta checks for a pulse before declaring her dead. Brooks is stunned, exclaiming, "My gods, I was just doing that! I was just doing that same thing!" Sweet Eight calls attention to the pliers. Gaeta finds that the insulating grip has been stripped off and asks, "Who did this?"

===Episode 4===

* Release date: December 22, 2008
* Running time: ~3:12

[[Image:TFOTE4.jpg|thumb|Gaeta asks what to do with the dead Eight's body.]]
Shark examines the pliers and observes they are old and that the grips wore off, but Sweet Eight suggests that it wasn't an accident, that "someone didn't like the idea of a machine breathing their air." Brooks points that the pliers were his and he was the one who was supposed to have been killed, but Sweet Eight replies not unless he was the one who stripped the grips and questions how he could not have noticed the bare metal. Gaeta quashes the growing argument, saying it was an accident, and asks what to do with the corpse. Sweet Eight wants to jettison her, noting that she will otherwise begin to decay and corrupt the air, and that the oxygen in the cabin can be sucked back into the tanks with only a little loss. As flight suits are broken out and put on, Sweet Eight whispers to Gaeta that she has an idea how to get them home, that she will tell him when the others are asleep, and asks her him to trust her.

In a flashback to New Caprica, Gaeta writes down a list of names and what look like serial numbers for Sweet Eight. He tells her he hasn't seen some of these people in a long time, and they may already be dead. Sweet Eight reassures Gaeta that the [[Number One]]s keep good records, and if some of them are locked up, she can find them and get them out, and reassures him that they can do this.

Back in the Fleet, Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and Hoshi launch from ''Galactica'' in [[Raptor 1029]].

===Episode 5===

* Release date: December 24, 2008
* Running time: ~4:42

[[Image:TFOTE5.jpg|thumb|The dead body is jettisoned.]]
The crew jettison Hard Eight's body. Afterwards, they settle down to sleep. Gaeta, apparently in pain, touches his stump and injects himself with a dose of morpha. Sweet Eight sees this but pretends to be asleep. Gaeta falls asleep as well and flashes back to New Caprica again, remembering Sweet Eight telling him she managed to get some of the people on his list out of detention. Others, she says, were already dead. She is particularly upset about a child whose fate is still a mystery and begins crying. Gaeta reassures her that they've done good and slowly leans in to kiss her.

In the present, Sweet Eight wakes Gaeta while the other three still sleep and proposes her plan. She will hook into the Raptor's systems much as [[Sharon Agathon]] once did on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]), in order to determine the corrupted memory address that made them jump to the wrong location. However, she is afraid that the others will think she is sabotaging the ship, so she asks Gaeta to cover for her while she works. Gaeta accidentally jars Brooks, who doesn't move. The two notice that Brooks has died of an overdose of Gaeta's morpha. Shark and Easy wake up and accuse Sweet Eight of having killed Brooks. Easy aims her pistol at Eight, who is shackled. Gaeta protests, but Eight tells them that she understands.

===Episode 6===

* Release date: December 29, 2008
* Running time: ~4:06

Raptor 1029 jumps into empty space on the first leg of Hoshi and Racetrack's search for the missing Raptor. They are disappointed to find nothing within DRADIS range, and make a second FTL jump to continue the search.

Back on the stranded Raptor 718, Easy and Shark are apparently asleep in the cockpit with the chronometer between them indicating the occupants’ available air supply counting down from nine hours and twenty-five minutes. A sleeping Gaeta dreams of Hoshi, then of his recent experiences aboard the Raptor. He awakes to find that Sweet Eight has freed herself from her bonds. When she asks if he’s going to restrain her again, he says his intention was to free her. After Eight cautions him against waking Shark and Easy, Gaeta hands her a scalpel and agrees to her earlier plan to physically interface with the Raptor’s systems. Eight slices open her palm and Gaeta helps her plug a data cable into the wound. Once Eight is connected, she says that the low oxygen levels in the compartment are making it difficult to project. When Gaeta asks what she is projecting, she replies, “You know where I am.” A flashback shows Gaeta and the Eight back on New Caprica, where the Eight gently kisses Gaeta. Back in the present, Eight attempts to do the same, but Gaeta interrupts her by saying he’s involved with someone. Though Eight tells him that she’s pleased and that he deserves his current happiness, the two kiss passionately until the Eight abruptly gasps, saying that she has found the Fleet. She then tells Gaeta to prepare for a jump, as she is about to take the Raptor home.

===Episode 7===

* Release date: December 31, 2008
* Running time: ~2:06

Aboard Raptor 1029, Racetrack mentions to Hoshi that she had hoped he and Gaeta would get together and was glad they finally did. Hoshi mentions Gaeta’s drive to do the right thing, which Racetrack inadvertently makes an offhand remark in response about the rarity and mortality attached to such a well-developed moral core and quickly admonishes herself for it. Hoshi absolves her of her slip of the tongue and encourages her to continue the search.

Raptor 718 completes its jump. The countdown on the occupants’ air supply reads eight hours and eleven minutes. Gaeta checks the rear console and finds to his chagrin that not only did the jump drain nearly all of the Raptor’s power reserves, but that neither the Fleet nor any other vessels are in DRADIS range. Gaeta surmises that the Fleet may still be nearby, but out of the Raptor’s DRADIS radius. Eight says she will send a pulse that will alert the Fleet to their position and estimates a ten-hour window for rescue. Gaeta heads to the cockpit to wake Shark and Easy, but is horrified to find them both dead, their throats slashed open. His hands are covered with their blood from his attempts to wake them. Gaeta then looks accusingly at Eight, whose only response is to silently meet his gaze.

===Episode 8===

* Release date: January 5, 2009
* Running time: ~3:06

Raptor 1029 completes its third jump, and, again, Racetrack and Hoshi see no sign of Raptor 718. Racetrack offers to plot another jump, and Hoshi agrees, but then asks Racetrack if she thinks it's crazy to continue the search. Racetrack reluctantly says she does, and adds that if Gaeta was in their position, he would also call off the search for Hoshi once it became clear that further searches were futile. After an uncomfortable silence, Racetrack finally asks if Hoshi wants to call off the search and return to ''Galactica''. After a few seconds of pained consideration, Hoshi says yes.

Back on Raptor 718, Gaeta begins to piece everything together, realizing to his horror that Sweet Eight was responsible for every single death, an accusation Eight responds with sedate confirmation, claiming that she did it to give the two of them more air. She then says to an increasingly frantic Gaeta that she killed them all to protect him from his own desire to kill them all. Gaeta angrily denies Eight's words, tearing the data cable out of her palm. She then affirms that Gaeta is a killer at heart, that he was when he gave her the list of names.

Another flashback to the tent on New Caprica shows a sleeping Gaeta oblivious to Sweet Eight handing the list to another Eight, instructing her to kill everyone on it.

The flashback ends, as the realization draws over Gaeta's face.

===Episode 9===

* Release date: January 7, 2009
* Running time: ~3:41

Gaeta listens in horror as Sweet Eight reveals that she had most of the people on the lists he gave her killed, leaving only enough of them alive to make him think she had saved them all, fooling him into thinking he was doing some good by collaborating with her. She states flatly that in a war, a basic tactical maneuver is to kill the people your enemy values. She also forces him to acknowledge that Baltar knew what Gaeta and "his Eight" were doing all along. In a flashback to the Season 3 episode "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" where Gaeta interrogates Baltar before his trial, the words Baltar whispered to him which triggered Gaeta's attack are revealed: "I know what your Eight did." In a rage, Gaeta in the present mimics the Gaeta in the flashback – he picks up the scalpel and stabs Sweet Eight in the neck just as he stabbed Baltar.

===Episode 10===

* Release date: January 12, 2009
* Running time: ~5:36

As the last survivor aboard the ship, Gaeta tries to kill himself with an overdose of morpha but fails to inject the second dose. He starts to sing when suddenly the cabin is illuminated from outside. He is hailed by Raptor 1029.

Back on ''Galactica'', Tigh tells a recovered Gaeta that the incident will not be investigated, as Admiral Adama does not wish to jeopardize the alliance with the Cylons. Gaeta bluntly asserts that the alliance should not exist at all, and requests to speak with Admiral Adama directly, on the grounds that the Colonel is a Cylon. Tigh agrees reluctantly, and invites Gaeta to [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul#Act 1|a meeting of senior staff later that day to discuss the alliance.]] Gaeta leaves the CIC and meets Hoshi in the corridor. Gaeta insinuates gloomily that he has a plan and that something important will happen soon.

== Notes ==
*This story reveals that Gaeta is bisexual, as he is shown being romantically involved with both Hoshi (who in turn is also revealed to be either gay or bisexual as well), and one of the Number Eights.
*According to [[Jane Espenson]]'s writer's commentary, Gaeta and Hoshi's relationship ends at the end of episode 10.
* Espenson's commentary highlights some changes that were made to the script during development.
** Gaeta's present human lover was changed from [[Noel Allison]] to Louis Hoshi, because [[Sebastian Spence]] was not available.
** Gaeta's Cylon ex-lover was changed from a [[Number Six]] to a Number Eight.
** The two Cylons onboard were changed from two Sixes to a Six and an Eight when it became known that Grace Park would be available, and then to two Eights when it became known that [[Tricia Helfer]] would not be available.
** Using two of the same model made it more practical to kill off one of the Cylons first, because scenes with multiple copies are difficult to shoot. Espenson says that this was retrospectively a blessing, because it made the conclusion that "Sweet Eight" is the killer less obvious.
** "Sweet Eight" would originally have said that humans can delude themselves, but Cylon brains record only the truth. This was changed to a line about the similarity of human and Cylon brains after Grace Park pointed out that Eights have been some of the most self-deceiving characters on the show.
* Felix Gaeta has a metal [[w:prosthesis|prosthetic]] leg.
* The two Number Eights are nicknamed "Sweet Eight" and "Pilot Eight" in the commentary by Jane Espenson, the latter being the one in a Cylon flight suit. However, the script for this webisode lists "Pilot Eight" as "Hard Eight."<ref>See: [[Sources: The Face of the Enemy]].</ref>
*"The Face of the Enemy" takes place between "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" and "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]". Although shot after the conclusion of the fourth season, the events depicted in these webisodes help to explain Gaeta's animosity toward the Cylons in the latter episode.
*Flashback footage from "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" is incorporated, and this story reveals what Baltar whispered to Gaeta during the earlier episode.
*All Ten episodes are available in HD and Standard Definition from iTunes.
*This story takes the form of a murder mystery.
*The events of the webisodes ultimately lead to Gaeta teaming up with Zarek for an eventual failed mutiny and coup. While Gaeta's plan succeeds at first, it still fails in the end, and he's executed for his actions. True to his word, however, he keeps Hoshi out of it, having him taken away by soldiers, but not harmed.
* An error was made during webisode 6. While "Sweet Eight" attempts to plug a cable into her arm, Gaeta says "Oh, God," rather than "Oh, gods."

== Analysis ==
: ''Note: some of the following comments are based upon the fact The Face of the Enemy was webcast before the broadcast of "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" in which these facts are already in evidence as that story takes place prior to this one.''
* The [[Rebel Basestar|rebel Cylon basestar]] is still with the Fleet.
* Saul Tigh has returned to duty, despite being outed as one of the [[Final Five]] Cylons.
* It now does not appear unusual to have Number Eights (besides [[Sharon Agathon]]) aboard ''Galactica'', or for them to be riding aboard Colonial shuttles.

== Questions ==
*What is Gaeta's plan? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])

== Official Statements ==
''Not yet available.''

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* [[Louis Hoshi]] and [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] discuss continuing the search for the lost Raptor:
: '''[[Louis Hoshi]]:''' Is this crazy?
: '''[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]:''' Yeah. I'm sorry, but yeah... But look, he [Gaeta] wouldn't give up on you. Eventually, if it didn't make sense anymore, he'd have to. He'd understand.

== Cast ==

* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Grace Park]] as "Sweet Eight" and "Hard Eight"
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Junior Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Michael Rogers]] as [[Brooks (RDM)|Brooks]]
* [[Jessica Harmon]] as [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]]
* [[William C. Vaughn]] as Lieutenant [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] (credited as "Finn")
* [[James Callis]] as [[Gaius Baltar]] (flashback footage)




== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{episode list (RDM season 4)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Face of the Enemy, The}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Episode Guide]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)|*]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Portal:Battlestar Galactica (RDM)/Webisodes

2012-08-10T16:38:45Z

AlanHK:

Two series of '''webisodes''' have been produced for the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. They were first released on the internet and later on DVD.

{| class="messagebox"
|-
! class="infoboxheader" | Episode #
! class="infoboxheader" | Title
! class="infoboxheader" | Airdate
! class="infoboxheader" | Screenshot

|- class="infoboxheader"
| height="10" align="center" | 1
| [[Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance]] ([[Talk:Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance|Talk]])
| September 5—October 5, 2006
| rowspan="2" | [[Image:Webisode Resistance - 1.jpg|200px]]<br/>[[Image:Chinese characters.png|200px]]
|- class="infoboxheader"
| colspan="3" valign="top" | '''Summary'''<br/> '''''Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance''''' is an online series that aims to fill in the gaps between seasons [[Season 2 (2005-06)|two]] and [[Season 3 (2006-07)|three]] of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. In particular the webisodes chronicle [[Duck]]'s and [[Jammer]]'s motivations to become suicide bomber and collaborator respectively.
'''Quote''' <br/>
:'''[[Jammer]]''': What about the ten innocent people? Why don't you tell [[Duck]] what a bargain you got for [[Nora Farmer|Nora]]'s life?
:'''[[Saul Tigh]]''': You got that ass-backwards, sonny. [[New Caprica Resistance|We]] didn't shoot those people, the [[Centurion (RDM)|chrome jobs]] did...
:'''Jammer''': Because we hid weapons there!
:'''Tigh''': Hey! We're not playing pattycake here. These bastards burned up [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|twenty billion]] of us, you gonna say that's our fault, too? Instead of bawlin' like a little girl, you should focus on getting some payback.
:'''Jammer''': Is that all this is about to you? Blood for blood?
:'''Tigh''': We're at war! War is messy! People get killed—good people, nice people. Get that through your head, or get out! We don't need any cry-babies in this outfit.

|- class="infoboxheader"
| height="10" align="center" | 2
| [[Razor Flashbacks]] ([[Talk:Razor Flashbacks|Talk]])
| October 5—November 16, 2007
| rowspan="2" | [[Image:Cylon Facility - Razor Flashbacks.jpg|200px]]<br/>[[Image:Razor Flashback 4.jpg|200px]]
|- class="infoboxheader"
| colspan="3" valign="top" | '''Summary'''<br/> The '''''Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashbacks''''' are an online series that provides the story of a young [[William Adama]]'s ([[Nico Cortez]]) discovery of a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] experiment during his time in the first [[Cylon War]].
'''Quote''' <br/>
:'''[[Jaycie McGavin]]:''' You put your boots out?
:'''[[William Adama]]:''' Ran into the commander when I was doing it.
:'''McGavin:''' Frak. What did he say?
:'''Adama:''' (laughs) Took one look at my bare feet and said "What do you hear, Husker?"
:'''McGavin:''' "[[Nothing but the rain]], sir!"
:'''Adama:''' "Grab your gun and bring in the cat. Boom, boom, boom."

|- class="infoboxheader"
| height="10" align="center" | 3
| [[The Face of the Enemy]] ([[Talk:The Face of the Enemy|Talk]])
| 12 December 2008 — 12 January 2009
| rowspan="2" | [[File:TFOTE3.jpg|200px]]
|- class="infoboxheader"
| colspan="3" valign="top" | '''Summary'''<br/> "'''The Face of the Enemy'''" is a webisode series featuring [[Felix Gaeta]] and two [[Number Eight]]s who, along with a handful of humans, are stranded on a [[Raptor 718|Raptor]] and mysteriously begin to die one by one. These events take place six to nine days after the [[Revelations|discovery of Earth]], between the episodes "[[Sometimes a Great Notion]]" and "[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]", although the webisodes were released prior to the first airing of "Sometimes a Great Notion".
'''Quote''' <br/>
: '''[[Louis Hoshi]]:''' ''[about their search for Gaeta and the lost Raptor]'' Is this crazy?
: '''[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]:''' Yeah. I'm sorry, but yeah... But look, he [Gaeta] wouldn't give up on you. Eventually, if it didn't make sense anymore, he'd have to. He'd understand.

|- class="infoboxheader"
| height="10" align="center" | 4
| [[Blood and Chrome]] ([[Talk:Blood and Chrome|Talk]])
| TBA
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Universal_intro.jpg|200px]]
|- class="infoboxheader"
| colspan="3" valign="top" | '''Summary'''<br/> '''''Blood and Chrome''''' is an online series (presently in development) that tells the story of a young [[William Adama]]'s entry into the [[Cylon War|First Cylon War]].

|}

{{RDM episode guide sidebar}}

The Hub

2012-08-08T18:06:13Z

AlanHK: /* Cylons */ rearrange

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] episode. For the eponymous resurrection facility, see: [[Resurrection Hub]].''
{{Episode Data
| image= 411 pilot meeting.jpg
| title= The Hub
| season= 4
| episode= 9
| forumthread= 1262
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Paul Edwards]]
| production= 411
| rating= 1.3
| US airdate= 06 June 2008
| CAN airdate= 06 June 2008
| UK airdate=10 June 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation= 39674
| population= 39673
| prev= [[Sine Qua Non]]
| next= [[Revelations]]
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== Overview ==

: ''Pursuing the [[Resurrection Hub]] at the whim of the Hybrid, a team of [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] [[List of pilots|pilots]] and [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]] become uneasy collaborators as they formulate a [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|battle plan]] to [[unbox]] the [[Number Three|Three]]s and destroy Cylon [[resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] forever. Meanwhile, [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] try desperately to communicate with the panicking [[Hybrid]] and [[Karl Agathon]] discovers a disturbing characteristic within one of the [[Number Eight|Eights]].''

== Summary ==

:''The episode takes place concurrently with "[[Sine Qua Non]]."

=== Teaser ===
* Starting off from the last events of "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", [[Laura Roslin]], [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] are brought before the rebel Cylon basestar's Hybrid. After a [[Number Eight]] reconnects the [[Hybrid]], she unexpectedly jumps the ship.
* During the jump, Roslin finds herself in empty corridors of ''[[Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki>. As she looks around, Elosha appears behind her. After they hug, the vision stops and Roslin finds herself back in the Hybrid's room. Roslin inquires after the Hybrid's abilities as the Eight tries to get information from the [[data-font]], however the Hybrid jumps the ship again, and Roslin finds herself back with Elosha in ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> empty corridors. Roslin makes this observation, to which Elosha replies that it makes the ship feel bigger; Roslin further points out that the experience is strange, to which Elosha replies "many things are strange."
* The two end up in [[sickbay]], where the only occupied (and lit) bed is occupied by Roslin herself, who is dying.

=== Act 1 ===
*An [[Number Eight|Eight]] determines that the Hybrid is panicking due to [[Natalie]]'s injury. [[Gaius Baltar]] attempts to calm her, initially appearing to be successful, but the Hybrid jumps again. Roslin's vision continues, and she sees [[Kara Thrace]], Dr. [[Cottle]] and the Adamas standing over her bed. Elosha speaks to the dying Roslin, chastising her for her lack of empathy.
*The Eight tells [[Karl Agathon]] that the Hybrid is following the [[Resurrection Hub]] and discusses an attack strategy with him.
*When the Eight massages Agathon's back, he comments that [[Sharon Agathon|his wife]] learned to do so only after meeting him, and the Eight reveals that she accessed Athena's memories from her [[Rapture|last download]].
*Agathon speaks to Roslin in the Raptor. The president tells him that he is to bring [[Number Three]] directly to her and not to the Cylons.
*On the Resurrection Hub, a D'Anna Biers is awakened by [[Number One|Cavil]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]], who tell her about the [[Cylon Civil War]] that was caused by her actions. Three makes a disparaging remark about the Eights' fickleness.

=== Act 2 ===
[[Image:411 Roslin and Baltar with Hybrid.jpg|thumb|Roslin and Baltar attempting to talk to the Hybrid about the [[Opera House]] vision.]]

*In the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] hangar, Agathon and an Eight give a mission briefing to a number of [[Number Six|Sixes]], Eights and Colonial pilots. Several pilots, notably [[Paolo McKay|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]] and [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]], express concerns about their safety and the reliability of the Cylon pilots. A Six rebuts that the rebel pilots are just as well trained as the humans, and the Eight reminds them that they learned to trust Athena, so they can also trust their rebel allies.
*Baltar and Roslin attempt to question the Hybrid with little success. They bicker and Baltar walks off, and then the Hybrid declares that a Three has been unboxed and jumps again.
*Continuing the vision, Elosha and Roslin walk through the hallways of ''Galactica''. Roslin speculates that Elosha and the visions are a manifestation of her subconscious. Roslin and Elosha see [[William Adama]] reading ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' to the dying Roslin.
*After the jump, Baltar begins talking to a [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] about hierarchy and religion, asserting that the Centurion is loved by [[God (RDM)|God]] as well.
*Speaking to Roslin, Agathon is disappointed that she wants to betray the alliance between humans and Cylons, and thinks that they can trust the Eights. Roslin tells him that he shouldn't let the experiences with his wife cloud his judgment and orders him to carry out her request.

=== Act 3 ===
*On the Resurrection Hub, Boomer comments with alarm on the arrival of the rebel basestar. Cavil tries to convince Number Three to talk to the rebels and defuse the conflict, but she replies curtly and threatens to shout out the names of the [[Final Five]]. Boomer reports that the rebel basestar has launched 25 [[Heavy Raider]]s.
*Outside the Hub, the Heavy Raiders release the [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] they have been towing behind them. The Raiders attack defending basestars, while the Vipers head towards the Hub.
*Cavil deduces that the rebels are attempting to destroy the Hub, and comments that doing so would be mass murder, and would make death permanent for Cylons. On hearing this Three breaks Cavil's neck and Boomer flees.
*Missiles destroy a node at the top of the Hub, taking out its FTL drive. Subsequently, Agathon and the Eight head towards the Hub in a [[Raptor]]. On the Hub, they encounter the D'Anna Biers and the dead Cavil. Seeing explosions around them, Agathon tells Three to run and grabs her arm.
*[[Eammon Pike]] panics as his Raptor is almost disabled and wants to jump back to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. [[Diana Seelix]] urges him not to, telling him that the Fleet is too far way. When Pike is initiating the jump, the Raptor is hit by fire from a Raider, hitting Pike in the chest, though he manages to hit the jump button.
*On the Hub, Agathon hesitates upon seeing a number of inert Number Eight bodies. The Eight tells him they should leave, and drags the objecting Three.
*Baltar continues to evangelize to the Centurion, but as the basestar is hit by a missile salvo, the explosion destroys the Centurion and seriously injures Baltar.
*Two Marines carry Baltar to a bed while Roslin carries in a [[medkit]]. Roslin orders them out, bandaging Baltar and injecting him with [[morpha]]. In his drug-addled state Baltar talks to Roslin about religion, telling her that he once harbored terrible guilt. Pressed on what that guilt is for he tells Roslin that he unwittingly gave the Cylons the [[CNP|access codes]] prior to the [[fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. He compares the fall to the flood [[Pythia]] spoke of, which wiped out most of humanity and rejuvenated them. Shocked by Baltar's confession, Roslin tries to kill Baltar by removing his bandages. As he loses blood he begs her to stop.

=== Act 4 ===
*Agathon announces that he has D'Anna Biers and orders a nuclear strike on the Hub. The Vipers fire nuclear missiles into the Hub, destroying it and at least one of the two escort basestars.
*Baltar continues to beg for his life. During another FTL jump, Roslin has a vision, in which William Adama stands over a dying Roslin, as Elosha looks on and convinces Roslin to show Baltar mercy, saying that humanity cannot be saved on a "case-by-case basis." Roslin checks to see if Baltar is still alive, then begins re-bandaging him and gives him an IV.
*Aboard the basestar with the Three, Agathon argues with the Eight, saying that his orders are to take Three to the president. The Eight is upset and Three comments cynically that such double-crossing is a very human trait.
*Agathon brings Three to Roslin, who orders him out and tells him to not let anyone else in. Three immediately inspects the injured Baltar and speculates that he is likely to survive. When asked about the Final Five, she jokes Laura Roslin is one of them<ref>In the podcast, Ron Moore jokes that he hated the fact that D'Anna Biers's trick on Roslin being the fifth Cylon was used in the promo for the episode — "It drove me insane."</ref>, but refuses to provide any information until she feels she is safe; the information being the only thing she has now that she is the only Three left in the universe. She says she will tell Roslin who the Final Five are after she is taken back to the human Fleet.
*Sometime later Roslin sits alone listening to the Hybrid. As the Hybrid jumps she has a final encounter with Elosha, whom she sees in the same room this time.
*Waiting in space, William Adama sees the basestar jumping in. In the landing bay, he meets Laura Roslin. He tells her that he missed her and she admits her feelings too, saying that she loves him. The two embrace.

== Notes ==

=== Story ===

* The [[survivor count]] at the beginning of this show may include the already-seen death of Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike]], whose body is discovered in the [[Raptor]] that managed to jump to the Fleet. However this episode occurs at the same time as "Sine Qua Non" and therefore Pike's death arguably should not be counted yet, as his death is discovered only part way through "Sine Qua Non", making the decrease a continuity error. The survivor count drops by eight by the start of the next episode, "[[Revelations]]", suggesting that it may be that decrease that truly indicates all the casualties of the [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub]]. Given that Pike's ECO should also be dead along with Pike, the survivor count arguably should have dropped by two by the beginning of this episode if deaths witnessed on screen were being counted already.
* The events of this episode, starting from the [[Hybrid]]'s [[FTL|jump]] of the rebel [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]] in "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", and [[William Adama]]'s mission to stay behind in a Raptor awaiting [[Laura Roslin]]'s return spans two days. Ergo, the events of "[[Sine Qua Non]]" occur over the course of two days.
* This episode occurs concurrently with the episode before it (Sine Qua Non).
* Roslin and Adama have finally admitted their feelings for each other.
* Except for Roslin's visions and recap scenes from "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?", this is the first episode of the series in which no scenes take place on or near ''Galactica''.
* Baltar attempts to reopen the rapport he had established with the Hybrid in "[[The Passage]]".
* Although Boomer's fate in the episode is left uncertain, her survival is confirmed in the [http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/411/bsg_ep411_FULL.mp3 episode's podcast].
* The podcast also mentions Roslin's visions were originally to be of [[Billy Keikeya]], but due to scheduling conflicts it was changed to Elosha. This required almost no changes to the script.
* When Adama looks out his Raptor window when the baseship arrives, the stars match the night sky as seen from Earth. In particular, the constellations Orion, Taurus, Canis Minor, Gemini, and Monoceros can clearly be seen. If deliberate, this indicates that they must be very close to Earth's location.

=== Cylons ===

* [[Number Two]]/[[Leoben Conoy]] is notably absent from the episode (appearing only in the recap at the beginning), and only Sixes and Eights are among the Cylons fighting in the battle.
* There is only one [[Number Three]] now surviving, and any possibility of [[Boxing|unboxing]] the others has been lost.
* With the destruction of the Resurrection Hub, the Cylons have permanently lost the ability to download into new bodies.
* As previously shown in "[[The Farm]]", [[Heavy Raider]]s are piloted by humanoid Cylons unlike the smaller autonomous [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]].
* This episode contains the first mention of [[Natalie]]'s name in dialogue.
* Cylon flight suits appear for the first time in this episode. However the Eight who flies with Agathon wears a Colonial flight suit.
* D'Anna's line: "And with a whimper, every Cylon in the universe begins to die" is likely a reference to the final stanza in the poem "[[w:The Hollow Men|The Hollow Men]]" by the twentieth-century modernist poet, [[w:T. S. Eliot|T. S. Eliot]].

== Analysis ==

=== Characters ===

* Over the course of the series, the [[Number Eight|Eights]] have been notorious for shifting their alliances. [[Number Three]]'s comment about the Eight model's tendency to be passionate allies until they see "something shiny" seems to be yet another example of the fickle nature of the Number Eight model. A somewhat more direct observation of this fact is shown in "[[Faith]]" when [[Sharon Agathon]] denounces a group of Eights after hearing their desire to rebel against [[Natalie]] and the other [[Number Six]] models.
* Roslin's suspicions of Baltar, which she has had since "[[Epiphanies]]" (and had a vague inkling of in "[[Six of One]]") have finally been confirmed.
* Roslin enters a hallucinatory trance state as the basestar jumps about wildly. Roslin has not previously experienced this sensation during the Fleet's jumps, although Kara Thrace underwent something similar in "[[He That Believeth in Me]]". Moreover, [[Callandra Tyrol|Cally Henderson]] exhibited symptoms of vertigo during ''Galactica'''s first jump in the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]].
* In Roslin's vision of her impending death, she is attended by Bill and Lee Adama, Cottle, and Kara Thrace. Considering Roslin and Thrace's last interaction in "[[Six of One]]", and the fact that prior to that, they had not worked together since "[[Home, Part II]]", it is surprising that Thrace is included in this scene at all. After Bill Adama, she is probably closer to Tory Foster, who is absent from the scene, than to either Thrace or Lee Adama.
*Karl Agathon has clashed with Roslin before when extreme measures have been considered or taken against the Cylons, notably his sabotage of the biological attack in the episode "[[Torn]]". Here it is significant that Agathon carries out Roslin's orders to the letter despite voicing objections over the planned double cross. Notably Agathon's recent attempted mutiny against Kara Thrace ([[Faith]]) had near-fatal repercussions that may influence his decision here to obey the chain of command. Ronald D. Moore has admitted as much in the podcast for this episode.
*Agathon is known for his compulsions to take a stand on a moral principle, hence his unwillingness to use biological weapons to wipe out the Cylons previously. Here however he seems to distinguish destroying the Cylons' ability to resurrect as a military operation rather than an act of outright genocide, although the Cavil model seems to think otherwise, referring to the attack on the Hub as "mass murder."

=== Cylons===
*This episode confirms that downloaded Cylon memories can be shared, though only so far shown between Cylons of the same model. A Number Eight aboard the rebel basestar has downloaded [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon "Athena" Agathon]]'s memories, and notes that these memories are now accessible to others in her model line. Athena's memories apparently became available to the Cylons when she was killed and downloaded in "[[Rapture]]", as feared by Adama at that time. In earlier episodes, ("[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[Home, Part II]]", "[[Scar]]"), Athena has access to memories of [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] prior to the events of the [[Miniseries]].
**The means by which the Cylons obtained Boomer's memories remains an open question. Athena asserts that her memories cannot be downloaded against her will ([[Home, Part I]]), and this is confirmed when her presence on [[New Caprica]] fails to alert the Cylons to the Colonials escape plan ([[Precipice]]). Likewise, Boomer is able to keep her intentions secret from other Number Eights in "[[Six of One]]", as demonstrated by their surprise at her dissenting vote.
**Consenting Cylons can instantly and silently determine consensus within their model, as demonstrated in "[[Precipice]]", "[[Rapture]]", and "[[Six of One]]". This must naturally involve some kind of transfer of data between models, similar to the memory sharing depicted in this episode in quality if not in scale.
**This leaves open two possibilities: either Boomer was killed, resurrected and replaced prior to the Miniseries, or, as a sleeper agent, she was incapable of withholding her consent when other Cylons elected to access her memories.

=== The Battle ===

*The battle in this episode bears a striking resemblance to "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship, Parts I]] and [[Resurrection Ship, Part II|II]]". In both episodes, a shaky alliance between ''Galactica'' and another force (''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') [[Battle for the Resurrection Ship|takes on]] an ostensibly irreplaceable Cylon resurrection facility by first disabling its FTL capability and then engaging it directly with fighters. Furthermore, both sides plan to double-cross each other after the successful execution of the attack.
*The towing plan works when the Cylons detect the approaching Heavy Raiders but do not realize the strike force is twice the size until it is too late.
*Although the Vipers are tasked with taking out the Hub's FTL, a Raptor launches the finishing shot.
*Karl Agathon's Raptor is escorted by several Vipers flying very close as it boards the Hub, perhaps in part to mask the Raptor's DRADIS signature.
*The Hub is unarmed and appears devoid of any defensive measures, although it is possible the Eight accompanying Agathon disabled these. The absence of [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] escorts is notable
* The success of the operation indicates Karl Agathon has now grown into the role of CAG, despite not being a Viper pilot and only initially occupying the role temporarily. Agathon not only destroys a key target in a risky operation, but maintains the morale and focus of his pilots whilst negotiating the perils of a fragile alliance with the Cylon rebels.
*The rebel basestar's absence is long enough that ''Galactica'' and the Fleet have to move on; ''Galactica'' had reconnoitered the battle site, and the rebel basestar was assumed to be among the debris. This seems odd given the Cylons' superior FTL capability — Pike's Raptor would have required several jumps to make it to the Fleet (and only made it part of the way), while the basestar would have required fewer. Dramatic story considerations no doubt were the priority in sequencing these events.
**It is mentioned that the basestar is healing slower than normal, and one of the characters comments that it is "limping back" to the Fleet. This illustrates the extent of the damage sustained during the initial ambush by the Cavil-led basestars and the attack against the Hub. It also takes a very long time for the basestar to fully heal: at least four months. It is only ever seen fully healed in the few shots of it during Daybreak Part 2 although it is clearly healing throughout the season.

== Questions ==

=== About the Hub ===

*What role does the [[Resurrection Hub|Hub]] play in the proper functioning of other [[Resurrection Ship]]s?
** Why are these apparently vital functions centralized?
*Why do the Cylons have only one Resurrection Hub and the implied inability to build another?
** If the Cylons are capable of building a new Hub, how long would it take them?
*Why is the Hub so poorly defended by Cavil's faction?
*Why didn't the Vipers simply magnetically grapple themselves to the underside of the Heavy Raiders, instead of relying on tow cables?

=== About the Cylons ===

*How will Cavil's condescending attitude toward Sharon Valerii ("Pet Eight") affect her?
*How was Cavil aware that the rebel Cylons were working with humans before the attack on the Hub?
*Was the Cavil who interrogated Three able to resurrect and evacuate in the time between his death and the destruction of the Hub?
*Where are the [[Number Two]]s during all these events?
*Have other Eights have accessed Athena's memories as well?
*How do other living Cylons (presumably of the same model) access and absorb the memories of downloaded Cylons?
*Will Agathon inform his wife that other Eights have been accessing her memories? If so, will this affect their relationship?
*What will happen to the rebel Cylons and their baseship? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
*How will the rebel Cylons respond to Roslin's deception regarding [[Number Three]]?
*Will the Cylons—especially with Natalie dead—return to their earlier plan of taking hostages in order to gain access to Three? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
*How will Sharon Agathon and [[Caprica-Six]] react to learning of the Hub's destruction?

=== About the Humans ===

*Is Roslin's vision of [[Elosha]] related to other characters' [[Virtual beings|internal manifestations]], such as Baltar's [[virtual Six]] or simply a manifestation of Roslin's subconsciousness, as Roslin believes? Or is it the Hybrid speaking to her as Elosha between the jumps, or the spirit of the real Elosha?
*What will happen to Baltar now that his guilt regarding the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack on the Colonies]] has been revealed?
*Is Baltar's evangelizing of the [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] genuine or an attempt to obtain a useful ally? Does the Centurion fully understand Baltar's intentions?
*Could Baltar's actions have any adverse effects on the thoughts of the other Centurions in some way?
*Will [[Lee Adama]] relinquish the presidency back to Laura Roslin? ([[Revelations|Answer]])

== Official Statements ==




== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
* ''[[D'Anna Biers]] has just been unboxed and resurrected and is in the tank. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and Cavil are present. After being told that the Eights are on the opposite side of the Ones (Cavils) in the Cylon Civil War, Three inquires as to why Boomer is there:''
:'''Biers''' [looks at Boomer directly]: Boomer's an Eight. Shouldn't she be on the other side? [Boomer looks sternly at Three]
:'''Cavil''': Boomer is my "Pet Eight." She has seen the light of reason. An Eight can make a passionate ally.
:'''Biers''' [contemptuously]: Only until she sees something shiny! [Boomer's expression is stern]

*''Helo's Raptor flies away from the Hub''
:'''Karl Agathon''': We have D'Anna on board and are clear of the Hub. Commence nuclear strike. Repeat: nuclear strike is a go.
:''The Vipers form up and launch nuclear missiles into the Hub, destroying it and a nearby basestar''

*''Laura Roslin and [[Karl Agathon]] are discussing the possibility that a Three has been unboxed. Agathon disagrees with her plan to keep Three from the Cylons and doesn't think that the Cylons would betray them like that.''
:'''Karl Agathon''' [shaking his head]: No, no, I don't think so. Not the Sharons, the Eights.
:'''Laura Roslin''' [patiently but firmly]: Captain, you are not married to the entire production line. I cannot afford to be sentimental right now. I cannot afford you to be sentimental either. If you can't do this job, find me someone who can.

* ''Aboard Karl Agathon's Raptor after the destruction of the Resurrection Hub:''
:'''D'Anna Biers:''' And with a whimper, every Cylon in the universe begins to die.
:'''Number Eight:''' Yes, that's right, and it's a good thing, D'Anna, because now there's no difference. We can all start trusting each other.

* ''In Roslin's vision, as Roslin and [[Elosha]] watch Adama stand over a dying Roslin:''
:'''Elosha:''' I'm not saying Baltar's done more good than harm in the universe; he hasn't. The thing is, the harder it is to recognize someone's right to draw a breath, the more crucial it is. If humanity is going to prove itself worthy of surviving, it can't do it on a case by case basis. A bad man feels his death just as keenly as a good man.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' What do you want from me here?
:[Adama appears at dying Roslin's bedside]
:'''William Adama:''' Laura.
:'''Elosha:''' Just love someone.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' Love. Huh!
:[Life monitor flatlines]
:'''William Adama:''' You go. You go. You go to your rest now. [Sobs] I'm not gonna be selfish anymore. You go. Rest.

* ''Roslin and Adama tenderly greeting each other on the basestar's hangar deck:''
:'''Adama''': Missed you.
:'''Roslin''': Me too.
:'''Roslin''' [Embracing Adama]: I love you.
:'''Adama''' [Breaking the embrace; looks into her eyes]: About time.

* ''[[Gaius Baltar]]'' reveals to Roslin his guilt over the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|original attacks on the Colonies]]:
: "[[Pythia]] talks about a flood that wiped out most of humanity. Nobody blames the flood. The flood is a force of nature. Through the flood, mankind is rejuvenated -- born again. I was not a flood, you see. I blamed myself... I blamed myself. But God had made the man who made that choice. God made us all perfect. And in that thought, all my guilt flies away -- flies away like a bird."

* ''Number Three answering Laura Roslin's question:''
: '''D'Anna Biers''': Suppose you've got some questions for me.
: '''Roslin''': Yes I do. I'd like to talk about the five Cylons in my fleet.
: '''Biers''': So you know about the Final Five?
: '''Roslin''': I know they're supposed to know the way to Earth.
: '''Biers''': But you don't know that you're one of them.
:[Roslin freezes shocked]
: '''Biers''': [Bursting out laughing] Please your face! [Roslin looks relieved and smirks] Oh, it's ridiculous. No. Look, I'm not giving you any names. Not until I feel like I'm safe. 'Cause information is all I got, sweetie.

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]] / [[D'Anna Biers]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]] (credited only)
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Lorena Gale]] as [[Elosha]]
*[[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]] / [[Cavil]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Hotdog|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
*[[Lee Jefferies]] as Lieutenant [[Paolo McKay|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]]
*[[Leo Li Chiang]] as [[Tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=380]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hub, The}}
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]

[[de:Wir alle sind sterblich]]

The Hub

2012-08-08T17:55:27Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */

:''This article discusses the [[Re-imagined Series]] episode. For the eponymous resurrection facility, see: [[Resurrection Hub]].''
{{Episode Data
| image= 411 pilot meeting.jpg
| title= The Hub
| season= 4
| episode= 9
| forumthread= 1262
| guests=
| writer= [[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director= [[Paul Edwards]]
| production= 411
| rating= 1.3
| US airdate= 06 June 2008
| CAN airdate= 06 June 2008
| UK airdate=10 June 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation= 39674
| population= 39673
| prev= [[Sine Qua Non]]
| next= [[Revelations]]
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== Overview ==

: ''Pursuing the [[Resurrection Hub]] at the whim of the Hybrid, a team of [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] [[List of pilots|pilots]] and [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]] become uneasy collaborators as they formulate a [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub|battle plan]] to [[unbox]] the [[Number Three|Three]]s and destroy Cylon [[resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] forever. Meanwhile, [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] try desperately to communicate with the panicking [[Hybrid]] and [[Karl Agathon]] discovers a disturbing characteristic within one of the [[Number Eight|Eights]].''

== Summary ==

:''The episode takes place concurrently with "[[Sine Qua Non]]."

=== Teaser ===
* Starting off from the last events of "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", [[Laura Roslin]], [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] are brought before the rebel Cylon basestar's Hybrid. After a [[Number Eight]] reconnects the [[Hybrid]], she unexpectedly jumps the ship.
* During the jump, Roslin finds herself in empty corridors of ''[[Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki>. As she looks around, Elosha appears behind her. After they hug, the vision stops and Roslin finds herself back in the Hybrid's room. Roslin inquires after the Hybrid's abilities as the Eight tries to get information from the [[data-font]], however the Hybrid jumps the ship again, and Roslin finds herself back with Elosha in ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> empty corridors. Roslin makes this observation, to which Elosha replies that it makes the ship feel bigger; Roslin further points out that the experience is strange, to which Elosha replies "many things are strange."
* The two end up in [[sickbay]], where the only occupied (and lit) bed is occupied by Roslin herself, who is dying.

=== Act 1 ===
*An [[Number Eight|Eight]] determines that the Hybrid is panicking due to [[Natalie]]'s injury. [[Gaius Baltar]] attempts to calm her, initially appearing to be successful, but the Hybrid jumps again. Roslin's vision continues, and she sees [[Kara Thrace]], Dr. [[Cottle]] and the Adamas standing over her bed. Elosha speaks to the dying Roslin, chastising her for her lack of empathy.
*The Eight tells [[Karl Agathon]] that the Hybrid is following the [[Resurrection Hub]] and discusses an attack strategy with him.
*When the Eight massages Agathon's back, he comments that [[Sharon Agathon|his wife]] learned to do so only after meeting him, and the Eight reveals that she accessed Athena's memories from her [[Rapture|last download]].
*Agathon speaks to Roslin in the Raptor. The president tells him that he is to bring [[Number Three]] directly to her and not to the Cylons.
*On the Resurrection Hub, a D'Anna Biers is awakened by [[Number One|Cavil]] and [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]], who tell her about the [[Cylon Civil War]] that was caused by her actions. Three makes a disparaging remark about the Eights' fickleness.

=== Act 2 ===
[[Image:411 Roslin and Baltar with Hybrid.jpg|thumb|Roslin and Baltar attempting to talk to the Hybrid about the [[Opera House]] vision.]]

*In the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] hangar, Agathon and an Eight give a mission briefing to a number of [[Number Six|Sixes]], Eights and Colonial pilots. Several pilots, notably [[Paolo McKay|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]] and [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]], express concerns about their safety and the reliability of the Cylon pilots. A Six rebuts that the rebel pilots are just as well trained as the humans, and the Eight reminds them that they learned to trust Athena, so they can also trust their rebel allies.
*Baltar and Roslin attempt to question the Hybrid with little success. They bicker and Baltar walks off, and then the Hybrid declares that a Three has been unboxed and jumps again.
*Continuing the vision, Elosha and Roslin walk through the hallways of ''Galactica''. Roslin speculates that Elosha and the visions are a manifestation of her subconscious. Roslin and Elosha see [[William Adama]] reading ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' to the dying Roslin.
*After the jump, Baltar begins talking to a [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] about hierarchy and religion, asserting that the Centurion is loved by [[God (RDM)|God]] as well.
*Speaking to Roslin, Agathon is disappointed that she wants to betray the alliance between humans and Cylons, and thinks that they can trust the Eights. Roslin tells him that he shouldn't let the experiences with his wife cloud his judgment and orders him to carry out her request.

=== Act 3 ===
*On the Resurrection Hub, Boomer comments with alarm on the arrival of the rebel basestar. Cavil tries to convince Number Three to talk to the rebels and defuse the conflict, but she replies curtly and threatens to shout out the names of the [[Final Five]]. Boomer reports that the rebel basestar has launched 25 [[Heavy Raider]]s.
*Outside the Hub, the Heavy Raiders release the [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] they have been towing behind them. The Raiders attack defending basestars, while the Vipers head towards the Hub.
*Cavil deduces that the rebels are attempting to destroy the Hub, and comments that doing so would be mass murder, and would make death permanent for Cylons. On hearing this Three breaks Cavil's neck and Boomer flees.
*Missiles destroy a node at the top of the Hub, taking out its FTL drive. Subsequently, Agathon and the Eight head towards the Hub in a [[Raptor]]. On the Hub, they encounter the D'Anna Biers and the dead Cavil. Seeing explosions around them, Agathon tells Three to run and grabs her arm.
*[[Eammon Pike]] panics as his Raptor is almost disabled and wants to jump back to the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. [[Diana Seelix]] urges him not to, telling him that the Fleet is too far way. When Pike is initiating the jump, the Raptor is hit by fire from a Raider, hitting Pike in the chest, though he manages to hit the jump button.
*On the Hub, Agathon hesitates upon seeing a number of inert Number Eight bodies. The Eight tells him they should leave, and drags the objecting Three.
*Baltar continues to evangelize to the Centurion, but as the basestar is hit by a missile salvo, the explosion destroys the Centurion and seriously injures Baltar.
*Two Marines carry Baltar to a bed while Roslin carries in a [[medkit]]. Roslin orders them out, bandaging Baltar and injecting him with [[morpha]]. In his drug-addled state Baltar talks to Roslin about religion, telling her that he once harbored terrible guilt. Pressed on what that guilt is for he tells Roslin that he unwittingly gave the Cylons the [[CNP|access codes]] prior to the [[fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. He compares the fall to the flood [[Pythia]] spoke of, which wiped out most of humanity and rejuvenated them. Shocked by Baltar's confession, Roslin tries to kill Baltar by removing his bandages. As he loses blood he begs her to stop.

=== Act 4 ===
*Agathon announces that he has D'Anna Biers and orders a nuclear strike on the Hub. The Vipers fire nuclear missiles into the Hub, destroying it and at least one of the two escort basestars.
*Baltar continues to beg for his life. During another FTL jump, Roslin has a vision, in which William Adama stands over a dying Roslin, as Elosha looks on and convinces Roslin to show Baltar mercy, saying that humanity cannot be saved on a "case-by-case basis." Roslin checks to see if Baltar is still alive, then begins re-bandaging him and gives him an IV.
*Aboard the basestar with the Three, Agathon argues with the Eight, saying that his orders are to take Three to the president. The Eight is upset and Three comments cynically that such double-crossing is a very human trait.
*Agathon brings Three to Roslin, who orders him out and tells him to not let anyone else in. Three immediately inspects the injured Baltar and speculates that he is likely to survive. When asked about the Final Five, she jokes Laura Roslin is one of them<ref>In the podcast, Ron Moore jokes that he hated the fact that D'Anna Biers's trick on Roslin being the fifth Cylon was used in the promo for the episode — "It drove me insane."</ref>, but refuses to provide any information until she feels she is safe; the information being the only thing she has now that she is the only Three left in the universe. She says she will tell Roslin who the Final Five are after she is taken back to the human Fleet.
*Sometime later Roslin sits alone listening to the Hybrid. As the Hybrid jumps she has a final encounter with Elosha, whom she sees in the same room this time.
*Waiting in space, William Adama sees the basestar jumping in. In the landing bay, he meets Laura Roslin. He tells her that he missed her and she admits her feelings too, saying that she loves him. The two embrace.

== Notes ==

=== Story ===

* The [[survivor count]] at the beginning of this show may include the already-seen death of Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike]], whose body is discovered in the [[Raptor]] that managed to jump to the Fleet. However this episode occurs at the same time as "Sine Qua Non" and therefore Pike's death arguably should not be counted yet, as his death is discovered only part way through "Sine Qua Non", making the decrease a continuity error. The survivor count drops by eight by the start of the next episode, "[[Revelations]]", suggesting that it may be that decrease that truly indicates all the casualties of the [[Battle of the Resurrection Hub]]. Given that Pike's ECO should also be dead along with Pike, the survivor count arguably should have dropped by two by the beginning of this episode if deaths witnessed on screen were being counted already.
* The events of this episode, starting from the [[Hybrid]]'s [[FTL|jump]] of the rebel [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]] in "[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]", and [[William Adama]]'s mission to stay behind in a Raptor awaiting [[Laura Roslin]]'s return spans two days. Ergo, the events of "[[Sine Qua Non]]" occur over the course of two days.
* This episode occurs concurrently with the episode before it (Sine Qua Non).
* Roslin and Adama have finally admitted their feelings for each other.
* Except for Roslin's visions and recap scenes from "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?", this is the first episode of the series in which no scenes take place on or near ''Galactica''.
* Baltar attempts to reopen the rapport he had established with the Hybrid in "[[The Passage]]".
* Although Boomer's fate in the episode is left uncertain, her survival is confirmed in the [http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/411/bsg_ep411_FULL.mp3 episode's podcast].
* The podcast also mentions Roslin's visions were originally to be of [[Billy Keikeya]], but due to scheduling conflicts it was changed to Elosha. This required almost no changes to the script.
* When Adama looks out his Raptor window when the baseship arrives, the stars match the night sky as seen from Earth. In particular, the constellations Orion, Taurus, Canis Minor, Gemini, and Monoceros can clearly be seen. If deliberate, this indicates that they must be very close to Earth's location.

=== Cylons ===

* [[Number Two]]/[[Leoben Conoy]] is notably absent from the episode (appearing only in the recap at the beginning), and only Sixes and Eights are among the Cylons fighting in the battle.
* There is only one [[Number Three]] now surviving, and any possibility of [[Boxing|unboxing]] the others has been lost.
* With the destruction of the Resurrection Hub, the Cylons have permanently lost the ability to download into new bodies.
* As previously shown in "[[The Farm]]", [[Heavy Raider]]s are piloted by humanoid Cylons unlike the smaller autonomous [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]].
* This episode contains the first mention of [[Natalie]]'s name in dialogue.
* Cylon flight suits appear for the first time in this episode. However the Eight who flies with Agathon wears a Colonial flight suit.
* D'Anna's line: "And with a whimper, every Cylon in the universe begins to die" is likely a reference to the final stanza in the poem "[[w:The Hollow Men|The Hollow Men]]" by the twentieth-century modernist poet, [[w:T. S. Eliot|T. S. Eliot]].

== Analysis ==

=== Characters ===

* Over the course of the series, the [[Number Eight|Eights]] have been notorious for shifting their alliances. [[Number Three]]'s comment about the Eight model's tendency to be passionate allies until they see "something shiny" seems to be yet another example of the fickle nature of the Number Eight model. A somewhat more direct observation of this fact is shown in "[[Faith]]" when [[Sharon Agathon]] denounces a group of Eights after hearing their desire to rebel against [[Natalie]] and the other [[Number Six]] models.
* Roslin's suspicions of Baltar, which she has had since "[[Epiphanies]]" (and had a vague inkling of in "[[Six of One]]") have finally been confirmed.
* Roslin enters a hallucinatory trance state as the basestar jumps about wildly. Roslin has not previously experienced this sensation during the Fleet's jumps, although Kara Thrace underwent something similar in "[[He That Believeth in Me]]". Moreover, [[Callandra Tyrol|Cally Henderson]] exhibited symptoms of vertigo during ''Galactica'''s first jump in the [[Miniseries, Night 2|Miniseries]].
* In Roslin's vision of her impending death, she is attended by Bill and Lee Adama, Cottle, and Kara Thrace. Considering Roslin and Thrace's last interaction in "[[Six of One]]", and the fact that prior to that, they had not worked together since "[[Home, Part II]]", it is surprising that Thrace is included in this scene at all. After Bill Adama, she is probably closer to Tory Foster, who is absent from the scene, than to either Thrace or Lee Adama.
*Karl Agathon has clashed with Roslin before when extreme measures have been considered or taken against the Cylons, notably his sabotage of the biological attack in the episode "[[Torn]]". Here it is significant that Agathon carries out Roslin's orders to the letter despite voicing objections over the planned double cross. Notably Agathon's recent attempted mutiny against Kara Thrace ([[Faith]]) had near-fatal repercussions that may influence his decision here to obey the chain of command. Ronald D. Moore has admitted as much in the podcast for this episode.
*Agathon is known for his compulsions to take a stand on a moral principle, hence his unwillingness to use biological weapons to wipe out the Cylons previously. Here however he seems to distinguish destroying the Cylons' ability to resurrect as a military operation rather than an act of outright genocide, although the Cavil model seems to think otherwise, referring to the attack on the Hub as "mass murder."

=== Cylons===
*A Number Eight aboard the rebel basestar has downloaded [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon "Athena" Agathon]]'s memories, and notes that these memories are now accessible to others in her model line. Athena's memories apparently became available to the Cylons when she was killed and downloaded in "[[Rapture]]", as feared by Adama at that time. In earlier episodes, ("[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[Home, Part II]]", "[[Scar]]"), Athena has access to memories of [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]] prior to the events of the [[Miniseries]].
**The means by which the Cylons obtained Boomer's memories remains an open question. Athena asserts that her memories cannot be downloaded against her will ([[Home, Part I]]), and this is confirmed when her presence on [[New Caprica]] fails to alert the Cylons to the Colonials escape plan ([[Precipice]]). Likewise, Boomer is able to keep her intentions secret from other Number Eights in "[[Six of One]]", as demonstrated by their surprise at her dissenting vote.
**Consenting Cylons can instantly and silently determine consensus within their model, as demonstrated in "[[Precipice]]", "[[Rapture]]", and "[[Six of One]]". This must naturally involve some kind of transfer of data between models, similar to the memory sharing depicted in this episode in quality if not in scale.
**This leaves open two possibilities: either Boomer was killed, resurrected and replaced prior to the Miniseries, or, as a sleeper agent, she was incapable of withholding her consent when other Cylons elected to access her memories.
* Given that this episode confirms that downloaded Cylon memories can be shared (though the data must be accessed first, so it is not an involuntary process), it is left unexplained why it is necessary to entirely resurrect Number Three and attack the Hub when her memories could simply be accessed by another Cylon from a central database. This would be possible if the memory data was shared across basestars as standard operating procedure. One possible explanation is that no Cylon accessed her memories after she downloaded from the Temple of Five ([[Rapture]]), and boxing that Three's consciousness placed her memories into cold storage on the Resurrection Hub with no external access possible from that point onwards. It is also possible that only Cylons of the same model can access each other's memories.
** Perhaps Cavil erased the files so other curious Cylons couldn't access them. Knowledge of the five seems to be Cavil's greatest advantage over the others.

=== The Battle ===

*The battle in this episode bears a striking resemblance to "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship, Parts I]] and [[Resurrection Ship, Part II|II]]". In both episodes, a shaky alliance between ''Galactica'' and another force (''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'') [[Battle for the Resurrection Ship|takes on]] an ostensibly irreplaceable Cylon resurrection facility by first disabling its FTL capability and then engaging it directly with fighters. Furthermore, both sides plan to double-cross each other after the successful execution of the attack.
*The towing plan works when the Cylons detect the approaching Heavy Raiders but do not realize the strike force is twice the size until it is too late.
*Although the Vipers are tasked with taking out the Hub's FTL, a Raptor launches the finishing shot.
*Karl Agathon's Raptor is escorted by several Vipers flying very close as it boards the Hub, perhaps in part to mask the Raptor's DRADIS signature.
*The Hub is unarmed and appears devoid of any defensive measures, although it is possible the Eight accompanying Agathon disabled these. The absence of [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marine]] escorts is notable
* The success of the operation indicates Karl Agathon has now grown into the role of CAG, despite not being a Viper pilot and only initially occupying the role temporarily. Agathon not only destroys a key target in a risky operation, but maintains the morale and focus of his pilots whilst negotiating the perils of a fragile alliance with the Cylon rebels.
*The rebel basestar's absence is long enough that ''Galactica'' and the Fleet have to move on; ''Galactica'' had reconnoitered the battle site, and the rebel basestar was assumed to be among the debris. This seems odd given the Cylons' superior FTL capability — Pike's Raptor would have required several jumps to make it to the Fleet (and only made it part of the way), while the basestar would have required fewer. Dramatic story considerations no doubt were the priority in sequencing these events.
**It is mentioned that the basestar is healing slower than normal, and one of the characters comments that it is "limping back" to the Fleet. This illustrates the extent of the damage sustained during the initial ambush by the Cavil-led basestars and the attack against the Hub. It also takes a very long time for the basestar to fully heal: at least four months. It is only ever seen fully healed in the few shots of it during Daybreak Part 2 although it is clearly healing throughout the season.

== Questions ==

=== About the Hub ===

*What role does the [[Resurrection Hub|Hub]] play in the proper functioning of other [[Resurrection Ship]]s?
** Why are these apparently vital functions centralized?
*Why do the Cylons have only one Resurrection Hub and the implied inability to build another?
** If the Cylons are capable of building a new Hub, how long would it take them?
*Why is the Hub so poorly defended by Cavil's faction?
*Why didn't the Vipers simply magnetically grapple themselves to the underside of the Heavy Raiders, instead of relying on tow cables?

=== About the Cylons ===

*How will Cavil's condescending attitude toward Sharon Valerii ("Pet Eight") affect her?
*How was Cavil aware that the rebel Cylons were working with humans before the attack on the Hub?
*Was the Cavil who interrogated Three able to resurrect and evacuate in the time between his death and the destruction of the Hub?
*Where are the [[Number Two]]s during all these events?
*Have other Eights have accessed Athena's memories as well?
*How do other living Cylons (presumably of the same model) access and absorb the memories of downloaded Cylons?
*Will Agathon inform his wife that other Eights have been accessing her memories? If so, will this affect their relationship?
*What will happen to the rebel Cylons and their baseship? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
*How will the rebel Cylons respond to Roslin's deception regarding [[Number Three]]?
*Will the Cylons—especially with Natalie dead—return to their earlier plan of taking hostages in order to gain access to Three? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
*How will Sharon Agathon and [[Caprica-Six]] react to learning of the Hub's destruction?

=== About the Humans ===

*Is Roslin's vision of [[Elosha]] related to other characters' [[Virtual beings|internal manifestations]], such as Baltar's [[virtual Six]] or simply a manifestation of Roslin's subconsciousness, as Roslin believes? Or is it the Hybrid speaking to her as Elosha between the jumps, or the spirit of the real Elosha?
*What will happen to Baltar now that his guilt regarding the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack on the Colonies]] has been revealed?
*Is Baltar's evangelizing of the [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] genuine or an attempt to obtain a useful ally? Does the Centurion fully understand Baltar's intentions?
*Could Baltar's actions have any adverse effects on the thoughts of the other Centurions in some way?
*Will [[Lee Adama]] relinquish the presidency back to Laura Roslin? ([[Revelations|Answer]])

== Official Statements ==




== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
* ''[[D'Anna Biers]] has just been unboxed and resurrected and is in the tank. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and Cavil are present. After being told that the Eights are on the opposite side of the Ones (Cavils) in the Cylon Civil War, Three inquires as to why Boomer is there:''
:'''Biers''' [looks at Boomer directly]: Boomer's an Eight. Shouldn't she be on the other side? [Boomer looks sternly at Three]
:'''Cavil''': Boomer is my "Pet Eight." She has seen the light of reason. An Eight can make a passionate ally.
:'''Biers''' [contemptuously]: Only until she sees something shiny! [Boomer's expression is stern]

*''Helo's Raptor flies away from the Hub''
:'''Karl Agathon''': We have D'Anna on board and are clear of the Hub. Commence nuclear strike. Repeat: nuclear strike is a go.
:''The Vipers form up and launch nuclear missiles into the Hub, destroying it and a nearby basestar''

*''Laura Roslin and [[Karl Agathon]] are discussing the possibility that a Three has been unboxed. Agathon disagrees with her plan to keep Three from the Cylons and doesn't think that the Cylons would betray them like that.''
:'''Karl Agathon''' [shaking his head]: No, no, I don't think so. Not the Sharons, the Eights.
:'''Laura Roslin''' [patiently but firmly]: Captain, you are not married to the entire production line. I cannot afford to be sentimental right now. I cannot afford you to be sentimental either. If you can't do this job, find me someone who can.

* ''Aboard Karl Agathon's Raptor after the destruction of the Resurrection Hub:''
:'''D'Anna Biers:''' And with a whimper, every Cylon in the universe begins to die.
:'''Number Eight:''' Yes, that's right, and it's a good thing, D'Anna, because now there's no difference. We can all start trusting each other.

* ''In Roslin's vision, as Roslin and [[Elosha]] watch Adama stand over a dying Roslin:''
:'''Elosha:''' I'm not saying Baltar's done more good than harm in the universe; he hasn't. The thing is, the harder it is to recognize someone's right to draw a breath, the more crucial it is. If humanity is going to prove itself worthy of surviving, it can't do it on a case by case basis. A bad man feels his death just as keenly as a good man.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' What do you want from me here?
:[Adama appears at dying Roslin's bedside]
:'''William Adama:''' Laura.
:'''Elosha:''' Just love someone.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' Love. Huh!
:[Life monitor flatlines]
:'''William Adama:''' You go. You go. You go to your rest now. [Sobs] I'm not gonna be selfish anymore. You go. Rest.

* ''Roslin and Adama tenderly greeting each other on the basestar's hangar deck:''
:'''Adama''': Missed you.
:'''Roslin''': Me too.
:'''Roslin''' [Embracing Adama]: I love you.
:'''Adama''' [Breaking the embrace; looks into her eyes]: About time.

* ''[[Gaius Baltar]]'' reveals to Roslin his guilt over the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|original attacks on the Colonies]]:
: "[[Pythia]] talks about a flood that wiped out most of humanity. Nobody blames the flood. The flood is a force of nature. Through the flood, mankind is rejuvenated -- born again. I was not a flood, you see. I blamed myself... I blamed myself. But God had made the man who made that choice. God made us all perfect. And in that thought, all my guilt flies away -- flies away like a bird."

* ''Number Three answering Laura Roslin's question:''
: '''D'Anna Biers''': Suppose you've got some questions for me.
: '''Roslin''': Yes I do. I'd like to talk about the five Cylons in my fleet.
: '''Biers''': So you know about the Final Five?
: '''Roslin''': I know they're supposed to know the way to Earth.
: '''Biers''': But you don't know that you're one of them.
:[Roslin freezes shocked]
: '''Biers''': [Bursting out laughing] Please your face! [Roslin looks relieved and smirks] Oh, it's ridiculous. No. Look, I'm not giving you any names. Not until I feel like I'm safe. 'Cause information is all I got, sweetie.

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]] / [[D'Anna Biers]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]] (credited only)
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Lorena Gale]] as [[Elosha]]
*[[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]] / [[Cavil]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Hotdog|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
*[[Lee Jefferies]] as Lieutenant [[Paolo McKay|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]]
*[[Leo Li Chiang]] as [[Tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=380]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hub, The}}
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]

[[de:Wir alle sind sterblich]]

Sine Qua Non

2012-08-06T13:05:32Z

AlanHK: /* Unanswered Questions */

{{Episode Data
| image=410 Adama and his raptor.jpg
| title=Sine Qua Non
| season= 4
| episode=8
| forumthread= 1199
| movie=
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director=[[Rod Hardy]]
| assistant director=[[Michael Shandley]]<ref>See: [[Sources: Sine Qua Non]]</ref>
| production=410
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=30 May 2008
| CAN airdate=30 May 2008
| UK airdate=27 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
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| frakr=Blah Blah Whaa
| prev=[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
| next= [[The Hub]]
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== Overview ==
:''President [[Laura Roslin]]'s disappearance with the Cylon basestar triggers a bitter power struggle within the Fleet. The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has little information and demands to know what happened, while [[Tom Zarek]] insists that he is to be declared interim president. [[Lee Adama]] opposes him and enlists the help of notorious lawyer [[Romo Lampkin]] to find a candidate for the post, leading to a surprising decision. Meanwhile, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] come to blows over Tigh's relationship with [[Caprica-Six]] and Adama's obsession with finding Roslin.''

== Summary ==
=== Teaser ===
*With President [[Laura Roslin]] missing, a meeting is held by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]. Vice President [[Tom Zarek]], who informs them that the rebel [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]] jumped with Roslin and [[Gaius Baltar]]—and many of ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> pilots—also notes that [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] was shot by "one of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[Marines]]"; he fuels the assumption that the basestar's sudden jump and abduction is related to Natalie's death. Zarek tells the delegates that with Roslin missing, he is to be sworn in as interim President.
*Upon hearing the news, [[Lee Adama]] contacts his [[William Adama|father]], who doesn't take it well.
*[[Natalie]], who has [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|just been shot]] by [[Sharon Agathon]], is taken to the [[sickbay|infirmary]]. She starts to [[projection|project]] that she is in a forest on a sunny day. In real life, she only focuses on the faces of those who are taking her to the infirmary.
*Dr. [[Cottle]] immediately starts to operate on her. When she tries to make physical contact, likely sensing that she is about to die, Cottle takes her hand. However, just as they operate, her image of the forest brightens to a bright flash. The second this happens, her heart monitor flatlines, and Cottle announces her death.
*Admiral Adama sees Sharon Agathon and is angered by her decision to kill an unarmed woman, even if she was a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Agathon starts to explain her dream about a [[Number Six|Six]] taking away her [[Hera Agathon|child]] at the [[Opera House]]. Eventually, Adama orders a guard to take her away to the [[brig]] and refuses her access to her daughter.
* When the topic of Adama's support of a Tom Zarek administration is raised, [[Jacob Cantrell]] pointedly asks Lee Adama whether Admiral Adama would support Zarek or the government. Delegate Adama replies in the negative, raising ire and outrage.

=== Act 1 ===

[[Image:410 room with a view.jpg|thumb|[[Romo Lampkin]] and [[Lee Adama]] haggle over the price of searching for an interim president.]]
*When Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] returns to the [[CIC]], he hears that the [[Resurrection Hub]] has disappeared from its last known location, further the rebel baseship is not there either. Adama tells [[Saul Tigh]] to continue looking for the hub, since that's the only place the rebels can head given their objective: to [[Boxing|unbox]] [[D'Anna]].
* Tigh reports that [[Kara Thrace|Thrace]] (apparently [[CAG]], given her seniority) is having problems assembling a sufficient [[CAP]] to protect the Fleet, as half the air wing's [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s were transfered to the basestar. As a result, Adama agrees with Thrace's recommendation (told via Tigh) of having the ships tighten their formation for easier defense, despite the inherent hazards posed by inexperienced civilian pilots.
* President [[Tom Zarek|Zarek]] and [[Lee Adama]] have a meeting, where Lee recommends that Zarek step down as president. Despite Zarek's vocal disbelief over this—correctly noting that he is the only public official in the executive branch to have been voted into office legally, a claim [[Laura Roslin]] is unable to make—Lee suggests enacting a Quorum provision that allows the Quorum to pick an interim president during a time of crisis to serve out the remainder of Roslin's term. Zarek reluctantly concedes after Lee points out that Admiral Adama will never recognize Zarek, and they need someone who Adama will recognize. Zarek gruffly wishes Lee luck in his search for an interim president.
* In a [[Talk Wireless]] interview conducted by [[James McManus]]<ref>The assumption is that the "Jim" Tom Zarek is speaking to is McManus, given his coverage of government affairs.</ref>, Zarek indicates that the government post-[[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]] is not a true government, but a "tacit agreement between a military strong-man [Adama] and a political strong-woman [Roslin] to rule by fiat." Zarek also notes the creation of a civilian force to maintain order, noting that the government should not rely on the [[Marines]] due to the last political upheaval.
* Lee Adama visits [[Romo Lampkin]], asking for Lampkin's help in searching for potential presidential candidates. Despite his initial refusals, Lampkin accepts to work ''pro bono'' in search of a replacement with the right skills and abilities that meets with the approval of both the Quorum (who won't act, since Zarek has them "inhaling fear and exhaling anger") and Admiral Adama. Lampkin offers one more piece of advice, telling him that it's better to accept what they already have.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:410 Pike's corpsesicle.jpg|thumb|[[Eammon Pike]]'s body floating in the damaged [[Raptor]].]]

* In [[CIC]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], noting that he has a rapport with [[Caprica-Six]], asks Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] to interrogate her about the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Before he leaves, he tells Adama that they'll find [[Roslin]] and the missing humans.
* In the brig, Tigh questions Six about the Hub. After telling him what she knows about the Hub, Tigh believes that she's lying; she assures him that she'd never lie to him. Tigh slips, telling her that the rebels took off with half an air wing and Roslin. Six ferrets out the fact that Admiral Adama's primary concern is for Roslin. Six, who then appears to Tigh in the form of [[Ellen Tigh|his dead wife]], asks if Tigh loves her. Before he can answer, [[Condition One]] is called. He grabs her neck and tells her that her mind games with him end at that moment, and he leaves.
* Tigh reports to CIC, learning that one of their missing [[Raptor]]s from the rebel baseship has jumped to the Fleet. A Raptor crewed by [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] are en route to intercept the craft, which has not returned hails and does not appear to be emanating anything [[radiological alarm|radiological]]. Edmondson performs a spacewalk, discovering that the Raptor was jumped by its lone, now-dead occupant, [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]], whose body floats in the back compartment.
* After retrieving the Raptor, Adama investigates the Raptor himself, discovering the copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' he gave to Roslin in burnt condition, identifying it as the craft she took over to baseship before it jumped. Tigh joins him, noting that [[Peter Laird|Laird]] retrieved [[Sector Delta 9|the coordinates]] that the Raptor jumped from. Adama orders a search to that location, ignoring Zarek's request for a briefing.
* In the Quorum meeting room on ''Colonial One'', Lampkin discusses how one achieves and wields power with Lee Adama. During this conversation, Lampkin and Lee see ''Galactica'' jump away. Lee is concerned over the abruptness of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> departure.
* A Raptor reconnaissance party comes across a debris field, consisting of Cylon debris and damaged Vipers. Tigh informs Adama that the debris consist of a Cylon baseship and fragments indicative of resurrection technology, and notes that they detected radiation from nuclear weapons. Adama refuses to believe that the destroyed baseship was the rebels', insisting that Roslin has survived. Adama presses on with the search, until Tigh points out that the Fleet is left behind with "their asses hanging out in the wind." Adama thus revises his orders to include only four Raptors to stay behind to search until they "find something concrete."
* ''Galactica'' jumps back to the Fleet. Zarek notifies the Quorum of Adama's decision to reroute all [[tylium]] supplies to fueling the search efforts, along with requisitioning several civilian ships to aid in this endeavor. The delegates are furious over being bypassed.
* Back in Lampkin's "room with a view," Adama and Lampkin go over the list of candidates, among them [[Doyle Franks]] who has no aspirations for political office, however. As they brainstorm, Adama nearly trips over an overturned bowl, resulting in his quip of "do you ever feed that [[Lance|animal]]?" and inquires about the cat's whereabouts. From Lampkin's perspective, he sees Lance run around a swivel chair. Lampkin later begins to throw in the towel, erasing the names on the whiteboard, much to Adama's consternation.
* In [[sickbay]], Admiral Adama consults Doctor [[Cottle]] about how Roslin's sudden disappearance will affect her [[Doloxan]] treatments. Cottle stresses that, with her weakened immune system and her cancer's ability to regroup, the sooner she's found, the better. He also provides Adama with a medical report on [[Caprica-Six]]: she's pregnant.
* In Adama's quarters, Tigh reports to Adama about the Raptors lack of success in finding anything about the whereabouts of their missing people. Adama replies that he's not interested in the search, confronting Tigh about impregnating the Six and putting the Fleet at risk over his weaknesses. After Tigh broaches the topic of Adama's reckless search for Roslin, Adama brings up the question of what [[Ellen Tigh]] would say about Tigh impregnating a Cylon, which resorts in a brawl. After Tigh's fall cracks the [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]], the fight stops and they both ask each other what they'll do about their feelings for their respective women.
* In the brig, an upset and alone [[Sharon Agathon]] hums a lullaby to herself.
* Adama orders [[Kara Thrace]] to continue the search with additional Raptors. Thrace objects to this, citing a decreased [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]], but her objections are overruled.
* As Adama watches the goings-on in a part of the hangar deck, Lampkin joins him with writs of forfeiture for him to sign; the captains of the ships Adama's borrowing do not want to be held liable for any wrongdoing that may occur in the rescue operation. As Adama signs the papers, he and Lampkin converse about people giving up hope when it is most needed, and while "on a roll," he adds that Zarek is not the worst choice for president. Adama brushes him off thereafter.
* In his quarters, Lampkin changes the search to find someone who best suits an ideal candidate and, after hissing like a cat, settles on Lee Adama. He leaves with Lance's bag, and meets up with Lee Adama. Lampkin informs Adama that the Quorum has selected him to be the interim president, much to Adama's bemusement; Lampkin points out that Adama always wanted the position, which is why he had to cross out [[47]] candidates to prove it. Lampkin claims that Adama's the perfect choice for president, and, after pulling out a [[Stallion|pistol]], notes that he'll never get the chance to serve.

=== Act 3 ===

[[Image:410 Lampkin and pepperbox.jpg|thumb|Lampkin holds Lee Adama at gunpoint.]]

* Adama faces down the gun-wielding Lampkin, who explains that Adama's the perfect candidate for president and thus should die. However, Lampkin says that hope is the last thing they need; he says that humanity is a doomed race and should accept its fate. Lampkin kicks over the duffel bag, which has Lampkin's rationale for his actions. Adama opens it, discovering [[Lance]], who had been dead for weeks. Lampkin explains that "those debased dregs of humanity" killed Lance, and are looking for a place to "roost and ''rot'' again." Lampkin explains that the cat is immaterial, but it is the last physical connection he had with his [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. Adama assures Lampkin that everyone that survived had to make [[Olympic Carrier|difficult choices]]: there was nothing he could have done for his wife and two daughters (Jennifer and Kate), noting that only a handful of people elected to stay behind on [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenon]] who were on Lampkin's shuttle during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack]].
* Adama talks down Lampkin in a speech about having to make choices about their own survival at the cost of other people's lives, urging him to put the past behind him and move on. Adama believes that he can make a difference in the Fleet; Lampkin asks him if that's his final word, then asks him to swear by it.
* Leland Joseph Adama is sworn in as interim president in a ceremony on ''[[Colonial One]]'', attended by Admiral Adama, [[Tory Foster]], and [[Tom Zarek]], in addition to the [[Fleet News Service|press corps]]. Lampkin listens to the ceremony on the wireless in his quarters.
* Admiral Adama informs Colonel Tigh that he's stepping down as military leader of the Fleet, promoting Tigh to admiral, as Tigh's the only person he can trust to command ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Tigh scoffs this, reminding Adama of the [[Resistance (episode)|last time]] he commanded the Fleet; Adama notes that Tigh is a different man who found out a lot about himself since that time. Adama tells Tigh to bring the people to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. As his last order, Adama tells Tigh to give custody of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] to the in-hack [[Sharon Agathon]], expressing a need for everyone to have a family.

=== Act 4 ===

[[Image:410 Adama sees the Fleet off.jpg|thumb|William Adama watches the Fleet [[FTL|jump]] away.]]

* On ''Colonial One'', President [[Lee Adama|Adama]] makes notes on [[:Image:410 IT upgrade press release.jpg|a press release]] relating to an information and technical services upgrade, which he gives to [[Tory Foster]] to correct. [[Romo Lampkin]] arrives, comically commenting that Adama already has a [[Jake (New Caprica)|first pet]]. Lampkin is told of Jake's exploits on [[New Caprica]] and Adama gives the dog to Lampkin—who hates dogs more than cats—as a "new pet to loathe."
* President Adama visits his father, who is packing things in his [[Officer's quarters|quarters]]. Adama doesn't agree with Lee's thinking on retaining [[Tom Zarek]] as vice president; Lee replies that he doesn't agree with his father's thinking on his one-man mission to find [[Laura Roslin]]. Adama recalls a "good memory" of his first mission in enemy space during the [[Cylon War]], then, when pressed, admits that the reason he undertakes his current mission is because he cannot live without Roslin. He has faith that Roslin will get to the rendezvous point.
* A [[flight suit|suited]] William Adama makes it to his Raptor in the [[hangar deck]]; he is seen off by his son and [[Kara Thrace]], the latter exchanging a [[Nothing but the rain|well-worn, friendly exchange]] before he boards the Raptor. Adama asks for them to keep the light on for him, to which they reply in the affirmative.
* Per Adama's final order, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is reunited with [[Sharon Agathon|her mother]] in the brig; Agathon hums a lullaby to her daughter.
* Adama launches from ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' as Admiral Tigh orders the Fleet to jump. After Adama watches all the ships [[FTL|jump]] away, he sits in his Raptor and reads the singed copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' as he awaits Roslin's return.

== Notes ==

* ''[[w:Sine qua non|Sine qua non]]'' is a Latin phrase meaning "without which not"; usually appended to mean "without which it could not be." It is famously used by [[w:Andrew Jackson|Andrew Jackson]], who says the following after receiving an honorary degree from [[w:Harvard|Harvard]]: "[[w:E pluribus unum|E pluribus unum]], my friends. Sine qua non."
* While being taken to surgery, [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] whispers the [[Prayer to the Cloud of Unknowing]]. This is the second instance of the prayer being used since its introduction in "[[A Measure of Salvation]]".
* The pistol Lampkin uses to threaten Adama is a [[Stallion]]. The model previously appeared prominently in "[[Home, Part II]]". Such multi-barreled pistols are commonly known as [[w:pepper-box|pepper-box]].
* The episode features the first explicit mention of [[Gravity in the Re-imagined Series|artificial gravity]] in dialogue.
* The book ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' makes another appearance. Adama finds it in the derelict Raptor, somewhat singed.
* The lullaby [[Sharon Agathon]] hums to [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is the same one hummed by [[Sharon Valerii]] to a captured [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]] in "[[Flesh and Bone]]". It is a traditional Korean children's song.
** Previously, Grace Park took part in a videotaped Q&A on scifi.com, answering questions submitted by members of the Scifi.com forum. One question, by user Noneofyourbusiness, was whether the lullaby from "Six Degrees of Separation" would reappear. Grace responded that it was a good idea for Athena to sing it to her child, and "I think I'll use that".
* The infamous number, [[47]], appears in this episode as well: [[Romo Lampkin]] tells [[Lee Adama]] that they went through 47 candidates for interim president when confronting him on ''[[Colonial One]]''.
* Although [[Tom Zarek]] rails against the government of the "past five years," it has only been about three and a half years since [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] have risen to power.
* [[James McManus]], a high ranking journalist, is talking to Tom Zarek during the [[wireless]] interview, given that Zarek calls the interviewer "Jim" and the fact that McManus is referred to by name in [[Sources: Sine Qua Non|the script]].
* William Adama's comment about how often he had to repair his [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]] is a reference to the end of "[[Maelstrom]]", as well as a possible inside-joke about the fact that [[Edward James Olmos]] smashed the very expensive prop in an ad-lib during the shooting of that episode.
* In the scene where Kara Thrace complains to Admiral Adama about their continuing to search for Roslin and the rebel Cylon baseship, Thrace mentions that she is missing two pilots. However, no such events occurred earlier during the discovery of the battle site at the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Judging from Adama's order to continue the search at a pilot's last known location, they appear to be referring to another recon patrol that isn't shown on screen, but is now overdue. It is possible that a scene explaining this further was [[deleted scenes|filmed but cut]].
* William Adama, after having temporarily stepped down as commander of ''Galactica'', and having donned a raptor pilot's uniform, is heard to identify himself by his old callsign, "Husker".

== Analysis ==

===General===
*Most civilians appear to have assumed that the basestar's disappearance was a deliberate act of kidnapping, possibly in retaliation for Natalie's shooting.
* The apparition of a loved one dredged up by a survivor—this time [[Lance]], the only remaining physical connection to [[Romo Lampkin]]'s wife, [[Faye Lampkin|Faye]]—is reminiscent of not only Adama's apparition of [[Carolanne Adama|his ex-wife]] in "[[A Day in the Life]]", but of Saul Tigh's apparition of [[Ellen Tigh]] during the fourth season, in which they cling to some memory of their wives.
* Despite the fact that ''[[Galactica]]'' has left the Fleet before to engage combat, this episode marks the first time that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|civilian Fleet]] is intentionally left without any defense. The only other time the Fleet was left without military aid was after [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer's]] assassination attempt of William Adama, when ''Galactica'' accidentally jumped to different coordinates than the rest of the Fleet ([[Scattered]]). The fleet was also left without support when ''Galactica'' tried to eliminate the Cylons through biological warfare not long after the ''Pegasus'' was destroyed and the fleet rescued from [[New Caprica]].
*It is possible to estimate the size of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Viper air wing for the first time since she absorbed ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Vipers. Dialogue from the previous episode and this one states that 40 Vipers and pilots are stationed aboard the rebels' basestar - mentioned as half the air wing. This puts the air wing at roughly 80 Vipers. This tallies well with ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> known Viper complement at the time of discovering ''Pegasus'' (around thirty-four), plus the larger Viper loadout that the more advanced battlestar enjoyed, taking into account casualties due to combat or wear and tear since.
*Given that the ''Galactica'' air wing consists of only 50 or so more planes than she originally possessed before encountering ''Pegasus'', it seems unlikely the potential two squadrons of new Vipers promised in the episode "[[Scar]]" fully materialized, otherwise it could be expected that there are substantially more Vipers seen or mentioned by this point.
*Despite having roughly as many Vipers as before ''Pegasus'' joined the Fleet, Kara Thrace maintains that there are not enough to maintain CAP duties. This implies that ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> optimum [[Combat Air Patrol]]s need a larger number of Vipers than has been shown on screen before, or that there is currently a pilot shortage with the air wing split in two.

===Characters===
* [[William Adama]]'s actions in the search for [[Laura Roslin]], namely the unreasonable allocation of resources and putting the Fleet at unnecessary risk, are precisely the same actions he executed when searching for [[Kara Thrace]] in "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]". Similarly, it is Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] who helps bring the end to Adama's irrational actions, this time without Roslin's help and more violently.
*Admiral Adama's resignation seems unnecessary, given that once he leaves the fleet and ''Galactica'' the ship will automatically default to Saul Tigh's command, as he is the next highest ranking officer. Promoting Tigh to admiral makes no sense militarily unless Adama intends it merely as a symbolic gesture or an implication that he will not return without Roslin.
*Adama's belief in the importance of civil liberties does not, however, prevent him from effectively subverting the democratic process of succession by refusing to recognize Tom Zarek's authority despite the fact that Roslin approved his assumption of that role. In what is perhaps a sign of how powerless they really are without the military, the Quorum choose an acceptable interim president instead of insisting that Zarek assume the presidential seat. Significantly the former rebelliousness in the fleet that once broke out following Adama's arrest of Roslin ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]) does not seem to occur in response to this demonstration of military overrule of the president's authority.
* Odd as it seems, [[Romo Lampkin]]'s erratic behavior towards Lee Adama is not wholly uncontrolled. Throughout the encounter, Lampkin forces Adama to defend his willingness to make tough decisions, his courage, and his optimism. He uses his personal tragedies to full effect, confronting Adama with the dead cat just as he used the memory of his love for Faye to manipulate Caprica-Six. He tacitly admits his plan towards the end, in his response to Adama's determination to make a positive difference: "Is that your last word?....Then swear it." While there is still a streak of craziness in Lampkin's actions that goes beyond his usual eccentricities, this behavior is in line with his previous manipulations of people (e.g., through his kleptomania), including Lee Adama.
* Tigh mentions that [[Peter Laird]]—the former ''Pegasus'' deck chief—retrieved the navigational data from [[Eammon Pike|Pike]]'s Raptor, indicating that Laird replaced [[Galen Tyrol]] after his demotion in "[[Escape Velocity]]." This is later proven true, up until "[[The Oath]]."

=== Cylons ===
* The child of [[Caprica Six]] and Tigh will be the first full-Cylon child, should it come to full term.
* Of note is the fact that Caprica Six is currently being held prisoner in the same room that once held the (then pregnant) captive Sharon Agathon—the same room that [[Virtual Six]] once told Baltar would be the birthplace of "our child." It could be implied that Virtual Six was referring not to Agathons's child, but to the child that has resulted from the relations between Caprica Six and Saul Tigh, as the child would most likely be born in this same room. One could surmise that Virtual Six and Caprica Six are more closely related than once thought, and that Virtual Six could somehow see her physical counterpart's future, or that the child of Six and Tigh is part of the prophecy that intrinsically ties the fates of Human and Cylon races.
* The ability of Tigh to impregnate Six perhaps indicates a fundamental difference between the [[Final Five]] and [[Significant Seven]], as Significant Seven Cylons have been thus far unable to conceive with one another. That Tigh often sees Caprica Six not as herself but as his [[Ellen Tigh|deceased wife]] could very well be a determinative factor. If this proves to be the case, then the conclusion is that Tigh learned how to love, as required for reproduction according to the Cylons' theory regarding their biological reproductive limitations ("[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[The Farm]]"), from his marriage to a human being.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===
* What exactly happened to the rebel baseship and the [[Resurrection Hub]]? Did the rebels and Colonials escape if their baseship was destroyed? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the Fleet react to an [[Lee Adama|Adama]] as President?
* Will [[Caprica-Six]]'s child remain a secret? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Is she aware of her pregnancy? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Will she be allowed or able to give birth to what would be the first fully Cylon child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** If so, what will happen to the child? Will [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] take on fatherly responsibilities? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will [[Gaius Baltar]] react to Caprica-Six and Saul Tigh's child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will the other Cylons react? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
* Will Zarek attempt to undermine or manipulate President Adama? ([[The Oath|Answer]])
* Will Adama manage to find [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] by waiting out in deep space? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Has [[Kara Thrace]] been re-accepted by her comrades? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]], [[The Oath|Answer #2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Is there any significance to [[Natalie]]'s dying visions? If so, what?
* Could two members of the Final Five (unlike the Significant Seven) procreate with each other?
* How will the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] and the Fleet respond to Tigh being left in charge of ''Galactica'' and the military?
* Did someone really kill [[Lance]], or did the cat die of natural causes or possibly neglect?
* Why does no one notice the awful smell of a dead cat?
* Were the damaged Vipers from [[Sector Delta 9]] retrieved for salvage?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Michael Taylor]] discusses his spoiler-free impressions of a scene:''
: I was in the editing room, watching one of our talented editors assemble a rough cut of a single scene. Not a huge scene, just a relatively brief but quietly powerful scene between [[William Adama|Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] (you’ll see it in Episode 8, “Sine Qua Non”). What struck me is that while the dialogue was relatively simple, these two actors brought so much to it that the smallest looks and gestures carried immense weight. It made me realize anew how, after four seasons, these characters have accumulated so much history and nuance. As embodied by actors like [[Edward James Olmos|Edward J. Olmos]] and [[Michael Hogan]], they are wrenchingly human. Less characters than people I have now spent years with, and who still surprise me.<ref name="thewatcher">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/11/answers-to-your.html|title=Answers to your 'Razor' questions and clues about 'Battlestar Galactica's' final season|date=16 November 2007|accessdate=16 November 2007|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language=}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Caprica-Six]]'s pregnancy:''
: '''William Adama:''' I know that you've been spending a lotta time interrogating the Six, but now the brig guards tell me that every time you order them out, you turn off the cameras.
: '''Saul Tigh:''' I'm not torturing her, if that's what you're worried about.
: '''Adama:''' I'm not. That I could almost understand. This I can't. [[Cottle]] tells me she's pregnant. What the frak have you been thinking, colonel? ''Do you deny it...? You don't... '''You can't.''''' What the hell have you been thinking? Who's interrogating whom? How many of our secrets have you told this thing?
: '''Tigh:''' ''How can you even ask me that?'' Question my loyalty?
: '''Adama:''' Your loyalty? I need more than your loyalty. You're my first officer, I need judgment. I need your ''competence''. You're jeopardizing this ship, putting it at risk because of your weaknesses.
: '''Tigh:''' ''My'' weaknesses?
: '''Adama:''' Yeah, your weaknesses!
: '''Tigh:''' You're risking all our lives—for what? Our missing pilots? ''No, for a woman! '''A frakking woman!'''''
: '''Adama:''' ''You watch what you frakkin' say about that woman! She's the president! Not some frakkin' skinjob that I've been banging!'' What do you think [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] would say about this?
: '''Tigh:''' Leave Ellen out of this.
: '''Adama:''' What do you think Ellen would say about her husband impregnating a frakkin' Cylon prisoner?
: '''Tigh:''' '''You ''motherfrakker''!''' (violence ensues)

*''Admiral Adama chews out [[Sharon Agathon]] for murdering [[Natalie]]:''
:'''Adama:''' You murdered an unarmed woman, and by doing so you put the lives of every single person in this fleet at risk; and quite possibly cost the lives of the [[Laura Roslin|president]] and [[Karl Agathon|your husband]]. You disobeyed the direct orders of your superior officers, but more importantly, you betrayed a promise to me. I [[Precipice#Noteworthy Dialogue|trusted you]].
:'''Agathon:''' Sir, I will accept any form of punishment that you think I deserve. I just ask that you please don't take away [[Hera Agathon|Hera]].
:'''Adama:''' I'm afraid the [[brig]] is no place for a little girl. ''Guards!'' Get her out of my sight!

*''[[Romo Lampkin]] to [[Lee Adama]]:''
:"Lampkin's First Rule of Legal Dynamics: When an irresistible force meets a movable object, stand aside and wait for the class action suit."

*''More Lampkin:''
:'''Lampkin:''' So you can't be dissuaded, will you? Not even when you hear my fee?
:'''Lee Adama:''' Fee?
:'''Lampkin:''' Appearances to the contrary, I'm actually in this for the money. I have a reputation to maintain after all.
:'''Adama:''' OK, so what did Roslin offer you to defend Baltar?
:'''Lampkin:''' (pointing at a small window in the bulkhead) Room with a view.
:'''Adama:''' I'm not sure I can improve on that.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then pro bono it is, counselor. Word to the wise: sometimes it's better to settle for what you've already got.

*''Lampkin about political power and Lee Adama:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Quandary is, one doesn't generally get the chance to wield political power without the ambition to actively seek it. That same ambition often compromises the unselfish motives that began the quest. In other words, in a battle of id versus ego, that ego rarely wins.
:'''Adama:''' Roslin never sought power.
:'''Lampkin:''' Exception that proves the rule. One could argue that Laura Roslin is a study in ''repressed'' ambition, just like you, Mr. Adama. Never seeking out a job until it's handed to you. [[CAG|Flight leader]], [[Pegasus (RDM)|battlestar]] commander, [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] delegate. Man doesn't carve out a path like that through life without...
:'''Adama:''' Alright, enough of the psychoanalysis. Let's get back to the job at hand.

*''Lampkin and Admiral Adama on the hangar deck, watching the deck crew and pilots at work:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Writs of forfeiture for the ships you're borrowing. The captains want to be absolved of any blame should anything untoward happen. One of the less ennobling consequences of a legal culture: No one wants responsibility. (hands him a pen to sign) Lee said you [[The Hand of God (RDM)|once]] gave ''him'' something before a mission. A lighter, wasn't it?
:'''Adama''' It belonged to my [[Joseph Adama|father]]. Foolish to think a hunk of metal can keep him safe.
:'''Lampkin:''' And yet, that's what we do, isn't it? Hang on to hope in every hopelessly irrational way that we can. (watches the crew wishing each other luck) But not like ''those'' poor bastards. Giving away their luck just when they need it most. It's like they've given up.
:'''Adama:''' If you've never been in combat, you have ''no'' idea what they're thinking.
:'''Lampkin:''' I've always imagined you were a realist, Admiral, not one to indulge a vain hope at the cost of lives. But then, everyone has his limits. "Sine qua non," as they say.
:'''Adama:''' Without which not.
:'''Lampkin:''' Yes. Those things we deem essential, without which we cannot bear living. Without which life in general loses its specific value, becomes abstract.
:'''Adama:''' You may have a point, counselor.
:'''Lampkin:''' And while I'm on a roll: [[Tom Zarek]] may not be an ideal president, but we could do worse.
:'''Adama:''' You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye counselor.

*''Lampkin confronts Lee Adama after naming him the candidate for interim president:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Savor your victory Mr. Adama, because you'll never get the chance to serve (pulls out a gun and points it at Adama).
:'''Adama:''' What are you doing?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? Because you're perfect for the job of course. Because after the vicious separation that was Baltar's presidency and the ''bitter'' disappointment that was Roslin's, you ''are'' a shining beacon of hope. Only hope is the last thing we need. We're a doomed race. It's time that we made our peace with that essential truth.
:'''Adama:''' Romo, what the hell are you talking...?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? You want to know why? (drops his duffel bag and kicks it over to Adama) '''Open it!'''
:'''Adama:''' (Adama does so and finds [[Lance]]'s corpse inside) Eww. Frak.
:'''Lampkin:''' That's right. They killed my cat!
:'''Adama:''' They?
:'''Lampkin:''' They! Those debased dregs of humanity out there! Lost tribe in search of a new home, so they can roost and rot ''again''!
:'''Adama:''' How long has the cat been dead?
:'''Lampkin:''' "''How long?''" It's irrelevant! It's immaterial! It wasn't even ''my'' cat!
:'''Adama:''' Romo, it's been dead for weeks.
:'''Lampkin:''' It belonged to my [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. I just retrieved him from a vet on Gemenon when the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|bombs started to fall]] and fate presented me with a choice. I could get back on that shuttle, or...I could run home, try to save my family. How do you think I chose?
:'''Adama:''' Romo, we all had to make difficult choices. You don't think I know? Your wife's name was Faye. You had two daughters. Jennifer and Kate. There were over two hundred passengers on that shuttle! Only a handful chose to stay behind. (Lampkin stares at him questioning) Yeah, that's right. It was in your file when you were handed the job as Baltar's counsel. And no one blamed you Romo, because at a certain point, we all made decisions that saved ''our'' lives at the cost of others. You think you're unique, Romo? Think your sins are so special?
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that how it goes? You're gonna rest your entire case on that ''pathetic'' little bit of insight?
:'''Adama:''' No. On this: the clean slate, the fresh start, maybe they ''are'' illusions like you said. But at a certain point, faith in ourselves, in our right to survive as a species, as a people...it's not a given, it's a choice. Well, I made mine. And if you can't stomach that, then you had damn well better squeeze that trigger right now. Go on. What are you waiting for? Or you can make a choice. Put your past behind you. Put the gun down, and help me, because I'm telling you, I'm gonna make a difference in this fleet.
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that your final word?
:'''Adama:''' That's up to you.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then swear it. (the next scene shows Adama being sworn in as president)

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Lieutenant [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Virtual Ellen]]
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #2|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[David Kaye]] as [[James McManus]] (voice only)

== External Link ==
* Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=367]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Rod Hardy]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Sine Qua Non]]

Sine Qua Non

2012-08-06T13:03:28Z

AlanHK: /* Cylons */ not analysis

{{Episode Data
| image=410 Adama and his raptor.jpg
| title=Sine Qua Non
| season= 4
| episode=8
| forumthread= 1199
| movie=
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director=[[Rod Hardy]]
| assistant director=[[Michael Shandley]]<ref>See: [[Sources: Sine Qua Non]]</ref>
| production=410
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=30 May 2008
| CAN airdate=30 May 2008
| UK airdate=27 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation=39673
| population=39674
| frakr=Blah Blah Whaa
| prev=[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
| next= [[The Hub]]
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== Overview ==
:''President [[Laura Roslin]]'s disappearance with the Cylon basestar triggers a bitter power struggle within the Fleet. The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has little information and demands to know what happened, while [[Tom Zarek]] insists that he is to be declared interim president. [[Lee Adama]] opposes him and enlists the help of notorious lawyer [[Romo Lampkin]] to find a candidate for the post, leading to a surprising decision. Meanwhile, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] come to blows over Tigh's relationship with [[Caprica-Six]] and Adama's obsession with finding Roslin.''

== Summary ==
=== Teaser ===
*With President [[Laura Roslin]] missing, a meeting is held by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]. Vice President [[Tom Zarek]], who informs them that the rebel [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]] jumped with Roslin and [[Gaius Baltar]]—and many of ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> pilots—also notes that [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] was shot by "one of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[Marines]]"; he fuels the assumption that the basestar's sudden jump and abduction is related to Natalie's death. Zarek tells the delegates that with Roslin missing, he is to be sworn in as interim President.
*Upon hearing the news, [[Lee Adama]] contacts his [[William Adama|father]], who doesn't take it well.
*[[Natalie]], who has [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|just been shot]] by [[Sharon Agathon]], is taken to the [[sickbay|infirmary]]. She starts to [[projection|project]] that she is in a forest on a sunny day. In real life, she only focuses on the faces of those who are taking her to the infirmary.
*Dr. [[Cottle]] immediately starts to operate on her. When she tries to make physical contact, likely sensing that she is about to die, Cottle takes her hand. However, just as they operate, her image of the forest brightens to a bright flash. The second this happens, her heart monitor flatlines, and Cottle announces her death.
*Admiral Adama sees Sharon Agathon and is angered by her decision to kill an unarmed woman, even if she was a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Agathon starts to explain her dream about a [[Number Six|Six]] taking away her [[Hera Agathon|child]] at the [[Opera House]]. Eventually, Adama orders a guard to take her away to the [[brig]] and refuses her access to her daughter.
* When the topic of Adama's support of a Tom Zarek administration is raised, [[Jacob Cantrell]] pointedly asks Lee Adama whether Admiral Adama would support Zarek or the government. Delegate Adama replies in the negative, raising ire and outrage.

=== Act 1 ===

[[Image:410 room with a view.jpg|thumb|[[Romo Lampkin]] and [[Lee Adama]] haggle over the price of searching for an interim president.]]
*When Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] returns to the [[CIC]], he hears that the [[Resurrection Hub]] has disappeared from its last known location, further the rebel baseship is not there either. Adama tells [[Saul Tigh]] to continue looking for the hub, since that's the only place the rebels can head given their objective: to [[Boxing|unbox]] [[D'Anna]].
* Tigh reports that [[Kara Thrace|Thrace]] (apparently [[CAG]], given her seniority) is having problems assembling a sufficient [[CAP]] to protect the Fleet, as half the air wing's [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s were transfered to the basestar. As a result, Adama agrees with Thrace's recommendation (told via Tigh) of having the ships tighten their formation for easier defense, despite the inherent hazards posed by inexperienced civilian pilots.
* President [[Tom Zarek|Zarek]] and [[Lee Adama]] have a meeting, where Lee recommends that Zarek step down as president. Despite Zarek's vocal disbelief over this—correctly noting that he is the only public official in the executive branch to have been voted into office legally, a claim [[Laura Roslin]] is unable to make—Lee suggests enacting a Quorum provision that allows the Quorum to pick an interim president during a time of crisis to serve out the remainder of Roslin's term. Zarek reluctantly concedes after Lee points out that Admiral Adama will never recognize Zarek, and they need someone who Adama will recognize. Zarek gruffly wishes Lee luck in his search for an interim president.
* In a [[Talk Wireless]] interview conducted by [[James McManus]]<ref>The assumption is that the "Jim" Tom Zarek is speaking to is McManus, given his coverage of government affairs.</ref>, Zarek indicates that the government post-[[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]] is not a true government, but a "tacit agreement between a military strong-man [Adama] and a political strong-woman [Roslin] to rule by fiat." Zarek also notes the creation of a civilian force to maintain order, noting that the government should not rely on the [[Marines]] due to the last political upheaval.
* Lee Adama visits [[Romo Lampkin]], asking for Lampkin's help in searching for potential presidential candidates. Despite his initial refusals, Lampkin accepts to work ''pro bono'' in search of a replacement with the right skills and abilities that meets with the approval of both the Quorum (who won't act, since Zarek has them "inhaling fear and exhaling anger") and Admiral Adama. Lampkin offers one more piece of advice, telling him that it's better to accept what they already have.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:410 Pike's corpsesicle.jpg|thumb|[[Eammon Pike]]'s body floating in the damaged [[Raptor]].]]

* In [[CIC]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], noting that he has a rapport with [[Caprica-Six]], asks Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] to interrogate her about the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Before he leaves, he tells Adama that they'll find [[Roslin]] and the missing humans.
* In the brig, Tigh questions Six about the Hub. After telling him what she knows about the Hub, Tigh believes that she's lying; she assures him that she'd never lie to him. Tigh slips, telling her that the rebels took off with half an air wing and Roslin. Six ferrets out the fact that Admiral Adama's primary concern is for Roslin. Six, who then appears to Tigh in the form of [[Ellen Tigh|his dead wife]], asks if Tigh loves her. Before he can answer, [[Condition One]] is called. He grabs her neck and tells her that her mind games with him end at that moment, and he leaves.
* Tigh reports to CIC, learning that one of their missing [[Raptor]]s from the rebel baseship has jumped to the Fleet. A Raptor crewed by [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] are en route to intercept the craft, which has not returned hails and does not appear to be emanating anything [[radiological alarm|radiological]]. Edmondson performs a spacewalk, discovering that the Raptor was jumped by its lone, now-dead occupant, [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]], whose body floats in the back compartment.
* After retrieving the Raptor, Adama investigates the Raptor himself, discovering the copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' he gave to Roslin in burnt condition, identifying it as the craft she took over to baseship before it jumped. Tigh joins him, noting that [[Peter Laird|Laird]] retrieved [[Sector Delta 9|the coordinates]] that the Raptor jumped from. Adama orders a search to that location, ignoring Zarek's request for a briefing.
* In the Quorum meeting room on ''Colonial One'', Lampkin discusses how one achieves and wields power with Lee Adama. During this conversation, Lampkin and Lee see ''Galactica'' jump away. Lee is concerned over the abruptness of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> departure.
* A Raptor reconnaissance party comes across a debris field, consisting of Cylon debris and damaged Vipers. Tigh informs Adama that the debris consist of a Cylon baseship and fragments indicative of resurrection technology, and notes that they detected radiation from nuclear weapons. Adama refuses to believe that the destroyed baseship was the rebels', insisting that Roslin has survived. Adama presses on with the search, until Tigh points out that the Fleet is left behind with "their asses hanging out in the wind." Adama thus revises his orders to include only four Raptors to stay behind to search until they "find something concrete."
* ''Galactica'' jumps back to the Fleet. Zarek notifies the Quorum of Adama's decision to reroute all [[tylium]] supplies to fueling the search efforts, along with requisitioning several civilian ships to aid in this endeavor. The delegates are furious over being bypassed.
* Back in Lampkin's "room with a view," Adama and Lampkin go over the list of candidates, among them [[Doyle Franks]] who has no aspirations for political office, however. As they brainstorm, Adama nearly trips over an overturned bowl, resulting in his quip of "do you ever feed that [[Lance|animal]]?" and inquires about the cat's whereabouts. From Lampkin's perspective, he sees Lance run around a swivel chair. Lampkin later begins to throw in the towel, erasing the names on the whiteboard, much to Adama's consternation.
* In [[sickbay]], Admiral Adama consults Doctor [[Cottle]] about how Roslin's sudden disappearance will affect her [[Doloxan]] treatments. Cottle stresses that, with her weakened immune system and her cancer's ability to regroup, the sooner she's found, the better. He also provides Adama with a medical report on [[Caprica-Six]]: she's pregnant.
* In Adama's quarters, Tigh reports to Adama about the Raptors lack of success in finding anything about the whereabouts of their missing people. Adama replies that he's not interested in the search, confronting Tigh about impregnating the Six and putting the Fleet at risk over his weaknesses. After Tigh broaches the topic of Adama's reckless search for Roslin, Adama brings up the question of what [[Ellen Tigh]] would say about Tigh impregnating a Cylon, which resorts in a brawl. After Tigh's fall cracks the [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]], the fight stops and they both ask each other what they'll do about their feelings for their respective women.
* In the brig, an upset and alone [[Sharon Agathon]] hums a lullaby to herself.
* Adama orders [[Kara Thrace]] to continue the search with additional Raptors. Thrace objects to this, citing a decreased [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]], but her objections are overruled.
* As Adama watches the goings-on in a part of the hangar deck, Lampkin joins him with writs of forfeiture for him to sign; the captains of the ships Adama's borrowing do not want to be held liable for any wrongdoing that may occur in the rescue operation. As Adama signs the papers, he and Lampkin converse about people giving up hope when it is most needed, and while "on a roll," he adds that Zarek is not the worst choice for president. Adama brushes him off thereafter.
* In his quarters, Lampkin changes the search to find someone who best suits an ideal candidate and, after hissing like a cat, settles on Lee Adama. He leaves with Lance's bag, and meets up with Lee Adama. Lampkin informs Adama that the Quorum has selected him to be the interim president, much to Adama's bemusement; Lampkin points out that Adama always wanted the position, which is why he had to cross out [[47]] candidates to prove it. Lampkin claims that Adama's the perfect choice for president, and, after pulling out a [[Stallion|pistol]], notes that he'll never get the chance to serve.

=== Act 3 ===

[[Image:410 Lampkin and pepperbox.jpg|thumb|Lampkin holds Lee Adama at gunpoint.]]

* Adama faces down the gun-wielding Lampkin, who explains that Adama's the perfect candidate for president and thus should die. However, Lampkin says that hope is the last thing they need; he says that humanity is a doomed race and should accept its fate. Lampkin kicks over the duffel bag, which has Lampkin's rationale for his actions. Adama opens it, discovering [[Lance]], who had been dead for weeks. Lampkin explains that "those debased dregs of humanity" killed Lance, and are looking for a place to "roost and ''rot'' again." Lampkin explains that the cat is immaterial, but it is the last physical connection he had with his [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. Adama assures Lampkin that everyone that survived had to make [[Olympic Carrier|difficult choices]]: there was nothing he could have done for his wife and two daughters (Jennifer and Kate), noting that only a handful of people elected to stay behind on [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenon]] who were on Lampkin's shuttle during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack]].
* Adama talks down Lampkin in a speech about having to make choices about their own survival at the cost of other people's lives, urging him to put the past behind him and move on. Adama believes that he can make a difference in the Fleet; Lampkin asks him if that's his final word, then asks him to swear by it.
* Leland Joseph Adama is sworn in as interim president in a ceremony on ''[[Colonial One]]'', attended by Admiral Adama, [[Tory Foster]], and [[Tom Zarek]], in addition to the [[Fleet News Service|press corps]]. Lampkin listens to the ceremony on the wireless in his quarters.
* Admiral Adama informs Colonel Tigh that he's stepping down as military leader of the Fleet, promoting Tigh to admiral, as Tigh's the only person he can trust to command ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Tigh scoffs this, reminding Adama of the [[Resistance (episode)|last time]] he commanded the Fleet; Adama notes that Tigh is a different man who found out a lot about himself since that time. Adama tells Tigh to bring the people to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. As his last order, Adama tells Tigh to give custody of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] to the in-hack [[Sharon Agathon]], expressing a need for everyone to have a family.

=== Act 4 ===

[[Image:410 Adama sees the Fleet off.jpg|thumb|William Adama watches the Fleet [[FTL|jump]] away.]]

* On ''Colonial One'', President [[Lee Adama|Adama]] makes notes on [[:Image:410 IT upgrade press release.jpg|a press release]] relating to an information and technical services upgrade, which he gives to [[Tory Foster]] to correct. [[Romo Lampkin]] arrives, comically commenting that Adama already has a [[Jake (New Caprica)|first pet]]. Lampkin is told of Jake's exploits on [[New Caprica]] and Adama gives the dog to Lampkin—who hates dogs more than cats—as a "new pet to loathe."
* President Adama visits his father, who is packing things in his [[Officer's quarters|quarters]]. Adama doesn't agree with Lee's thinking on retaining [[Tom Zarek]] as vice president; Lee replies that he doesn't agree with his father's thinking on his one-man mission to find [[Laura Roslin]]. Adama recalls a "good memory" of his first mission in enemy space during the [[Cylon War]], then, when pressed, admits that the reason he undertakes his current mission is because he cannot live without Roslin. He has faith that Roslin will get to the rendezvous point.
* A [[flight suit|suited]] William Adama makes it to his Raptor in the [[hangar deck]]; he is seen off by his son and [[Kara Thrace]], the latter exchanging a [[Nothing but the rain|well-worn, friendly exchange]] before he boards the Raptor. Adama asks for them to keep the light on for him, to which they reply in the affirmative.
* Per Adama's final order, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is reunited with [[Sharon Agathon|her mother]] in the brig; Agathon hums a lullaby to her daughter.
* Adama launches from ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' as Admiral Tigh orders the Fleet to jump. After Adama watches all the ships [[FTL|jump]] away, he sits in his Raptor and reads the singed copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' as he awaits Roslin's return.

== Notes ==

* ''[[w:Sine qua non|Sine qua non]]'' is a Latin phrase meaning "without which not"; usually appended to mean "without which it could not be." It is famously used by [[w:Andrew Jackson|Andrew Jackson]], who says the following after receiving an honorary degree from [[w:Harvard|Harvard]]: "[[w:E pluribus unum|E pluribus unum]], my friends. Sine qua non."
* While being taken to surgery, [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] whispers the [[Prayer to the Cloud of Unknowing]]. This is the second instance of the prayer being used since its introduction in "[[A Measure of Salvation]]".
* The pistol Lampkin uses to threaten Adama is a [[Stallion]]. The model previously appeared prominently in "[[Home, Part II]]". Such multi-barreled pistols are commonly known as [[w:pepper-box|pepper-box]].
* The episode features the first explicit mention of [[Gravity in the Re-imagined Series|artificial gravity]] in dialogue.
* The book ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' makes another appearance. Adama finds it in the derelict Raptor, somewhat singed.
* The lullaby [[Sharon Agathon]] hums to [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is the same one hummed by [[Sharon Valerii]] to a captured [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]] in "[[Flesh and Bone]]". It is a traditional Korean children's song.
** Previously, Grace Park took part in a videotaped Q&A on scifi.com, answering questions submitted by members of the Scifi.com forum. One question, by user Noneofyourbusiness, was whether the lullaby from "Six Degrees of Separation" would reappear. Grace responded that it was a good idea for Athena to sing it to her child, and "I think I'll use that".
* The infamous number, [[47]], appears in this episode as well: [[Romo Lampkin]] tells [[Lee Adama]] that they went through 47 candidates for interim president when confronting him on ''[[Colonial One]]''.
* Although [[Tom Zarek]] rails against the government of the "past five years," it has only been about three and a half years since [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] have risen to power.
* [[James McManus]], a high ranking journalist, is talking to Tom Zarek during the [[wireless]] interview, given that Zarek calls the interviewer "Jim" and the fact that McManus is referred to by name in [[Sources: Sine Qua Non|the script]].
* William Adama's comment about how often he had to repair his [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]] is a reference to the end of "[[Maelstrom]]", as well as a possible inside-joke about the fact that [[Edward James Olmos]] smashed the very expensive prop in an ad-lib during the shooting of that episode.
* In the scene where Kara Thrace complains to Admiral Adama about their continuing to search for Roslin and the rebel Cylon baseship, Thrace mentions that she is missing two pilots. However, no such events occurred earlier during the discovery of the battle site at the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Judging from Adama's order to continue the search at a pilot's last known location, they appear to be referring to another recon patrol that isn't shown on screen, but is now overdue. It is possible that a scene explaining this further was [[deleted scenes|filmed but cut]].
* William Adama, after having temporarily stepped down as commander of ''Galactica'', and having donned a raptor pilot's uniform, is heard to identify himself by his old callsign, "Husker".

== Analysis ==

===General===
*Most civilians appear to have assumed that the basestar's disappearance was a deliberate act of kidnapping, possibly in retaliation for Natalie's shooting.
* The apparition of a loved one dredged up by a survivor—this time [[Lance]], the only remaining physical connection to [[Romo Lampkin]]'s wife, [[Faye Lampkin|Faye]]—is reminiscent of not only Adama's apparition of [[Carolanne Adama|his ex-wife]] in "[[A Day in the Life]]", but of Saul Tigh's apparition of [[Ellen Tigh]] during the fourth season, in which they cling to some memory of their wives.
* Despite the fact that ''[[Galactica]]'' has left the Fleet before to engage combat, this episode marks the first time that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|civilian Fleet]] is intentionally left without any defense. The only other time the Fleet was left without military aid was after [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer's]] assassination attempt of William Adama, when ''Galactica'' accidentally jumped to different coordinates than the rest of the Fleet ([[Scattered]]). The fleet was also left without support when ''Galactica'' tried to eliminate the Cylons through biological warfare not long after the ''Pegasus'' was destroyed and the fleet rescued from [[New Caprica]].
*It is possible to estimate the size of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Viper air wing for the first time since she absorbed ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Vipers. Dialogue from the previous episode and this one states that 40 Vipers and pilots are stationed aboard the rebels' basestar - mentioned as half the air wing. This puts the air wing at roughly 80 Vipers. This tallies well with ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> known Viper complement at the time of discovering ''Pegasus'' (around thirty-four), plus the larger Viper loadout that the more advanced battlestar enjoyed, taking into account casualties due to combat or wear and tear since.
*Given that the ''Galactica'' air wing consists of only 50 or so more planes than she originally possessed before encountering ''Pegasus'', it seems unlikely the potential two squadrons of new Vipers promised in the episode "[[Scar]]" fully materialized, otherwise it could be expected that there are substantially more Vipers seen or mentioned by this point.
*Despite having roughly as many Vipers as before ''Pegasus'' joined the Fleet, Kara Thrace maintains that there are not enough to maintain CAP duties. This implies that ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> optimum [[Combat Air Patrol]]s need a larger number of Vipers than has been shown on screen before, or that there is currently a pilot shortage with the air wing split in two.

===Characters===
* [[William Adama]]'s actions in the search for [[Laura Roslin]], namely the unreasonable allocation of resources and putting the Fleet at unnecessary risk, are precisely the same actions he executed when searching for [[Kara Thrace]] in "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]". Similarly, it is Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] who helps bring the end to Adama's irrational actions, this time without Roslin's help and more violently.
*Admiral Adama's resignation seems unnecessary, given that once he leaves the fleet and ''Galactica'' the ship will automatically default to Saul Tigh's command, as he is the next highest ranking officer. Promoting Tigh to admiral makes no sense militarily unless Adama intends it merely as a symbolic gesture or an implication that he will not return without Roslin.
*Adama's belief in the importance of civil liberties does not, however, prevent him from effectively subverting the democratic process of succession by refusing to recognize Tom Zarek's authority despite the fact that Roslin approved his assumption of that role. In what is perhaps a sign of how powerless they really are without the military, the Quorum choose an acceptable interim president instead of insisting that Zarek assume the presidential seat. Significantly the former rebelliousness in the fleet that once broke out following Adama's arrest of Roslin ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]) does not seem to occur in response to this demonstration of military overrule of the president's authority.
* Odd as it seems, [[Romo Lampkin]]'s erratic behavior towards Lee Adama is not wholly uncontrolled. Throughout the encounter, Lampkin forces Adama to defend his willingness to make tough decisions, his courage, and his optimism. He uses his personal tragedies to full effect, confronting Adama with the dead cat just as he used the memory of his love for Faye to manipulate Caprica-Six. He tacitly admits his plan towards the end, in his response to Adama's determination to make a positive difference: "Is that your last word?....Then swear it." While there is still a streak of craziness in Lampkin's actions that goes beyond his usual eccentricities, this behavior is in line with his previous manipulations of people (e.g., through his kleptomania), including Lee Adama.
* Tigh mentions that [[Peter Laird]]—the former ''Pegasus'' deck chief—retrieved the navigational data from [[Eammon Pike|Pike]]'s Raptor, indicating that Laird replaced [[Galen Tyrol]] after his demotion in "[[Escape Velocity]]." This is later proven true, up until "[[The Oath]]."

=== Cylons ===
* The child of [[Caprica Six]] and Tigh will be the first full-Cylon child, should it come to full term.
* Of note is the fact that Caprica Six is currently being held prisoner in the same room that once held the (then pregnant) captive Sharon Agathon—the same room that [[Virtual Six]] once told Baltar would be the birthplace of "our child." It could be implied that Virtual Six was referring not to Agathons's child, but to the child that has resulted from the relations between Caprica Six and Saul Tigh, as the child would most likely be born in this same room. One could surmise that Virtual Six and Caprica Six are more closely related than once thought, and that Virtual Six could somehow see her physical counterpart's future, or that the child of Six and Tigh is part of the prophecy that intrinsically ties the fates of Human and Cylon races.
* The ability of Tigh to impregnate Six perhaps indicates a fundamental difference between the [[Final Five]] and [[Significant Seven]], as Significant Seven Cylons have been thus far unable to conceive with one another. That Tigh often sees Caprica Six not as herself but as his [[Ellen Tigh|deceased wife]] could very well be a determinative factor. If this proves to be the case, then the conclusion is that Tigh learned how to love, as required for reproduction according to the Cylons' theory regarding their biological reproductive limitations ("[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[The Farm]]"), from his marriage to a human being.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===
* What exactly happened to the rebel baseship and the [[Resurrection Hub]]? Did the rebels and Colonials escape if their baseship was destroyed? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the Fleet react to an [[Lee Adama|Adama]] as President?
* Will [[Caprica-Six]]'s child remain a secret? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Is she aware of her pregnancy? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Will she be allowed or able to give birth to what would be the first fully Cylon child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** If so, what will happen to the child? Will [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] take on fatherly responsibilities? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will [[Gaius Baltar]] react to Caprica-Six and Saul Tigh's child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will the other Cylons react? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
* Will Zarek attempt to undermine or manipulate President Adama? ([[The Oath|Answer]])
* Will Adama manage to find [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] by waiting out in deep space? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Has [[Kara Thrace]] been re-accepted by her comrades? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]], [[The Oath|Answer #2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Is there any significance to [[Natalie]]'s dying visions? If so, what?
* Could two members of the Final Five (unlike the Significant Seven) procreate with each other?
* How will the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] and the Fleet respond to Tigh being left in charge of ''Galactica'' and the military?
* Did someone really kill [[Lance]], or did the cat die of natural causes or possibly neglect?
* Were the damaged Vipers from [[Sector Delta 9]] retrieved for salvage?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Michael Taylor]] discusses his spoiler-free impressions of a scene:''
: I was in the editing room, watching one of our talented editors assemble a rough cut of a single scene. Not a huge scene, just a relatively brief but quietly powerful scene between [[William Adama|Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] (you’ll see it in Episode 8, “Sine Qua Non”). What struck me is that while the dialogue was relatively simple, these two actors brought so much to it that the smallest looks and gestures carried immense weight. It made me realize anew how, after four seasons, these characters have accumulated so much history and nuance. As embodied by actors like [[Edward James Olmos|Edward J. Olmos]] and [[Michael Hogan]], they are wrenchingly human. Less characters than people I have now spent years with, and who still surprise me.<ref name="thewatcher">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/11/answers-to-your.html|title=Answers to your 'Razor' questions and clues about 'Battlestar Galactica's' final season|date=16 November 2007|accessdate=16 November 2007|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language=}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Caprica-Six]]'s pregnancy:''
: '''William Adama:''' I know that you've been spending a lotta time interrogating the Six, but now the brig guards tell me that every time you order them out, you turn off the cameras.
: '''Saul Tigh:''' I'm not torturing her, if that's what you're worried about.
: '''Adama:''' I'm not. That I could almost understand. This I can't. [[Cottle]] tells me she's pregnant. What the frak have you been thinking, colonel? ''Do you deny it...? You don't... '''You can't.''''' What the hell have you been thinking? Who's interrogating whom? How many of our secrets have you told this thing?
: '''Tigh:''' ''How can you even ask me that?'' Question my loyalty?
: '''Adama:''' Your loyalty? I need more than your loyalty. You're my first officer, I need judgment. I need your ''competence''. You're jeopardizing this ship, putting it at risk because of your weaknesses.
: '''Tigh:''' ''My'' weaknesses?
: '''Adama:''' Yeah, your weaknesses!
: '''Tigh:''' You're risking all our lives—for what? Our missing pilots? ''No, for a woman! '''A frakking woman!'''''
: '''Adama:''' ''You watch what you frakkin' say about that woman! She's the president! Not some frakkin' skinjob that I've been banging!'' What do you think [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] would say about this?
: '''Tigh:''' Leave Ellen out of this.
: '''Adama:''' What do you think Ellen would say about her husband impregnating a frakkin' Cylon prisoner?
: '''Tigh:''' '''You ''motherfrakker''!''' (violence ensues)

*''Admiral Adama chews out [[Sharon Agathon]] for murdering [[Natalie]]:''
:'''Adama:''' You murdered an unarmed woman, and by doing so you put the lives of every single person in this fleet at risk; and quite possibly cost the lives of the [[Laura Roslin|president]] and [[Karl Agathon|your husband]]. You disobeyed the direct orders of your superior officers, but more importantly, you betrayed a promise to me. I [[Precipice#Noteworthy Dialogue|trusted you]].
:'''Agathon:''' Sir, I will accept any form of punishment that you think I deserve. I just ask that you please don't take away [[Hera Agathon|Hera]].
:'''Adama:''' I'm afraid the [[brig]] is no place for a little girl. ''Guards!'' Get her out of my sight!

*''[[Romo Lampkin]] to [[Lee Adama]]:''
:"Lampkin's First Rule of Legal Dynamics: When an irresistible force meets a movable object, stand aside and wait for the class action suit."

*''More Lampkin:''
:'''Lampkin:''' So you can't be dissuaded, will you? Not even when you hear my fee?
:'''Lee Adama:''' Fee?
:'''Lampkin:''' Appearances to the contrary, I'm actually in this for the money. I have a reputation to maintain after all.
:'''Adama:''' OK, so what did Roslin offer you to defend Baltar?
:'''Lampkin:''' (pointing at a small window in the bulkhead) Room with a view.
:'''Adama:''' I'm not sure I can improve on that.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then pro bono it is, counselor. Word to the wise: sometimes it's better to settle for what you've already got.

*''Lampkin about political power and Lee Adama:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Quandary is, one doesn't generally get the chance to wield political power without the ambition to actively seek it. That same ambition often compromises the unselfish motives that began the quest. In other words, in a battle of id versus ego, that ego rarely wins.
:'''Adama:''' Roslin never sought power.
:'''Lampkin:''' Exception that proves the rule. One could argue that Laura Roslin is a study in ''repressed'' ambition, just like you, Mr. Adama. Never seeking out a job until it's handed to you. [[CAG|Flight leader]], [[Pegasus (RDM)|battlestar]] commander, [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] delegate. Man doesn't carve out a path like that through life without...
:'''Adama:''' Alright, enough of the psychoanalysis. Let's get back to the job at hand.

*''Lampkin and Admiral Adama on the hangar deck, watching the deck crew and pilots at work:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Writs of forfeiture for the ships you're borrowing. The captains want to be absolved of any blame should anything untoward happen. One of the less ennobling consequences of a legal culture: No one wants responsibility. (hands him a pen to sign) Lee said you [[The Hand of God (RDM)|once]] gave ''him'' something before a mission. A lighter, wasn't it?
:'''Adama''' It belonged to my [[Joseph Adama|father]]. Foolish to think a hunk of metal can keep him safe.
:'''Lampkin:''' And yet, that's what we do, isn't it? Hang on to hope in every hopelessly irrational way that we can. (watches the crew wishing each other luck) But not like ''those'' poor bastards. Giving away their luck just when they need it most. It's like they've given up.
:'''Adama:''' If you've never been in combat, you have ''no'' idea what they're thinking.
:'''Lampkin:''' I've always imagined you were a realist, Admiral, not one to indulge a vain hope at the cost of lives. But then, everyone has his limits. "Sine qua non," as they say.
:'''Adama:''' Without which not.
:'''Lampkin:''' Yes. Those things we deem essential, without which we cannot bear living. Without which life in general loses its specific value, becomes abstract.
:'''Adama:''' You may have a point, counselor.
:'''Lampkin:''' And while I'm on a roll: [[Tom Zarek]] may not be an ideal president, but we could do worse.
:'''Adama:''' You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye counselor.

*''Lampkin confronts Lee Adama after naming him the candidate for interim president:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Savor your victory Mr. Adama, because you'll never get the chance to serve (pulls out a gun and points it at Adama).
:'''Adama:''' What are you doing?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? Because you're perfect for the job of course. Because after the vicious separation that was Baltar's presidency and the ''bitter'' disappointment that was Roslin's, you ''are'' a shining beacon of hope. Only hope is the last thing we need. We're a doomed race. It's time that we made our peace with that essential truth.
:'''Adama:''' Romo, what the hell are you talking...?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? You want to know why? (drops his duffel bag and kicks it over to Adama) '''Open it!'''
:'''Adama:''' (Adama does so and finds [[Lance]]'s corpse inside) Eww. Frak.
:'''Lampkin:''' That's right. They killed my cat!
:'''Adama:''' They?
:'''Lampkin:''' They! Those debased dregs of humanity out there! Lost tribe in search of a new home, so they can roost and rot ''again''!
:'''Adama:''' How long has the cat been dead?
:'''Lampkin:''' "''How long?''" It's irrelevant! It's immaterial! It wasn't even ''my'' cat!
:'''Adama:''' Romo, it's been dead for weeks.
:'''Lampkin:''' It belonged to my [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. I just retrieved him from a vet on Gemenon when the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|bombs started to fall]] and fate presented me with a choice. I could get back on that shuttle, or...I could run home, try to save my family. How do you think I chose?
:'''Adama:''' Romo, we all had to make difficult choices. You don't think I know? Your wife's name was Faye. You had two daughters. Jennifer and Kate. There were over two hundred passengers on that shuttle! Only a handful chose to stay behind. (Lampkin stares at him questioning) Yeah, that's right. It was in your file when you were handed the job as Baltar's counsel. And no one blamed you Romo, because at a certain point, we all made decisions that saved ''our'' lives at the cost of others. You think you're unique, Romo? Think your sins are so special?
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that how it goes? You're gonna rest your entire case on that ''pathetic'' little bit of insight?
:'''Adama:''' No. On this: the clean slate, the fresh start, maybe they ''are'' illusions like you said. But at a certain point, faith in ourselves, in our right to survive as a species, as a people...it's not a given, it's a choice. Well, I made mine. And if you can't stomach that, then you had damn well better squeeze that trigger right now. Go on. What are you waiting for? Or you can make a choice. Put your past behind you. Put the gun down, and help me, because I'm telling you, I'm gonna make a difference in this fleet.
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that your final word?
:'''Adama:''' That's up to you.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then swear it. (the next scene shows Adama being sworn in as president)

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Lieutenant [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Virtual Ellen]]
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #2|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[David Kaye]] as [[James McManus]] (voice only)

== External Link ==
* Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=367]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Rod Hardy]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Sine Qua Non]]

Sine Qua Non

2012-08-06T12:53:42Z

AlanHK: /* Overview */

{{Episode Data
| image=410 Adama and his raptor.jpg
| title=Sine Qua Non
| season= 4
| episode=8
| forumthread= 1199
| movie=
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director=[[Rod Hardy]]
| assistant director=[[Michael Shandley]]<ref>See: [[Sources: Sine Qua Non]]</ref>
| production=410
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=30 May 2008
| CAN airdate=30 May 2008
| UK airdate=27 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation=39673
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| frakr=Blah Blah Whaa
| prev=[[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
| next= [[The Hub]]
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== Overview ==
:''President [[Laura Roslin]]'s disappearance with the Cylon basestar triggers a bitter power struggle within the Fleet. The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] has little information and demands to know what happened, while [[Tom Zarek]] insists that he is to be declared interim president. [[Lee Adama]] opposes him and enlists the help of notorious lawyer [[Romo Lampkin]] to find a candidate for the post, leading to a surprising decision. Meanwhile, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] come to blows over Tigh's relationship with [[Caprica-Six]] and Adama's obsession with finding Roslin.''

== Summary ==
=== Teaser ===
*With President [[Laura Roslin]] missing, a meeting is held by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]. Vice President [[Tom Zarek]], who informs them that the rebel [[basestar (RDM)|basestar]] jumped with Roslin and [[Gaius Baltar]]—and many of ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> pilots—also notes that [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] was shot by "one of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[Marines]]"; he fuels the assumption that the basestar's sudden jump and abduction is related to Natalie's death. Zarek tells the delegates that with Roslin missing, he is to be sworn in as interim President.
*Upon hearing the news, [[Lee Adama]] contacts his [[William Adama|father]], who doesn't take it well.
*[[Natalie]], who has [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|just been shot]] by [[Sharon Agathon]], is taken to the [[sickbay|infirmary]]. She starts to [[projection|project]] that she is in a forest on a sunny day. In real life, she only focuses on the faces of those who are taking her to the infirmary.
*Dr. [[Cottle]] immediately starts to operate on her. When she tries to make physical contact, likely sensing that she is about to die, Cottle takes her hand. However, just as they operate, her image of the forest brightens to a bright flash. The second this happens, her heart monitor flatlines, and Cottle announces her death.
*Admiral Adama sees Sharon Agathon and is angered by her decision to kill an unarmed woman, even if she was a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Agathon starts to explain her dream about a [[Number Six|Six]] taking away her [[Hera Agathon|child]] at the [[Opera House]]. Eventually, Adama orders a guard to take her away to the [[brig]] and refuses her access to her daughter.
* When the topic of Adama's support of a Tom Zarek administration is raised, [[Jacob Cantrell]] pointedly asks Lee Adama whether Admiral Adama would support Zarek or the government. Delegate Adama replies in the negative, raising ire and outrage.

=== Act 1 ===

[[Image:410 room with a view.jpg|thumb|[[Romo Lampkin]] and [[Lee Adama]] haggle over the price of searching for an interim president.]]
*When Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] returns to the [[CIC]], he hears that the [[Resurrection Hub]] has disappeared from its last known location, further the rebel baseship is not there either. Adama tells [[Saul Tigh]] to continue looking for the hub, since that's the only place the rebels can head given their objective: to [[Boxing|unbox]] [[D'Anna]].
* Tigh reports that [[Kara Thrace|Thrace]] (apparently [[CAG]], given her seniority) is having problems assembling a sufficient [[CAP]] to protect the Fleet, as half the air wing's [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s were transfered to the basestar. As a result, Adama agrees with Thrace's recommendation (told via Tigh) of having the ships tighten their formation for easier defense, despite the inherent hazards posed by inexperienced civilian pilots.
* President [[Tom Zarek|Zarek]] and [[Lee Adama]] have a meeting, where Lee recommends that Zarek step down as president. Despite Zarek's vocal disbelief over this—correctly noting that he is the only public official in the executive branch to have been voted into office legally, a claim [[Laura Roslin]] is unable to make—Lee suggests enacting a Quorum provision that allows the Quorum to pick an interim president during a time of crisis to serve out the remainder of Roslin's term. Zarek reluctantly concedes after Lee points out that Admiral Adama will never recognize Zarek, and they need someone who Adama will recognize. Zarek gruffly wishes Lee luck in his search for an interim president.
* In a [[Talk Wireless]] interview conducted by [[James McManus]]<ref>The assumption is that the "Jim" Tom Zarek is speaking to is McManus, given his coverage of government affairs.</ref>, Zarek indicates that the government post-[[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]] is not a true government, but a "tacit agreement between a military strong-man [Adama] and a political strong-woman [Roslin] to rule by fiat." Zarek also notes the creation of a civilian force to maintain order, noting that the government should not rely on the [[Marines]] due to the last political upheaval.
* Lee Adama visits [[Romo Lampkin]], asking for Lampkin's help in searching for potential presidential candidates. Despite his initial refusals, Lampkin accepts to work ''pro bono'' in search of a replacement with the right skills and abilities that meets with the approval of both the Quorum (who won't act, since Zarek has them "inhaling fear and exhaling anger") and Admiral Adama. Lampkin offers one more piece of advice, telling him that it's better to accept what they already have.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:410 Pike's corpsesicle.jpg|thumb|[[Eammon Pike]]'s body floating in the damaged [[Raptor]].]]

* In [[CIC]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], noting that he has a rapport with [[Caprica-Six]], asks Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] to interrogate her about the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Before he leaves, he tells Adama that they'll find [[Roslin]] and the missing humans.
* In the brig, Tigh questions Six about the Hub. After telling him what she knows about the Hub, Tigh believes that she's lying; she assures him that she'd never lie to him. Tigh slips, telling her that the rebels took off with half an air wing and Roslin. Six ferrets out the fact that Admiral Adama's primary concern is for Roslin. Six, who then appears to Tigh in the form of [[Ellen Tigh|his dead wife]], asks if Tigh loves her. Before he can answer, [[Condition One]] is called. He grabs her neck and tells her that her mind games with him end at that moment, and he leaves.
* Tigh reports to CIC, learning that one of their missing [[Raptor]]s from the rebel baseship has jumped to the Fleet. A Raptor crewed by [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] are en route to intercept the craft, which has not returned hails and does not appear to be emanating anything [[radiological alarm|radiological]]. Edmondson performs a spacewalk, discovering that the Raptor was jumped by its lone, now-dead occupant, [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]], whose body floats in the back compartment.
* After retrieving the Raptor, Adama investigates the Raptor himself, discovering the copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' he gave to Roslin in burnt condition, identifying it as the craft she took over to baseship before it jumped. Tigh joins him, noting that [[Peter Laird|Laird]] retrieved [[Sector Delta 9|the coordinates]] that the Raptor jumped from. Adama orders a search to that location, ignoring Zarek's request for a briefing.
* In the Quorum meeting room on ''Colonial One'', Lampkin discusses how one achieves and wields power with Lee Adama. During this conversation, Lampkin and Lee see ''Galactica'' jump away. Lee is concerned over the abruptness of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> departure.
* A Raptor reconnaissance party comes across a debris field, consisting of Cylon debris and damaged Vipers. Tigh informs Adama that the debris consist of a Cylon baseship and fragments indicative of resurrection technology, and notes that they detected radiation from nuclear weapons. Adama refuses to believe that the destroyed baseship was the rebels', insisting that Roslin has survived. Adama presses on with the search, until Tigh points out that the Fleet is left behind with "their asses hanging out in the wind." Adama thus revises his orders to include only four Raptors to stay behind to search until they "find something concrete."
* ''Galactica'' jumps back to the Fleet. Zarek notifies the Quorum of Adama's decision to reroute all [[tylium]] supplies to fueling the search efforts, along with requisitioning several civilian ships to aid in this endeavor. The delegates are furious over being bypassed.
* Back in Lampkin's "room with a view," Adama and Lampkin go over the list of candidates, among them [[Doyle Franks]] who has no aspirations for political office, however. As they brainstorm, Adama nearly trips over an overturned bowl, resulting in his quip of "do you ever feed that [[Lance|animal]]?" and inquires about the cat's whereabouts. From Lampkin's perspective, he sees Lance run around a swivel chair. Lampkin later begins to throw in the towel, erasing the names on the whiteboard, much to Adama's consternation.
* In [[sickbay]], Admiral Adama consults Doctor [[Cottle]] about how Roslin's sudden disappearance will affect her [[Doloxan]] treatments. Cottle stresses that, with her weakened immune system and her cancer's ability to regroup, the sooner she's found, the better. He also provides Adama with a medical report on [[Caprica-Six]]: she's pregnant.
* In Adama's quarters, Tigh reports to Adama about the Raptors lack of success in finding anything about the whereabouts of their missing people. Adama replies that he's not interested in the search, confronting Tigh about impregnating the Six and putting the Fleet at risk over his weaknesses. After Tigh broaches the topic of Adama's reckless search for Roslin, Adama brings up the question of what [[Ellen Tigh]] would say about Tigh impregnating a Cylon, which resorts in a brawl. After Tigh's fall cracks the [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]], the fight stops and they both ask each other what they'll do about their feelings for their respective women.
* In the brig, an upset and alone [[Sharon Agathon]] hums a lullaby to herself.
* Adama orders [[Kara Thrace]] to continue the search with additional Raptors. Thrace objects to this, citing a decreased [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]], but her objections are overruled.
* As Adama watches the goings-on in a part of the hangar deck, Lampkin joins him with writs of forfeiture for him to sign; the captains of the ships Adama's borrowing do not want to be held liable for any wrongdoing that may occur in the rescue operation. As Adama signs the papers, he and Lampkin converse about people giving up hope when it is most needed, and while "on a roll," he adds that Zarek is not the worst choice for president. Adama brushes him off thereafter.
* In his quarters, Lampkin changes the search to find someone who best suits an ideal candidate and, after hissing like a cat, settles on Lee Adama. He leaves with Lance's bag, and meets up with Lee Adama. Lampkin informs Adama that the Quorum has selected him to be the interim president, much to Adama's bemusement; Lampkin points out that Adama always wanted the position, which is why he had to cross out [[47]] candidates to prove it. Lampkin claims that Adama's the perfect choice for president, and, after pulling out a [[Stallion|pistol]], notes that he'll never get the chance to serve.

=== Act 3 ===

[[Image:410 Lampkin and pepperbox.jpg|thumb|Lampkin holds Lee Adama at gunpoint.]]

* Adama faces down the gun-wielding Lampkin, who explains that Adama's the perfect candidate for president and thus should die. However, Lampkin says that hope is the last thing they need; he says that humanity is a doomed race and should accept its fate. Lampkin kicks over the duffel bag, which has Lampkin's rationale for his actions. Adama opens it, discovering [[Lance]], who had been dead for weeks. Lampkin explains that "those debased dregs of humanity" killed Lance, and are looking for a place to "roost and ''rot'' again." Lampkin explains that the cat is immaterial, but it is the last physical connection he had with his [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. Adama assures Lampkin that everyone that survived had to make [[Olympic Carrier|difficult choices]]: there was nothing he could have done for his wife and two daughters (Jennifer and Kate), noting that only a handful of people elected to stay behind on [[Gemenon (RDM)|Gemenon]] who were on Lampkin's shuttle during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|attack]].
* Adama talks down Lampkin in a speech about having to make choices about their own survival at the cost of other people's lives, urging him to put the past behind him and move on. Adama believes that he can make a difference in the Fleet; Lampkin asks him if that's his final word, then asks him to swear by it.
* Leland Joseph Adama is sworn in as interim president in a ceremony on ''[[Colonial One]]'', attended by Admiral Adama, [[Tory Foster]], and [[Tom Zarek]], in addition to the [[Fleet News Service|press corps]]. Lampkin listens to the ceremony on the wireless in his quarters.
* Admiral Adama informs Colonel Tigh that he's stepping down as military leader of the Fleet, promoting Tigh to admiral, as Tigh's the only person he can trust to command ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Tigh scoffs this, reminding Adama of the [[Resistance (episode)|last time]] he commanded the Fleet; Adama notes that Tigh is a different man who found out a lot about himself since that time. Adama tells Tigh to bring the people to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]. As his last order, Adama tells Tigh to give custody of [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] to the in-hack [[Sharon Agathon]], expressing a need for everyone to have a family.

=== Act 4 ===

[[Image:410 Adama sees the Fleet off.jpg|thumb|William Adama watches the Fleet [[FTL|jump]] away.]]

* On ''Colonial One'', President [[Lee Adama|Adama]] makes notes on [[:Image:410 IT upgrade press release.jpg|a press release]] relating to an information and technical services upgrade, which he gives to [[Tory Foster]] to correct. [[Romo Lampkin]] arrives, comically commenting that Adama already has a [[Jake (New Caprica)|first pet]]. Lampkin is told of Jake's exploits on [[New Caprica]] and Adama gives the dog to Lampkin—who hates dogs more than cats—as a "new pet to loathe."
* President Adama visits his father, who is packing things in his [[Officer's quarters|quarters]]. Adama doesn't agree with Lee's thinking on retaining [[Tom Zarek]] as vice president; Lee replies that he doesn't agree with his father's thinking on his one-man mission to find [[Laura Roslin]]. Adama recalls a "good memory" of his first mission in enemy space during the [[Cylon War]], then, when pressed, admits that the reason he undertakes his current mission is because he cannot live without Roslin. He has faith that Roslin will get to the rendezvous point.
* A [[flight suit|suited]] William Adama makes it to his Raptor in the [[hangar deck]]; he is seen off by his son and [[Kara Thrace]], the latter exchanging a [[Nothing but the rain|well-worn, friendly exchange]] before he boards the Raptor. Adama asks for them to keep the light on for him, to which they reply in the affirmative.
* Per Adama's final order, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is reunited with [[Sharon Agathon|her mother]] in the brig; Agathon hums a lullaby to her daughter.
* Adama launches from ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' as Admiral Tigh orders the Fleet to jump. After Adama watches all the ships [[FTL|jump]] away, he sits in his Raptor and reads the singed copy of ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' as he awaits Roslin's return.

== Notes ==

* ''[[w:Sine qua non|Sine qua non]]'' is a Latin phrase meaning "without which not"; usually appended to mean "without which it could not be." It is famously used by [[w:Andrew Jackson|Andrew Jackson]], who says the following after receiving an honorary degree from [[w:Harvard|Harvard]]: "[[w:E pluribus unum|E pluribus unum]], my friends. Sine qua non."
* While being taken to surgery, [[Natalie Faust|Natalie]] whispers the [[Prayer to the Cloud of Unknowing]]. This is the second instance of the prayer being used since its introduction in "[[A Measure of Salvation]]".
* The pistol Lampkin uses to threaten Adama is a [[Stallion]]. The model previously appeared prominently in "[[Home, Part II]]". Such multi-barreled pistols are commonly known as [[w:pepper-box|pepper-box]].
* The episode features the first explicit mention of [[Gravity in the Re-imagined Series|artificial gravity]] in dialogue.
* The book ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' makes another appearance. Adama finds it in the derelict Raptor, somewhat singed.
* The lullaby [[Sharon Agathon]] hums to [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] is the same one hummed by [[Sharon Valerii]] to a captured [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]] in "[[Flesh and Bone]]". It is a traditional Korean children's song.
** Previously, Grace Park took part in a videotaped Q&A on scifi.com, answering questions submitted by members of the Scifi.com forum. One question, by user Noneofyourbusiness, was whether the lullaby from "Six Degrees of Separation" would reappear. Grace responded that it was a good idea for Athena to sing it to her child, and "I think I'll use that".
* The infamous number, [[47]], appears in this episode as well: [[Romo Lampkin]] tells [[Lee Adama]] that they went through 47 candidates for interim president when confronting him on ''[[Colonial One]]''.
* Although [[Tom Zarek]] rails against the government of the "past five years," it has only been about three and a half years since [[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] have risen to power.
* [[James McManus]], a high ranking journalist, is talking to Tom Zarek during the [[wireless]] interview, given that Zarek calls the interviewer "Jim" and the fact that McManus is referred to by name in [[Sources: Sine Qua Non|the script]].
* William Adama's comment about how often he had to repair his [[H.M.S. Glutton o' Punishment|model ship]] is a reference to the end of "[[Maelstrom]]", as well as a possible inside-joke about the fact that [[Edward James Olmos]] smashed the very expensive prop in an ad-lib during the shooting of that episode.
* In the scene where Kara Thrace complains to Admiral Adama about their continuing to search for Roslin and the rebel Cylon baseship, Thrace mentions that she is missing two pilots. However, no such events occurred earlier during the discovery of the battle site at the [[Resurrection Hub]]. Judging from Adama's order to continue the search at a pilot's last known location, they appear to be referring to another recon patrol that isn't shown on screen, but is now overdue. It is possible that a scene explaining this further was [[deleted scenes|filmed but cut]].
* William Adama, after having temporarily stepped down as commander of ''Galactica'', and having donned a raptor pilot's uniform, is heard to identify himself by his old callsign, "Husker".

== Analysis ==

===General===
*Most civilians appear to have assumed that the basestar's disappearance was a deliberate act of kidnapping, possibly in retaliation for Natalie's shooting.
* The apparition of a loved one dredged up by a survivor—this time [[Lance]], the only remaining physical connection to [[Romo Lampkin]]'s wife, [[Faye Lampkin|Faye]]—is reminiscent of not only Adama's apparition of [[Carolanne Adama|his ex-wife]] in "[[A Day in the Life]]", but of Saul Tigh's apparition of [[Ellen Tigh]] during the fourth season, in which they cling to some memory of their wives.
* Despite the fact that ''[[Galactica]]'' has left the Fleet before to engage combat, this episode marks the first time that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|civilian Fleet]] is intentionally left without any defense. The only other time the Fleet was left without military aid was after [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer's]] assassination attempt of William Adama, when ''Galactica'' accidentally jumped to different coordinates than the rest of the Fleet ([[Scattered]]). The fleet was also left without support when ''Galactica'' tried to eliminate the Cylons through biological warfare not long after the ''Pegasus'' was destroyed and the fleet rescued from [[New Caprica]].
*It is possible to estimate the size of ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Viper air wing for the first time since she absorbed ''Pegasus''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> Vipers. Dialogue from the previous episode and this one states that 40 Vipers and pilots are stationed aboard the rebels' basestar - mentioned as half the air wing. This puts the air wing at roughly 80 Vipers. This tallies well with ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> known Viper complement at the time of discovering ''Pegasus'' (around thirty-four), plus the larger Viper loadout that the more advanced battlestar enjoyed, taking into account casualties due to combat or wear and tear since.
*Given that the ''Galactica'' air wing consists of only 50 or so more planes than she originally possessed before encountering ''Pegasus'', it seems unlikely the potential two squadrons of new Vipers promised in the episode "[[Scar]]" fully materialized, otherwise it could be expected that there are substantially more Vipers seen or mentioned by this point.
*Despite having roughly as many Vipers as before ''Pegasus'' joined the Fleet, Kara Thrace maintains that there are not enough to maintain CAP duties. This implies that ''Galactica''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> optimum [[Combat Air Patrol]]s need a larger number of Vipers than has been shown on screen before, or that there is currently a pilot shortage with the air wing split in two.

===Characters===
* [[William Adama]]'s actions in the search for [[Laura Roslin]], namely the unreasonable allocation of resources and putting the Fleet at unnecessary risk, are precisely the same actions he executed when searching for [[Kara Thrace]] in "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]". Similarly, it is Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] who helps bring the end to Adama's irrational actions, this time without Roslin's help and more violently.
*Admiral Adama's resignation seems unnecessary, given that once he leaves the fleet and ''Galactica'' the ship will automatically default to Saul Tigh's command, as he is the next highest ranking officer. Promoting Tigh to admiral makes no sense militarily unless Adama intends it merely as a symbolic gesture or an implication that he will not return without Roslin.
*Adama's belief in the importance of civil liberties does not, however, prevent him from effectively subverting the democratic process of succession by refusing to recognize Tom Zarek's authority despite the fact that Roslin approved his assumption of that role. In what is perhaps a sign of how powerless they really are without the military, the Quorum choose an acceptable interim president instead of insisting that Zarek assume the presidential seat. Significantly the former rebelliousness in the fleet that once broke out following Adama's arrest of Roslin ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]) does not seem to occur in response to this demonstration of military overrule of the president's authority.
* Odd as it seems, [[Romo Lampkin]]'s erratic behavior towards Lee Adama is not wholly uncontrolled. Throughout the encounter, Lampkin forces Adama to defend his willingness to make tough decisions, his courage, and his optimism. He uses his personal tragedies to full effect, confronting Adama with the dead cat just as he used the memory of his love for Faye to manipulate Caprica-Six. He tacitly admits his plan towards the end, in his response to Adama's determination to make a positive difference: "Is that your last word?....Then swear it." While there is still a streak of craziness in Lampkin's actions that goes beyond his usual eccentricities, this behavior is in line with his previous manipulations of people (e.g., through his kleptomania), including Lee Adama.
* Tigh mentions that [[Peter Laird]]—the former ''Pegasus'' deck chief—retrieved the navigational data from [[Eammon Pike|Pike]]'s Raptor, indicating that Laird replaced [[Galen Tyrol]] after his demotion in "[[Escape Velocity]]." This is later proven true, up until "[[The Oath]]."

=== Cylons ===
* The child of [[Caprica Six]] and Tigh will be the first full-Cylon child, should it come to full term.
* Of note is the fact that Caprica Six is currently being held prisoner in the same room that once held the (then pregnant) captive Sharon Agathon—the same room that [[Virtual Six]] once told Baltar would be the birthplace of "our child." It could be implied that Virtual Six was referring not to Agathons's child, but to the child that has resulted from the relations between Caprica Six and Saul Tigh, as the child would most likely be born in this same room. One could surmise that Virtual Six and Caprica Six are more closely related than once thought, and that Virtual Six could somehow see her physical counterpart's future, or that the child of Six and Tigh is part of the prophecy that intrinsically ties the fates of Human and Cylon races.
* The amnesty granted to Caprica Six in "[[Revelations]]" makes it less likely that she will give birth in the brig.
* The ability of Tigh to impregnate Six perhaps indicates a fundamental difference between the [[Final Five]] and [[Significant Seven]], as Significant Seven Cylons have been thus far unable to conceive with one another. That Tigh often sees Caprica Six not as herself but as his [[Ellen Tigh|deceased wife]] could very well be a determinative factor. If this proves to be the case, then the conclusion is that Tigh learned how to love, as required for reproduction according to the Cylons' theory regarding their biological reproductive limitations ("[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]", "[[The Farm]]"), from his marriage to a human being.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===
* What exactly happened to the rebel baseship and the [[Resurrection Hub]]? Did the rebels and Colonials escape if their baseship was destroyed? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the Fleet react to an [[Lee Adama|Adama]] as President?
* Will [[Caprica-Six]]'s child remain a secret? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Is she aware of her pregnancy? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
** Will she be allowed or able to give birth to what would be the first fully Cylon child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** If so, what will happen to the child? Will [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] take on fatherly responsibilities? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will [[Gaius Baltar]] react to Caprica-Six and Saul Tigh's child? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
** How will the other Cylons react? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
* Will Zarek attempt to undermine or manipulate President Adama? ([[The Oath|Answer]])
* Will Adama manage to find [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] by waiting out in deep space? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Has [[Kara Thrace]] been re-accepted by her comrades? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]], [[The Oath|Answer #2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Is there any significance to [[Natalie]]'s dying visions? If so, what?
* Could two members of the Final Five (unlike the Significant Seven) procreate with each other?
* How will the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] and the Fleet respond to Tigh being left in charge of ''Galactica'' and the military?
* Did someone really kill [[Lance]], or did the cat die of natural causes or possibly neglect?
* Were the damaged Vipers from [[Sector Delta 9]] retrieved for salvage?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Michael Taylor]] discusses his spoiler-free impressions of a scene:''
: I was in the editing room, watching one of our talented editors assemble a rough cut of a single scene. Not a huge scene, just a relatively brief but quietly powerful scene between [[William Adama|Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] (you’ll see it in Episode 8, “Sine Qua Non”). What struck me is that while the dialogue was relatively simple, these two actors brought so much to it that the smallest looks and gestures carried immense weight. It made me realize anew how, after four seasons, these characters have accumulated so much history and nuance. As embodied by actors like [[Edward James Olmos|Edward J. Olmos]] and [[Michael Hogan]], they are wrenchingly human. Less characters than people I have now spent years with, and who still surprise me.<ref name="thewatcher">{{cite_web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/11/answers-to-your.html|title=Answers to your 'Razor' questions and clues about 'Battlestar Galactica's' final season|date=16 November 2007|accessdate=16 November 2007|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language=}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Caprica-Six]]'s pregnancy:''
: '''William Adama:''' I know that you've been spending a lotta time interrogating the Six, but now the brig guards tell me that every time you order them out, you turn off the cameras.
: '''Saul Tigh:''' I'm not torturing her, if that's what you're worried about.
: '''Adama:''' I'm not. That I could almost understand. This I can't. [[Cottle]] tells me she's pregnant. What the frak have you been thinking, colonel? ''Do you deny it...? You don't... '''You can't.''''' What the hell have you been thinking? Who's interrogating whom? How many of our secrets have you told this thing?
: '''Tigh:''' ''How can you even ask me that?'' Question my loyalty?
: '''Adama:''' Your loyalty? I need more than your loyalty. You're my first officer, I need judgment. I need your ''competence''. You're jeopardizing this ship, putting it at risk because of your weaknesses.
: '''Tigh:''' ''My'' weaknesses?
: '''Adama:''' Yeah, your weaknesses!
: '''Tigh:''' You're risking all our lives—for what? Our missing pilots? ''No, for a woman! '''A frakking woman!'''''
: '''Adama:''' ''You watch what you frakkin' say about that woman! She's the president! Not some frakkin' skinjob that I've been banging!'' What do you think [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] would say about this?
: '''Tigh:''' Leave Ellen out of this.
: '''Adama:''' What do you think Ellen would say about her husband impregnating a frakkin' Cylon prisoner?
: '''Tigh:''' '''You ''motherfrakker''!''' (violence ensues)

*''Admiral Adama chews out [[Sharon Agathon]] for murdering [[Natalie]]:''
:'''Adama:''' You murdered an unarmed woman, and by doing so you put the lives of every single person in this fleet at risk; and quite possibly cost the lives of the [[Laura Roslin|president]] and [[Karl Agathon|your husband]]. You disobeyed the direct orders of your superior officers, but more importantly, you betrayed a promise to me. I [[Precipice#Noteworthy Dialogue|trusted you]].
:'''Agathon:''' Sir, I will accept any form of punishment that you think I deserve. I just ask that you please don't take away [[Hera Agathon|Hera]].
:'''Adama:''' I'm afraid the [[brig]] is no place for a little girl. ''Guards!'' Get her out of my sight!

*''[[Romo Lampkin]] to [[Lee Adama]]:''
:"Lampkin's First Rule of Legal Dynamics: When an irresistible force meets a movable object, stand aside and wait for the class action suit."

*''More Lampkin:''
:'''Lampkin:''' So you can't be dissuaded, will you? Not even when you hear my fee?
:'''Lee Adama:''' Fee?
:'''Lampkin:''' Appearances to the contrary, I'm actually in this for the money. I have a reputation to maintain after all.
:'''Adama:''' OK, so what did Roslin offer you to defend Baltar?
:'''Lampkin:''' (pointing at a small window in the bulkhead) Room with a view.
:'''Adama:''' I'm not sure I can improve on that.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then pro bono it is, counselor. Word to the wise: sometimes it's better to settle for what you've already got.

*''Lampkin about political power and Lee Adama:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Quandary is, one doesn't generally get the chance to wield political power without the ambition to actively seek it. That same ambition often compromises the unselfish motives that began the quest. In other words, in a battle of id versus ego, that ego rarely wins.
:'''Adama:''' Roslin never sought power.
:'''Lampkin:''' Exception that proves the rule. One could argue that Laura Roslin is a study in ''repressed'' ambition, just like you, Mr. Adama. Never seeking out a job until it's handed to you. [[CAG|Flight leader]], [[Pegasus (RDM)|battlestar]] commander, [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] delegate. Man doesn't carve out a path like that through life without...
:'''Adama:''' Alright, enough of the psychoanalysis. Let's get back to the job at hand.

*''Lampkin and Admiral Adama on the hangar deck, watching the deck crew and pilots at work:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Writs of forfeiture for the ships you're borrowing. The captains want to be absolved of any blame should anything untoward happen. One of the less ennobling consequences of a legal culture: No one wants responsibility. (hands him a pen to sign) Lee said you [[The Hand of God (RDM)|once]] gave ''him'' something before a mission. A lighter, wasn't it?
:'''Adama''' It belonged to my [[Joseph Adama|father]]. Foolish to think a hunk of metal can keep him safe.
:'''Lampkin:''' And yet, that's what we do, isn't it? Hang on to hope in every hopelessly irrational way that we can. (watches the crew wishing each other luck) But not like ''those'' poor bastards. Giving away their luck just when they need it most. It's like they've given up.
:'''Adama:''' If you've never been in combat, you have ''no'' idea what they're thinking.
:'''Lampkin:''' I've always imagined you were a realist, Admiral, not one to indulge a vain hope at the cost of lives. But then, everyone has his limits. "Sine qua non," as they say.
:'''Adama:''' Without which not.
:'''Lampkin:''' Yes. Those things we deem essential, without which we cannot bear living. Without which life in general loses its specific value, becomes abstract.
:'''Adama:''' You may have a point, counselor.
:'''Lampkin:''' And while I'm on a roll: [[Tom Zarek]] may not be an ideal president, but we could do worse.
:'''Adama:''' You're right. There are limits to my realism. Goodbye counselor.

*''Lampkin confronts Lee Adama after naming him the candidate for interim president:''
:'''Lampkin:''' Savor your victory Mr. Adama, because you'll never get the chance to serve (pulls out a gun and points it at Adama).
:'''Adama:''' What are you doing?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? Because you're perfect for the job of course. Because after the vicious separation that was Baltar's presidency and the ''bitter'' disappointment that was Roslin's, you ''are'' a shining beacon of hope. Only hope is the last thing we need. We're a doomed race. It's time that we made our peace with that essential truth.
:'''Adama:''' Romo, what the hell are you talking...?
:'''Lampkin:''' Why? You want to know why? (drops his duffel bag and kicks it over to Adama) '''Open it!'''
:'''Adama:''' (Adama does so and finds [[Lance]]'s corpse inside) Eww. Frak.
:'''Lampkin:''' That's right. They killed my cat!
:'''Adama:''' They?
:'''Lampkin:''' They! Those debased dregs of humanity out there! Lost tribe in search of a new home, so they can roost and rot ''again''!
:'''Adama:''' How long has the cat been dead?
:'''Lampkin:''' "''How long?''" It's irrelevant! It's immaterial! It wasn't even ''my'' cat!
:'''Adama:''' Romo, it's been dead for weeks.
:'''Lampkin:''' It belonged to my [[Faye Lampkin|wife]]. I just retrieved him from a vet on Gemenon when the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|bombs started to fall]] and fate presented me with a choice. I could get back on that shuttle, or...I could run home, try to save my family. How do you think I chose?
:'''Adama:''' Romo, we all had to make difficult choices. You don't think I know? Your wife's name was Faye. You had two daughters. Jennifer and Kate. There were over two hundred passengers on that shuttle! Only a handful chose to stay behind. (Lampkin stares at him questioning) Yeah, that's right. It was in your file when you were handed the job as Baltar's counsel. And no one blamed you Romo, because at a certain point, we all made decisions that saved ''our'' lives at the cost of others. You think you're unique, Romo? Think your sins are so special?
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that how it goes? You're gonna rest your entire case on that ''pathetic'' little bit of insight?
:'''Adama:''' No. On this: the clean slate, the fresh start, maybe they ''are'' illusions like you said. But at a certain point, faith in ourselves, in our right to survive as a species, as a people...it's not a given, it's a choice. Well, I made mine. And if you can't stomach that, then you had damn well better squeeze that trigger right now. Go on. What are you waiting for? Or you can make a choice. Put your past behind you. Put the gun down, and help me, because I'm telling you, I'm gonna make a difference in this fleet.
:'''Lampkin:''' Is that your final word?
:'''Adama:''' That's up to you.
:'''Lampkin:''' Then swear it. (the next scene shows Adama being sworn in as president)

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Lieutenant [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Virtual Ellen]]
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #2|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[David Kaye]] as [[James McManus]] (voice only)

== External Link ==
* Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=367]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Rod Hardy]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Sine Qua Non]]

Guess What's Coming to Dinner?

2012-08-04T18:25:23Z

AlanHK: /* Noteworthy Dialogue */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x07-GuessWhatsComingForDinner-Promo1.jpg
| title= Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
| season= 4
| episode= 7
| forumthread= 1092
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=409
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=16 May 2008
| CAN airdate=16 May 2008
| UK airdate=20 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
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| next= [[Sine Qua Non]]
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== Overview ==
:''Returning with the help of ''[[Demetrius]]'', the [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylon faction]] requests an alliance with the Colonials in order to plan a joint-attack mission against the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]’ vital [[Resurrection Hub]]. Meanwhile on ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Lee Adama]] and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] express their mistrust of President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and her secrecy regarding the new Cylon alliance. Aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] struggles with the prospect of un-boxing the [[Number Three|Threes]] in order to reveal the identities of the [[Final Five]], and [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] copes with the amputation of his leg.''

== Summary ==

===Teaser===
* President [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum delegate]] [[Lee Adama]] listen to a taped broadcast from [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] leader [[Gaius Baltar]], claiming Roslin is sharing of her [[chamalla|hallucinogenic visions]] with [[Sharon Agathon]] (currently on the secret and overdue ''[[Demetrius]]'' mission) and a [[Caprica-Six|captured Cylon]] in a [[brig]] on ''[[Galactica]]''. Adama brought the recording at the behest of the Quorum, who demand an explanation, as the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] has heard the broadcast as well.
*When Adama presses Roslin for an answer, she asks him first how he thinks the Fleet would react to such information. Undaunted, he asks again. Roslin confirms Baltar's statement.
*On the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] [[Kara Thrace]] and the ''Demetrius'' crew lead a rebel group of [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] back to the Fleet rendezvous as Sharon Agathon makes last minute [[jump]] preparations.
*Thrace warns [[Natalie]] and [[Leoben Conoy]] that the Cylons of their ship are on a path of no-return when they reach the Fleet, and that there aren't any guarantees when they approach the Fleet. She assumes Natalie will be the spokesperson in trying to avoid any hostilities.
*[[Karl Agathon]] looks at the unconscious and injured [[Felix Gaeta]] before his preps the final calculations for the jump.
*When Natalie brings up [[Hera Agathon]] in conversation as being beautiful, Agathon is shocked to find out that Natalie and other Cylons know the child's name.
*''Demetrius'' misses the Fleet in its jump and must take a few moments before it can jump again, but the baseship ''does'' reach the Fleet, leaping right into its heart, where some of the Colonial ships have to scramble out of harm's way. Predictably, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] bring ''Galactica'' up to [[action stations]], scrambling the alert Vipers.
* Agathon tries to contact ''Galactica'' but the jump damaged their [[wireless]], leaving them without communication, and possibly vulnerable to attack.
* Saul Tigh carefully watches [[DRADIS]] as eight Vipers approach the baseship. Tigh orders a weapons hold, stunning Admiral Adama but stopping any attack. Seconds later, ''Demetrius'' appears and verifies with ''Galactica'' that the baseship is disarmed and under Colonial command.

===Act 1===
* Several [[Raptor]]s filled with [[Marine]]s launch from ''Galactica'' and enter the baseship. Colonel Tigh is part of the team. Thrace tells him, "They're with me." "Which one of them shot Gaeta?" he asks.
*Gaeta is rushed to [[sickbay]] in grave condition as Dr. [[Cottle]] yells out orders to his staff to bring a cut-down tray, suggesting an immediate amputation of Gaeta's leg.
*In the [[wardroom]], Natalie explains that the [[Number Two]], [[Number Eight]] and [[Number Six]] models believe that seeking out the [[Final Five]] is important, while the [[Number One]], [[Number Four]] and [[Number Five]] models violently disagreed.
* When Adama asks Natalie of the seventh model, she explains that the [[Number Three]]s were [[boxing|boxed]], and explains the process and why the D'Annas were boxed: they [[Rapture|saw]] the then-forbidden faces of the Five. She tells that unboxing the Threes could give them information that could lead them all to Earth, since the Final Five are believed to have come from there. Kara Thrace, in uniform and standing with Sharon Agathon, confirms Natalie's comment.
* Natalie notes that the baseship can heal itself of its damage, but most of their [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] were destroyed [[The Ties That Bind|in the ambush]] by the dissenting models.
* Roslin pointedly asks why the Fleet should trust these Cylons. Natalie tells them that the boxing facility resides within the [[Resurrection Hub]], a facility that controls all [[Resurrection Ship]]s in existence. Natalie gives Roslin a reason to trust her and her renegade Cylons: Vengeance. The Cylon tells her that destroying the elusive Hub will destroy ''all'' Cylons' ability to [[download]], making them all effectively mortal. When asked why they would do such a thing, Natalie simply says that she and her comrades are rebels and cannot go back in any case.
*Adama presses for the coordinates of the Hub, but Natalie says she will only take them to the Hub, not give the coordinates. As Adama orders the marines to escort her away, Natalie changes her mind, promising to give the coordinates if Adama gives his word that D'Anna will be unboxed and the Cylons will be allowed to leave with the Five once the Threes identify them. Adama grudgingly gives his word.
*Leaving the meeting, Adama asks Tigh how he knew to order a weapons hold at the moment of their attack on Natalie's baseship. Tigh hesitates but says he didn't know why. "What can I say, we got lucky." Adama orders a Raptor to the coordinates of the Hub to investigate.
*[[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]] arrive in an asteroid-filled area, and find the massive Hub, which appears to be twice the relative size of a guarding baseship. "It's beautiful," Skulls comments. They take pictures and return quickly to the Fleet.
*In sickbay, a gory scene begins as Cottle preps to remove Gaeta's leg. Gaeta wakes and strongly urges to be numbed and not anesthetized, not wanting to wake up to find his leg gone. Cottle accepts. Moments later, a saw's blade is heard tearing through Gaeta's leg as his face registers shock. [[Samuel Anders]], who shot Gaeta to stop him from jumping ''Demetrius'' hours before, looks on with regret from a distance.

===Act 2===
*The civilian Fleet returns to join ''Galactica''. Adama, Tigh, Roslin and Karl Agathon discuss an attack strategy. With no Raiders and too few resources for ''Galactica'' to fight alone, Agathon suggests to use the baseship as a "trojan horse", entering the Hub's vicinity with half of ''Galactica's'' Vipers to blow the FTL drive on the Hub. Roslin ponders the idea that the Cylons will become mortal enemies.
*Tigh suggests destroying the Hub outright without resurrecting the Threes, reneging on Adama's word. Adama believes the Five could lead the Fleet to Earth but Roslin thinks the Five will be uncooperative after the Hub's destruction. Adama believes that the Five are like the rebel Cylons, but Roslin disagrees. Tigh is [[Final Five|visibly agitated about the discussion]], and again suggests destruction, putting trust in Roslin's way to Earth.
*Roslin suggests a compromise plan: Unbox the D'Annas, destroy the Hub, but hold on to the Five until they all get to Earth, then turn them over to the rebels, believing the rebels will be compelled to wait a bit longer.
*[[Deckhand]]s and [[List of Pilots|pilots]] prepare their fighters ''inside'' the baseship hangar with Cylons and humans working together.
*[[Tom Zarek]] reads a statement to the Quorum: "In 36 hours the Colonies will unite forces with insurgent rebel Cylons and their leaders in an unprecedented joint military operation". Zarek asks Lee Adama why the Quorum weren't consulted, but Adama doesn't know, no longer being in the military chain of command.
*Tigh, [[Tory Foster]], Samuel Anders and [[Galen Tyrol]] talk about the unboxing of the Threes. Tyrol considers that they at least discover the last member of the Five, but Tigh darkly explains that such an action will only "crowd the [[airlock]] a little more." Tigh doesn't at all believe that the Colonials will see the Five in a good light.
*Anders does not respond to the others. He is distraught over the loss of Gaeta's leg, talking of how Gaeta sings all the time to cope with his pain.
*Foster meets with Roslin in an office refurbished for her to conduct presidential business while on ''Galactica'' while recovering from another [[Doloxan]] treatment and keeping close to sickbay. Roslin first pleasantly comments about Foster's positive change in mood any time she is aboard ''Galactica''. Roslin asks Foster to find out who was sharing the rumors of the president's shared visions to Baltar, then sticks the dagger in, telling Foster she is very aware that she is sleeping with Gaius Baltar.
*Before Foster can say a word, Roslin tells her that there are enough reports of her visitations to "make her a charter member of his [[Cult of Baltar|nymph squad]]." Foster confesses to believing in Baltar's spiritual message, but Roslin is feeling quite betrayed and turns her back on her to do other work, ordering her away.
*On the baseship, Natalie believes that the Colonials won't give the Five to them as promised. She suggests a backup plan of her own: Take hostages after the attack to ensure they get what they want.
*In sickbay, Gaeta continues to sing a [[Gaeta's Lament|sad love ballad]] as Lee Adama visits Roslin there. He tells her that the Quorum is considering a vote of no-confidence against her. Roslin refuses to cater to the representative's desire to feel involved. Adama describes that the representatives' faces appeared empty, resigned to just consider the no-confidence vote just to cope with the uncertainty. He suggests that Roslin compromise and tell them what she can about the attack to allay the Quorum's fears.

===Act 3===

* In bed but not engaged in sex, Baltar complains. Foster admits being tired of lying to Roslin, of how the rumors have affected the president and Foster's relationship with her, about the rumors of Roslin's collusion with the Cylons.
* Baltar explains the source of the rumors: [[Caprica Six]], who told Baltar (through [[Romo Lampkin|his attorney]]) of the news during [[Crossroads, Part II|his trial]]. Baltar believes that Roslin is keeping everyone in the dark, believing that Roslin's concealing of information is worse than revealing it.
*Roslin meets with the Quorum with Admiral Adama. Roslin brings in Natalie to help emphasize how she trusts the mission's success. Natalie speaks: She tells of her own civil war and how things had began to change. Without a Resurrection Ship, time became a commodity, a realization that mortality is crucial to making humans whole. As the Cylon continues to speak, Thrace has flashbacks of what the [[Hybrid]] told her of her [[The Destiny|destiny]] and the belief that she is the "harbinger of death".
*As Gaeta keeps singing in sickbay, Baltar observes quietly in the background.
*Roslin experiences another vision of the [[Opera House]], searching for Hera Agathon. Caprica Six and Sharon Agathon also share the same vision. When Agathon wakes up, little Hera is there at her bedside and says a darkly prophetic "Bye-bye," suggesting the child knows she will be taken in some way.

===Act 4===

*A wide shot of the Fleet shows the baseship has nearly healed itself of its damage. On ''Galactica'', Kara Thrace sees Roslin in sickbay, who compliments Thrace on her plan to unite the rebels and the Fleet.
*When Thrace asks if Roslin is having visions, the president is quiet. Thrace repeats what the rebel baseship's [[Hybrid]] told her some time before: "This shall it come to pass: the dying leader shall know the truth of the Opera House."
*Shocked at Thrace's knowledge of the dream's specific content, Roslin asks how the Hybrid would know about her dreams, but Thrace does not know. Roslin pleads with Thrace to help her determine the meaning of the dreams. Thrace accepts without hesitation and Roslin asks her to find Karl Agathon.
*Aboard the baseship, the Cylons are becoming agitated, unsure about the attack. Natalie tells of the feelings she had from the Quorum, their distrust. Natalie believes that the united Five may judge the Cylons for their duplicity with the Colonials, fearing that the Five will refuse to come with them.
*When Natalie suggests to completely abandon the project, to tell the Cylon Centurions to stand down, an Eight in attendance warns that the Colonials will never trust them again. Leoben warns her that the action may be at a point of no return. He tells Natalie to meet with Adama and stall for time while he deals with the Centurions.
*Roslin meets privately with Baltar, confirming the visions. When he asks why he was told now, she replies that he is part of the vision itself.
*In Sharon Agathon's quarters, Hera is drawing. Sharon picks up the drawings to see that Hera has drawn numerous number 6s and blond women on pages and pages. One drawing depicts a basestar. The final drawing is of Hera smiling and standing by one of the blond women. Distressed, Agathon turns to find Hera gone from her quarters and goes out to chase her.
*On the baseship, Roslin, Karl Agathon, Baltar, a Leoben and an Eight head under guard into the baseship and the Hybrid, as Cylon Centurions walk by an uneasy group of pilots.
*Natalie arrives on a Raptor on ''Galactica'', obviously uneasy.
*Sharon Agathon chases Hera through the battlestar, but the child is elusive. When she stops to tell Tyrol, working within a corridor, he gives her a unsympathetic stare, but eventually follows her.
*Hera finds herself at a stop in front of Natalie, being escorted by Tigh and a squad of Marines. But Agathon is there immediately and draws her sidearm, warning Natalie away. Tigh keeps the Marines at bay, standing them down.
*At the deactivated Hybrid's pool, Roslin orders the Hybrid reactivated. When Baltar says, "Let God's will be done," Roslin tells him to "Shut up. It's time to get some answers."
*Agathon asks Tyrol to take Hera away, which he does. However, Agathon's visions of the Opera House and a Six's kidnapping of Hera are too strong in her mind. "You are never going to take my child," she says as she shoots Natalie.
*At the moment that the Hybrid awakes, she cries out "Jump!" The baseship disappears from the Fleet with the president and her entourage all aboard.
*Gaeta continues to sing in his bed.

== Notes ==
*The episode title is probably a reference to the 1967 film ''[[w:Guess Who's Coming to Dinner|Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'', which dealt with race relations between Caucasian and African Americans in America.
*The [[survivor count]] at the beginning credits (39,673) accounts for the deaths of [[Emily Kowalski]] and [[Jean Barolay]] in the previous episode, "[[Faith]]".
*Although it is a common Hollywood convention, a gunshot does not cause a person to fly backwards a large distance as shown with [[Natalie]]. The effect is achieved by pulling back the actors with a cable.
*The song Gaeta sings throughout the episode is called "[[Gaeta's Lament]]". The lyrics and the music were written by the episode's writer [[Michael Angeli]] based on a song his wife, Karen Angeli, composed.<ref name="source_ma">This is based on information [[Michael Angeli]] provided to the Battlestar Wiki. See [[Sources:Gaeta's Lament]] for full details.</ref> Series's composer [[Bear McCreary]] was responsible for the song's arrangement and for integrating the music throughout the episode.<ref name="source_ma" /> Actor [[Alessandro Juliani]], who studied opera and performed the song live on set, also greatly influenced it. McCreary discusses the song in his [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349 blog].
*The book Roslin carries when she meets with Baltar in the Raptor is ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', the same book Adama reads to her in "[[Escape Velocity]]".
*Just after the opening title, a Windows XP message box can be seen on one of the displays on the Cylon Basestar.

== Analysis ==
* [[Samuel Anders]] is distraught over his actions on the ''Demetrius'', notably those concerning Gaeta and having shot him in the leg that is later amputated. However, there is no indication yet that Anders will suffer any disciplinary procedures for the shooting, nor are any indicated for the alleged mutiny on the ''Demetrius''.
*There is no overt on-screen reaction to the death of [[Cally Tyrol]] by the ''Demetrius'' crew nor any reaction to Galen Tyrol's demotion. However, they have certainly been told off-screen about both.
* [[Gaius Baltar]] is also drawn to see Gaeta, but the two do not interact; he is out of Gaeta's view and listening to him singing, suggesting that Baltar may have forgiven Gaeta for perjuring himself at Baltar's trial and for the earlier murder attempt.
* Natalie's philosophy concerning the Cylons' need for mortality in order to value life parallels [[Zoe-A]]'s statements to [[Clarice Willow]] when destroying the latter's [[apotheosis]] heaven decades earlier in "[[Apotheosis (episode)|Apotheosis]]".
* The Hybrid's prophecy that Kara Thrace is the "harbinger of death" takes on a new significance during Natalie's speech to the Quorum. Thrace begins to realize it may refer to the potential loss of immortality among the Cylons.
* During the Fleet's emergency jump sequence after the basestar suddenly appears, it can be seen that ''Galactica's'' bow gun batteries are still intact, though they have not been seen clearly in operation for some time. The scorching of the lower hull caused by the jump into [[New Caprica]]'s atmosphere is also very clear.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Where does the rebel baseship jump to? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* How many pilots are stationed on the baseship ([[Sine Qua Non|Partial answer]])
* How will the Quorum and [[Tom Zarek]] react to the loss of Laura Roslin? What about Admiral Adama? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does Natalie survive her gun-shot wounds? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama do about Agathon? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Will Colonel Tigh face any consequences for failing to protect Natalie? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama and Tigh think happened to the baseship? Will they assume that the rebels intentionally abducted Roslin and the other humans aboard? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does the [[Hybrid]] jump the baseship as an automatic reaction upon reactivation, or with intent? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What will the re-activated Hybrid tell Laura Roslin, if anything at all? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the now-sentient [[Centurion]]s on the rebel baseship react to the large number of humans on board? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Is [[Samuel Anders]] among the pilots on the baseship? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* What will [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] do after he recovers from his amputation? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* How will the rebel Cylons react when they discover [[Natalie]] has been shot? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What is the meaning of Hera's drawings? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer 1]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Possible Answer 2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Why does Sharon Agathon handle the communications from the basestar to the Fleet in the beginning? Another Eight could pretend to be her.
* Might the dying leader be the now-mortal Natalie?
* Will Sharon Agathon's shooting of Natalie further strain her relationship with the Cylons?
* Do William Adama or Saul Tigh know of the complete story surrounding the mutiny on the ''Demetrius''?
* Why does Roslin ask Thrace to find Karl Agathon, specifically?
* Why does the Hub make random jumps for its own protection? Is it fear of the human fleet, or are the Cylons aware of a greater threat out there?

== Official Statements ==





== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''[[Natalie]] negotiating with the Colonials:''
:'''Natalie:''' Madam President, you asked for a reason to help us? Vengeance. You destroy the [[Resurrection Hub|hub]], the Cylons lose their ability to download. All of us.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' Why would you be willing to lose your ability to resurrect?
:'''Natalie:''' We're rebels. We can't go back.

*''[[Lee Adama]] talks to [[Laura Roslin]] about the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]:''
:'''Lee Adama:''' I was with them. On the emergency jump. And I saw something in the faces of the delegates. Wasn't the anxiety of the waiting. It went beyond that. I was anxious; it was my first time. But they, they...they were empty. The Quorum had given up. And then it struck me, that after going through the same routine so many times, it was the only way that they could cope with the uncertainty; to presume the worst.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' You felt their suffering. Now try holding their lives in balance every day.
:'''Lee Adama:''' Talk to them. You don't have to tell them everything. I know how it works. Just talk to the Quorum. Let them put a face to this joint mission. Let them hear from the Cylon leader. Anything. Anything to put their fears to rest.

*''Natalie speaks to the Quorum:''
:"In our [[Cylon Civil War|civil war]], we've seen death. We watched our people die. Gone forever. As terrible as it was, beyond the reach of the Resurrection Ships, something began to change. We could feel a sense of time. As if each moment held its own significance. We began to realize that for our existence to hold any value it must end. To live meaningful lives we must die, and not return. The one human flaw, that you spend your lifetimes distressing over – mortality – is the one thing...well, it's the one thing that makes you whole."

* ''Laura Roslin to [[Tory Foster]] about getting information from [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]:''
:"I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi|Hoshi]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] discusses the episode's score and specifically the song Gaeta sings: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Rat mal, was zum Essen kommt]]

Guess What's Coming to Dinner?

2012-08-04T18:21:27Z

AlanHK: /* Analysis */ cut unfounded speculation

{{Episode Data
| image=4x07-GuessWhatsComingForDinner-Promo1.jpg
| title= Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
| season= 4
| episode= 7
| forumthread= 1092
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=409
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=16 May 2008
| CAN airdate=16 May 2008
| UK airdate=20 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation=39675
| population=39673
| syfyname= guess_what_s_coming_to_dinner
| prev= [[Faith]]
| next= [[Sine Qua Non]]
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== Overview ==
:''Returning with the help of ''[[Demetrius]]'', the [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylon faction]] requests an alliance with the Colonials in order to plan a joint-attack mission against the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]’ vital [[Resurrection Hub]]. Meanwhile on ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Lee Adama]] and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] express their mistrust of President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and her secrecy regarding the new Cylon alliance. Aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] struggles with the prospect of un-boxing the [[Number Three|Threes]] in order to reveal the identities of the [[Final Five]], and [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] copes with the amputation of his leg.''

== Summary ==

===Teaser===
* President [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum delegate]] [[Lee Adama]] listen to a taped broadcast from [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] leader [[Gaius Baltar]], claiming Roslin is sharing of her [[chamalla|hallucinogenic visions]] with [[Sharon Agathon]] (currently on the secret and overdue ''[[Demetrius]]'' mission) and a [[Caprica-Six|captured Cylon]] in a [[brig]] on ''[[Galactica]]''. Adama brought the recording at the behest of the Quorum, who demand an explanation, as the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] has heard the broadcast as well.
*When Adama presses Roslin for an answer, she asks him first how he thinks the Fleet would react to such information. Undaunted, he asks again. Roslin confirms Baltar's statement.
*On the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] [[Kara Thrace]] and the ''Demetrius'' crew lead a rebel group of [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] back to the Fleet rendezvous as Sharon Agathon makes last minute [[jump]] preparations.
*Thrace warns [[Natalie]] and [[Leoben Conoy]] that the Cylons of their ship are on a path of no-return when they reach the Fleet, and that there aren't any guarantees when they approach the Fleet. She assumes Natalie will be the spokesperson in trying to avoid any hostilities.
*[[Karl Agathon]] looks at the unconscious and injured [[Felix Gaeta]] before his preps the final calculations for the jump.
*When Natalie brings up [[Hera Agathon]] in conversation as being beautiful, Agathon is shocked to find out that Natalie and other Cylons know the child's name.
*''Demetrius'' misses the Fleet in its jump and must take a few moments before it can jump again, but the baseship ''does'' reach the Fleet, leaping right into its heart, where some of the Colonial ships have to scramble out of harm's way. Predictably, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] bring ''Galactica'' up to [[action stations]], scrambling the alert Vipers.
* Agathon tries to contact ''Galactica'' but the jump damaged their [[wireless]], leaving them without communication, and possibly vulnerable to attack.
* Saul Tigh carefully watches [[DRADIS]] as eight Vipers approach the baseship. Tigh orders a weapons hold, stunning Admiral Adama but stopping any attack. Seconds later, ''Demetrius'' appears and verifies with ''Galactica'' that the baseship is disarmed and under Colonial command.

===Act 1===
* Several [[Raptor]]s filled with [[Marine]]s launch from ''Galactica'' and enter the baseship. Colonel Tigh is part of the team. Thrace tells him, "They're with me." "Which one of them shot Gaeta?" he asks.
*Gaeta is rushed to [[sickbay]] in grave condition as Dr. [[Cottle]] yells out orders to his staff to bring a cut-down tray, suggesting an immediate amputation of Gaeta's leg.
*In the [[wardroom]], Natalie explains that the [[Number Two]], [[Number Eight]] and [[Number Six]] models believe that seeking out the [[Final Five]] is important, while the [[Number One]], [[Number Four]] and [[Number Five]] models violently disagreed.
* When Adama asks Natalie of the seventh model, she explains that the [[Number Three]]s were [[boxing|boxed]], and explains the process and why the D'Annas were boxed: they [[Rapture|saw]] the then-forbidden faces of the Five. She tells that unboxing the Threes could give them information that could lead them all to Earth, since the Final Five are believed to have come from there. Kara Thrace, in uniform and standing with Sharon Agathon, confirms Natalie's comment.
* Natalie notes that the baseship can heal itself of its damage, but most of their [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] were destroyed [[The Ties That Bind|in the ambush]] by the dissenting models.
* Roslin pointedly asks why the Fleet should trust these Cylons. Natalie tells them that the boxing facility resides within the [[Resurrection Hub]], a facility that controls all [[Resurrection Ship]]s in existence. Natalie gives Roslin a reason to trust her and her renegade Cylons: Vengeance. The Cylon tells her that destroying the elusive Hub will destroy ''all'' Cylons' ability to [[download]], making them all effectively mortal. When asked why they would do such a thing, Natalie simply says that she and her comrades are rebels and cannot go back in any case.
*Adama presses for the coordinates of the Hub, but Natalie says she will only take them to the Hub, not give the coordinates. As Adama orders the marines to escort her away, Natalie changes her mind, promising to give the coordinates if Adama gives his word that D'Anna will be unboxed and the Cylons will be allowed to leave with the Five once the Threes identify them. Adama grudgingly gives his word.
*Leaving the meeting, Adama asks Tigh how he knew to order a weapons hold at the moment of their attack on Natalie's baseship. Tigh hesitates but says he didn't know why. "What can I say, we got lucky." Adama orders a Raptor to the coordinates of the Hub to investigate.
*[[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]] arrive in an asteroid-filled area, and find the massive Hub, which appears to be twice the relative size of a guarding baseship. "It's beautiful," Skulls comments. They take pictures and return quickly to the Fleet.
*In sickbay, a gory scene begins as Cottle preps to remove Gaeta's leg. Gaeta wakes and strongly urges to be numbed and not anesthetized, not wanting to wake up to find his leg gone. Cottle accepts. Moments later, a saw's blade is heard tearing through Gaeta's leg as his face registers shock. [[Samuel Anders]], who shot Gaeta to stop him from jumping ''Demetrius'' hours before, looks on with regret from a distance.

===Act 2===
*The civilian Fleet returns to join ''Galactica''. Adama, Tigh, Roslin and Karl Agathon discuss an attack strategy. With no Raiders and too few resources for ''Galactica'' to fight alone, Agathon suggests to use the baseship as a "trojan horse", entering the Hub's vicinity with half of ''Galactica's'' Vipers to blow the FTL drive on the Hub. Roslin ponders the idea that the Cylons will become mortal enemies.
*Tigh suggests destroying the Hub outright without resurrecting the Threes, reneging on Adama's word. Adama believes the Five could lead the Fleet to Earth but Roslin thinks the Five will be uncooperative after the Hub's destruction. Adama believes that the Five are like the rebel Cylons, but Roslin disagrees. Tigh is [[Final Five|visibly agitated about the discussion]], and again suggests destruction, putting trust in Roslin's way to Earth.
*Roslin suggests a compromise plan: Unbox the D'Annas, destroy the Hub, but hold on to the Five until they all get to Earth, then turn them over to the rebels, believing the rebels will be compelled to wait a bit longer.
*[[Deckhand]]s and [[List of Pilots|pilots]] prepare their fighters ''inside'' the baseship hangar with Cylons and humans working together.
*[[Tom Zarek]] reads a statement to the Quorum: "In 36 hours the Colonies will unite forces with insurgent rebel Cylons and their leaders in an unprecedented joint military operation". Zarek asks Lee Adama why the Quorum weren't consulted, but Adama doesn't know, no longer being in the military chain of command.
*Tigh, [[Tory Foster]], Samuel Anders and [[Galen Tyrol]] talk about the unboxing of the Threes. Tyrol considers that they at least discover the last member of the Five, but Tigh darkly explains that such an action will only "crowd the [[airlock]] a little more." Tigh doesn't at all believe that the Colonials will see the Five in a good light.
*Anders does not respond to the others. He is distraught over the loss of Gaeta's leg, talking of how Gaeta sings all the time to cope with his pain.
*Foster meets with Roslin in an office refurbished for her to conduct presidential business while on ''Galactica'' while recovering from another [[Doloxan]] treatment and keeping close to sickbay. Roslin first pleasantly comments about Foster's positive change in mood any time she is aboard ''Galactica''. Roslin asks Foster to find out who was sharing the rumors of the president's shared visions to Baltar, then sticks the dagger in, telling Foster she is very aware that she is sleeping with Gaius Baltar.
*Before Foster can say a word, Roslin tells her that there are enough reports of her visitations to "make her a charter member of his [[Cult of Baltar|nymph squad]]." Foster confesses to believing in Baltar's spiritual message, but Roslin is feeling quite betrayed and turns her back on her to do other work, ordering her away.
*On the baseship, Natalie believes that the Colonials won't give the Five to them as promised. She suggests a backup plan of her own: Take hostages after the attack to ensure they get what they want.
*In sickbay, Gaeta continues to sing a [[Gaeta's Lament|sad love ballad]] as Lee Adama visits Roslin there. He tells her that the Quorum is considering a vote of no-confidence against her. Roslin refuses to cater to the representative's desire to feel involved. Adama describes that the representatives' faces appeared empty, resigned to just consider the no-confidence vote just to cope with the uncertainty. He suggests that Roslin compromise and tell them what she can about the attack to allay the Quorum's fears.

===Act 3===

* In bed but not engaged in sex, Baltar complains. Foster admits being tired of lying to Roslin, of how the rumors have affected the president and Foster's relationship with her, about the rumors of Roslin's collusion with the Cylons.
* Baltar explains the source of the rumors: [[Caprica Six]], who told Baltar (through [[Romo Lampkin|his attorney]]) of the news during [[Crossroads, Part II|his trial]]. Baltar believes that Roslin is keeping everyone in the dark, believing that Roslin's concealing of information is worse than revealing it.
*Roslin meets with the Quorum with Admiral Adama. Roslin brings in Natalie to help emphasize how she trusts the mission's success. Natalie speaks: She tells of her own civil war and how things had began to change. Without a Resurrection Ship, time became a commodity, a realization that mortality is crucial to making humans whole. As the Cylon continues to speak, Thrace has flashbacks of what the [[Hybrid]] told her of her [[The Destiny|destiny]] and the belief that she is the "harbinger of death".
*As Gaeta keeps singing in sickbay, Baltar observes quietly in the background.
*Roslin experiences another vision of the [[Opera House]], searching for Hera Agathon. Caprica Six and Sharon Agathon also share the same vision. When Agathon wakes up, little Hera is there at her bedside and says a darkly prophetic "Bye-bye," suggesting the child knows she will be taken in some way.

===Act 4===

*A wide shot of the Fleet shows the baseship has nearly healed itself of its damage. On ''Galactica'', Kara Thrace sees Roslin in sickbay, who compliments Thrace on her plan to unite the rebels and the Fleet.
*When Thrace asks if Roslin is having visions, the president is quiet. Thrace repeats what the rebel baseship's [[Hybrid]] told her some time before: "This shall it come to pass: the dying leader shall know the truth of the Opera House."
*Shocked at Thrace's knowledge of the dream's specific content, Roslin asks how the Hybrid would know about her dreams, but Thrace does not know. Roslin pleads with Thrace to help her determine the meaning of the dreams. Thrace accepts without hesitation and Roslin asks her to find Karl Agathon.
*Aboard the baseship, the Cylons are becoming agitated, unsure about the attack. Natalie tells of the feelings she had from the Quorum, their distrust. Natalie believes that the united Five may judge the Cylons for their duplicity with the Colonials, fearing that the Five will refuse to come with them.
*When Natalie suggests to completely abandon the project, to tell the Cylon Centurions to stand down, an Eight in attendance warns that the Colonials will never trust them again. Leoben warns her that the action may be at a point of no return. He tells Natalie to meet with Adama and stall for time while he deals with the Centurions.
*Roslin meets privately with Baltar, confirming the visions. When he asks why he was told now, she replies that he is part of the vision itself.
*In Sharon Agathon's quarters, Hera is drawing. Sharon picks up the drawings to see that Hera has drawn numerous number 6s and blond women on pages and pages. One drawing depicts a basestar. The final drawing is of Hera smiling and standing by one of the blond women. Distressed, Agathon turns to find Hera gone from her quarters and goes out to chase her.
*On the baseship, Roslin, Karl Agathon, Baltar, a Leoben and an Eight head under guard into the baseship and the Hybrid, as Cylon Centurions walk by an uneasy group of pilots.
*Natalie arrives on a Raptor on ''Galactica'', obviously uneasy.
*Sharon Agathon chases Hera through the battlestar, but the child is elusive. When she stops to tell Tyrol, working within a corridor, he gives her a unsympathetic stare, but eventually follows her.
*Hera finds herself at a stop in front of Natalie, being escorted by Tigh and a squad of Marines. But Agathon is there immediately and draws her sidearm, warning Natalie away. Tigh keeps the Marines at bay, standing them down.
*At the deactivated Hybrid's pool, Roslin orders the Hybrid reactivated. When Baltar says, "Let God's will be done," Roslin tells him to "Shut up. It's time to get some answers."
*Agathon asks Tyrol to take Hera away, which he does. However, Agathon's visions of the Opera House and a Six's kidnapping of Hera are too strong in her mind. "You are never going to take my child," she says as she shoots Natalie.
*At the moment that the Hybrid awakes, she cries out "Jump!" The baseship disappears from the Fleet with the president and her entourage all aboard.
*Gaeta continues to sing in his bed.

== Notes ==
*The episode title is probably a reference to the 1967 film ''[[w:Guess Who's Coming to Dinner|Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'', which dealt with race relations between Caucasian and African Americans in America.
*The [[survivor count]] at the beginning credits (39,673) accounts for the deaths of [[Emily Kowalski]] and [[Jean Barolay]] in the previous episode, "[[Faith]]".
*Although it is a common Hollywood convention, a gunshot does not cause a person to fly backwards a large distance as shown with [[Natalie]]. The effect is achieved by pulling back the actors with a cable.
*The song Gaeta sings throughout the episode is called "[[Gaeta's Lament]]". The lyrics and the music were written by the episode's writer [[Michael Angeli]] based on a song his wife, Karen Angeli, composed.<ref name="source_ma">This is based on information [[Michael Angeli]] provided to the Battlestar Wiki. See [[Sources:Gaeta's Lament]] for full details.</ref> Series's composer [[Bear McCreary]] was responsible for the song's arrangement and for integrating the music throughout the episode.<ref name="source_ma" /> Actor [[Alessandro Juliani]], who studied opera and performed the song live on set, also greatly influenced it. McCreary discusses the song in his [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349 blog].
*The book Roslin carries when she meets with Baltar in the Raptor is ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', the same book Adama reads to her in "[[Escape Velocity]]".
*Just after the opening title, a Windows XP message box can be seen on one of the displays on the Cylon Basestar.

== Analysis ==
* [[Samuel Anders]] is distraught over his actions on the ''Demetrius'', notably those concerning Gaeta and having shot him in the leg that is later amputated. However, there is no indication yet that Anders will suffer any disciplinary procedures for the shooting, nor are any indicated for the alleged mutiny on the ''Demetrius''.
*There is no overt on-screen reaction to the death of [[Cally Tyrol]] by the ''Demetrius'' crew nor any reaction to Galen Tyrol's demotion. However, they have certainly been told off-screen about both.
* [[Gaius Baltar]] is also drawn to see Gaeta, but the two do not interact; he is out of Gaeta's view and listening to him singing, suggesting that Baltar may have forgiven Gaeta for perjuring himself at Baltar's trial and for the earlier murder attempt.
* Natalie's philosophy concerning the Cylons' need for mortality in order to value life parallels [[Zoe-A]]'s statements to [[Clarice Willow]] when destroying the latter's [[apotheosis]] heaven decades earlier in "[[Apotheosis (episode)|Apotheosis]]".
* The Hybrid's prophecy that Kara Thrace is the "harbinger of death" takes on a new significance during Natalie's speech to the Quorum. Thrace begins to realize it may refer to the potential loss of immortality among the Cylons.
* During the Fleet's emergency jump sequence after the basestar suddenly appears, it can be seen that ''Galactica's'' bow gun batteries are still intact, though they have not been seen clearly in operation for some time. The scorching of the lower hull caused by the jump into [[New Caprica]]'s atmosphere is also very clear.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Where does the rebel baseship jump to? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* How many pilots are stationed on the baseship ([[Sine Qua Non|Partial answer]])
* How will the Quorum and [[Tom Zarek]] react to the loss of Laura Roslin? What about Admiral Adama? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does Natalie survive her gun-shot wounds? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama do about Agathon? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Will Colonel Tigh face any consequences for failing to protect Natalie? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama and Tigh think happened to the baseship? Will they assume that the rebels intentionally abducted Roslin and the other humans aboard? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does the [[Hybrid]] jump the baseship as an automatic reaction upon reactivation, or with intent? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What will the re-activated Hybrid tell Laura Roslin, if anything at all? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the now-sentient [[Centurion]]s on the rebel baseship react to the large number of humans on board? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Is [[Samuel Anders]] among the pilots on the baseship? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* What will [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] do after he recovers from his amputation? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* How will the rebel Cylons react when they discover [[Natalie]] has been shot? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What is the meaning of Hera's drawings? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer 1]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Possible Answer 2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Why does Sharon Agathon handle the communications from the basestar to the Fleet in the beginning? Another Eight could pretend to be her.
* Might the dying leader be the now-mortal Natalie?
* Will Sharon Agathon's shooting of Natalie further strain her relationship with the Cylons?
* Do William Adama or Saul Tigh know of the complete story surrounding the mutiny on the ''Demetrius''?
* Why does Roslin ask Thrace to find Karl Agathon, specifically?
* Why does the Hub make random jumps for its own protection? Is it fear of the human fleet, or are the Cylons aware of a greater threat out there?

== Official Statements ==





== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''[[Natalie]] negotiating with the Colonials:''
:'''Natalie:''' Madam President, you asked for a reason to help us? Vengeance. You destroy the [[Resurrection Hub|hub]], the Cylons lose their ability to download. All of us.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' Why would you be willing to lose your ability to resurrect?
:'''Natalie:''' We're rebels. We can't go back.

*''[[Lee Adama]] talks to [[Laura Roslin]] about the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]:''
:'''Lee Adama:''' I was with them. On the emergency jump. And I saw something in the faces of the delegates. Wasn't the anxiety of the waiting. It went beyond that. I was anxious; it was my first time. But they, they...they were empty. The Quorum had given up. And then it struck me, that after going through the same routine so many times, it was the only way that they could cope with the uncertainty; to presume the worst.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' You felt their suffering. Now try holding their lives in balance every day.
:'''Lee Adama:''' Talk to them. You don't have to tell them everything. I know how it works. Just talk to the Quorum. Let them put a face to this joint mission. Let them hear from the Cylon leader. Anything. Anything to put their fears to rest.

*''Natalie speaks to the Quorum:''
:"In our [[Cylon Civil War|civil war]], we've seen death. We watched our people die. Gone forever. As terrible as it was, beyond the reach of the Resurrection Ships, something began to change. We could feel a sense of time. As if each moment held its own significance. We began to realize that for our existence to hold any value it must end. To live meaningful lives we must die, and not return. The one human flaw, that you spend your lifetimes distressing over - mortality - is the one thing...well, it's the one thing that makes you whole."

* ''Laura Roslin to [[Tory Foster]] about getting information from [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]:''
:"I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi|Hoshi]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] discusses the episode's score and specifically the song Gaeta sings: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Rat mal, was zum Essen kommt]]

Guess What's Coming to Dinner?

2012-08-04T18:17:06Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */ cut irrelevant DS9 ref

{{Episode Data
| image=4x07-GuessWhatsComingForDinner-Promo1.jpg
| title= Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
| season= 4
| episode= 7
| forumthread= 1092
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=409
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=16 May 2008
| CAN airdate=16 May 2008
| UK airdate=20 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| oldpopulation=39675
| population=39673
| syfyname= guess_what_s_coming_to_dinner
| prev= [[Faith]]
| next= [[Sine Qua Non]]
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== Overview ==
:''Returning with the help of ''[[Demetrius]]'', the [[Cylon Civil War|rebel Cylon faction]] requests an alliance with the Colonials in order to plan a joint-attack mission against the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]’ vital [[Resurrection Hub]]. Meanwhile on ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Lee Adama]] and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] express their mistrust of President [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] and her secrecy regarding the new Cylon alliance. Aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] struggles with the prospect of un-boxing the [[Number Three|Threes]] in order to reveal the identities of the [[Final Five]], and [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] copes with the amputation of his leg.''

== Summary ==

===Teaser===
* President [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum delegate]] [[Lee Adama]] listen to a taped broadcast from [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] leader [[Gaius Baltar]], claiming Roslin is sharing of her [[chamalla|hallucinogenic visions]] with [[Sharon Agathon]] (currently on the secret and overdue ''[[Demetrius]]'' mission) and a [[Caprica-Six|captured Cylon]] in a [[brig]] on ''[[Galactica]]''. Adama brought the recording at the behest of the Quorum, who demand an explanation, as the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] has heard the broadcast as well.
*When Adama presses Roslin for an answer, she asks him first how he thinks the Fleet would react to such information. Undaunted, he asks again. Roslin confirms Baltar's statement.
*On the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] [[Kara Thrace]] and the ''Demetrius'' crew lead a rebel group of [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] back to the Fleet rendezvous as Sharon Agathon makes last minute [[jump]] preparations.
*Thrace warns [[Natalie]] and [[Leoben Conoy]] that the Cylons of their ship are on a path of no-return when they reach the Fleet, and that there aren't any guarantees when they approach the Fleet. She assumes Natalie will be the spokesperson in trying to avoid any hostilities.
*[[Karl Agathon]] looks at the unconscious and injured [[Felix Gaeta]] before his preps the final calculations for the jump.
*When Natalie brings up [[Hera Agathon]] in conversation as being beautiful, Agathon is shocked to find out that Natalie and other Cylons know the child's name.
*''Demetrius'' misses the Fleet in its jump and must take a few moments before it can jump again, but the baseship ''does'' reach the Fleet, leaping right into its heart, where some of the Colonial ships have to scramble out of harm's way. Predictably, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] bring ''Galactica'' up to [[action stations]], scrambling the alert Vipers.
* Agathon tries to contact ''Galactica'' but the jump damaged their [[wireless]], leaving them without communication, and possibly vulnerable to attack.
* Saul Tigh carefully watches [[DRADIS]] as eight Vipers approach the baseship. Tigh orders a weapons hold, stunning Admiral Adama but stopping any attack. Seconds later, ''Demetrius'' appears and verifies with ''Galactica'' that the baseship is disarmed and under Colonial command.

===Act 1===
* Several [[Raptor]]s filled with [[Marine]]s launch from ''Galactica'' and enter the baseship. Colonel Tigh is part of the team. Thrace tells him, "They're with me." "Which one of them shot Gaeta?" he asks.
*Gaeta is rushed to [[sickbay]] in grave condition as Dr. [[Cottle]] yells out orders to his staff to bring a cut-down tray, suggesting an immediate amputation of Gaeta's leg.
*In the [[wardroom]], Natalie explains that the [[Number Two]], [[Number Eight]] and [[Number Six]] models believe that seeking out the [[Final Five]] is important, while the [[Number One]], [[Number Four]] and [[Number Five]] models violently disagreed.
* When Adama asks Natalie of the seventh model, she explains that the [[Number Three]]s were [[boxing|boxed]], and explains the process and why the D'Annas were boxed: they [[Rapture|saw]] the then-forbidden faces of the Five. She tells that unboxing the Threes could give them information that could lead them all to Earth, since the Final Five are believed to have come from there. Kara Thrace, in uniform and standing with Sharon Agathon, confirms Natalie's comment.
* Natalie notes that the baseship can heal itself of its damage, but most of their [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] were destroyed [[The Ties That Bind|in the ambush]] by the dissenting models.
* Roslin pointedly asks why the Fleet should trust these Cylons. Natalie tells them that the boxing facility resides within the [[Resurrection Hub]], a facility that controls all [[Resurrection Ship]]s in existence. Natalie gives Roslin a reason to trust her and her renegade Cylons: Vengeance. The Cylon tells her that destroying the elusive Hub will destroy ''all'' Cylons' ability to [[download]], making them all effectively mortal. When asked why they would do such a thing, Natalie simply says that she and her comrades are rebels and cannot go back in any case.
*Adama presses for the coordinates of the Hub, but Natalie says she will only take them to the Hub, not give the coordinates. As Adama orders the marines to escort her away, Natalie changes her mind, promising to give the coordinates if Adama gives his word that D'Anna will be unboxed and the Cylons will be allowed to leave with the Five once the Threes identify them. Adama grudgingly gives his word.
*Leaving the meeting, Adama asks Tigh how he knew to order a weapons hold at the moment of their attack on Natalie's baseship. Tigh hesitates but says he didn't know why. "What can I say, we got lucky." Adama orders a Raptor to the coordinates of the Hub to investigate.
*[[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]] arrive in an asteroid-filled area, and find the massive Hub, which appears to be twice the relative size of a guarding baseship. "It's beautiful," Skulls comments. They take pictures and return quickly to the Fleet.
*In sickbay, a gory scene begins as Cottle preps to remove Gaeta's leg. Gaeta wakes and strongly urges to be numbed and not anesthetized, not wanting to wake up to find his leg gone. Cottle accepts. Moments later, a saw's blade is heard tearing through Gaeta's leg as his face registers shock. [[Samuel Anders]], who shot Gaeta to stop him from jumping ''Demetrius'' hours before, looks on with regret from a distance.

===Act 2===
*The civilian Fleet returns to join ''Galactica''. Adama, Tigh, Roslin and Karl Agathon discuss an attack strategy. With no Raiders and too few resources for ''Galactica'' to fight alone, Agathon suggests to use the baseship as a "trojan horse", entering the Hub's vicinity with half of ''Galactica's'' Vipers to blow the FTL drive on the Hub. Roslin ponders the idea that the Cylons will become mortal enemies.
*Tigh suggests destroying the Hub outright without resurrecting the Threes, reneging on Adama's word. Adama believes the Five could lead the Fleet to Earth but Roslin thinks the Five will be uncooperative after the Hub's destruction. Adama believes that the Five are like the rebel Cylons, but Roslin disagrees. Tigh is [[Final Five|visibly agitated about the discussion]], and again suggests destruction, putting trust in Roslin's way to Earth.
*Roslin suggests a compromise plan: Unbox the D'Annas, destroy the Hub, but hold on to the Five until they all get to Earth, then turn them over to the rebels, believing the rebels will be compelled to wait a bit longer.
*[[Deckhand]]s and [[List of Pilots|pilots]] prepare their fighters ''inside'' the baseship hangar with Cylons and humans working together.
*[[Tom Zarek]] reads a statement to the Quorum: "In 36 hours the Colonies will unite forces with insurgent rebel Cylons and their leaders in an unprecedented joint military operation". Zarek asks Lee Adama why the Quorum weren't consulted, but Adama doesn't know, no longer being in the military chain of command.
*Tigh, [[Tory Foster]], Samuel Anders and [[Galen Tyrol]] talk about the unboxing of the Threes. Tyrol considers that they at least discover the last member of the Five, but Tigh darkly explains that such an action will only "crowd the [[airlock]] a little more." Tigh doesn't at all believe that the Colonials will see the Five in a good light.
*Anders does not respond to the others. He is distraught over the loss of Gaeta's leg, talking of how Gaeta sings all the time to cope with his pain.
*Foster meets with Roslin in an office refurbished for her to conduct presidential business while on ''Galactica'' while recovering from another [[Doloxan]] treatment and keeping close to sickbay. Roslin first pleasantly comments about Foster's positive change in mood any time she is aboard ''Galactica''. Roslin asks Foster to find out who was sharing the rumors of the president's shared visions to Baltar, then sticks the dagger in, telling Foster she is very aware that she is sleeping with Gaius Baltar.
*Before Foster can say a word, Roslin tells her that there are enough reports of her visitations to "make her a charter member of his [[Cult of Baltar|nymph squad]]." Foster confesses to believing in Baltar's spiritual message, but Roslin is feeling quite betrayed and turns her back on her to do other work, ordering her away.
*On the baseship, Natalie believes that the Colonials won't give the Five to them as promised. She suggests a backup plan of her own: Take hostages after the attack to ensure they get what they want.
*In sickbay, Gaeta continues to sing a [[Gaeta's Lament|sad love ballad]] as Lee Adama visits Roslin there. He tells her that the Quorum is considering a vote of no-confidence against her. Roslin refuses to cater to the representative's desire to feel involved. Adama describes that the representatives' faces appeared empty, resigned to just consider the no-confidence vote just to cope with the uncertainty. He suggests that Roslin compromise and tell them what she can about the attack to allay the Quorum's fears.

===Act 3===

* In bed but not engaged in sex, Baltar complains. Foster admits being tired of lying to Roslin, of how the rumors have affected the president and Foster's relationship with her, about the rumors of Roslin's collusion with the Cylons.
* Baltar explains the source of the rumors: [[Caprica Six]], who told Baltar (through [[Romo Lampkin|his attorney]]) of the news during [[Crossroads, Part II|his trial]]. Baltar believes that Roslin is keeping everyone in the dark, believing that Roslin's concealing of information is worse than revealing it.
*Roslin meets with the Quorum with Admiral Adama. Roslin brings in Natalie to help emphasize how she trusts the mission's success. Natalie speaks: She tells of her own civil war and how things had began to change. Without a Resurrection Ship, time became a commodity, a realization that mortality is crucial to making humans whole. As the Cylon continues to speak, Thrace has flashbacks of what the [[Hybrid]] told her of her [[The Destiny|destiny]] and the belief that she is the "harbinger of death".
*As Gaeta keeps singing in sickbay, Baltar observes quietly in the background.
*Roslin experiences another vision of the [[Opera House]], searching for Hera Agathon. Caprica Six and Sharon Agathon also share the same vision. When Agathon wakes up, little Hera is there at her bedside and says a darkly prophetic "Bye-bye," suggesting the child knows she will be taken in some way.

===Act 4===

*A wide shot of the Fleet shows the baseship has nearly healed itself of its damage. On ''Galactica'', Kara Thrace sees Roslin in sickbay, who compliments Thrace on her plan to unite the rebels and the Fleet.
*When Thrace asks if Roslin is having visions, the president is quiet. Thrace repeats what the rebel baseship's [[Hybrid]] told her some time before: "This shall it come to pass: the dying leader shall know the truth of the Opera House."
*Shocked at Thrace's knowledge of the dream's specific content, Roslin asks how the Hybrid would know about her dreams, but Thrace does not know. Roslin pleads with Thrace to help her determine the meaning of the dreams. Thrace accepts without hesitation and Roslin asks her to find Karl Agathon.
*Aboard the baseship, the Cylons are becoming agitated, unsure about the attack. Natalie tells of the feelings she had from the Quorum, their distrust. Natalie believes that the united Five may judge the Cylons for their duplicity with the Colonials, fearing that the Five will refuse to come with them.
*When Natalie suggests to completely abandon the project, to tell the Cylon Centurions to stand down, an Eight in attendance warns that the Colonials will never trust them again. Leoben warns her that the action may be at a point of no return. He tells Natalie to meet with Adama and stall for time while he deals with the Centurions.
*Roslin meets privately with Baltar, confirming the visions. When he asks why he was told now, she replies that he is part of the vision itself.
*In Sharon Agathon's quarters, Hera is drawing. Sharon picks up the drawings to see that Hera has drawn numerous number 6s and blond women on pages and pages. One drawing depicts a basestar. The final drawing is of Hera smiling and standing by one of the blond women. Distressed, Agathon turns to find Hera gone from her quarters and goes out to chase her.
*On the baseship, Roslin, Karl Agathon, Baltar, a Leoben and an Eight head under guard into the baseship and the Hybrid, as Cylon Centurions walk by an uneasy group of pilots.
*Natalie arrives on a Raptor on ''Galactica'', obviously uneasy.
*Sharon Agathon chases Hera through the battlestar, but the child is elusive. When she stops to tell Tyrol, working within a corridor, he gives her a unsympathetic stare, but eventually follows her.
*Hera finds herself at a stop in front of Natalie, being escorted by Tigh and a squad of Marines. But Agathon is there immediately and draws her sidearm, warning Natalie away. Tigh keeps the Marines at bay, standing them down.
*At the deactivated Hybrid's pool, Roslin orders the Hybrid reactivated. When Baltar says, "Let God's will be done," Roslin tells him to "Shut up. It's time to get some answers."
*Agathon asks Tyrol to take Hera away, which he does. However, Agathon's visions of the Opera House and a Six's kidnapping of Hera are too strong in her mind. "You are never going to take my child," she says as she shoots Natalie.
*At the moment that the Hybrid awakes, she cries out "Jump!" The baseship disappears from the Fleet with the president and her entourage all aboard.
*Gaeta continues to sing in his bed.

== Notes ==
*The episode title is probably a reference to the 1967 film ''[[w:Guess Who's Coming to Dinner|Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'', which dealt with race relations between Caucasian and African Americans in America.
*The [[survivor count]] at the beginning credits (39,673) accounts for the deaths of [[Emily Kowalski]] and [[Jean Barolay]] in the previous episode, "[[Faith]]".
*Although it is a common Hollywood convention, a gunshot does not cause a person to fly backwards a large distance as shown with [[Natalie]]. The effect is achieved by pulling back the actors with a cable.
*The song Gaeta sings throughout the episode is called "[[Gaeta's Lament]]". The lyrics and the music were written by the episode's writer [[Michael Angeli]] based on a song his wife, Karen Angeli, composed.<ref name="source_ma">This is based on information [[Michael Angeli]] provided to the Battlestar Wiki. See [[Sources:Gaeta's Lament]] for full details.</ref> Series's composer [[Bear McCreary]] was responsible for the song's arrangement and for integrating the music throughout the episode.<ref name="source_ma" /> Actor [[Alessandro Juliani]], who studied opera and performed the song live on set, also greatly influenced it. McCreary discusses the song in his [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349 blog].
*The book Roslin carries when she meets with Baltar in the Raptor is ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', the same book Adama reads to her in "[[Escape Velocity]]".
*Just after the opening title, a Windows XP message box can be seen on one of the displays on the Cylon Basestar.

== Analysis ==
* [[Samuel Anders]] is distraught over his actions on the ''Demetrius'', notably those concerning Gaeta and having shot him in the leg that is later amputated. However, there is no indication yet that Anders will suffer any disciplinary procedures for the shooting, nor are any indicated for the alleged mutiny on the ''Demetrius''. A cover-up by the ''Demetrius'' crew with the Cylons' cooperation could be a possibility. A possible cover story for Anders shooting Gaeta is blaming it on the Six that killed [[Jean Barolay]]. Both the crew of the ''Demetrius'' and the Cylons have a vested interest in keeping the affair secret: the ''Demetrius'' crew wants to avoid various legal sanctions and the Cylons want smooth unhindered negotiations to cement an alliance with the Colonials. Felix Gaeta's silence would be critical here, but there are no specific reasons for him ''not'' to tell the truth, outside of loyalty and/or fear of possible mutiny charges.
*There is no overt on-screen reaction to the death of [[Cally Tyrol]] by the ''Demetrius'' crew nor any reaction to Galen Tyrol's demotion. However, they have certainly been told off-screen about both.
* [[Gaius Baltar]] is also drawn to see Gaeta, but the two do not interact; he is out of Gaeta's view and listening to him singing, suggesting that Baltar may have forgiven Gaeta for perjuring himself at Baltar's trial and for the earlier murder attempt.
* Natalie's philosophy concerning the Cylons' need for mortality in order to value life parallels [[Zoe-A]]'s statements to [[Clarice Willow]] when destroying the latter's [[apotheosis]] heaven decades earlier in "[[Apotheosis (episode)|Apotheosis]]".
* The Hybrid's prophecy that Kara Thrace is the "harbinger of death" takes on a new significance during Natalie's speech to the Quorum. Thrace herself begins to realize it may have a positive connotation, referring to the potential loss of immortality among the Cylons.
* During the Fleet's emergency jump sequence after the basestar suddenly appears, it can be seen that ''Galactica's'' bow gun batteries are still intact, though they have not been seen clearly in operation for some time. The scorching of the lower hull caused by the jump into [[New Caprica]]'s atmosphere is also very clear.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Where does the rebel baseship jump to? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* How many pilots are stationed on the baseship ([[Sine Qua Non|Partial answer]])
* How will the Quorum and [[Tom Zarek]] react to the loss of Laura Roslin? What about Admiral Adama? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does Natalie survive her gun-shot wounds? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama do about Agathon? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Will Colonel Tigh face any consequences for failing to protect Natalie? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* What will Adama and Tigh think happened to the baseship? Will they assume that the rebels intentionally abducted Roslin and the other humans aboard? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does the [[Hybrid]] jump the baseship as an automatic reaction upon reactivation, or with intent? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What will the re-activated Hybrid tell Laura Roslin, if anything at all? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* How will the now-sentient [[Centurion]]s on the rebel baseship react to the large number of humans on board? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* Is [[Samuel Anders]] among the pilots on the baseship? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* What will [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] do after he recovers from his amputation? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* How will the rebel Cylons react when they discover [[Natalie]] has been shot? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
* What is the meaning of Hera's drawings? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Possible Answer 1]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Possible Answer 2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* Why does Sharon Agathon handle the communications from the basestar to the Fleet in the beginning? Another Eight could pretend to be her.
* Might the dying leader be the now-mortal Natalie?
* Will Sharon Agathon's shooting of Natalie further strain her relationship with the Cylons?
* Do William Adama or Saul Tigh know of the complete story surrounding the mutiny on the ''Demetrius''?
* Why does Roslin ask Thrace to find Karl Agathon, specifically?
* Why does the Hub make random jumps for its own protection? Is it fear of the human fleet, or are the Cylons aware of a greater threat out there?

== Official Statements ==





== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''[[Natalie]] negotiating with the Colonials:''
:'''Natalie:''' Madam President, you asked for a reason to help us? Vengeance. You destroy the [[Resurrection Hub|hub]], the Cylons lose their ability to download. All of us.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' Why would you be willing to lose your ability to resurrect?
:'''Natalie:''' We're rebels. We can't go back.

*''[[Lee Adama]] talks to [[Laura Roslin]] about the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]]:''
:'''Lee Adama:''' I was with them. On the emergency jump. And I saw something in the faces of the delegates. Wasn't the anxiety of the waiting. It went beyond that. I was anxious; it was my first time. But they, they...they were empty. The Quorum had given up. And then it struck me, that after going through the same routine so many times, it was the only way that they could cope with the uncertainty; to presume the worst.
:'''Laura Roslin:''' You felt their suffering. Now try holding their lives in balance every day.
:'''Lee Adama:''' Talk to them. You don't have to tell them everything. I know how it works. Just talk to the Quorum. Let them put a face to this joint mission. Let them hear from the Cylon leader. Anything. Anything to put their fears to rest.

*''Natalie speaks to the Quorum:''
:"In our [[Cylon Civil War|civil war]], we've seen death. We watched our people die. Gone forever. As terrible as it was, beyond the reach of the Resurrection Ships, something began to change. We could feel a sense of time. As if each moment held its own significance. We began to realize that for our existence to hold any value it must end. To live meaningful lives we must die, and not return. The one human flaw, that you spend your lifetimes distressing over - mortality - is the one thing...well, it's the one thing that makes you whole."

* ''Laura Roslin to [[Tory Foster]] about getting information from [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]:''
:"I don't really care if you have to spend the night on your knees praying, or just on your knees. I want a name."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi|Hoshi]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson |Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] discusses the episode's score and specifically the song Gaeta sings: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=349]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Rat mal, was zum Essen kommt]]

The Road Less Traveled

2012-08-04T06:32:44Z

AlanHK: /* Unanswered Questions */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x05 - The Road Less Travelled - Promo 1.jpg
| title= The Road Less Traveled
| season= 4
| episode= 5
| guests=
| forumthread= 1008
| writer=[[Mark Verheiden]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Rymer]]
| production=407
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=2 May 2008
| CAN airdate=2 May 2008
| UK airdate=6 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39675
| prev= [[Escape Velocity]]
| next= [[Faith]]
| amazon=y
| podcast = Y
| frakr=Baltar Gets a Handshake
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}}

== Overview ==

: ''The prospect of a truce between the [[The Fleet (RDM)|remnants of humanity]] and the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]s encourages [[Kara Thrace]] to trust an old enemy.''

== Summary ==

=== On ''Galactica'' ===

* [[Gaius Baltar]] listens to the laments of [[Phoebe]], who lost her two children on [[Picon (RDM)|Picon]], as well as her husband, during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. She is angered by the fact that all this happened and that the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Gods]] did nothing to spite the people who were responsible for the attack, such as the politicians, programmers, and corporations. Baltar, surrounded by his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]], makes a speech (which is recorded and broadcast over the [[wireless]]) about how the Gods failed to come to their aid not because they didn't want to, but because the Lords of Kobol don't exist.

* [[Galen Tyrol]] is listening to Baltar's broadcast while exercising with a jumping rope, but turns it off eventually. [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicholas]] begins crying, so Tyrol turns it on again, which apparently soothes the child.

* Later, Tyrol silently stands in the [[launch tube (RDM)|launch tube]] where his wife died and is joined by [[Tory Foster]]. Foster tell him that it might never make sense, no matter how long he obsesses over it. Tyrol can't believe that she would commit suicide, despite taking anti-depressants and that she would never leave her son behind. Foster tells him to let it go and brings up the possibility that she might have known that he is a Cylon.

* After having sex with Foster, Baltar wonders if she is telling [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] about what he does. She affirms this, but says that the politicians have bigger things to worry about than him, and that only inconsequential people from the fringe of society are drawn to him.

* Later, Tyrol hears another of Baltar's sermons and heads down to the commune. There he listens, but is pulled aside by Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], who scowls and scoffs Tyrol for not getting over Cally's death quickly. Tyrol is told that he needs to get over Cally's death before they are outed as [[Final Five|Cylons]]. Tyrol retorts that Tigh isn't dealing well with their situation either and that he knows that Tigh has been spending time with [[Caprica-Six]].

* After Tigh leaves, Baltar calls out Tyrol, saying that he's sorry for his loss. Tyrol becomes furious, saying that Baltar is a scumbag and that, for some reason, Cally liked him and his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|manifesto]]. Baltar doesn't raise to the bait and asks Tyrol to shake his hand. However, Tyrol grabs him by the throat. Baltar's followers pull him away and Tyrol leaves after shouting "you didn't know her!"

* Back in his quarters, he becomes furious, takes a pistol from a shelf and briefly contemplates killing himself. Later, as Tyrol lies awake in bed, still with his service weapon in hand, Baltar visits him and apologizes for the things he said about Cally. He also tells Tyrol that he committed many crimes and accepted his religious role as his only remaining chance of redemption. Tyrol listens silently, then still without speaking extends his hand to Baltar, who takes it.

=== On the ''Demetrius'' ===

* On day 58 of their mission, [[Kara Thrace]] unexpectedly decides to join the [[Combat Air Patrol]], although this usually is beyond her duty as captain. With [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]] as her wingman, Thrace (in [[Diana Seelix|Seelix]]'s Viper) encounters a heavily damaged [[Heavy Raider]] that just appeared on their [[DRADIS]]. Both are unsure of what course of action to take, until [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]] hails them over the [[wireless]], offering them a truce between Cylons and humans and a chance for Thrace to complete her "journey."
* After allowing the Heavy Raider to dock, Conoy tells Thrace that the ones he left behind on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] need her help, but also that the [[Hybrid]] can help them. Although the crew doesn't find any explosives or tracking devices in the Raider, they are suspicious of Conoy.
* However, Thrace has Conoy escorted to her quarters, where he aims to help her until [[Samuel Anders]] sees how physically close they are and assaults Conoy. He fights with him until the Marines drag Conoy away to lock him up in a closet.
* Anders visits Conoy there to ask him what he wants from Thrace. He tells Anders that he wants to understand her [[The Destiny|destiny]], which Anders doesn't consider good enough. Conoy replies that it is good enough for Thrace and that Anders might have his own destiny, beyond his relatively inconsequential life as a [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] player. Conoy's words disturb Anders, who fears Conoy may know of his Cylon nature. Conoy also repeats his offer of a truce and that they can find Earth, the "promised land," together.
* On the bridge, [[Sharon Agathon]] and others express their concern that Thrace cannot be trusted, and that they have to meet up with the Fleet to refuel. Moreover, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] made it clear that if the ship didn't return by then, they would be considered lost.
* [[Karl Agathon]] defends Starbuck's authority, but out of concern orders a more thorough search for tracking devices and other potential issues. Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias|Mathias]] dons a spacesuit and conducts an inspection of the hull, but is blown away and killed after the reactor on the ship goes critical.
* After her death, Thrace makes a speech to the ship's crew in the mess hall, saying that sometimes people die senseless deaths, but that she is responsible for Mathias's death and has to live with it. She is trying to concede that she may have been a difficult captain, but can't find the words. [[Felix Gaeta]] tries to come to her aid, by telling her that the rendezvous coordinates with the Fleet have been laid in, but Thrace again insists to meet with Conoy's basestar.
* At this, [[Eammon Pike]] becomes openly hostile and riles everyone up against Thrace's order, believing that her course of action will get them killed, too. Captain Agathon offers him a chance to walk away, but when Pike continues, he pistol whips him into unconsciousness.
* Later, on the bridge, she orders the crew to spin up the [[FTL]] drives and prepare to jump to the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]]' basestar. Captain Agathon refuses, which leads her to promote Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] to be her new XO, who refuses to carry out the order as well. Agathon then officially relieves Thrace of command, citing the [[Colonial Military Code]].

== Notes ==
*The title is derived from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by [[w:Robert Frost|Robert Frost]]
::''Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—''
::''I took the one less traveled by,''
::''And that has made all the difference.''
:The common interpretation is that one may be rewarded greatly by choosing a more difficult path than the one used by the crowd. The phrase may also have had a religious meaning for Frost, alluding to [http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat007.htm Matthew 7,12-14], which mentions a broad gate leading to destruction and a narrow gate leading to salvation. <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://local.google.com/answers/threadview?id=426710|title=Google Answers: Origin of "road less travelled"}}</ref>
* The survivor count increases by one, meaning that at least one child has been born in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].
* It has been 58 days since the end of "[[Six of One]]", when Kara Thrace is given the command of the ''[[Demetrius]]''.
* Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias|Mathias]]'s first name, Erin, is spoken for the first time on screen.
* Neither [[William Adama]] nor [[Laura Roslin]] appear in this episode. In both cases, this is [[Central character absences (RDM)|unprecedented]].
* Just before the damaged Heavy Raider comes into view, the constellation of Orion is clearly visible by mistake<ref>Revealed by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] in his [http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/my-god-it-full-of-the-wrong-stars/ blog post].</ref>, just as it was during the Cavil-Boomer faction's ambush of the Natalie-Conoy faction.
* In a deleted scene (included on the Season 4.0 DVD), just before going out to talk to his followers, Baltar is visited by [[Virtual Six]], who proceeds to say goodbye to him, saying he no longer needs him anymore. Baltar thanks her and leaves; Virtual Six watches him go and then fades away. Virtual Six reappears in a later episode, rendering this farewell scene moot.

== Analysis ==

=== Characters ===

==== Kara Thrace ====

* This episode states clearly that Thrace does remember what happened when she descended into the maelstrom that supposedly killed her. She apparently remembers chasing the Heavy Raider, the vision of her mother, and the message that she has a destiny to fulfill.
* In an interesting moment of symmetry, Conoy, after being beaten up and thrown down by Anders, recites the first article of faith. This is a call back to "[[Flesh and Bone]]", when after one of the interrogation sessions he experienced at the hands of Thrace, he recites the first article of faith.
* Although [[Karl Agathon]] initially defends Thrace against her crew's discontent and tries to quell any insubordination, he eventually leads the mutiny against her. The difference is that [[Eammon Pike]], and to a lesser extent [[Sharon Agathon]], complain about Thrace behind her back and in an informal way, thus potentially impeding everyone in their work. When push comes to shove, Agathon shares their opinion, but uses official means by citing Colonial military regulations. As executive officer he is also in a better and more credible position to do so than the rest of the crew.

==== Galen Tyrol ====

* Instead of using his demotion as a wakeup call, Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] has slipped further into despair and even contemplates killing himself. That he has completely shaven his head might also be an indicator of his state of mind.
* Earlier resenting Baltar's presumption of believing what Tyrol's dead wife Cally would want, Tyrol strangles Baltar after ignoring his hand to shake. After Tyrol's suicide effort Baltar visits him in his quarters to apologize and Tyrol accepts Baltar's handshake. In light of Tyrol's resentment, and even hatred, towards Baltar displayed in other episodes, it seems more likely that Tyrol forgives Baltar for offending him in this one instance, but not for all his sins as Baltar may intend.
* Tyrol contemplating to kill himself is visually and thematically similar to [[Sharon Valerii]]'s suicide thoughts in "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]". Both either suspect or know that they are a Cylon and fear to hurt those around them. However, Valerii was more serious and calm about killing herself and made a real attempt to do so, while Tyrol acts in a fit of rage and eventually calms down.
* In spite of Foster clinging to the idea that she is perfect and thus cannot be held accountable for her actions, her unwillingness and blatant lying to Tyrol about Cally's death betrays her fear of what would happen if Tyrol were to learn that she was responsible for her murder.

=== Cylons ===

* Conoy's comments to Anders indicate that a true Cylon civil war has commenced, and not an isolated incident between the Cavil-Boomer faction vs. the Natalie-Conoy ("rebel") faction.
* The Cylon Civil War appears to be fulfillment of the [[First Hybrid]]'s prophecy from "[[Razor]]". "''[[Significant Seven|They]] will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of the one splintering into the many...''" Furthermore, it appears that the alliance offered by Conoy to the Colonials could possibly be the meaning of "''...they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning''," as Conoy tells Thrace that he now sees an angel when he looks at her.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* How will the situation on the ''Demetrius'' be resolved? ([[Faith|Answer]])
* What have Tigh and Caprica-Six been doing recently? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does Conoy sense that Anders is a fellow Cylon? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* Will Galen Tyrol begin to associate with Baltar? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Partial Answer #1]], [[The Oath|Partial Answer #2]], [[Blood on the Scales|Partial Answer #3]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* If yes to the last question in the above section, will Baltar have a positive influence on Tyrol and help him to overcome his grief or uncertainty about being a Cylon?
* Why does Baltar's broadcast appear to soothe Nicholas Tyrol?
* How large has Baltar's movement grown?
* Did Conoy intend for his Raider to explode or is it really an accident?
* Why does Baltar focus on making amends with Tyrol? Is it because of Foster's words, a genuine desire to reach out to Tyrol, or both?
* Why is everyone on ''Demetrius'' permanently slick with sweat? Is there a problem with the air conditioning?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''[[Gaius Baltar]] to [[Galen Tyrol]] about his conversion to a believer:''
:"I know it's hard to...make sense of things sometimes. In my own life, I...in my own life I've joined the fleet as a scientist, as a skeptic, as a...supposedly a man of reason. Only to have fate turn that all on its head. But I understand now that there is a purpose to it. We change. We evolve. Maybe we even learn something along the way. (pauses) I have committed...unconscionable crimes. And I have been offered one last chance at redemption, because I chose to accept my fate and not fight it anymore."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]]
* [[Eileen Pedde]] as Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracey Anne]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
* [[Lori Triolo]] as [[Phoebe]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[Tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=306

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Rymer]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Meuterei im All]]

The Road Less Traveled

2012-08-04T06:32:16Z

AlanHK: /* Unanswered Questions */ another Q

{{Episode Data
| image=4x05 - The Road Less Travelled - Promo 1.jpg
| title= The Road Less Traveled
| season= 4
| episode= 5
| guests=
| forumthread= 1008
| writer=[[Mark Verheiden]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Rymer]]
| production=407
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=2 May 2008
| CAN airdate=2 May 2008
| UK airdate=6 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39675
| prev= [[Escape Velocity]]
| next= [[Faith]]
| amazon=y
| podcast = Y
| frakr=Baltar Gets a Handshake
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289297277%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289297277%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
}}

== Overview ==

: ''The prospect of a truce between the [[The Fleet (RDM)|remnants of humanity]] and the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]s encourages [[Kara Thrace]] to trust an old enemy.''

== Summary ==

=== On ''Galactica'' ===

* [[Gaius Baltar]] listens to the laments of [[Phoebe]], who lost her two children on [[Picon (RDM)|Picon]], as well as her husband, during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]]. She is angered by the fact that all this happened and that the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Gods]] did nothing to spite the people who were responsible for the attack, such as the politicians, programmers, and corporations. Baltar, surrounded by his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]], makes a speech (which is recorded and broadcast over the [[wireless]]) about how the Gods failed to come to their aid not because they didn't want to, but because the Lords of Kobol don't exist.

* [[Galen Tyrol]] is listening to Baltar's broadcast while exercising with a jumping rope, but turns it off eventually. [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicholas]] begins crying, so Tyrol turns it on again, which apparently soothes the child.

* Later, Tyrol silently stands in the [[launch tube (RDM)|launch tube]] where his wife died and is joined by [[Tory Foster]]. Foster tell him that it might never make sense, no matter how long he obsesses over it. Tyrol can't believe that she would commit suicide, despite taking anti-depressants and that she would never leave her son behind. Foster tells him to let it go and brings up the possibility that she might have known that he is a Cylon.

* After having sex with Foster, Baltar wonders if she is telling [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] about what he does. She affirms this, but says that the politicians have bigger things to worry about than him, and that only inconsequential people from the fringe of society are drawn to him.

* Later, Tyrol hears another of Baltar's sermons and heads down to the commune. There he listens, but is pulled aside by Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], who scowls and scoffs Tyrol for not getting over Cally's death quickly. Tyrol is told that he needs to get over Cally's death before they are outed as [[Final Five|Cylons]]. Tyrol retorts that Tigh isn't dealing well with their situation either and that he knows that Tigh has been spending time with [[Caprica-Six]].

* After Tigh leaves, Baltar calls out Tyrol, saying that he's sorry for his loss. Tyrol becomes furious, saying that Baltar is a scumbag and that, for some reason, Cally liked him and his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|manifesto]]. Baltar doesn't raise to the bait and asks Tyrol to shake his hand. However, Tyrol grabs him by the throat. Baltar's followers pull him away and Tyrol leaves after shouting "you didn't know her!"

* Back in his quarters, he becomes furious, takes a pistol from a shelf and briefly contemplates killing himself. Later, as Tyrol lies awake in bed, still with his service weapon in hand, Baltar visits him and apologizes for the things he said about Cally. He also tells Tyrol that he committed many crimes and accepted his religious role as his only remaining chance of redemption. Tyrol listens silently, then still without speaking extends his hand to Baltar, who takes it.

=== On the ''Demetrius'' ===

* On day 58 of their mission, [[Kara Thrace]] unexpectedly decides to join the [[Combat Air Patrol]], although this usually is beyond her duty as captain. With [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]] as her wingman, Thrace (in [[Diana Seelix|Seelix]]'s Viper) encounters a heavily damaged [[Heavy Raider]] that just appeared on their [[DRADIS]]. Both are unsure of what course of action to take, until [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]] hails them over the [[wireless]], offering them a truce between Cylons and humans and a chance for Thrace to complete her "journey."
* After allowing the Heavy Raider to dock, Conoy tells Thrace that the ones he left behind on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] need her help, but also that the [[Hybrid]] can help them. Although the crew doesn't find any explosives or tracking devices in the Raider, they are suspicious of Conoy.
* However, Thrace has Conoy escorted to her quarters, where he aims to help her until [[Samuel Anders]] sees how physically close they are and assaults Conoy. He fights with him until the Marines drag Conoy away to lock him up in a closet.
* Anders visits Conoy there to ask him what he wants from Thrace. He tells Anders that he wants to understand her [[The Destiny|destiny]], which Anders doesn't consider good enough. Conoy replies that it is good enough for Thrace and that Anders might have his own destiny, beyond his relatively inconsequential life as a [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] player. Conoy's words disturb Anders, who fears Conoy may know of his Cylon nature. Conoy also repeats his offer of a truce and that they can find Earth, the "promised land," together.
* On the bridge, [[Sharon Agathon]] and others express their concern that Thrace cannot be trusted, and that they have to meet up with the Fleet to refuel. Moreover, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] made it clear that if the ship didn't return by then, they would be considered lost.
* [[Karl Agathon]] defends Starbuck's authority, but out of concern orders a more thorough search for tracking devices and other potential issues. Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias|Mathias]] dons a spacesuit and conducts an inspection of the hull, but is blown away and killed after the reactor on the ship goes critical.
* After her death, Thrace makes a speech to the ship's crew in the mess hall, saying that sometimes people die senseless deaths, but that she is responsible for Mathias's death and has to live with it. She is trying to concede that she may have been a difficult captain, but can't find the words. [[Felix Gaeta]] tries to come to her aid, by telling her that the rendezvous coordinates with the Fleet have been laid in, but Thrace again insists to meet with Conoy's basestar.
* At this, [[Eammon Pike]] becomes openly hostile and riles everyone up against Thrace's order, believing that her course of action will get them killed, too. Captain Agathon offers him a chance to walk away, but when Pike continues, he pistol whips him into unconsciousness.
* Later, on the bridge, she orders the crew to spin up the [[FTL]] drives and prepare to jump to the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]]' basestar. Captain Agathon refuses, which leads her to promote Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]] to be her new XO, who refuses to carry out the order as well. Agathon then officially relieves Thrace of command, citing the [[Colonial Military Code]].

== Notes ==
*The title is derived from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by [[w:Robert Frost|Robert Frost]]
::''Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—''
::''I took the one less traveled by,''
::''And that has made all the difference.''
:The common interpretation is that one may be rewarded greatly by choosing a more difficult path than the one used by the crowd. The phrase may also have had a religious meaning for Frost, alluding to [http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat007.htm Matthew 7,12-14], which mentions a broad gate leading to destruction and a narrow gate leading to salvation. <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://local.google.com/answers/threadview?id=426710|title=Google Answers: Origin of "road less travelled"}}</ref>
* The survivor count increases by one, meaning that at least one child has been born in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].
* It has been 58 days since the end of "[[Six of One]]", when Kara Thrace is given the command of the ''[[Demetrius]]''.
* Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias|Mathias]]'s first name, Erin, is spoken for the first time on screen.
* Neither [[William Adama]] nor [[Laura Roslin]] appear in this episode. In both cases, this is [[Central character absences (RDM)|unprecedented]].
* Just before the damaged Heavy Raider comes into view, the constellation of Orion is clearly visible by mistake<ref>Revealed by [[Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz]] in his [http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/my-god-it-full-of-the-wrong-stars/ blog post].</ref>, just as it was during the Cavil-Boomer faction's ambush of the Natalie-Conoy faction.
* In a deleted scene (included on the Season 4.0 DVD), just before going out to talk to his followers, Baltar is visited by [[Virtual Six]], who proceeds to say goodbye to him, saying he no longer needs him anymore. Baltar thanks her and leaves; Virtual Six watches him go and then fades away. Virtual Six reappears in a later episode, rendering this farewell scene moot.

== Analysis ==

=== Characters ===

==== Kara Thrace ====

* This episode states clearly that Thrace does remember what happened when she descended into the maelstrom that supposedly killed her. She apparently remembers chasing the Heavy Raider, the vision of her mother, and the message that she has a destiny to fulfill.
* In an interesting moment of symmetry, Conoy, after being beaten up and thrown down by Anders, recites the first article of faith. This is a call back to "[[Flesh and Bone]]", when after one of the interrogation sessions he experienced at the hands of Thrace, he recites the first article of faith.
* Although [[Karl Agathon]] initially defends Thrace against her crew's discontent and tries to quell any insubordination, he eventually leads the mutiny against her. The difference is that [[Eammon Pike]], and to a lesser extent [[Sharon Agathon]], complain about Thrace behind her back and in an informal way, thus potentially impeding everyone in their work. When push comes to shove, Agathon shares their opinion, but uses official means by citing Colonial military regulations. As executive officer he is also in a better and more credible position to do so than the rest of the crew.

==== Galen Tyrol ====

* Instead of using his demotion as a wakeup call, Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] has slipped further into despair and even contemplates killing himself. That he has completely shaven his head might also be an indicator of his state of mind.
* Earlier resenting Baltar's presumption of believing what Tyrol's dead wife Cally would want, Tyrol strangles Baltar after ignoring his hand to shake. After Tyrol's suicide effort Baltar visits him in his quarters to apologize and Tyrol accepts Baltar's handshake. In light of Tyrol's resentment, and even hatred, towards Baltar displayed in other episodes, it seems more likely that Tyrol forgives Baltar for offending him in this one instance, but not for all his sins as Baltar may intend.
* Tyrol contemplating to kill himself is visually and thematically similar to [[Sharon Valerii]]'s suicide thoughts in "[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]". Both either suspect or know that they are a Cylon and fear to hurt those around them. However, Valerii was more serious and calm about killing herself and made a real attempt to do so, while Tyrol acts in a fit of rage and eventually calms down.
* In spite of Foster clinging to the idea that she is perfect and thus cannot be held accountable for her actions, her unwillingness and blatant lying to Tyrol about Cally's death betrays her fear of what would happen if Tyrol were to learn that she was responsible for her murder.

=== Cylons ===

* Conoy's comments to Anders indicate that a true Cylon civil war has commenced, and not an isolated incident between the Cavil-Boomer faction vs. the Natalie-Conoy ("rebel") faction.
* The Cylon Civil War appears to be fulfillment of the [[First Hybrid]]'s prophecy from "[[Razor]]". "''[[Significant Seven|They]] will know enmity, bitterness, the wrenching agony of the one splintering into the many...''" Furthermore, it appears that the alliance offered by Conoy to the Colonials could possibly be the meaning of "''...they will join the promised land, gathered on the wings of an angel. Not an end, but a beginning''," as Conoy tells Thrace that he now sees an angel when he looks at her.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* How will the situation on the ''Demetrius'' be resolved? ([[Faith|Answer]])
* What have Tigh and Caprica-Six been doing recently? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Does Conoy sense that Anders is a fellow Cylon? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* Will Galen Tyrol begin to associate with Baltar? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Partial Answer #1]], [[The Oath|Partial Answer #2]], [[Blood on the Scales|Partial Answer #3]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

* If yes to the last question in the above section, will Baltar have a positive influence on Tyrol and help him to overcome his grief or uncertainty about being a Cylon?
* Why does Baltar's broadcast appear to soothe Nicholas Tyrol?
* How large has Baltar's movement grown?
* Did Conoy intend for his Raider to explode or is it really an accident?
* Why does Baltar focus on making amends with Tyrol? Is it because of Foster's words, a genuine desire to reach out to Tyrol, or both?
* Why is everyone on ''Demetrius'' permanently slick with sweat? Is there a problem with he air conditioning?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''[[Gaius Baltar]] to [[Galen Tyrol]] about his conversion to a believer:''
:"I know it's hard to...make sense of things sometimes. In my own life, I...in my own life I've joined the fleet as a scientist, as a skeptic, as a...supposedly a man of reason. Only to have fate turn that all on its head. But I understand now that there is a purpose to it. We change. We evolve. Maybe we even learn something along the way. (pauses) I have committed...unconscionable crimes. And I have been offered one last chance at redemption, because I chose to accept my fate and not fight it anymore."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]]
* [[Eileen Pedde]] as Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracey Anne]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
* [[Lori Triolo]] as [[Phoebe]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[Tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=306

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Rymer]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Meuterei im All]]

Faith

2012-08-04T06:24:59Z

AlanHK: /* Characters */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x06 - Faith - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Faith
| season= 4
| episode= 6
| forumthread= 1040
| guests=
| writer=[[Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Nankin]]
| production=408
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=9 May 2008
| CAN airdate=9 May 2008
| UK airdate=13 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| podcast=Y
| oldpopulation=39676
| population=39675
| prev= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| next= [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
| imdb=0993930
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289297734%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289297734%2526id%253D287463411%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| amazon=Y
| amazon SD=B00199E5RA
| amazon HD=B001LZXV1S
}}

== Overview ==

:''The cancer-stricken President [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] and hotheaded pilot [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] both must make difficult leaps of faith in order to accept an uneasy alliance with the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*Angry and defiant at [[Karl Agathon|Karl Agathon]]'s refusal to [[The Road Less Traveled|obey orders]] to travel to a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] attempts to jump the ship herself when [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] restrains her.
*Agathon orders [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] to jump the ship back to ''Galactica''. [[Samuel Anders|Samuel Anders]] points out that they will be returning as mutineers, but Agathon responds that Admiral Adama will sort things out.
*Anders intervenes with a sidearm, shooting Gaeta in the leg to stop him from following Agathon's order to jump back to the Fleet. Chaos ensues as Marines arrive.
*Everyone stands down as Gaeta is attended to, in severe pain from a leg wound.
*Realizing that taking the ''[[Demetrius|Demetrius]]'' itself to the baseship would be too great a risk, Thrace rescinds her original order, suggesting to fly their only [[Raptor|Raptor]] to the baseship with Athena and Anders as crew, taking [[Leoben Conoy|Leoben Conoy]] with them. Agathon initially objects but realizes it's the best compromise. He tells her that she has only 15 hours to complete her mission before the ''Demetrius'' must jump to rendezvous with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] or be left behind.

=== Act 1 ===

*[[Tory Foster|Tory Foster]] is packing things up on ''[[Colonial One|Colonial One]]''. [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] is at her desk, bald and not wearing her wig. She tells Foster to keep things going as she finishes the last two [[Doloxan]] treatments, where she'll be on ''[[Galactica|Galactica]]'' and indisposed during that time. Roslin tries to encourage Foster to watch out for sudden moves by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]].
*On day 58 of their mission, the crew prepares the Raptor. Athena promises to work with Thrace as does [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]], who appreciates Thrace's strong reputation.
*The Raptor jumps and finds a massive graveyard of dead baseships and [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] floating dead in space. Thrace is amazed. They are by a large gas giant in a trinary star system, just as her visions suggested.
*On the ''Demetrius'', Gaeta is heavily medicated with [[Morpha|morpha]] for the pain. He asks Agathon not to have Dr. [[Cottle|Cottle]] amputate his leg, as he realizes that the longer he doesn't get advanced care, the more likely [[:w:gangrene|gangrene]] will set in.
*The Raptor carefully searches for the baseship amidst the exploding ordnance. Thrace can hear "music" (Leoben confirms this is a rare trait among some Cylons as well) and takes control to fly the Raptor towards the gas giant. She sees the comet she expected, but not in the form; Leoben's stricken baseship is flying past, trailing gas that gives it a comet-like appearance.
*When approaching the baseship, the Raptor is hit by a piece of debris hurtled at them from an explosion and impacting the cockpit canopy.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:408 showdown.jpg|thumb|Natalie attempts to defuse the situation...]]

*Thrace awakens to find the Raptor safely landed within the baseship interior.

*Athena arrives to find herself surrounded by an army of other [[Number Eight|Number Eights]], who recognize her independence from all things Cylon. They ask her to help mutiny against the [[Number Six|Sixes]], whom they feel have been making a series of mistakes. Athena rejects them, telling them to find their own individuality and help her or get out of her way.
*In sickbay, amidst [[Gaius Baltar|Gaius Baltar]]'s voice on [[Wireless|wireless]] discussing his [[God (RDM)|God]], Roslin encounters a woman in [[Sickbay|sickbay]], [[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]], who is gravely ill with cancer as well. When Roslin tries to turn off the wireless and Baltar, the woman becomes very upset and yells for Roslin to leave.
*Thrace's meeting with the surviving leaders of the baseship does not go well, but Leoben succeeds in convincing [[Natalie|Natalie]] that they must work together.
*Athena accesses the [[Datastream|datastream]] to determine how to mate the Raptor's jump drive to the baseship. Doing so requires disconnecting the Hybrid. As the group preps, Anders slowly reaches down to touch the [[Data-font|data-font]] but pulls his hand back when Thrace calls his name.
*A Six sees [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]] and recognizes her as the human who killed her on [[New Caprica|New Caprica]]. When Barolay doesn't show any remorse and says she would do the same again, the Six attacks her and smashes her head into the Raptor's hull, which kills Barolay. Anders pounces on the Six and is ready to kill the Cylon when Thrace manages to talk him down.
*The Six that killed Barolay speaks to Natalie, obviously dealing with psychological trauma from the death on New Caprica that she had not been able to shake. After kissing the distraught Six, Natalie grabs Anders's hand and pulls the trigger on his gun, killing the Six permanently as there is no [[Resurrection Ship|Resurrection Ship]] nearby, carrying out a form of justice for the Colonials, who are shocked.
*Roslin meets again with Emily Kowalski, who gives her a scarf, a present. The two make small talk of what they will do after they get well. She warns Roslin that her sickness will get worse and to be prepared.

=== Act 3 ===

*Thrace arrives in the Hybrid's chamber, who seems to ignore her, discussing ship functions but repeating one phrase in particular.[[Image:408 unplugging the hybrid.jpg|thumb|Agathon unplugs the Hybrid after it delivers its prophecy to Thrace.]]

*In sickbay, Emily Kowalski tells Roslin why she listens to Baltar. After speaking to Cottle, she tells of a dream where she saw people standing on the opposite side of a river: dead loved ones. She felt a presence, a warm loving presence that calmed her. Roslin questions the dream but Emily notes that the dream is real.

*Thrace and Natalie continue to listen to the [[Hybrid utterances|Hybrid's utterances]]. Leoben instructs Thrace to listen carefully, not to hurry the construct.

*Athena is ready to activate the jump augmentations and disconnect the Hybrid. Irritated at getting nowhere with the Hybrid, Thrace orders the jump.
*When it is unplugged, the Hybrid makes an inhuman scream, which causes a guarding [[Cylon Centurion|Cylon Centurion]] (still in [[Telencephalic inhibitor|sentient mode]]) to fire in defense, severely wounding an Eight before the group manages to take the Centurion down.

*The Hybrid gives Thrace a coherent message as the Eight's blood mixes with the fluid in her tank: The dying leader will discover the truth about the [[Opera House|Opera House]], the missing Three will be used to find the Five, who come from the home of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]], and that she, Thrace, is the harbinger of death that will take all to their end. Thrace is horrified at the message. The Hybrid then deactivates.

*Kowalski and Roslin continue to discuss the authenticity of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] and Baltar's God. Roslin becomes upset when she talks of her mother's death from cancer and the striking lack of anything noble or calming at that moment. As Kowalski tries to comfort her, the woman suddenly has a violent seizure of pain. Cottle arrives with medication, but tells Roslin that there's not much they can do for Kowalski now.

=== Act 4 ===

*As the group waits, the dying Eight speaks to Athena, who reaches out for her, but hesitates when she wants to touch her hand. Anders steps in to tenderly comfort the Cylon as she dies, astonished at how similar she is to a human.

*The group deciphers the Hybrid's message. All come to the conclusion that the final five Cylons came from the Thirteenth Tribe and so must also know the way to Earth. The boxed [[Number Three|Number Threes]] will lead them to the Final Five. Anders is unnerved by the conversation, likely fearing the exposure of his Cylon identity. The group leave to meet the ''Demetrius'', with Anders leaving last, still puzzled that he is drawn to help the Eight.

*Kowalski's vision of a river comes to pass in a dream Roslin experiences. The two stand on a boat, looking at a shore where human figures begin to appear, smiling and waving at Kowalski. Kowalski disappears to meet them, materializing on the shore. Roslin feels joy, then sees her own mother, smiling and waiting for Roslin to join her. She tells her she is not yet ready, stepping away from the boat's side, as the dream ends.

*Awakening from her dream, Roslin goes to see Kowalski but finds her bed empty. She died some time while she slept. Only her wireless receiver remains, still switched on.

*''Demetrius'' is prepping to leave as seconds count down but Agathon lets the clock run over in hesitation and to the crew's apprehension. Seconds before he is about to order the jump, the baseship arrives and broadcasts Colonial ID. Wireless contact is established with Athena, who reports that the baseship has been secured, much to Agathon's relief, and both ships prepare to join ''Galactica'' and the fleet.

*On ''Galactica'', Roslin meets with [[William Adama|William Adama]] in his quarters. She tells him that something may be truthful in Baltar's words, but Adama is reluctant. A sorrowful Adama talks of Thrace's death and return, [[Lee Adama|his son's]] [[Crossroads, Part I|resignation from the military]], and laments all the crew he sent with Thrace, wondering if he will see them again. But Roslin comforts him. The two smile as Adama tells her that Roslin helped him to believe that they really will find Earth.

== Notes ==

[[Image:Roslin's mother.jpg|thumb|Roslin's mother.]]

*Baltar's wireless broadcast contains a number of phrases from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy of [[:w:Hamlet|Hamlet]], including "shuffle off this mortal coil," and "the undiscover'd country, from whose bourn no traveler returns." These phrases refer to death and the afterlife, respectively. The full text of the soliloquy can be found [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Hamlet%2C_Prince_of_Denmark/Act_3 here].
*Meanwhile, the Hybrid's repeated speech borrows text from the Biblical book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 13 to 17.
*The comet/drifting baseship bears a visual resemblance to the [[Ship of Lights|Ship of Lights]] from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], both in the painting and reality.
*This episode marks the third time Laura Roslin discusses her family in any detail, and the first time viewers see an image of [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]. (The first mention, also involving her mother's fight with cancer, was in "[[Act of Contrition|Act of Contrition]]" in Season 1.)

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*Some of the writers' misdirection from "[[He That Believeth in Me|He That Believeth in Me]]" becomes clear. The "giant gas planet with rings," assumed to be [[:w:Jupiter|Jupiter]] or [[:w:Saturn|Saturn]], is revealed to be at the site of the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon battle]]. Moreover, the comet is a damaged and drifting basestar. This also explains how Leoben was able to help Thrace paint the scene in the previous episode, since he had already witnessed it himself.
*A close-up of Kara Thrace in the Hybrid's chamber evokes the [[Eye of Jupiter|Eye of Jupiter]], with Thrace's blue eye at the center, ringed by her bloodied eyebrow and blonde hair.
* The light pattern as the raptor jumps to the basestar also resembles the mandala.
*With its inhibitor removed, the Centurion in the Hybrid's chamber seems visibly more aware of its environment. It turns its head to gaze at each member of the group as they enter, and again at Thrace as she questions the Hybrid. This contrasts with what was seen previously, when Centurions on guard duty simply stand immobile unless they perceive a threat, or are given a direct order.
*[[Jean Barolay|Barolay]]'s sudden death after the Six attacks her indicates that the Six's blows and delivered concussions caused internal bleeding into Barolay's brain.
*The importance of physical touching in Cylon culture is exhibited in this episode, especially how Cylons interact among their own specific models. For example, before Natalie executes the Six who murdered Barolay, they kiss each other. When the Eight who was shot by the Centurion is dying, she asks for Athena's forgiveness in her attempt to lead a mutiny, and stretches out her hand to touch Athena's. However, Athena refuses, and Anders steps in to provide that sense of touch before she dies. This interaction amongst the models within their own model number may be a reflection of being "with each other," especially in times of certain death. Something like this was seen earlier in "[[A Measure of Salvation|A Measure of Salvation]]", where the dying Cylons aboard the stricken basestar link hands in prayer.

=== Religion ===

*Even though Baltar is preaching for the "one true [[God (RDM)|God]]," the symbolism of a boat crossing a river to the land of the dead is very similar to the Greek legends involving the [[:w:Styx|River Styx]]. It can be expected that Baltar borrows some of his teachings from an established religion that people are familiar with. This in part parallels the rise of Christianity, which expressed some of its ideas through the existing cultural forms of the established Roman polytheistic religions.
*Emily Kowalski's description of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] and their behavior is quite consistent with that of Greek mythology.
*When speaking of her mother's death, Laura Roslin mentions the [[:w:Elysium|Fields of Elysium]], a portion of the Greek underworld where heroic or virtuous souls end up after death that bears a resemblance to heaven in Christianity. It appears that the Colonials view of the afterlife is almost identical to that of the ancient Greeks.
*Roslin believes that the Lords of Kobol are not to be taken seriously but are metaphors. Roslin's mother took them more literally.
*The [[Hybrid utterances|hybrid utterance]] "All these things at once and many more, not because it wishes harm, because it likes violent vibrations to change constantly." appears to be a paraphrase of a line from the [[:w:Theosophy|theosophical]] text "[[:w:At_the_Feet_of_the_Master|At the Feet of the Master]]"

=== Characters ===

*The Eights' attempt to recruit Athena to lead a mutiny against the Sixes and presumably the Twos reveal an apparent character flaw that is prevalent amongst this particular model. Their allegiances and loyalty to a cause are not as strong as their fellow Cylon models, should those ties and beliefs cause suffering or death.
**This is also a somewhat ironic twist, as Athena and others aboard the ''Demetrius'' were encouraging Karl Agathon to initiate their own mutiny against Thrace just hours earlier. However, Athena is likely referring to her allegiance to the Colonials as a whole, which has not diminished.
*While the Sixes and the Twos are willing to initiate the search for the Final Five because of their specific strong religious beliefs, the Eights apparently join them not because of a desire in unraveling the mystery, so much as because it grants them the opportunity to say "no" to their programming.
*Though the word "faith" is never explicitly spoken throughout the episode, multiple allusions to the idea of trust are provided through the characters' interactions with each other. This is especially evident in the multiple times the phrase "...with you" appears in the dialog. When the Eight that is shot by the Centurion is dying, Anders holds her arm and tells her that he is with her. When Roslin and Adama speak with each other, Roslin tells Adama, after he pours out his feelings of uncertainty and doubt, that she is with him.
*Athena also shows deep conflict within herself in this episode in regards to her nature as a Cylon as seen in multiple scenes. Leoben's words to her about how their trip is a "homecoming" for Athena causes an immediate response. Later, when the Eights touch her and attempt to recruit her, she expresses disgust with them, but possibly including herself. Her declaration of choosing a side and sticking to it may be something she needs to hear more than they do. When Anders takes out his gun to execute the Six, it is Athena who also takes out her gun to defend the "human" and refers to herself as a human. Finally, her refusal to hold the dying Eight's hand shows a reluctance of being seen as a Cylon and that she is not with them.

== Questions ==

*Are the Centurions capable of getting an IFF signal from a humanoid Cylon, like a Raider does? Could one have exposed Anders if he had made direct eye contact?
*What does the Hybrid's statement that the five come from the home of the thirteenth mean? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]])
**Were they made on Earth, the home of the thirteenth tribe? Or did they voyage to Earth from Cylon/Colonial space and then return? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
**Does "the thirteenth" refer to "[[The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken|The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken]]" mentioned in "[[The Eye of Jupiter|The Eye of Jupiter]]", to whom the [[Temple of Five|Temple of Five]] was dedicated?
*Will Thrace tell anyone about the Hybrid calling her "the harbinger of death"? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]]) Does anyone else hear the Hybrid's words to her?
*Will Helo and the others have to answer for their mutiny?
*How will Gaeta's injury affect his duties? Will his leg be amputated? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*What would have happened if Anders had put his hand in the [[Data-font|data-font]]? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars#Analysis|Answer]])
*Why should the Cylons have any trouble figuring out the Raptor's FTL system? They have previously used Raptors ([[Torn|Torn]]).
*Why are the Raiders' FTL systems unsuitable?
*How will the Fleet respond when the ''Demetrius'' returns with the shipwrecked basestar in tow? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Without Natalie's help, would Anders have been able to pull the trigger to execute the Six?
*Does the revelation that the Final Five are from Earth and can lead the fleet to it encourage the hidden Four to reveal themselves? ([[Revelations|Possible Answer]])
*How will the Cylon rebels unbox the Threes? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
*Is Natalie's baseship the last place where there are Sixs, Twos, and Eights?
*Why did the Cavils' forces leave one baseship largely intact? ([[Talk:Battle_of_the_Trinary_Star_System#Rebel_Basestar|Possible Answer]])
*Will Barolay's death, despite the execution of the Six, affect the truce amongst the Colonials once they discover that two from the ''Demetrius'' mission are dead?
*Is Conoy the only Two left amongst the Cylon rebels? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Why is Athena chosen to speak to the ''Demetrius'', given that another Eight could easily impersonate her?
*Are the baseship's crew all that remain of the Cylon rebels, or are there other survivors elsewhere?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Nana Visitor]] discusses her experiences while filming this episode:'''
: It was real acting, like I hadn't done for a while, and [it had] real writing. I loved it. I was very impressed all the way around. I thought it was a great show. [...] I was on the set for maybe four or five days, or something like that, and it was a real rough set. You felt the world of ''Battlestar Galactica'' being very rough, and every set was dark, and it was tough. It was a whole different atmosphere.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news425244.html|title=SyFy Portal: Nana Visitor Says 'Battlestar Galactica' World Rough|date=23 July 2008|accessdate=23 July 2008|last=Hinman|first=Michael|format=|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''An [[Eight|Eight]] discussing mutiny with [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Agathon]]:''

:'''Sharon Agathon:''' You guys make me sick.
:'''Eight:''' Why?
:'''Agathon:''' Because you pick your side and you stick. You don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love. No family. No life to call your own.

*''[[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] discuss the [[Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]]:''

:'''Emily Kowalski:''' Oh, Laura. And the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] are real? Reigning from a metaphysical mountaintop in those silly outfits? [[Zeus|Zeus]]? Handing out fates out of an urn like they were lottery tickets? 'You're gonna work on a [[Tylium|tylium]] ship. You're gonna be an admiral. Your family's gonna be evaporated in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|an attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]] but you'll survive for three more years on a moldy compartment on a freighter 'til your body starts to eat itself up alive.' Those are the gods that you worship? Capricious, vindictive...
:'''Laura Roslin:''' But they're not meant to be taken literally. They're metaphors, Emily.
:'''Kowalski:''' I don't need metaphors. I need answers.

*''Laura Roslin on her mother's death:''

:"You're like my mother. She wasn't satisfied with metaphors either. She was convinced that [[Aphrodite]] herself was gonna swoop her away when she died. And she believed it even when the [[Doloxan]] and the radiation failed to stop her cancer. She was a teacher! She was... oh, she was something to behold. And the head of a classroom. And her students (starts crying) Her students loved her. They'd walk through fire for her and then they see this woman who seemed so eternal. She withered away and I find myself having to change her diaper because she couldn't even— At the moment she died there was no gleaming fields of Elysium stretched out before her. There was this dark, black abyss. And she was terrified. She was so scared."

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Nana Visitor]] as [[Emily Kowalski]]
*[[Alana Husband]] as Nurse [[Sashon]]
*[[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[Tattooed pilot|tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)
*Uncredited as [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%;"><references /></div>
== External Links ==

*Composer [[Bear McCreary|Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=313]

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes_directed_by_Michael_Nankin]] [[Category:Episodes_written_by_Seamus_Kevin_Fahey|Category:Episodes_written_by_Kevin_Fahey]] [[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Ans andere Ufer]]

Faith

2012-08-04T06:22:33Z

AlanHK: /* Religion */ cut obvious observation

{{Episode Data
| image=4x06 - Faith - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Faith
| season= 4
| episode= 6
| forumthread= 1040
| guests=
| writer=[[Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Nankin]]
| production=408
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=9 May 2008
| CAN airdate=9 May 2008
| UK airdate=13 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| podcast=Y
| oldpopulation=39676
| population=39675
| prev= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| next= [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
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== Overview ==

:''The cancer-stricken President [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] and hotheaded pilot [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] both must make difficult leaps of faith in order to accept an uneasy alliance with the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*Angry and defiant at [[Karl Agathon|Karl Agathon]]'s refusal to [[The Road Less Traveled|obey orders]] to travel to a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] attempts to jump the ship herself when [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] restrains her.
*Agathon orders [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] to jump the ship back to ''Galactica''. [[Samuel Anders|Samuel Anders]] points out that they will be returning as mutineers, but Agathon responds that Admiral Adama will sort things out.
*Anders intervenes with a sidearm, shooting Gaeta in the leg to stop him from following Agathon's order to jump back to the Fleet. Chaos ensues as Marines arrive.
*Everyone stands down as Gaeta is attended to, in severe pain from a leg wound.
*Realizing that taking the ''[[Demetrius|Demetrius]]'' itself to the baseship would be too great a risk, Thrace rescinds her original order, suggesting to fly their only [[Raptor|Raptor]] to the baseship with Athena and Anders as crew, taking [[Leoben Conoy|Leoben Conoy]] with them. Agathon initially objects but realizes it's the best compromise. He tells her that she has only 15 hours to complete her mission before the ''Demetrius'' must jump to rendezvous with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] or be left behind.

=== Act 1 ===

*[[Tory Foster|Tory Foster]] is packing things up on ''[[Colonial One|Colonial One]]''. [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] is at her desk, bald and not wearing her wig. She tells Foster to keep things going as she finishes the last two [[Doloxan]] treatments, where she'll be on ''[[Galactica|Galactica]]'' and indisposed during that time. Roslin tries to encourage Foster to watch out for sudden moves by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]].
*On day 58 of their mission, the crew prepares the Raptor. Athena promises to work with Thrace as does [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]], who appreciates Thrace's strong reputation.
*The Raptor jumps and finds a massive graveyard of dead baseships and [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] floating dead in space. Thrace is amazed. They are by a large gas giant in a trinary star system, just as her visions suggested.
*On the ''Demetrius'', Gaeta is heavily medicated with [[Morpha|morpha]] for the pain. He asks Agathon not to have Dr. [[Cottle|Cottle]] amputate his leg, as he realizes that the longer he doesn't get advanced care, the more likely [[:w:gangrene|gangrene]] will set in.
*The Raptor carefully searches for the baseship amidst the exploding ordnance. Thrace can hear "music" (Leoben confirms this is a rare trait among some Cylons as well) and takes control to fly the Raptor towards the gas giant. She sees the comet she expected, but not in the form; Leoben's stricken baseship is flying past, trailing gas that gives it a comet-like appearance.
*When approaching the baseship, the Raptor is hit by a piece of debris hurtled at them from an explosion and impacting the cockpit canopy.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:408 showdown.jpg|thumb|Natalie attempts to defuse the situation...]]

*Thrace awakens to find the Raptor safely landed within the baseship interior.

*Athena arrives to find herself surrounded by an army of other [[Number Eight|Number Eights]], who recognize her independence from all things Cylon. They ask her to help mutiny against the [[Number Six|Sixes]], whom they feel have been making a series of mistakes. Athena rejects them, telling them to find their own individuality and help her or get out of her way.
*In sickbay, amidst [[Gaius Baltar|Gaius Baltar]]'s voice on [[Wireless|wireless]] discussing his [[God (RDM)|God]], Roslin encounters a woman in [[Sickbay|sickbay]], [[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]], who is gravely ill with cancer as well. When Roslin tries to turn off the wireless and Baltar, the woman becomes very upset and yells for Roslin to leave.
*Thrace's meeting with the surviving leaders of the baseship does not go well, but Leoben succeeds in convincing [[Natalie|Natalie]] that they must work together.
*Athena accesses the [[Datastream|datastream]] to determine how to mate the Raptor's jump drive to the baseship. Doing so requires disconnecting the Hybrid. As the group preps, Anders slowly reaches down to touch the [[Data-font|data-font]] but pulls his hand back when Thrace calls his name.
*A Six sees [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]] and recognizes her as the human who killed her on [[New Caprica|New Caprica]]. When Barolay doesn't show any remorse and says she would do the same again, the Six attacks her and smashes her head into the Raptor's hull, which kills Barolay. Anders pounces on the Six and is ready to kill the Cylon when Thrace manages to talk him down.
*The Six that killed Barolay speaks to Natalie, obviously dealing with psychological trauma from the death on New Caprica that she had not been able to shake. After kissing the distraught Six, Natalie grabs Anders's hand and pulls the trigger on his gun, killing the Six permanently as there is no [[Resurrection Ship|Resurrection Ship]] nearby, carrying out a form of justice for the Colonials, who are shocked.
*Roslin meets again with Emily Kowalski, who gives her a scarf, a present. The two make small talk of what they will do after they get well. She warns Roslin that her sickness will get worse and to be prepared.

=== Act 3 ===

*Thrace arrives in the Hybrid's chamber, who seems to ignore her, discussing ship functions but repeating one phrase in particular.[[Image:408 unplugging the hybrid.jpg|thumb|Agathon unplugs the Hybrid after it delivers its prophecy to Thrace.]]

*In sickbay, Emily Kowalski tells Roslin why she listens to Baltar. After speaking to Cottle, she tells of a dream where she saw people standing on the opposite side of a river: dead loved ones. She felt a presence, a warm loving presence that calmed her. Roslin questions the dream but Emily notes that the dream is real.

*Thrace and Natalie continue to listen to the [[Hybrid utterances|Hybrid's utterances]]. Leoben instructs Thrace to listen carefully, not to hurry the construct.

*Athena is ready to activate the jump augmentations and disconnect the Hybrid. Irritated at getting nowhere with the Hybrid, Thrace orders the jump.
*When it is unplugged, the Hybrid makes an inhuman scream, which causes a guarding [[Cylon Centurion|Cylon Centurion]] (still in [[Telencephalic inhibitor|sentient mode]]) to fire in defense, severely wounding an Eight before the group manages to take the Centurion down.

*The Hybrid gives Thrace a coherent message as the Eight's blood mixes with the fluid in her tank: The dying leader will discover the truth about the [[Opera House|Opera House]], the missing Three will be used to find the Five, who come from the home of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]], and that she, Thrace, is the harbinger of death that will take all to their end. Thrace is horrified at the message. The Hybrid then deactivates.

*Kowalski and Roslin continue to discuss the authenticity of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] and Baltar's God. Roslin becomes upset when she talks of her mother's death from cancer and the striking lack of anything noble or calming at that moment. As Kowalski tries to comfort her, the woman suddenly has a violent seizure of pain. Cottle arrives with medication, but tells Roslin that there's not much they can do for Kowalski now.

=== Act 4 ===

*As the group waits, the dying Eight speaks to Athena, who reaches out for her, but hesitates when she wants to touch her hand. Anders steps in to tenderly comfort the Cylon as she dies, astonished at how similar she is to a human.

*The group deciphers the Hybrid's message. All come to the conclusion that the final five Cylons came from the Thirteenth Tribe and so must also know the way to Earth. The boxed [[Number Three|Number Threes]] will lead them to the Final Five. Anders is unnerved by the conversation, likely fearing the exposure of his Cylon identity. The group leave to meet the ''Demetrius'', with Anders leaving last, still puzzled that he is drawn to help the Eight.

*Kowalski's vision of a river comes to pass in a dream Roslin experiences. The two stand on a boat, looking at a shore where human figures begin to appear, smiling and waving at Kowalski. Kowalski disappears to meet them, materializing on the shore. Roslin feels joy, then sees her own mother, smiling and waiting for Roslin to join her. She tells her she is not yet ready, stepping away from the boat's side, as the dream ends.

*Awakening from her dream, Roslin goes to see Kowalski but finds her bed empty. She died some time while she slept. Only her wireless receiver remains, still switched on.

*''Demetrius'' is prepping to leave as seconds count down but Agathon lets the clock run over in hesitation and to the crew's apprehension. Seconds before he is about to order the jump, the baseship arrives and broadcasts Colonial ID. Wireless contact is established with Athena, who reports that the baseship has been secured, much to Agathon's relief, and both ships prepare to join ''Galactica'' and the fleet.

*On ''Galactica'', Roslin meets with [[William Adama|William Adama]] in his quarters. She tells him that something may be truthful in Baltar's words, but Adama is reluctant. A sorrowful Adama talks of Thrace's death and return, [[Lee Adama|his son's]] [[Crossroads, Part I|resignation from the military]], and laments all the crew he sent with Thrace, wondering if he will see them again. But Roslin comforts him. The two smile as Adama tells her that Roslin helped him to believe that they really will find Earth.

== Notes ==

[[Image:Roslin's mother.jpg|thumb|Roslin's mother.]]

*Baltar's wireless broadcast contains a number of phrases from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy of [[:w:Hamlet|Hamlet]], including "shuffle off this mortal coil," and "the undiscover'd country, from whose bourn no traveler returns." These phrases refer to death and the afterlife, respectively. The full text of the soliloquy can be found [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Hamlet%2C_Prince_of_Denmark/Act_3 here].
*Meanwhile, the Hybrid's repeated speech borrows text from the Biblical book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 13 to 17.
*The comet/drifting baseship bears a visual resemblance to the [[Ship of Lights|Ship of Lights]] from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], both in the painting and reality.
*This episode marks the third time Laura Roslin discusses her family in any detail, and the first time viewers see an image of [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]. (The first mention, also involving her mother's fight with cancer, was in "[[Act of Contrition|Act of Contrition]]" in Season 1.)

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*Some of the writers' misdirection from "[[He That Believeth in Me|He That Believeth in Me]]" becomes clear. The "giant gas planet with rings," assumed to be [[:w:Jupiter|Jupiter]] or [[:w:Saturn|Saturn]], is revealed to be at the site of the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon battle]]. Moreover, the comet is a damaged and drifting basestar. This also explains how Leoben was able to help Thrace paint the scene in the previous episode, since he had already witnessed it himself.
*A close-up of Kara Thrace in the Hybrid's chamber evokes the [[Eye of Jupiter|Eye of Jupiter]], with Thrace's blue eye at the center, ringed by her bloodied eyebrow and blonde hair.
* The light pattern as the raptor jumps to the basestar also resembles the mandala.
*With its inhibitor removed, the Centurion in the Hybrid's chamber seems visibly more aware of its environment. It turns its head to gaze at each member of the group as they enter, and again at Thrace as she questions the Hybrid. This contrasts with what was seen previously, when Centurions on guard duty simply stand immobile unless they perceive a threat, or are given a direct order.
*[[Jean Barolay|Barolay]]'s sudden death after the Six attacks her indicates that the Six's blows and delivered concussions caused internal bleeding into Barolay's brain.
*The importance of physical touching in Cylon culture is exhibited in this episode, especially how Cylons interact among their own specific models. For example, before Natalie executes the Six who murdered Barolay, they kiss each other. When the Eight who was shot by the Centurion is dying, she asks for Athena's forgiveness in her attempt to lead a mutiny, and stretches out her hand to touch Athena's. However, Athena refuses, and Anders steps in to provide that sense of touch before she dies. This interaction amongst the models within their own model number may be a reflection of being "with each other," especially in times of certain death. Something like this was seen earlier in "[[A Measure of Salvation|A Measure of Salvation]]", where the dying Cylons aboard the stricken basestar link hands in prayer.

=== Religion ===

*Even though Baltar is preaching for the "one true [[God (RDM)|God]]," the symbolism of a boat crossing a river to the land of the dead is very similar to the Greek legends involving the [[:w:Styx|River Styx]]. It can be expected that Baltar borrows some of his teachings from an established religion that people are familiar with. This in part parallels the rise of Christianity, which expressed some of its ideas through the existing cultural forms of the established Roman polytheistic religions.
*Emily Kowalski's description of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] and their behavior is quite consistent with that of Greek mythology.
*When speaking of her mother's death, Laura Roslin mentions the [[:w:Elysium|Fields of Elysium]], a portion of the Greek underworld where heroic or virtuous souls end up after death that bears a resemblance to heaven in Christianity. It appears that the Colonials view of the afterlife is almost identical to that of the ancient Greeks.
*Roslin believes that the Lords of Kobol are not to be taken seriously but are metaphors. Roslin's mother took them more literally.
*The [[Hybrid utterances|hybrid utterance]] "All these things at once and many more, not because it wishes harm, because it likes violent vibrations to change constantly." appears to be a paraphrase of a line from the [[:w:Theosophy|theosophical]] text "[[:w:At_the_Feet_of_the_Master|At the Feet of the Master]]"

=== Characters ===

*The Eights' attempt to recruit Athena to lead a mutiny against the Sixes and presumably the Twos reveal an apparent character flaw that is prevalent amongst this particular model. Their allegiances and loyalty to a cause are not as strong as their fellow Cylon models, should those ties and beliefs cause suffering or death.
**This is also a somewhat ironic twist, as Athena and others aboard the ''Demetrius'' were encouraging Karl Agathon to initiate their own mutiny against Thrace just hours earlier. However, Athena is likely referring to her allegiance to the Colonials as a whole, which has not diminished.
*While the Sixes and the Twos are willing to initiate the search for the Final Five because of their specific strong religious beliefs, the Eights apparently join them not because of a desire in unraveling the mystery, so much as because it grants them the opportunity to say "no" to their programming.
*Though the word "faith" is never explicitly spoken throughout the episode, multiple allusions to the idea of trust are provided through the characters' interactions with each other. This is especially evident in the multiple times the phrase "...with you" appears in the dialog. When the Eight that is shot by the Centurion is dying, Anders holds her arm and tells her that he is with her. When Roslin and Adama speak with each other, Roslin tells Adama, after he pours out his feelings of uncertainty and doubt, that she is with him.
*Athena also shows deep conflict within herself in this episode in regards to her nature as a Cylon as seen in multiple scenes. Conoy's words to her about how their trip is a "homecoming" for Athena causes an immediate response. Later, when the Eights touch her and attempt to recruit her, she expresses disgust with them, but possibly including herself. Her declaration of choosing a side and sticking to it may be something she needs to hear more than they do. When Anders takes out his gun to execute the Six, it is Athena who also takes out her gun to defend the "human" and refers to herself as a human. Finally, her refusal to hold the dying Eight's hand shows a reluctance of being seen as a Cylon and that she is not with them.

== Questions ==

*Are the Centurions capable of getting an IFF signal from a humanoid Cylon, like a Raider does? Could one have exposed Anders if he had made direct eye contact?
*What does the Hybrid's statement that the five come from the home of the thirteenth mean? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]])
**Were they made on Earth, the home of the thirteenth tribe? Or did they voyage to Earth from Cylon/Colonial space and then return? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
**Does "the thirteenth" refer to "[[The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken|The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken]]" mentioned in "[[The Eye of Jupiter|The Eye of Jupiter]]", to whom the [[Temple of Five|Temple of Five]] was dedicated?
*Will Thrace tell anyone about the Hybrid calling her "the harbinger of death"? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]]) Does anyone else hear the Hybrid's words to her?
*Will Helo and the others have to answer for their mutiny?
*How will Gaeta's injury affect his duties? Will his leg be amputated? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*What would have happened if Anders had put his hand in the [[Data-font|data-font]]? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars#Analysis|Answer]])
*Why should the Cylons have any trouble figuring out the Raptor's FTL system? They have previously used Raptors ([[Torn|Torn]]).
*Why are the Raiders' FTL systems unsuitable?
*How will the Fleet respond when the ''Demetrius'' returns with the shipwrecked basestar in tow? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Without Natalie's help, would Anders have been able to pull the trigger to execute the Six?
*Does the revelation that the Final Five are from Earth and can lead the fleet to it encourage the hidden Four to reveal themselves? ([[Revelations|Possible Answer]])
*How will the Cylon rebels unbox the Threes? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
*Is Natalie's baseship the last place where there are Sixs, Twos, and Eights?
*Why did the Cavils' forces leave one baseship largely intact? ([[Talk:Battle_of_the_Trinary_Star_System#Rebel_Basestar|Possible Answer]])
*Will Barolay's death, despite the execution of the Six, affect the truce amongst the Colonials once they discover that two from the ''Demetrius'' mission are dead?
*Is Conoy the only Two left amongst the Cylon rebels? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Why is Athena chosen to speak to the ''Demetrius'', given that another Eight could easily impersonate her?
*Are the baseship's crew all that remain of the Cylon rebels, or are there other survivors elsewhere?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Nana Visitor]] discusses her experiences while filming this episode:'''
: It was real acting, like I hadn't done for a while, and [it had] real writing. I loved it. I was very impressed all the way around. I thought it was a great show. [...] I was on the set for maybe four or five days, or something like that, and it was a real rough set. You felt the world of ''Battlestar Galactica'' being very rough, and every set was dark, and it was tough. It was a whole different atmosphere.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news425244.html|title=SyFy Portal: Nana Visitor Says 'Battlestar Galactica' World Rough|date=23 July 2008|accessdate=23 July 2008|last=Hinman|first=Michael|format=|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''An [[Eight|Eight]] discussing mutiny with [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Agathon]]:''

:'''Sharon Agathon:''' You guys make me sick.
:'''Eight:''' Why?
:'''Agathon:''' Because you pick your side and you stick. You don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love. No family. No life to call your own.

*''[[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] discuss the [[Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]]:''

:'''Emily Kowalski:''' Oh, Laura. And the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] are real? Reigning from a metaphysical mountaintop in those silly outfits? [[Zeus|Zeus]]? Handing out fates out of an urn like they were lottery tickets? 'You're gonna work on a [[Tylium|tylium]] ship. You're gonna be an admiral. Your family's gonna be evaporated in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|an attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]] but you'll survive for three more years on a moldy compartment on a freighter 'til your body starts to eat itself up alive.' Those are the gods that you worship? Capricious, vindictive...
:'''Laura Roslin:''' But they're not meant to be taken literally. They're metaphors, Emily.
:'''Kowalski:''' I don't need metaphors. I need answers.

*''Laura Roslin on her mother's death:''

:"You're like my mother. She wasn't satisfied with metaphors either. She was convinced that [[Aphrodite]] herself was gonna swoop her away when she died. And she believed it even when the [[Doloxan]] and the radiation failed to stop her cancer. She was a teacher! She was... oh, she was something to behold. And the head of a classroom. And her students (starts crying) Her students loved her. They'd walk through fire for her and then they see this woman who seemed so eternal. She withered away and I find myself having to change her diaper because she couldn't even— At the moment she died there was no gleaming fields of Elysium stretched out before her. There was this dark, black abyss. And she was terrified. She was so scared."

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Nana Visitor]] as [[Emily Kowalski]]
*[[Alana Husband]] as Nurse [[Sashon]]
*[[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[Tattooed pilot|tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)
*Uncredited as [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%;"><references /></div>
== External Links ==

*Composer [[Bear McCreary|Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=313]

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes_directed_by_Michael_Nankin]] [[Category:Episodes_written_by_Seamus_Kevin_Fahey|Category:Episodes_written_by_Kevin_Fahey]] [[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Ans andere Ufer]]

Faith

2012-08-04T06:20:30Z

AlanHK: /* General */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x06 - Faith - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Faith
| season= 4
| episode= 6
| forumthread= 1040
| guests=
| writer=[[Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Nankin]]
| production=408
| rating=1.2
| US airdate=9 May 2008
| CAN airdate=9 May 2008
| UK airdate=13 May 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| podcast=Y
| oldpopulation=39676
| population=39675
| prev= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| next= [[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?]]
| imdb=0993930
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== Overview ==

:''The cancer-stricken President [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] and hotheaded pilot [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] both must make difficult leaps of faith in order to accept an uneasy alliance with the Cylons.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

*Angry and defiant at [[Karl Agathon|Karl Agathon]]'s refusal to [[The Road Less Traveled|obey orders]] to travel to a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]], [[Kara Thrace|Kara Thrace]] attempts to jump the ship herself when [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] restrains her.
*Agathon orders [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] to jump the ship back to ''Galactica''. [[Samuel Anders|Samuel Anders]] points out that they will be returning as mutineers, but Agathon responds that Admiral Adama will sort things out.
*Anders intervenes with a sidearm, shooting Gaeta in the leg to stop him from following Agathon's order to jump back to the Fleet. Chaos ensues as Marines arrive.
*Everyone stands down as Gaeta is attended to, in severe pain from a leg wound.
*Realizing that taking the ''[[Demetrius|Demetrius]]'' itself to the baseship would be too great a risk, Thrace rescinds her original order, suggesting to fly their only [[Raptor|Raptor]] to the baseship with Athena and Anders as crew, taking [[Leoben Conoy|Leoben Conoy]] with them. Agathon initially objects but realizes it's the best compromise. He tells her that she has only 15 hours to complete her mission before the ''Demetrius'' must jump to rendezvous with the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] or be left behind.

=== Act 1 ===

*[[Tory Foster|Tory Foster]] is packing things up on ''[[Colonial One|Colonial One]]''. [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] is at her desk, bald and not wearing her wig. She tells Foster to keep things going as she finishes the last two [[Doloxan]] treatments, where she'll be on ''[[Galactica|Galactica]]'' and indisposed during that time. Roslin tries to encourage Foster to watch out for sudden moves by the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]].
*On day 58 of their mission, the crew prepares the Raptor. Athena promises to work with Thrace as does [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]], who appreciates Thrace's strong reputation.
*The Raptor jumps and finds a massive graveyard of dead baseships and [[Raider (RDM)|Raiders]] floating dead in space. Thrace is amazed. They are by a large gas giant in a trinary star system, just as her visions suggested.
*On the ''Demetrius'', Gaeta is heavily medicated with [[Morpha|morpha]] for the pain. He asks Agathon not to have Dr. [[Cottle|Cottle]] amputate his leg, as he realizes that the longer he doesn't get advanced care, the more likely [[:w:gangrene|gangrene]] will set in.
*The Raptor carefully searches for the baseship amidst the exploding ordnance. Thrace can hear "music" (Leoben confirms this is a rare trait among some Cylons as well) and takes control to fly the Raptor towards the gas giant. She sees the comet she expected, but not in the form; Leoben's stricken baseship is flying past, trailing gas that gives it a comet-like appearance.
*When approaching the baseship, the Raptor is hit by a piece of debris hurtled at them from an explosion and impacting the cockpit canopy.

=== Act 2 ===

[[Image:408 showdown.jpg|thumb|Natalie attempts to defuse the situation...]]

*Thrace awakens to find the Raptor safely landed within the baseship interior.

*Athena arrives to find herself surrounded by an army of other [[Number Eight|Number Eights]], who recognize her independence from all things Cylon. They ask her to help mutiny against the [[Number Six|Sixes]], whom they feel have been making a series of mistakes. Athena rejects them, telling them to find their own individuality and help her or get out of her way.
*In sickbay, amidst [[Gaius Baltar|Gaius Baltar]]'s voice on [[Wireless|wireless]] discussing his [[God (RDM)|God]], Roslin encounters a woman in [[Sickbay|sickbay]], [[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]], who is gravely ill with cancer as well. When Roslin tries to turn off the wireless and Baltar, the woman becomes very upset and yells for Roslin to leave.
*Thrace's meeting with the surviving leaders of the baseship does not go well, but Leoben succeeds in convincing [[Natalie|Natalie]] that they must work together.
*Athena accesses the [[Datastream|datastream]] to determine how to mate the Raptor's jump drive to the baseship. Doing so requires disconnecting the Hybrid. As the group preps, Anders slowly reaches down to touch the [[Data-font|data-font]] but pulls his hand back when Thrace calls his name.
*A Six sees [[Jean Barolay|Jean Barolay]] and recognizes her as the human who killed her on [[New Caprica|New Caprica]]. When Barolay doesn't show any remorse and says she would do the same again, the Six attacks her and smashes her head into the Raptor's hull, which kills Barolay. Anders pounces on the Six and is ready to kill the Cylon when Thrace manages to talk him down.
*The Six that killed Barolay speaks to Natalie, obviously dealing with psychological trauma from the death on New Caprica that she had not been able to shake. After kissing the distraught Six, Natalie grabs Anders's hand and pulls the trigger on his gun, killing the Six permanently as there is no [[Resurrection Ship|Resurrection Ship]] nearby, carrying out a form of justice for the Colonials, who are shocked.
*Roslin meets again with Emily Kowalski, who gives her a scarf, a present. The two make small talk of what they will do after they get well. She warns Roslin that her sickness will get worse and to be prepared.

=== Act 3 ===

*Thrace arrives in the Hybrid's chamber, who seems to ignore her, discussing ship functions but repeating one phrase in particular.[[Image:408 unplugging the hybrid.jpg|thumb|Agathon unplugs the Hybrid after it delivers its prophecy to Thrace.]]

*In sickbay, Emily Kowalski tells Roslin why she listens to Baltar. After speaking to Cottle, she tells of a dream where she saw people standing on the opposite side of a river: dead loved ones. She felt a presence, a warm loving presence that calmed her. Roslin questions the dream but Emily notes that the dream is real.

*Thrace and Natalie continue to listen to the [[Hybrid utterances|Hybrid's utterances]]. Leoben instructs Thrace to listen carefully, not to hurry the construct.

*Athena is ready to activate the jump augmentations and disconnect the Hybrid. Irritated at getting nowhere with the Hybrid, Thrace orders the jump.
*When it is unplugged, the Hybrid makes an inhuman scream, which causes a guarding [[Cylon Centurion|Cylon Centurion]] (still in [[Telencephalic inhibitor|sentient mode]]) to fire in defense, severely wounding an Eight before the group manages to take the Centurion down.

*The Hybrid gives Thrace a coherent message as the Eight's blood mixes with the fluid in her tank: The dying leader will discover the truth about the [[Opera House|Opera House]], the missing Three will be used to find the Five, who come from the home of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]], and that she, Thrace, is the harbinger of death that will take all to their end. Thrace is horrified at the message. The Hybrid then deactivates.

*Kowalski and Roslin continue to discuss the authenticity of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] and Baltar's God. Roslin becomes upset when she talks of her mother's death from cancer and the striking lack of anything noble or calming at that moment. As Kowalski tries to comfort her, the woman suddenly has a violent seizure of pain. Cottle arrives with medication, but tells Roslin that there's not much they can do for Kowalski now.

=== Act 4 ===

*As the group waits, the dying Eight speaks to Athena, who reaches out for her, but hesitates when she wants to touch her hand. Anders steps in to tenderly comfort the Cylon as she dies, astonished at how similar she is to a human.

*The group deciphers the Hybrid's message. All come to the conclusion that the final five Cylons came from the Thirteenth Tribe and so must also know the way to Earth. The boxed [[Number Three|Number Threes]] will lead them to the Final Five. Anders is unnerved by the conversation, likely fearing the exposure of his Cylon identity. The group leave to meet the ''Demetrius'', with Anders leaving last, still puzzled that he is drawn to help the Eight.

*Kowalski's vision of a river comes to pass in a dream Roslin experiences. The two stand on a boat, looking at a shore where human figures begin to appear, smiling and waving at Kowalski. Kowalski disappears to meet them, materializing on the shore. Roslin feels joy, then sees her own mother, smiling and waiting for Roslin to join her. She tells her she is not yet ready, stepping away from the boat's side, as the dream ends.

*Awakening from her dream, Roslin goes to see Kowalski but finds her bed empty. She died some time while she slept. Only her wireless receiver remains, still switched on.

*''Demetrius'' is prepping to leave as seconds count down but Agathon lets the clock run over in hesitation and to the crew's apprehension. Seconds before he is about to order the jump, the baseship arrives and broadcasts Colonial ID. Wireless contact is established with Athena, who reports that the baseship has been secured, much to Agathon's relief, and both ships prepare to join ''Galactica'' and the fleet.

*On ''Galactica'', Roslin meets with [[William Adama|William Adama]] in his quarters. She tells him that something may be truthful in Baltar's words, but Adama is reluctant. A sorrowful Adama talks of Thrace's death and return, [[Lee Adama|his son's]] [[Crossroads, Part I|resignation from the military]], and laments all the crew he sent with Thrace, wondering if he will see them again. But Roslin comforts him. The two smile as Adama tells her that Roslin helped him to believe that they really will find Earth.

== Notes ==

[[Image:Roslin's mother.jpg|thumb|Roslin's mother.]]

*Baltar's wireless broadcast contains a number of phrases from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy of [[:w:Hamlet|Hamlet]], including "shuffle off this mortal coil," and "the undiscover'd country, from whose bourn no traveler returns." These phrases refer to death and the afterlife, respectively. The full text of the soliloquy can be found [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Tragedy_of_Hamlet%2C_Prince_of_Denmark/Act_3 here].
*Meanwhile, the Hybrid's repeated speech borrows text from the Biblical book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 13 to 17.
*The comet/drifting baseship bears a visual resemblance to the [[Ship of Lights|Ship of Lights]] from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], both in the painting and reality.
*This episode marks the third time Laura Roslin discusses her family in any detail, and the first time viewers see an image of [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]. (The first mention, also involving her mother's fight with cancer, was in "[[Act of Contrition|Act of Contrition]]" in Season 1.)

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*Some of the writers' misdirection from "[[He That Believeth in Me|He That Believeth in Me]]" becomes clear. The "giant gas planet with rings," assumed to be [[:w:Jupiter|Jupiter]] or [[:w:Saturn|Saturn]], is revealed to be at the site of the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon battle]]. Moreover, the comet is a damaged and drifting basestar. This also explains how Leoben was able to help Thrace paint the scene in the previous episode, since he had already witnessed it himself.
*A close-up of Kara Thrace in the Hybrid's chamber evokes the [[Eye of Jupiter|Eye of Jupiter]], with Thrace's blue eye at the center, ringed by her bloodied eyebrow and blonde hair.
* The light pattern as the raptor jumps to the basestar also resembles the mandala.
*With its inhibitor removed, the Centurion in the Hybrid's chamber seems visibly more aware of its environment. It turns its head to gaze at each member of the group as they enter, and again at Thrace as she questions the Hybrid. This contrasts with what was seen previously, when Centurions on guard duty simply stand immobile unless they perceive a threat, or are given a direct order.
*[[Jean Barolay|Barolay]]'s sudden death after the Six attacks her indicates that the Six's blows and delivered concussions caused internal bleeding into Barolay's brain.
*The importance of physical touching in Cylon culture is exhibited in this episode, especially how Cylons interact among their own specific models. For example, before Natalie executes the Six who murdered Barolay, they kiss each other. When the Eight who was shot by the Centurion is dying, she asks for Athena's forgiveness in her attempt to lead a mutiny, and stretches out her hand to touch Athena's. However, Athena refuses, and Anders steps in to provide that sense of touch before she dies. This interaction amongst the models within their own model number may be a reflection of being "with each other," especially in times of certain death. Something like this was seen earlier in "[[A Measure of Salvation|A Measure of Salvation]]", where the dying Cylons aboard the stricken basestar link hands in prayer.

=== Religion ===

*Even though Baltar is preaching for the "one true [[God (RDM)|God]]," the symbolism of a boat crossing a river to the land of the dead is very similar to the Greek legends involving the [[:w:Styx|River Styx]]. It can be expected that Baltar borrows some of his teachings from an established religion that people are familiar with. This in part parallels the rise of Christianity, which expressed some of its ideas through the existing cultural forms of the established Roman polytheistic religions.
*Emily Kowalski's description of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] and their behavior is quite consistent with that of Greek mythology.
*When speaking of her mother's death, Laura Roslin mentions the [[:w:Elysium|Fields of Elysium]], a portion of the Greek underworld where heroic or virtuous souls end up after death that bears a resemblance to heaven in Christianity. It appears that the Colonials view of the afterlife is almost identical to that of the ancient Greeks.
*Roslin believes that the Lords of Kobol are not to be taken seriously but are metaphors. Roslin's mother took them more literally. This mirrors real life in which some people take the Jewish [[:w:Torah|Torah]] ([[:w:Old_Testament|Old Testament]]), the Christian Bible ([[:w:New_Testament|New Testament]]) and the Islamic [[:w:Koran|Koran]] as literal word for word truth and an accurate record of events, while others believe the stories are metaphors to be used as guidelines in life, but not hard pronouncements or actual history.
*The [[Hybrid utterances|hybrid utterance]] "All these things at once and many more, not because it wishes harm, because it likes violent vibrations to change constantly." appears to be a paraphrase of a line from the [[:w:Theosophy|theosophical]] text "[[:w:At_the_Feet_of_the_Master|At the Feet of the Master]]"

=== Characters ===

*The Eights' attempt to recruit Athena to lead a mutiny against the Sixes and presumably the Twos reveal an apparent character flaw that is prevalent amongst this particular model. Their allegiances and loyalty to a cause are not as strong as their fellow Cylon models, should those ties and beliefs cause suffering or death.
**This is also a somewhat ironic twist, as Athena and others aboard the ''Demetrius'' were encouraging Karl Agathon to initiate their own mutiny against Thrace just hours earlier. However, Athena is likely referring to her allegiance to the Colonials as a whole, which has not diminished.
*While the Sixes and the Twos are willing to initiate the search for the Final Five because of their specific strong religious beliefs, the Eights apparently join them not because of a desire in unraveling the mystery, so much as because it grants them the opportunity to say "no" to their programming.
*Though the word "faith" is never explicitly spoken throughout the episode, multiple allusions to the idea of trust are provided through the characters' interactions with each other. This is especially evident in the multiple times the phrase "...with you" appears in the dialog. When the Eight that is shot by the Centurion is dying, Anders holds her arm and tells her that he is with her. When Roslin and Adama speak with each other, Roslin tells Adama, after he pours out his feelings of uncertainty and doubt, that she is with him.
*Athena also shows deep conflict within herself in this episode in regards to her nature as a Cylon as seen in multiple scenes. Conoy's words to her about how their trip is a "homecoming" for Athena causes an immediate response. Later, when the Eights touch her and attempt to recruit her, she expresses disgust with them, but possibly including herself. Her declaration of choosing a side and sticking to it may be something she needs to hear more than they do. When Anders takes out his gun to execute the Six, it is Athena who also takes out her gun to defend the "human" and refers to herself as a human. Finally, her refusal to hold the dying Eight's hand shows a reluctance of being seen as a Cylon and that she is not with them.

== Questions ==

*Are the Centurions capable of getting an IFF signal from a humanoid Cylon, like a Raider does? Could one have exposed Anders if he had made direct eye contact?
*What does the Hybrid's statement that the five come from the home of the thirteenth mean? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]])
**Were they made on Earth, the home of the thirteenth tribe? Or did they voyage to Earth from Cylon/Colonial space and then return? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
**Does "the thirteenth" refer to "[[The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken|The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken]]" mentioned in "[[The Eye of Jupiter|The Eye of Jupiter]]", to whom the [[Temple of Five|Temple of Five]] was dedicated?
*Will Thrace tell anyone about the Hybrid calling her "the harbinger of death"? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]]) Does anyone else hear the Hybrid's words to her?
*Will Helo and the others have to answer for their mutiny?
*How will Gaeta's injury affect his duties? Will his leg be amputated? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*What would have happened if Anders had put his hand in the [[Data-font|data-font]]? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars#Analysis|Answer]])
*Why should the Cylons have any trouble figuring out the Raptor's FTL system? They have previously used Raptors ([[Torn|Torn]]).
*Why are the Raiders' FTL systems unsuitable?
*How will the Fleet respond when the ''Demetrius'' returns with the shipwrecked basestar in tow? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Without Natalie's help, would Anders have been able to pull the trigger to execute the Six?
*Does the revelation that the Final Five are from Earth and can lead the fleet to it encourage the hidden Four to reveal themselves? ([[Revelations|Possible Answer]])
*How will the Cylon rebels unbox the Threes? ([[The Hub|Answer]])
*Is Natalie's baseship the last place where there are Sixs, Twos, and Eights?
*Why did the Cavils' forces leave one baseship largely intact? ([[Talk:Battle_of_the_Trinary_Star_System#Rebel_Basestar|Possible Answer]])
*Will Barolay's death, despite the execution of the Six, affect the truce amongst the Colonials once they discover that two from the ''Demetrius'' mission are dead?
*Is Conoy the only Two left amongst the Cylon rebels? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
*Why is Athena chosen to speak to the ''Demetrius'', given that another Eight could easily impersonate her?
*Are the baseship's crew all that remain of the Cylon rebels, or are there other survivors elsewhere?

== Official Statements ==

* ''[[Nana Visitor]] discusses her experiences while filming this episode:'''
: It was real acting, like I hadn't done for a while, and [it had] real writing. I loved it. I was very impressed all the way around. I thought it was a great show. [...] I was on the set for maybe four or five days, or something like that, and it was a real rough set. You felt the world of ''Battlestar Galactica'' being very rough, and every set was dark, and it was tough. It was a whole different atmosphere.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news425244.html|title=SyFy Portal: Nana Visitor Says 'Battlestar Galactica' World Rough|date=23 July 2008|accessdate=23 July 2008|last=Hinman|first=Michael|format=|language=English|archive=Y}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''An [[Eight|Eight]] discussing mutiny with [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon Agathon]]:''

:'''Sharon Agathon:''' You guys make me sick.
:'''Eight:''' Why?
:'''Agathon:''' Because you pick your side and you stick. You don't cut and run when things get ugly. Otherwise you'll never have anything. No love. No family. No life to call your own.

*''[[Emily Kowalski|Emily Kowalski]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura Roslin]] discuss the [[Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]]:''

:'''Emily Kowalski:''' Oh, Laura. And the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] are real? Reigning from a metaphysical mountaintop in those silly outfits? [[Zeus|Zeus]]? Handing out fates out of an urn like they were lottery tickets? 'You're gonna work on a [[Tylium|tylium]] ship. You're gonna be an admiral. Your family's gonna be evaporated in [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|an attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]] but you'll survive for three more years on a moldy compartment on a freighter 'til your body starts to eat itself up alive.' Those are the gods that you worship? Capricious, vindictive...
:'''Laura Roslin:''' But they're not meant to be taken literally. They're metaphors, Emily.
:'''Kowalski:''' I don't need metaphors. I need answers.

*''Laura Roslin on her mother's death:''

:"You're like my mother. She wasn't satisfied with metaphors either. She was convinced that [[Aphrodite]] herself was gonna swoop her away when she died. And she believed it even when the [[Doloxan]] and the radiation failed to stop her cancer. She was a teacher! She was... oh, she was something to behold. And the head of a classroom. And her students (starts crying) Her students loved her. They'd walk through fire for her and then they see this woman who seemed so eternal. She withered away and I find myself having to change her diaper because she couldn't even— At the moment she died there was no gleaming fields of Elysium stretched out before her. There was this dark, black abyss. And she was terrified. She was so scared."

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy (New Caprica copy)|Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Cottle]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
*[[Alisen Down]] as [[Jean Barolay]]
*[[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
*[[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
*[[Nana Visitor]] as [[Emily Kowalski]]
*[[Alana Husband]] as Nurse [[Sashon]]
*[[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[Tattooed pilot|tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)
*Uncredited as [[Roslin's mother|Roslin's mother]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size: 85%;"><references /></div>
== External Links ==

*Composer [[Bear McCreary|Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=313]

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes_directed_by_Michael_Nankin]] [[Category:Episodes_written_by_Seamus_Kevin_Fahey|Category:Episodes_written_by_Kevin_Fahey]] [[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Ans andere Ufer]]

Podcast:Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:33:35Z

AlanHK: /* Teaser */

{{Podcast Data
|special=
|title= Escape Velocity
|season= 4
|episode= 4
|download link= http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/405/bsg_ep405_FULL.mp3
|local=
|posted date= 2008-05-11
|transcribed by= [[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]]
|verified by=
|length= 43:34
|finished= Y
|verified=
|scotch= [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]]
|smokes=
|wordoftheweek= [[m-w:masochism|masochism]] [[m-w:interruptus|interruptus]]
|rdm= Y
|mrsron=
}}

== Teaser ==
Hello, and welcome to the podcast for episode 406, "[[Escape Velocity]]." I'm [[Ronald D. Moore]], executive producer and developer of [[Re-imagined Series|the new ''Battlestar Galactica'']], and thank you very much for joining our podcast. The Scotch for tonight is [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]], this is the port wood finish twelve year old Scotch. The wife and kids are downstairs, and in deference to the tots the smoking lamp is out. OK. Episode four, to those of you counting at home, episode six to me, was yet another of the episodes that I've referred to before that were also broken in one fell swoop at the very beginning of the sea – or not, broken, at least the basic story outline was [clears throat] conceived at the very beginning of the season. The script for this, by [[Jane Espenson]], was begun in tandem with several other scripts and there were changes that happened on the fly in Jane's script, as we were making – as I was making changes to other episodes. Notably, there was a good deal of interaction back and forth in terms of plot, having to do with [[The Ties That Bind|the previous episode]], [[Michael Taylor]]'s episode of last week, episode five. Notably in the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes that are to be coming up.

OK. Here at the very beginning, the idea of doing a service in the temple and establishing, one of the few times that we've really actually seen any of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic worship]] of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]], was something I'd liked from the very beginning of the story as we broke it, and Jane really developed the actual service and the language that they're using and the formality of the ritual. I liked the idea from the get-go of saying, "OK. We've talked a lot about the polytheistic belief system of the colonists, and how usually in – just in contrast with the [[Cylon religion|monotheism]] of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]." And the irony, it seemed to me, at this point in the series, was that in some ways we knew more about the Cylons' conception of [[God (RDM)|God]] and the Cylon belief system, and how it worked in practical terms, than we really did the Colonials. And this was a great opportunity to go into that world and really actually play a service and I was also intrigued by the thought of showing a polytheistic religious service on television. Typically these services are all in the [[w:Judeo-Christian|Judeo-Christian]] tradition. You don't get to see a lot of variety in TV's portrayal of belief. I like the idea of validating and underlining the fundamental [clears throat] validity of the Colonial belief system.

This is a great little beat here with [[Laura Roslin|Laura]] and [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] – or [chuckles] with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]] and [[William Adama|Adama]] – with Laura and Adama. She's obviously alluding to the fact that she herself is gonna be dying, and she's starting to grapple with that in practical ways, and Adama really doesn't wanna think or talk about that. There's also this beat of the wigs. The – Laura's wig. We had a scene that made it to script and I believe it was in this episode, originally, although I could be wrong about that, where we were going to see Laura looking over examples of wigs that they had dug up through the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. That essentially the wigs are made of – I remember having these discussions that the wigs were made of human hair and presumably there's still barbers around and they would collect the hair, and that people would be making wigs from them. Much as they do today. But they would be made of real human hair, presumably. And that Laura would – they would have brought Laura several ones to choose from, and there was a little scene about that. Actually, the more I talk about it, it's probably – I think that scene actually might have been in the next episode. But in any case we – there was a substantial amount of discussion devoted to Laura's cancer and the progress of it, and when we were gonna show it, how far we were gonna go with it, and I had an extended conversation with Mary about it at the beginning of the season. Mary and I got together for breakfast and we sat down and talked over the character of Laura and what her arc was gonna be [clears throat] going through the rest of the season and how far we were gonna go with the cancer and what the – where it was gonna end up, and what the reasons where. It was a really interesting talk, and a lot of things that we ultimately ended up doing in the episode came out of that morning chat.

This little – this scene here with – the reappearance of [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] was something I was really looking forward to. I hoped that this was gonna be a bit of a surprise to the fans. We knew that word was going to get out that [[Kate Vernon]] was on the set, or that Kate Vernon had been booked to do an appearance, and sure enough there were some clips that made it onto the internet, some snippets here and there of news that Kate Vernon was doing something in ''Galactica'', and everybody – I think there was a general assumption that it was gonna be flashback, which really worked for us, 'cause then we could play that scene. [Chuckles.] And make it a genuine surprise. I also have to give k – tremendous kudos to the hair and makeup people and our costume department, our wardrobe department, who was able to really make that transition from [[Caprica-Six|Six]] to Ellen work really well. Like, at fir – when she first shows up as Ellen it takes a moment before you even realize that it's Ellen.

This subplot here with [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] was gonna be – it was developed a little further in the first draft, and I think it was even some subsequent scenes shot that were ultimately drawn from the air – dropped from the aired version. There was more of Tyrol really checking out, really being disconnected, from his son. Really lost and not knowing what the hell to think about it. I think there was a scene, actually – yeah, actually, I know there was a scene later on – I'll try to r– to talk about, that had [[Helo]] coming. Helo had found Nicky crying all by himself and had come to Tyrol later. Essentially what we wanted to do as we got into this area of the arc of the season was start really sending our final four [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] in fundamentally different directions. [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] isn't even here. Anders is gone off with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]]. Tyrol is – [[Callandra Tyrol|Tyrol's wife]] is [[The Ties That Bind|dead]]. It's thrown him into an identity crisis. It's thrown him into a fundamental existential crisis. He has a son. He's not capable of really caring for him. He's gonna lose his job. He's freaking out. He's not shaving. It's like he – Tyrol's really coming unglued. Tigh is like, hanging on ever tighter and tighter than he can.

Now somebody – oh, I have to comment on this. Someone on the internet pointed out that in this shot that I'm looking at right now, Tyrol is – sorry, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] is talking to Tyrol, and on Tigh's collars are clearly admiral pin – admiral pips. And of course that is a deep mystery and a deep secret and I encourage all – everyone on the internet to spend a great deal of time and effort trying to suss out the various reasons why I would put admiral pips on Colonel Tigh. 'Cause I'm sure that that would lead you, if you follow that chain, that will lead you inevitably to who the final Cylon is. Or it could just be a wardrobe mistake. But that's not as much fun, is it?

Anyway. We were – we – let me jump back here to – I've been reading to you some of these descriptions that were in the initial pitch document on the first four episodes of the season. This one, episode four, says, "The theme is redemption, unlikely alliances. In a nutshell, Tigh seeks out answers from Caprica-Six. An accident in space leads Tyrol to believe that he may be sabotaging [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and asks to be relieved of duty. Martyr-like [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] defends [[Cult of Baltar|his one God church]]. [[Zarek]] – Zarek manipulates [[Lee Adama|Lee]] against Laura." And then in the in-depth description it says, "Baltar and Laura – the Baltar/Laura story. The goo – the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up –" I'll wait 'till we come back.



== Act 1 ==
In the in-depth description it says, "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]: the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up non-violent Baltar revival meeting. Baltar marches on the pantheon, denounces [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] for reason for the [[Fall of the Colonies|holocaust]]. Laura, the reactionary, outlaws [[Cult of Baltar|Baltarism]]. [[Zarek]] works on [[Lee Adama|Lee]]. 'The President is losing it, Lee. Baltar isn't a threat. Denying freedom of worship is.' Lee tries to reason with Laura, fails. Baltar, with an assist from [[Head-Six]], braves an 'On the Waterfront' type clubbing to worship, which increases his flock. Lee and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] overrule Laura. {{podcastref|ZarekPaysGoons}}Reveal that Zarek pays goons, who started the whole thing, and Zarek clearly has designs. [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] story. [[Helo]] out in space. A near crash of the [[Raptor]] due to mechanical failure. Tyrol blames himself. Not sure if it is an honest mistake or sabotage on his part. He asks to be removed from duty. [[William Adama|Adama]] grants it, thinking it's fallout from [[Cally]]'s death. [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] attempts to console Tyrol, who blames himself for Cally's death. Leads Tigh into guilt trip over dead Hel- [[Ellen]]. Meaningless of life, plus being a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] drives him back to the bottle. Doesn't work. Sees answer – seeks answers from a true Cylon and goes to see [[Caprica-Six]]. Caprica-Six realizes Tigh's motivation to purge his guilt through punishment when she eggs – when he eggs her into hitting him. Masochism interruptus when Cap-Six kisses Tigh, Tigh kisses her back. [[Tory Foster|Tory]] is moved by Baltar's faith, the outlaw savior-quality, embracing the uniqueness of one [[God (RDM)|God]], Tory, to herself, thinks maybe being a Cylon ain't so bad, and for the first time she refers to Laura, Adama, and company as 'the humans'." This – so that was – so that's the description. You can see we – where we departed in certain areas and developed things further, but essentially, again, this is still fundamentally what the show is.

This sequence here, in the first draft there was – [[Head-Baltar]] made an appearance here. And Head-Baltar was sitting and talking to Baltar throughout this little section. And in fact I – God, I – my memory might be failing me, but I kinda remember actually usi– shooting Head-Baltar in this sequence. I think we did shoot Head-Baltar in the sequ– he was talking to Baltar, and I think in editing I cut it out. I could be insane. Other people – other voice – cooler heads will judge. Once we get into this section here, the attack of what we're calling the Sons of Ares, are sort of the name of this group, and when they come in to trash Baltar's – lair, as it were, this is directed by [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]], as you can see, and I really like Eddie's direction. This works pretty well. I'd say that – I think the problem that we probably have here is that we don't quite have enough of a foundation laid for who the Sons of Ares are. I mean, you kind of get an idea that – I hate the shoulder pads on that guy, sorry. Not to bag on our costume department or anything, but I hate that guy's outfit. I just hate it. It's very "[[w:Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior|Road Warrior]]". Anyway. We never quite lay the groundwork for who exactly who the Sons of Ares are, and why their – hatred of the Baltarites is as passionate as it is. I think we kinda go on the assumption that it's, OK, in the episode you feel like it's an outgrowth of the previous shows where – or show – where [[Charlie Connor|Connor]] attacked Baltar in the head and almost killed – or wanted to kill him, and Baltar was ultimately saved by his acolyte, [[Paulla Schaffer|Paulla]]. So it's clearly like they're all kinda connected together. But again, I think the Sons of Ares is an idea – it sounds better in concept, and I think it was something that worked in the room really well, 'cause it was an easy way to talk about the group that was opposing Baltar, but we just never really developed it. Part of that is due to simply the limitation-

Oh, no. I have to stop to talk about this little – this space shot here. The la– the Raptor landing. The Raptor taking off and the – everybody walking on the flight deck. I love that – shot. As soon as I saw it in pre-vis I was like, "Are you kidding? Really? You're gonna have these guys walk along the flight deck? That's so cool." And [[Gary Hutzel|Gary]]'s like, "Yeah, man." I was like, "Oh, fuck yeah! I'll put that in the show." They were very happy.

Anyway. The Sons of Ares concept, I think – part of it is just the lack of time in the show. You only have so much time in these episodes to develop certain ideas in any kind of depth, and Sons of Ares just became sort of a shorthand for these nameless, faceless guys that hated Baltar and were causing trouble and would go and attack him. And – like I said earlier, it sounded good in the room, and then I kinda watched the episode, they kinda come out of nowhere. You're not really invested in them, and it's like you're still trying – I think you're still trying to invest yourself in Baltar's experience in the Cult, and you're trying to understand and wrap your mind around that and trying to have sympathy and empathy for what he's going through. That's already asking a lot of the audience. And then bringing in these other – guys don't re– doesn't really work. So – but it's – I mean, it works in the structural sense, but not in a visceral sense.

I love this whole sequence of the Raptor rolling in and crashing. I did voice concern when I saw the visual effects that this was too spectacular a crash to have them survive, and they did tone it down, but I have to say, still, I'm still amazed that anybody made it out of that Raptor alive, much less in as good as shape as [[Racetrack|Crashdown]] and [[Skulls]] are.

The Baltar story here. Clearly he's going on a – something of a messiah journey with these followers. Now the question, I think, for the audience is, "Well, how far is we gonna go with that? And where is this journey gonna take him? And is he a messiah? Is he gonna accept himself as a messiah? Will he buy into it? Is it true in the scope of the show, and ultimately, where does that lead us in the overall arc, overall final arc, of the series?" Some of this is – [[w:Christ|Christ]]-like. Some of the notion of Baltar going to the temple in the scene that's coming up, and smashing the icons, certainly has overtones of young Jesus and driving out the money-changers in the temple. That was deliberate, and we kinda liked that. But the attack on him, the attack on his followers, and was – really doesn't fit into that storyline as readily and this is more an idea of the con– this more the clash of civilizations. This is more the idea being the clash of the one god who is driven to drive out the many gods. And really that's at the heart of this story. It's not so much a tale of Baltar as literal Christ as it is using some of those overtones, and some of those tropes, and some of those themes to advance our story in touching into familiar ideas that the audience will register and familiar pathways.

This stor– this beat here with Tyrol discovering the fuse that he forgot to put in. There was actually an earlier beat that I think I cut, where you saw him, literally, put it in his pocket and forget to put it in. In the story and at the – script level, it wasn't Racetrack and Skulls, it was Helo. Helo was out in space and had a near-crash and, like I read in the story document earlier, and comes back and is nearly killed, and then there's all these questions about what happened and Tyrol blames himself and –

I'm sorry. I'm distracted by this scene. I love [[Aaron Douglas|Aaron]]'s performance here. It's really strong. It's – just the look on his face and the way he goes at them is – really delivers this idea. I that was just – great show for Aaron. Really strong show for – Aar– I really like him in this episode.

Anyway, so Helo was gonna be the victim of the accident and Tyrol was then gonna start wondering if he had deliberately sabotaged it or if it was an honest mistake. And then what started happen was as – as we – I was working – we were working on the other shows simultaneously and when the decision was made to send Helo out on the ''[[Demetrius]]'' with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]], obviously he got yanked out of this story completely. As a result of that, I had to find somebody else to get hurt in a Raptor. And we were kinda out of pilots. Running kinda low on pilots at this point. And rather than pull in a day player or – by that, I mean somebody new, a guest star, rather, some faceless person that we don't have any investment in, who then would kinda be targeted. It's like, if we cast it with somebody who was just a brand new pilot you'd never met before and suddenly with them in the cockpit, without commenting, flying out in space, you're gonna know something's gonna go wrong. It's the [[w:Redshirt (character)|red shirt]] phenomena from [[w:Star Trek|Trek]] where you, "Oh, that guy's gonna die." And we just kinda said, "You know what? Let's put Racetrack and Skulls in it." And the point did come up that they've had problems before, and that Racetrack and Skulls have had a very, very active and very adventurous life in Raptor. They tend to [[Kobol (RDM)|find]] [[New Caprica|planets]]. They tend to have accidents. You could say you either want to get in a Raptor with – you should probably always want to get in a Raptor with Racetrack, 'cause it'll never be boring. She was even with [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon]], way back when, when Sharon [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|ran into]] all the naked [[Number Eight|Sharons]] back on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. But that's become our inside joke. It's just Racetrack and her never-boring Raptors.

Head-Six in these scenes – I was, at the script level I started edging – I was already starting to second-guess my my fascination with Head-Baltar and I was – it was also causing a lot of production issues because when you're having Baltar talking to Baltar it's more lock-offs, it's more production time, 'cause you have to – Gaius has – Gaius. [[James Callis|James]] has to go off and change clothes. He has to have his makeup redone. He has to leave the set for an hour or so and then come back. It just complicates everybody's life to have Baltar talking to Head-Baltar. So in this draft I started to already say, "You know what? Let's – it's probably fine to give more of this to Head-Six, less to Head-Baltar." This might have been an episode – see, I am kinda fuzzy on this, 'cause it happened so long ago, I apologize, but I think, like I said earlier, I think we did shoot some Head-Baltar scenes in it, so we had Head-Baltar and Head-Six in the same episode, but then ultimately go rid of it.

I like this. I like this scene a lot. I like James just comin' in an literally trashing the temple and the clash of civilizations and the religious conflicts in the fleet and we had tried last year – there was talk about the [[Sagittaron]]s and how the Sagittarons were sort of their own cult-like people. They were the – colony that kept to themselves in the [[Hero]] – not "Hero – in the "[[The Woman King|Woman King]]" episode.



== Act 2 ==
Yeah. They were the ones that had kept to themselves in the "[[The Woman King]]" episode, like I was saying. But that really never took off, and didn't work. So [[Season 4|this season]] we just opted to go straight for – it was much easier to play the [[God (RDM)|monotheism]] vs. the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] as our religious conflict on the show, 'cause it was built into the series from the very beginning.

More on the [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]-[[William Adama|Adama]] storyline here. [[Searider Falcon|This book]] will actually become an interesting little plot point, in and of itself, so keep your eye on the book, what happens to it, where it goes. This whole storyline just became very just – I don't know. Became one of my favorite stories of the whole year, was Laura and Adama and how they were dealing with each other and their – as she went through [[diloxin]] treatments, our form of chemo, and how that would affect their relationship and where they were as human beings, and where they were in their relationship to one another. I like that in this episode you don't know she's – we don't say she's wearing a wig until much later. And [[Gaius Baltar|Bal]] – although when you're watching, you sort of feel like something's up with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]], and you know what? We changed Mary's hair.

This storyline – the political storyline with Laura and Adama and [[Lee Adama|Lee]] that's coming up, in the early going, in the first drafts, this – the first draft did not have any of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes and the arguments were much more about the theoretical ideas of Laura, of cracking down on Baltar. It was much – it was a little bit more grudge-driven than it is now. It was a little bit more that Laura just hated Baltar and was gonna quash him no matter what, then Lee thinking that that was wrong, and that that was unethical, and as we developed through the script, I came up with the notion of making it more question time – well. Well, we'll get to that when I get to question time, I suppose.

We – this plotline with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]]. It's hard to talk about this at this point in the season. All I can tell you is keep your eye on this storyline as well. We have a lot going on in all these little plotlines, obviously, and they take a while to develop and this is laying a lot of groundwork for later – episodes. Loved the ability to bring [[Kate Vernon]] back. Losing Kate from the show was – it was a real loss. There's been a lot of losses in the show, 'cause we have clearly lost a lot of players and there's been a lot of great characters and a lot of great actors that have been slaughtered in the bloody, bloody path that we have cut through the forest. I don't know what kind of metaphor that is. But the mix of having – having [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] in the mix, and then not having her in the mix – I definitely felt that. I felt the loss of her. I was eager to get her back into the show, and I was glad to be – to have this opportunity to do it.

[Phone rings.] This – all this. Oh, there's my telephone, that I can't answer. That's actually the studio. I'm actually ignoring the studio to – talk to you. I'm typing in, "Can't talk now," to my assistant Meryl. [Chuckles.] OK. Sorry. I should turn off the recorder for things like this, but I just won't.

Anyway. These scenes I find fascinating. I mean, I think [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] shot these in a really interesting way. The Ellen/Caprica-Six/Tigh scenes, and I think he cut them in a very interesting way. Eddie's episodes are all – always edited in a really interesting, aggressive way. He tends to cut – Eddie calls the cutting psychologically. He likes cutting to the psychological heart of different scenes and going back and forth and he – always jumbles the chronology and the order of the scenes to a point where you don't even really care or recognize what the original purpose was. And as a result, these episodes are always a bit jarring. They grab you and they yank you through the show and you're never quite sure where you're gonna go next. And I really like that. I think it's – a bit unsettling to an audience, which is more f– more used to watching standard TV. And standard TV, in my humble opinion, is a bit paint by the numbers in terms of where it cuts and when in that it's usually just very slow paced and very simple and you don't wanna throw the audience and you always wanna let them know, always show them an exterior of the building before you show the interior. There's a lot of that, I mean. And that – I'm painting with a pretty broad brush here. There's a lot of interesting television out there too, that's interesting and edgy and more aggressive. So we're not the only ones doing this. But I just prefer this style. And I learn a lot when I watch Eddie's episodes and I watch his cuts I learn a lot from them. Even though I go in and there things I don't – agree with, and I'll change, and I'll shift cuts, and I'll – sometimes I'll move things back closer to the script in some areas, or sometimes I'll just clean 'em up for clarity, or just my own personal preference. But his cuts are always instructive. I'm always learning things in how he puts – he assembles it. He has a great eye for film, and he thinks like a filmmaker. That's what I like about him the most as a director. He really thinks of it as film. And he's very concentrated on the performances. He challenges the actors. He pushes and pulls them in different directions, and he digs out a lot of interesting little moments and nuances in the script. This particular scene with Laura and Baltar, I think is one of the highlights of the episode. I think this is the kind of scene that I – that would just – that could easily sail past you, 'cause there's so many other pieces in this episode that operate at a much higher emotional level, that are much louder, in a certain way, that are just more attention-getting and are just bigger. This – I love the way Mary delivers this whole little piece where there's a real sense of danger to her, a real sense of danger. "Stay safe." The fact that she doesn't care anymore. That she's dying and that she's put it back on him. I think it's a fascinating performance and I've watched it several times, and each time I find a different – slightly different layer in Mary's performance there.

This beat with Adama and [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] is clearly the hi– probably the high point of the episode. It is just so well delivered. This gag, right here, when Adama's about to say he – "Keep yourself busy." "I don't need special treatment." Yeah. This is so well done. [[Cally|Married]] to a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Abomination. Pan over to Tyrol. Cut back. Eddie picks up the drink again. That's really good. That's really smart. It's really – draws you in. It's a s– you don't realize where it's going right away. You pan over to him, and as Tyrol's – it's Eddie's psychological thing. Psychologically, you're with Tyrol. 'Cause Tyrol is going, "Did I just hear him say that?" And you the audience are going, "Did I – did we just hear him say that?" And then you cut back, and the simple act of the glass – it's as simple as when he picks that glass up and takes a drink, and the first time – and then the drink arriving a second time tells you that it was just a hallucination. It's very well done. It's very elegant. It's really, really cool. This scene got better and better just all the way through the drafts. In the first scene it wasn't like this really at all. It took place on the hangar deck. It was up on the catwalk. It had to do with – the subject had to do with – like I said, I think it alluded to this earlier, [[Helo]] had found [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] crying by himself in the quarters with the door closed. Helo had brought Nicky to find Tyrol. Tyrol was getting drunk in [[Joe's Bar]] by himself – or with some other deckhands and was abusive to Tyr– to Helo and got in a whole yelling match about it, and he was like, "Oh, he was fine. What the hell and what the – who the fuck are you to come in here and tell me what to do with my kid, and leave me alone," and blah, blah, blah. And they got in this whole thing about it. And then later in the script, Adama had heard, and Adama came and confronted him about it and said – or didn't confront him, but sat down and s– tried to reason with him and say, "Hey, man. I know you're going through some hard times. You need – you prolly need some rest." Put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Hey, man. Don't – but don't leave your kid alone, ok?" And Tyrol kinda went, "Ok. Sure, sir." And then as Adama was walking away, then Tyrol went off on him and said, "Don't tell me how to take care of my kid." "What?" "I'm – You're not my fuckin' father. You're not their fuckin' father. Who the fuck do you think you are?" And got in his face in a similar way. And then along the way it shifted and then we – lost the Helo scene altogether – but the Joe's Bar was still in the air, so then we started to talk about moving the Adama-Tyrol scene into Joe's Bar as better piece of texture. And then we just started pushing the scene more, and started pushing the scene to be more confrontational, to be more direct, to make Nicky – the Nicky part of it kind of went away and then as the Nicky part went away then this became just a sympathetic outreach to Tyrol, then Tyrol just completely unloads him, that makes it – and it's the fact that Tyrol does it publicly. That he does it for the benefit of everyone in this bar gives Adama no choice. He really – and Adama warns him. He's like, "I c– if you do this." And he says in the scene, I mean, "Don't do this. Don't make me do this." And Tyrol wants it. Tyrol's like, "Bring it in – bring it on, man. Bring it on. Destroy me. Take me apart. Crucify me. Kill me. Something." He wants this punishment. He's so out of his mind on so many levels, with his own identity, with the – what [[Tory Foster|he thinks]] is the [[The Ties That Bind|suicide]] of his wife, the pos– the near-fatal accident with Helo and [[Skulls]] that landed on – that he's taking on his shoulders. All these things combine. He's just going into this completely self-destructive mode, which I think is just really great. It's a happy place, the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Happy times.

And don't ask me where the [[w:University of Southern California|USC]] jersey came there at Joe's Bar. [Chuckle.] It's like, sometimes there's just things crop up – [unintelligible] I kinda went, "Is that a USC jersey?" They all – everyone kinda shuffled and looked at each other and like, "Oh, yeah. I guess so."


== Act 3 ==
The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. I talked about this in [[Podcast:The Ties That Bind|the previous podcast]]. The Quor– these scenes were originally just [[Lee Adama|Lee]]-[[Laura Roslin|Laura]] scenes in the first draft. Lee had a cramped little tiny office on ''[[Colonial One]]''. She came to see him. 'Cause he was pushing something in the off-camera Quorum and she wasn't happy about it. And it had to do with her cracking down on [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and all that. And she tried to confront him about it, and she was still pissed at – it came out that she was still pissed at Lee about him defending Baltar, and it got personal. But I wanted to have – I thought, "Let's bring the Quorum back into the show. Let's play the Quorum. Play it like the [[w:House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Go for 'question time'." And so I gave the note to [[Michael Taylor]] and then [[Jane Espenson]] simultaneously, they both had to retrofit their episodes to fit that concept and Jane – nailed it, I thought, in this episode. She did this – whole setup of how the – how it worked back and forth and gave us an insight into the political underpinnings of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. There's not quite enough, I have to say, of the implication here that there are other cults in the fleet – or – cults. There are other forms of religious worship in the fleet that also have something approaching a monotheistic point of view. I think one of the things that I always thought about the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic society]] of the Colonials is that within their polytheistic belief system there were many subgroups. There were many, many denominations, as it were, or there were many forms of worship. There was a cult of [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]]. There were people that prayed to different gods. There were people that had differ– all kinds of different forms of worship. There were people that were more akin to [[w:Buddhism|Buddhists]] and there were people that were more akin to [[w:Hinduism|Hindu]] and there were people that were monotheistic in their belief, that did believe that there was – but one [[god (RDM)|god]], or that there was one – only one real god. But that essentially Colonial society tolerated all of them, and that they were all welcomed, the belief systems. So when that delegate stood up and said, "This – mirrors some believers in – from our colony," it was meant to say, "Hey, this is not a new thing." It's not quite fully developed enough in the show, but again, you only have so much time and there's so many characters and so many plotlines going on, and some of these ideas which I thought were fascinating ideas just never quite get played out as deep and as interesting as I think they could be.

Love that – thing with [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] looking down at the sleeping – [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] and then she wakes up, then it's [[Caprica-Six]]. I'm trying to remember. I don't think that there was – these scenes went through several stages of development, but I don't think were any radical shifts of tone or characterization on this. In the point where we – where Caprica-Six arrived aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', there was a question of, "what do we do with her? Where does that character go?" And she's been aboard for a while now and this season was when that – we finally found something to kick her into gear. I monkeyed about quite a bit with the editing of these scenes of the Ellen to Caprica-Six to Tigh, exactly when you went from one to the other. There's a million ways you can cut these things. You know – you can kind of – it depends on what you're trying to do the audience, where you're trying to have them go psychologically as [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] would say. I think I was trying to get into a certain rhythm. I tend to think of editing and writing in musical terms, even though I'm not a musician, and there's a certain melody going on in these scenes that's a dialogue, and then there's the underlying bassline of the rhythm and the flow of the structure of the scene itself. And that the editing is carrying you through those rhythms and that the melody's – the melody and the dialogue's kinda playing on top of it and then the editing is like the phrasing, or it's the, again, it's like the bassline driving you through these things. And so I kept playing with when you cut to Ellen, when she became Caprica-Six, what was the pace of it, how was it building, and he moved you through the scene emotionally.

His pips are back to normal. Now, see? Something has clearly happened in between the previous scene and this one. Now his rank insignia is just that of a colonel. So what happened to the Admiral Tigh? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

See? That's great. Because I love that shot, because you don't know – you're not even thinking, at first, that it is Ellen. It's like you're starting yours – on that cut, and the assumption is that it's still Six, and it's all kind of a game here. It's all kind of like, "When are you gonna play who?" and "Which one does he see?" and "Which one is she really?" See? Right here we're staying with Ellen all the way through, so you're really pulling into the feeling of her, all the way until you leave. Now Eddie, when he did his cut, he cut the – this was intercut in the script. I will say that these scenes were all intercut in the script, but he did it at a far more aggressively than I think the script called for, and were really pulling you in and out of these two – all these things that are happening simultaneously.

This scene was really – this was supposed to be – what did it say in the story outline? The outline said – oh, it said, "'[[w:On the Waterfront|On the Waterfront]]' style clubbing." And that was one of the inspirations. This was also sort of a [[w:Ghandi|Gandhi]]esque notion of when part of the Indian drive for independence and they would go up against the British troops, and they would just let them – the British would just beat them down, one by one, and they would just keep coming, and coming, and the next man would come, and the next man would come. And they would beat them down, too, and there was this great – this amazing, brave symbolism of that.


== Act 4 ==
Now here, referring to the Baltar story. I tended to think of this more along the lines of the Indian analogy than "On the Waterfront" type clubbing. Mostly because I have to admit I haven't seen "On the Waterfront." There are certain movies and stories that are referenced a lot in writers' rooms in television, to the point where I could probably tell you the whole plot of "On the Waterfront" because it has been discussed and the archetypes within it have been discussed, the plot structure, and the characterizations. Even a lot of the dialogue is discussed endlessly in writers' rooms. And it's one of those movies I keep feeling like I gotta get around to watching, because it's a classic and I should just watch it. But I just never have. And yet, it's tossed around so frequently that I pretty much know the story of "On the Waterfront" and kinda know what it is. I mean, there's a lot of movies like that, most of which I have seen, but there's certain archetypes that are just tossed around for a million years. "The Maltese Falcon" is one of them. I didn't see "The Maltese Falcon", or had not seen "The Maltese Falcon" for several years in the business. It was just one – there are certain odd gaps in my film education. "Maltese Falcon" was one of them until I think five years ago was the first time I saw it. But again, it was discussed so often in writers' rooms, the plot structure and the way it worked, that I felt like I knew the whole movie.

It's probably worth going back and just mentioning that that whole little sequence of Baltar being pulled up by Head-Six and pushed into the clubbing sequence: I don't think I really anticipated that he was gonna be pulled quite – up quite so high. The idea was not to actually have him appear to hover or levitate off the deck, as I've seen some people mention. "Oh! Baltar's levitating. Is he levitating? Oh, now everybody knows." It wasn't really intended to be that. I think when they shot – and when they shot it, they certainly went that direction, and then I saw it in dailies and saw it on the – in the cut, and I kinda went, "Well, it kinda works." It still goes a little too far. It's actually – I was – I always wanted to ride the line where so – a scene like that you could potentially believe was either just Baltar himself doing it, or it could be Six doing it to him, and that you could read it either way. That particular scenario – scene actually goes a little too far in the direction of someone actu– of Head-Six actually doing it to him, and it feels a little – I will still rationalize in this show, to me, and for our internal purposes that no one in that scene would think anything other than Baltar himself was doing it. And that's – it may not play it that way to you, the audience, but that is how we're going to accept it. That's how the characters within the drama accept it. They think about it on that level. They don't – they think it's a strange moment. They think it's a brave moment. But they – none of them feels like there was somebody else at play, or there was any other force at play in this scene.

There's a nice little subtlety here. A little subtler, a nuance, rather, as – he reads more of ''Searider Falcon''. There's a beat here where Eddie looks up from the text. Like Laura closes her eyes, and Eddie looks up... right there. He glances up, and then I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he establishes that Laura's out, and then he closes the book and he just starts talking. And it's an interesting choice. What is he saying here? What are we saying here, really? Is he memorized it? Which would imply that he has actually read ahead and that he wasn't telling the truth. Or that he read ahead prior to the scene for himself. Is he making it up? Is it a confession? I think it's a really interesting open question. I don't have the answer to it. I don't really wanna know the answer to it. I may at some point ask Eddie what he was thinking there, if it was a deliberate choice or not. If it was something he had thought about or if it was just a performance in the moment. I think it's fascinating. I think it's one of those little details that I think you can glob onto and wonder what's the – where's the character going, and it's just adding a bit of life to something. It's not – it's making it. What am I trying to say? It's not completely scripted. Just like life is not completely scripted. You don't always understand why people do everything they do, and sometimes they do odd little – bits that don't make any sense or that raise other questions and you never actually get a completely satisfying answer to them, and that's kinda one of those beats.

This is – part of the – education of Gaius Baltar and part of his religious arc and things he's discovering and mom– lessons he's taking from the journey that he's going on. The question is, where does this take him? Where would this take all of them? Where does this path lead him? And wher – and as a result, where will the fleet go? How will it tie in, ultimately, to the end of the series?

I love the fact that Tyrol is here with his son while this is all happening. I thi– 'cause I think there's a lot of ways you can read this. I think you can – attack it. You could say all just a new-agey kinda stuff. You could say it's profound. You could say it draws on many different traditions. You could say it's his own self-rationalization. You could say – I mean, I think there's a lot of different interpretations, and we crafted it in such a way that it could go in many different directions, potentially. But for our purposes, it goes in one direction, and that the trick is to present it to the audience as a multiple choice of well, which is – how do we feel about this? Is he a) crazy b) self-rationalizing c) insane d) evil c) a truly godly inspired – there's a lot of ways you could read this and the – point for us was to raise questions and mysteries and get the audience thinking and wondering and worrying, on some level, about where we're going with this. And then to propel you into the next episode and then to keep walking the path we're going, but still leave out many possible alternates – many other side journeys that it could take. I love the fact that Lee is still there. And Lee stuck around and was compelled into listening longer than he th– he probably originally intended to. There was much more of Tory trying to guide Baltar in the early versions of that storyline.

Well, ok. That's it. That is the end of episode 406, "Escape Velocity." I hope you enjoyed it. I will revisit – I will be visiting you again for episode 407. Until then, good night, and good luck, and thank you for joining us.


{{Podcast list (RDM Season 4)}}

Podcast:Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:32:03Z

AlanHK: /* Teaser */

{{Podcast Data
|special=
|title= Escape Velocity
|season= 4
|episode= 4
|download link= http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/405/bsg_ep405_FULL.mp3
|local=
|posted date= 2008-05-11
|transcribed by= [[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]]
|verified by=
|length= 43:34
|finished= Y
|verified=
|scotch= [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]]
|smokes=
|wordoftheweek= [[m-w:masochism|masochism]] [[m-w:interruptus|interruptus]]
|rdm= Y
|mrsron=
}}

== Teaser ==
Hello, and welcome to the podcast for episode 406, "[[Escape Velocity]]." I'm [[Ronald D. Moore]], executive producer and developer of [[Re-imagined Series|the new ''Battlestar Galactica'']], and thank you very much for joining our podcast. The Scotch for tonight is [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]], this is the port wood finish twelve year old Scotch. The wife and kids are downstairs, and in deference to the tots the smoking lamp is out. OK. Episode four, to those of you counting at home, episode six to me, was yet another of the episodes that I've referred to before that were also broken in one fell swoop at the very beginning of the sea – or not, broken, at least the basic story outline was [clears throat] conceived at the very beginning of the season. The script for this, by [[Jane Espenson]], was begun in tandem with several other scripts and there were changes that happened on the fly in Jane's script, as we were making – as I was making changes to other episodes. Notably, there was a good deal of interaction back and forth in terms of plot, having to do with [[The Ties That Bind|the previous episode]], [[Michael Taylor]]'s episode of last week, episode five. Notably in the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes that are to be coming up.

OK. Here at the very beginning, the idea of doing a service in the temple and establishing, one of the few times that we've really actually seen any of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic worship]] of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]], was something I'd liked from the very beginning of the story as we broke it, and Jane really developed the actual service and the language that they're using and the formality of the ritual. I liked the idea from the get-go of saying, "OK. We've talked a lot about the polytheistic belief system of the colonists, and how usually in – just in contrast with the [[Cylon religion|monotheism]] of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]." And the irony, it seemed to me, at this point in the series, was that in some ways we knew more about the Cylons' conception of [[God (RDM)|God]] and the Cylon belief system, and how it worked in practical terms, than we really did the Colonials. And this was a great opportunity to go into that world and really actually play a service and I was also intrigued by the thought of showing a polytheistic religious service on television. Typically these services are all in the [[w:Judeo-Christian|Judeo-Christian]] tradition. You don't get to see a lot of variety in TV's portrayal of belief. I like the idea of validating and underlining the fundamental [clears throat] validity of the Colonial belief system.

This is a great little beat here with [[Laura Roslin|Laura]] and [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] – or [chuckles] with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]] and [[William Adama|Adama]] – with Laura and Adama. She's obviously alluding to the fact that she herself is gonna be dying, and she's starting to grapple with that in practical ways, and Adama really doesn't wanna think or talk about that. There's also this beat of the wigs. The – Laura's wig. We had a scene that made it to script and I believe it was in this episode, originally, although I could be wrong about that, where we were going to see Laura looking over examples of wigs that they had dug up through the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. That essentially the wigs are made of – I remember having these discussions that the wigs were made of human hair and presumably there's still barbers around and they would collect the hair, and that people would be making wigs from them. Much as they do today. But they would be made of real human hair, presumably. And that Laura would – they would have brought Laura several ones to choose from, and there was a little scene about that. Actually, the more I talk about it, it's probably – I think that scene actually might have been in the next episode. But in any case we – there was a substantial amount of discussion devoted to Laura's cancer and the progress of it, and when we were gonna show it, how far we were gonna go with it, and I had an extended conversation with Mary about it at the beginning of the season. Mary and I got together for breakfast and we sat down and talked over the character of Laura and what her arc was gonna be [clears throat] going through the rest of the season and how far we were gonna go with the cancer and what the – where it was gonna end up, and what the reasons where. It was a really interesting talk, and a lot of things that we ultimately ended up doing in the episode came out of that morning chat.

This little – this scene here with – the reappearance of [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] was something I was really looking forward to. I hoped that this was gonna be a bit of a surprise to the fans. We knew that word was going to get out that [[Kate Vernon]] was on the set, or that Kate Vernon had been booked to do an appearance, and sure enough there were some clips that made it onto the internet, some snippets here and there of news that Kate Vernon was doing something in ''Galactica'', and everybody – I think there was a general assumption that it was gonna be flashback, which really worked for us, 'cause then we could play that scene. [Chuckles.] And make it a genuine surprise. I also have to give k – tremendous kudos to the hair and makeup people and our costume department, our wardrobe department, who was able to really make that transition from [[Caprica-Six|Six]] to Ellen work really well. Like, at fir – when she first shows up as Ellen it takes a moment before you even realize that it's Ellen.

This subplot here with [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] was gonna be – it was developed a little further in the first draft, and I think it was even some subsequent scenes shot that were ultimately drawn from the air – dropped from the aired version. There was more of Tyrol really checking out, really being disconnected, from his son. Really lost and not knowing what the hell to think about it. I think there was a scene, actually – yeah, actually, I know there was a scene later on – I'll try to r– to talk about, that had [[Helo]] coming. Helo had found Nicky crying all by himself and had come to Tyrol later. Essentially what we wanted to do as we got into this area of the arc of the season was start really sending our final four [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] in fundamentally different directions. [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] isn't even here. Anders is gone off with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]]. Tyrol is – [[Callandra Tyrol|Tyrol's wife]] is [[The Ties That Bind|dead]]. It's thrown him into an identity crisis. It's thrown him into a fundamental existential crisis. He has a son. He's not capable of really caring for him. He's gonna lose his job. He's freaking out. He's not shaving. It's like he – Tyrol's really coming unglued. Tigh is like, hanging on ever tighter and tighter than he can.

Now somebody – oh, I have to comment on this. Someone on the internet pointed out that in this shot that I'm looking at right now, Tyrol is – sorry, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] is talking to Tyrol, and on Tigh's collars are clearly admiral pin – admiral pips. And of course that is a deep mystery and a deep secret and I encourage all – everyone on the internet to spend a great deal of time and effort trying to suss out the various reasons why I would put admiral pips on Colonel Tigh. 'Cause I'm sure that that would lead you, if you follow that chain, that will lead you inevitably to who the final Cylon is. Or it could just be a wardrobe mistake. But that's not as much fun, is it?

Anyway. We were – we – let me jump back here to – I've been reading to you some of these descriptions that were in the initial pitch document on the first four episodes of the season. This one, episode four, says, "The theme is redemption, unlikely alliances. In a nutshell, Tigh seeks out answers from Caprica-Six. An accident in space leads Tyrol to believe that he may be sabotaging [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and asks to be relieved of duty. Martyr-like [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] defends [[Cult of Baltar|his one God church]]. [[Zarek]] – Zarek manipulates [[Lee Adama|Lee]] against Laura." And then in the in-depth description it says, "Baltar and Laura – the Baltar/Laura story. The gu – the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up-" I'll wait 'till we come back.



== Act 1 ==
In the in-depth description it says, "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]: the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up non-violent Baltar revival meeting. Baltar marches on the pantheon, denounces [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] for reason for the [[Fall of the Colonies|holocaust]]. Laura, the reactionary, outlaws [[Cult of Baltar|Baltarism]]. [[Zarek]] works on [[Lee Adama|Lee]]. 'The President is losing it, Lee. Baltar isn't a threat. Denying freedom of worship is.' Lee tries to reason with Laura, fails. Baltar, with an assist from [[Head-Six]], braves an 'On the Waterfront' type clubbing to worship, which increases his flock. Lee and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] overrule Laura. {{podcastref|ZarekPaysGoons}}Reveal that Zarek pays goons, who started the whole thing, and Zarek clearly has designs. [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] story. [[Helo]] out in space. A near crash of the [[Raptor]] due to mechanical failure. Tyrol blames himself. Not sure if it is an honest mistake or sabotage on his part. He asks to be removed from duty. [[William Adama|Adama]] grants it, thinking it's fallout from [[Cally]]'s death. [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] attempts to console Tyrol, who blames himself for Cally's death. Leads Tigh into guilt trip over dead Hel- [[Ellen]]. Meaningless of life, plus being a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] drives him back to the bottle. Doesn't work. Sees answer – seeks answers from a true Cylon and goes to see [[Caprica-Six]]. Caprica-Six realizes Tigh's motivation to purge his guilt through punishment when she eggs – when he eggs her into hitting him. Masochism interruptus when Cap-Six kisses Tigh, Tigh kisses her back. [[Tory Foster|Tory]] is moved by Baltar's faith, the outlaw savior-quality, embracing the uniqueness of one [[God (RDM)|God]], Tory, to herself, thinks maybe being a Cylon ain't so bad, and for the first time she refers to Laura, Adama, and company as 'the humans'." This – so that was – so that's the description. You can see we – where we departed in certain areas and developed things further, but essentially, again, this is still fundamentally what the show is.

This sequence here, in the first draft there was – [[Head-Baltar]] made an appearance here. And Head-Baltar was sitting and talking to Baltar throughout this little section. And in fact I – God, I – my memory might be failing me, but I kinda remember actually usi– shooting Head-Baltar in this sequence. I think we did shoot Head-Baltar in the sequ– he was talking to Baltar, and I think in editing I cut it out. I could be insane. Other people – other voice – cooler heads will judge. Once we get into this section here, the attack of what we're calling the Sons of Ares, are sort of the name of this group, and when they come in to trash Baltar's – lair, as it were, this is directed by [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]], as you can see, and I really like Eddie's direction. This works pretty well. I'd say that – I think the problem that we probably have here is that we don't quite have enough of a foundation laid for who the Sons of Ares are. I mean, you kind of get an idea that – I hate the shoulder pads on that guy, sorry. Not to bag on our costume department or anything, but I hate that guy's outfit. I just hate it. It's very "[[w:Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior|Road Warrior]]". Anyway. We never quite lay the groundwork for who exactly who the Sons of Ares are, and why their – hatred of the Baltarites is as passionate as it is. I think we kinda go on the assumption that it's, OK, in the episode you feel like it's an outgrowth of the previous shows where – or show – where [[Charlie Connor|Connor]] attacked Baltar in the head and almost killed – or wanted to kill him, and Baltar was ultimately saved by his acolyte, [[Paulla Schaffer|Paulla]]. So it's clearly like they're all kinda connected together. But again, I think the Sons of Ares is an idea – it sounds better in concept, and I think it was something that worked in the room really well, 'cause it was an easy way to talk about the group that was opposing Baltar, but we just never really developed it. Part of that is due to simply the limitation-

Oh, no. I have to stop to talk about this little – this space shot here. The la– the Raptor landing. The Raptor taking off and the – everybody walking on the flight deck. I love that – shot. As soon as I saw it in pre-vis I was like, "Are you kidding? Really? You're gonna have these guys walk along the flight deck? That's so cool." And [[Gary Hutzel|Gary]]'s like, "Yeah, man." I was like, "Oh, fuck yeah! I'll put that in the show." They were very happy.

Anyway. The Sons of Ares concept, I think – part of it is just the lack of time in the show. You only have so much time in these episodes to develop certain ideas in any kind of depth, and Sons of Ares just became sort of a shorthand for these nameless, faceless guys that hated Baltar and were causing trouble and would go and attack him. And – like I said earlier, it sounded good in the room, and then I kinda watched the episode, they kinda come out of nowhere. You're not really invested in them, and it's like you're still trying – I think you're still trying to invest yourself in Baltar's experience in the Cult, and you're trying to understand and wrap your mind around that and trying to have sympathy and empathy for what he's going through. That's already asking a lot of the audience. And then bringing in these other – guys don't re– doesn't really work. So – but it's – I mean, it works in the structural sense, but not in a visceral sense.

I love this whole sequence of the Raptor rolling in and crashing. I did voice concern when I saw the visual effects that this was too spectacular a crash to have them survive, and they did tone it down, but I have to say, still, I'm still amazed that anybody made it out of that Raptor alive, much less in as good as shape as [[Racetrack|Crashdown]] and [[Skulls]] are.

The Baltar story here. Clearly he's going on a – something of a messiah journey with these followers. Now the question, I think, for the audience is, "Well, how far is we gonna go with that? And where is this journey gonna take him? And is he a messiah? Is he gonna accept himself as a messiah? Will he buy into it? Is it true in the scope of the show, and ultimately, where does that lead us in the overall arc, overall final arc, of the series?" Some of this is – [[w:Christ|Christ]]-like. Some of the notion of Baltar going to the temple in the scene that's coming up, and smashing the icons, certainly has overtones of young Jesus and driving out the money-changers in the temple. That was deliberate, and we kinda liked that. But the attack on him, the attack on his followers, and was – really doesn't fit into that storyline as readily and this is more an idea of the con– this more the clash of civilizations. This is more the idea being the clash of the one god who is driven to drive out the many gods. And really that's at the heart of this story. It's not so much a tale of Baltar as literal Christ as it is using some of those overtones, and some of those tropes, and some of those themes to advance our story in touching into familiar ideas that the audience will register and familiar pathways.

This stor– this beat here with Tyrol discovering the fuse that he forgot to put in. There was actually an earlier beat that I think I cut, where you saw him, literally, put it in his pocket and forget to put it in. In the story and at the – script level, it wasn't Racetrack and Skulls, it was Helo. Helo was out in space and had a near-crash and, like I read in the story document earlier, and comes back and is nearly killed, and then there's all these questions about what happened and Tyrol blames himself and –

I'm sorry. I'm distracted by this scene. I love [[Aaron Douglas|Aaron]]'s performance here. It's really strong. It's – just the look on his face and the way he goes at them is – really delivers this idea. I that was just – great show for Aaron. Really strong show for – Aar– I really like him in this episode.

Anyway, so Helo was gonna be the victim of the accident and Tyrol was then gonna start wondering if he had deliberately sabotaged it or if it was an honest mistake. And then what started happen was as – as we – I was working – we were working on the other shows simultaneously and when the decision was made to send Helo out on the ''[[Demetrius]]'' with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]], obviously he got yanked out of this story completely. As a result of that, I had to find somebody else to get hurt in a Raptor. And we were kinda out of pilots. Running kinda low on pilots at this point. And rather than pull in a day player or – by that, I mean somebody new, a guest star, rather, some faceless person that we don't have any investment in, who then would kinda be targeted. It's like, if we cast it with somebody who was just a brand new pilot you'd never met before and suddenly with them in the cockpit, without commenting, flying out in space, you're gonna know something's gonna go wrong. It's the [[w:Redshirt (character)|red shirt]] phenomena from [[w:Star Trek|Trek]] where you, "Oh, that guy's gonna die." And we just kinda said, "You know what? Let's put Racetrack and Skulls in it." And the point did come up that they've had problems before, and that Racetrack and Skulls have had a very, very active and very adventurous life in Raptor. They tend to [[Kobol (RDM)|find]] [[New Caprica|planets]]. They tend to have accidents. You could say you either want to get in a Raptor with – you should probably always want to get in a Raptor with Racetrack, 'cause it'll never be boring. She was even with [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon]], way back when, when Sharon [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|ran into]] all the naked [[Number Eight|Sharons]] back on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. But that's become our inside joke. It's just Racetrack and her never-boring Raptors.

Head-Six in these scenes – I was, at the script level I started edging – I was already starting to second-guess my my fascination with Head-Baltar and I was – it was also causing a lot of production issues because when you're having Baltar talking to Baltar it's more lock-offs, it's more production time, 'cause you have to – Gaius has – Gaius. [[James Callis|James]] has to go off and change clothes. He has to have his makeup redone. He has to leave the set for an hour or so and then come back. It just complicates everybody's life to have Baltar talking to Head-Baltar. So in this draft I started to already say, "You know what? Let's – it's probably fine to give more of this to Head-Six, less to Head-Baltar." This might have been an episode – see, I am kinda fuzzy on this, 'cause it happened so long ago, I apologize, but I think, like I said earlier, I think we did shoot some Head-Baltar scenes in it, so we had Head-Baltar and Head-Six in the same episode, but then ultimately go rid of it.

I like this. I like this scene a lot. I like James just comin' in an literally trashing the temple and the clash of civilizations and the religious conflicts in the fleet and we had tried last year – there was talk about the [[Sagittaron]]s and how the Sagittarons were sort of their own cult-like people. They were the – colony that kept to themselves in the [[Hero]] – not "Hero – in the "[[The Woman King|Woman King]]" episode.



== Act 2 ==
Yeah. They were the ones that had kept to themselves in the "[[The Woman King]]" episode, like I was saying. But that really never took off, and didn't work. So [[Season 4|this season]] we just opted to go straight for – it was much easier to play the [[God (RDM)|monotheism]] vs. the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] as our religious conflict on the show, 'cause it was built into the series from the very beginning.

More on the [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]-[[William Adama|Adama]] storyline here. [[Searider Falcon|This book]] will actually become an interesting little plot point, in and of itself, so keep your eye on the book, what happens to it, where it goes. This whole storyline just became very just – I don't know. Became one of my favorite stories of the whole year, was Laura and Adama and how they were dealing with each other and their – as she went through [[diloxin]] treatments, our form of chemo, and how that would affect their relationship and where they were as human beings, and where they were in their relationship to one another. I like that in this episode you don't know she's – we don't say she's wearing a wig until much later. And [[Gaius Baltar|Bal]] – although when you're watching, you sort of feel like something's up with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]], and you know what? We changed Mary's hair.

This storyline – the political storyline with Laura and Adama and [[Lee Adama|Lee]] that's coming up, in the early going, in the first drafts, this – the first draft did not have any of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes and the arguments were much more about the theoretical ideas of Laura, of cracking down on Baltar. It was much – it was a little bit more grudge-driven than it is now. It was a little bit more that Laura just hated Baltar and was gonna quash him no matter what, then Lee thinking that that was wrong, and that that was unethical, and as we developed through the script, I came up with the notion of making it more question time – well. Well, we'll get to that when I get to question time, I suppose.

We – this plotline with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]]. It's hard to talk about this at this point in the season. All I can tell you is keep your eye on this storyline as well. We have a lot going on in all these little plotlines, obviously, and they take a while to develop and this is laying a lot of groundwork for later – episodes. Loved the ability to bring [[Kate Vernon]] back. Losing Kate from the show was – it was a real loss. There's been a lot of losses in the show, 'cause we have clearly lost a lot of players and there's been a lot of great characters and a lot of great actors that have been slaughtered in the bloody, bloody path that we have cut through the forest. I don't know what kind of metaphor that is. But the mix of having – having [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] in the mix, and then not having her in the mix – I definitely felt that. I felt the loss of her. I was eager to get her back into the show, and I was glad to be – to have this opportunity to do it.

[Phone rings.] This – all this. Oh, there's my telephone, that I can't answer. That's actually the studio. I'm actually ignoring the studio to – talk to you. I'm typing in, "Can't talk now," to my assistant Meryl. [Chuckles.] OK. Sorry. I should turn off the recorder for things like this, but I just won't.

Anyway. These scenes I find fascinating. I mean, I think [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] shot these in a really interesting way. The Ellen/Caprica-Six/Tigh scenes, and I think he cut them in a very interesting way. Eddie's episodes are all – always edited in a really interesting, aggressive way. He tends to cut – Eddie calls the cutting psychologically. He likes cutting to the psychological heart of different scenes and going back and forth and he – always jumbles the chronology and the order of the scenes to a point where you don't even really care or recognize what the original purpose was. And as a result, these episodes are always a bit jarring. They grab you and they yank you through the show and you're never quite sure where you're gonna go next. And I really like that. I think it's – a bit unsettling to an audience, which is more f– more used to watching standard TV. And standard TV, in my humble opinion, is a bit paint by the numbers in terms of where it cuts and when in that it's usually just very slow paced and very simple and you don't wanna throw the audience and you always wanna let them know, always show them an exterior of the building before you show the interior. There's a lot of that, I mean. And that – I'm painting with a pretty broad brush here. There's a lot of interesting television out there too, that's interesting and edgy and more aggressive. So we're not the only ones doing this. But I just prefer this style. And I learn a lot when I watch Eddie's episodes and I watch his cuts I learn a lot from them. Even though I go in and there things I don't – agree with, and I'll change, and I'll shift cuts, and I'll – sometimes I'll move things back closer to the script in some areas, or sometimes I'll just clean 'em up for clarity, or just my own personal preference. But his cuts are always instructive. I'm always learning things in how he puts – he assembles it. He has a great eye for film, and he thinks like a filmmaker. That's what I like about him the most as a director. He really thinks of it as film. And he's very concentrated on the performances. He challenges the actors. He pushes and pulls them in different directions, and he digs out a lot of interesting little moments and nuances in the script. This particular scene with Laura and Baltar, I think is one of the highlights of the episode. I think this is the kind of scene that I – that would just – that could easily sail past you, 'cause there's so many other pieces in this episode that operate at a much higher emotional level, that are much louder, in a certain way, that are just more attention-getting and are just bigger. This – I love the way Mary delivers this whole little piece where there's a real sense of danger to her, a real sense of danger. "Stay safe." The fact that she doesn't care anymore. That she's dying and that she's put it back on him. I think it's a fascinating performance and I've watched it several times, and each time I find a different – slightly different layer in Mary's performance there.

This beat with Adama and [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] is clearly the hi– probably the high point of the episode. It is just so well delivered. This gag, right here, when Adama's about to say he – "Keep yourself busy." "I don't need special treatment." Yeah. This is so well done. [[Cally|Married]] to a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Abomination. Pan over to Tyrol. Cut back. Eddie picks up the drink again. That's really good. That's really smart. It's really – draws you in. It's a s– you don't realize where it's going right away. You pan over to him, and as Tyrol's – it's Eddie's psychological thing. Psychologically, you're with Tyrol. 'Cause Tyrol is going, "Did I just hear him say that?" And you the audience are going, "Did I – did we just hear him say that?" And then you cut back, and the simple act of the glass – it's as simple as when he picks that glass up and takes a drink, and the first time – and then the drink arriving a second time tells you that it was just a hallucination. It's very well done. It's very elegant. It's really, really cool. This scene got better and better just all the way through the drafts. In the first scene it wasn't like this really at all. It took place on the hangar deck. It was up on the catwalk. It had to do with – the subject had to do with – like I said, I think it alluded to this earlier, [[Helo]] had found [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] crying by himself in the quarters with the door closed. Helo had brought Nicky to find Tyrol. Tyrol was getting drunk in [[Joe's Bar]] by himself – or with some other deckhands and was abusive to Tyr– to Helo and got in a whole yelling match about it, and he was like, "Oh, he was fine. What the hell and what the – who the fuck are you to come in here and tell me what to do with my kid, and leave me alone," and blah, blah, blah. And they got in this whole thing about it. And then later in the script, Adama had heard, and Adama came and confronted him about it and said – or didn't confront him, but sat down and s– tried to reason with him and say, "Hey, man. I know you're going through some hard times. You need – you prolly need some rest." Put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Hey, man. Don't – but don't leave your kid alone, ok?" And Tyrol kinda went, "Ok. Sure, sir." And then as Adama was walking away, then Tyrol went off on him and said, "Don't tell me how to take care of my kid." "What?" "I'm – You're not my fuckin' father. You're not their fuckin' father. Who the fuck do you think you are?" And got in his face in a similar way. And then along the way it shifted and then we – lost the Helo scene altogether – but the Joe's Bar was still in the air, so then we started to talk about moving the Adama-Tyrol scene into Joe's Bar as better piece of texture. And then we just started pushing the scene more, and started pushing the scene to be more confrontational, to be more direct, to make Nicky – the Nicky part of it kind of went away and then as the Nicky part went away then this became just a sympathetic outreach to Tyrol, then Tyrol just completely unloads him, that makes it – and it's the fact that Tyrol does it publicly. That he does it for the benefit of everyone in this bar gives Adama no choice. He really – and Adama warns him. He's like, "I c– if you do this." And he says in the scene, I mean, "Don't do this. Don't make me do this." And Tyrol wants it. Tyrol's like, "Bring it in – bring it on, man. Bring it on. Destroy me. Take me apart. Crucify me. Kill me. Something." He wants this punishment. He's so out of his mind on so many levels, with his own identity, with the – what [[Tory Foster|he thinks]] is the [[The Ties That Bind|suicide]] of his wife, the pos– the near-fatal accident with Helo and [[Skulls]] that landed on – that he's taking on his shoulders. All these things combine. He's just going into this completely self-destructive mode, which I think is just really great. It's a happy place, the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Happy times.

And don't ask me where the [[w:University of Southern California|USC]] jersey came there at Joe's Bar. [Chuckle.] It's like, sometimes there's just things crop up – [unintelligible] I kinda went, "Is that a USC jersey?" They all – everyone kinda shuffled and looked at each other and like, "Oh, yeah. I guess so."


== Act 3 ==
The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. I talked about this in [[Podcast:The Ties That Bind|the previous podcast]]. The Quor– these scenes were originally just [[Lee Adama|Lee]]-[[Laura Roslin|Laura]] scenes in the first draft. Lee had a cramped little tiny office on ''[[Colonial One]]''. She came to see him. 'Cause he was pushing something in the off-camera Quorum and she wasn't happy about it. And it had to do with her cracking down on [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and all that. And she tried to confront him about it, and she was still pissed at – it came out that she was still pissed at Lee about him defending Baltar, and it got personal. But I wanted to have – I thought, "Let's bring the Quorum back into the show. Let's play the Quorum. Play it like the [[w:House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Go for 'question time'." And so I gave the note to [[Michael Taylor]] and then [[Jane Espenson]] simultaneously, they both had to retrofit their episodes to fit that concept and Jane – nailed it, I thought, in this episode. She did this – whole setup of how the – how it worked back and forth and gave us an insight into the political underpinnings of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. There's not quite enough, I have to say, of the implication here that there are other cults in the fleet – or – cults. There are other forms of religious worship in the fleet that also have something approaching a monotheistic point of view. I think one of the things that I always thought about the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic society]] of the Colonials is that within their polytheistic belief system there were many subgroups. There were many, many denominations, as it were, or there were many forms of worship. There was a cult of [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]]. There were people that prayed to different gods. There were people that had differ– all kinds of different forms of worship. There were people that were more akin to [[w:Buddhism|Buddhists]] and there were people that were more akin to [[w:Hinduism|Hindu]] and there were people that were monotheistic in their belief, that did believe that there was – but one [[god (RDM)|god]], or that there was one – only one real god. But that essentially Colonial society tolerated all of them, and that they were all welcomed, the belief systems. So when that delegate stood up and said, "This – mirrors some believers in – from our colony," it was meant to say, "Hey, this is not a new thing." It's not quite fully developed enough in the show, but again, you only have so much time and there's so many characters and so many plotlines going on, and some of these ideas which I thought were fascinating ideas just never quite get played out as deep and as interesting as I think they could be.

Love that – thing with [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] looking down at the sleeping – [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] and then she wakes up, then it's [[Caprica-Six]]. I'm trying to remember. I don't think that there was – these scenes went through several stages of development, but I don't think were any radical shifts of tone or characterization on this. In the point where we – where Caprica-Six arrived aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', there was a question of, "what do we do with her? Where does that character go?" And she's been aboard for a while now and this season was when that – we finally found something to kick her into gear. I monkeyed about quite a bit with the editing of these scenes of the Ellen to Caprica-Six to Tigh, exactly when you went from one to the other. There's a million ways you can cut these things. You know – you can kind of – it depends on what you're trying to do the audience, where you're trying to have them go psychologically as [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] would say. I think I was trying to get into a certain rhythm. I tend to think of editing and writing in musical terms, even though I'm not a musician, and there's a certain melody going on in these scenes that's a dialogue, and then there's the underlying bassline of the rhythm and the flow of the structure of the scene itself. And that the editing is carrying you through those rhythms and that the melody's – the melody and the dialogue's kinda playing on top of it and then the editing is like the phrasing, or it's the, again, it's like the bassline driving you through these things. And so I kept playing with when you cut to Ellen, when she became Caprica-Six, what was the pace of it, how was it building, and he moved you through the scene emotionally.

His pips are back to normal. Now, see? Something has clearly happened in between the previous scene and this one. Now his rank insignia is just that of a colonel. So what happened to the Admiral Tigh? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

See? That's great. Because I love that shot, because you don't know – you're not even thinking, at first, that it is Ellen. It's like you're starting yours – on that cut, and the assumption is that it's still Six, and it's all kind of a game here. It's all kind of like, "When are you gonna play who?" and "Which one does he see?" and "Which one is she really?" See? Right here we're staying with Ellen all the way through, so you're really pulling into the feeling of her, all the way until you leave. Now Eddie, when he did his cut, he cut the – this was intercut in the script. I will say that these scenes were all intercut in the script, but he did it at a far more aggressively than I think the script called for, and were really pulling you in and out of these two – all these things that are happening simultaneously.

This scene was really – this was supposed to be – what did it say in the story outline? The outline said – oh, it said, "'[[w:On the Waterfront|On the Waterfront]]' style clubbing." And that was one of the inspirations. This was also sort of a [[w:Ghandi|Gandhi]]esque notion of when part of the Indian drive for independence and they would go up against the British troops, and they would just let them – the British would just beat them down, one by one, and they would just keep coming, and coming, and the next man would come, and the next man would come. And they would beat them down, too, and there was this great – this amazing, brave symbolism of that.


== Act 4 ==
Now here, referring to the Baltar story. I tended to think of this more along the lines of the Indian analogy than "On the Waterfront" type clubbing. Mostly because I have to admit I haven't seen "On the Waterfront." There are certain movies and stories that are referenced a lot in writers' rooms in television, to the point where I could probably tell you the whole plot of "On the Waterfront" because it has been discussed and the archetypes within it have been discussed, the plot structure, and the characterizations. Even a lot of the dialogue is discussed endlessly in writers' rooms. And it's one of those movies I keep feeling like I gotta get around to watching, because it's a classic and I should just watch it. But I just never have. And yet, it's tossed around so frequently that I pretty much know the story of "On the Waterfront" and kinda know what it is. I mean, there's a lot of movies like that, most of which I have seen, but there's certain archetypes that are just tossed around for a million years. "The Maltese Falcon" is one of them. I didn't see "The Maltese Falcon", or had not seen "The Maltese Falcon" for several years in the business. It was just one – there are certain odd gaps in my film education. "Maltese Falcon" was one of them until I think five years ago was the first time I saw it. But again, it was discussed so often in writers' rooms, the plot structure and the way it worked, that I felt like I knew the whole movie.

It's probably worth going back and just mentioning that that whole little sequence of Baltar being pulled up by Head-Six and pushed into the clubbing sequence: I don't think I really anticipated that he was gonna be pulled quite – up quite so high. The idea was not to actually have him appear to hover or levitate off the deck, as I've seen some people mention. "Oh! Baltar's levitating. Is he levitating? Oh, now everybody knows." It wasn't really intended to be that. I think when they shot – and when they shot it, they certainly went that direction, and then I saw it in dailies and saw it on the – in the cut, and I kinda went, "Well, it kinda works." It still goes a little too far. It's actually – I was – I always wanted to ride the line where so – a scene like that you could potentially believe was either just Baltar himself doing it, or it could be Six doing it to him, and that you could read it either way. That particular scenario – scene actually goes a little too far in the direction of someone actu– of Head-Six actually doing it to him, and it feels a little – I will still rationalize in this show, to me, and for our internal purposes that no one in that scene would think anything other than Baltar himself was doing it. And that's – it may not play it that way to you, the audience, but that is how we're going to accept it. That's how the characters within the drama accept it. They think about it on that level. They don't – they think it's a strange moment. They think it's a brave moment. But they – none of them feels like there was somebody else at play, or there was any other force at play in this scene.

There's a nice little subtlety here. A little subtler, a nuance, rather, as – he reads more of ''Searider Falcon''. There's a beat here where Eddie looks up from the text. Like Laura closes her eyes, and Eddie looks up... right there. He glances up, and then I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he establishes that Laura's out, and then he closes the book and he just starts talking. And it's an interesting choice. What is he saying here? What are we saying here, really? Is he memorized it? Which would imply that he has actually read ahead and that he wasn't telling the truth. Or that he read ahead prior to the scene for himself. Is he making it up? Is it a confession? I think it's a really interesting open question. I don't have the answer to it. I don't really wanna know the answer to it. I may at some point ask Eddie what he was thinking there, if it was a deliberate choice or not. If it was something he had thought about or if it was just a performance in the moment. I think it's fascinating. I think it's one of those little details that I think you can glob onto and wonder what's the – where's the character going, and it's just adding a bit of life to something. It's not – it's making it. What am I trying to say? It's not completely scripted. Just like life is not completely scripted. You don't always understand why people do everything they do, and sometimes they do odd little – bits that don't make any sense or that raise other questions and you never actually get a completely satisfying answer to them, and that's kinda one of those beats.

This is – part of the – education of Gaius Baltar and part of his religious arc and things he's discovering and mom– lessons he's taking from the journey that he's going on. The question is, where does this take him? Where would this take all of them? Where does this path lead him? And wher – and as a result, where will the fleet go? How will it tie in, ultimately, to the end of the series?

I love the fact that Tyrol is here with his son while this is all happening. I thi– 'cause I think there's a lot of ways you can read this. I think you can – attack it. You could say all just a new-agey kinda stuff. You could say it's profound. You could say it draws on many different traditions. You could say it's his own self-rationalization. You could say – I mean, I think there's a lot of different interpretations, and we crafted it in such a way that it could go in many different directions, potentially. But for our purposes, it goes in one direction, and that the trick is to present it to the audience as a multiple choice of well, which is – how do we feel about this? Is he a) crazy b) self-rationalizing c) insane d) evil c) a truly godly inspired – there's a lot of ways you could read this and the – point for us was to raise questions and mysteries and get the audience thinking and wondering and worrying, on some level, about where we're going with this. And then to propel you into the next episode and then to keep walking the path we're going, but still leave out many possible alternates – many other side journeys that it could take. I love the fact that Lee is still there. And Lee stuck around and was compelled into listening longer than he th– he probably originally intended to. There was much more of Tory trying to guide Baltar in the early versions of that storyline.

Well, ok. That's it. That is the end of episode 406, "Escape Velocity." I hope you enjoyed it. I will revisit – I will be visiting you again for episode 407. Until then, good night, and good luck, and thank you for joining us.


{{Podcast list (RDM Season 4)}}

Podcast:Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:30:30Z

AlanHK: /* Teaser */

{{Podcast Data
|special=
|title= Escape Velocity
|season= 4
|episode= 4
|download link= http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/405/bsg_ep405_FULL.mp3
|local=
|posted date= 2008-05-11
|transcribed by= [[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]]
|verified by=
|length= 43:34
|finished= Y
|verified=
|scotch= [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]]
|smokes=
|wordoftheweek= [[m-w:masochism|masochism]] [[m-w:interruptus|interruptus]]
|rdm= Y
|mrsron=
}}

== Teaser ==
Hello, and welcome to the podcast for episode 406, "[[Escape Velocity]]." I'm [[Ronald D. Moore]], executive producer and developer of [[Re-imagined Series|the new ''Battlestar Galactica'']], and thank you very much for joining our podcast. The Scotch for tonight is [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]], this is the port wood finish twelve year old Scotch. The wife and kids are downstairs, and in deference to the tots the smoking lamp is out. OK. Episode four, to those of you counting at home, episode six to me, was yet another of the episodes that I've referred to before that were also broken in one fell swoop at the very beginning of the sea – or not, broken, at least the basic story outline was [clears throat] conceived at the very beginning of the season. The script for this, by [[Jane Espenson]], was begun in tandem with several other scripts and there were changes that happened on the fly in Jane's script, as we were making – as I was making changes to other episodes. Notably, there was a good deal of interaction back and forth in terms of plot, having to do with [[The Ties That Bind|the previous episode]], [[Michael Taylor]]'s episode of last week, episode five. Notably in the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes that are to be coming up.

OK. Here at the very beginning, the idea of doing a service in the temple and establishing, one of the few times that we've really actually seen any of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic worship]] of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]], was something I'd liked from the very beginning of the story as we broke it, and Jane really developed the actual service and the language that they're using and the formality of the ritual. I liked the idea from the get-go of saying, "OK. We've talked a lot about the polytheistic belief system of the colonists, and how usually in – just in contrast with the [[Cylon religion|monotheism]] of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]." And the irony, it seemed to me, at this point in the series, was that in some ways we knew more about the Cylons' conception of [[God (RDM)|God]] and the Cylon belief system, and how it worked in practical terms, than we really did the Colonials. And this was a great opportunity to go into that world and really actually play a service and I was also intrigued by the thought of showing a polytheistic religious service on television. Typically these services are all in the [[w:Judeo-Christian|Judeo-Christian]] tradition. You don't get to see a lot of variety in TV's portrayal of belief. I like the idea of validating and underlining the fundamental [clears throat] validity of the Colonial belief system.

This is a great little beat here with [[Laura Roslin|Laura]] and [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] – or [chuckles] with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]] and [[William Adama|Adama]] – with Laura and Adama. She's obviously alluding to the fact that she herself is gonna be dying, and she's starting to grapple with that in practical ways, and Adama really doesn't wanna think or talk about that. There's also this beat of the wigs. The – Laura's wig. We had a scene that made it to script and I believe it was in this episode, originally, although I could be wrong about that, where we were going to see Laura looking over examples of wigs that they had dug up through the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. That essentially the wigs are made of – I remember having these discussions that the wigs were made of human hair and presumably there's still barbers around and they would collect the hair, and that people would be making wigs from them. Much as they do today. But they would be made of real human hair, presumably. And that Laura would – they would have brought Laura several ones to choose from, and there was a little scene about that. Actually, the more I talk about it, it's probably – I think that scene actually might have been in the next episode. But in any case we – there was a substantial amount of discussion devoted to Laura's cancer and the progress of it, and when we were gonna show it, how far we were gonna go with it, and I had an extended conversation with Mary about it at the beginning of the season. Mary and I got together for breakfast and we sat down and talked over the character of Laura and what her arc was gonna be [clears throat] going through the rest of the season and how far we were gonna go with the cancer and what the – where it was gonna end up, and what the reasons where. It was a really interesting talk, and a lot of things that we ultimately ended up doing in the episode came out of that morning chat.

This little – this scene here with – the reappearance of [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] was something I was really looking forward to. I hoped that this was gonna be a bit of a surprise to the fans. We knew that word was going to get out that [[Kate Vernon]] was on the set, or that Kate Vernon had been booked to do an appearance, and sure enough there were some clips that made it onto the internet, some snippets here and there of news that Kate Vernon was doing something in ''Galactica'', and everybody – I think there was a general assumption that it was gonna be flashback, which really worked for us, 'cause then we could play that scene. [Chuckles.] And make it a genuine surprise. I also have to give k – tremendous kudos to the hair and makeup people and our costume department, our wardrobe department, who was able to really make that transition from [[Caprica-Six|Six]] to Ellen work really well. Like, at fir – when she first shows up as Ellen it takes a moment before you even realize that it's Ellen.

This subplot here with [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] was gonna be – it was developed a little further in the first draft, and I think it was even some subsequent scenes shot that were ultimately drawn from the air – dropped from the aired version. There was more of Tyrol really checking out, really being disconnected, from his son. Really lost and not knowing what the hell to think about it. I think there was a scene, actually – yeah, actually, I know there was a scene later on – I'll try to r– to talk about, that had [[Helo]] coming. Helo had found Nicky crying all by himself and had come to Tyrol later. Essentially what we wanted to do as we got into this area of the arc of the season was start really sending our final four [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] in fundamentally different directions. [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] isn't even here. Anders is gone off with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]]. Tyrol is – [[Callandra Tyrol|Tyrol's wife]] is [[The Ties That Bind|dead]]. It's thrown him into an identity crisis. It's thrown him into a fundamental existential crisis. He has a son. He's not capable of really caring for him. He's gonna lose his job. He's freaking out. He's not shaving. It's like he – Tyrol's really coming unglued. Tight is like, hanging on ever tighter and tighter than he can.

Now somebody – oh, I have to comment on this. Someone on the internet pointed out that in this shot that I'm looking at right now, Tyrol is – sorry, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] is talking to Tyrol, and on Tigh's collars are clearly admiral pin – admiral pips. And of course that is a deep mystery and a deep secret and I encourage all – everyone on the internet to spend a great deal of time and effort trying to suss out the various reasons why I would put admiral pips on Colonel Tigh. 'Cause I'm sure that that would lead you, if you follow that chain, that will lead you inevitably to who the final Cylon is. Or it could just be a wardrobe mistake. But that's not as much fun, is it?

Anyway. We were – we – let me jump back here to – I've been reading to you some of these descriptions that were in the initial pitch document on the first four episodes of the season. This one, episode four, says, "The theme is redemption, unlikely alliances. In a nutshell, Tigh seeks out answers from Caprica-Six. An accident in space leads Tyrol to believe that he may be sabotaging [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and asks to be relieved of duty. Martyr-like [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] defends [[Cult of Baltar|his one God church]]. [[Zarek]] – Zarek manipulates [[Lee Adama|Lee]] against Laura." And then in the in-depth description it says, "Baltar and Laura – the Baltar/Laura story. The gu – the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up-" I'll wait 'till we come back.



== Act 1 ==
In the in-depth description it says, "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]: the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up non-violent Baltar revival meeting. Baltar marches on the pantheon, denounces [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] for reason for the [[Fall of the Colonies|holocaust]]. Laura, the reactionary, outlaws [[Cult of Baltar|Baltarism]]. [[Zarek]] works on [[Lee Adama|Lee]]. 'The President is losing it, Lee. Baltar isn't a threat. Denying freedom of worship is.' Lee tries to reason with Laura, fails. Baltar, with an assist from [[Head-Six]], braves an 'On the Waterfront' type clubbing to worship, which increases his flock. Lee and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] overrule Laura. {{podcastref|ZarekPaysGoons}}Reveal that Zarek pays goons, who started the whole thing, and Zarek clearly has designs. [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] story. [[Helo]] out in space. A near crash of the [[Raptor]] due to mechanical failure. Tyrol blames himself. Not sure if it is an honest mistake or sabotage on his part. He asks to be removed from duty. [[William Adama|Adama]] grants it, thinking it's fallout from [[Cally]]'s death. [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] attempts to console Tyrol, who blames himself for Cally's death. Leads Tigh into guilt trip over dead Hel- [[Ellen]]. Meaningless of life, plus being a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] drives him back to the bottle. Doesn't work. Sees answer – seeks answers from a true Cylon and goes to see [[Caprica-Six]]. Caprica-Six realizes Tigh's motivation to purge his guilt through punishment when she eggs – when he eggs her into hitting him. Masochism interruptus when Cap-Six kisses Tigh, Tigh kisses her back. [[Tory Foster|Tory]] is moved by Baltar's faith, the outlaw savior-quality, embracing the uniqueness of one [[God (RDM)|God]], Tory, to herself, thinks maybe being a Cylon ain't so bad, and for the first time she refers to Laura, Adama, and company as 'the humans'." This – so that was – so that's the description. You can see we – where we departed in certain areas and developed things further, but essentially, again, this is still fundamentally what the show is.

This sequence here, in the first draft there was – [[Head-Baltar]] made an appearance here. And Head-Baltar was sitting and talking to Baltar throughout this little section. And in fact I – God, I – my memory might be failing me, but I kinda remember actually usi– shooting Head-Baltar in this sequence. I think we did shoot Head-Baltar in the sequ– he was talking to Baltar, and I think in editing I cut it out. I could be insane. Other people – other voice – cooler heads will judge. Once we get into this section here, the attack of what we're calling the Sons of Ares, are sort of the name of this group, and when they come in to trash Baltar's – lair, as it were, this is directed by [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]], as you can see, and I really like Eddie's direction. This works pretty well. I'd say that – I think the problem that we probably have here is that we don't quite have enough of a foundation laid for who the Sons of Ares are. I mean, you kind of get an idea that – I hate the shoulder pads on that guy, sorry. Not to bag on our costume department or anything, but I hate that guy's outfit. I just hate it. It's very "[[w:Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior|Road Warrior]]". Anyway. We never quite lay the groundwork for who exactly who the Sons of Ares are, and why their – hatred of the Baltarites is as passionate as it is. I think we kinda go on the assumption that it's, OK, in the episode you feel like it's an outgrowth of the previous shows where – or show – where [[Charlie Connor|Connor]] attacked Baltar in the head and almost killed – or wanted to kill him, and Baltar was ultimately saved by his acolyte, [[Paulla Schaffer|Paulla]]. So it's clearly like they're all kinda connected together. But again, I think the Sons of Ares is an idea – it sounds better in concept, and I think it was something that worked in the room really well, 'cause it was an easy way to talk about the group that was opposing Baltar, but we just never really developed it. Part of that is due to simply the limitation-

Oh, no. I have to stop to talk about this little – this space shot here. The la– the Raptor landing. The Raptor taking off and the – everybody walking on the flight deck. I love that – shot. As soon as I saw it in pre-vis I was like, "Are you kidding? Really? You're gonna have these guys walk along the flight deck? That's so cool." And [[Gary Hutzel|Gary]]'s like, "Yeah, man." I was like, "Oh, fuck yeah! I'll put that in the show." They were very happy.

Anyway. The Sons of Ares concept, I think – part of it is just the lack of time in the show. You only have so much time in these episodes to develop certain ideas in any kind of depth, and Sons of Ares just became sort of a shorthand for these nameless, faceless guys that hated Baltar and were causing trouble and would go and attack him. And – like I said earlier, it sounded good in the room, and then I kinda watched the episode, they kinda come out of nowhere. You're not really invested in them, and it's like you're still trying – I think you're still trying to invest yourself in Baltar's experience in the Cult, and you're trying to understand and wrap your mind around that and trying to have sympathy and empathy for what he's going through. That's already asking a lot of the audience. And then bringing in these other – guys don't re– doesn't really work. So – but it's – I mean, it works in the structural sense, but not in a visceral sense.

I love this whole sequence of the Raptor rolling in and crashing. I did voice concern when I saw the visual effects that this was too spectacular a crash to have them survive, and they did tone it down, but I have to say, still, I'm still amazed that anybody made it out of that Raptor alive, much less in as good as shape as [[Racetrack|Crashdown]] and [[Skulls]] are.

The Baltar story here. Clearly he's going on a – something of a messiah journey with these followers. Now the question, I think, for the audience is, "Well, how far is we gonna go with that? And where is this journey gonna take him? And is he a messiah? Is he gonna accept himself as a messiah? Will he buy into it? Is it true in the scope of the show, and ultimately, where does that lead us in the overall arc, overall final arc, of the series?" Some of this is – [[w:Christ|Christ]]-like. Some of the notion of Baltar going to the temple in the scene that's coming up, and smashing the icons, certainly has overtones of young Jesus and driving out the money-changers in the temple. That was deliberate, and we kinda liked that. But the attack on him, the attack on his followers, and was – really doesn't fit into that storyline as readily and this is more an idea of the con– this more the clash of civilizations. This is more the idea being the clash of the one god who is driven to drive out the many gods. And really that's at the heart of this story. It's not so much a tale of Baltar as literal Christ as it is using some of those overtones, and some of those tropes, and some of those themes to advance our story in touching into familiar ideas that the audience will register and familiar pathways.

This stor– this beat here with Tyrol discovering the fuse that he forgot to put in. There was actually an earlier beat that I think I cut, where you saw him, literally, put it in his pocket and forget to put it in. In the story and at the – script level, it wasn't Racetrack and Skulls, it was Helo. Helo was out in space and had a near-crash and, like I read in the story document earlier, and comes back and is nearly killed, and then there's all these questions about what happened and Tyrol blames himself and –

I'm sorry. I'm distracted by this scene. I love [[Aaron Douglas|Aaron]]'s performance here. It's really strong. It's – just the look on his face and the way he goes at them is – really delivers this idea. I that was just – great show for Aaron. Really strong show for – Aar– I really like him in this episode.

Anyway, so Helo was gonna be the victim of the accident and Tyrol was then gonna start wondering if he had deliberately sabotaged it or if it was an honest mistake. And then what started happen was as – as we – I was working – we were working on the other shows simultaneously and when the decision was made to send Helo out on the ''[[Demetrius]]'' with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]], obviously he got yanked out of this story completely. As a result of that, I had to find somebody else to get hurt in a Raptor. And we were kinda out of pilots. Running kinda low on pilots at this point. And rather than pull in a day player or – by that, I mean somebody new, a guest star, rather, some faceless person that we don't have any investment in, who then would kinda be targeted. It's like, if we cast it with somebody who was just a brand new pilot you'd never met before and suddenly with them in the cockpit, without commenting, flying out in space, you're gonna know something's gonna go wrong. It's the [[w:Redshirt (character)|red shirt]] phenomena from [[w:Star Trek|Trek]] where you, "Oh, that guy's gonna die." And we just kinda said, "You know what? Let's put Racetrack and Skulls in it." And the point did come up that they've had problems before, and that Racetrack and Skulls have had a very, very active and very adventurous life in Raptor. They tend to [[Kobol (RDM)|find]] [[New Caprica|planets]]. They tend to have accidents. You could say you either want to get in a Raptor with – you should probably always want to get in a Raptor with Racetrack, 'cause it'll never be boring. She was even with [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon]], way back when, when Sharon [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|ran into]] all the naked [[Number Eight|Sharons]] back on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. But that's become our inside joke. It's just Racetrack and her never-boring Raptors.

Head-Six in these scenes – I was, at the script level I started edging – I was already starting to second-guess my my fascination with Head-Baltar and I was – it was also causing a lot of production issues because when you're having Baltar talking to Baltar it's more lock-offs, it's more production time, 'cause you have to – Gaius has – Gaius. [[James Callis|James]] has to go off and change clothes. He has to have his makeup redone. He has to leave the set for an hour or so and then come back. It just complicates everybody's life to have Baltar talking to Head-Baltar. So in this draft I started to already say, "You know what? Let's – it's probably fine to give more of this to Head-Six, less to Head-Baltar." This might have been an episode – see, I am kinda fuzzy on this, 'cause it happened so long ago, I apologize, but I think, like I said earlier, I think we did shoot some Head-Baltar scenes in it, so we had Head-Baltar and Head-Six in the same episode, but then ultimately go rid of it.

I like this. I like this scene a lot. I like James just comin' in an literally trashing the temple and the clash of civilizations and the religious conflicts in the fleet and we had tried last year – there was talk about the [[Sagittaron]]s and how the Sagittarons were sort of their own cult-like people. They were the – colony that kept to themselves in the [[Hero]] – not "Hero – in the "[[The Woman King|Woman King]]" episode.



== Act 2 ==
Yeah. They were the ones that had kept to themselves in the "[[The Woman King]]" episode, like I was saying. But that really never took off, and didn't work. So [[Season 4|this season]] we just opted to go straight for – it was much easier to play the [[God (RDM)|monotheism]] vs. the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] as our religious conflict on the show, 'cause it was built into the series from the very beginning.

More on the [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]-[[William Adama|Adama]] storyline here. [[Searider Falcon|This book]] will actually become an interesting little plot point, in and of itself, so keep your eye on the book, what happens to it, where it goes. This whole storyline just became very just – I don't know. Became one of my favorite stories of the whole year, was Laura and Adama and how they were dealing with each other and their – as she went through [[diloxin]] treatments, our form of chemo, and how that would affect their relationship and where they were as human beings, and where they were in their relationship to one another. I like that in this episode you don't know she's – we don't say she's wearing a wig until much later. And [[Gaius Baltar|Bal]] – although when you're watching, you sort of feel like something's up with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]], and you know what? We changed Mary's hair.

This storyline – the political storyline with Laura and Adama and [[Lee Adama|Lee]] that's coming up, in the early going, in the first drafts, this – the first draft did not have any of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes and the arguments were much more about the theoretical ideas of Laura, of cracking down on Baltar. It was much – it was a little bit more grudge-driven than it is now. It was a little bit more that Laura just hated Baltar and was gonna quash him no matter what, then Lee thinking that that was wrong, and that that was unethical, and as we developed through the script, I came up with the notion of making it more question time – well. Well, we'll get to that when I get to question time, I suppose.

We – this plotline with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]]. It's hard to talk about this at this point in the season. All I can tell you is keep your eye on this storyline as well. We have a lot going on in all these little plotlines, obviously, and they take a while to develop and this is laying a lot of groundwork for later – episodes. Loved the ability to bring [[Kate Vernon]] back. Losing Kate from the show was – it was a real loss. There's been a lot of losses in the show, 'cause we have clearly lost a lot of players and there's been a lot of great characters and a lot of great actors that have been slaughtered in the bloody, bloody path that we have cut through the forest. I don't know what kind of metaphor that is. But the mix of having – having [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] in the mix, and then not having her in the mix – I definitely felt that. I felt the loss of her. I was eager to get her back into the show, and I was glad to be – to have this opportunity to do it.

[Phone rings.] This – all this. Oh, there's my telephone, that I can't answer. That's actually the studio. I'm actually ignoring the studio to – talk to you. I'm typing in, "Can't talk now," to my assistant Meryl. [Chuckles.] OK. Sorry. I should turn off the recorder for things like this, but I just won't.

Anyway. These scenes I find fascinating. I mean, I think [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] shot these in a really interesting way. The Ellen/Caprica-Six/Tigh scenes, and I think he cut them in a very interesting way. Eddie's episodes are all – always edited in a really interesting, aggressive way. He tends to cut – Eddie calls the cutting psychologically. He likes cutting to the psychological heart of different scenes and going back and forth and he – always jumbles the chronology and the order of the scenes to a point where you don't even really care or recognize what the original purpose was. And as a result, these episodes are always a bit jarring. They grab you and they yank you through the show and you're never quite sure where you're gonna go next. And I really like that. I think it's – a bit unsettling to an audience, which is more f– more used to watching standard TV. And standard TV, in my humble opinion, is a bit paint by the numbers in terms of where it cuts and when in that it's usually just very slow paced and very simple and you don't wanna throw the audience and you always wanna let them know, always show them an exterior of the building before you show the interior. There's a lot of that, I mean. And that – I'm painting with a pretty broad brush here. There's a lot of interesting television out there too, that's interesting and edgy and more aggressive. So we're not the only ones doing this. But I just prefer this style. And I learn a lot when I watch Eddie's episodes and I watch his cuts I learn a lot from them. Even though I go in and there things I don't – agree with, and I'll change, and I'll shift cuts, and I'll – sometimes I'll move things back closer to the script in some areas, or sometimes I'll just clean 'em up for clarity, or just my own personal preference. But his cuts are always instructive. I'm always learning things in how he puts – he assembles it. He has a great eye for film, and he thinks like a filmmaker. That's what I like about him the most as a director. He really thinks of it as film. And he's very concentrated on the performances. He challenges the actors. He pushes and pulls them in different directions, and he digs out a lot of interesting little moments and nuances in the script. This particular scene with Laura and Baltar, I think is one of the highlights of the episode. I think this is the kind of scene that I – that would just – that could easily sail past you, 'cause there's so many other pieces in this episode that operate at a much higher emotional level, that are much louder, in a certain way, that are just more attention-getting and are just bigger. This – I love the way Mary delivers this whole little piece where there's a real sense of danger to her, a real sense of danger. "Stay safe." The fact that she doesn't care anymore. That she's dying and that she's put it back on him. I think it's a fascinating performance and I've watched it several times, and each time I find a different – slightly different layer in Mary's performance there.

This beat with Adama and [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] is clearly the hi– probably the high point of the episode. It is just so well delivered. This gag, right here, when Adama's about to say he – "Keep yourself busy." "I don't need special treatment." Yeah. This is so well done. [[Cally|Married]] to a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Abomination. Pan over to Tyrol. Cut back. Eddie picks up the drink again. That's really good. That's really smart. It's really – draws you in. It's a s– you don't realize where it's going right away. You pan over to him, and as Tyrol's – it's Eddie's psychological thing. Psychologically, you're with Tyrol. 'Cause Tyrol is going, "Did I just hear him say that?" And you the audience are going, "Did I – did we just hear him say that?" And then you cut back, and the simple act of the glass – it's as simple as when he picks that glass up and takes a drink, and the first time – and then the drink arriving a second time tells you that it was just a hallucination. It's very well done. It's very elegant. It's really, really cool. This scene got better and better just all the way through the drafts. In the first scene it wasn't like this really at all. It took place on the hangar deck. It was up on the catwalk. It had to do with – the subject had to do with – like I said, I think it alluded to this earlier, [[Helo]] had found [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] crying by himself in the quarters with the door closed. Helo had brought Nicky to find Tyrol. Tyrol was getting drunk in [[Joe's Bar]] by himself – or with some other deckhands and was abusive to Tyr– to Helo and got in a whole yelling match about it, and he was like, "Oh, he was fine. What the hell and what the – who the fuck are you to come in here and tell me what to do with my kid, and leave me alone," and blah, blah, blah. And they got in this whole thing about it. And then later in the script, Adama had heard, and Adama came and confronted him about it and said – or didn't confront him, but sat down and s– tried to reason with him and say, "Hey, man. I know you're going through some hard times. You need – you prolly need some rest." Put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Hey, man. Don't – but don't leave your kid alone, ok?" And Tyrol kinda went, "Ok. Sure, sir." And then as Adama was walking away, then Tyrol went off on him and said, "Don't tell me how to take care of my kid." "What?" "I'm – You're not my fuckin' father. You're not their fuckin' father. Who the fuck do you think you are?" And got in his face in a similar way. And then along the way it shifted and then we – lost the Helo scene altogether – but the Joe's Bar was still in the air, so then we started to talk about moving the Adama-Tyrol scene into Joe's Bar as better piece of texture. And then we just started pushing the scene more, and started pushing the scene to be more confrontational, to be more direct, to make Nicky – the Nicky part of it kind of went away and then as the Nicky part went away then this became just a sympathetic outreach to Tyrol, then Tyrol just completely unloads him, that makes it – and it's the fact that Tyrol does it publicly. That he does it for the benefit of everyone in this bar gives Adama no choice. He really – and Adama warns him. He's like, "I c– if you do this." And he says in the scene, I mean, "Don't do this. Don't make me do this." And Tyrol wants it. Tyrol's like, "Bring it in – bring it on, man. Bring it on. Destroy me. Take me apart. Crucify me. Kill me. Something." He wants this punishment. He's so out of his mind on so many levels, with his own identity, with the – what [[Tory Foster|he thinks]] is the [[The Ties That Bind|suicide]] of his wife, the pos– the near-fatal accident with Helo and [[Skulls]] that landed on – that he's taking on his shoulders. All these things combine. He's just going into this completely self-destructive mode, which I think is just really great. It's a happy place, the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Happy times.

And don't ask me where the [[w:University of Southern California|USC]] jersey came there at Joe's Bar. [Chuckle.] It's like, sometimes there's just things crop up – [unintelligible] I kinda went, "Is that a USC jersey?" They all – everyone kinda shuffled and looked at each other and like, "Oh, yeah. I guess so."


== Act 3 ==
The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. I talked about this in [[Podcast:The Ties That Bind|the previous podcast]]. The Quor– these scenes were originally just [[Lee Adama|Lee]]-[[Laura Roslin|Laura]] scenes in the first draft. Lee had a cramped little tiny office on ''[[Colonial One]]''. She came to see him. 'Cause he was pushing something in the off-camera Quorum and she wasn't happy about it. And it had to do with her cracking down on [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and all that. And she tried to confront him about it, and she was still pissed at – it came out that she was still pissed at Lee about him defending Baltar, and it got personal. But I wanted to have – I thought, "Let's bring the Quorum back into the show. Let's play the Quorum. Play it like the [[w:House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Go for 'question time'." And so I gave the note to [[Michael Taylor]] and then [[Jane Espenson]] simultaneously, they both had to retrofit their episodes to fit that concept and Jane – nailed it, I thought, in this episode. She did this – whole setup of how the – how it worked back and forth and gave us an insight into the political underpinnings of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. There's not quite enough, I have to say, of the implication here that there are other cults in the fleet – or – cults. There are other forms of religious worship in the fleet that also have something approaching a monotheistic point of view. I think one of the things that I always thought about the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic society]] of the Colonials is that within their polytheistic belief system there were many subgroups. There were many, many denominations, as it were, or there were many forms of worship. There was a cult of [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]]. There were people that prayed to different gods. There were people that had differ– all kinds of different forms of worship. There were people that were more akin to [[w:Buddhism|Buddhists]] and there were people that were more akin to [[w:Hinduism|Hindu]] and there were people that were monotheistic in their belief, that did believe that there was – but one [[god (RDM)|god]], or that there was one – only one real god. But that essentially Colonial society tolerated all of them, and that they were all welcomed, the belief systems. So when that delegate stood up and said, "This – mirrors some believers in – from our colony," it was meant to say, "Hey, this is not a new thing." It's not quite fully developed enough in the show, but again, you only have so much time and there's so many characters and so many plotlines going on, and some of these ideas which I thought were fascinating ideas just never quite get played out as deep and as interesting as I think they could be.

Love that – thing with [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] looking down at the sleeping – [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] and then she wakes up, then it's [[Caprica-Six]]. I'm trying to remember. I don't think that there was – these scenes went through several stages of development, but I don't think were any radical shifts of tone or characterization on this. In the point where we – where Caprica-Six arrived aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', there was a question of, "what do we do with her? Where does that character go?" And she's been aboard for a while now and this season was when that – we finally found something to kick her into gear. I monkeyed about quite a bit with the editing of these scenes of the Ellen to Caprica-Six to Tigh, exactly when you went from one to the other. There's a million ways you can cut these things. You know – you can kind of – it depends on what you're trying to do the audience, where you're trying to have them go psychologically as [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] would say. I think I was trying to get into a certain rhythm. I tend to think of editing and writing in musical terms, even though I'm not a musician, and there's a certain melody going on in these scenes that's a dialogue, and then there's the underlying bassline of the rhythm and the flow of the structure of the scene itself. And that the editing is carrying you through those rhythms and that the melody's – the melody and the dialogue's kinda playing on top of it and then the editing is like the phrasing, or it's the, again, it's like the bassline driving you through these things. And so I kept playing with when you cut to Ellen, when she became Caprica-Six, what was the pace of it, how was it building, and he moved you through the scene emotionally.

His pips are back to normal. Now, see? Something has clearly happened in between the previous scene and this one. Now his rank insignia is just that of a colonel. So what happened to the Admiral Tigh? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

See? That's great. Because I love that shot, because you don't know – you're not even thinking, at first, that it is Ellen. It's like you're starting yours – on that cut, and the assumption is that it's still Six, and it's all kind of a game here. It's all kind of like, "When are you gonna play who?" and "Which one does he see?" and "Which one is she really?" See? Right here we're staying with Ellen all the way through, so you're really pulling into the feeling of her, all the way until you leave. Now Eddie, when he did his cut, he cut the – this was intercut in the script. I will say that these scenes were all intercut in the script, but he did it at a far more aggressively than I think the script called for, and were really pulling you in and out of these two – all these things that are happening simultaneously.

This scene was really – this was supposed to be – what did it say in the story outline? The outline said – oh, it said, "'[[w:On the Waterfront|On the Waterfront]]' style clubbing." And that was one of the inspirations. This was also sort of a [[w:Ghandi|Gandhi]]esque notion of when part of the Indian drive for independence and they would go up against the British troops, and they would just let them – the British would just beat them down, one by one, and they would just keep coming, and coming, and the next man would come, and the next man would come. And they would beat them down, too, and there was this great – this amazing, brave symbolism of that.


== Act 4 ==
Now here, referring to the Baltar story. I tended to think of this more along the lines of the Indian analogy than "On the Waterfront" type clubbing. Mostly because I have to admit I haven't seen "On the Waterfront." There are certain movies and stories that are referenced a lot in writers' rooms in television, to the point where I could probably tell you the whole plot of "On the Waterfront" because it has been discussed and the archetypes within it have been discussed, the plot structure, and the characterizations. Even a lot of the dialogue is discussed endlessly in writers' rooms. And it's one of those movies I keep feeling like I gotta get around to watching, because it's a classic and I should just watch it. But I just never have. And yet, it's tossed around so frequently that I pretty much know the story of "On the Waterfront" and kinda know what it is. I mean, there's a lot of movies like that, most of which I have seen, but there's certain archetypes that are just tossed around for a million years. "The Maltese Falcon" is one of them. I didn't see "The Maltese Falcon", or had not seen "The Maltese Falcon" for several years in the business. It was just one – there are certain odd gaps in my film education. "Maltese Falcon" was one of them until I think five years ago was the first time I saw it. But again, it was discussed so often in writers' rooms, the plot structure and the way it worked, that I felt like I knew the whole movie.

It's probably worth going back and just mentioning that that whole little sequence of Baltar being pulled up by Head-Six and pushed into the clubbing sequence: I don't think I really anticipated that he was gonna be pulled quite – up quite so high. The idea was not to actually have him appear to hover or levitate off the deck, as I've seen some people mention. "Oh! Baltar's levitating. Is he levitating? Oh, now everybody knows." It wasn't really intended to be that. I think when they shot – and when they shot it, they certainly went that direction, and then I saw it in dailies and saw it on the – in the cut, and I kinda went, "Well, it kinda works." It still goes a little too far. It's actually – I was – I always wanted to ride the line where so – a scene like that you could potentially believe was either just Baltar himself doing it, or it could be Six doing it to him, and that you could read it either way. That particular scenario – scene actually goes a little too far in the direction of someone actu– of Head-Six actually doing it to him, and it feels a little – I will still rationalize in this show, to me, and for our internal purposes that no one in that scene would think anything other than Baltar himself was doing it. And that's – it may not play it that way to you, the audience, but that is how we're going to accept it. That's how the characters within the drama accept it. They think about it on that level. They don't – they think it's a strange moment. They think it's a brave moment. But they – none of them feels like there was somebody else at play, or there was any other force at play in this scene.

There's a nice little subtlety here. A little subtler, a nuance, rather, as – he reads more of ''Searider Falcon''. There's a beat here where Eddie looks up from the text. Like Laura closes her eyes, and Eddie looks up... right there. He glances up, and then I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he establishes that Laura's out, and then he closes the book and he just starts talking. And it's an interesting choice. What is he saying here? What are we saying here, really? Is he memorized it? Which would imply that he has actually read ahead and that he wasn't telling the truth. Or that he read ahead prior to the scene for himself. Is he making it up? Is it a confession? I think it's a really interesting open question. I don't have the answer to it. I don't really wanna know the answer to it. I may at some point ask Eddie what he was thinking there, if it was a deliberate choice or not. If it was something he had thought about or if it was just a performance in the moment. I think it's fascinating. I think it's one of those little details that I think you can glob onto and wonder what's the – where's the character going, and it's just adding a bit of life to something. It's not – it's making it. What am I trying to say? It's not completely scripted. Just like life is not completely scripted. You don't always understand why people do everything they do, and sometimes they do odd little – bits that don't make any sense or that raise other questions and you never actually get a completely satisfying answer to them, and that's kinda one of those beats.

This is – part of the – education of Gaius Baltar and part of his religious arc and things he's discovering and mom– lessons he's taking from the journey that he's going on. The question is, where does this take him? Where would this take all of them? Where does this path lead him? And wher – and as a result, where will the fleet go? How will it tie in, ultimately, to the end of the series?

I love the fact that Tyrol is here with his son while this is all happening. I thi– 'cause I think there's a lot of ways you can read this. I think you can – attack it. You could say all just a new-agey kinda stuff. You could say it's profound. You could say it draws on many different traditions. You could say it's his own self-rationalization. You could say – I mean, I think there's a lot of different interpretations, and we crafted it in such a way that it could go in many different directions, potentially. But for our purposes, it goes in one direction, and that the trick is to present it to the audience as a multiple choice of well, which is – how do we feel about this? Is he a) crazy b) self-rationalizing c) insane d) evil c) a truly godly inspired – there's a lot of ways you could read this and the – point for us was to raise questions and mysteries and get the audience thinking and wondering and worrying, on some level, about where we're going with this. And then to propel you into the next episode and then to keep walking the path we're going, but still leave out many possible alternates – many other side journeys that it could take. I love the fact that Lee is still there. And Lee stuck around and was compelled into listening longer than he th– he probably originally intended to. There was much more of Tory trying to guide Baltar in the early versions of that storyline.

Well, ok. That's it. That is the end of episode 406, "Escape Velocity." I hope you enjoyed it. I will revisit – I will be visiting you again for episode 407. Until then, good night, and good luck, and thank you for joining us.


{{Podcast list (RDM Season 4)}}

Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:22:11Z

AlanHK: /* General */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x04 - Escape Velocity - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Escape Velocity
| season= 4
| episode= 4
| forumthread= 954
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director=[[Edward James Olmos]]
| production=406
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=25 April 2008
| CAN airdate=25 April 2008
| UK airdate=29 April 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39675
| oldpopulation=39676
| prev= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| next= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| amazon=y
| podcast=Y
| frakr=Embrace Verbosity
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== Overview ==
: ''Religious freedom is debated and defended as the messianic [[Gaius Baltar]] promotes his belief in one true [[God (RDM)|God]]. Meanwhile, [[Galen Tyrol]] tries to cope with the death of his [[Callandra Tyrol|wife]] and fails.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* In a makeshift [[temple]] aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', [[Galen Tyrol]] performs a ritual commemoration ceremony in the memory of his wife, [[Callandra Tyrol|Callandra Henderson Tyrol]]. In attendance are [[Laura Roslin]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], Delegate [[Lee Adama]], [[Tory Foster]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Anthony Figurski]].
* After the priest ends the service, Roslin (wearing a wig) tells Adama that she likes the ceremony, insinuating that she wants Adama to perform the same service for her when she dies.
* Tyrol is given condolences by people as they leave the temple. Foster asks Roslin why they have to do "these things at dawn", to which Roslin replies that they have to.
* After Roslin gives her condolences, Tyrol grabs a hold of both Foster and Tigh, who hastily offer their condolences. As they walk out, they complain that Tyrol almost attracted attention to themselves.
* Delegate Adama offers his condolences as Tyrol stares off after Foster and Tigh; Adama leaves without a response from Tyrol.
* Tigh enters the surveillance room adjoining [[Caprica-Six]]'s brig. The Marines inform him that she continues her same routine. When broaching the topic of how Six doesn't go nuts, the [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Blonde female Marine|female Marine]] replies that she probably turns off her brain, prompting interest from Tigh.
* Tigh enters the brig, informing Six that her request to see [[Hera Agathon]] has been denied. Six notes that Tigh already told her this, and asks what else he wants from her. During the discussion, Tigh sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in place of Six. Tigh, unsure of what to make of it, tells Six to stay back from him. Six notes that he visits her every day, but doesn't ask questions any more. Tigh leaves, with her saying that she'll see him tomorrow.
* In his quarters, Tyrol sits while [[Nicholas Tyrol]] cries. Foster and Tigh gruffly admonish Tyrol for his behavior at the service.
* Tigh inquires after the baby. Tyrol notes that Nicholas probably needs to be changed; Tigh goes about doing so.
* Foster asks Tyrol if he believes Cally killed herself because of him. Tyrol brings up the alleged affair between them, to which Foster replies that they didn't have one. Tyrol voices his concerns over which of his memories were real, and whether or not there was ever an action in his life that wasn't programmed. Foster espouses what, according to Tigh, is "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s crap" when she tells Tyrol that they, as [[humanoid Cylons|Cylons]], don't need guilt since they are perfect. Tigh, on the other hand, believes that Tyrol is feeling what men feel after the death of a loved one. Tigh continues by telling Tyrol that he'll see Cally every day, while referencing his own experience of [[Torn|hearing]] and [[Virtual Ellen|seeing]] his dead wife. Tigh finishes by saying that Tyrol feels what he needs to feel, but not at the expense of being outed as Cylons, while Foster says to think about what they are and embrace their Cylon attributes.

=== Act 1 ===

* [[Tory Foster]] visits [[Gaius Baltar]] in the commune. There, she wakes Baltar by pulling out a hair on his head. Baltar replies "Gods", which Foster questions. She continues by plucking another hair off of Baltar's head, asking about how he was feeling. He replies that it was an intense feeling. She then massages his crotch, then while doing so, plucks out another hair on his head. She asks if the signals of pain and pleasure get crossed, which Baltar replies in the affirmative. As Baltar tries to leave, Foster forces Baltar down on the bed. After noting her strength, she begins to engage in foreplay, running her tongue across his cheek.
* As she babbles on about her beliefs about "pain turning into pleasure" and the like (much to Baltar's testicular displeasure), members of the [[Sons of Ares]] begin their march towards the commune. Their attack on the commune begins by throwing a smoke grenade, which allows them to enter the commune and attack Baltar's cultists with near impunity, painting graffiti and wreaking havoc. They quickly try to find Baltar, but they know they have two minutes to do so before they can expect some kind of military response. At the one minute mark, an announcement over the PA announces a security alert on deck eight, section fourteen.
* During these two minutes, Baltar hides himself behind a support beam near the ceiling. After the attack, Foster looks up at him as the Sons of Ares people clear out of the commune, vowing to find Baltar.
* In the [[hangar bay]], [[Galen Tyrol]] is repairing the [[ECO]] console on [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]'s [[Raptor]]. Deckhand [[Anthony Figurski]] asks if Tyrol is almost done, Tyrol replies that he just has one more relay, which his hands have a problem in reaching. During this, he has flashbacks of Cally, including one where Cally helps him out during the construction of the [[Blackbird]].
* Tyrol's flashback of his [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|beating of Cally after his suicidal nightmare]] is interrupted by Edmondson, who asks if he's done with his repairs. Pocketing a fuse, he morosely replies that he's done.
* Edmondson and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] launch to the departing waves of crew members on the deck. They join up with a [[CAP|combat air patrol]] led by [[Redwing|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]], who teases them for driving "a school bus". Edmondson counters by comparing the Vipers to bicycles, to which Redwing replies that the Vipers are race cars.
* When Edmondson throttles up, she loses control of the Raptor's port lower rear [[RCS]] thruster. She requests an emergency landing and struggles to bring the Raptor back to the port landing pod deck, but they crash-land, with flaming wreckage colliding with a [[landram]].
* Meanwhile, Baltar is chastising "[[Mr. Officious]]" for his lack of speed in finding out who their attackers are. [[Virtual Six]] prompts him to look at the painted graffiti in the wall, which is written in old text. He reads it, discovering that his attackers were from the Sons of Ares. He asks about their motivations, to which Six replies that "[[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|old Gods]] die hard even among your people". He sees Six next to a woman, whose name he believes starts with an "M", until she corrects him: her name is [[Lilly]]. Baltar discovers a religious artifact belonging to [[Asclepius]] in her hand, which she prays to. She claims that she believes that Baltar will heal their people, but still has belief in Asclepius. Six then adds that the "Gods are fighting back".
* In the hangar bay, Tyrol and Figurski are looking over the remains of the Raptor, whose relays are still hot. When checking under the ECO console, Tyrol discovers the burnt-out fuse he neglected to replace, discovering the replacement in his shirt's pocket. He admits that the crash was his fault.
* McCall angrily confronts Tyrol, but is interdicted by Edmondson, who attempts to defuse the situation. McCall concedes that it's all right, and that no one got hurt. Tyrol presses on however, saying that he doesn't need to be "patted on the head" and that its all right if people told him that he [[frak|frakked up]]. He becomes more vocal when Edmondson mentions that "he's only human", but she walks away and no one else comments. He calls them all "cowards".
* Figurski offers to finish looking over the Raptor. In reply, Tyrol tells Figurski to get out of the ship.
* As Baltar looks at the pendant for Asclepius, Virtual Six tells him that people have room for only one great belief, either him or the Gods. Despite Baltar's misgivings about one man standing up to the old Gods, Six convinces him that such a man who does would surely be magnificent. Inspired by this, Baltar tells his members that they have been targeted because of what they believe in, and urges them to take a stand against Gods that have no relevance in their world.
* Baltar then leaves, with [[Jeanne]] and the others following.
* Baltar enters the temple, where the priest is performing a service. He interrupts the ceremony despite the priest's attempts to stop him. Baltar begins asking the parishioners who they serve, blaspheming [[Zeus]] by calling him a "serial rapist" and pointing out the absurdity of giving birth through one's forehead. The priest confronts him, but Baltar calls her an "ignorant witch" and continues discussing the so-called Gods, including how Asclepius heals with the blood of a [[Gorgon]], in addition to the other "invented rubbish" as he vandalizes the temple.
* As his other cultists follow his example, Marines storm the temple and forcibly extricate Baltar as the polytheists in the temple try to attack him, yelling out demands to "burn him".

=== Act 2 ===

* [[William Adama]] visits [[Laura Roslin]] in [[sickbay]] after her blood test. He's brought a different book to read named ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', a classic novel. Roslin comments that she hasn't read it in years, and Adama confesses that he's never finished the book, since he finds the book too good to finish, and is saving the ending. She suggests that she should also do that, but after an awkward realization shared between the two, she corrects herself.
* After Adama offers to take her bag, he notes that "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s back at home in the brig again". Roslin believes that Baltar's desecration of the temple was revenge for what happened to his commune that morning. Adama replies that he has people looking into the brutal attack on Baltar's cult, but no one is talking about the [[Sons of Ares]]. She replies that Baltar's knowingly provoking the hard-line religious groups from [[Dogsville]], and they agree that they can't have a religious fight in the [[the Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. Further, they both agree that Baltar is the crux of the problem, as he has an "uncanny way of stirring up all the crap". They discuss the various options, including locking him away for his own safety to removing him from ''Galactica''. However, Roslin has a better idea and goes to the brig so that Baltar can see her.
* Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] visits [[Caprica-Six]] in the brig. She notes that he didn't even make it to tomorrow. Tigh reveals that he does want something, and asks her how it feels to have the blood of billions of human beings on her hands. She replies that she cannot help but to feel it. Tigh orders the Marines to aim their weapons at her.
* On the hangar deck, Tyrol is welding as Figurski walks by and asks him if he woke up early or never went to sleep. Tyrol doesn't reply and Figurski walks off. After this, Tyrol simply walks off the job, throwing his welder's mask and gloves upon the floor.
* In the brig, Six tells Tigh that she is just as human as he is. During the conversation, he sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in Six's place, and asks her how she deals with the pain. She doesn't answer and Tigh tells the Marines to step outside. After the Marines do so, he tells her that she has nothing to offer him and that she is the same as the rest of the Cylons.
* Also in a brig, Baltar is awakened by Roslin. After Baltar makes a quip about her strip searching him, she tells him that his situation is being looked into "aggressively". She tells him that she is wearing a wig and dying from cancer, but she doesn't want his pity and is still doing her job. She assures him that she's aggressively looking into the men that attacked him. However, there is a caveat to this: she tells him that she wants a quiet little death, and insinuates that Baltar give up his crusade quietly, as she has neither the time nor the patience to indulge him.
* Roslin leaves, telling Baltar that he's being released and to stay safe.
* In [[Joe's Bar]], Adama joins Tyrol at the bar. Adama tells Tyrol that the deck crew misses him and tells him that if he needs time off, or if he wants to work more shifts, all he need to is ask. Tyrol replies that he doesn't need special treatment. In reply, Tyrol hallucinates Adama receiving a shot of alcohol and this reply: "I guess it was just more than she could take, huh? Being married to a Cylon who made her the mother to a half-breed abomination."
* The hallucination ends when Adama gets his drink and comments that Cally was a good woman. Tyrol replies that had Adama really thought that, he wouldn't have threatened to stick her up against a bulkhead and have her shot. Despite Adama's efforts to move their conversation somewhere else, Tyrol then goes into a tirade about how he was stuck with the best of limited options, describing Cally as a "shriek" with "dull, vacant eyes" and a "cabbage smell". He tells Adama that he is sick of his life, a life that he did not choose, and hating to find out that those they really loved were dead, dying, or were Cylons. He pines on his love of [[Sharon Valerii]], and notes that because he tried to stick his head in the sand, he married Cally. He tells her that she was no angel, but notes that Adama has already made her into one. He tells Adama that they are not in the same club, since he never asked the right questions.
* Adama gives him a last chance to recant, but Tyrol refuses, daring Adama to demote him and get him off the ship. Challenged, Adama does so, and orders Specialist Tyrol to report to a petty officer to get reassigned, since Tyrol is a danger to others.
* Adama leaves, while Tyrol slowly collapses into his stool at the bar.

=== Act 3 ===

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'' during a [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] meeting, [[Lee Adama]] argues with President Roslin over an emergency measure limiting the size of Baltar's groups so they don't provoke attacks from fundamentalist groups, steadfastly contending that "where ever Baltar is, violence happens", and assures Adama and other delgates that her goal is to keep the people safe from harm by preventing such violence. However, Lee's objections are supported by fellow Quorum members, such as [[Reza Chronides]], who are concerned that the emergency measure that Roslin "bulldozed through" may be used against other religious groups, such as the [[Mithraism|Mithraists]]. Roslin assures people that this won't happen, and the emergency measure was enacted because [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] is a special case, a claim that Lee rebukes by saying that they're making him a special case. During the conversation, [[Tory Foster]] remains silent, but is visibly concerned.
* Despite Lee's assertion that Baltar is not preaching violence and other amoral acts, and objections by the delegates, Roslin tells them to clear their heads and urges the people to remember the tragedy they experienced on [[New Caprica]]. Chronides pointedly asks if Roslin will open the resolution for a full discussion amongst the Quorum, which Roslin quickly and vehemently refuses to do.
* Lee responds by noting that the Quorum can override Roslin, and notes that he's willing to do so since he believes the resolution cannot stand.
* Incensed by this, Roslin replies with rhetoric: should they overturn her decision, the people would win, but at what cost? She implores them to remember what happened when Baltar held political power, and saying they should be terrified at the prospect of Baltar regaining such power again, even through Baltar's cult.
* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] watches [[Caprica-Six|Six]] as she sleeps. He believes he's seeing Ellen. When she awakens, Six asks if she should get familiar to waking up to Tigh's face. She notes the lack of a Marine escort. Tigh tells her that it is an informal chat between them, to which she astutely replies that they're also being watched. Tigh tells her that she hasn't answered his question. She replies that she wants the pain and learns from it. She mentions how she fell in love with Baltar, and understood that she wouldn't have him forever. She continues to discuss Baltar, which breaks Tigh out of his illusion of seeing Ellen. He angrily reacts to this, saying that he refuses to hear about "Gaius Frakking Baltar" and leaves the brig. He enters the adjoining surveillance room to dismiss the Marines and deactivate the surveillance equipment.
* Tigh reenters the brig, where he is prompted with an offer by Six to help him turn off the pain. She reveals that she learns from the pain, the guilt, and she claims that she's found clarity and wisdom from these things. Tigh sits on the cot with her, where he is told how the humanoid Cylon brain is patterned after the human brain, where she claims that the Cylons have learned things about the human mind that the humans themselves are unaware of.
* Six, who Tigh now sees as Ellen, removes his eye patch and offers to give him clarity.
* Baltar and his cultists proceed to the commune, but are stopped by a Marine who tells him of Roslin's emergency measure, [[Emergency Provision 17]], and that no group larger than twelve can be assembled at any time. Baltar insists that he lives in the commune, but the marine will have none of it, even when [[Paulla Schaffer]] offers to leave and allow Baltar to enter. When Baltar tries to make his way into the commune at the urging of his Virtual Six, he is beaten back by the Marine and begins to spit out blood from his mouth.

=== Act 4 ===

* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh]] tells [[Caprica-Six]] to get her hands off him. She punches him, throwing him from the cot. She then jumps on him and begins punishing him in the face, enjoying it in the process. After this, she asks him if he feels the pain, and the clarity that comes with it. When he does not reply, she continues to punch him.
* [[Virtual Six]] convinces [[Gaius Baltar]] to continue to defy the Marine, assuring him that the gains for doing so outweigh the initial costs. He does so, and is repeatedly beaten back to the ground in front of his followers every time he takes a move towards the commune. "Aided" by his virtual Six, Baltar gets up and continues this action, until Lee Adama arrives with a [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine lieutenant]]. He informs them that the provision has been rescinded and right for full public assembly is restored.
* [[Tracey Anne]], [[Jeanne]] and [[Paulla Schaffer]] rush out to help Baltar into the commune. Before entering the commune, Baltar thanks Adama for helping him. Adama replies that he doesn't know why he does these things for Baltar. Baltar says that Adama does such things because "your God compels you".
* In [[sickbay]], [[Laura Roslin]] tells [[William Adama]] (who is holding ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' in his hand) that Lee has no idea of what he's doing, believing that there are "pragmatic realities" that Lee refuses to face. Adama agrees to this, saying that Lee's only doing what he thinks is right. Roslin does agree to that, but says that "sometimes the right thing is a luxury" and has its own set of dangerous consequences that Lee doesn't want to be true. She stops herself from continuing, since she realizes that shouldn't get upset during her [[Doloxan]] treatment.
* Adama tells her that he's about to get into the part of the book he hasn't read yet and, when asked if he can continue, Adama starts reading. Roslin goes to sleep and Adama continues from the reading, despite having closed the book and apparently knowing the words by rote.
* In the brig, a beaten Tigh begs to Six to continue her assault. However, she changes tactics, saying that being beaten is not what he needs. She then kisses him.
* In the commune, Baltar makes his speech where he notes that while he isn't a perfect man, he believes that something in the universe loves him despite his flaws and faults. Urged on by Virtual Six, he calls this "spark", which dwells in the soul of every living being, "God" and moves the crowd when he says that each and every person is perfect, and that they can love others once they love themselves.
* During Baltar's speech, Lee Adama sees [[Tory Foster]] in attendance. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Galen Tyrol]] stares at [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicholas]], who is playing in his crib.
* On ''[[Demetrius]]'', [[Kara Thrace]] is sleeping at a table when [[Samuel Anders]] comes in, watching over her.
* Baltar finishes his speech by saying that God loves that which is perfect, and that people are perfect as they are. Foster is smiling, while the other cultists begin to weep and give him a standing ovation. Lee Adama moves to leave the commune while Virtual Six looks over at Foster.

== Notes ==
* [[w:Escape velocity|Escape velocity]] is the minimum initial velocity an unaccelerated object needs to escape a body's gravitational field.
* [[Cally Tyrol]]'s full first name is Callandra. The spelling is confirmed in [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246 Bear McCreary's blog post] for this episode. The episode also marks the first onscreen mention of her birth name, Henderson.
* The [[survivor count]] now accounts for Callandra Tyrol's death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]".
* A costuming error in the teaser shows [[Saul Tigh]] wearing the rank insignia of an [[Military Ranks (RDM)|admiral]]. This is noticeable in the scene where Tigh and [[Tory Foster]] confront [[Galen Tyrol]] in Tyrol's quarters after the memorial service.
* The [[Doloxan]] treatment [[Laura Roslin]] receives has forced her to wear a wig, since her hair loss began more than 22 days ago in "[[Six of One]]".
* Another of the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] is revealed: [[Asclepius]]. Asclepius is known to the Colonials as the god of healing.
* Unlike "[[The Ties That Bind]]", [[Tom Zarek]] is not present at the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] meetings on ''[[Colonial One]]'' in this episode. The reason for his absence is unexplained.
* Tory Foster confirms that the [[Final Five]] are stronger than humans.
* [[Redwing]] previously appeared in "[[Exodus, Part II]]" as [[Hot Dog]]'s wingman.
* The Raptor accident was the third such incident for the pair of [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] and [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]. The first occurrence being their FTL malfunction causing their mis-jump to the [[New Caprica]] system in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and another incident with the RCS thrusters occurs in "[[Dirty Hands]]".
*As Baltar speaks about loving oneself, knowing "what we are" and loving others, the camera includes shots of three Cylons who are struggling with self-identity and their feelings for humans – [[Galen Tyrol]] staring at his son at play, [[Samuel Anders]] watching his wife as she sleeps aboard the [[Demetrius]] and [[Tory Foster]] watching Baltar himself.

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*The [[Sons of Ares]] act with military precision, have access to gas grenades and knowledge about the ship's security procedures. From this it is likely that many of them are soldiers and not civilians. This may be expected from a group dedicated to the [[Ares|god of war]].
* When facing down the Marines, the way in which Baltar is standing up appears as though he is being lifted up, which puzzles the Marines and Baltar's followers. This marks the first time where virtual Six does something to Baltar that isn't clearly presented like Baltar is doing it to himself. While it is possible that he moves like that all by himself, and his feet are never shown, it is implied that virtual Six can actually affect things physically. This, along with the [[virtual Baltar]] appearing to Baltar in "[[Six of One]]", and both virtual beings consistently knowing information that neither Baltar or Caprica-Six could actually know, hints that there may be something more to them than simply being illusions. What they are, of course, remains a matter of debate.
**In the [[Podcast:Escape Velocity#Act 4|podcast]], Ron Moore points out that such an interpretation was never intended by the writers. He concedes that the way it is shot goes into that direction, which he considers too far, but believes that none of the characters present would think of it any other way than Baltar moving around by himself.
* The scene where Baltar violently confronts the Colonials during their prayer service seems based on the Biblical narrative of [[W:Cleansing of the Temple|Jesus and the money changers]].
* Racetrack and Skulls' Raptor accident bears similarities to the real life [[Wikipedia:Gemini 8|Gemini VIII]] mission, where a thruster on the craft jammed in the "on" position, causing the spacecraft to roll violently to the left. The high roll rate endangered the lives of astronauts Scott and Armstrong, and the incident caused the mission to be aborted. A dramatized version of the accident can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvWBnkPvqME in this clip] from ''From The Earth To The Moon''.

=== Characters ===
* [[Galen Tyrol]]'s insubordination that leads Admiral Adama to demote him may have been a deliberate act, conscious or unconscious, to maintain the safety of the ship. While not stated explicitly, Tyrol has been implied to have fears of working against the interest of the Fleet. This fear is almost certainly magnified when he forgets to swap out a burned out component for a new one on [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]]'s Raptor, which subsequently crashes. While his memory lapse may have been innocently brought on by the continuing stress of discovering himself to be a Cylon, the resulting subterfuge, and his wife's death, the experience of [[Sharon Valerii]] with her memory lapses, unconscious acts of sabotage, and the attempted murder of then Commander Adama, are probably on his mind. This is indicated during the tirade against Cally, Adama, and his life in general in [[Joe's bar]]. A demotion in disgrace and transfer could ensure the safety of the ship, without raising any unwanted questions as an official resignation probably would.
* Neither Tyrol nor, apparently, Tigh have been told the full truth about [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s death; Foster has not seen fit to tell Tigh, possibly as a result of the suicide pact made in "[[He That Believeth In Me]]". The official story surrounding her demise has not been disclosed to the audience, however all ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew knows is that she did die. What has not been disclosed thus far is how Nicholas was found, despite the fact that Cally was seen by several crewmembers carrying the child before her death.
* Tyrol continues to have feelings for Sharon Valerii, as he admits to [[William Adama]] and everyone else present in Joe's Bar. Tyrol notes many of [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s weaknesses, including her nagging, nosy nature (which lead to her death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]"), and grows annoyed at Adama's willingness to turn Cally into an angel, when he believes that she is unworthy of that. His feelings for Valerii were likely renewed upon realizing that he is a Cylon, which makes a possible association with Valerii much more acceptable to him.
* Tyrol's tirade about Cally and his reasons for marrying her also have a double meaning in regards to Adama. As it becomes more obvious, especially ever since "[[A Day in the Life]]", Adama's feelings for Roslin have become more apparent. Unfortunately, with her cancer re-appearing and her possible upcoming death, Roslin, like Valerii to Tyrol, is unattainable to Adama. Ironically, though Tyrol believes that Adama wants him to join his "club" in lamenting for Cally, it may very well be that it is Adama who wants to join Tyrol's club.
* Foster continues to embrace her Cylon nature and Baltar's teachings. She tells Tigh and Tyrol to turn off the guilt, that they are perfect and different from humans. Tigh, however, can't turn off his feelings and spends much of the episode wondering if [[Caprica-Six]] can.
* As Adama reads from ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' to Roslin, he closes the book and continues, "I wasn't afraid to die. I was afraid of the emptiness that I felt inside. I couldn't feel anything. And that's what scared me. You came into my thoughts. I felt them. It felt good." Writer [[Jane Espenson]] explains in the DVD commentary for "[[The Hub]]" that Adama is pretending that the words come from the book, but he is actually speaking his heart to Roslin after he closes the book.
* Roslin's wig is strikingly reminiscent of [[Helena Cain]]'s hairstyle in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship, Parts I]] and [[Resurrection Ship, Part II|II]]". This is a visual counterpoint to her increasing ruthlessness as she confronts her impending death.
* Roslin's wig is also reminiscent of the hairstyle and look that she has in the vision she shared with Athena and Caprica-Six ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part I]]"). This may indicate that the vision was a foretelling of future events to come in the season.
* Roslin's body language during and after her speech to the Quorum portrays several nuances to the audience. First, it is apparent, besides the hair loss, that the cancer treatments are weakening her body tremendously. Second, her previous statements to Baltar of having less and less patience is more evident in how she dealt with the Quorum's request. Third, as she leaves, the nuance of Roslin, with a hunched back and slowly sulking away indicates that there may be future consequences for the Quorum in standing up to Roslin.

=== Religion ===
* Delegate [[Reza Chronides]] mentions [[Mithraism]], thus further establishing the existence of other religions in the Twelve Colonies. The [[Sons of Ares]] are another religious group, described as [[w:fundamentalism|fundamentalist]].
*This is particularly notable in the context of Baltar's cult, because [[w:Mithraism|Mithraism]] had many things in common with [[w:Christianity|Christianity]]. Yet Christians were persecuted far more by the ([[w:polytheism|polytheistic]]) Romans, while Mithraism spread throughout the empire and particularly the army, before Christianity became the official religion and [[w:Paganism|paganism]] illegal. This furthers the connection of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] to the Roman/Greek gods and of Baltar to [[w:Jesus Christ|Christ]].
*In Baltar's theology people are perfect and God loves things that are perfect. Perfect things have no faults, therefore God loves one including one's faults. Hence, there is nothing wrong with one despite the questionable things done in life. This is similar to the Calvinist and Free Grace Christian theologies that hold that those truly saved by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ can not lose their salvation. In other words, regardless of faults or sins past, present or future a true believer in Christ's complete salvation at the Cross would never be rejected by God. This is similar to Baltar's theology in which God would never reject a person under any circumstance because he or she is perfect regardless of their faults or sins. Under this world view God would regard [[Tory Foster]] as perfect and guiltless despite her murder of [[Cally Tyrol]], which she has convinced herself that she is.
*Furthermore, according to conventional Protestant Christian theology, one need only accept Jesus as savior and confess once. The confession must be heartfelt and true for Christ's salvation and redemption to be in effect in God's eyes. To use the example of Tory Foster once more, it is likely that Foster is truly embracing Baltar's teachings and perhaps her Cylon nature in that she truly believes they are perfect as is and forgiven as they are. This differs from what is required under conventional forms of Christianity in that Christ has paid for the sinner's salvation.
*Baltar's speech about loving one's self, and using that understanding to love and understand others seems thematically aligned with Virtual Six's initial remark in the Miniseries that "God is love." Ironically, Baltar's sinful past now seems to enhance his credibility and provide evidence that someone as sinful as him has been given fortune by God. In Christianity, to be redeemed from sin does not mean that one will stop sinning, but to live in constant reminder of God's love and favor because of Christ's sacrifice. Furthermore with that understanding that one is loved, one's behavior will change gradually and in certain circumstances miracles occur. Likewise, Baltar has repeatedly repented to God and had seemingly divine providence intervene in his favor several times. Since Baltar is now using his own sinful life as an example, it seems that this dynamic of Christianity is consistent here as well.

== Questions ==

* Will Lee Adama grow more sympathetic towards Baltar's group? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Partial Answer]])
* Will Roslin learn that Foster is associating with Baltar? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
* Will Tyrol seriously consider Foster's words?
* Will Foster clash with Tigh and Tyrol, as their different attitudes towards their Cylon nature develop?
* Are Tyrol and Tigh's hallucinations merely the result of grief and guilt, or are they using [[projection]]?
* Do Tigh and Six frak? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Are Tigh and Six the "enemies brought together by impossible longing" spoken of by the [[First Hybrid]] in "[[Razor]]"?
* Are Tyrol's statements about Cally's negative attributes heartfelt, or merely a result of rage and anger? ([[The Road Less Traveled|Answer #1]], [[Blood on the Scales|Answer #2]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Answer #3]])
* What of [[Nicholas Tyrol]]? Will his father take care of the child?
* Now that it is clear that Foster lied to Tyrol about the death of Cally, how will Tyrol react should he discover the truth? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What will Tyrol's new duties be after his demotion to specialist? ([[Blood on the Scales|Future Answer]])
* Further, what is his status within the [[Colonial Workers Alliance]]? Has he abandoned this union's leadership position or been forced out?
* Will Baltar's religion end up helping the people of the Fleet, or will it lead them into a dangerous state which compromises them, as Laura Roslin appears to fear?
* What influence will the new religion have on Roslin's beliefs and actions? Will she convert, will she be proven right, or will she be on the wrong side?
* Does Baltar's facial expression of seeming shock when he sees Virtual Six standing next to her and smiling, mean that he realizes that Tory Foster is a Cylon? ([[Revelations|Possible answer]]) Does he connect that with Foster's display of strength to him during their sex play?

== Official Statements ==
* ''[[Mark Verheiden]] discusses [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] being "lifted" by [[Virtual Six]]:''
: "I would argue that Baltar’s gyrations were still him contorting himself, as if Number Six were hoisting him from the floor. I am reminded of Church services where people, in the throes of religious fervor, can evidence remarkable physical contortions, 'speaking in tongues,' etc."<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/04/28/battlestar-galactica-interview-mark-verheiden-on-tyrols-guilt-and-baltar-the-traitor/|title=Battlestar Galactica Interview: Mark Verheiden on Tyrol's Guilt and Baltar the Traitor|date=28 April 2008|accessdate=1 May 2008|last=Ullrich|first=Chris|format=|language=}}</ref>

* ''Verheiden talks about [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]'s animosity towards Baltar:''
: "This starts to get a little complicated, I think, which of course means you’re watching ''Battlestar Galactica''! But Laura’s emotions about New Caprica have to be a swirl of righteous resentments and animosity.

: "Remember that she [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|was removed]] as President by the will of the people (in a squeaker of an election), replaced by a guy she knew would be a poor leader. That proved to be true even before the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] arrived and the [[Cylon Occupation Authority|occupation]] began.

: "So she would have watched the political machine on [[New Caprica]] flounder under Baltar’s rule, then see the Government’s total capitulation when the Cylons arrived and he immediately surrendered.

: "While Baltar more or less cooperated with the Cylons (regardless of whether his reasons were pragmatic and practical, as pointed out in his trial), humans were rounded up, imprisoned, eyeballs were gouged out, people were tortured, the nightmare went on and on.

: "After all that, Baltar [[Crossroads, Part II|managed to evade]] Laura’s idea of justice AND he falls into a [[Cult of Baltar|sect]] of acolytes who look to him for spiritual guidance.

: "Is it any wonder that the guy gets under her skin? And that she fears for the [[The Fleet (RDM)|fleet]] should he find another power base?"

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] and [[Galen Tyrol]]'s argument at Joe's Bar:''
: '''William Adama:''' [[Cally Tyrol|She]] was a good woman.
: '''Galen Tyrol:''' If you ''really'' believe that, you wouldn't have [[Dirty Hands|threatened]] to stick her up against a bulkhead and shoot her. It's OK though, thought about doing it a few times myself. Believe me.
: '''Adama:''' Chief...
: '''Tyrol:''' How many of us ended up with the people we wanted to be with? Got stuck with the best of limited options. And why? Because the ones we really want, that we've really loved, are dead, dying, turned out to be [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] and they didn't know it. And if [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] had...
: '''Adama:''' Let's go. Let's go.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. ''No.'' I didn't know—
: '''Adama:''' Let's go home.
: '''Tyrol:''' ''I didn't know.'' So I buried my head in the sand, and I took it, and I settled. I settled for that shriek. Those dull, vacant eyes. Boiled cabbage stench of her. And why? Because this is my life. This is the life I picked! And that's fine. But you know what, it's not! I didn't pick this life! This isn't my ''[[frak]]kin''<nowiki>'</nowiki> life!
: '''Adama:''' What the hell's gotten in to you? Don't do this. Don't do this to her memory.
: '''Tyrol:''' You know what? I'm sorry if I'm not doing this the way you want me to, the way you might, but I'm not making an angel out of someone who wasn't an angel. But I can see you have. And now you've come down here to be in my club. But you're not in my club. You don't know what frakkin' club I'm in because you never ask the right questions.
: '''Adama:''' Chief, let's get out of here.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. Why don't ''you'' go, take care of your ''precious ship''.
: '''Adama:''' Stop it! Stop all of this! Because if you don't, I'll have to act on it. Now shut up!
: '''Tyrol:''' ''Great!'' Do it! Please! For the love of Gods, please demote me! ''Get me off your frakking ship!''
: '''Adama:''' Specialist Tyrol, I want you off my hangar deck before you endanger another pilot. You're to report to Petty Officer [[Basim]] at 0600 for reassignment. Do you understand?

* ''[[Caprica-Six]] tells [[Saul Tigh]] about her feelings:''
:"I want the pain. It's how I learn. I was instrumental in the destruction of humanity, but at the same time I learned, because...because I fell in love...with a human man, and he was mortal and fallible. And he had this incredible pride in himself. He thought he knew everything there was to know. And I loved him, with my whole heart. And then one day, I realized I wouldn't have him forever. I understood what I'd done. How I betrayed him and humanity. And that pain taught me to understand death. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] could die. And I loved him. Baltar's heart was ephemeral. Baltar's body was fragile in my hands."

* ''[[Laura Roslin]] about [[Lee Adama]] and his understanding of politics:''
:'''Roslin:''' Lee has no idea. He really has no idea. [...] There are pragmatic realities he refuses to face.
:'''William Adama:''' Well, that's a problem of course. He'd say what he thinks is right.
:'''Roslin:''' Well yeah. He is Lee. Thing is, it probably is the right thing, but...sometimes the right thing is a luxury. And it can have profoundly dangerous consequences. And it's almost as if he doesn't want that to be true.

* ''[[Gaius Baltar]] speaks to his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]]:''
:"I am not a priest. I've never even been a particularly good man. I am in fact a profoundly selfish man. But that doesn't matter, you see. Something in the universe loves me. (smiles) Something in the universe loves the entity that is me. I would choose to call this something "God", a singular spark that dwells in the soul of every living being. If you look inside yourself you will find that spark too. You will. But you have to look deep. Love your faults. Embrace them. If God embraces them, then how can they be faults? Love yourself. You have to love yourself. If we don't love ourselves, how can we love others? And when we know what we are, then we can find the truth out about others, seek what they are; the truth about them. And you know what the truth is? The truth about them? About you? About me? Do you? The truth is, we're all perfect. Just as we are. God only loves that which is perfect and he loves you. He loves you because you are perfect. You are perfect. Just as you are."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as "[[Virtual beings#Saul Tigh's Virtual Ellen|Virtual Ellen]]"
* [[Don Thompson]] as [[Anthony Figurski]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracey Anne]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[Heather Doerksen]] as Sergeant [[Brandy Harder]] (credited as "Surveillance Marine")
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[Karen Austin]] as [[Lilly]]
* [[Steve Lawlor]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine guard|Marine at Baltar's]]
* [[Hector Johnson]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine Lieutenant]]
* [[Lee Jefferies]] as [[Redwing|"Redwing" McKay]]
* [[Rob Hayter]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Sons of Ares leader|Sons of Ares leader]] (uncredited)
* Unknown as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#"Mr. Officious"|"Mr. Officious"]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Edward James Olmos]]

[[de:Perfekter Schmerz]]
[[ms:Escape Velocity]]

Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:18:42Z

AlanHK: /* General */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x04 - Escape Velocity - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Escape Velocity
| season= 4
| episode= 4
| forumthread= 954
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director=[[Edward James Olmos]]
| production=406
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=25 April 2008
| CAN airdate=25 April 2008
| UK airdate=29 April 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39675
| oldpopulation=39676
| prev= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| next= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| amazon=y
| podcast=Y
| frakr=Embrace Verbosity
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}}

== Overview ==
: ''Religious freedom is debated and defended as the messianic [[Gaius Baltar]] promotes his belief in one true [[God (RDM)|God]]. Meanwhile, [[Galen Tyrol]] tries to cope with the death of his [[Callandra Tyrol|wife]] and fails.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* In a makeshift [[temple]] aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', [[Galen Tyrol]] performs a ritual commemoration ceremony in the memory of his wife, [[Callandra Tyrol|Callandra Henderson Tyrol]]. In attendance are [[Laura Roslin]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], Delegate [[Lee Adama]], [[Tory Foster]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Anthony Figurski]].
* After the priest ends the service, Roslin (wearing a wig) tells Adama that she likes the ceremony, insinuating that she wants Adama to perform the same service for her when she dies.
* Tyrol is given condolences by people as they leave the temple. Foster asks Roslin why they have to do "these things at dawn", to which Roslin replies that they have to.
* After Roslin gives her condolences, Tyrol grabs a hold of both Foster and Tigh, who hastily offer their condolences. As they walk out, they complain that Tyrol almost attracted attention to themselves.
* Delegate Adama offers his condolences as Tyrol stares off after Foster and Tigh; Adama leaves without a response from Tyrol.
* Tigh enters the surveillance room adjoining [[Caprica-Six]]'s brig. The Marines inform him that she continues her same routine. When broaching the topic of how Six doesn't go nuts, the [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Blonde female Marine|female Marine]] replies that she probably turns off her brain, prompting interest from Tigh.
* Tigh enters the brig, informing Six that her request to see [[Hera Agathon]] has been denied. Six notes that Tigh already told her this, and asks what else he wants from her. During the discussion, Tigh sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in place of Six. Tigh, unsure of what to make of it, tells Six to stay back from him. Six notes that he visits her every day, but doesn't ask questions any more. Tigh leaves, with her saying that she'll see him tomorrow.
* In his quarters, Tyrol sits while [[Nicholas Tyrol]] cries. Foster and Tigh gruffly admonish Tyrol for his behavior at the service.
* Tigh inquires after the baby. Tyrol notes that Nicholas probably needs to be changed; Tigh goes about doing so.
* Foster asks Tyrol if he believes Cally killed herself because of him. Tyrol brings up the alleged affair between them, to which Foster replies that they didn't have one. Tyrol voices his concerns over which of his memories were real, and whether or not there was ever an action in his life that wasn't programmed. Foster espouses what, according to Tigh, is "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s crap" when she tells Tyrol that they, as [[humanoid Cylons|Cylons]], don't need guilt since they are perfect. Tigh, on the other hand, believes that Tyrol is feeling what men feel after the death of a loved one. Tigh continues by telling Tyrol that he'll see Cally every day, while referencing his own experience of [[Torn|hearing]] and [[Virtual Ellen|seeing]] his dead wife. Tigh finishes by saying that Tyrol feels what he needs to feel, but not at the expense of being outed as Cylons, while Foster says to think about what they are and embrace their Cylon attributes.

=== Act 1 ===

* [[Tory Foster]] visits [[Gaius Baltar]] in the commune. There, she wakes Baltar by pulling out a hair on his head. Baltar replies "Gods", which Foster questions. She continues by plucking another hair off of Baltar's head, asking about how he was feeling. He replies that it was an intense feeling. She then massages his crotch, then while doing so, plucks out another hair on his head. She asks if the signals of pain and pleasure get crossed, which Baltar replies in the affirmative. As Baltar tries to leave, Foster forces Baltar down on the bed. After noting her strength, she begins to engage in foreplay, running her tongue across his cheek.
* As she babbles on about her beliefs about "pain turning into pleasure" and the like (much to Baltar's testicular displeasure), members of the [[Sons of Ares]] begin their march towards the commune. Their attack on the commune begins by throwing a smoke grenade, which allows them to enter the commune and attack Baltar's cultists with near impunity, painting graffiti and wreaking havoc. They quickly try to find Baltar, but they know they have two minutes to do so before they can expect some kind of military response. At the one minute mark, an announcement over the PA announces a security alert on deck eight, section fourteen.
* During these two minutes, Baltar hides himself behind a support beam near the ceiling. After the attack, Foster looks up at him as the Sons of Ares people clear out of the commune, vowing to find Baltar.
* In the [[hangar bay]], [[Galen Tyrol]] is repairing the [[ECO]] console on [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]'s [[Raptor]]. Deckhand [[Anthony Figurski]] asks if Tyrol is almost done, Tyrol replies that he just has one more relay, which his hands have a problem in reaching. During this, he has flashbacks of Cally, including one where Cally helps him out during the construction of the [[Blackbird]].
* Tyrol's flashback of his [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|beating of Cally after his suicidal nightmare]] is interrupted by Edmondson, who asks if he's done with his repairs. Pocketing a fuse, he morosely replies that he's done.
* Edmondson and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] launch to the departing waves of crew members on the deck. They join up with a [[CAP|combat air patrol]] led by [[Redwing|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]], who teases them for driving "a school bus". Edmondson counters by comparing the Vipers to bicycles, to which Redwing replies that the Vipers are race cars.
* When Edmondson throttles up, she loses control of the Raptor's port lower rear [[RCS]] thruster. She requests an emergency landing and struggles to bring the Raptor back to the port landing pod deck, but they crash-land, with flaming wreckage colliding with a [[landram]].
* Meanwhile, Baltar is chastising "[[Mr. Officious]]" for his lack of speed in finding out who their attackers are. [[Virtual Six]] prompts him to look at the painted graffiti in the wall, which is written in old text. He reads it, discovering that his attackers were from the Sons of Ares. He asks about their motivations, to which Six replies that "[[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|old Gods]] die hard even among your people". He sees Six next to a woman, whose name he believes starts with an "M", until she corrects him: her name is [[Lilly]]. Baltar discovers a religious artifact belonging to [[Asclepius]] in her hand, which she prays to. She claims that she believes that Baltar will heal their people, but still has belief in Asclepius. Six then adds that the "Gods are fighting back".
* In the hangar bay, Tyrol and Figurski are looking over the remains of the Raptor, whose relays are still hot. When checking under the ECO console, Tyrol discovers the burnt-out fuse he neglected to replace, discovering the replacement in his shirt's pocket. He admits that the crash was his fault.
* McCall angrily confronts Tyrol, but is interdicted by Edmondson, who attempts to defuse the situation. McCall concedes that it's all right, and that no one got hurt. Tyrol presses on however, saying that he doesn't need to be "patted on the head" and that its all right if people told him that he [[frak|frakked up]]. He becomes more vocal when Edmondson mentions that "he's only human", but she walks away and no one else comments. He calls them all "cowards".
* Figurski offers to finish looking over the Raptor. In reply, Tyrol tells Figurski to get out of the ship.
* As Baltar looks at the pendant for Asclepius, Virtual Six tells him that people have room for only one great belief, either him or the Gods. Despite Baltar's misgivings about one man standing up to the old Gods, Six convinces him that such a man who does would surely be magnificent. Inspired by this, Baltar tells his members that they have been targeted because of what they believe in, and urges them to take a stand against Gods that have no relevance in their world.
* Baltar then leaves, with [[Jeanne]] and the others following.
* Baltar enters the temple, where the priest is performing a service. He interrupts the ceremony despite the priest's attempts to stop him. Baltar begins asking the parishioners who they serve, blaspheming [[Zeus]] by calling him a "serial rapist" and pointing out the absurdity of giving birth through one's forehead. The priest confronts him, but Baltar calls her an "ignorant witch" and continues discussing the so-called Gods, including how Asclepius heals with the blood of a [[Gorgon]], in addition to the other "invented rubbish" as he vandalizes the temple.
* As his other cultists follow his example, Marines storm the temple and forcibly extricate Baltar as the polytheists in the temple try to attack him, yelling out demands to "burn him".

=== Act 2 ===

* [[William Adama]] visits [[Laura Roslin]] in [[sickbay]] after her blood test. He's brought a different book to read named ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', a classic novel. Roslin comments that she hasn't read it in years, and Adama confesses that he's never finished the book, since he finds the book too good to finish, and is saving the ending. She suggests that she should also do that, but after an awkward realization shared between the two, she corrects herself.
* After Adama offers to take her bag, he notes that "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s back at home in the brig again". Roslin believes that Baltar's desecration of the temple was revenge for what happened to his commune that morning. Adama replies that he has people looking into the brutal attack on Baltar's cult, but no one is talking about the [[Sons of Ares]]. She replies that Baltar's knowingly provoking the hard-line religious groups from [[Dogsville]], and they agree that they can't have a religious fight in the [[the Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. Further, they both agree that Baltar is the crux of the problem, as he has an "uncanny way of stirring up all the crap". They discuss the various options, including locking him away for his own safety to removing him from ''Galactica''. However, Roslin has a better idea and goes to the brig so that Baltar can see her.
* Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] visits [[Caprica-Six]] in the brig. She notes that he didn't even make it to tomorrow. Tigh reveals that he does want something, and asks her how it feels to have the blood of billions of human beings on her hands. She replies that she cannot help but to feel it. Tigh orders the Marines to aim their weapons at her.
* On the hangar deck, Tyrol is welding as Figurski walks by and asks him if he woke up early or never went to sleep. Tyrol doesn't reply and Figurski walks off. After this, Tyrol simply walks off the job, throwing his welder's mask and gloves upon the floor.
* In the brig, Six tells Tigh that she is just as human as he is. During the conversation, he sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in Six's place, and asks her how she deals with the pain. She doesn't answer and Tigh tells the Marines to step outside. After the Marines do so, he tells her that she has nothing to offer him and that she is the same as the rest of the Cylons.
* Also in a brig, Baltar is awakened by Roslin. After Baltar makes a quip about her strip searching him, she tells him that his situation is being looked into "aggressively". She tells him that she is wearing a wig and dying from cancer, but she doesn't want his pity and is still doing her job. She assures him that she's aggressively looking into the men that attacked him. However, there is a caveat to this: she tells him that she wants a quiet little death, and insinuates that Baltar give up his crusade quietly, as she has neither the time nor the patience to indulge him.
* Roslin leaves, telling Baltar that he's being released and to stay safe.
* In [[Joe's Bar]], Adama joins Tyrol at the bar. Adama tells Tyrol that the deck crew misses him and tells him that if he needs time off, or if he wants to work more shifts, all he need to is ask. Tyrol replies that he doesn't need special treatment. In reply, Tyrol hallucinates Adama receiving a shot of alcohol and this reply: "I guess it was just more than she could take, huh? Being married to a Cylon who made her the mother to a half-breed abomination."
* The hallucination ends when Adama gets his drink and comments that Cally was a good woman. Tyrol replies that had Adama really thought that, he wouldn't have threatened to stick her up against a bulkhead and have her shot. Despite Adama's efforts to move their conversation somewhere else, Tyrol then goes into a tirade about how he was stuck with the best of limited options, describing Cally as a "shriek" with "dull, vacant eyes" and a "cabbage smell". He tells Adama that he is sick of his life, a life that he did not choose, and hating to find out that those they really loved were dead, dying, or were Cylons. He pines on his love of [[Sharon Valerii]], and notes that because he tried to stick his head in the sand, he married Cally. He tells her that she was no angel, but notes that Adama has already made her into one. He tells Adama that they are not in the same club, since he never asked the right questions.
* Adama gives him a last chance to recant, but Tyrol refuses, daring Adama to demote him and get him off the ship. Challenged, Adama does so, and orders Specialist Tyrol to report to a petty officer to get reassigned, since Tyrol is a danger to others.
* Adama leaves, while Tyrol slowly collapses into his stool at the bar.

=== Act 3 ===

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'' during a [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] meeting, [[Lee Adama]] argues with President Roslin over an emergency measure limiting the size of Baltar's groups so they don't provoke attacks from fundamentalist groups, steadfastly contending that "where ever Baltar is, violence happens", and assures Adama and other delgates that her goal is to keep the people safe from harm by preventing such violence. However, Lee's objections are supported by fellow Quorum members, such as [[Reza Chronides]], who are concerned that the emergency measure that Roslin "bulldozed through" may be used against other religious groups, such as the [[Mithraism|Mithraists]]. Roslin assures people that this won't happen, and the emergency measure was enacted because [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] is a special case, a claim that Lee rebukes by saying that they're making him a special case. During the conversation, [[Tory Foster]] remains silent, but is visibly concerned.
* Despite Lee's assertion that Baltar is not preaching violence and other amoral acts, and objections by the delegates, Roslin tells them to clear their heads and urges the people to remember the tragedy they experienced on [[New Caprica]]. Chronides pointedly asks if Roslin will open the resolution for a full discussion amongst the Quorum, which Roslin quickly and vehemently refuses to do.
* Lee responds by noting that the Quorum can override Roslin, and notes that he's willing to do so since he believes the resolution cannot stand.
* Incensed by this, Roslin replies with rhetoric: should they overturn her decision, the people would win, but at what cost? She implores them to remember what happened when Baltar held political power, and saying they should be terrified at the prospect of Baltar regaining such power again, even through Baltar's cult.
* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] watches [[Caprica-Six|Six]] as she sleeps. He believes he's seeing Ellen. When she awakens, Six asks if she should get familiar to waking up to Tigh's face. She notes the lack of a Marine escort. Tigh tells her that it is an informal chat between them, to which she astutely replies that they're also being watched. Tigh tells her that she hasn't answered his question. She replies that she wants the pain and learns from it. She mentions how she fell in love with Baltar, and understood that she wouldn't have him forever. She continues to discuss Baltar, which breaks Tigh out of his illusion of seeing Ellen. He angrily reacts to this, saying that he refuses to hear about "Gaius Frakking Baltar" and leaves the brig. He enters the adjoining surveillance room to dismiss the Marines and deactivate the surveillance equipment.
* Tigh reenters the brig, where he is prompted with an offer by Six to help him turn off the pain. She reveals that she learns from the pain, the guilt, and she claims that she's found clarity and wisdom from these things. Tigh sits on the cot with her, where he is told how the humanoid Cylon brain is patterned after the human brain, where she claims that the Cylons have learned things about the human mind that the humans themselves are unaware of.
* Six, who Tigh now sees as Ellen, removes his eye patch and offers to give him clarity.
* Baltar and his cultists proceed to the commune, but are stopped by a Marine who tells him of Roslin's emergency measure, [[Emergency Provision 17]], and that no group larger than twelve can be assembled at any time. Baltar insists that he lives in the commune, but the marine will have none of it, even when [[Paulla Schaffer]] offers to leave and allow Baltar to enter. When Baltar tries to make his way into the commune at the urging of his Virtual Six, he is beaten back by the Marine and begins to spit out blood from his mouth.

=== Act 4 ===

* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh]] tells [[Caprica-Six]] to get her hands off him. She punches him, throwing him from the cot. She then jumps on him and begins punishing him in the face, enjoying it in the process. After this, she asks him if he feels the pain, and the clarity that comes with it. When he does not reply, she continues to punch him.
* [[Virtual Six]] convinces [[Gaius Baltar]] to continue to defy the Marine, assuring him that the gains for doing so outweigh the initial costs. He does so, and is repeatedly beaten back to the ground in front of his followers every time he takes a move towards the commune. "Aided" by his virtual Six, Baltar gets up and continues this action, until Lee Adama arrives with a [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine lieutenant]]. He informs them that the provision has been rescinded and right for full public assembly is restored.
* [[Tracey Anne]], [[Jeanne]] and [[Paulla Schaffer]] rush out to help Baltar into the commune. Before entering the commune, Baltar thanks Adama for helping him. Adama replies that he doesn't know why he does these things for Baltar. Baltar says that Adama does such things because "your God compels you".
* In [[sickbay]], [[Laura Roslin]] tells [[William Adama]] (who is holding ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' in his hand) that Lee has no idea of what he's doing, believing that there are "pragmatic realities" that Lee refuses to face. Adama agrees to this, saying that Lee's only doing what he thinks is right. Roslin does agree to that, but says that "sometimes the right thing is a luxury" and has its own set of dangerous consequences that Lee doesn't want to be true. She stops herself from continuing, since she realizes that shouldn't get upset during her [[Doloxan]] treatment.
* Adama tells her that he's about to get into the part of the book he hasn't read yet and, when asked if he can continue, Adama starts reading. Roslin goes to sleep and Adama continues from the reading, despite having closed the book and apparently knowing the words by rote.
* In the brig, a beaten Tigh begs to Six to continue her assault. However, she changes tactics, saying that being beaten is not what he needs. She then kisses him.
* In the commune, Baltar makes his speech where he notes that while he isn't a perfect man, he believes that something in the universe loves him despite his flaws and faults. Urged on by Virtual Six, he calls this "spark", which dwells in the soul of every living being, "God" and moves the crowd when he says that each and every person is perfect, and that they can love others once they love themselves.
* During Baltar's speech, Lee Adama sees [[Tory Foster]] in attendance. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Galen Tyrol]] stares at [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicholas]], who is playing in his crib.
* On ''[[Demetrius]]'', [[Kara Thrace]] is sleeping at a table when [[Samuel Anders]] comes in, watching over her.
* Baltar finishes his speech by saying that God loves that which is perfect, and that people are perfect as they are. Foster is smiling, while the other cultists begin to weep and give him a standing ovation. Lee Adama moves to leave the commune while Virtual Six looks over at Foster.

== Notes ==
* [[w:Escape velocity|Escape velocity]] is the minimum initial velocity an unaccelerated object needs to escape a body's gravitational field.
* [[Cally Tyrol]]'s full first name is Callandra. The spelling is confirmed in [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246 Bear McCreary's blog post] for this episode. The episode also marks the first onscreen mention of her birth name, Henderson.
* The [[survivor count]] now accounts for Callandra Tyrol's death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]".
* A costuming error in the teaser shows [[Saul Tigh]] wearing the rank insignia of an [[Military Ranks (RDM)|admiral]]. This is noticeable in the scene where Tigh and [[Tory Foster]] confront [[Galen Tyrol]] in Tyrol's quarters after the memorial service.
* The [[Doloxan]] treatment [[Laura Roslin]] receives has forced her to wear a wig, since her hair loss began more than 22 days ago in "[[Six of One]]".
* Another of the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] is revealed: [[Asclepius]]. Asclepius is known to the Colonials as the god of healing.
* Unlike "[[The Ties That Bind]]", [[Tom Zarek]] is not present at the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] meetings on ''[[Colonial One]]'' in this episode. The reason for his absence is unexplained.
* Tory Foster confirms that the [[Final Five]] are stronger than humans.
* [[Redwing]] previously appeared in "[[Exodus, Part II]]" as [[Hot Dog]]'s wingman.
* The Raptor accident was the third such incident for the pair of [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] and [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]. The first occurrence being their FTL malfunction causing their mis-jump to the [[New Caprica]] system in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and another incident with the RCS thrusters occurs in "[[Dirty Hands]]".
*As Baltar speaks about loving oneself, knowing "what we are" and loving others, the camera includes shots of three Cylons who are struggling with self-identity and their feelings for humans – [[Galen Tyrol]] staring at his son at play, [[Samuel Anders]] watching his wife as she sleeps aboard the [[Demetrius]] and [[Tory Foster]] watching Baltar himself.

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*The [[Sons of Ares]] act with military precision, have access to gas grenades and knowledge about the ship's security procedures. From this it is likely that many of them are soldiers and not civilians. This may be expected from a group dedicated to the [[Ares|god of war]].
* When facing down the Marines, the way in which Baltar is standing up appears as though he is being lifted up, which puzzles the Marines and Baltar's followers. This marks the first time where virtual Six does something to Baltar that isn't clearly presented like Baltar is doing it to himself. While it is possible that he moves like that all by himself, and his feet are never shown, it is implied that virtual Six can actually affect things physically. This, along with the [[virtual Baltar]] appearing to Baltar in "[[Six of One]]", and both virtual beings consistently knowing information that neither Baltar or Caprica-Six could actually know, hints that there may be something more to them than simply being illusions. What they are, of course, remains a matter of debate.
**In the [[Podcast:Escape Velocity#Act 4|podcast]], Ron Moore points out that such an interpretation was never intended by the writers. He concedes that the way it is shot goes into that direction, which he considers too far, but believes that none of the characters present would think of it any other way than Baltar moving around by himself.
* The scene where Baltar violently confronts the Colonials during their prayer service seems based on the Biblical narrative of [[W:Cleansing of the Temple|Jesus and the money changers]].
* Racetrack and Skulls' Raptor accident bears similarities to the real life [[Wikipedia:Gemini 8|Gemini VIII]] mission, where a thruster on the craft jammed in the "on" position, causing the spacecraft to roll violently to the left. The high roll rate endangered the lives of astronauts Scott and Armstrong, and the incident caused the mission to be aborted. A dramatized version of the accident can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvWBnkPvqME

=== Characters ===
* [[Galen Tyrol]]'s insubordination that leads Admiral Adama to demote him may have been a deliberate act, conscious or unconscious, to maintain the safety of the ship. While not stated explicitly, Tyrol has been implied to have fears of working against the interest of the Fleet. This fear is almost certainly magnified when he forgets to swap out a burned out component for a new one on [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]]'s Raptor, which subsequently crashes. While his memory lapse may have been innocently brought on by the continuing stress of discovering himself to be a Cylon, the resulting subterfuge, and his wife's death, the experience of [[Sharon Valerii]] with her memory lapses, unconscious acts of sabotage, and the attempted murder of then Commander Adama, are probably on his mind. This is indicated during the tirade against Cally, Adama, and his life in general in [[Joe's bar]]. A demotion in disgrace and transfer could ensure the safety of the ship, without raising any unwanted questions as an official resignation probably would.
* Neither Tyrol nor, apparently, Tigh have been told the full truth about [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s death; Foster has not seen fit to tell Tigh, possibly as a result of the suicide pact made in "[[He That Believeth In Me]]". The official story surrounding her demise has not been disclosed to the audience, however all ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew knows is that she did die. What has not been disclosed thus far is how Nicholas was found, despite the fact that Cally was seen by several crewmembers carrying the child before her death.
* Tyrol continues to have feelings for Sharon Valerii, as he admits to [[William Adama]] and everyone else present in Joe's Bar. Tyrol notes many of [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s weaknesses, including her nagging, nosy nature (which lead to her death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]"), and grows annoyed at Adama's willingness to turn Cally into an angel, when he believes that she is unworthy of that. His feelings for Valerii were likely renewed upon realizing that he is a Cylon, which makes a possible association with Valerii much more acceptable to him.
* Tyrol's tirade about Cally and his reasons for marrying her also have a double meaning in regards to Adama. As it becomes more obvious, especially ever since "[[A Day in the Life]]", Adama's feelings for Roslin have become more apparent. Unfortunately, with her cancer re-appearing and her possible upcoming death, Roslin, like Valerii to Tyrol, is unattainable to Adama. Ironically, though Tyrol believes that Adama wants him to join his "club" in lamenting for Cally, it may very well be that it is Adama who wants to join Tyrol's club.
* Foster continues to embrace her Cylon nature and Baltar's teachings. She tells Tigh and Tyrol to turn off the guilt, that they are perfect and different from humans. Tigh, however, can't turn off his feelings and spends much of the episode wondering if [[Caprica-Six]] can.
* As Adama reads from ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' to Roslin, he closes the book and continues, "I wasn't afraid to die. I was afraid of the emptiness that I felt inside. I couldn't feel anything. And that's what scared me. You came into my thoughts. I felt them. It felt good." Writer [[Jane Espenson]] explains in the DVD commentary for "[[The Hub]]" that Adama is pretending that the words come from the book, but he is actually speaking his heart to Roslin after he closes the book.
* Roslin's wig is strikingly reminiscent of [[Helena Cain]]'s hairstyle in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship, Parts I]] and [[Resurrection Ship, Part II|II]]". This is a visual counterpoint to her increasing ruthlessness as she confronts her impending death.
* Roslin's wig is also reminiscent of the hairstyle and look that she has in the vision she shared with Athena and Caprica-Six ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part I]]"). This may indicate that the vision was a foretelling of future events to come in the season.
* Roslin's body language during and after her speech to the Quorum portrays several nuances to the audience. First, it is apparent, besides the hair loss, that the cancer treatments are weakening her body tremendously. Second, her previous statements to Baltar of having less and less patience is more evident in how she dealt with the Quorum's request. Third, as she leaves, the nuance of Roslin, with a hunched back and slowly sulking away indicates that there may be future consequences for the Quorum in standing up to Roslin.

=== Religion ===
* Delegate [[Reza Chronides]] mentions [[Mithraism]], thus further establishing the existence of other religions in the Twelve Colonies. The [[Sons of Ares]] are another religious group, described as [[w:fundamentalism|fundamentalist]].
*This is particularly notable in the context of Baltar's cult, because [[w:Mithraism|Mithraism]] had many things in common with [[w:Christianity|Christianity]]. Yet Christians were persecuted far more by the ([[w:polytheism|polytheistic]]) Romans, while Mithraism spread throughout the empire and particularly the army, before Christianity became the official religion and [[w:Paganism|paganism]] illegal. This furthers the connection of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] to the Roman/Greek gods and of Baltar to [[w:Jesus Christ|Christ]].
*In Baltar's theology people are perfect and God loves things that are perfect. Perfect things have no faults, therefore God loves one including one's faults. Hence, there is nothing wrong with one despite the questionable things done in life. This is similar to the Calvinist and Free Grace Christian theologies that hold that those truly saved by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ can not lose their salvation. In other words, regardless of faults or sins past, present or future a true believer in Christ's complete salvation at the Cross would never be rejected by God. This is similar to Baltar's theology in which God would never reject a person under any circumstance because he or she is perfect regardless of their faults or sins. Under this world view God would regard [[Tory Foster]] as perfect and guiltless despite her murder of [[Cally Tyrol]], which she has convinced herself that she is.
*Furthermore, according to conventional Protestant Christian theology, one need only accept Jesus as savior and confess once. The confession must be heartfelt and true for Christ's salvation and redemption to be in effect in God's eyes. To use the example of Tory Foster once more, it is likely that Foster is truly embracing Baltar's teachings and perhaps her Cylon nature in that she truly believes they are perfect as is and forgiven as they are. This differs from what is required under conventional forms of Christianity in that Christ has paid for the sinner's salvation.
*Baltar's speech about loving one's self, and using that understanding to love and understand others seems thematically aligned with Virtual Six's initial remark in the Miniseries that "God is love." Ironically, Baltar's sinful past now seems to enhance his credibility and provide evidence that someone as sinful as him has been given fortune by God. In Christianity, to be redeemed from sin does not mean that one will stop sinning, but to live in constant reminder of God's love and favor because of Christ's sacrifice. Furthermore with that understanding that one is loved, one's behavior will change gradually and in certain circumstances miracles occur. Likewise, Baltar has repeatedly repented to God and had seemingly divine providence intervene in his favor several times. Since Baltar is now using his own sinful life as an example, it seems that this dynamic of Christianity is consistent here as well.

== Questions ==

* Will Lee Adama grow more sympathetic towards Baltar's group? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Partial Answer]])
* Will Roslin learn that Foster is associating with Baltar? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
* Will Tyrol seriously consider Foster's words?
* Will Foster clash with Tigh and Tyrol, as their different attitudes towards their Cylon nature develop?
* Are Tyrol and Tigh's hallucinations merely the result of grief and guilt, or are they using [[projection]]?
* Do Tigh and Six frak? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Are Tigh and Six the "enemies brought together by impossible longing" spoken of by the [[First Hybrid]] in "[[Razor]]"?
* Are Tyrol's statements about Cally's negative attributes heartfelt, or merely a result of rage and anger? ([[The Road Less Traveled|Answer #1]], [[Blood on the Scales|Answer #2]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Answer #3]])
* What of [[Nicholas Tyrol]]? Will his father take care of the child?
* Now that it is clear that Foster lied to Tyrol about the death of Cally, how will Tyrol react should he discover the truth? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What will Tyrol's new duties be after his demotion to specialist? ([[Blood on the Scales|Future Answer]])
* Further, what is his status within the [[Colonial Workers Alliance]]? Has he abandoned this union's leadership position or been forced out?
* Will Baltar's religion end up helping the people of the Fleet, or will it lead them into a dangerous state which compromises them, as Laura Roslin appears to fear?
* What influence will the new religion have on Roslin's beliefs and actions? Will she convert, will she be proven right, or will she be on the wrong side?
* Does Baltar's facial expression of seeming shock when he sees Virtual Six standing next to her and smiling, mean that he realizes that Tory Foster is a Cylon? ([[Revelations|Possible answer]]) Does he connect that with Foster's display of strength to him during their sex play?

== Official Statements ==
* ''[[Mark Verheiden]] discusses [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] being "lifted" by [[Virtual Six]]:''
: "I would argue that Baltar’s gyrations were still him contorting himself, as if Number Six were hoisting him from the floor. I am reminded of Church services where people, in the throes of religious fervor, can evidence remarkable physical contortions, 'speaking in tongues,' etc."<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/04/28/battlestar-galactica-interview-mark-verheiden-on-tyrols-guilt-and-baltar-the-traitor/|title=Battlestar Galactica Interview: Mark Verheiden on Tyrol's Guilt and Baltar the Traitor|date=28 April 2008|accessdate=1 May 2008|last=Ullrich|first=Chris|format=|language=}}</ref>

* ''Verheiden talks about [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]'s animosity towards Baltar:''
: "This starts to get a little complicated, I think, which of course means you’re watching ''Battlestar Galactica''! But Laura’s emotions about New Caprica have to be a swirl of righteous resentments and animosity.

: "Remember that she [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|was removed]] as President by the will of the people (in a squeaker of an election), replaced by a guy she knew would be a poor leader. That proved to be true even before the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] arrived and the [[Cylon Occupation Authority|occupation]] began.

: "So she would have watched the political machine on [[New Caprica]] flounder under Baltar’s rule, then see the Government’s total capitulation when the Cylons arrived and he immediately surrendered.

: "While Baltar more or less cooperated with the Cylons (regardless of whether his reasons were pragmatic and practical, as pointed out in his trial), humans were rounded up, imprisoned, eyeballs were gouged out, people were tortured, the nightmare went on and on.

: "After all that, Baltar [[Crossroads, Part II|managed to evade]] Laura’s idea of justice AND he falls into a [[Cult of Baltar|sect]] of acolytes who look to him for spiritual guidance.

: "Is it any wonder that the guy gets under her skin? And that she fears for the [[The Fleet (RDM)|fleet]] should he find another power base?"

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] and [[Galen Tyrol]]'s argument at Joe's Bar:''
: '''William Adama:''' [[Cally Tyrol|She]] was a good woman.
: '''Galen Tyrol:''' If you ''really'' believe that, you wouldn't have [[Dirty Hands|threatened]] to stick her up against a bulkhead and shoot her. It's OK though, thought about doing it a few times myself. Believe me.
: '''Adama:''' Chief...
: '''Tyrol:''' How many of us ended up with the people we wanted to be with? Got stuck with the best of limited options. And why? Because the ones we really want, that we've really loved, are dead, dying, turned out to be [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] and they didn't know it. And if [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] had...
: '''Adama:''' Let's go. Let's go.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. ''No.'' I didn't know—
: '''Adama:''' Let's go home.
: '''Tyrol:''' ''I didn't know.'' So I buried my head in the sand, and I took it, and I settled. I settled for that shriek. Those dull, vacant eyes. Boiled cabbage stench of her. And why? Because this is my life. This is the life I picked! And that's fine. But you know what, it's not! I didn't pick this life! This isn't my ''[[frak]]kin''<nowiki>'</nowiki> life!
: '''Adama:''' What the hell's gotten in to you? Don't do this. Don't do this to her memory.
: '''Tyrol:''' You know what? I'm sorry if I'm not doing this the way you want me to, the way you might, but I'm not making an angel out of someone who wasn't an angel. But I can see you have. And now you've come down here to be in my club. But you're not in my club. You don't know what frakkin' club I'm in because you never ask the right questions.
: '''Adama:''' Chief, let's get out of here.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. Why don't ''you'' go, take care of your ''precious ship''.
: '''Adama:''' Stop it! Stop all of this! Because if you don't, I'll have to act on it. Now shut up!
: '''Tyrol:''' ''Great!'' Do it! Please! For the love of Gods, please demote me! ''Get me off your frakking ship!''
: '''Adama:''' Specialist Tyrol, I want you off my hangar deck before you endanger another pilot. You're to report to Petty Officer [[Basim]] at 0600 for reassignment. Do you understand?

* ''[[Caprica-Six]] tells [[Saul Tigh]] about her feelings:''
:"I want the pain. It's how I learn. I was instrumental in the destruction of humanity, but at the same time I learned, because...because I fell in love...with a human man, and he was mortal and fallible. And he had this incredible pride in himself. He thought he knew everything there was to know. And I loved him, with my whole heart. And then one day, I realized I wouldn't have him forever. I understood what I'd done. How I betrayed him and humanity. And that pain taught me to understand death. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] could die. And I loved him. Baltar's heart was ephemeral. Baltar's body was fragile in my hands."

* ''[[Laura Roslin]] about [[Lee Adama]] and his understanding of politics:''
:'''Roslin:''' Lee has no idea. He really has no idea. [...] There are pragmatic realities he refuses to face.
:'''William Adama:''' Well, that's a problem of course. He'd say what he thinks is right.
:'''Roslin:''' Well yeah. He is Lee. Thing is, it probably is the right thing, but...sometimes the right thing is a luxury. And it can have profoundly dangerous consequences. And it's almost as if he doesn't want that to be true.

* ''[[Gaius Baltar]] speaks to his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]]:''
:"I am not a priest. I've never even been a particularly good man. I am in fact a profoundly selfish man. But that doesn't matter, you see. Something in the universe loves me. (smiles) Something in the universe loves the entity that is me. I would choose to call this something "God", a singular spark that dwells in the soul of every living being. If you look inside yourself you will find that spark too. You will. But you have to look deep. Love your faults. Embrace them. If God embraces them, then how can they be faults? Love yourself. You have to love yourself. If we don't love ourselves, how can we love others? And when we know what we are, then we can find the truth out about others, seek what they are; the truth about them. And you know what the truth is? The truth about them? About you? About me? Do you? The truth is, we're all perfect. Just as we are. God only loves that which is perfect and he loves you. He loves you because you are perfect. You are perfect. Just as you are."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as "[[Virtual beings#Saul Tigh's Virtual Ellen|Virtual Ellen]]"
* [[Don Thompson]] as [[Anthony Figurski]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracey Anne]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[Heather Doerksen]] as Sergeant [[Brandy Harder]] (credited as "Surveillance Marine")
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[Karen Austin]] as [[Lilly]]
* [[Steve Lawlor]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine guard|Marine at Baltar's]]
* [[Hector Johnson]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine Lieutenant]]
* [[Lee Jefferies]] as [[Redwing|"Redwing" McKay]]
* [[Rob Hayter]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Sons of Ares leader|Sons of Ares leader]] (uncredited)
* Unknown as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#"Mr. Officious"|"Mr. Officious"]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Edward James Olmos]]

[[de:Perfekter Schmerz]]
[[ms:Escape Velocity]]

Podcast:Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:16:34Z

AlanHK: dashes

{{Podcast Data
|special=
|title= Escape Velocity
|season= 4
|episode= 4
|download link= http://media.scifi.com/battlestar/downloads/podcast/mp3/405/bsg_ep405_FULL.mp3
|local=
|posted date= 2008-05-11
|transcribed by= [[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]]
|verified by=
|length= 43:34
|finished= Y
|verified=
|scotch= [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]]
|smokes=
|wordoftheweek= [[m-w:masochism|masochism]] [[m-w:interruptus|interruptus]]
|rdm= Y
|mrsron=
}}

== Teaser ==
Hello, and welcome to the podcast for episode 406, "[[Escape Velocity]]." I'm [[Ronald D. Moore]], executive producer and developer of [[Re-imagined Series|the new ''Battlestar Galactica'']], and thank you very much for joining our podcast. The Scotch for tonight is [[w:Glenmorangie|Glenmorangie]], this is the port wood finish twelve year old Scotch. The wife and kids are downstairs, and in deference to the tots the smoking lamp is out. OK. Episode four, to those of you counting at home, episode six to me, was yet another of the episodes that I've referred to before that were also broken in one fell swoop at the very beginning of the sea – or not, broken, at least the basic story outline was [clears throat] conceived at the very beginning of the season. The script for this, by [[Jane Espenson]], was begun in tandem with several other scripts and there were changes that happened on the fly in Jane's script, as we were making – as I was making changes to other episodes. Notably, there was a good deal of interaction back and forth in terms of plot, having to do with [[The Ties That Bind|the previous episode]], [[Michael Taylor]]'s episode of last week, episode five. Notably in the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes that are to be coming up.

OK. Here at the very beginning, the idea of doing a service in the temple and establishing, one of the few times that we've really actually seen any of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic worship]] of the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Colonies]], was something I'd liked from the very beginning of the story as we broke it, and Jane really developed the actual service and the language that they're using and the formality of the ritual. I liked the idea from the get-go of saying, "OK. We've talked a lot about the polytheistic belief system of the colonists, and how usually in – just in contrast with the [[Cylon religion|monotheism]] of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]." And the irony, it seemed to me, at this point in the series, was that in some ways we knew more about the Cylons' conception of [[God (RDM)|God]] and the Cylon belief system, and how it worked in practical terms, than we really did the Colonials. And this was a great opportunity to go into that world and really actually play a service and I was also intrigued by the thought of showing a polytheistic religious service on television. Typically these services are all in the [[w:Judeo-Christian|Judeo-Christian]] tradition. You don't get to see a lot of variety in TV's portrayal of belief. I like the idea of validating and underlining the fundamental [clears throat] validity of the Colonial belief system.

This is a great little beat here with [[Laura Roslin|Laura]] and [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] – or [chuckles] with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]] and [[William Adama|Adama]] – with Laura and Adama. She's obviously alluding to the fact that she herself is gonna be dying, and she's starting to grapple with that in practical ways, and Adama really doesn't wanna think or talk about that. There's also this beat of the wigs. The – Laura's wig. We had a scene that made it to script and I believe it was in this episode, originally, although I could be wrong about that, where we were going to see Laura looking over examples of wigs that they had dug up through the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. That essentially the wigs are made of – I remember having these discussions that the wigs were made of human hair and presumably there's still barbers around and they would collect the hair, and that people would be making wigs from them. Much as they do today. But they would be made of real human hair, presumably. And that Laura would – they would have brought Laura several ones to choose from, and there was a little scene about that. Actually, the more I talk about it, it's probably – I think that scene actually might have been in the next episode. But in any case we – there was a substantial amount of discussion devoted to Laura's cancer and the progress of it, and when we were gonna show it, how far we were gonna go with it, and I had an extended conversation with Mary about it at the beginning of the season. Mary and I got together for breakfast and we sat down and talked over the character of Laura and what her arc was gonna be [clears throat] going through the rest of the season and how far we were gonna go with the cancer and what the – where it was gonna end up, and what the reasons where. It was a really interesting talk, and a lot of things that we ultimately ended up doing in the episode came out of that morning chat.

This little – this scene here with – the reappearance of [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] was something I was really looking forward to. I hoped that this was gonna be a bit of a surprise to the fans. We knew that word was going to get out that [[Kate Vernon]] was on the set, or that Kate Vernon had been booked to do an appearance, and sure enough there were some clips that made it onto the internet, some snippets here and there of news that Kate Vernon was doing something in ''Galactica'', and everybody – I think there was a general assumption that it was gonna be flashback, which really worked for us, 'cause then we could play that scene. [Chuckles.] And make it a genuine surprise. I also have to give k – tremendous kudos to the hair and makeup people and our costume department, our wardrobe department, who was able to really make that transition from [[Caprica-Six|Six]] to Ellen work really well. Like, at fir – when she first shows up as Ellen it takes a moment before you even realize that it's Ellen.

This subplot here with [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] and [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] was gonna be – it was developed a little further in the first draft, and I think it was even some subsequent scenes shot that were ultimately drawn from the air-dropped from the aired version. There was more of Tyrol really checking out, really being disconnected, from his son. Really lost and not knowing what the hell to think about it. I think there was a scene, actually – yeah, actually, I know there was a scene later on – I'll try to r– to talk about, that had [[Helo]] coming. Helo had found Nicky crying all by himself and had come to Tyrol later. Essentially what we wanted to do as we got into this area of the arc of the season was start really sending our final four [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] in fundamentally different directions. [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] isn't even here. Anders is gone off with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]]. Tyrol is – [[Callandra Tyrol|Tyrol's wife]] is [[The Ties That Bind|dead]]. It's thrown him into an identity crisis. It's thrown him into a fundamental existential crisis. He has a son. He's not capable of really caring for him. He's gonna lose his job. He's freaking out. He's not shaving. It's like he – Tyrol's really coming unglued. Tight is like, hanging on ever tighter and tighter than he can.

Now somebody – oh, I have to comment on this. Someone on the internet pointed out that in this shot that I'm looking at right now, Tyrol is – sorry, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] is talking to Tyrol, and on Tigh's collars are clearly admiral pin – admiral pips. And of course that is a deep mystery and a deep secret and I encourage all – everyone on the internet to spend a great deal of time and effort trying to suss out the various reasons why I would put admiral pips on Colonel Tigh. 'Cause I'm sure that that would lead you, if you follow that chain, that will lead you inevitably to who the final Cylon is. Or it could just be a wardrobe mistake. But that's not as much fun, is it?

Anyway. We were – we – let me jump back here to – I've been reading to you some of these descriptions that were in the initial pitch document on the first four episodes of the season. This one, episode four, says, "The theme is redemption, unlikely alliances. In a nutshell, Tigh seeks out answers from Caprica-Six. An accident in space leads Tyrol to believe that he may be sabotaging [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]]s and asks to be relieved of duty. Martyr-like [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] defends [[Cult of Baltar|his one God church]]. [[Zarek]] – Zarek manipulates [[Lee Adama|Lee]] against Laura." And then in the in-depth description it says, "Baltar and Laura – the Baltar/Laura story. The gu – the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up-" I'll wait 'till we come back.



== Act 1 ==
In the in-depth description it says, "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]: the [[Sons of Ares|goons]] bust up non-violent Baltar revival meeting. Baltar marches on the pantheon, denounces [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] for reason for the [[Fall of the Colonies|holocaust]]. Laura, the reactionary, outlaws [[Cult of Baltar|Baltarism]]. [[Zarek]] works on [[Lee Adama|Lee]]. 'The President is losing it, Lee. Baltar isn't a threat. Denying freedom of worship is.' Lee tries to reason with Laura, fails. Baltar, with an assist from [[Head-Six]], braves an 'On the Waterfront' type clubbing to worship, which increases his flock. Lee and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] overrule Laura. {{podcastref|ZarekPaysGoons}}Reveal that Zarek pays goons, who started the whole thing, and Zarek clearly has designs. [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] story. [[Helo]] out in space. A near crash of the [[Raptor]] due to mechanical failure. Tyrol blames himself. Not sure if it is an honest mistake or sabotage on his part. He asks to be removed from duty. [[William Adama|Adama]] grants it, thinking it's fallout from [[Cally]]'s death. [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] attempts to console Tyrol, who blames himself for Cally's death. Leads Tigh into guilt trip over dead Hel- [[Ellen]]. Meaningless of life, plus being a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] drives him back to the bottle. Doesn't work. Sees answer – seeks answers from a true Cylon and goes to see [[Caprica-Six]]. Caprica-Six realizes Tigh's motivation to purge his guilt through punishment when she eggs – when he eggs her into hitting him. Masochism interruptus when Cap-Six kisses Tigh, Tigh kisses her back. [[Tory Foster|Tory]] is moved by Baltar's faith, the outlaw savior-quality, embracing the uniqueness of one [[God (RDM)|God]], Tory, to herself, thinks maybe being a Cylon ain't so bad, and for the first time she refers to Laura, Adama, and company as 'the humans'." This – so that was – so that's the description. You can see we – where we departed in certain areas and developed things further, but essentially, again, this is still fundamentally what the show is.

This sequence here, in the first draft there was – [[Head-Baltar]] made an appearance here. And Head-Baltar was sitting and talking to Baltar throughout this little section. And in fact I – God, I – my memory might be failing me, but I kinda remember actually usi– shooting Head-Baltar in this sequence. I think we did shoot Head-Baltar in the sequ– he was talking to Baltar, and I think in editing I cut it out. I could be insane. Other people – other voice – cooler heads will judge. Once we get into this section here, the attack of what we're calling the Sons of Ares, are sort of the name of this group, and when they come in to trash Baltar's – lair, as it were, this is directed by [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]], as you can see, and I really like Eddie's direction. This works pretty well. I'd say that – I think the problem that we probably have here is that we don't quite have enough of a foundation laid for who the Sons of Ares are. I mean, you kind of get an idea that – I hate the shoulder pads on that guy, sorry. Not to bag on our costume department or anything, but I hate that guy's outfit. I just hate it. It's very "[[w:Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior|Road Warrior]]". Anyway. We never quite lay the groundwork for who exactly who the Sons of Ares are, and why their – hatred of the Baltarites is as passionate as it is. I think we kinda go on the assumption that it's, OK, in the episode you feel like it's an outgrowth of the previous shows where – or show – where [[Charlie Connor|Connor]] attacked Baltar in the head and almost killed – or wanted to kill him, and Baltar was ultimately saved by his acolyte, [[Paulla Schaffer|Paulla]]. So it's clearly like they're all kinda connected together. But again, I think the Sons of Ares is an idea – it sounds better in concept, and I think it was something that worked in the room really well, 'cause it was an easy way to talk about the group that was opposing Baltar, but we just never really developed it. Part of that is due to simply the limitation-

Oh, no. I have to stop to talk about this little – this space shot here. The la– the Raptor landing. The Raptor taking off and the – everybody walking on the flight deck. I love that – shot. As soon as I saw it in pre-vis I was like, "Are you kidding? Really? You're gonna have these guys walk along the flight deck? That's so cool." And [[Gary Hutzel|Gary]]'s like, "Yeah, man." I was like, "Oh, fuck yeah! I'll put that in the show." They were very happy.

Anyway. The Sons of Ares concept, I think – part of it is just the lack of time in the show. You only have so much time in these episodes to develop certain ideas in any kind of depth, and Sons of Ares just became sort of a shorthand for these nameless, faceless guys that hated Baltar and were causing trouble and would go and attack him. And – like I said earlier, it sounded good in the room, and then I kinda watched the episode, they kinda come out of nowhere. You're not really invested in them, and it's like you're still trying – I think you're still trying to invest yourself in Baltar's experience in the Cult, and you're trying to understand and wrap your mind around that and trying to have sympathy and empathy for what he's going through. That's already asking a lot of the audience. And then bringing in these other – guys don't re– doesn't really work. So – but it's – I mean, it works in the structural sense, but not in a visceral sense.

I love this whole sequence of the Raptor rolling in and crashing. I did voice concern when I saw the visual effects that this was too spectacular a crash to have them survive, and they did tone it down, but I have to say, still, I'm still amazed that anybody made it out of that Raptor alive, much less in as good as shape as [[Racetrack|Crashdown]] and [[Skulls]] are.

The Baltar story here. Clearly he's going on a – something of a messiah journey with these followers. Now the question, I think, for the audience is, "Well, how far is we gonna go with that? And where is this journey gonna take him? And is he a messiah? Is he gonna accept himself as a messiah? Will he buy into it? Is it true in the scope of the show, and ultimately, where does that lead us in the overall arc, overall final arc, of the series?" Some of this is – [[w:Christ|Christ]]-like. Some of the notion of Baltar going to the temple in the scene that's coming up, and smashing the icons, certainly has overtones of young Jesus and driving out the money-changers in the temple. That was deliberate, and we kinda liked that. But the attack on him, the attack on his followers, and was – really doesn't fit into that storyline as readily and this is more an idea of the con– this more the clash of civilizations. This is more the idea being the clash of the one god who is driven to drive out the many gods. And really that's at the heart of this story. It's not so much a tale of Baltar as literal Christ as it is using some of those overtones, and some of those tropes, and some of those themes to advance our story in touching into familiar ideas that the audience will register and familiar pathways.

This stor– this beat here with Tyrol discovering the fuse that he forgot to put in. There was actually an earlier beat that I think I cut, where you saw him, literally, put it in his pocket and forget to put it in. In the story and at the – script level, it wasn't Racetrack and Skulls, it was Helo. Helo was out in space and had a near-crash and, like I read in the story document earlier, and comes back and is nearly killed, and then there's all these questions about what happened and Tyrol blames himself and –

I'm sorry. I'm distracted by this scene. I love [[Aaron Douglas|Aaron]]'s performance here. It's really strong. It's – just the look on his face and the way he goes at them is – really delivers this idea. I that was just – great show for Aaron. Really strong show for – Aar– I really like him in this episode.

Anyway, so Helo was gonna be the victim of the accident and Tyrol was then gonna start wondering if he had deliberately sabotaged it or if it was an honest mistake. And then what started happen was as – as we – I was working – we were working on the other shows simultaneously and when the decision was made to send Helo out on the ''[[Demetrius]]'' with [[Kara Thrace|Kara]], obviously he got yanked out of this story completely. As a result of that, I had to find somebody else to get hurt in a Raptor. And we were kinda out of pilots. Running kinda low on pilots at this point. And rather than pull in a day player or – by that, I mean somebody new, a guest star, rather, some faceless person that we don't have any investment in, who then would kinda be targeted. It's like, if we cast it with somebody who was just a brand new pilot you'd never met before and suddenly with them in the cockpit, without commenting, flying out in space, you're gonna know something's gonna go wrong. It's the [[w:Redshirt (character)|red shirt]] phenomena from [[w:Star Trek|Trek]] where you, "Oh, that guy's gonna die." And we just kinda said, "You know what? Let's put Racetrack and Skulls in it." And the point did come up that they've had problems before, and that Racetrack and Skulls have had a very, very active and very adventurous life in Raptor. They tend to [[Kobol (RDM)|find]] [[New Caprica|planets]]. They tend to have accidents. You could say you either want to get in a Raptor with – you should probably always want to get in a Raptor with Racetrack, 'cause it'll never be boring. She was even with [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon]], way back when, when Sharon [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|ran into]] all the naked [[Number Eight|Sharons]] back on the [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. But that's become our inside joke. It's just Racetrack and her never-boring Raptors.

Head-Six in these scenes – I was, at the script level I started edging – I was already starting to second-guess my my fascination with Head-Baltar and I was – it was also causing a lot of production issues because when you're having Baltar talking to Baltar it's more lock-offs, it's more production time, 'cause you have to – Gaius has – Gaius. [[James Callis|James]] has to go off and change clothes. He has to have his makeup redone. He has to leave the set for an hour or so and then come back. It just complicates everybody's life to have Baltar talking to Head-Baltar. So in this draft I started to already say, "You know what? Let's – it's probably fine to give more of this to Head-Six, less to Head-Baltar." This might have been an episode – see, I am kinda fuzzy on this, 'cause it happened so long ago, I apologize, but I think, like I said earlier, I think we did shoot some Head-Baltar scenes in it, so we had Head-Baltar and Head-Six in the same episode, but then ultimately go rid of it.

I like this. I like this scene a lot. I like James just comin' in an literally trashing the temple and the clash of civilizations and the religious conflicts in the fleet and we had tried last year – there was talk about the [[Sagittaron]]s and how the Sagittarons were sort of their own cult-like people. They were the – colony that kept to themselves in the [[Hero]] – not "Hero – in the "[[The Woman King|Woman King]]" episode.



== Act 2 ==
Yeah. They were the ones that had kept to themselves in the "[[The Woman King]]" episode, like I was saying. But that really never took off, and didn't work. So [[Season 4|this season]] we just opted to go straight for – it was much easier to play the [[God (RDM)|monotheism]] vs. the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheism]] as our religious conflict on the show, 'cause it was built into the series from the very beginning.

More on the [[Laura Roslin|Laura]]-[[William Adama|Adama]] storyline here. [[Searider Falcon|This book]] will actually become an interesting little plot point, in and of itself, so keep your eye on the book, what happens to it, where it goes. This whole storyline just became very just – I don't know. Became one of my favorite stories of the whole year, was Laura and Adama and how they were dealing with each other and their – as she went through [[diloxin]] treatments, our form of chemo, and how that would affect their relationship and where they were as human beings, and where they were in their relationship to one another. I like that in this episode you don't know she's – we don't say she's wearing a wig until much later. And [[Gaius Baltar|Bal]] – although when you're watching, you sort of feel like something's up with [[Mary McDonnell|Mary]], and you know what? We changed Mary's hair.

This storyline – the political storyline with Laura and Adama and [[Lee Adama|Lee]] that's coming up, in the early going, in the first drafts, this – the first draft did not have any of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] scenes and the arguments were much more about the theoretical ideas of Laura, of cracking down on Baltar. It was much – it was a little bit more grudge-driven than it is now. It was a little bit more that Laura just hated Baltar and was gonna quash him no matter what, then Lee thinking that that was wrong, and that that was unethical, and as we developed through the script, I came up with the notion of making it more question time – well. Well, we'll get to that when I get to question time, I suppose.

We – this plotline with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]]. It's hard to talk about this at this point in the season. All I can tell you is keep your eye on this storyline as well. We have a lot going on in all these little plotlines, obviously, and they take a while to develop and this is laying a lot of groundwork for later – episodes. Loved the ability to bring [[Kate Vernon]] back. Losing Kate from the show was – it was a real loss. There's been a lot of losses in the show, 'cause we have clearly lost a lot of players and there's been a lot of great characters and a lot of great actors that have been slaughtered in the bloody, bloody path that we have cut through the forest. I don't know what kind of metaphor that is. But the mix of having – having [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] in the mix, and then not having her in the mix – I definitely felt that. I felt the loss of her. I was eager to get her back into the show, and I was glad to be – to have this opportunity to do it.

[Phone rings.] This – all this. Oh, there's my telephone, that I can't answer. That's actually the studio. I'm actually ignoring the studio to – talk to you. I'm typing in, "Can't talk now," to my assistant Meryl. [Chuckles.] OK. Sorry. I should turn off the recorder for things like this, but I just won't.

Anyway. These scenes I find fascinating. I mean, I think [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] shot these in a really interesting way. The Ellen/Caprica-Six/Tigh scenes, and I think he cut them in a very interesting way. Eddie's episodes are all – always edited in a really interesting, aggressive way. He tends to cut – Eddie calls the cutting psychologically. He likes cutting to the psychological heart of different scenes and going back and forth and he – always jumbles the chronology and the order of the scenes to a point where you don't even really care or recognize what the original purpose was. And as a result, these episodes are always a bit jarring. They grab you and they yank you through the show and you're never quite sure where you're gonna go next. And I really like that. I think it's – a bit unsettling to an audience, which is more f– more used to watching standard TV. And standard TV, in my humble opinion, is a bit paint by the numbers in terms of where it cuts and when in that it's usually just very slow paced and very simple and you don't wanna throw the audience and you always wanna let them know, always show them an exterior of the building before you show the interior. There's a lot of that, I mean. And that – I'm painting with a pretty broad brush here. There's a lot of interesting television out there too, that's interesting and edgy and more aggressive. So we're not the only ones doing this. But I just prefer this style. And I learn a lot when I watch Eddie's episodes and I watch his cuts I learn a lot from them. Even though I go in and there things I don't – agree with, and I'll change, and I'll shift cuts, and I'll – sometimes I'll move things back closer to the script in some areas, or sometimes I'll just clean 'em up for clarity, or just my own personal preference. But his cuts are always instructive. I'm always learning things in how he puts – he assembles it. He has a great eye for film, and he thinks like a filmmaker. That's what I like about him the most as a director. He really thinks of it as film. And he's very concentrated on the performances. He challenges the actors. He pushes and pulls them in different directions, and he digs out a lot of interesting little moments and nuances in the script. This particular scene with Laura and Baltar, I think is one of the highlights of the episode. I think this is the kind of scene that I – that would just – that could easily sail past you, 'cause there's so many other pieces in this episode that operate at a much higher emotional level, that are much louder, in a certain way, that are just more attention-getting and are just bigger. This – I love the way Mary delivers this whole little piece where there's a real sense of danger to her, a real sense of danger. "Stay safe." The fact that she doesn't care anymore. That she's dying and that she's put it back on him. I think it's a fascinating performance and I've watched it several times, and each time I find a different – slightly different layer in Mary's performance there.

This beat with Adama and [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] is clearly the hi– probably the high point of the episode. It is just so well delivered. This gag, right here, when Adama's about to say he – "Keep yourself busy." "I don't need special treatment." Yeah. This is so well done. [[Cally|Married]] to a [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]. Abomination. Pan over to Tyrol. Cut back. Eddie picks up the drink again. That's really good. That's really smart. It's really – draws you in. It's a s– you don't realize where it's going right away. You pan over to him, and as Tyrol's – it's Eddie's psychological thing. Psychologically, you're with Tyrol. 'Cause Tyrol is going, "Did I just hear him say that?" And you the audience are going, "Did I – did we just hear him say that?" And then you cut back, and the simple act of the glass – it's as simple as when he picks that glass up and takes a drink, and the first time – and then the drink arriving a second time tells you that it was just a hallucination. It's very well done. It's very elegant. It's really, really cool. This scene got better and better just all the way through the drafts. In the first scene it wasn't like this really at all. It took place on the hangar deck. It was up on the catwalk. It had to do with – the subject had to do with – like I said, I think it alluded to this earlier, [[Helo]] had found [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicky]] crying by himself in the quarters with the door closed. Helo had brought Nicky to find Tyrol. Tyrol was getting drunk in [[Joe's Bar]] by himself – or with some other deckhands and was abusive to Tyr– to Helo and got in a whole yelling match about it, and he was like, "Oh, he was fine. What the hell and what the – who the fuck are you to come in here and tell me what to do with my kid, and leave me alone," and blah, blah, blah. And they got in this whole thing about it. And then later in the script, Adama had heard, and Adama came and confronted him about it and said – or didn't confront him, but sat down and s– tried to reason with him and say, "Hey, man. I know you're going through some hard times. You need – you prolly need some rest." Put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Hey, man. Don't – but don't leave your kid alone, ok?" And Tyrol kinda went, "Ok. Sure, sir." And then as Adama was walking away, then Tyrol went off on him and said, "Don't tell me how to take care of my kid." "What?" "I'm – You're not my fuckin' father. You're not their fuckin' father. Who the fuck do you think you are?" And got in his face in a similar way. And then along the way it shifted and then we – lost the Helo scene altogether – but the Joe's Bar was still in the air, so then we started to talk about moving the Adama-Tyrol scene into Joe's Bar as better piece of texture. And then we just started pushing the scene more, and started pushing the scene to be more confrontational, to be more direct, to make Nicky – the Nicky part of it kind of went away and then as the Nicky part went away then this became just a sympathetic outreach to Tyrol, then Tyrol just completely unloads him, that makes it – and it's the fact that Tyrol does it publicly. That he does it for the benefit of everyone in this bar gives Adama no choice. He really – and Adama warns him. He's like, "I c– if you do this." And he says in the scene, I mean, "Don't do this. Don't make me do this." And Tyrol wants it. Tyrol's like, "Bring it in – bring it on, man. Bring it on. Destroy me. Take me apart. Crucify me. Kill me. Something." He wants this punishment. He's so out of his mind on so many levels, with his own identity, with the – what [[Tory Foster|he thinks]] is the [[The Ties That Bind|suicide]] of his wife, the pos– the near-fatal accident with Helo and [[Skulls]] that landed on – that he's taking on his shoulders. All these things combine. He's just going into this completely self-destructive mode, which I think is just really great. It's a happy place, the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Happy times.

And don't ask me where the [[w:University of Southern California|USC]] jersey came there at Joe's Bar. [Chuckle.] It's like, sometimes there's just things crop up – [unintelligible] I kinda went, "Is that a USC jersey?" They all – everyone kinda shuffled and looked at each other and like, "Oh, yeah. I guess so."


== Act 3 ==
The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. I talked about this in [[Podcast:The Ties That Bind|the previous podcast]]. The Quor– these scenes were originally just [[Lee Adama|Lee]]-[[Laura Roslin|Laura]] scenes in the first draft. Lee had a cramped little tiny office on ''[[Colonial One]]''. She came to see him. 'Cause he was pushing something in the off-camera Quorum and she wasn't happy about it. And it had to do with her cracking down on [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] and all that. And she tried to confront him about it, and she was still pissed at – it came out that she was still pissed at Lee about him defending Baltar, and it got personal. But I wanted to have – I thought, "Let's bring the Quorum back into the show. Let's play the Quorum. Play it like the [[w:House of Commons|House of Commons]]. Go for 'question time'." And so I gave the note to [[Michael Taylor]] and then [[Jane Espenson]] simultaneously, they both had to retrofit their episodes to fit that concept and Jane – nailed it, I thought, in this episode. She did this – whole setup of how the – how it worked back and forth and gave us an insight into the political underpinnings of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. There's not quite enough, I have to say, of the implication here that there are other cults in the fleet – or – cults. There are other forms of religious worship in the fleet that also have something approaching a monotheistic point of view. I think one of the things that I always thought about the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|polytheistic society]] of the Colonials is that within their polytheistic belief system there were many subgroups. There were many, many denominations, as it were, or there were many forms of worship. There was a cult of [[Athena, Lord of Kobol|Athena]]. There were people that prayed to different gods. There were people that had differ– all kinds of different forms of worship. There were people that were more akin to [[w:Buddhism|Buddhists]] and there were people that were more akin to [[w:Hinduism|Hindu]] and there were people that were monotheistic in their belief, that did believe that there was – but one [[god (RDM)|god]], or that there was one – only one real god. But that essentially Colonial society tolerated all of them, and that they were all welcomed, the belief systems. So when that delegate stood up and said, "This – mirrors some believers in – from our colony," it was meant to say, "Hey, this is not a new thing." It's not quite fully developed enough in the show, but again, you only have so much time and there's so many characters and so many plotlines going on, and some of these ideas which I thought were fascinating ideas just never quite get played out as deep and as interesting as I think they could be.

Love that – thing with [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] looking down at the sleeping – [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] and then she wakes up, then it's [[Caprica-Six]]. I'm trying to remember. I don't think that there was – these scenes went through several stages of development, but I don't think were any radical shifts of tone or characterization on this. In the point where we – where Caprica-Six arrived aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', there was a question of, "what do we do with her? Where does that character go?" And she's been aboard for a while now and this season was when that – we finally found something to kick her into gear. I monkeyed about quite a bit with the editing of these scenes of the Ellen to Caprica-Six to Tigh, exactly when you went from one to the other. There's a million ways you can cut these things. You know – you can kind of – it depends on what you're trying to do the audience, where you're trying to have them go psychologically as [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie]] would say. I think I was trying to get into a certain rhythm. I tend to think of editing and writing in musical terms, even though I'm not a musician, and there's a certain melody going on in these scenes that's a dialogue, and then there's the underlying bassline of the rhythm and the flow of the structure of the scene itself. And that the editing is carrying you through those rhythms and that the melody's – the melody and the dialogue's kinda playing on top of it and then the editing is like the phrasing, or it's the, again, it's like the bassline driving you through these things. And so I kept playing with when you cut to Ellen, when she became Caprica-Six, what was the pace of it, how was it building, and he moved you through the scene emotionally.

His pips are back to normal. Now, see? Something has clearly happened in between the previous scene and this one. Now his rank insignia is just that of a colonel. So what happened to the Admiral Tigh? Hmmm. Inquiring minds want to know.

See? That's great. Because I love that shot, because you don't know – you're not even thinking, at first, that it is Ellen. It's like you're starting yours – on that cut, and the assumption is that it's still Six, and it's all kind of a game here. It's all kind of like, "When are you gonna play who?" and "Which one does he see?" and "Which one is she really?" See? Right here we're staying with Ellen all the way through, so you're really pulling into the feeling of her, all the way until you leave. Now Eddie, when he did his cut, he cut the – this was intercut in the script. I will say that these scenes were all intercut in the script, but he did it at a far more aggressively than I think the script called for, and were really pulling you in and out of these two – all these things that are happening simultaneously.

This scene was really – this was supposed to be – what did it say in the story outline? The outline said – oh, it said, "'[[w:On the Waterfront|On the Waterfront]]' style clubbing." And that was one of the inspirations. This was also sort of a [[w:Ghandi|Gandhi]]esque notion of when part of the Indian drive for independence and they would go up against the British troops, and they would just let them – the British would just beat them down, one by one, and they would just keep coming, and coming, and the next man would come, and the next man would come. And they would beat them down, too, and there was this great – this amazing, brave symbolism of that.


== Act 4 ==
Now here, referring to the Baltar story. I tended to think of this more along the lines of the Indian analogy than "On the Waterfront" type clubbing. Mostly because I have to admit I haven't seen "On the Waterfront." There are certain movies and stories that are referenced a lot in writers' rooms in television, to the point where I could probably tell you the whole plot of "On the Waterfront" because it has been discussed and the archetypes within it have been discussed, the plot structure, and the characterizations. Even a lot of the dialogue is discussed endlessly in writers' rooms. And it's one of those movies I keep feeling like I gotta get around to watching, because it's a classic and I should just watch it. But I just never have. And yet, it's tossed around so frequently that I pretty much know the story of "On the Waterfront" and kinda know what it is. I mean, there's a lot of movies like that, most of which I have seen, but there's certain archetypes that are just tossed around for a million years. "The Maltese Falcon" is one of them. I didn't see "The Maltese Falcon", or had not seen "The Maltese Falcon" for several years in the business. It was just one – there are certain odd gaps in my film education. "Maltese Falcon" was one of them until I think five years ago was the first time I saw it. But again, it was discussed so often in writers' rooms, the plot structure and the way it worked, that I felt like I knew the whole movie.

It's probably worth going back and just mentioning that that whole little sequence of Baltar being pulled up by Head-Six and pushed into the clubbing sequence: I don't think I really anticipated that he was gonna be pulled quite – up quite so high. The idea was not to actually have him appear to hover or levitate off the deck, as I've seen some people mention. "Oh! Baltar's levitating. Is he levitating? Oh, now everybody knows." It wasn't really intended to be that. I think when they shot – and when they shot it, they certainly went that direction, and then I saw it in dailies and saw it on the – in the cut, and I kinda went, "Well, it kinda works." It still goes a little too far. It's actually – I was – I always wanted to ride the line where so – a scene like that you could potentially believe was either just Baltar himself doing it, or it could be Six doing it to him, and that you could read it either way. That particular scenario – scene actually goes a little too far in the direction of someone actu– of Head-Six actually doing it to him, and it feels a little – I will still rationalize in this show, to me, and for our internal purposes that no one in that scene would think anything other than Baltar himself was doing it. And that's – it may not play it that way to you, the audience, but that is how we're going to accept it. That's how the characters within the drama accept it. They think about it on that level. They don't – they think it's a strange moment. They think it's a brave moment. But they – none of them feels like there was somebody else at play, or there was any other force at play in this scene.

There's a nice little subtlety here. A little subtler, a nuance, rather, as – he reads more of ''Searider Falcon''. There's a beat here where Eddie looks up from the text. Like Laura closes her eyes, and Eddie looks up... right there. He glances up, and then I believe, if I'm not mistaken, he establishes that Laura's out, and then he closes the book and he just starts talking. And it's an interesting choice. What is he saying here? What are we saying here, really? Is he memorized it? Which would imply that he has actually read ahead and that he wasn't telling the truth. Or that he read ahead prior to the scene for himself. Is he making it up? Is it a confession? I think it's a really interesting open question. I don't have the answer to it. I don't really wanna know the answer to it. I may at some point ask Eddie what he was thinking there, if it was a deliberate choice or not. If it was something he had thought about or if it was just a performance in the moment. I think it's fascinating. I think it's one of those little details that I think you can glob onto and wonder what's the – where's the character going, and it's just adding a bit of life to something. It's not – it's making it. What am I trying to say? It's not completely scripted. Just like life is not completely scripted. You don't always understand why people do everything they do, and sometimes they do odd little – bits that don't make any sense or that raise other questions and you never actually get a completely satisfying answer to them, and that's kinda one of those beats.

This is – part of the – education of Gaius Baltar and part of his religious arc and things he's discovering and mom– lessons he's taking from the journey that he's going on. The question is, where does this take him? Where would this take all of them? Where does this path lead him? And wher – and as a result, where will the fleet go? How will it tie in, ultimately, to the end of the series?

I love the fact that Tyrol is here with his son while this is all happening. I thi– 'cause I think there's a lot of ways you can read this. I think you can – attack it. You could say all just a new-agey kinda stuff. You could say it's profound. You could say it draws on many different traditions. You could say it's his own self-rationalization. You could say – I mean, I think there's a lot of different interpretations, and we crafted it in such a way that it could go in many different directions, potentially. But for our purposes, it goes in one direction, and that the trick is to present it to the audience as a multiple choice of well, which is – how do we feel about this? Is he a) crazy b) self-rationalizing c) insane d) evil c) a truly godly inspired – there's a lot of ways you could read this and the – point for us was to raise questions and mysteries and get the audience thinking and wondering and worrying, on some level, about where we're going with this. And then to propel you into the next episode and then to keep walking the path we're going, but still leave out many possible alternates – many other side journeys that it could take. I love the fact that Lee is still there. And Lee stuck around and was compelled into listening longer than he th– he probably originally intended to. There was much more of Tory trying to guide Baltar in the early versions of that storyline.

Well, ok. That's it. That is the end of episode 406, "Escape Velocity." I hope you enjoyed it. I will revisit – I will be visiting you again for episode 407. Until then, good night, and good luck, and thank you for joining us.


{{Podcast list (RDM Season 4)}}

Escape Velocity

2012-07-25T13:01:23Z

AlanHK: /* Notes */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x04 - Escape Velocity - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Escape Velocity
| season= 4
| episode= 4
| forumthread= 954
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]
| story=
| director=[[Edward James Olmos]]
| production=406
| rating=1.3
| US airdate=25 April 2008
| CAN airdate=25 April 2008
| UK airdate=29 April 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39675
| oldpopulation=39676
| prev= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| next= [[The Road Less Traveled]]
| amazon=y
| podcast=Y
| frakr=Embrace Verbosity
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== Overview ==
: ''Religious freedom is debated and defended as the messianic [[Gaius Baltar]] promotes his belief in one true [[God (RDM)|God]]. Meanwhile, [[Galen Tyrol]] tries to cope with the death of his [[Callandra Tyrol|wife]] and fails.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

* In a makeshift [[temple]] aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', [[Galen Tyrol]] performs a ritual commemoration ceremony in the memory of his wife, [[Callandra Tyrol|Callandra Henderson Tyrol]]. In attendance are [[Laura Roslin]], Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]], Delegate [[Lee Adama]], [[Tory Foster]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] and [[Anthony Figurski]].
* After the priest ends the service, Roslin (wearing a wig) tells Adama that she likes the ceremony, insinuating that she wants Adama to perform the same service for her when she dies.
* Tyrol is given condolences by people as they leave the temple. Foster asks Roslin why they have to do "these things at dawn", to which Roslin replies that they have to.
* After Roslin gives her condolences, Tyrol grabs a hold of both Foster and Tigh, who hastily offer their condolences. As they walk out, they complain that Tyrol almost attracted attention to themselves.
* Delegate Adama offers his condolences as Tyrol stares off after Foster and Tigh; Adama leaves without a response from Tyrol.
* Tigh enters the surveillance room adjoining [[Caprica-Six]]'s brig. The Marines inform him that she continues her same routine. When broaching the topic of how Six doesn't go nuts, the [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Blonde female Marine|female Marine]] replies that she probably turns off her brain, prompting interest from Tigh.
* Tigh enters the brig, informing Six that her request to see [[Hera Agathon]] has been denied. Six notes that Tigh already told her this, and asks what else he wants from her. During the discussion, Tigh sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in place of Six. Tigh, unsure of what to make of it, tells Six to stay back from him. Six notes that he visits her every day, but doesn't ask questions any more. Tigh leaves, with her saying that she'll see him tomorrow.
* In his quarters, Tyrol sits while [[Nicholas Tyrol]] cries. Foster and Tigh gruffly admonish Tyrol for his behavior at the service.
* Tigh inquires after the baby. Tyrol notes that Nicholas probably needs to be changed; Tigh goes about doing so.
* Foster asks Tyrol if he believes Cally killed herself because of him. Tyrol brings up the alleged affair between them, to which Foster replies that they didn't have one. Tyrol voices his concerns over which of his memories were real, and whether or not there was ever an action in his life that wasn't programmed. Foster espouses what, according to Tigh, is "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s crap" when she tells Tyrol that they, as [[humanoid Cylons|Cylons]], don't need guilt since they are perfect. Tigh, on the other hand, believes that Tyrol is feeling what men feel after the death of a loved one. Tigh continues by telling Tyrol that he'll see Cally every day, while referencing his own experience of [[Torn|hearing]] and [[Virtual Ellen|seeing]] his dead wife. Tigh finishes by saying that Tyrol feels what he needs to feel, but not at the expense of being outed as Cylons, while Foster says to think about what they are and embrace their Cylon attributes.

=== Act 1 ===

* [[Tory Foster]] visits [[Gaius Baltar]] in the commune. There, she wakes Baltar by pulling out a hair on his head. Baltar replies "Gods", which Foster questions. She continues by plucking another hair off of Baltar's head, asking about how he was feeling. He replies that it was an intense feeling. She then massages his crotch, then while doing so, plucks out another hair on his head. She asks if the signals of pain and pleasure get crossed, which Baltar replies in the affirmative. As Baltar tries to leave, Foster forces Baltar down on the bed. After noting her strength, she begins to engage in foreplay, running her tongue across his cheek.
* As she babbles on about her beliefs about "pain turning into pleasure" and the like (much to Baltar's testicular displeasure), members of the [[Sons of Ares]] begin their march towards the commune. Their attack on the commune begins by throwing a smoke grenade, which allows them to enter the commune and attack Baltar's cultists with near impunity, painting graffiti and wreaking havoc. They quickly try to find Baltar, but they know they have two minutes to do so before they can expect some kind of military response. At the one minute mark, an announcement over the PA announces a security alert on deck eight, section fourteen.
* During these two minutes, Baltar hides himself behind a support beam near the ceiling. After the attack, Foster looks up at him as the Sons of Ares people clear out of the commune, vowing to find Baltar.
* In the [[hangar bay]], [[Galen Tyrol]] is repairing the [[ECO]] console on [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]'s [[Raptor]]. Deckhand [[Anthony Figurski]] asks if Tyrol is almost done, Tyrol replies that he just has one more relay, which his hands have a problem in reaching. During this, he has flashbacks of Cally, including one where Cally helps him out during the construction of the [[Blackbird]].
* Tyrol's flashback of his [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|beating of Cally after his suicidal nightmare]] is interrupted by Edmondson, who asks if he's done with his repairs. Pocketing a fuse, he morosely replies that he's done.
* Edmondson and [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] launch to the departing waves of crew members on the deck. They join up with a [[CAP|combat air patrol]] led by [[Redwing|Paolo "Redwing" McKay]], who teases them for driving "a school bus". Edmondson counters by comparing the Vipers to bicycles, to which Redwing replies that the Vipers are race cars.
* When Edmondson throttles up, she loses control of the Raptor's port lower rear [[RCS]] thruster. She requests an emergency landing and struggles to bring the Raptor back to the port landing pod deck, but they crash-land, with flaming wreckage colliding with a [[landram]].
* Meanwhile, Baltar is chastising "[[Mr. Officious]]" for his lack of speed in finding out who their attackers are. [[Virtual Six]] prompts him to look at the painted graffiti in the wall, which is written in old text. He reads it, discovering that his attackers were from the Sons of Ares. He asks about their motivations, to which Six replies that "[[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|old Gods]] die hard even among your people". He sees Six next to a woman, whose name he believes starts with an "M", until she corrects him: her name is [[Lilly]]. Baltar discovers a religious artifact belonging to [[Asclepius]] in her hand, which she prays to. She claims that she believes that Baltar will heal their people, but still has belief in Asclepius. Six then adds that the "Gods are fighting back".
* In the hangar bay, Tyrol and Figurski are looking over the remains of the Raptor, whose relays are still hot. When checking under the ECO console, Tyrol discovers the burnt-out fuse he neglected to replace, discovering the replacement in his shirt's pocket. He admits that the crash was his fault.
* McCall angrily confronts Tyrol, but is interdicted by Edmondson, who attempts to defuse the situation. McCall concedes that it's all right, and that no one got hurt. Tyrol presses on however, saying that he doesn't need to be "patted on the head" and that its all right if people told him that he [[frak|frakked up]]. He becomes more vocal when Edmondson mentions that "he's only human", but she walks away and no one else comments. He calls them all "cowards".
* Figurski offers to finish looking over the Raptor. In reply, Tyrol tells Figurski to get out of the ship.
* As Baltar looks at the pendant for Asclepius, Virtual Six tells him that people have room for only one great belief, either him or the Gods. Despite Baltar's misgivings about one man standing up to the old Gods, Six convinces him that such a man who does would surely be magnificent. Inspired by this, Baltar tells his members that they have been targeted because of what they believe in, and urges them to take a stand against Gods that have no relevance in their world.
* Baltar then leaves, with [[Jeanne]] and the others following.
* Baltar enters the temple, where the priest is performing a service. He interrupts the ceremony despite the priest's attempts to stop him. Baltar begins asking the parishioners who they serve, blaspheming [[Zeus]] by calling him a "serial rapist" and pointing out the absurdity of giving birth through one's forehead. The priest confronts him, but Baltar calls her an "ignorant witch" and continues discussing the so-called Gods, including how Asclepius heals with the blood of a [[Gorgon]], in addition to the other "invented rubbish" as he vandalizes the temple.
* As his other cultists follow his example, Marines storm the temple and forcibly extricate Baltar as the polytheists in the temple try to attack him, yelling out demands to "burn him".

=== Act 2 ===

* [[William Adama]] visits [[Laura Roslin]] in [[sickbay]] after her blood test. He's brought a different book to read named ''[[Searider Falcon]]'', a classic novel. Roslin comments that she hasn't read it in years, and Adama confesses that he's never finished the book, since he finds the book too good to finish, and is saving the ending. She suggests that she should also do that, but after an awkward realization shared between the two, she corrects herself.
* After Adama offers to take her bag, he notes that "[[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s back at home in the brig again". Roslin believes that Baltar's desecration of the temple was revenge for what happened to his commune that morning. Adama replies that he has people looking into the brutal attack on Baltar's cult, but no one is talking about the [[Sons of Ares]]. She replies that Baltar's knowingly provoking the hard-line religious groups from [[Dogsville]], and they agree that they can't have a religious fight in the [[the Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. Further, they both agree that Baltar is the crux of the problem, as he has an "uncanny way of stirring up all the crap". They discuss the various options, including locking him away for his own safety to removing him from ''Galactica''. However, Roslin has a better idea and goes to the brig so that Baltar can see her.
* Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] visits [[Caprica-Six]] in the brig. She notes that he didn't even make it to tomorrow. Tigh reveals that he does want something, and asks her how it feels to have the blood of billions of human beings on her hands. She replies that she cannot help but to feel it. Tigh orders the Marines to aim their weapons at her.
* On the hangar deck, Tyrol is welding as Figurski walks by and asks him if he woke up early or never went to sleep. Tyrol doesn't reply and Figurski walks off. After this, Tyrol simply walks off the job, throwing his welder's mask and gloves upon the floor.
* In the brig, Six tells Tigh that she is just as human as he is. During the conversation, he sees [[Ellen Tigh]] in Six's place, and asks her how she deals with the pain. She doesn't answer and Tigh tells the Marines to step outside. After the Marines do so, he tells her that she has nothing to offer him and that she is the same as the rest of the Cylons.
* Also in a brig, Baltar is awakened by Roslin. After Baltar makes a quip about her strip searching him, she tells him that his situation is being looked into "aggressively". She tells him that she is wearing a wig and dying from cancer, but she doesn't want his pity and is still doing her job. She assures him that she's aggressively looking into the men that attacked him. However, there is a caveat to this: she tells him that she wants a quiet little death, and insinuates that Baltar give up his crusade quietly, as she has neither the time nor the patience to indulge him.
* Roslin leaves, telling Baltar that he's being released and to stay safe.
* In [[Joe's Bar]], Adama joins Tyrol at the bar. Adama tells Tyrol that the deck crew misses him and tells him that if he needs time off, or if he wants to work more shifts, all he need to is ask. Tyrol replies that he doesn't need special treatment. In reply, Tyrol hallucinates Adama receiving a shot of alcohol and this reply: "I guess it was just more than she could take, huh? Being married to a Cylon who made her the mother to a half-breed abomination."
* The hallucination ends when Adama gets his drink and comments that Cally was a good woman. Tyrol replies that had Adama really thought that, he wouldn't have threatened to stick her up against a bulkhead and have her shot. Despite Adama's efforts to move their conversation somewhere else, Tyrol then goes into a tirade about how he was stuck with the best of limited options, describing Cally as a "shriek" with "dull, vacant eyes" and a "cabbage smell". He tells Adama that he is sick of his life, a life that he did not choose, and hating to find out that those they really loved were dead, dying, or were Cylons. He pines on his love of [[Sharon Valerii]], and notes that because he tried to stick his head in the sand, he married Cally. He tells her that she was no angel, but notes that Adama has already made her into one. He tells Adama that they are not in the same club, since he never asked the right questions.
* Adama gives him a last chance to recant, but Tyrol refuses, daring Adama to demote him and get him off the ship. Challenged, Adama does so, and orders Specialist Tyrol to report to a petty officer to get reassigned, since Tyrol is a danger to others.
* Adama leaves, while Tyrol slowly collapses into his stool at the bar.

=== Act 3 ===

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'' during a [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] meeting, [[Lee Adama]] argues with President Roslin over an emergency measure limiting the size of Baltar's groups so they don't provoke attacks from fundamentalist groups, steadfastly contending that "where ever Baltar is, violence happens", and assures Adama and other delgates that her goal is to keep the people safe from harm by preventing such violence. However, Lee's objections are supported by fellow Quorum members, such as [[Reza Chronides]], who are concerned that the emergency measure that Roslin "bulldozed through" may be used against other religious groups, such as the [[Mithraism|Mithraists]]. Roslin assures people that this won't happen, and the emergency measure was enacted because [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] is a special case, a claim that Lee rebukes by saying that they're making him a special case. During the conversation, [[Tory Foster]] remains silent, but is visibly concerned.
* Despite Lee's assertion that Baltar is not preaching violence and other amoral acts, and objections by the delegates, Roslin tells them to clear their heads and urges the people to remember the tragedy they experienced on [[New Caprica]]. Chronides pointedly asks if Roslin will open the resolution for a full discussion amongst the Quorum, which Roslin quickly and vehemently refuses to do.
* Lee responds by noting that the Quorum can override Roslin, and notes that he's willing to do so since he believes the resolution cannot stand.
* Incensed by this, Roslin replies with rhetoric: should they overturn her decision, the people would win, but at what cost? She implores them to remember what happened when Baltar held political power, and saying they should be terrified at the prospect of Baltar regaining such power again, even through Baltar's cult.
* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] watches [[Caprica-Six|Six]] as she sleeps. He believes he's seeing Ellen. When she awakens, Six asks if she should get familiar to waking up to Tigh's face. She notes the lack of a Marine escort. Tigh tells her that it is an informal chat between them, to which she astutely replies that they're also being watched. Tigh tells her that she hasn't answered his question. She replies that she wants the pain and learns from it. She mentions how she fell in love with Baltar, and understood that she wouldn't have him forever. She continues to discuss Baltar, which breaks Tigh out of his illusion of seeing Ellen. He angrily reacts to this, saying that he refuses to hear about "Gaius Frakking Baltar" and leaves the brig. He enters the adjoining surveillance room to dismiss the Marines and deactivate the surveillance equipment.
* Tigh reenters the brig, where he is prompted with an offer by Six to help him turn off the pain. She reveals that she learns from the pain, the guilt, and she claims that she's found clarity and wisdom from these things. Tigh sits on the cot with her, where he is told how the humanoid Cylon brain is patterned after the human brain, where she claims that the Cylons have learned things about the human mind that the humans themselves are unaware of.
* Six, who Tigh now sees as Ellen, removes his eye patch and offers to give him clarity.
* Baltar and his cultists proceed to the commune, but are stopped by a Marine who tells him of Roslin's emergency measure, [[Emergency Provision 17]], and that no group larger than twelve can be assembled at any time. Baltar insists that he lives in the commune, but the marine will have none of it, even when [[Paulla Schaffer]] offers to leave and allow Baltar to enter. When Baltar tries to make his way into the commune at the urging of his Virtual Six, he is beaten back by the Marine and begins to spit out blood from his mouth.

=== Act 4 ===

* In the brig, [[Saul Tigh]] tells [[Caprica-Six]] to get her hands off him. She punches him, throwing him from the cot. She then jumps on him and begins punishing him in the face, enjoying it in the process. After this, she asks him if he feels the pain, and the clarity that comes with it. When he does not reply, she continues to punch him.
* [[Virtual Six]] convinces [[Gaius Baltar]] to continue to defy the Marine, assuring him that the gains for doing so outweigh the initial costs. He does so, and is repeatedly beaten back to the ground in front of his followers every time he takes a move towards the commune. "Aided" by his virtual Six, Baltar gets up and continues this action, until Lee Adama arrives with a [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine lieutenant]]. He informs them that the provision has been rescinded and right for full public assembly is restored.
* [[Tracey Anne]], [[Jeanne]] and [[Paulla Schaffer]] rush out to help Baltar into the commune. Before entering the commune, Baltar thanks Adama for helping him. Adama replies that he doesn't know why he does these things for Baltar. Baltar says that Adama does such things because "your God compels you".
* In [[sickbay]], [[Laura Roslin]] tells [[William Adama]] (who is holding ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' in his hand) that Lee has no idea of what he's doing, believing that there are "pragmatic realities" that Lee refuses to face. Adama agrees to this, saying that Lee's only doing what he thinks is right. Roslin does agree to that, but says that "sometimes the right thing is a luxury" and has its own set of dangerous consequences that Lee doesn't want to be true. She stops herself from continuing, since she realizes that shouldn't get upset during her [[Doloxan]] treatment.
* Adama tells her that he's about to get into the part of the book he hasn't read yet and, when asked if he can continue, Adama starts reading. Roslin goes to sleep and Adama continues from the reading, despite having closed the book and apparently knowing the words by rote.
* In the brig, a beaten Tigh begs to Six to continue her assault. However, she changes tactics, saying that being beaten is not what he needs. She then kisses him.
* In the commune, Baltar makes his speech where he notes that while he isn't a perfect man, he believes that something in the universe loves him despite his flaws and faults. Urged on by Virtual Six, he calls this "spark", which dwells in the soul of every living being, "God" and moves the crowd when he says that each and every person is perfect, and that they can love others once they love themselves.
* During Baltar's speech, Lee Adama sees [[Tory Foster]] in attendance. Elsewhere on the ship, [[Galen Tyrol]] stares at [[Nicholas Tyrol|Nicholas]], who is playing in his crib.
* On ''[[Demetrius]]'', [[Kara Thrace]] is sleeping at a table when [[Samuel Anders]] comes in, watching over her.
* Baltar finishes his speech by saying that God loves that which is perfect, and that people are perfect as they are. Foster is smiling, while the other cultists begin to weep and give him a standing ovation. Lee Adama moves to leave the commune while Virtual Six looks over at Foster.

== Notes ==
* [[w:Escape velocity|Escape velocity]] is the minimum initial velocity an unaccelerated object needs to escape a body's gravitational field.
* [[Cally Tyrol]]'s full first name is Callandra. The spelling is confirmed in [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246 Bear McCreary's blog post] for this episode. The episode also marks the first onscreen mention of her birth name, Henderson.
* The [[survivor count]] now accounts for Callandra Tyrol's death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]".
* A costuming error in the teaser shows [[Saul Tigh]] wearing the rank insignia of an [[Military Ranks (RDM)|admiral]]. This is noticeable in the scene where Tigh and [[Tory Foster]] confront [[Galen Tyrol]] in Tyrol's quarters after the memorial service.
* The [[Doloxan]] treatment [[Laura Roslin]] receives has forced her to wear a wig, since her hair loss began more than 22 days ago in "[[Six of One]]".
* Another of the [[Lords of Kobol (RDM)|Lords of Kobol]] is revealed: [[Asclepius]]. Asclepius is known to the Colonials as the god of healing.
* Unlike "[[The Ties That Bind]]", [[Tom Zarek]] is not present at the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] meetings on ''[[Colonial One]]'' in this episode. The reason for his absence is unexplained.
* Tory Foster confirms that the [[Final Five]] are stronger than humans.
* [[Redwing]] previously appeared in "[[Exodus, Part II]]" as [[Hot Dog]]'s wingman.
* The Raptor accident was the third such incident for the pair of [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]] and [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]. The first occurrence being their FTL malfunction causing their mis-jump to the [[New Caprica]] system in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and another incident with the RCS thrusters occurs in "[[Dirty Hands]]".
*As Baltar speaks about loving oneself, knowing "what we are" and loving others, the camera includes shots of three Cylons who are struggling with self-identity and their feelings for humans – [[Galen Tyrol]] staring at his son at play, [[Samuel Anders]] watching his wife as she sleeps aboard the [[Demetrius]] and [[Tory Foster]] watching Baltar himself.

== Analysis ==

=== General ===

*The [[Sons of Ares]] act with military precision, have access to gas grenades and knowledge about the ship's security procedures. From this it is likely that many of them are soldiers and not civilians. This may be expected from a group dedicated to the [[Ares|god of war]].
* When facing down the Marines, the way in which Baltar is standing up appears as though he is being lifted up, which puzzles the Marines and Baltar's followers. This marks the first time where virtual Six does something to Baltar that isn't clearly presented like Baltar is doing it to himself. While it is possible that he moves like that all by himself, and his feet are never shown, it is implied that virtual Six can actually affect things physically. This, along with the [[virtual Baltar]] appearing to Baltar in "[[Six of One]]", and both virtual beings consistently knowing information that neither Baltar or Caprica-Six could actually know, hints that there may be something more to them than simply being illusions. What they are, of course, remains a matter of debate.
**In the [[Podcast:Escape Velocity#Act 4|podcast]], Ron Moore points out that such an interpretation was never intended by the writers. He concedes that the way it is shot goes into that direction, which he considers too far, but believes that none of the characters present would think of it any other way than Baltar moving around by himself.
* The scene where Baltar violently confronts the Colonials during their prayer service seems based on the biblical narrative of [[Wikipedia:Jesus and the money changers|Jesus and the money changers]].
* Racetrack and Skulls' Raptor accident bears similarities to the real life [[Wikipedia:Gemini 8|Gemini VIII]] mission, where a thruster on the craft jammed in the "on" position, causing the spacecraft to roll violently to the left. The high roll rate endangered the lives of astronauts Scott and Armstrong, and the incident caused the mission to be aborted. A dramatized version of the accident can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvWBnkPvqME

=== Characters ===
* [[Galen Tyrol]]'s insubordination that leads Admiral Adama to demote him may have been a deliberate act, conscious or unconscious, to maintain the safety of the ship. While not stated explicitly, Tyrol has been implied to have fears of working against the interest of the Fleet. This fear is almost certainly magnified when he forgets to swap out a burned out component for a new one on [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]]'s Raptor, which subsequently crashes. While his memory lapse may have been innocently brought on by the continuing stress of discovering himself to be a Cylon, the resulting subterfuge, and his wife's death, the experience of [[Sharon Valerii]] with her memory lapses, unconscious acts of sabotage, and the attempted murder of then Commander Adama, are probably on his mind. This is indicated during the tirade against Cally, Adama, and his life in general in [[Joe's bar]]. A demotion in disgrace and transfer could ensure the safety of the ship, without raising any unwanted questions as an official resignation probably would.
* Neither Tyrol nor, apparently, Tigh have been told the full truth about [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s death; Foster has not seen fit to tell Tigh, possibly as a result of the suicide pact made in "[[He That Believeth In Me]]". The official story surrounding her demise has not been disclosed to the audience, however all ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew knows is that she did die. What has not been disclosed thus far is how Nicholas was found, despite the fact that Cally was seen by several crewmembers carrying the child before her death.
* Tyrol continues to have feelings for Sharon Valerii, as he admits to [[William Adama]] and everyone else present in Joe's Bar. Tyrol notes many of [[Cally Tyrol|Cally]]'s weaknesses, including her nagging, nosy nature (which lead to her death in "[[The Ties That Bind]]"), and grows annoyed at Adama's willingness to turn Cally into an angel, when he believes that she is unworthy of that. His feelings for Valerii were likely renewed upon realizing that he is a Cylon, which makes a possible association with Valerii much more acceptable to him.
* Tyrol's tirade about Cally and his reasons for marrying her also have a double meaning in regards to Adama. As it becomes more obvious, especially ever since "[[A Day in the Life]]", Adama's feelings for Roslin have become more apparent. Unfortunately, with her cancer re-appearing and her possible upcoming death, Roslin, like Valerii to Tyrol, is unattainable to Adama. Ironically, though Tyrol believes that Adama wants him to join his "club" in lamenting for Cally, it may very well be that it is Adama who wants to join Tyrol's club.
* Foster continues to embrace her Cylon nature and Baltar's teachings. She tells Tigh and Tyrol to turn off the guilt, that they are perfect and different from humans. Tigh, however, can't turn off his feelings and spends much of the episode wondering if [[Caprica-Six]] can.
* As Adama reads from ''[[Searider Falcon]]'' to Roslin, he closes the book and continues, "I wasn't afraid to die. I was afraid of the emptiness that I felt inside. I couldn't feel anything. And that's what scared me. You came into my thoughts. I felt them. It felt good." Writer [[Jane Espenson]] explains in the DVD commentary for "[[The Hub]]" that Adama is pretending that the words come from the book, but he is actually speaking his heart to Roslin after he closes the book.
* Roslin's wig is strikingly reminiscent of [[Helena Cain]]'s hairstyle in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship, Parts I]] and [[Resurrection Ship, Part II|II]]". This is a visual counterpoint to her increasing ruthlessness as she confronts her impending death.
* Roslin's wig is also reminiscent of the hairstyle and look that she has in the vision she shared with Athena and Caprica-Six ([[TRS]]: "[[Crossroads, Part I]]"). This may indicate that the vision was a foretelling of future events to come in the season.
* Roslin's body language during and after her speech to the Quorum portrays several nuances to the audience. First, it is apparent, besides the hair loss, that the cancer treatments are weakening her body tremendously. Second, her previous statements to Baltar of having less and less patience is more evident in how she dealt with the Quorum's request. Third, as she leaves, the nuance of Roslin, with a hunched back and slowly sulking away indicates that there may be future consequences for the Quorum in standing up to Roslin.

=== Religion ===
* Delegate [[Reza Chronides]] mentions [[Mithraism]], thus further establishing the existence of other religions in the Twelve Colonies. The [[Sons of Ares]] are another religious group, described as [[w:fundamentalism|fundamentalist]].
*This is particularly notable in the context of Baltar's cult, because [[w:Mithraism|Mithraism]] had many things in common with [[w:Christianity|Christianity]]. Yet Christians were persecuted far more by the ([[w:polytheism|polytheistic]]) Romans, while Mithraism spread throughout the empire and particularly the army, before Christianity became the official religion and [[w:Paganism|paganism]] illegal. This furthers the connection of the [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)#The Lords of Kobol|Lords of Kobol]] to the Roman/Greek gods and of Baltar to [[w:Jesus Christ|Christ]].
*In Baltar's theology people are perfect and God loves things that are perfect. Perfect things have no faults, therefore God loves one including one's faults. Hence, there is nothing wrong with one despite the questionable things done in life. This is similar to the Calvinist and Free Grace Christian theologies that hold that those truly saved by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ can not lose their salvation. In other words, regardless of faults or sins past, present or future a true believer in Christ's complete salvation at the Cross would never be rejected by God. This is similar to Baltar's theology in which God would never reject a person under any circumstance because he or she is perfect regardless of their faults or sins. Under this world view God would regard [[Tory Foster]] as perfect and guiltless despite her murder of [[Cally Tyrol]], which she has convinced herself that she is.
*Furthermore, according to conventional Protestant Christian theology, one need only accept Jesus as savior and confess once. The confession must be heartfelt and true for Christ's salvation and redemption to be in effect in God's eyes. To use the example of Tory Foster once more, it is likely that Foster is truly embracing Baltar's teachings and perhaps her Cylon nature in that she truly believes they are perfect as is and forgiven as they are. This differs from what is required under conventional forms of Christianity in that Christ has paid for the sinner's salvation.
*Baltar's speech about loving one's self, and using that understanding to love and understand others seems thematically aligned with Virtual Six's initial remark in the Miniseries that "God is love." Ironically, Baltar's sinful past now seems to enhance his credibility and provide evidence that someone as sinful as him has been given fortune by God. In Christianity, to be redeemed from sin does not mean that one will stop sinning, but to live in constant reminder of God's love and favor because of Christ's sacrifice. Furthermore with that understanding that one is loved, one's behavior will change gradually and in certain circumstances miracles occur. Likewise, Baltar has repeatedly repented to God and had seemingly divine providence intervene in his favor several times. Since Baltar is now using his own sinful life as an example, it seems that this dynamic of Christianity is consistent here as well.

== Questions ==

* Will Lee Adama grow more sympathetic towards Baltar's group? ([[Daybreak, Part I|Partial Answer]])
* Will Roslin learn that Foster is associating with Baltar? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Answer]])
* Will Tyrol seriously consider Foster's words?
* Will Foster clash with Tigh and Tyrol, as their different attitudes towards their Cylon nature develop?
* Are Tyrol and Tigh's hallucinations merely the result of grief and guilt, or are they using [[projection]]?
* Do Tigh and Six frak? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Are Tigh and Six the "enemies brought together by impossible longing" spoken of by the [[First Hybrid]] in "[[Razor]]"?
* Are Tyrol's statements about Cally's negative attributes heartfelt, or merely a result of rage and anger? ([[The Road Less Traveled|Answer #1]], [[Blood on the Scales|Answer #2]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Answer #3]])
* What of [[Nicholas Tyrol]]? Will his father take care of the child?
* Now that it is clear that Foster lied to Tyrol about the death of Cally, how will Tyrol react should he discover the truth? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* What will Tyrol's new duties be after his demotion to specialist? ([[Blood on the Scales|Future Answer]])
* Further, what is his status within the [[Colonial Workers Alliance]]? Has he abandoned this union's leadership position or been forced out?
* Will Baltar's religion end up helping the people of the Fleet, or will it lead them into a dangerous state which compromises them, as Laura Roslin appears to fear?
* What influence will the new religion have on Roslin's beliefs and actions? Will she convert, will she be proven right, or will she be on the wrong side?
* Does Baltar's facial expression of seeming shock when he sees Virtual Six standing next to her and smiling, mean that he realizes that Tory Foster is a Cylon? ([[Revelations|Possible answer]]) Does he connect that with Foster's display of strength to him during their sex play?

== Official Statements ==
* ''[[Mark Verheiden]] discusses [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] being "lifted" by [[Virtual Six]]:''
: "I would argue that Baltar’s gyrations were still him contorting himself, as if Number Six were hoisting him from the floor. I am reminded of Church services where people, in the throes of religious fervor, can evidence remarkable physical contortions, 'speaking in tongues,' etc."<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/04/28/battlestar-galactica-interview-mark-verheiden-on-tyrols-guilt-and-baltar-the-traitor/|title=Battlestar Galactica Interview: Mark Verheiden on Tyrol's Guilt and Baltar the Traitor|date=28 April 2008|accessdate=1 May 2008|last=Ullrich|first=Chris|format=|language=}}</ref>

* ''Verheiden talks about [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]'s animosity towards Baltar:''
: "This starts to get a little complicated, I think, which of course means you’re watching ''Battlestar Galactica''! But Laura’s emotions about New Caprica have to be a swirl of righteous resentments and animosity.

: "Remember that she [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|was removed]] as President by the will of the people (in a squeaker of an election), replaced by a guy she knew would be a poor leader. That proved to be true even before the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] arrived and the [[Cylon Occupation Authority|occupation]] began.

: "So she would have watched the political machine on [[New Caprica]] flounder under Baltar’s rule, then see the Government’s total capitulation when the Cylons arrived and he immediately surrendered.

: "While Baltar more or less cooperated with the Cylons (regardless of whether his reasons were pragmatic and practical, as pointed out in his trial), humans were rounded up, imprisoned, eyeballs were gouged out, people were tortured, the nightmare went on and on.

: "After all that, Baltar [[Crossroads, Part II|managed to evade]] Laura’s idea of justice AND he falls into a [[Cult of Baltar|sect]] of acolytes who look to him for spiritual guidance.

: "Is it any wonder that the guy gets under her skin? And that she fears for the [[The Fleet (RDM)|fleet]] should he find another power base?"

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[William Adama]] and [[Galen Tyrol]]'s argument at Joe's Bar:''
: '''William Adama:''' [[Cally Tyrol|She]] was a good woman.
: '''Galen Tyrol:''' If you ''really'' believe that, you wouldn't have [[Dirty Hands|threatened]] to stick her up against a bulkhead and shoot her. It's OK though, thought about doing it a few times myself. Believe me.
: '''Adama:''' Chief...
: '''Tyrol:''' How many of us ended up with the people we wanted to be with? Got stuck with the best of limited options. And why? Because the ones we really want, that we've really loved, are dead, dying, turned out to be [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] and they didn't know it. And if [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] had...
: '''Adama:''' Let's go. Let's go.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. ''No.'' I didn't know—
: '''Adama:''' Let's go home.
: '''Tyrol:''' ''I didn't know.'' So I buried my head in the sand, and I took it, and I settled. I settled for that shriek. Those dull, vacant eyes. Boiled cabbage stench of her. And why? Because this is my life. This is the life I picked! And that's fine. But you know what, it's not! I didn't pick this life! This isn't my ''[[frak]]kin''<nowiki>'</nowiki> life!
: '''Adama:''' What the hell's gotten in to you? Don't do this. Don't do this to her memory.
: '''Tyrol:''' You know what? I'm sorry if I'm not doing this the way you want me to, the way you might, but I'm not making an angel out of someone who wasn't an angel. But I can see you have. And now you've come down here to be in my club. But you're not in my club. You don't know what frakkin' club I'm in because you never ask the right questions.
: '''Adama:''' Chief, let's get out of here.
: '''Tyrol:''' No. Why don't ''you'' go, take care of your ''precious ship''.
: '''Adama:''' Stop it! Stop all of this! Because if you don't, I'll have to act on it. Now shut up!
: '''Tyrol:''' ''Great!'' Do it! Please! For the love of Gods, please demote me! ''Get me off your frakking ship!''
: '''Adama:''' Specialist Tyrol, I want you off my hangar deck before you endanger another pilot. You're to report to Petty Officer [[Basim]] at 0600 for reassignment. Do you understand?

* ''[[Caprica-Six]] tells [[Saul Tigh]] about her feelings:''
:"I want the pain. It's how I learn. I was instrumental in the destruction of humanity, but at the same time I learned, because...because I fell in love...with a human man, and he was mortal and fallible. And he had this incredible pride in himself. He thought he knew everything there was to know. And I loved him, with my whole heart. And then one day, I realized I wouldn't have him forever. I understood what I'd done. How I betrayed him and humanity. And that pain taught me to understand death. [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] could die. And I loved him. Baltar's heart was ephemeral. Baltar's body was fragile in my hands."

* ''[[Laura Roslin]] about [[Lee Adama]] and his understanding of politics:''
:'''Roslin:''' Lee has no idea. He really has no idea. [...] There are pragmatic realities he refuses to face.
:'''William Adama:''' Well, that's a problem of course. He'd say what he thinks is right.
:'''Roslin:''' Well yeah. He is Lee. Thing is, it probably is the right thing, but...sometimes the right thing is a luxury. And it can have profoundly dangerous consequences. And it's almost as if he doesn't want that to be true.

* ''[[Gaius Baltar]] speaks to his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]]:''
:"I am not a priest. I've never even been a particularly good man. I am in fact a profoundly selfish man. But that doesn't matter, you see. Something in the universe loves me. (smiles) Something in the universe loves the entity that is me. I would choose to call this something "God", a singular spark that dwells in the soul of every living being. If you look inside yourself you will find that spark too. You will. But you have to look deep. Love your faults. Embrace them. If God embraces them, then how can they be faults? Love yourself. You have to love yourself. If we don't love ourselves, how can we love others? And when we know what we are, then we can find the truth out about others, seek what they are; the truth about them. And you know what the truth is? The truth about them? About you? About me? Do you? The truth is, we're all perfect. Just as we are. God only loves that which is perfect and he loves you. He loves you because you are perfect. You are perfect. Just as you are."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as "[[Virtual beings#Saul Tigh's Virtual Ellen|Virtual Ellen]]"
* [[Don Thompson]] as [[Anthony Figurski]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Donna Soares]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Gemenon Delegate|Gemenon Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #1")
* [[Iris Paluly]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Tauron Delegate #1|Tauron Delegate]] (credited as "Speaking Delegate #2")
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracey Anne]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[Heather Doerksen]] as Sergeant [[Brandy Harder]] (credited as "Surveillance Marine")
* [[Laara Sadiq]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Priestess|Priestess]]
* [[Karen Austin]] as [[Lilly]]
* [[Steve Lawlor]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine guard|Marine at Baltar's]]
* [[Hector Johnson]] as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#Marine Lieutenant|Marine Lieutenant]]
* [[Lee Jefferies]] as [[Redwing|"Redwing" McKay]]
* [[Rob Hayter]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Sons of Ares leader|Sons of Ares leader]] (uncredited)
* Unknown as [[Unnamed Galactica and Pegasus crew (RDM)#"Mr. Officious"|"Mr. Officious"]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=246

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Edward James Olmos]]

[[de:Perfekter Schmerz]]
[[ms:Escape Velocity]]

Six of One

2012-07-18T07:43:05Z

AlanHK: /* Characters */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x02 - Promo 1.jpg
| title= Six of One
| season= 4
| episode= 2
| forumthread= 829
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director=[[Anthony Hemingway]]
| production=404
| rating= 1.1
| US airdate=11 April 2008
| CAN airdate=11 April 2008
| UK airdate=15 April 2008
| dvd={{flag|US|notext=Y}} {{Season 4.0 NTSC DVD release date}}
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39698
| prev= [[He That Believeth In Me]]
| next= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| imdb=0993926
| amazon=y
| podcast=Y
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== Overview ==
:''The [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] are bitterly divided over how to deal with the Cylon [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]]s, who refuse to attack the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] because of the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|recent detection]] of the [[Final Five]] within the Fleet. Meanwhile, Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] and crew send [[Lee Adama]] off into his new life as a member of the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]], and Adama has to deal with the possibility that [[Kara Thrace]] may very well be right about her knowing how to get to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].''

== Summary ==

=== On ''Galactica'' ===

* Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]], Captain [[Karl Agathon|Agathon]] and a squad of Marines under Sergeant [[Erin Mathias|Mathias]] respond to Thrace's assault on the guards and her intrusion into Adama's quarters.
* Inside the quarters [[Kara Thrace]] recalls how she blindly trusted [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] to retrieve the [[Arrow of Apollo]] from Caprica and find the [[Tomb of Athena]] on Kobol. Now she can't understand why Roslin doesn't place the same trust in her, although she is determined to lead humanity to Earth. She gives her handgun to Roslin, telling her to shoot her if she believes that Thrace is a Cylon. Roslin takes the gun and pulls the trigger, but only hits a photograph of her and Adama.
* The shot prompts the Marines to enter and subdue her. Thrace repeats her conviction that she needs to find Earth, but is quickly losing her sense of direction, but Adama orders her to be confined in the [[brig]].
*The "final four" have another clandestine meeting in a storage room. Tigh tells them how Roslin almost shot Thrace for possibly being a Cylon, and urges the others not to draw attention to themselves. Foster is aware that there is still one Cylon missing and when Tyrol brings up Baltar's actions in the [[Temple of Five]], suggesting that he might know something about the final Cylon or them. Noting that Baltar has a weakness for the opposite sex and has had relations with a Cylon, Tigh suggests that Foster get closer to Baltar. Foster is less than enthusiastic.
*Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]] visits Thrace in the brig, being enraged at what she just did, and tells her that she was stupid enough to alienate the one person who may have believed her. Thrace repeats that she has a physical need to return to Earth. When she teases Adama about being Roslin's nurse and not having the guts to hold on, he grabs her and throws her on the floor, then leaves.
* The pilots have a party in the [[rec room]]. [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]] and the [[tattooed pilot]] are playing a game of strip [[Triad (RDM)|Triad]], while Helo fills shot glasses with [[ambrosia]]. [[Narcho]] urges Lee Adama to hold a speech on account of his retirement. He makes several toasts, each time knocking down one of the shots. When he toasts "absent friends", his father's eyes are drawn to a picture of Thrace.
* In his quarters, William Adama is working on the model ship he wrecked after Thrace's death. He removes the [[Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn|Aurora]] figurine she gave him, apparently thinking more about her.
* In a civilian mess hall, [[Gaius Baltar]] joins Tory Foster on her table. Suddenly [[Virtual Baltar]] appears to Baltar himself, who can't believe what is happening. He urges Baltar to feel out Foster, who pretends to be interested in Baltar due to his reversal of fortune and the "miracles" that happen around him. Baltar thinks that God has chosen him to "sing his song", using metaphors that make Foster think of her activation as a Cylon and the [[The Music|music]] she heard. She leaves slight disturbed, and Baltar wonders if his Virtual Baltar is Six in disguise.
* Roslin and Adama are talking in his quarters. Both are unsure what to make of Thrace or what do with her. Adama wonders if maybe Thrace is telling the truth, which Roslin can't believe hearing from him, after he always derided beliefs in supernatural events. When Adama mentions her shooting at Thrace, she claims that the [[Doloxan]] messed with her aim, but Adama believes that it was doubt. Roslin keeps insisting that Thrace can't be trusted, and thinks that Adama is ready to believe Thrace because he can't take any more loss around him and that he is afraid to live alone. Adama retorts that Roslin may be afraid to die alone and meaningless, and leaves angrily. Roslin notices that her hair is beginning to fall out and breaks down crying.
* Lee Adama visits Thrace, telling her that [[Tom Zarek]] nominated him for a vacant seat on the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] and why he wants to take it. They wish each other luck on their future journeys. Adama leaves, but then turns around and they kiss passionately. Later, Adama takes one last look around the [[Pilot Ready Rooms|pilots' ready room]] and reflects on his former life.
* Accompanied by [[Sharon Agathon]], Adama enters the [[hangar deck]] to leave the ship. To his astonishment, a large part of the crew has assembled to see him off, most in full dress uniform. They salute, then break into applause, and Adama proceeds to embrace his former colleagues. When he gets to his [[Anastasia Dualla|wife]], she wishes him goodbye and he tells her that she "got the house." After embracing his father, Adama leaves with Roslin and Foster.
* In the rooms used by Baltar's cult, he and Foster are sleeping together, but Foster's eyes are full of tears. She wonders if maybe she is a Cylon, but Baltar tells her that humans aren't the only ones suffering and that Cylons have feelings too. Contrary to her initial revulsion at the idea of sleeping with him, she kisses Baltar and they continue having sex.
* Karl Agathon and Sergeant Mathias escort Thrace from the brig to the hangar deck, where Admiral Adama is awaiting. Thinking that she will be [[Airlock|spaced]], she is surprised to be released. Adama gives her the ''[[Demetrius]]'' and a crew, handpicked by Agathon and Adama, to try to find Earth. Adama is still not sure if it's the right decision, but believes in Roslin and is tired of losing and turning back from things he believes in.

=== On a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] ===
*[[Natalie]] and a [[Number Eight]] listen to the [[Hybrid]] spout cryptic phrases. Mixed in with the Hybrid's usual stream-of-consciousness are phrases such as, "Rise and measure the Temple of the Five", and "They will not harm their own". Meanwhile, a scantily-clad Eight dances in front of a [[Number One]].
*Natalie, a [[Number Two]], and one of the Eights confront One with the belief that the [[Final Five]] are in the Colonial fleet, and this is why the [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]]s broke off the attack in the [[Ionian Nebula]] ([[He That Believeth in Me]]). Number One says that the Final Five are anywhere but with the humans and admonishes the others for talking about them and wishing to contact them. He declares that the Raiders will be "reconfigured" (lobotomized) to stop this from happening again.
*The Number Ones, [[Number Four]]s, and [[Number Five]]s vote in favor of "reconfiguration", while the Number Twos, [[Number Six]]es, and Number Eights vote against it. The apparent stalemate is broken by [[Sharon Valerii]], who votes in favor of the lobotomy. [[Natalie]] accuses One of having influenced Valerii, shocked by a Cylon voting against her model, as this has never happened before.
*Fours are seen performing the lobotomy on Raiders.
*[[Natalie]] confronts One, two Fours, and two Fives at a table, asking them to change their minds. At their refusal, she calls for [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurion]]s to enter the room. The Centurions do not respond to One's command to leave. Natalie explains that her faction has removed the Centurions' [[telencephalic inhibitor]]s, giving them the gift of reason. The Centurions do not approve of lobotomizing the Raiders, and shoot the Ones, Fours, and Fives present.

== Notes ==
[[Image:Roslin and Adama Picture Shot.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The picture that Roslin "shoots"]]
* The episode title is a possible play on the common idiom "[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/six_of_one,_half_a_dozen_of_the_other Six of one, half a dozen of the other]", indicating equivalence. It is also a phrase used frequently in the TV series ''[[w:The Prisoner|The Prisoner]]'' (and [[Number Six]] has been acknowledged by Ronald Moore as having been so named in homage to the lead character of that series).
* There has been a net loss of 22 people since "[[He That Believeth In Me]]".
** Since the aftermath of [[Paulla Schaffer]]'s overzealous attack on [[Shaunt]] in "[[He That Believeth in Me]]" remains unknown ([[Charlie Connor]] is seen alive in "[[The Oath]]"), it is possible that he survived the attack and is not included in the net loss.
* This is the first appearance of [[Natalie]], a [[Number Six]] who is the leader of a faction advocating a search for the [[Final Five]]. She is not given that name in the episode, but the name was revealed several months prior by actress [[Tricia Helfer]].
* This episode reveals three Cylon model numbers: the Cavils are [[Number One]]s, the Leobens are [[Number Two]]s, and the Simons are [[Number Four]]s.
* Interestingly enough, all the numbers for the [[Significant Seven]] are consecutive, until they reach [[Number Eight]]. Thus Number Seven, and Numbers Nine through Twelve are not revealed.
* Raiders are capable of independent thought, unlike [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurion]]s, whose higher brain functions are prevented by an [[telencephalic inhibitor]]. Natalie and her supporters remove these from the Centurions after the vote turns against them.
* According to Cavil, there are millions of copies of each Cylon model.
* The anticipated deadlock in Cylon voting since the boxing of the [[Number Three|Threes]] occurs, though such a deadlock can be broken by the (unprecedented) model-defying vote of a single Cylon.
* Baltar's [[Cult of Baltar|cult]] and their claims that he healed [[Derrick|a child]] are public knowledge.
* The picture Roslin shoots was taken at the ceremony to award Adama the [[Medal of Distinction]] in the episode "[[Hero]]".
* "[[He That Believeth In Me]]" and "Six of One" aired back-to-back as a two hour TV event in UK.
* Nominated for ''Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series'' in the 2008 Emmy Awards.
* When Baltar sees [[Virtual Baltar]] for the first time, he exclaims "Oh my giddy aunt!", a phase associated with ''[[w:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]]'', in particular the [[w:Second Doctor|second incarnation]] of [[W:Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor]].
* A deleted scene (included on the Season 4.0 DVD set) reveals that [[Boomer]] and one of the [[Cavil]] models are in a romantic relationship, which is why she broke ranks to support him in the vote. In the broadcast episode the only indication of this is the scene in which Boomer is shown dancing or exercising naked in front of Cavil.

== Analysis ==

=== General ===
*A visual effects shot of the Fleet allows viewers a first look at large scale repair operations being carried out on a ship. The damaged ''[[Space Park]]'''s ring is surrounded by [[Raptors]] and scaffolding, with repair work clearly in progress. This demonstrates that the Fleet possesses enough equipment and spare parts to keeps the ships running despite the length of time spent on the run. It is likely similar repairs have been frequently carried out on ''Galactica'', allowing the ship to recover somewhat from its major damage in previous engagements.

=== Characters ===

* The episode features another case of Adama receiving advice from a woman close to him and later repeating it to another person. Roslin's observations about his tenuous belief in Thrace and his inability to deal with more loss around him apparently hit close to home, as he includes both of these in his explanation for letting Thrace go.
* Lee Adama's line about [[Dualla]] "getting the house" implies that their breakup, which she initiated by moving out in "[[Crossroads, Part I]]", is now final. Even if they were still married, Adama's new duties as politician would probably prevent them from spending much time together. Nonetheless, their goodbye is very amicable. While Adama tried hard to preserve their relationship during [[Taking a Break From All Your Worries|troubled stretches]], Dualla entered their marriage fully aware that it probably won't last long, but happy to be in it while it does. Her behavior during the goodbye reflects this, and Adama seems to have come to terms with it as well.

=== Cylons ===

* The Cylons set themselves up for a bitter divide such as the one seen in this episode, by boxing the [[Number Three]]s ([[Rapture]]). The vote of the Threes would have been the natural tiebreaker.
*At the same time, it becomes clear that Cylon society is built on a very tenuous foundation. There are no rules in place on how to deal with severe disagreements among the models. The system has only functioned for so long by fortunate circumstances and because it was never really tested in such a way. While the occupation of [[New Caprica]] showed the first cracks in the Cylons' unity, including another [[Caprica Six|individual]] dissenting from her model line, the seven models were still able to maintain consensus until this episode.
* Although at first Foster is repulsed at Tigh's suggestion that she flirt with Baltar, or even sleep with him, to find out what he knows about the Cylons, that soon changes to a certain extent. She is clearly captivated by Baltar talking about [[The Music|music]] and the implications his words have her being a Cylon, even though Baltar very likely doesn't mean them that way. Despite leaving slightly confused, she later sleeps with him. Her tears may in part come from her initial revulsion, but when Baltar talks about how he doesn't believe that she is a Cylon and that Cylons have feelings too, Foster kisses him and they continue to make love. While it is unlikely that she will become one of Baltar's religious [[Cult of Baltar|followers]], she is still charmed by him.
* It is explicitly stated for the first time that the humanoid Cylon models are not aware of their precise origins and the circumstances surrounding their creation, as had previously been implied by [[Number Three]] in "[[Rapture]]". During the first discussion about lobotomizing the Raiders, Natalie says that finding the Final Five will help them to discover their "origins and place in the universe". Cavil points out that the "original programmers" clearly thought it best for the Significant Seven to be kept separate from and ignorant of the Five, but it is not explained who these original programmers were, nor ''why'' the other humanoid Cylons were programmed not to think about the Final Five. The Cavil model claims that violating this programming could potentially have disastrous consequences. Cavil's true reasons for not wanting the other Cylons to learn of the Final Five's identities are later revealed in the episode "[[No Exit]]".
* Cavil's callous assertion that the Raiders are "tools not pets" is the exact opposite of what Boomer cryptically told Tyrol in the episode "[[Six Degrees of Separation]]". Ironically, it is Boomer who votes in favor of having the Raiders lobotomized in this episode.

== Questions ==

* Is the [[Virtual Baltar]] that [[Gaius Baltar]] sees the same as [[Caprica-Six]]'s Virtual Baltar? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Possible Answer]])
* Now that the [[telencephalic inhibitor]]s have been removed from the [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurion]]s, and they've attacked three of the [[Significant Seven]], will they turn on the rest of their Cylon masters? ([[The Ties That Bind|Possible answer]], [[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* Will [[Kara Thrace]] truly lead the ''[[Demetrius]]'' to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* Other than [[Karl Agathon]], who else will be accompanying Thrace on ''Demetrius''? ([[The Ties That Bind|Answer]])
* What will occur when [[Number One]], as well as the two [[Number Four|Four]]s and [[Number Five|Five]]s, [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrect]]? ([[The Ties That Bind|Answer]])
* Do the Ones truly believe that the Final Five are not with the human fleet, as Cavil claims? ([[No Exit|Answer]]) Is this what the Fours and Fives believe?
* Which of the remaining Cylon model numbers belong to which members of the [[Final Five]]? ([[Final Five#Notes|Answer #1]], [[No Exit|#2]])
* Why does the Cylon fleet have Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, Sixes and Eights, but no Sevens? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Did the awakened four gain any new knowledge?
* Why were the Centurions designed to have higher brain functions, only to be suppressed with telencephalic inhibitors? Why weren't these models designed without higher brain functions from the start?
* How many Centurions had their telencephalic inhibitors removed? Was it done only to the Centurions on this particular basestar? Or did it happen on a wider scale?
* Why does the generally skeptical Cavil advocate blind obedience to the intentions of the mysterious "original programmers" and passonately oppose the search for the Final Five? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Did Boomer only side with the Ones, Fours and Fives due to her relationship with Cavil, or was there some other motivation. ([[No Exit|Answer]])

== Official Statements ==

* ''From the New York Comic Con panel in 2008 hosted by Marc Bernardin:''
: '''Marc Bernardin:''' Did the writers create an elaborate backstory for [[Tory Foster|Tory [Foster]]], or did you get to fill in the blanks? Like, does she always cry during sex, or only with [[Gaius Baltar]]?
: '''[[Rekha Sharma]]:''' They did not create a backstory for Tory besides her job. I spoke to [[Ron Moore]] at a party. He said he would love to know what my thoughts were. I got to be part of a collaborative experience of creating my character's backstory so that's really fun and really exciting.
: '''[[Michael Trucco]]:''' Who did the crying during sex part?
: '''Sharma:''' [Writer] [[Michael Angeli]] is responsible for that. Apparently there is some person he knew through someone... this is a true story apparently. So he wanted me to carry that torch.
: '''Trucco:''' You didn't cry when you were with [[Samuel Anders|Anders]]?
: '''Sharma:''' Hell no...<ref name="ew">{{cite_web|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/04/battlestar-gala.html|title=New York Comic Con: How I learned to stop worrying and love hosting 'Battletar Galactica' panels|date=21 April 2008|accessdate=21 April 2008|last=Bernardin|first=Michael|format=|language=}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''[[Number One]] about the [[Hybrid]]:''
: "The Hybrid is always telling us something. They're supposed to maintain operations on each ship. Not vomit [[Hybrid utterances|metaphysics]]."

* ''[[Saul Tigh]] summarizes [[Gaius Baltar]]'s accomplishments:''
: "Well, he is accomplished at two things: lying in a cell and lying in a woman. He'd poke a skinjob. He racked up [[Caprica-Six|a Six]], that's a given."

* ''[[Lee Adama]] holding a "speech" during his retirement party while knocking down [[ambrosia]] shots with each sentence:''
: "To ''Galactica''! To the men and women of ''Galactica''! To the Admiral. Who commands the men and women of ''Galactica''! To our sweethearts, husbands and wives. (more quiet) To absent friends."

* ''Gaius Baltar to [[Tory Foster]]:''
:'''Baltar:''' It seems that God has chosen me to, uh, sing his song.
:'''Foster:''' A song?
:'''Baltar:''' Music? Did you say music?
:'''Foster:''' No.
:'''Baltar:''' Yeah, you know, it's funny. It's a lot like that. It's like the distant chaos of an orchestra tuning up, and then somebody waves a magic wand. And all of those notes start to slide into place. A grotesque, screeching cacophony becomes a single melody.

* ''[[Laura Roslin]] and [[William Adama]] talking about Kara Thrace, miracles and loss:''
:'''Roslin:''' You want to talk about miracles? On the very same day that a very pale doctor informed me that I had terminal cancer, most of humanity was annihilated and I survived, and by some mathematical absurdity I became president, and then my cancer disappeared long enough for us to find a way to Earth. You can call it whatever you want. And now, I'm dying.
:'''Adama:''' Don't talk that way.
:'''Roslin:''' Bill, you gotta face this. My life is coming to an end soon enough and I'm not going to apologize to you for not trusting [[Kara Thrace|her]]. And I'm not...I'm not gonna trust her with the fate of this fleet. You are so buckled up inside. You can't take any more loss. Your son's leaving, this, me, I know it.
:'''Adama:''' No one's going anywhere.
:'''Roslin:''' (laughs) Okay. Here's the truth. This is what's going on. You want to believe Kara. You would rather be wrong about her and face your own demise than risk losing her again.
:'''Adama:''' You can stay in the room, but...get out of my head. (stands up and pours himself another drink)
:'''Roslin:''' You're so afraid to live alone.
:'''Adama:''' And you're afraid to die that way. You're afraid you may not be the [[Sacred Scrolls|dying leader]] you thought you were. Or that your death may be as meaningless as everyone else's. (leaves)
:'''Roslin:''' (Notices that her hair begins to fall out due to the [[Doloxan]] treatments and breaks down crying)

* ''Natalie telling Cavil and the others that she had the Centurion's telencephalic inhibitors removed:''
:'''Natalie:''' The telencephalic inhibitor that restricts higher functions in the Centurions. We had them removed.
:'''Cavil:''' '''''Say what?!'''''

* ''Admiral Adama sending [[Kara Thrace]] off to find Earth:''
:'''Thrace:''' So you think I'm right?
:'''Adama:''' Maybe. Maybe not. But I know she is. The president. She's been right all along. I'm tired of losing. I'm tired of turning away from the things I want to believe in, and I believe you when you say, that you'll die before you stop trying. And I won't lose you again.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Jen Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lieutenant [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmonson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmonson]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
* [[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Number Four]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[Tiffany Lyndall-Knight]] as [[Hybrid]]
* [[Eileen Pedde]] as Gunnery Sergeant [[Erin Mathias]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as [[Tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

==External Links==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] discusses the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=242#more-242

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:RDM]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]

[[de:Die letzten Fünf]]
[[zh:半斤八两]]

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-12T14:52:58Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 01
| number = 1
| start = July 17th, 2005
| end = September 14th, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|01|Complaints and Concerns}} {{archive-item|01|Spoiler Warning}} {{archive-item|01|What is a spoiler?}} {{archive-item|01|Vote}} {{archive-item|01|When does this vote close?|end=Y}}
|}}
{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 02
| number = 2
| start = September 14th, 2005
| end = September 23rd, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|02|Compromise #1}} {{archive-item|02|Discussion|end=Y}}
|}}

__TOC__

==External Links==
Links to Wikipedia using the Wikipedia: interwiki namespace still show up inside spoiltext. Example

{{spoiltext|[[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] [http://www.google.com Google]}}

Fix: add this to the CSS:
td.spoiltext_box a.extiw {color: #000;}
--[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 23 September 2005 (EDT)
:It is now fixed... a year later. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:32, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Shane.. fix the hover css Spoiler outside link code... [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:21, 1 January 2008 (CST)
::Fixed. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:35, 1 January 2008 (CST)

== "Spoiler Boxes" ==
:''moved from [[Helana Cain]]''
The spoiler boxes have a serious flaw--you can't see the "this is a spoiler" line at the top when you're using the Monobook skin. It's too dark to read. I highlighted and ended up seeing the spoiler, and I didn't want to. Of course now I know what the box is and I won't highlight it anymore, but I would appreciate it if the box could be edited to be compatible with all the skins. Thanks. --[[User:Fang Aili|Fang Aili]] 00:16, 24 September 2005 (EDT)
::I think oncer the "new" design is active, the CSS will be updated for a single skin and then that skin will be changed so CSS would be the primary way to color tables, instead of hardcoding values. The other skins joe should have deleted (as he did before the 1.6.x upgrade) to make sure we all worked from one skin when working on the site. So that's with the problem with the monoskin right now. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 01:15, 20 April 2006 (CDT)

==Ron D Moore personally addresses the recent spoilers issue==
:''Moved from [[Battlestar Wiki talk:Citation Jihad]]''

I was in a discussion with Ron's wife Terry on the messageboard in [http://mboard.scifi.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1791636&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=11266ab308ea04f98580cf16eae24b66#Post1791636 this thread], when she then handed the keyboard over to Ron Moore himself and he posted the following messagee, about two minutes ago:

:I want to ask all of you, and KoenigRules in particular, to please refrain from posting detailed spoilers about our upcoming season. It's only April, and we're a long way from the premiere in October, and it's frankly dispiriting and depressing to all of us on the production team to see spoilers appearing this early. We're all working very hard to provide the audience with a unique experience and it takes a lot of the joy out of our process when we know that people have already judged the work before it's ready. This isn't about secrecy or having a NSA-like production, it's about letting the artisans and craftsmen on this show finish their work before it's displayed. Short descriptions of scenes and storylines aren't the same thing as watching an episode of the show and by putting this material out there for everyone to chew over months in advance, it really only allows people to make up their minds about a piece of work that is incomplete by any measure.

:I understand the desire to peek inside the tent. I've felt it myself about many projects from the Star Wars sequels to new episodes of Project Runway, and there's nothing juicier than getting the inside dope. However, there's a difference between that one on one insider knowledge and shared secret and posting it on the internet where it gets passed around literally the entire world or putting in on a radio show for all to hear.

:There's nothing I can do to stop this kind of thing from happening. When I was at Trek, we tried every known method of encoding scripts and plots and they always got out. The only thing I can do is appeal to your sense of decency and fair play and ask that you not spoil the larger fan community that cannot help but be aware of these things as they get massive distribution through the message boards. Self-restraint on the part of those in possession of inside information is the best way to prevent this from happening all through the Spring and Summer, so I appeal to you as fans of the show to help me keep the cloak over this piece of art until it's been polished and ready to be presented to you, the audience.

:I appreciate your consideration,
::Ronald D. Moore

In light of this, I think we should change our decision. I originally had the lukewarm idea that if other news sites like Gateworld and Galacticastation ran one of these stories, we might as well run it too, but only if they did it first. However, I have now completely rejected this idea: we shouldn't post anything more than "generic episode descriptions" which don't actually give away essential plot elements. At first I thought it pointless to try to stem the tide as Gatewold and GS might just report it anyway, but I now really think it is our duty to set precedent on the matter and not post spoilers that are this sensitive, if they have been leaked from anonymous sources. Granted, if Lucy Lawless herself spills the beans in an interview with a magazine that's between her and the production team; moreoever, if they wanted her to stop they could hold up her Screen Actors Guild confidentiality papers and give her a warning. But ''any'' support, even tacitly, of these spoilers, I don't think we can or should do anymore. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:16, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: I think this pretty much sums this debate up. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:22, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: Here's the point where I feel I must play devil's advocate, as it were: Ron D. Moore doesn't run Battlestar Wiki. I appreciate the fact that he doesn't want story lines and important plot points spilled out. I can understand that. However, as long as we have the appropriate warnings in place, I do not see the point in ''not'' posting the spoilers. We're really not in the business of censoring information, just because someone asks us to do so. Am I wrong? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 17:37, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::You are not wrong. But I been pointing to send posting anonoymous soruces as a legit way for referreces is not a good idea. People who are still in Season 2 (UK) have no seen three Episode names for Season 3. We need to just be carefull, if we allow anonoymous soilers and spoilers alike, that we be carefull that they be totallt seperate. And seasons that have not offically started keep out the "Episode Data" block also. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:44, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well I can understand why you're saying that Joe, but I've really got to differ on the matter. There's a difference in my mind between "an actor or crewman leaked this out, and if they wanted it to stop they could give them a warning" and "this person is anonymous, and thus is free from being punished by the production company for breach of contract or simply because they don't want people doing that". Lets see what everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:47, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::I agree with Moore on this, as I did during our initial discussion of the spoiler policy many months ago. Nevertheless, this is a settled issue on Battlestar Wiki. Do we really want to re-open it? --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Merv, your "stand" has changed four times and now this spans two pages so I am trying to "keep" the posted times right in my head. I think we need to really move these discussions to their own page so everything is together. Peter, I understand that this is a project of Citation and spolier poilcy, but this is becomeing to confusing on where everyone stands. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 18:50, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::::It's very simple. The discussion on Citation Jihad is about whether we should allow anonymous sources. The discussion here is about whether we should revise the spoiler policy. The two topics may have originated with the same controversy, but they are not related, nor should they be confused. If The Merovingian wants us to revisit the horribly contested and partisan spoiler policy debate from last fall, this is the place he needs to propose it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:53, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

I admit it's a little confusing Shane: well, officially (as you can see above with the most recent thing): I do not think we should use anonymous spoilers information, because RDM implored everyone not to, and we're only aiding whoever the leak is; if they're afraid of revealing themselves because they think they're breaching a non-disclosure contract or something and thus doing something actually illegale, I don't think we should support that by reporting their information here. Further, it's not always right as it's based on early scripts. Well, that's where I stand on the subject, though I don't know how everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 19:39, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

:I agree that RDM request should override any other concerns for ethical reasons. It is analogous to insider-trading info. Remember the conversation between Apollo and Tigh about the black market. If we do it because everyone does, it doesn't make us right, just whole lot of people wrong. --[[User:Gougef|Frankie Gouge]] April 26, 2006 21:40 EDT

:: I, myself, try not to read spoilers. Sometimes, I accidentally do while I'm editing a page or something, but I take that as my "fault" kind of, for editing that page. It happens and usually it's not a big show ruiner for me. I would not oppose re-opening this debate, but I don't know that we ''need'' to, either. My main concern about spoilers is that, even if they're from a citable, reliable source, they're often wrong (because they get changed before air-date or whatever). Also, I am kind of partial to the idea of doing as RDM asks because I respect him as a creator and he asked in a nice, mature, respectful (to us fans) way. I do, however, allow that a rational person could disagree. --[[User:Day|Day]] <sup>([[User talk:Day|Talk]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|Admin]])</sup> 00:39, 2 May 2006 (CDT)

Hey, this is Commander Me. I would be willing to help translate the Spoiler Policy page into German. Just contact me at my user talk for more info. --Commander Me.
: check out http://www.battlestarwiki.org/de/w/Battlestar_Wiki:Spoiler_Richtlinien

== Questions Section ==

I seen recently a lot of spoiler info come into these sections in the form of {{tl|spoiltext}} for answeres, but with the [[BW:ES]] project, shouldn't we keep the real Answers, even in {{tl|spoiltext}} out until the Episode shows IF the spolier comes from a known episode? --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:25, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
: Provided that the Spoiler Policy and Citation Jihad are adhered to, then the spoilers should be encased in {{tl|spoiltext}}, whether the spoiler is in the form of a question or an answer. Furthermore, we should probably go ahead and tack on the spoiler warning to the top of said page, provided that there are enough spoilers on that page to justify it. However, again, the policies need to be adhered to -- if the spoilers come from Joe Smoe and not an official source, then they should be eradicated with prejudice. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:10, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::I don't think a spoiler header is necessary - that indicates that the ''entire contents'' of the tagged page are spoiler material. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 23:12, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Ditto. Unforentently, StrayCat0's contrib, in [[Exodus%2C_Part_I#Questions|Exodus, Part I]] brings this up. (Not singling out StraayCat, because it happened in previous seasons). No cite, so it fails that for right now, but in general, when we do mark these "Questions" answered, we usually go <nowiki>([[Episode Here|Answer)]])</nowiki>, and leave it like this. I am going to created {{tl|spoilli}} to work within numbered lists... {{tl|spoiltext}} ruins a lot of formating. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 23:19, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Actually, it can be read either way -- and after reading it, the connotation seems inconsistent to me, particularly the last sentence of the warning, so I've gone ahead and [[Template talk:Spoiler|proposed a change in wording]]. As for spoiltext, I look forward to a better version of it. :-) -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:56, 15 October 2006 (CDT)

Will the Turkish translation of this article be visible on the main page? Or are we going to wait until we have our own tr.battlestarwiki.org domain? :) [[User:Redlinetheturk|Redlinetheturk]] 09:23, 12 November 2006 (CST)

== Spoilers in the examples ==

Should the example of using the spoiler tags really include a spoiler for those who possibly haven't seen that episode? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 15:33, 23 January 2008 (CST)
:I have removed it, however, following the policy, it's not considered a spoiler anymore. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 16:24, 23 January 2008 (CST)

== Spoiler policy: please rethink ==

Having just joined the wiki a few minutes ago, I doubt my opinion will have much weight, but here we go:

I also am a recent fan of BSG. I got the box set a month ago and am now into season 3.

At the beginning, I made a habit of reading the relevant article here on each episode after watching it. That went okay, till Season 2, when out of the blue I find that two characters were revealed to be "Final 5" Cylons, a fact not revealed till Season 4, I think.

Of course when I read an article about an episode, I expect anything that comes up IN THAT EPISODE OR A PREVIOUS ONE to be fair game. I was not expecting facts from episodes broadcast two years later to be.

I guess your "anything broadcast is fair game" policy made sense back when the show was on the air, and most readers here were watching it on live TV.

Now, several years later, that is not the case. There will be people like me, starting the series from the beginning and watching it in sequence, on reruns or DVD or online.

The "Any spoiler anywhere" policy you have have means that I, and any other new viewer, will avoid this site like the plague once they've been burnt. I was very disappointed, as the contemporary quotes from producers and writers collected here was quite illuminating to read after watching. But not at the cost of having major future plot points revealed.

You may be fine with that, but this policy drives away new fans. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 11:06, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

: Hi Alan,

: Before I begin to address your concern, I wish to express my appreciation for the time and effort you took to bring up your viewpoint. As project leader, I do understand that there are doubtless folks that feel as you do. However, the intent of this website is to serve as a reference for everything that occurs (or is part of) on any of the ''Battlestar'' series.

: The fundamental issue is that anything can be a "spoiler" depending on where people are in watching the series, and so protecting everyone from "spoilers" detracts from the project (which is to collect and disseminate information), because everything on here is a spoiler at one time or another. We cannot protect people from every spoiler, certainly, as "spoilers" are integral parts to the overall story.

: Reality is that we only have a finite amount of contributors (less than 1% of the active fanbase), and the best use of their time is research and collaboration... not protecting people from spoilers. Yes, that's a bit off putting to some, but that's acceptable to me given reality.

: I do understand that people may not visit the website until they've watched the series entirely, that's fine. If people do not use the website because of it, then that's up to them as well. We're like a library... you can use it, or you cannot. We leave that choice to our viewers. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 13:21, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

:: It's not true that "anything can be a spoiler". I'm not talking about the whole wiki, just the articles about specific episodes. If I look up [[Final Five]], well, I'd expect to find out who they are, and it's my own look-out; but that fundamental "secret" if revealed earlier really, literally, spoils your experience of the show, and I was very pissed off when that happened to me when reading an article about a season 2 episode. Your wiki, your choice, but you are alienating any new fans from reading, let alone participating. I've just watched "Dirty Hands", I'd like to read some backgound on it. But I can't, here, without risking reading something someone added two years after it was broadcast that they thought was "ironic" in light of something that happened in the series finale. I want to read about the episode I've watched now, not months later when I've forgotten the details. I'm not a mega fan, when I watch a show I like to think about it about it, but after I've seen them all I'm not going to rewatch it and analyse it for years later.
::So what I'll do is use the article history and read a version from shortly after the airdate. That will solve the problem for me, but few casual readers are likely to work that out. Really, if you want to grow your fanbase rather than just catering to a gradually declining number of original fans, you need to rethink this. The current fans of the show are less and less those who watched it on the original broadcast. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 23:40, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

::: I believe at least the episode summary should deal with present, and probably past, episodes only. The Questions section should also stay spoiler free by sticking to the established practice of linking to the answer in a future episode. The Notes and Analysis sections are the most problematic, as potential follow ups based on later aired facts has to appear in the context. It could be possible to hide those follow ups in spoiler boxes, but that would make the section(s) hard to read for the all those that have seen it all. (By the way, my biggest fear after discovering this site and the forum when I was still watching the episodes on television, on a domestic channel lagging a year or so behind SciFi and Sky, as opposed to the "alternative" I later switched over to, was forum signatures. In the end, I was betrayed by my own curiosity when I clicked into an article about something Cylon related and saw the Final Five listed among the Cylons in a box at the bottom.) [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 01:25, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::: Alan, Yes, it is true that "anything can be a spoiler"... For instance, if you didn't watch the second part of the Miniseries, the fact that Boomer was a Cylon is a spoiler. I do understand that there will be bleed over in facts, but that's the risk. We realize that we can't please everyone, because we are limited by various factors, including the fact that we don't have a lot of people contributing any more, and thus it's more of a task to change articles.

::: As for alienating people, people will be alienated no matter what you do... it's just the extent. Looking at the traffic stats, which have actually increased exponentially since the show stopped airing, I am completely correct in disagreeing with your assessment that our fan base isn't growing... since you do not have that data in front of you, and merely state that "belief" from emotion. Cold hard stats do not lie.

::: As to Caldumidoan's point, I do agree with most of what was said in their comments, and that there are some slip-ups here and there. It's the nature of the beast. The decision early on was to put the responsibility into the hands of the visitors as to what they want to view and see, and not hand-hold them, or at least limit the hand-holding to something more manageable for a staff that works ''pro bono''. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 02:52, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::: I don't know why you mentioned something in the miniseries being a spoiler for later episodes, I said very clearly what I meant, what most people mean, by a spoiler: Information from episodes broadcast LATER than the one under discussion. You talk about huge traffic, but also "we don't have a lot of people contributing". Maybe that's a sign of alienation? Who knows? I for one might have contributed. I've done over 6000 edits at Wikipedia, and I mod two forums, so I know all about "pro bono" -- about the only recognition I get is being called a fascist for shutting down flame wars, but as above, I won't be reading any current articles under your current "free fire zone for spoilers" policy, so that's out.
:::: Okay, here's what set me off, in [[Fragged]] we have :<blockquote>Could Ellen Tigh's attempts to manipulate the downfall of President Roslin be an indication that she is really a Cylon sent to spread chaos in the Fleet? (Partial Answer:She is a Cylon, but that might not be related to her actions.)</blockquote> AND later <blockquote>There is also the fact that the Colonial landing team includes a member of the Final Five: Galen Tyrol. <blockquote>
::::Why the hell was it necessary to put that in a season 2 article? Why weren't they linked as "Answers" elsewhere so the reader can choose whether they "want to view and see" it as you said? [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 09:07, 10 July 2012 (EDT)
:::::You'll have to ask Human Torch 2 about why the latter was added. It might have seemed like a facinating theory at the time that was added to the only obviously relevant page. The comment about Ellen's nature was actually originally an answer link, but R9tgokunks changed it for reasons unknown. The only thing the admins can answer is why it hasn't been ''removed'' or ''reverted''. [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 10:49, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::::: Alan, in case you did not notice, the Miniseries was split up into two parts: I mention the Boomer thing for that specific reason. I apologize if that confused you.

::::: Regarding traffic: We've ever only had a small amount of contributors vs. a large amount of traffic. That hasn't changed at all. Has nothing to do with policy, it's just that really active/creative fans are always outnumbered by the passive fans 100:1.

::::: As for the examples you mention, I can agree that those are a bit grievous, and should be corrected or reverted. So, addressing Caldumidoan's point, if you see something like that, feel free to change it. Admins aren't the only people to change or revert articles, you know. We encourage people to make changes, as so long as they are reasonable and that, should someone have an issue with it, it is discussed on the appropriate talk pages. If you think admins are here handhold, you are sorely mistaken. This is a community, and each person is empowered to make changes. If they're major changes then, yes, they should be discussed first and then, once a plan and agreement is put in place, you can then execute said changes per that agreed upon plan. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 12:41, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::::: I know how to edit a wiki, and anyway, under your current policy, I have no pretext to delete "spoilers", they are specifically allowed. The problem is I can't edit my memory. This is about policy, not asking you to "hold my hand". My experience of seasons 2 and 3 was literally spoiled by some asshole who thought it was cute to reveal that two characters were Cylons, facts not revealed to viewers for 40 episodes after the one under discussion. Looking at this talk page, while the series was still on air, the discussion was about preventing spoilers from being shown. When it was finished, it went to justifying why spoilers should be allowed. That suits old fans, who've seen the whole thing, but ignores new viewers. If you retain your "spoilers anywhere, anytime" policy, no one will fix these things -- those edits have been in that article for almost three years now -- and new fans, like myself, will find this wiki, instead of enriching their appreciation of the series, diminishes it. But I can see you are getting annoyed by my suggestions and I think it's time to end this discussion, as you clearly aren't receptive. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 10:16, 12 July 2012 (EDT)

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-12T14:40:46Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 01
| number = 1
| start = July 17th, 2005
| end = September 14th, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|01|Complaints and Concerns}} {{archive-item|01|Spoiler Warning}} {{archive-item|01|What is a spoiler?}} {{archive-item|01|Vote}} {{archive-item|01|When does this vote close?|end=Y}}
|}}
{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 02
| number = 2
| start = September 14th, 2005
| end = September 23rd, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|02|Compromise #1}} {{archive-item|02|Discussion|end=Y}}
|}}

__TOC__

==External Links==
Links to Wikipedia using the Wikipedia: interwiki namespace still show up inside spoiltext. Example

{{spoiltext|[[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] [http://www.google.com Google]}}

Fix: add this to the CSS:
td.spoiltext_box a.extiw {color: #000;}
--[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 23 September 2005 (EDT)
:It is now fixed... a year later. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:32, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Shane.. fix the hover css Spoiler outside link code... [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:21, 1 January 2008 (CST)
::Fixed. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:35, 1 January 2008 (CST)

== "Spoiler Boxes" ==
:''moved from [[Helana Cain]]''
The spoiler boxes have a serious flaw--you can't see the "this is a spoiler" line at the top when you're using the Monobook skin. It's too dark to read. I highlighted and ended up seeing the spoiler, and I didn't want to. Of course now I know what the box is and I won't highlight it anymore, but I would appreciate it if the box could be edited to be compatible with all the skins. Thanks. --[[User:Fang Aili|Fang Aili]] 00:16, 24 September 2005 (EDT)
::I think oncer the "new" design is active, the CSS will be updated for a single skin and then that skin will be changed so CSS would be the primary way to color tables, instead of hardcoding values. The other skins joe should have deleted (as he did before the 1.6.x upgrade) to make sure we all worked from one skin when working on the site. So that's with the problem with the monoskin right now. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 01:15, 20 April 2006 (CDT)

==Ron D Moore personally addresses the recent spoilers issue==
:''Moved from [[Battlestar Wiki talk:Citation Jihad]]''

I was in a discussion with Ron's wife Terry on the messageboard in [http://mboard.scifi.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1791636&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=11266ab308ea04f98580cf16eae24b66#Post1791636 this thread], when she then handed the keyboard over to Ron Moore himself and he posted the following messagee, about two minutes ago:

:I want to ask all of you, and KoenigRules in particular, to please refrain from posting detailed spoilers about our upcoming season. It's only April, and we're a long way from the premiere in October, and it's frankly dispiriting and depressing to all of us on the production team to see spoilers appearing this early. We're all working very hard to provide the audience with a unique experience and it takes a lot of the joy out of our process when we know that people have already judged the work before it's ready. This isn't about secrecy or having a NSA-like production, it's about letting the artisans and craftsmen on this show finish their work before it's displayed. Short descriptions of scenes and storylines aren't the same thing as watching an episode of the show and by putting this material out there for everyone to chew over months in advance, it really only allows people to make up their minds about a piece of work that is incomplete by any measure.

:I understand the desire to peek inside the tent. I've felt it myself about many projects from the Star Wars sequels to new episodes of Project Runway, and there's nothing juicier than getting the inside dope. However, there's a difference between that one on one insider knowledge and shared secret and posting it on the internet where it gets passed around literally the entire world or putting in on a radio show for all to hear.

:There's nothing I can do to stop this kind of thing from happening. When I was at Trek, we tried every known method of encoding scripts and plots and they always got out. The only thing I can do is appeal to your sense of decency and fair play and ask that you not spoil the larger fan community that cannot help but be aware of these things as they get massive distribution through the message boards. Self-restraint on the part of those in possession of inside information is the best way to prevent this from happening all through the Spring and Summer, so I appeal to you as fans of the show to help me keep the cloak over this piece of art until it's been polished and ready to be presented to you, the audience.

:I appreciate your consideration,
::Ronald D. Moore

In light of this, I think we should change our decision. I originally had the lukewarm idea that if other news sites like Gateworld and Galacticastation ran one of these stories, we might as well run it too, but only if they did it first. However, I have now completely rejected this idea: we shouldn't post anything more than "generic episode descriptions" which don't actually give away essential plot elements. At first I thought it pointless to try to stem the tide as Gatewold and GS might just report it anyway, but I now really think it is our duty to set precedent on the matter and not post spoilers that are this sensitive, if they have been leaked from anonymous sources. Granted, if Lucy Lawless herself spills the beans in an interview with a magazine that's between her and the production team; moreoever, if they wanted her to stop they could hold up her Screen Actors Guild confidentiality papers and give her a warning. But ''any'' support, even tacitly, of these spoilers, I don't think we can or should do anymore. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:16, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: I think this pretty much sums this debate up. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:22, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: Here's the point where I feel I must play devil's advocate, as it were: Ron D. Moore doesn't run Battlestar Wiki. I appreciate the fact that he doesn't want story lines and important plot points spilled out. I can understand that. However, as long as we have the appropriate warnings in place, I do not see the point in ''not'' posting the spoilers. We're really not in the business of censoring information, just because someone asks us to do so. Am I wrong? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 17:37, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::You are not wrong. But I been pointing to send posting anonoymous soruces as a legit way for referreces is not a good idea. People who are still in Season 2 (UK) have no seen three Episode names for Season 3. We need to just be carefull, if we allow anonoymous soilers and spoilers alike, that we be carefull that they be totallt seperate. And seasons that have not offically started keep out the "Episode Data" block also. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:44, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well I can understand why you're saying that Joe, but I've really got to differ on the matter. There's a difference in my mind between "an actor or crewman leaked this out, and if they wanted it to stop they could give them a warning" and "this person is anonymous, and thus is free from being punished by the production company for breach of contract or simply because they don't want people doing that". Lets see what everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:47, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::I agree with Moore on this, as I did during our initial discussion of the spoiler policy many months ago. Nevertheless, this is a settled issue on Battlestar Wiki. Do we really want to re-open it? --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Merv, your "stand" has changed four times and now this spans two pages so I am trying to "keep" the posted times right in my head. I think we need to really move these discussions to their own page so everything is together. Peter, I understand that this is a project of Citation and spolier poilcy, but this is becomeing to confusing on where everyone stands. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 18:50, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::::It's very simple. The discussion on Citation Jihad is about whether we should allow anonymous sources. The discussion here is about whether we should revise the spoiler policy. The two topics may have originated with the same controversy, but they are not related, nor should they be confused. If The Merovingian wants us to revisit the horribly contested and partisan spoiler policy debate from last fall, this is the place he needs to propose it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:53, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

I admit it's a little confusing Shane: well, officially (as you can see above with the most recent thing): I do not think we should use anonymous spoilers information, because RDM implored everyone not to, and we're only aiding whoever the leak is; if they're afraid of revealing themselves because they think they're breaching a non-disclosure contract or something and thus doing something actually illegale, I don't think we should support that by reporting their information here. Further, it's not always right as it's based on early scripts. Well, that's where I stand on the subject, though I don't know how everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 19:39, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

:I agree that RDM request should override any other concerns for ethical reasons. It is analogous to insider-trading info. Remember the conversation between Apollo and Tigh about the black market. If we do it because everyone does, it doesn't make us right, just whole lot of people wrong. --[[User:Gougef|Frankie Gouge]] April 26, 2006 21:40 EDT

:: I, myself, try not to read spoilers. Sometimes, I accidentally do while I'm editing a page or something, but I take that as my "fault" kind of, for editing that page. It happens and usually it's not a big show ruiner for me. I would not oppose re-opening this debate, but I don't know that we ''need'' to, either. My main concern about spoilers is that, even if they're from a citable, reliable source, they're often wrong (because they get changed before air-date or whatever). Also, I am kind of partial to the idea of doing as RDM asks because I respect him as a creator and he asked in a nice, mature, respectful (to us fans) way. I do, however, allow that a rational person could disagree. --[[User:Day|Day]] <sup>([[User talk:Day|Talk]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|Admin]])</sup> 00:39, 2 May 2006 (CDT)

Hey, this is Commander Me. I would be willing to help translate the Spoiler Policy page into German. Just contact me at my user talk for more info. --Commander Me.
: check out http://www.battlestarwiki.org/de/w/Battlestar_Wiki:Spoiler_Richtlinien

== Questions Section ==

I seen recently a lot of spoiler info come into these sections in the form of {{tl|spoiltext}} for answeres, but with the [[BW:ES]] project, shouldn't we keep the real Answers, even in {{tl|spoiltext}} out until the Episode shows IF the spolier comes from a known episode? --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:25, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
: Provided that the Spoiler Policy and Citation Jihad are adhered to, then the spoilers should be encased in {{tl|spoiltext}}, whether the spoiler is in the form of a question or an answer. Furthermore, we should probably go ahead and tack on the spoiler warning to the top of said page, provided that there are enough spoilers on that page to justify it. However, again, the policies need to be adhered to -- if the spoilers come from Joe Smoe and not an official source, then they should be eradicated with prejudice. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:10, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::I don't think a spoiler header is necessary - that indicates that the ''entire contents'' of the tagged page are spoiler material. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 23:12, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Ditto. Unforentently, StrayCat0's contrib, in [[Exodus%2C_Part_I#Questions|Exodus, Part I]] brings this up. (Not singling out StraayCat, because it happened in previous seasons). No cite, so it fails that for right now, but in general, when we do mark these "Questions" answered, we usually go <nowiki>([[Episode Here|Answer)]])</nowiki>, and leave it like this. I am going to created {{tl|spoilli}} to work within numbered lists... {{tl|spoiltext}} ruins a lot of formating. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 23:19, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Actually, it can be read either way -- and after reading it, the connotation seems inconsistent to me, particularly the last sentence of the warning, so I've gone ahead and [[Template talk:Spoiler|proposed a change in wording]]. As for spoiltext, I look forward to a better version of it. :-) -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:56, 15 October 2006 (CDT)

Will the Turkish translation of this article be visible on the main page? Or are we going to wait until we have our own tr.battlestarwiki.org domain? :) [[User:Redlinetheturk|Redlinetheturk]] 09:23, 12 November 2006 (CST)

== Spoilers in the examples ==

Should the example of using the spoiler tags really include a spoiler for those who possibly haven't seen that episode? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 15:33, 23 January 2008 (CST)
:I have removed it, however, following the policy, it's not considered a spoiler anymore. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 16:24, 23 January 2008 (CST)

== Spoiler policy: please rethink ==

Having just joined the wiki a few minutes ago, I doubt my opinion will have much weight, but here we go:

I also am a recent fan of BSG. I got the box set a month ago and am now into season 3.

At the beginning, I made a habit of reading the relevant article here on each episode after watching it. That went okay, till Season 2, when out of the blue I find that two characters were revealed to be "Final 5" Cylons, a fact not revealed till Season 4, I think.

Of course when I read an article about an episode, I expect anything that comes up IN THAT EPISODE OR A PREVIOUS ONE to be fair game. I was not expecting facts from episodes broadcast two years later to be.

I guess your "anything broadcast is fair game" policy made sense back when the show was on the air, and most readers here were watching it on live TV.

Now, several years later, that is not the case. There will be people like me, starting the series from the beginning and watching it in sequence, on reruns or DVD or online.

The "Any spoiler anywhere" policy you have have means that I, and any other new viewer, will avoid this site like the plague once they've been burnt. I was very disappointed, as the contemporary quotes from producers and writers collected here was quite illuminating to read after watching. But not at the cost of having major future plot points revealed.

You may be fine with that, but this policy drives away new fans. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 11:06, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

: Hi Alan,

: Before I begin to address your concern, I wish to express my appreciation for the time and effort you took to bring up your viewpoint. As project leader, I do understand that there are doubtless folks that feel as you do. However, the intent of this website is to serve as a reference for everything that occurs (or is part of) on any of the ''Battlestar'' series.

: The fundamental issue is that anything can be a "spoiler" depending on where people are in watching the series, and so protecting everyone from "spoilers" detracts from the project (which is to collect and disseminate information), because everything on here is a spoiler at one time or another. We cannot protect people from every spoiler, certainly, as "spoilers" are integral parts to the overall story.

: Reality is that we only have a finite amount of contributors (less than 1% of the active fanbase), and the best use of their time is research and collaboration... not protecting people from spoilers. Yes, that's a bit off putting to some, but that's acceptable to me given reality.

: I do understand that people may not visit the website until they've watched the series entirely, that's fine. If people do not use the website because of it, then that's up to them as well. We're like a library... you can use it, or you cannot. We leave that choice to our viewers. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 13:21, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

:: It's not true that "anything can be a spoiler". I'm not talking about the whole wiki, just the articles about specific episodes. If I look up [[Final Five]], well, I'd expect to find out who they are, and it's my own look-out; but that fundamental "secret" if revealed earlier really, literally, spoils your experience of the show, and I was very pissed off when that happened to me when reading an article about a season 2 episode. Your wiki, your choice, but you are alienating any new fans from reading, let alone participating. I've just watched "Dirty Hands", I'd like to read some backgound on it. But I can't, here, without risking reading something someone added two years after it was broadcast that they thought was "ironic" in light of something that happened in the series finale. I want to read about the episode I've watched now, not months later when I've forgotten the details. I'm not a mega fan, when I watch a show I like to think about it about it, but after I've seen them all I'm not going to rewatch it and analyse it for years later.
::So what I'll do is use the article history and read a version from shortly after the airdate. That will solve the problem for me, but few casual readers are likely to work that out. Really, if you want to grow your fanbase rather than just catering to a gradually declining number of original fans, you need to rethink this. The current fans of the show are less and less those who watched it on the original broadcast. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 23:40, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

::: I believe at least the episode summary should deal with present, and probably past, episodes only. The Questions section should also stay spoiler free by sticking to the established practice of linking to the answer in a future episode. The Notes and Analysis sections are the most problematic, as potential follow ups based on later aired facts has to appear in the context. It could be possible to hide those follow ups in spoiler boxes, but that would make the section(s) hard to read for the all those that have seen it all. (By the way, my biggest fear after discovering this site and the forum when I was still watching the episodes on television, on a domestic channel lagging a year or so behind SciFi and Sky, as opposed to the "alternative" I later switched over to, was forum signatures. In the end, I was betrayed by my own curiosity when I clicked into an article about something Cylon related and saw the Final Five listed among the Cylons in a box at the bottom.) [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 01:25, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::: Alan, Yes, it is true that "anything can be a spoiler"... For instance, if you didn't watch the second part of the Miniseries, the fact that Boomer was a Cylon is a spoiler. I do understand that there will be bleed over in facts, but that's the risk. We realize that we can't please everyone, because we are limited by various factors, including the fact that we don't have a lot of people contributing any more, and thus it's more of a task to change articles.

::: As for alienating people, people will be alienated no matter what you do... it's just the extent. Looking at the traffic stats, which have actually increased exponentially since the show stopped airing, I am completely correct in disagreeing with your assessment that our fan base isn't growing... since you do not have that data in front of you, and merely state that "belief" from emotion. Cold hard stats do not lie.

::: As to Caldumidoan's point, I do agree with most of what was said in their comments, and that there are some slip-ups here and there. It's the nature of the beast. The decision early on was to put the responsibility into the hands of the visitors as to what they want to view and see, and not hand-hold them, or at least limit the hand-holding to something more manageable for a staff that works ''pro bono''. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 02:52, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::: I don't know why you mentioned something in the miniseries being a spoiler for later episodes, I said very clearly what I meant, what most people mean, by a spoiler: Information from episodes broadcast LATER than the one under discussion. You talk about huge traffic, but also "we don't have a lot of people contributing". Maybe that's a sign of alienation? Who knows? I for one might have contributed. I've done over 6000 edits at Wikipedia, and I mod two forums, so I know all about "pro bono" -- about the only recognition I get is being called a fascist for shutting down flame wars, but as above, I won't be reading any current articles under your current "free fire zone for spoilers" policy, so that's out.
:::: Okay, here's what set me off, in [[Fragged]] we have :<blockquote>Could Ellen Tigh's attempts to manipulate the downfall of President Roslin be an indication that she is really a Cylon sent to spread chaos in the Fleet? (Partial Answer:She is a Cylon, but that might not be related to her actions.)</blockquote> AND later <blockquote>There is also the fact that the Colonial landing team includes a member of the Final Five: Galen Tyrol. <blockquote>
::::Why the hell was it necessary to put that in a season 2 article? Why weren't they linked as "Answers" elsewhere so the reader can choose whether they "want to view and see" it as you said? [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 09:07, 10 July 2012 (EDT)
:::::You'll have to ask Human Torch 2 about why the latter was added. It might have seemed like a facinating theory at the time that was added to the only obviously relevant page. The comment about Ellen's nature was actually originally an answer link, but R9tgokunks changed it for reasons unknown. The only thing the admins can answer is why it hasn't been ''removed'' or ''reverted''. [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 10:49, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::::: Alan, in case you did not notice, the Miniseries was split up into two parts: I mention the Boomer thing for that specific reason. I apologize if that confused you.

::::: Regarding traffic: We've ever only had a small amount of contributors vs. a large amount of traffic. That hasn't changed at all. Has nothing to do with policy, it's just that really active/creative fans are always outnumbered by the passive fans 100:1.

::::: As for the examples you mention, I can agree that those are a bit grievous, and should be corrected or reverted. So, addressing Caldumidoan's point, if you see something like that, feel free to change it. Admins aren't the only people to change or revert articles, you know. We encourage people to make changes, as so long as they are reasonable and that, should someone have an issue with it, it is discussed on the appropriate talk pages. If you think admins are here handhold, you are sorely mistaken. This is a community, and each person is empowered to make changes. If they're major changes then, yes, they should be discussed first and then, once a plan and agreement is put in place, you can then execute said changes per that agreed upon plan. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 12:41, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::::: I know how to edit a wiki, and anyway, under your current policy, I have no pretext to delete "spoilers", they are specifically allowed. The problem is I can't edit my memory. This is about policy, not asking you to "hold my hand". My experience of seasons 2 and 3 was literally spoiled by some asshole who thought it was cute to reveal that two characters were Cylons, facts not revealed to viewers for 30 or more episodes after the one under discussion. Looking at this talk page, while the series was still on air, the discussion was about preventing spoilers from being shown. When it was finished, it went to justifying why spoilers should be allowed. That suits old fans, who've seen the whole thing, but ignores new viewers. If you retain your "spoilers anywhere, anytime" policy, no one will fix these things -- those edits have been in that article for almost three years now -- and new fans, like myself, will find this wiki, instead of enriching their appreciation of the series, diminishes it. But I can see you are getting resentful of my suggestions and I think it's time to end this discussion, as you clearly aren't receptive. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 10:16, 12 July 2012 (EDT)

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-12T14:16:48Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 01
| number = 1
| start = July 17th, 2005
| end = September 14th, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|01|Complaints and Concerns}} {{archive-item|01|Spoiler Warning}} {{archive-item|01|What is a spoiler?}} {{archive-item|01|Vote}} {{archive-item|01|When does this vote close?|end=Y}}
|}}
{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 02
| number = 2
| start = September 14th, 2005
| end = September 23rd, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|02|Compromise #1}} {{archive-item|02|Discussion|end=Y}}
|}}

__TOC__

==External Links==
Links to Wikipedia using the Wikipedia: interwiki namespace still show up inside spoiltext. Example

{{spoiltext|[[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] [http://www.google.com Google]}}

Fix: add this to the CSS:
td.spoiltext_box a.extiw {color: #000;}
--[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 23 September 2005 (EDT)
:It is now fixed... a year later. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:32, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Shane.. fix the hover css Spoiler outside link code... [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:21, 1 January 2008 (CST)
::Fixed. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:35, 1 January 2008 (CST)

== "Spoiler Boxes" ==
:''moved from [[Helana Cain]]''
The spoiler boxes have a serious flaw--you can't see the "this is a spoiler" line at the top when you're using the Monobook skin. It's too dark to read. I highlighted and ended up seeing the spoiler, and I didn't want to. Of course now I know what the box is and I won't highlight it anymore, but I would appreciate it if the box could be edited to be compatible with all the skins. Thanks. --[[User:Fang Aili|Fang Aili]] 00:16, 24 September 2005 (EDT)
::I think oncer the "new" design is active, the CSS will be updated for a single skin and then that skin will be changed so CSS would be the primary way to color tables, instead of hardcoding values. The other skins joe should have deleted (as he did before the 1.6.x upgrade) to make sure we all worked from one skin when working on the site. So that's with the problem with the monoskin right now. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 01:15, 20 April 2006 (CDT)

==Ron D Moore personally addresses the recent spoilers issue==
:''Moved from [[Battlestar Wiki talk:Citation Jihad]]''

I was in a discussion with Ron's wife Terry on the messageboard in [http://mboard.scifi.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1791636&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=11266ab308ea04f98580cf16eae24b66#Post1791636 this thread], when she then handed the keyboard over to Ron Moore himself and he posted the following messagee, about two minutes ago:

:I want to ask all of you, and KoenigRules in particular, to please refrain from posting detailed spoilers about our upcoming season. It's only April, and we're a long way from the premiere in October, and it's frankly dispiriting and depressing to all of us on the production team to see spoilers appearing this early. We're all working very hard to provide the audience with a unique experience and it takes a lot of the joy out of our process when we know that people have already judged the work before it's ready. This isn't about secrecy or having a NSA-like production, it's about letting the artisans and craftsmen on this show finish their work before it's displayed. Short descriptions of scenes and storylines aren't the same thing as watching an episode of the show and by putting this material out there for everyone to chew over months in advance, it really only allows people to make up their minds about a piece of work that is incomplete by any measure.

:I understand the desire to peek inside the tent. I've felt it myself about many projects from the Star Wars sequels to new episodes of Project Runway, and there's nothing juicier than getting the inside dope. However, there's a difference between that one on one insider knowledge and shared secret and posting it on the internet where it gets passed around literally the entire world or putting in on a radio show for all to hear.

:There's nothing I can do to stop this kind of thing from happening. When I was at Trek, we tried every known method of encoding scripts and plots and they always got out. The only thing I can do is appeal to your sense of decency and fair play and ask that you not spoil the larger fan community that cannot help but be aware of these things as they get massive distribution through the message boards. Self-restraint on the part of those in possession of inside information is the best way to prevent this from happening all through the Spring and Summer, so I appeal to you as fans of the show to help me keep the cloak over this piece of art until it's been polished and ready to be presented to you, the audience.

:I appreciate your consideration,
::Ronald D. Moore

In light of this, I think we should change our decision. I originally had the lukewarm idea that if other news sites like Gateworld and Galacticastation ran one of these stories, we might as well run it too, but only if they did it first. However, I have now completely rejected this idea: we shouldn't post anything more than "generic episode descriptions" which don't actually give away essential plot elements. At first I thought it pointless to try to stem the tide as Gatewold and GS might just report it anyway, but I now really think it is our duty to set precedent on the matter and not post spoilers that are this sensitive, if they have been leaked from anonymous sources. Granted, if Lucy Lawless herself spills the beans in an interview with a magazine that's between her and the production team; moreoever, if they wanted her to stop they could hold up her Screen Actors Guild confidentiality papers and give her a warning. But ''any'' support, even tacitly, of these spoilers, I don't think we can or should do anymore. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:16, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: I think this pretty much sums this debate up. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:22, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: Here's the point where I feel I must play devil's advocate, as it were: Ron D. Moore doesn't run Battlestar Wiki. I appreciate the fact that he doesn't want story lines and important plot points spilled out. I can understand that. However, as long as we have the appropriate warnings in place, I do not see the point in ''not'' posting the spoilers. We're really not in the business of censoring information, just because someone asks us to do so. Am I wrong? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 17:37, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::You are not wrong. But I been pointing to send posting anonoymous soruces as a legit way for referreces is not a good idea. People who are still in Season 2 (UK) have no seen three Episode names for Season 3. We need to just be carefull, if we allow anonoymous soilers and spoilers alike, that we be carefull that they be totallt seperate. And seasons that have not offically started keep out the "Episode Data" block also. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:44, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well I can understand why you're saying that Joe, but I've really got to differ on the matter. There's a difference in my mind between "an actor or crewman leaked this out, and if they wanted it to stop they could give them a warning" and "this person is anonymous, and thus is free from being punished by the production company for breach of contract or simply because they don't want people doing that". Lets see what everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:47, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::I agree with Moore on this, as I did during our initial discussion of the spoiler policy many months ago. Nevertheless, this is a settled issue on Battlestar Wiki. Do we really want to re-open it? --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Merv, your "stand" has changed four times and now this spans two pages so I am trying to "keep" the posted times right in my head. I think we need to really move these discussions to their own page so everything is together. Peter, I understand that this is a project of Citation and spolier poilcy, but this is becomeing to confusing on where everyone stands. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 18:50, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::::It's very simple. The discussion on Citation Jihad is about whether we should allow anonymous sources. The discussion here is about whether we should revise the spoiler policy. The two topics may have originated with the same controversy, but they are not related, nor should they be confused. If The Merovingian wants us to revisit the horribly contested and partisan spoiler policy debate from last fall, this is the place he needs to propose it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:53, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

I admit it's a little confusing Shane: well, officially (as you can see above with the most recent thing): I do not think we should use anonymous spoilers information, because RDM implored everyone not to, and we're only aiding whoever the leak is; if they're afraid of revealing themselves because they think they're breaching a non-disclosure contract or something and thus doing something actually illegale, I don't think we should support that by reporting their information here. Further, it's not always right as it's based on early scripts. Well, that's where I stand on the subject, though I don't know how everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 19:39, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

:I agree that RDM request should override any other concerns for ethical reasons. It is analogous to insider-trading info. Remember the conversation between Apollo and Tigh about the black market. If we do it because everyone does, it doesn't make us right, just whole lot of people wrong. --[[User:Gougef|Frankie Gouge]] April 26, 2006 21:40 EDT

:: I, myself, try not to read spoilers. Sometimes, I accidentally do while I'm editing a page or something, but I take that as my "fault" kind of, for editing that page. It happens and usually it's not a big show ruiner for me. I would not oppose re-opening this debate, but I don't know that we ''need'' to, either. My main concern about spoilers is that, even if they're from a citable, reliable source, they're often wrong (because they get changed before air-date or whatever). Also, I am kind of partial to the idea of doing as RDM asks because I respect him as a creator and he asked in a nice, mature, respectful (to us fans) way. I do, however, allow that a rational person could disagree. --[[User:Day|Day]] <sup>([[User talk:Day|Talk]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|Admin]])</sup> 00:39, 2 May 2006 (CDT)

Hey, this is Commander Me. I would be willing to help translate the Spoiler Policy page into German. Just contact me at my user talk for more info. --Commander Me.
: check out http://www.battlestarwiki.org/de/w/Battlestar_Wiki:Spoiler_Richtlinien

== Questions Section ==

I seen recently a lot of spoiler info come into these sections in the form of {{tl|spoiltext}} for answeres, but with the [[BW:ES]] project, shouldn't we keep the real Answers, even in {{tl|spoiltext}} out until the Episode shows IF the spolier comes from a known episode? --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:25, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
: Provided that the Spoiler Policy and Citation Jihad are adhered to, then the spoilers should be encased in {{tl|spoiltext}}, whether the spoiler is in the form of a question or an answer. Furthermore, we should probably go ahead and tack on the spoiler warning to the top of said page, provided that there are enough spoilers on that page to justify it. However, again, the policies need to be adhered to -- if the spoilers come from Joe Smoe and not an official source, then they should be eradicated with prejudice. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:10, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::I don't think a spoiler header is necessary - that indicates that the ''entire contents'' of the tagged page are spoiler material. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 23:12, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Ditto. Unforentently, StrayCat0's contrib, in [[Exodus%2C_Part_I#Questions|Exodus, Part I]] brings this up. (Not singling out StraayCat, because it happened in previous seasons). No cite, so it fails that for right now, but in general, when we do mark these "Questions" answered, we usually go <nowiki>([[Episode Here|Answer)]])</nowiki>, and leave it like this. I am going to created {{tl|spoilli}} to work within numbered lists... {{tl|spoiltext}} ruins a lot of formating. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 23:19, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Actually, it can be read either way -- and after reading it, the connotation seems inconsistent to me, particularly the last sentence of the warning, so I've gone ahead and [[Template talk:Spoiler|proposed a change in wording]]. As for spoiltext, I look forward to a better version of it. :-) -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:56, 15 October 2006 (CDT)

Will the Turkish translation of this article be visible on the main page? Or are we going to wait until we have our own tr.battlestarwiki.org domain? :) [[User:Redlinetheturk|Redlinetheturk]] 09:23, 12 November 2006 (CST)

== Spoilers in the examples ==

Should the example of using the spoiler tags really include a spoiler for those who possibly haven't seen that episode? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 15:33, 23 January 2008 (CST)
:I have removed it, however, following the policy, it's not considered a spoiler anymore. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 16:24, 23 January 2008 (CST)

== Spoiler policy: please rethink ==

Having just joined the wiki a few minutes ago, I doubt my opinion will have much weight, but here we go:

I also am a recent fan of BSG. I got the box set a month ago and am now into season 3.

At the beginning, I made a habit of reading the relevant article here on each episode after watching it. That went okay, till Season 2, when out of the blue I find that two characters were revealed to be "Final 5" Cylons, a fact not revealed till Season 4, I think.

Of course when I read an article about an episode, I expect anything that comes up IN THAT EPISODE OR A PREVIOUS ONE to be fair game. I was not expecting facts from episodes broadcast two years later to be.

I guess your "anything broadcast is fair game" policy made sense back when the show was on the air, and most readers here were watching it on live TV.

Now, several years later, that is not the case. There will be people like me, starting the series from the beginning and watching it in sequence, on reruns or DVD or online.

The "Any spoiler anywhere" policy you have have means that I, and any other new viewer, will avoid this site like the plague once they've been burnt. I was very disappointed, as the contemporary quotes from producers and writers collected here was quite illuminating to read after watching. But not at the cost of having major future plot points revealed.

You may be fine with that, but this policy drives away new fans. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 11:06, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

: Hi Alan,

: Before I begin to address your concern, I wish to express my appreciation for the time and effort you took to bring up your viewpoint. As project leader, I do understand that there are doubtless folks that feel as you do. However, the intent of this website is to serve as a reference for everything that occurs (or is part of) on any of the ''Battlestar'' series.

: The fundamental issue is that anything can be a "spoiler" depending on where people are in watching the series, and so protecting everyone from "spoilers" detracts from the project (which is to collect and disseminate information), because everything on here is a spoiler at one time or another. We cannot protect people from every spoiler, certainly, as "spoilers" are integral parts to the overall story.

: Reality is that we only have a finite amount of contributors (less than 1% of the active fanbase), and the best use of their time is research and collaboration... not protecting people from spoilers. Yes, that's a bit off putting to some, but that's acceptable to me given reality.

: I do understand that people may not visit the website until they've watched the series entirely, that's fine. If people do not use the website because of it, then that's up to them as well. We're like a library... you can use it, or you cannot. We leave that choice to our viewers. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 13:21, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

:: It's not true that "anything can be a spoiler". I'm not talking about the whole wiki, just the articles about specific episodes. If I look up [[Final Five]], well, I'd expect to find out who they are, and it's my own look-out; but that fundamental "secret" if revealed earlier really, literally, spoils your experience of the show, and I was very pissed off when that happened to me when reading an article about a season 2 episode. Your wiki, your choice, but you are alienating any new fans from reading, let alone participating. I've just watched "Dirty Hands", I'd like to read some backgound on it. But I can't, here, without risking reading something someone added two years after it was broadcast that they thought was "ironic" in light of something that happened in the series finale. I want to read about the episode I've watched now, not months later when I've forgotten the details. I'm not a mega fan, when I watch a show I like to think about it about it, but after I've seen them all I'm not going to rewatch it and analyse it for years later.
::So what I'll do is use the article history and read a version from shortly after the airdate. That will solve the problem for me, but few casual readers are likely to work that out. Really, if you want to grow your fanbase rather than just catering to a gradually declining number of original fans, you need to rethink this. The current fans of the show are less and less those who watched it on the original broadcast. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 23:40, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

::: I believe at least the episode summary should deal with present, and probably past, episodes only. The Questions section should also stay spoiler free by sticking to the established practice of linking to the answer in a future episode. The Notes and Analysis sections are the most problematic, as potential follow ups based on later aired facts has to appear in the context. It could be possible to hide those follow ups in spoiler boxes, but that would make the section(s) hard to read for the all those that have seen it all. (By the way, my biggest fear after discovering this site and the forum when I was still watching the episodes on television, on a domestic channel lagging a year or so behind SciFi and Sky, as opposed to the "alternative" I later switched over to, was forum signatures. In the end, I was betrayed by my own curiosity when I clicked into an article about something Cylon related and saw the Final Five listed among the Cylons in a box at the bottom.) [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 01:25, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::: Alan, Yes, it is true that "anything can be a spoiler"... For instance, if you didn't watch the second part of the Miniseries, the fact that Boomer was a Cylon is a spoiler. I do understand that there will be bleed over in facts, but that's the risk. We realize that we can't please everyone, because we are limited by various factors, including the fact that we don't have a lot of people contributing any more, and thus it's more of a task to change articles.

::: As for alienating people, people will be alienated no matter what you do... it's just the extent. Looking at the traffic stats, which have actually increased exponentially since the show stopped airing, I am completely correct in disagreeing with your assessment that our fan base isn't growing... since you do not have that data in front of you, and merely state that "belief" from emotion. Cold hard stats do not lie.

::: As to Caldumidoan's point, I do agree with most of what was said in their comments, and that there are some slip-ups here and there. It's the nature of the beast. The decision early on was to put the responsibility into the hands of the visitors as to what they want to view and see, and not hand-hold them, or at least limit the hand-holding to something more manageable for a staff that works ''pro bono''. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 02:52, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::: I don't know why you mentioned something in the miniseries being a spoiler for later episodes, I said very clearly what I meant, what most people mean, by a spoiler: Information from episodes broadcast LATER than the one under discussion. You talk about huge traffic, but also "we don't have a lot of people contributing". Maybe that's a sign of alienation? Who knows? I for one might have contributed. I've done over 6000 edits at Wikipedia, and I mod two forums, so I know all about "pro bono" -- about the only recognition I get is being called a fascist for shutting down flame wars, but as above, I won't be reading any current articles under your current "free fire zone for spoilers" policy, so that's out.
:::: Okay, here's what set me off, in [[Fragged]] we have :<blockquote>Could Ellen Tigh's attempts to manipulate the downfall of President Roslin be an indication that she is really a Cylon sent to spread chaos in the Fleet? (Partial Answer:She is a Cylon, but that might not be related to her actions.)</blockquote> AND later <blockquote>There is also the fact that the Colonial landing team includes a member of the Final Five: Galen Tyrol. <blockquote>
::::Why the hell was it necessary to put that in a season 2 article? Why weren't they linked as "Answers" elsewhere so the reader can choose whether they "want to view and see" it as you said? [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 09:07, 10 July 2012 (EDT)
:::::You'll have to ask Human Torch 2 about why the latter was added. It might have seemed like a facinating theory at the time that was added to the only obviously relevant page. The comment about Ellen's nature was actually originally an answer link, but R9tgokunks changed it for reasons unknown. The only thing the admins can answer is why it hasn't been ''removed'' or ''reverted''. [[User:Caldumidoan|Caldumidoan]] 10:49, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

::::: Alan, in case you did not notice, the Miniseries was split up into two parts: I mention the Boomer thing for that specific reason. I apologize if that confused you.

::::: Regarding traffic: We've ever only had a small amount of contributors vs. a large amount of traffic. That hasn't changed at all. Has nothing to do with policy, it's just that really active/creative fans are always outnumbered by the passive fans 100:1.

::::: As for the examples you mention, I can agree that those are a bit grievous, and should be corrected or reverted. So, addressing Caldumidoan's point, if you see something like that, feel free to change it. Admins aren't the only people to change or revert articles, you know. We encourage people to make changes, as so long as they are reasonable and that, should someone have an issue with it, it is discussed on the appropriate talk pages. If you think admins are here handhold, you are sorely mistaken. This is a community, and each person is empowered to make changes. If they're major changes then, yes, they should be discussed first and then, once a plan and agreement is put in place, you can then execute said changes per that agreed upon plan. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 12:41, 10 July 2012 (EDT)

:::::: I know how to edit a wiki. The problem is I can't edit my memory, and anyway, under your current policy, I have no pretext to delete "spoilers", they are specifically allowed. This is about policy, not asking you to "hold my hand". My experience of seasons 2 and 3 was literally spoiled by some asshole who thought it was cute to reveal that two characters were Cylons, facts not revealed to viewers for 30 or more episodes after the one under discussion. Looking at this talk page, while the series was still on air, the discussion was about preventing spoilers from being shown. When it was finished, it went to justifying why spoilers should be allowed. That suits old fans, who've seen the whole thing, but ignores new viewers. If you retain your "spoilers anywhere, anytime" policy, no one will fix these things -- those edits have been in that article for almost three years now -- and new fans, like myself, will find this wiki, instead of enriching their appreciation of the series, diminishes it. But I can see you are getting resentful of my suggestions and I think it's time to end this discussion, as you clearly aren't receptive. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 10:16, 12 July 2012 (EDT)

Crossroads, Part II

2012-07-12T13:48:58Z

AlanHK: /* Noteworthy Dialogue */ pretext is an excuse, not introduction

{{Episode Data
| title= Crossroads, Part II
| image= 3x20-CrossroadsPartII-BaltarSixHera.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 20
| guests=
| writer= [[Mark Verheiden]]
| story=
| director= [[Michael Rymer]]
| production= 319
| rating=1.2
| US airdate= 2007-03-25
| CAN airdate=2007-03-25
| UK airdate= {{Crossroads, Part II PAL broadcast date}}
| dvd=
| podcast=y
| extra= '''Season Finale - 50 Minute Episode'''
| prev= [[Crossroads, Part I]]
| next= [[He That Believeth In Me]]
| amazon=Y
| amazon SD= B000V1ZQH0
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289190852%2526id%253D200852806%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289190852%2526id%253D200852806%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
}}

== Overview ==
:''As [[Felix Gaeta]] testifies against [[Gaius Baltar]] about the execution list that the accused signed on [[New Caprica]], [[Laura Roslin]] finds a disturbing link between her dreams and the [[Opera House]] on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]]. [[Lee Adama]] turns around the trial with an unusual move, and [[Final Five|several people]] make a disturbing discovery about themselves.''

== Summary ==

===Teaser===
*[[Admiral Adama]] shaves, cutting himself when the lights flicker.
*[[Laura Roslin]] calls, seeking a bit of humorous motivation to get out of bed and face the [[Crossroads, Part I|trial]] again, which she does not relish.
*After one feeble attempt, Adama manages "get your fat, lazy ass out of that rack, Roslin!" which makes Roslin laugh and give a heartfelt thank you. Adama tells her, "Don't let 'em see you sweat, Laura."
*[[Samuel Anders]] and [[Tory Foster]] are sexually engaged when she hears a [[The Music|strange music]]. When she notes it to Anders, he's surprised at the revelation, having heard it before himself.
*[[Diana Seelix]] knocks on the [[duty locker]] door and Anders opens it. An uncomfortable silence between Seelix, Anders and Foster begins.
*[[Galen Tyrol]] is half-asleep, humming the music. He leaves his bed and quarters and goes to a section of ventilation to hear the music elsewhere on ''[[Galactica]]''.
*[[Lee Adama]] recommends pursuing a mistrial for [[Gaius Baltar]], using his grandfather's written advice, believing that their successes are actually worsening the issue. Baltar is incensed at the suggestion, believing that Adama wants to leave the case.
*[[Romo Lampkin]], Baltar's attorney, is inclined to agree with Adama, but young Adama's comment about his father's words about the "treacherous" Baltar leaves him to ponder.
*Baltar doesn't want to repeat the terror he's experienced in the time before the trial.
*[[Racetrack]] is training Seelix, Anders, and other [[Raptor]] [[nugget]]s, when Anders overhears Chief Tyrol humming. Together, they realize that the melody feels like something out of childhood, and they hear only a part of the melody.
*Before they can analyze further, Racetrack yells for Anders to return to the group.

===Act 1===
*Roslin takes [[Doloxan]] treatment in [[sickbay]]. As she lies down and dreams, she experiences the same dream as [[Sharon Agathon]], also in sickbay with [[Hera Agathon|her daughter]], and both scream simultaneously. The two ask to talk privately.
*Later, Roslin and Sharon Agathon meet with [[Caprica-Six]], who has also experienced the dreams. When asked why Six is trying to reach Hera, she says that she felt she had to protect her "with (my) life."
*[[Saul Tigh]] tells Admiral Adama about the music. The admiral tells Tigh that he will look into it later as he leaves for court.
*The trial resumes. Lt. [[Felix Gaeta]] is on the stand. The [[Precipice|execution order]] from [[New Caprica]] is admitted as evidence by [[Cassidy]], the prosecutor.
*Gaeta lies, as viewers are shown the actual events where Baltar is forced to sign at gunpoint, where Gaeta says that Baltar did not resist.
*Lampkin chooses not to cross-examine, to Baltar's great horror. The prosecution rests.

===Act 2===
*After a recess, the defense begins its case.
*Lampkin motions for a mistrial, as Baltar objects, due to prejudicial comments by Admiral Adama four days before. He asks for Mr. Lee Adama to take the stand.
*The prosecuting attorney strongly objects, but after Lampkin warns of much case law (he can think of seven examples off the top of his head) that permits such a procedure, the tribunal allows Mr. Adama to testify.
*Mr. Adama refuses to confirm his father's comments. As Lampkin tries to intimidate Mr. Adama, he restates, asking him if Baltar deserves a fair trial.
*Mr. Adama states that he does. When asked why, he states his belief that Baltar is not guilty. The prosecutor tries to get Mr. Adama off the stand at this point, but Admiral Adama asks for the questioning to continue.
*Pressed for more clarification, Mr. Adama states that Baltar did not commit treason. He asks the tribunal what anyone else would do in that situation. He notes that all other conspirators and resistance fighters were pardoned, as were many, many other mistakes of the past, from [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I|Roslin]], to [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|Admiral Adama]], and himself in the destruction of the ''[[Olympic Carrier]]'' and running from [[New Caprica]], recommending never to return with [[Pegasus (RDM)|his battlestar]].
*Mr. Adama believes that new laws are needed because they are less of a civilization now and more of a gang. He states that, unlike everyone else, Baltar is being prosecuted because of his arrogance and other considerable character flaws and is not being accorded the same forgiveness as others.
*Adama believes that the trial is built on emotions and shame from the events of New Caprica, and the shame of those that ran away. Mr. Adama looks to his father as he speaks.
*He believes that Baltar is a scapegoat for all the guilt of the people.
*The prosecuting attorney does not cross-examine, and the defense rests.
*The tribunal steps out to deliberate as Roslin steps down to congratulate Cassidy for her work.

===Act 3===
*Baltar is acquitted, 3 votes to 2 against. Yelling turns into a riot in the gallery as [[Colonial Marine Corps|Marines]] try to get Baltar to safety while the [[Fleet News Service|press]] tries to interview many players.
*Baltar is happily discussing the victory but makes a mistake in insulting Admiral Adama. Lee Adama warns him, "Don't push it, doctor."
*When Baltar asks Lampkin to aid him in a book tour and other profitable matters, Lampkin tells him that his association with Baltar is over.
*Baltar suddenly realizes that, despite his apparent freedom, he is a man without a country, without work, friends, or even quarters.
*Lampkin and Mr. Adama say their goodbyes. Lee Adama, on seeing Lampkin walking away without his cane, realizes that he had used the cane as yet another psychological tactic.
*Gaius Baltar tries to be inconspicuous as he moves files elsewhere, but all eyes are on him.
*Roslin and Admiral Adama speak in [[CIC]]. She is incensed at the verdict. Adama reminds Roslin that "not guilty" does not mean "innocent."
*Roslin, who had assumed that Adama cast a guilty vote, realizes [to her shock and anger], that the admiral voted not guilty. She questions him on that, and he confirms that indeed voted to acquit Baltar because the prosecution failed to make its case.
*Adama tells Roslin that no one is asking anyone to forgive or forget, but they must look to the future.
*Adama orders the last jump to the [[Ionian nebula]]. The jump is successful, and Adama orders a [[DRADIS]] scan when Roslin becomes immediately dazed and stunned.
*As Admiral Adama looks to Roslin to check on her health, main power on every ship of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] fails, leaving each one, including ''Galactica'', drifting dangerously close to each other.

===Act 4===
*Pilots scramble with [[flashlight]]s to their stations while CIC tries to get to auxiliary power, but battery power is the best they can muster.
*The scene shifts to a dream in the [[Opera House]] again, with Gaius Baltar holding Hera and Caprica-Six next to him. Above them, the glowing images of the [[Final Five]] appear. Caprica-Six awakens from the dream.
*Baltar tries to take advantage of the darkness and chaos when [[Baltar's Angels|three women]] confront him. Frightened, Baltar is told by the women that they will take him to safety.
*The mysterious music gets louder, and Tigh, Galen Tyrol, Tory Foster and Anders begin quoting lyrics from an [[The Music|increasingly coherent melody]].
*As viewers watch, the music becomes louder and more dynamic. Each of the four are drawn to the gym on ''Galactica'', where they discover each other. Each are stunned and shocked.
*Tyrol believes the impossible; that all of them are [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]. Each of them begin to hum the music, together, coherently, in full. Tigh angrily stops them and closes the hatches while they talk.
*Tigh states his time in service, and his history, trying to believe that none of it was in vain. Anders objects as well.
*As power is restored, DRADIS picks up a large Cylon fleet coming their way. [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] manage to scramble. [[Helo]], as acting XO, notes the mass power outage will mean that it will take at least 20 minutes for the [[FTL]] jump drives on the civilian ships to be ready. The admiral doesn't believe they have the time.
*In the closed room, Tigh states that, despite what they believe about themselves, that he is going to do his job as a Colonial officer, and heads to CIC. Tory follows Tigh to CIC, while Tyrol and Anders head to the hangar deck.
*The [[hangar deck]] is abuzz with activity as Chief Tyrol arrives, shouting out orders to get a Viper into the launch tube.
*Lee Adama returns to his quarters and grabs his flight suit deciding that he needs to be in the cockpit, protecting the Fleet.
*Admiral Adama orders the preparation of the battlestar's nuclear weapons. Tigh reports on station, keeping his face stony, as does Tory Foster, offering any help to President Roslin.
*The Vipers launch. [[Helo]] is confused about the pilot of Viper 3, which turns out to be Apollo.
*Apollo picks up a target on his [[Viper Mark VII|Viper's]] DRADIS, and tracks it down. As he looks around, an image of a [[Viper Mark II]] keeps appearing and disappearing in the clouds and on DRADIS. The image buzzes overhead and alarms the pilot momentarily.
*Pulling alongside in her undamaged Viper, [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] greets Apollo. She tells him not to "freak out," that it really is her.
[[Image:Earth (RDM).jpg|250px|thumb|right|Earth, in the closing seconds.]]
*The [[Maelstrom|believed-dead]] pilot tells Apollo that she has been to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], and that she can guide the Fleet there.
*The music's mood and intensity changes from a [[w:sitar|sitar]] blend into an extremely loud rock-fusion version, with lyrics.
*As the music continues to play, the episode concludes as the shot pulls swiftly and violently away from Apollo and Starbuck's Viper, past the Colonial fleet, the Cylon fleet and several planets to show an arm of the galaxy.
*The shot suddenly zooms forward and into roughly the same spot in the galaxy to the familiar blue-green planet of Earth, showing what is known to viewers as the North American continent.

== Notes ==
* Four of the "[[Final Five]]" are revealed to be [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Samuel Anders]], [[Saul Tigh]], and [[Tory Foster]].
* Lee Adama points out a string of incidents throughout the series that would have resulted in serious consequences under normal circumstances, but where the persons involved weren't punished: his destruction of the ''Olympic Carrier'' ([[33]]), William Adama's coup against Roslin, Lee putting a weapon to Colonel Tigh's head and supporting a mutiny ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]), Helo and Chief Tyrol killing Lt. [[Thorne]] ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]), Tigh's use of suicide bombers on New Caprica ([[Occupation]]), and people supporting the Cylons on New Caprica ([[Collaborators]]).
* Bob Dylan stated his song "[[w:All Along The Watchtower|All Along the Watchtower]]" is better understood when viewed in reverse order. This song has been covered by numerous artists with Jimi Hendrix recording the definitive version. The song's [http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/watchtower.html lyrics] can be interpreted as holding many parallels to the situation that Tigh, Anders, Tyrol, and Foster find themselves in.
* The [[Viper Mark II|Viper Mk. II]] piloted by [[Kara Thrace]] does not have a nameplate and appears to be brand new, unlike ''Galactica's'' battle-worn Mk. IIs.
* The final scene of the episode depicts Earth, notably the North American continent, definitively indicating Earth's existence.
* Originally, Baltar's defense was planned to hinge completely on an incident with the [[Sagittaron]]s during the occupation of New Caprica. Many Sagittarons secluded themselves in their own settlement that was raided by the other humans who killed all Sagittarons there. Baltar was accused of ordering or allowing it, but then it turned out that he tried to prevent it. To this end, the Sagittarons were to be developed over several episodes, but this idea was scrapped because it didn't work out; with episodes like "[[Dirty Hands]]" rewritten and scenes in other episodes cut. Remnants of this plot can still be seen in "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]" and "[[The Woman King]]" ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three]]).

== Analysis ==

* With the revelation that [[Galen Tyrol]] is a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]], the second known Human-Cylon hybrid known to exist is in the form of [[Nicholas Tyrol]]. His birth reinforces the Cylon belief that love is a necessary component to successful procreation. This would make one male and one female hybrid born to date. There may be significant biological differences between the two hybrids; one was carried to term by a human while the other was carried to term by a Cylon. This assumes Galen really is the father; there is strong evidence but no definitive proof of that.
* The reason for Tyrol's discovery of the [[Temple of Five]] on the [[algae planet]] is better explained here, however it is clearly apparent that his conscious mind is unable to rationalize the reason he discovers it.
* It is also reaffirmed that none of the original seven are aware of the Final Five. As demonstrated by [[Sharon Valerii]]'s lack of knowledge about Galen Tyrol's true nature during her relationship with him in [[Season 1 (2004-05)|Season 1]] and the torture of Saul Tigh on New Caprica by the Cylons. In "[[Rapture]]", [[Number Three]] learns the identity of at least one of the final five and is heard to apologize; in retrospect it's possible she was apologizing to Tigh for his torture.
* Intrepid viewers are quick to note that Tigh and Tyrol demonstrate no ill effects to the radiation from [[Ragnar]] in the [[Miniseries]]. However, [[Sharon Valerii]] was also exposed to Ragnar's radiation, and suffered no ill effects. It should also be noted that ''Galactica'' herself has radiation shielding, which is designed to protect her crew from hard nuclear-class radiation, as demonstrated in the Miniseries after the nuclear warhead's impact. As [[Ragnar Anchorage]] likely did not have this type of shielding, due to its nature as an ammunition reserve for the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]], it is extremely likely that ''Galactica'' was able to diminish the effects of the radiation, thus either delaying symptoms or the radiation received is too minuscule to invoke sickness. As well, it was established in the Miniseries that the radiation storm takes time to work on Cylon physiology. [[Leoben Conoy]] had already been on Ragnar for several hours before the fleet arrived. [[Aaron Doral]] did not show signs of sickness until some time after being abandoned on the station.
* Tyrol's true nature also calls to mind how he was able to recover more quickly from being blown out the airlock in "[[A Day in the Life]]" than Cally; while Galen got through it with little more than aches and pains, Cally required extensive treatment and was still showing the effects in the following episode.
* Saul Tigh has been known to physically exist for roughly 30 years as of this episode. While Tigh claims to have fought in the first Cylon War, aside from likely military documentation about his service in the war, there are no supporting non-Cylon witnesses to support his claim. Similarly, Anders was a well-known athlete on Caprica for an unstated number of years before the attacks. Both predate the two-year marker previously indicated by two known infiltrators, [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Sharon Valerii]]. (This assumes, of course, that Tigh, Anders, Foster and Tyrol did not in fact simply take on the identities of the original human; as noted elsewhere, it is not yet known if the "Final Five" play by the same rules as the "Significant Seven").
* A bit of potential, if not ironic, foreshadowing is seen regarding Tyrol being a Cylon in [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]]'s "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]". In that episode, upon returning to ''Galactica'' from [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], Galen Tyrol is suspected to be a Cylon agent by none other than Colonel Tigh.
* As described by Tyrol when the four meet, the music and the Fleet's arrival to the nebula set off a switch within the minds of the four Cylons. However, unlike Boomer, their Cylon natures do not come with a different set of memories or personality.
* The four new Cylons all hold very important or potentially important roles within the Fleet. Tigh is the right hand man for Adama. Foster is the right hand woman for Roslin. Tyrol is the chief in charge of all military maintenance and repairs on the Vipers and Raptors, and is also head of the Colonial labor union. Anders is a new pilot amongst the soldiers of the Fleet and previously a key figure in the resistance movements on both Caprica and New Caprica.
* It's also notable that all four of the "final five" have, at one point or another, been in situations where they might not have survived to this point (and it is not yet known whether there are "many copies" of them). Tigh, of course, has been in harm's way many times, most recently on [[New Caprica]] and has displayed self-destructive behavior throughout the series; Tory could have been killed when the Raptor collided with ''[[Colonial One]]'' in "[[Dirty Hands]]"; Anders could have been killed leading the Resistance on both the original [[Caprica]] and New Caprica; and most recenly Tyrol could have died in the airlock incident in "[[A Day in the Life]]".
* According to Lampkin, [[Joseph Adama]] was a brilliant defense attorney, but not an honest man. This may allude to one of the reasons why Lampkin despised Joseph Adama, but explains Lampkin's tactics as he also respected Joseph as a mentor.
* Lee Adama finally realizes the full extent of how he was manipulated once he sees Lampkin walk off on his own with no cane. Lampkin's ruse was successful in putting a wedge between the Adamas to allow Baltar to be pronounced not guilty.
* Another tendency for the younger Adama is that when faced with the option of completely severing and opposing his father, he will relent and attempt to return to his father's good graces. This has been seen when Lee Adama was given the chance to denounce his father to the Fleet during the military coup, but eventually told Zarek that he couldn't.
* Ironically, it was Roslin who originally wanted Lee Adama to lead a panel to determine who is fit to be on the tribunal. Her reasons being that she believed Lee Adama has a sense of right and wrong that others don't have at that time. Her belief about Lee comes back to haunt her as he rightly points out that her broad forgiveness policy for all within the Fleet after the second Exodus should be applied to Baltar as well. Her fear and knowledge of Baltar's involvement with the genocide of the Colonies has clouded her judgment to extend her original act of grace to Baltar.
* Lampkin apparently was telling the truth that all he had wanted was to have the glory of being the attorney for the most hated man of the Fleet. Once his job is accomplished, he cleans his hands of Baltar, and makes it clear that besides the trial, he does not want to be associated with Baltar.
* Starbuck's last words in the episode allude back to "[[Maelstrom]]" as she is taking on the role of the [[Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn|Aurora]] idol that she gave to Adama before her "death." She claims that, like the idol placed on the model ship, she will be leading the way to Earth.
* Baltar's determined investigation into whether he was one of the Final Five was rooted in a desperation of figuring out who he was. For Baltar, if he were a Cylon, then he never was a traitor to his people and his self-identity would be cemented forever. However, for the four newly discovered Cylons, the revelation of their underlying natures leave them confused and their self-identity fundamentally shaken. While Baltar would have embraced this revelation with joy, the four new Cylons tremble with horror.
* The loss of Tigh's eye on [[New Caprica]] now has a kind of dark humor to it, as the [[Cylon Centurion|Centurions]] on both the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original]] and [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined]] Series are characterized by having only a single eye.
* Tigh states that if he dies today, he will be remembered as a human officer of the Fleet and a patriot. But if death for the Final Five is similar to that of the other humanoid Cylon models, if he dies he will be downloaded into a new body, surrounded by Cylons intending to manipulate him to their side or box his consciousness, and should he ever come in contact with those who knew him as a human they would instantly regard him as a Cylon and therefore an enemy.
* If the Final Five are capable of resurrecting and if Kara Thrace is the last of them, this could provide an explanation for how she comes to the Ionian nebula. Her Viper could have been provided in the same way as the Raptor Baltar uses to get to the disabled basestar in "[[Torn]]".
*Earth is shown in its current shape, long after the tectonic drift that split the [[w:Pangaea|Pangaea]] super-continent millions of years earlier in the planet's history. Also, due to the orbital altitude of the vantage point and that all visible landmasses are in sunlight, no trace of a highly advanced technological civilization can be detected by visual means even if it existed.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

==== General ====

* Are viewers supposed to interpret the music as the actual Dylan song, and therefore a connection to Earth? ([[#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What is the importance of the [[Opera House]]? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner?|Partial answer]])
* How far is the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] away from the solar system? ([[The Ties That Bind#Analysis|Possible answer]])
* Are the pursuing Cylons affected by the phenomenon which caused the simultaneous loss and subsequent simultaneous restoration of power throughout the fleet after jumping to the Ionian nebula? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Answer]])
* Does Lee Adama truly see Thrace in a Viper or has she become an apparition, similar in nature to Baltar's internal Six? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Answer]])
* What is the current state of [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Revelations|Answer #1]], [[Daybreak, Part II|#2]])
* Is there any significance to Roslin's disorientation after the jump? ([[The Hub|Possible Answer]])
* How were Kara Thrace and her [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]], unharmed and without any explicable means, able to survive the events of "[[Maelstrom]]" and transport from the "interior" of a gas planet to Earth and then to the Ionian nebula within a relatively short span of time? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Possible answer]])
* How much does Thrace remember about [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]? ([[Six of One|Answer]])

==== Characters ====

* Who are the women who spirit [[Gaius Baltar]] to safety and what are their plans? ([[Cult of Baltar|Answer]])
* As [[William Adama]] is the deciding vote for Baltar's 'not guilty' verdict, how will this act (and [[Lee Adama]]'s testimony) affect their relationship with each other? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Answer]], [[Sine Qua Non|Answer #2]])
* What does [[Kara Thrace]] know that makes her assure [[Lee Adama]] "It's gonna be OK" when a Cylon fleet is closing fast? ([[The Destiny|Answer]])
* Will Roslin's physical appearance change drastically because of her cancer treatments? ([[Six of One|Answer #1]], [[Escape Velocity|#2]], [[Faith|#3]])
* How will Thrace's "resurrection" from the dead be viewed by the Colonials? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Answer]])
* How are [[Laura Roslin]], Hera, [[Sharon Agathon]], and [[Caprica-Six]] spiritually connected, and what is the nature of said connection? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* Was Baltar also experiencing the visions of the [[Opera House]], or was that Caprica-Six's internal Baltar? ([[Guess What's Coming to Dinner|Answer]])

==== Cylons & The Final Five ====

* Did the Cylons develop humanoid models before the first [[Cylon War]]? ([[Razor|Answer #1]], [[No Exit|#2]])
* Assuming they choose to reveal their true natures, how will those close to the four revealed Cylons react when they learn the truth about their friends and loved ones? ([[The Ties That Bind|Answer #1]], [[Revelations|#2]]) Can they reveal their natures? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Possible Answer]], [[Revelations|Answer]])
* With the revelation that they are Cylons, will their allegiances to the Colonials change or will they continue to identify themselves as humans? ([[He That Believeth In Me|Answer #1]], [[Revelations|#2]])
* Will Colonel Tigh's hatred of the Cylons persist in light of his discovery of his Cylon nature? ([[Escape Velocity|Possible answer #1]], [[Sine Qua Non|#2]])
* Will Cally's hatred of the Cylons persist if she discovers that her husband is a Cylon and that [[Nicholas Tyrol|her son]] is a human-Cylon hybrid? ([[The Ties That Bind|Answer #1]], [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|#2]])
* Are any of their histories, such as Tigh's 40 years of service and Tyrol's memories of his parents, true? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Why did Tyrol and Tigh show no ill effects during their time in the Ragnar Anchorage? ([[#Analysis|Possible reason]])
* If any of the Final Five were to die, would they be resurrected in a Cylon Resurrection Ship? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Will the six other active Cylon models discover the identities of the Final Five? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* Do the Final Five also have the general inability to conceive children? ([[Sine Qua Non|Answer]])
* Who is the last Cylon and why is he or she absent? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer]])
* Is [[Saul Tigh]] the oldest [[humanoid Cylon]] model? ([[No Exit|Partial answer]])
* Did other copies of the newly-revealed Cylons exist in the Colonies? Do other copies exist anywhere else in the universe, or are the ones aboard ''Galactica'' the only versions? ([[No Exit|Possible answer]])
* Which of the Final Five Cylons did [[Number Three]] ask for forgiveness from in the [[Temple of Five]]? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion#Official Statements|Answer]])
* Do the Final Five have the same ability to resurrect as the Significant Seven? If so, how? If not, why? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Answer #1]], [[No Exit|#2]])
* Why does [[Caprica-Six]] feel the need to protect [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] with her life? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* Do the Final Five have the same physiology as the other seven, such as their innate immunology, the ability to interface with computer equipment via [[Cylon data port|optical link]] or [[data-font]]? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===

==== General ====

* Why does the Fleet jump into the nebula when it is obvious that the Cylons were following them, had probably inferred their trajectory, and could well set up a trap?
* What phenomenon causes the simultaneous power loss and equally simultaneous power restoration throughout the Fleet after jumping to the [[Ionian nebula]]?

==== Characters ====

* What convinces Laura Roslin to take the [[Doloxan]] treatments she refused earlier?

==== Cylons & The Final Five ====

* Given the small number of survivors from the Colonies, were the members of the Final Five preprogrammed in order to facilitate their escape with the Fleet?

== Official Statements ==

===Notes from the podcast===

*Anders was originally supposed to take over Thrace's bunkbed, locker, and possessions. This was to highlight the strong pull that Anders feels towards her, even after her death. This was also meant to indirectly cause the audience to wonder what the connection between Thrace and Anders is, now that it is revealed that he is a Cylon.
*After Jamie Bamber (Apollo) delivered his character's courtroom speech for the first take, the entire cast (who were sitting in the stands) and crew gave him a standing ovation.
*Gaeta's perjury was originally discovered in the initial drafts of the show, though it was never filmed. Lampkin was able to find evidence that at the time Baltar signed the death warrant, Gaeta was away doing a dead drop for the Resistance.
*When the power in the Fleet goes down, Baltar was originally filmed being chased down by people from the courtroom who intended to murder him with knives. Due to time constraints, the chase part was cut out and only the encounter of his women followers who save him remains in the final version.
*There was another version of how Apollo encounters Starbuck in the final scene. When Apollo enters his quarters to grab his flight suit, as he turns around he was supposed to see Starbuck standing in front of him as she says "Hi, Lee." Moore changed his mind because he felt that it would imply that it was a supernatural event. The scene is included as [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 3 (RDM)|deleted scene]] on the Region 1 DVDs.
*During the final weeks of production for this episode, fake pages and false information was purposely leaked out to maintain the secrecy of the final scenes of the Final Four and Starbuck's reappearance. This practice will probably continue as the series draws closer to its conclusion.
*The Final Five Cylons, as stated by Moore, are essentially different from the Significant Seven Cylons. Thus, all the rules and observations made about the Significant Seven cannot necessarily be applied to the Final Five.
*When the cast and crew discovered that Starbuck was to be killed in "Maelstrom", the atmosphere on the set reached a state of near mutiny. Eventually Moore and Eick had to reveal the secret of Starbuck's return to the cast and key crew members to calm people down.
*The TV network was willing to pay the royalties of the Hendrix version of "All Along the Watchtower", but Ron Moore wanted the song to be a cover to prove that there was a connection between the BSG universe and Earth's.
*Lines from "All Along the Watchtower" were purposely sprinkled throughout the dialog before the final revelation of the Final Four.

=== Other information ===

* ''[[Jamie Bamber]] discusses the finale:''
: It is a different finale in the sense that the previous ones have been about fragmenting the characters and spreading them all over different parts of space, and this one, everyone is really on board ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. Every major character is on ''Galactica'', and the stuff going on down on ''Galactica'' is where the drama is.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting=%7BAC4FC1D4-115F-457C-8E4A-01A539D77D39%7D|title=''Galactica'''s Jamie Bamber Visits a Heavenly ''Ghost''|date=2007-02-23|accessdate=2007-02-23|last=Cohn|first=Angel|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''[[Edward James Olmos]] discusses the finale:''
: Yeah, it's pretty intense. You start to realize that you really don't know very much about everybody. I'm very happy, though, about the way that Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] handles his realization [that he's [[Final Five|a Cylon]]]. I think he would rather kill himself than do anything against a human. He doesn't realize that he has no choice. Once you're a Cylon, you're a Cylon, period. [Laughs] Except that [[Sharon Agathon|Boomer's character]] has been able to cross over.<ref name="ew ejo">{{cite_web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20015932_2,00.html|title=Four-ward, Cylons: EDWARD JAMES OLMOS|date=|accessdate=31 May 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''Olmos discusses [[Kara Thrace]]'s reappearance:''
: Well, for me, for [[William Adama|[Bill] Adama]], [[Kara Thrace|she]]'s [[Maelstrom|gone]]. For Adama, it's over. For us looking at the [show] and how it's unfolding, there's still a possibility [Starbuck is alive], but for Adama there's no possibility. I haven't seen her; they don't even explain what [[Lee Adama|[Apollo]]] is seeing. Just like [[Virtual Six|Number Six]] materializes to [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]], we don't know what that is. What is she? Is she [Apollo's] Number Six? Is she only going to be seen by him?<ref name="ew ejo"/>
* ''[[Rekha Sharma]] discusses how she found out about her character, [[Tory Foster]], being a [[Final Five|Cylon]]:''
:Actually, I first found out because of [[Edward James Olmos|Eddie [James Olmos]]]. He kept asking me if I had read the new scripts and he kept smiling and laughing and telling me to "get ready" - It drove me nuts, so I went ahead and read some early outlines - they didn't spell it out, but it sure seemed like I was going to be a Cylon. I got so excited, and then I had to calm myself down, because you know they can change anything at any moment. It wasn't until we were actually shooting the season finale that I got the official word from [[Michael Rymer]].<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/rekha_sharma_01.htm|title=Rekha Sharma interview by The Scifi World|date=May 16, 2007|accessdate=26 May 2007|last=Nuytens|first=Gilles|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''[[Michael Rymer]] discusses the [[Final Five]]:''
: There are always a number of things that I rail against, usually to little effect. One was making [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] a [[humanoid Cylon|[C]ylon]] - as brilliant as it is, we now have a Cylon who is either a clone, or we have a Cylon who has aged like a normal person. I have no idea how [[Ronald Moore|Ron [Moore]]] deals with that - I'm sure I'll be blown away as usual. The others make sense to me because they don't have history on Caprica. [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]]'s already [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|had fantasies]] of being a Cylon. He's also imagined killing himself which echoes [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon]]'s [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I|attempted suicide]] in [[Season 1 (2004-05)|Season 1]]. <ref name="rymer">{{cite_web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/michael_rymer_01.htm|title=Michael Rymer interview at The Scifi World|date=5 May 2007|accessdate=29 May 2007|last=Nuytens|first=Gilles|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''Rymer discusses the scene where the four of the Final Five come together:''
: Shooting the Cylon material was great fun. The audience guesses pretty quickly what's going on, but we played it very simply - what would you do if you kept hearing [[The Music|this song]] no one else could hear? For me its not the reveal to the audience, its when the characters reveal it to themselves in the gym - I love that scene. [[David Weddle|David [Weddle]]] and [[Bradley Thompson|Bradley [Thompson]]]<ref>This may be an error on Rymer's part, as [[Mark Verheiden]] is credited for writing the episode, although they may have had some input on this scene.</ref> didn't short-change anything, particularly in that scene - so often, the time constraints make it hard to pull off "big ideas". I think this time we got it right.<ref name="rymer"/>
* ''Rymer discusses his like for the two parter:''
: I think my favorite show(s) were the last two: Crossroads, Part 1 and 2. I really enjoyed the writing: the courtroom scenes, the four cylons, the shared visions: I thought it was everything we do well, none of the fat. For me, its about performance, so I have more fun working with actors letting them try stuff and play - I've had a good day when something exciting happened - something beyond my expectations. That's when I get to be an audience member, and be surprised by something brilliant and talented one of the actors has found. The least fun is the action stuff because it takes a lot of time and you have to be careful - and its hard for us because we don't really have the resources to make these things everything they could be.<ref name="rymer"/>
* ''[[Ronald D. Moore]] discusses cast member's initial reactions to the Final Five revelations:''
: [[Michael Hogan|Michael [Hogan]]] went [nonchalantly] ''Wow. Okay. Very shocking. Shocking stuff.'' [Chuckles] He talked about it a little bit, wanted to understand it, but he liked it from the get-go and was very, very supportive of it. They all were pretty intrigued by it. I think [[Aaron Douglas|Aaron [Douglas]], who plays Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]] was the most hesitant. ''Are you sure? I want to make sure we're not losing something.'' I had to talk with Aaron a little bit longer than the others.
: [...]
: His chief objection — no pun intended — was that he's the common man in a lot of ways, the blue-collar guy, the salt-of-the-Earth character. And he was concerned that we would turn him into a master villain or something. I said, ''No, no, no, you are still going to be Tyrol.'' He doesn't even know why he's a Cylon, or what it means. It's a process of discovery for him, and trying to figure out what it means for him as a character. As it is for all four of them.<ref name="ew rdm">{{cite_web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20015932_2,00.html|title=Four-ward, Cylons: RONALD D MOORE|date=|accessdate=31 May 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''Moore discusses using "All Along the Watchtower" in the episode:''
: I had always had this idea of using [[The Music|that particular song]] in the show as a marker that there were other things going on here. There was this idea developed early in the series, that one of the [[Sacred Scrolls|Colonial scriptures]] says, ''All of this has happened before and all of it will happen again,'' that certain elements and situations and even people repeat in a cycle of destruction and rebirth and exodus and chase, etc. One of the ideas I wanted to play was, okay, if you found a song that we, the audience, recognize, you realize that you have a connection to this world too, and suddenly other pieces start to fit. Well, why ''do'' they wear suits and ties? Why do they look so much like us? What is the connection between them and us? It would put in stark relief the idea that there is a connection between the people on ''Gala[c]tica'' and our experience on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].<ref name="ew rdm"/>
* ''Moore discusses his thoughts on the fan reaction to the revelation of the Final Five:''
: I think it was probably what we anticipated. I sort of took as a guidepost the way people reacted to [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|the season two finale]]. When we made the jump ahead, the year ahead jump and then put them all down on [[New Caprica|the planet]], people were ecstatic and people were outraged. There wasn't a lot of middle ground. I kind of felt like, "Well, that's what they're going to do when we reveal the Cylons." And that's pretty much what happened.<ref name="crave">{{cite_web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/filmtv/articles/04648062/battlestar_galactica_ronald_moore_talks_about_earth.html|title=Battlestar Galactica: Ronald Moore talks about Earth|date=13 June 2007|accessdate=15 June 2007|last=Topel|first=Fred|format=|language=}}</ref>
* Bear McCreary discusses the use of the [[w:Bob Dylan|Bob Dylan]] song:
: ''I learned that the idea was not that Bob Dylan necessarily exists in the characters' universe, but that an artist on one of the colonies may have recorded a song with the exact same melody and lyrics. Perhaps this unknown performer and Dylan pulled inspiration from a common, ethereal source.''<ref>Bear McCreary's blog, {{cite_web|url=http://www.bearmccreary.com/html/blog/blogmain.htm|title="Crossroads, Pt. II"|date=2007-03-25|accessdate=2007-03-27}}</ref>

* ''[[Mark Sheppard]] discusses [[Gaius Baltar]]'s trial and the question of "being [[Lee Adama|Apollo]]'s conscience":''
: '''Mark Sheppard:''' Nah, I’m not Apollo’s conscience. I don’t think I have anything to do with Apollo’s conscience. No… but I like the fact that people have different opinions about where [[Romo Lampkin|Romo [Lampkin]]] is, and I think it’s kind of a brilliant thing about him is that – all you gotta remember is that his rules are different than anybody else’s. And I think the easiest way to remember it is – it’s the result that counts. It’s not the methodology by which one achieves the result. And if you look at Lee and Admiral [[William Adama|[William] Adama]] and the President [[Laura Roslin|[Laura Roslin]]] – it’s all about the methodology. It’s agonizing about whether they’re doing the right thing while they’re doing it. And with Romo it’s like – fuck it, just do it. What you need to do is achieve justice.

: I mean, that’s the point. Is justice achieved at the end of “Crossroads, Part 2”? I think so. I think that’s the point. I think there should be no other outcome to the trial. And I think that is Romo’s job – by any means necessary.

: You know, I think [[Jamie Bamber|Jamie [Bamber]]] put it best in that lovely piece of writing and a lovely piece of acting with that section – I don’t know where the writing ends and the acting begins in that speech he has, but there’s a lovely piece where he says basically we’re a gang. Jamie was always talking about -- these are rules for 51 billion people. This is a system for 51 billion people. This isn’t the system for the 40,000 people that are left. It’s not. It’s a completely different thing. You can’t run this type of system with a very quickly disintegrating human race. It needs to be looked at in a different way. The pomp and circumstance are there, and they’re all very caught up in the methodology.

: And that’s the point. That’s why Romo wins. They’re all caught up in the romanticism of the trial. And it’s quite right. They want to throw [Baltar] out of the airlock so they can move on. That’s the point. And he didn’t do it. He didn’t do what they accused him of doing. He did do an awful lot of things, I mean, we know as viewers of the show – forget about what Romo knows. That’s a separate issue as well. But as viewers of the show, we know that he did something that we would all be guilty if we did it. …isn’t it?<ref name="mark-buddytv">{{cite_web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/battlestar-galactica/exclusive-interview-mark-shepp-7849.aspx|title=Buddytv.com Exclusive Interview: Mark Sheppard, from 'Battlestar Galactica'|date=3 July 2007|accessdate=13 August 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>

* ''Jamie Bamber on his monologue in the courtroom:''
: [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] always has these great one-liners, so when I got six pages and six minutes of monologue on the courtroom stand I thought, well that's my version of a one-liner. It was definitely that tricky, tricky sort of scene of trying to work out what Lee's doing in that courtroom, and why he's there and why he's defending this man and it's sort of...

:My character is more interesting when you put him in corners that he doesn't expect to find himself in...and to see how he justifies it and how he maintains his path through that...that was a real challenge. We had to work on just the content of what that was about. I love that. I love working with Michael [Rymer], that was fantastic.<ref name="acedmag">{{cite_web|url=http://acedmagazine.com/content/view/677/1/|title=ACED Magazine: Battlestar Galactica: Cast Interviews|date=24 November 2007|accessdate=25 November 2007|last=Bensoussan|first=Jenna|format=|language=}}</ref>

*Ron Moore has confirmed in [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07085/770732-352.stm this] interview that Tyrol, Tigh, Tory, and Anders are indeed Cylons and members of the Final Five. When asked whether Starbuck was real or a hallucination, he did not provide a conclusive answer. Also in that interview he states that Tigh "fought in two wars."
*In [http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2270103&st=0 20 Answers] Ron Moore states that the issues regarding Tigh's service in the first Cylon War has a complex rationale already built out from "a lot of time and effort."
*In an interview with [http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/1556508/20070405/story.jhtml VH1], Ron Moore confirmed Starbuck isn't a hallucination like Head Six or Head Baltar.
* In an interview with [http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=4d1c0568-6fee-467a-8d81-1d360d808ac3 E! online] on March 26th, Ron Moore confirmed that Katee Sackhoff will be back for Season Four.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
* {{audio|320 lazy ass out of that rack.mp3|''Laura Roslin and William Adama talk on the phone, while Adama is shaving:''}}
: '''Laura Roslin:''' Yell at me. I don't want to get out of bed.
: '''William Adama:''' Well, you called the wrong number, I was just thinking of going back to bed.
: '''Roslin:''' You feelin' OK?
: '''Adama:''' ... says the cancer patient. (Roslin chuckles) Yeah, I'm fine. I just cut myself. How're you doing?
: '''Roslin:''' I don't want to face them. I don't want to face any of them. I just want to stay in bed all day and sleep.
: '''Adama:''' (about the cut) I think I stopped the bleeding. If you still need to be yelled at, I think I can give you some volume.
: '''Roslin:''' Good. All right, give it your best shot.
: '''Adama:''' Get out of that bed!
: '''Roslin:''' That's not your best shot.
: '''Adama:''' '''''Get your fat, lazy ass out of that rack, Roslin.'''''
: '''Roslin:''' (giggly) Yes sir. OK sir. Anything you say sir. (beat) Thank you.
: '''Adama:''' Don't let them see you sweat, Laura.

* {{audio|320 butterfingers.mp3|''Lt. Felix Gaeta has just committed perjury on whether Baltar was forced to sign the order of execution or not. Prosecutor Cassidy puts the document Baltar signed in evidence and on the defense table in front of Baltar:''}}
: '''Gaius Baltar:''' Get that out of my face before I....! (He grabs the document on the table and crumples it slightly and flings it away.)
: '''Lee Adama:''' Gaius, Gaius, we'll get him in the cross.
: '''Judge Franks''': Counselor, will you control your client!
: '''Baltar (to the judge):''' Look, it's no secret....
: '''Romo Lampkin:''' Quiet!
: '''Baltar:''' ...the whole Fleet knows that this man tried to stab me through the neck... (to Gaeta) ...And you missed! Butterfingers!

*''Prior to the clarification of what [[The Music|the song]] is, two of the four Cylons ([[Saul Tigh]] and [[Samuel Anders]]) each speak a line of the lyrics in conversational context:''
:*''While Anders is supposed to be learning about Raptor flight systems during a pilot training session, he catches Chief Tyrol humming the tune and asks him about it.''
::'''Anders''': That song you're hummin'. What is that?
::'''Tyrol''': Oh, uh. Ah you know I don't even know, it's just something I can't get outta my head. '''Some way outta here'''.
:* {{audio|320 no reason to get excited.mp3|''When Racetrack, who is the training officer, sees Anders off talking to the Chief:''}}
:: '''Racetrack''': Yo, Anders! Do you need a frakking invitation? Move it!
:: '''Anders''': Alright. '''No reason to get excited.'''
:* {{audio|320 too much confusion.mp3|''Tigh and William Adama discuss the music Tigh hears:''}}
:: '''Saul Tigh''': You'll look into it? You'll look into it? I am here telling you there is Cylon sabotage aboard our ship.
:: '''William Adama''': Sabotage? With music?
:: '''Saul Tigh''': I know, I know. I can't quite understand it myself. '''There's too much confusion'''.

*{{audio|320 lee on justice.mp3|''Lee Adama taking the witness stand:''}}
:'''[[Lee Adama]]''': Did the defendant make mistakes? Sure. He did. Serious mistakes. But did he actually commit any crimes? Did he commit treason? No. I mean, it was an impossible situation. When the Cylons arrived, what could he possibly do? What could anyone have done? (looking at the audience) Ask yourself, what would you have done? (looking at the judges) What would you have done? If he had refused to surrender, the Cylons would have probably nuked the planet right then and there. So did he appear to cooperate with the Cylons? Sure. So did hundreds of others. What's the difference between him and them? The President issued a blanket pardon. They were all forgiven, no questions asked. Colonel Tigh. Colonel Tigh [[Occupation|used suicide bombers]], killed dozens of people. Forgiven. Lieutenant Agathon and Chief Tyrol. They [[Pegasus (episode)|murdered]] an officer on the ''Pegasus''. Forgiven. The Admiral. The Admiral [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|instigated a military coup d'état]] against the President. Forgiven. And me? Well, where do I begin? I [[33|shot down]] a civilian passenger ship, the ''Olympic Carrier''. Over a thousand people on board. Forgiven. I [[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II|raised my weapon]] to a superior officer, [[Resistance (episode)|committed an act of mutiny]]. Forgiven. And then on the very day when Baltar surrendered to those Cylons, I as commander of ''Pegasus'' [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II|jumped away]]. I left everybody on that planet, alone, undefended, for months. I even tried to persuade the Admiral never to return, to abandon you all there for good. If I'd had my way nobody would have made it off that planet. I'm the coward. I'm the traitor. I'm forgiven. I'd say we are very forgiving of mistakes. We make our own laws now; our own justice. And we've been pretty creative in finding ways to let people off the hook for everything from theft to murder. And we've had to be, because...because we're not a civilization anymore. We are a gang, and we are on the run, and we have to fight to survive. We have to break rules. We have to bend laws. We have to improvise. But not this time, no. Not this time. Not for Gaius Baltar. (looking at Baltar) No, you...you have to die. You have to die, because, well, because we don't like you very much. Because you're arrogant. Because you're weak. Because you're a coward, and we, the mob, want to throw you out of the airlock, because you didn't stand up to the Cylons and get yourself killed in the process. That's justice now. You should have been killed back on New Caprica, but since you had the temerity to live, we're going to execute you now. That's justice. [...] This case...this case is built on emotion, on anger, bitterness, vengeance. But most of all, it is built on shame. (looking at his father) It's about the shame of what we did to ourselves back on that planet. It's about the guilt of those of us who ran away. Who ran away. And we're trying to dump all that guilt and all that shame on one man and then flush him out the airlock, and hope that just gets rid of it all. So that we could live with ourselves. But that won't work. That won't work. That's not justice; not to me. Not to me.

*''[[Doyle Franks|Captain Doyle Franks]]' preface to the reading of [[Gaius Baltar]]'s verdict''
: '''Doyle Franks''': Like everything human, justice is imperfect. It's flawed. But it's those very imperfections that separates us from the machines, and maybe even makes us a species worth saving.

* {{audio|320 that's the man I'll be.mp3|''Saul Tigh, Tory Foster, Samuel Anders and Galen Tyrol decide what to do now they know they're Cylons:''}}
: '''Felix Gaeta''': (over the intercom) Inbound Cylon fleet. I repeat. Action stations, action stations. Set condition one throughout the ship. This is not a drill.
: '''Tory Foster''': My Gods, what are we going do?
: '''Saul Tigh''': The ship is under attack, we do our jobs. Report to your stations.
: '''Galen Tyrol''': Report to stations?
: '''Saul Tigh''': My name is Saul Tigh, I am an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be. And if I die today, that's the man I'll be.

* {{audio|320 kara's been to earth.mp3|''Starbuck pulls alongside Apollo in her undamaged Viper:''}}
: '''Kara Thrace''': Hi, Lee.
: '''Lee Adama''': (his eyes widen in disbelief) Kara?
: '''Thrace''': Don't freak out, it really is me (laughs). It's going to be okay. I've been to Earth. I know where it is. And I'm going to take us there.

== Guest Stars ==

*[[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as [[Dr. Cottle]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Chelah Horsdal]] as [[Cassidy]]
*[[Katee Sackhoff]] as [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]]
*[[Leah Cairns]] as [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
*[[Jen Halley]] as [[Diana Seelix]]
*[[Brad Dryborough]] as [[Louis Hoshi]]
*[[Alison Matthews]] as [[Karen Fallbrook|Fallbrook]]
*[[Susan Hogan]] as [[Doyle Franks]]
*[[Stephen Holmes]] as [[Trial Reporter|Reporter #2]]
*[[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]] (credited as "Young Woman")
*[[William Samples]] as Captain [[Jules Tarney]] (credited as Judge #2)
*[[Lily Duong-Walton]] as [[Hera Agathon]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:A to Z|Crossroads, Part II]]
[[Category:Episode Guide|Crossroads, Part II]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)|Crossroads, Part II]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Rymer]]
[[Category:RDM]]
{{featured article candidate previous}}

[[de:Am Scheideweg, Teil II]]
[[zh:紧要关头（下）]]

Mark Sheppard

2012-07-12T13:39:20Z

AlanHK:

{{Cast Data
| image= Mark Sheppard.jpg
| credit=Image © [http://studiomark.com/ Mark Robert Halper Photography]
| character= [[Romo Lampkin]]
| born_month= 5
| born_day= 30
| born_year= 1964
| death_month=
| death_day=
| death_year=
| nationality= UK
| imdb= 0791968
| sortkey= Sheppard, Mark
}}

'''Mark Sheppard''' (April 30, 1964) is an English actor and musician of an Irish-German background.<ref name="tsw">{{cite_web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/mark_sheppard_01.htm|title=The Sci-Fi World: Mark Sheppard interview|date=1 May 2007|accessdate=24 May 2007|last=Nuytens|first=Gilles|format=|language=}}</ref>

Sheppard is the son of character actor [[w:William Morgan Sheppard|William Morgan Sheppard]]. His first passion was being a musician, which lead him to play in multiple bands that performed in parts of the globe like [[w:France|France]] and [[w:Algeria|Algeria]]. He initially preferred being a musician over following his father's footsteps, believing that "he’s the actor and I’m the musician and that was when I was a kid, but then years later I discovered it was pretty much the same thing to me".<ref name="tsw"/>

Sheppard began pursuing acting as someone had "asked me to see if I could be in a play, and I was reluctant but I did it and I discovered it was something I love, it’s fun".<ref name="tsw"/>

He credits his father for teaching him "a certain sensibility about acting, as far as we are of the same belief that there is no such thing as a bad guy. They are people of a differing opinion. And are willing to do different things to get what it is that they want. But you should never play the guy as a bad guy."<ref name="tsw"/>

Sheppard's career in acting has lead to many appearances in popular television shows, including ''[[w:24 (TV series)|24]]'' as [[w:Minor characters in 24#Ivan Erwich|Ivan Erwich]], ''[[w:Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' as [[w:List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Badger|Badger]], ''[[w:Medium (TV series)|Medium]]'' as Dr. Charles Walker, and ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' in [[MemoryAlpha:Child's Play|Child's Play]] as [[MemoryAlpha:Leucon|Leucon]].

In addition to ''Battlestar Galactica'', he has done work on [[David Eick]]'s remake of ''The Bionic Woman'' (with [[Katee Sackhoff]]).<ref name="tsw"/> He also recently guest stared in ''[[w:Burn Notice (TV series)|Burn Notice]]'' Season 2 episode ''Bad Breaks'' as a bank robber. He appears in the 2011 ''[[w:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]]'' episodes "[[w:The Impossible Astronaut|The Impossible Astronaut]]" and "[[w:Day of the Moon|Day of the Moon]]" as a 1960s FBI agent Canton Everett Delaware III.
== Battlestar Galactica ==

Sheppard has mentioned that he is a fan of the Re-imagined Series, but did not get into the [[Original Series]]. Sheppard's involvement in ''Battlestar Galactica'' began through ''[[w:CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'''s [[w:Naren Shankar|Naren Shankar]], who encouraged him to meet [[Ronald D. Moore]]. After meeting, Moore attempted to get Sheppard a role as a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] in [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]], which did not happen due to his commitment to ''Medium''. He had a future conversation with Moore and [[David Eick]], where Sheppard mentioned that he would be willing to play any character; a few months after that, when fixing Moore's computer, Moore offered him "three episodes of ''Battlestar''" and, thus, the part of [[Romo Lampkin]].<ref name="tsw"/>

In addition to his portrayal of Romo Lampkin, Sheppard has done three [[podcast]]s for the episodes "[[The Son Also Rises]]" (with writer [[Michael Angeli]]), and two solo podcasts on "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" and "[[Crossroads, Part II]]".

==References ==

<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cast]]
[[Category:Cast (RDM)]]
[[Category:Former Star Trek Cast and Crew]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Mark Sheppard

2012-07-12T13:38:38Z

AlanHK:

{{Cast Data
| image= Mark Sheppard.jpg
| credit=Image © [http://studiomark.com/ Mark Robert Halper Photography]
| character= [[Romo Lampkin]]
| born_month= 5
| born_day= 30
| born_year= 1964
| death_month=
| death_day=
| death_year=
| nationality= UK
| imdb= 0791968
| sortkey= Sheppard, Mark
}}

'''Mark Sheppard''' (April 30, 1964) is an English actor and musician of an Irish-German background.<ref name="tsw">{{cite_web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/mark_sheppard_01.htm|title=The Sci-Fi World: Mark Sheppard interview|date=1 May 2007|accessdate=24 May 2007|last=Nuytens|first=Gilles|format=|language=}}</ref>

Sheppard is the son of character actor [[w:William Morgan Sheppard|William Morgan Sheppard]]. His first passion was being a musician, which lead him to play in multiple bands that performed in parts of the globe like [[w:France|France]] and [[w:Algeria|Algeria]]. He initially preferred being a musician over following his father's footsteps, believing that "he’s the actor and I’m the musician and that was when I was a kid, but then years later I discovered it was pretty much the same thing to me".<ref name="tsw"/>

Sheppard began pursuing acting as someone had "asked me to see if I could be in a play, and I was reluctant but I did it and I discovered it was something I love, it’s fun".<ref name="tsw"/>

He credits his father for teaching him "a certain sensibility about acting, as far as we are of the same belief that there is no such thing as a bad guy. They are people of a differing opinion. And are willing to do different things to get what it is that they want. But you should never play the guy as a bad guy."<ref name="tsw"/>

Sheppard's career in acting has lead to many appearances in popular television shows, including ''[[w:24 (TV series)|24]]'' as [[w:Minor characters in 24#Ivan Erwich|Ivan Erwich]], ''[[w:Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' as [[w:List of minor characters in the Firefly universe#Badger|Badger]], ''[[w:Medium (TV series)|Medium]]'' as Dr. Charles Walker, and ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]]'' in [[MemoryAlpha:Child's Play|Child's Play]] as [[MemoryAlpha:Leucon|Leucon]].

In addition to ''Battlestar Galactica'', he has done work on [[David Eick]]'s remake of ''The Bionic Woman'' (with [[Katee Sackhoff]]).<ref name="tsw"/> He also recently guest stared in ''[[w:Burn Notice (TV series)|Burn Notice]]'' Season 2 episode ''Bad Breaks'' as a bank robber. He appears in the 2011 ''[[w:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]]'' episodes "[[w:The Impossible Astronaut|The Impossible Astronaut]]" and "[[w:Day of the Moon|Day of the Moon]]" as a 196os FBI agent Canton Everett Delaware III.
== Battlestar Galactica ==

Sheppard has mentioned that he is a fan of the Re-imagined Series, but did not get into the [[Original Series]]. Sheppard's involvement in ''Battlestar Galactica'' began through ''[[w:CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'''s [[w:Naren Shankar|Naren Shankar]], who encouraged him to meet [[Ronald D. Moore]]. After meeting, Moore attempted to get Sheppard a role as a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] in [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]], which did not happen due to his commitment to ''Medium''. He had a future conversation with Moore and [[David Eick]], where Sheppard mentioned that he would be willing to play any character; a few months after that, when fixing Moore's computer, Moore offered him "three episodes of ''Battlestar''" and, thus, the part of [[Romo Lampkin]].<ref name="tsw"/>

In addition to his portrayal of Romo Lampkin, Sheppard has done three [[podcast]]s for the episodes "[[The Son Also Rises]]" (with writer [[Michael Angeli]]), and two solo podcasts on "[[Crossroads, Part I]]" and "[[Crossroads, Part II]]".

==References ==

<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cast]]
[[Category:Cast (RDM)]]
[[Category:Former Star Trek Cast and Crew]]
[[Category:RDM]]

The Son Also Rises

2012-07-11T13:44:51Z

AlanHK: /* Act 4 */ spelling

{{Episode Data
| title= The Son Also Rises
| image= 3x18-TheSonAlsoRises-ApolloBaltarLampkin.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 18
| guests=
| writer= [[Michael Angeli]]
| story=
| director= [[Sergio Mimica-Gezzan]]
| production= 317
| rating=1.2
| US airdate= 2007-03-11
| CAN airdate=2007-03-11
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| podcast = y
| population= 41399
| oldpopulation= 41400
| prev= [[Maelstrom]]
| next= [[Crossroads, Part I]]
| itunes= http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289168574%2526id%253D200852806%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
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| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D289168574%2526id%253D200852806%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| amazon=Y
| amazon SD=B000V1ZKIK
}}

== Overview ==
:''With [[Gaius Baltar]]'s trial merely two weeks away, [[Lee Adama]] is tasked with protecting [[Romo Lampkin]], Baltar's second lawyer, and finds himself going up against [[William Adama|his own father]], who himself is appointed as one of the five judges in Baltar's trial.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

[[Image:Adama's b-day card.jpg|thumb|right|Adama happens upon an old, self-made birthday card from [[Kara Thrace]], while reviewing her jacket.]]
* [[William Adama]] reviews [[Kara Thrace]]'s service record file, which includes various disciplinary notices, commendations, and citations.
* Meanwhile, on ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Laura Roslin]] presides over a drawing of ship captains who will comprise the five judges of [[Gaius Baltar]]'s tribunal. [[Tory Foster]] picks up a folded card from the bowl, handing it to Roslin. It reads: Captain [[Elias Meeker]], ''[[Gideon]]''.
* Adama looks through more of Thrace's records, including a commendation for bravery regarding her actions in recovering the civilians from [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]].
* Foster draws one last name from the bowl. When Roslin opens it, she initially begins to read the card aloud, but stops herself as she reads the name, clearly shocked.
* As Adama continues to slowly run through the jacket, he happens across a self-made birthday card from Thrace to him. The cover reads: "You were always like a father to me . . ." Upon opening the card, he sees a picture of Thrace, who is wearing his glasses and has doodled a [[Adamastache|mustache]] onto the photo. Above the picture are the words "See the resemblance?" and below, "Happy birthday, <u>young</u> <u>man</u>". It is signed it with "much love, Kara". This elicits a laugh from Adama, who begins to tear up and sniffle.
* On the flight deck, a grieving and inebriated [[Samuel Anders]] stands on top of a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]], tossing a coin, calling "heads" correctly for the fourth time in a row. Watching him are [[Anthony Figurski]], [[Hamish McCall]] and [[Margaret Edmondson]].
* In the [[memorial hallway]], [[Lee Adama]] stands in front of the section containing [[Louanne Katraine|Kat's]] picture. He thumbs with a photo of Thrace, keeping it close to his belly, then pocketing it as he hears the sound of Racetrack's footsteps. Edmondson then gets his attention by calling Adama by his rank.
* Still standing above the cockpit of the Viper, Anders holds out the cubit, saying that his "girl is too lucky to check out". Adama and Edmondson approach; Adama joins Anders on top of the Viper and attempts to talk him down. Emotionally distraught, he initially sits down, then jumps up, saying he has somewhere to go, but he doesn't complete his words as he slips and falls from the Viper. Adama climbs down from the Viper as some of the spectators begin to cluster near the fallen Anders, who says "I think I fell".
* As Adama checks Anders over for injuries, Anders asks him, "She's still alive, right?" Adama replies in the negative, and Anders tearfully claims that he knows.
* In [[CIC]], Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] tells Adama he's been selected as one of the five ship captains that form Baltar's tribunal.
* On the hangar deck, Racetrack complains about having to fly [[Alan Hughes|Baltar's lawyer]] back and forth from the ''[[Zephyr]]''. Her chief grievances are that he whispers into her ear and takes his shoes off on board.
* Skulls wonders why Baltar is even given a trial while he's obviously guilty, to which Cally replies that it's justice.
* An explosive charge detonates aboard the [[Raptor]]. Racetrack walks out unharmed, but Baltar's lawyer is dead.

===Act 1===
*A press conference takes place on ''[[Colonial One]]'' with reporters firing questions at President Roslin about the trial, a replacement defense attorney, and other matters. Roslin firmly maintains that no terrorist acts will affect the trial.
*In the [[Pilot ready rooms|pilot ready room]], the mood is also somber. Major Adama is distracted and making mistakes as he plans a reconnaissance operation. At one point, Adama mistakenly calls Racetrack Starbuck after the [[Raptor]] pilot makes a joke to [[Sharon Agathon]] about checking under her seat. An awkward silence descends upon the room. Adama apologizes, then quickly dismisses the group.
*Roslin interviews Baltar's new attorney, [[Romo Lampkin]] with Admiral Adama present. Lampkin abruptly introduces the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet leaders]] to his [[Lance|cat]], who is in a foul mood.
*Adama asks his son to head up the security detail for the new attorney. When the younger Adama objects to being grounded as [[CAG]] and indicating that he's "okay", the admiral tells him that he knows that his son isn't okay because the admiral himself is also still in grief over Thrace's death.
*Lampkin is given his quarters and asks to see Baltar. Lampkin wants to choose a room that is unlikely to be wired for surveillance. He tells Major Adama that he was a student of his grandfather, [[Joseph Adama]].
*The scene shifts to see someone's gloved hands preparing explosive charges.

===Act 2===
*Baltar, in a bulletproof vest, is escorted by [[Marine]]s to his attorney in Major Adama's quarters. The major is present, but Lampkin assures Baltar that he has signed a confidentiality agreement.
*Baltar is agitated as he writes more quick notes for his [[My Triumphs, My Mistakes|manifesto]]. He knows that the tribunal will use [[Caprica Six]] against him.
*When Lampkin asks to be taken to ''Colonial One'', Adama objects. When he insults Adama, the major reacts violently, his stress over the events of the last two weeks coming forth briefly.
*Adama manages to convince Captain [[Aaron Kelly]] to fly the Raptor with [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] and Lampkin aboard, despite the admiral's grounding order for the major.
*As the Raptor's door is almost closed, Lampkin's cat escapes through the hatchway, and the door is reopened while other [[deckhand|deckhands]] scramble to chase the cat.
*As Chief Tyrol crawls under the Raptor to reach the cat, he discovers the bomb, and everyone madly scrambles away.
*Later, Admiral Adama is infuriated at his son for disobeying orders, noting how everyone is out of sorts since Thrace's death two weeks prior. The admiral orders his son to do his job, properly, for he will be on the other side of the courtroom as a tribunal member.

===Act 3===
*The bomb is dissected and analyzed. Deck crew and officers discuss the problem: one of them is a conspirator. [[Cally Tyrol]] states her opinion, and accuses the Cylons, and more indirectly Sharon Agathon, of the bombings and of inciting the riots within the Fleet.
*Major Adama warns Lampkin to watch himself, but Lampkin is philosophical, realizing that someone will eventually get to him, no matter what.
*On ''Colonial One'', Roslin grants Lampkin permission to interview [[Caprica-Six]] in the usual interrogation room. [[Tory Foster]] apologizes to Apollo for the difficulty and delay in getting the files Lampkin requested shipped to him.
*As Lampkin interviews Six, she notes her love for Baltar. Lampkin relates his experiences in love, which moves Six. She asks him whether or not Baltar has asked about her, and Lampkin removes his glasses and shows her Baltar's pen, telling her that his sacrifice of his one limited freedom is an expression of his love.
*Lampkin also informs her that unlike Baltar, she won't get a trial.
*Later, [[Anthony Figurski]] delivers the papers Lampkin requested from ''[[Colonial One]]'', noting that Captain Kelly had inspected them. The [[Marine]] escort is suspicious, and both they and Lampkin inspect the paper box to their satisfaction.
*As Lampkin enters his key code for opening his quarter's hatch, Marine [[Henry Cheadle]] notices a screw on the floor, and realizes that the key lock had been tampered with. He tackles Lampkin, pushing him to safety just as the hatchway explodes, taking the full force of the explosion.

===Act 4===
*Lampkin survives the bomb attack, but is in [[sickbay]]. Major Adama speaks with him and has brought a bag containing Lampkin's possessions.
*Lampkin states that he is a [[w:kleptomaniac|kleptomaniac]], and master sleight-of-hand thief. Major Adama begins to remove the items with Lampkin commenting on the significance of each: Roslin's glasses, a shoe from the prosecuting attorney, a button from the admiral's jacket. "I borrow things," he says. When the major asks what Lampkin took from him, he tells him that he found Thrace's picture, but didn't take it.
*Adama discovers a special object that could only come from an officer. He asks who Lampkin burgled to get this object, which is something only the bomber would have.
*Major Adama interviews Captain Kelly, who admits to being the bomber and warns that he will continue the attacks if left on duty.
*The admiral reinstates his son as [[CAG]], but the younger Adama wants to help Lampkin instead. He does not cave in the face of his father's repeated objections. Eventually, the admiral, furious with the major, declares that he's through giving his son orders. Back on CIC, he orders them to remove the major from the board and re-instate [[Helo]] as CAG. He tells everyone there, "My son has more important things to do."
*Adama places Thrace's picture onto the memorial board as she requested, next to [[Kat]]. Anders, on crutches and with his left leg in a cast, comes in. Together the two begin to come to terms with losing the woman they both loved.
*Baltar finds an envelope with his pen, and a note from his attorney.
*The note contains a poetic line, telling Baltar that there is no more powerful ally than a son who decides to step away from his father's shadow.

===Bonus Scene===

*The scene begins with Athena and Cally Tyrol in the hangar deck while the rest of the deck gang is away.
*Athena begins to ask Cally why she accused her of being the bomber, upon which Cally denies ever making a direct accusation.
*Athena responds that she didn't accuse or even indirectly imply that Cally is the bomber, even though Cally was the last deck hand to inspect the Raptor.
*Athena allows Cally to take her gun and hold it to her chest, while Athena states why she knows Cally, despite her intense hatred for the Cylons, wouldn't shoot her. It is because she knows Athena loves her husband, her daughter, and ''Galactica''. Cally, according to Athena, would never dare take a child's mother away.
*After a few tense moments, Athena grabs the gun, points it next to Cally's head and states in unambiguous terms that if Cally is discovered to be the bomber, Athena will kill Cally herself.

== Notes ==

=== Continuity ===

*Starting with this episode, [[Katee Sackhoff]]'s name is no longer listed in the opening credits.
*The population count at the start of this episode is 41,399, accounting for [[Kara Thrace]]'s death in "[[Maelstrom]]". At least one birth must have occurred to set off [[Alan Hughes]]'s death in the teaser. Assuming that Marine [[Henry Cheadle]] dies in the explosion that almost kills Lampkin, the population count would be 41,398, a number that does not take into account any births or other deaths that occurred off-screen.
*[[Karl Agathon]] is temporarily assigned as [[CAG]], despite not having any previously known experience as a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot. After Apollo, Helo is the highest-ranking established pilot left. Experienced Viper pilots passed over for the job include [[Marcia Case]], [[Ricky Richardson]], and [[Hotdog]], of whom the latter had at least as much experience as former CAG [[Kat]]. This is consistent with the traditions of the U.S. Navy, which does not require the CAG to be a fighter pilot, or indeed any kind of pilot - commissioned aircrew such as Electronic Countermeasures Officers are equally eligible.
*The model ship which [[William Adama|Adama]] destroyed in [[Maelstrom|the previous episode]] is still sitting on a shelf in his quarters, but visibly damaged.
*The one-armed deckhand - using a prosthetic - who first appeared in "[[Dirty Hands]]" can be seen in the far background in the scene with Hughes boarding the Raptor before he is killed.
*When Adama looks at Thrace's personnel file, one of the sheets is a field commendation for valor and bravery received for an operation called "Blue Mountain Retreat" and "action on Hill ER5." Since it mentions a rescue of civilians, this likely refers to the Caprica Rescue mission in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens]]".
* Lampkin's theory on how the person who cares the most is the one that wins is similar to dialogue from ''[[w:Life, the Universe and Everything|Life, the Universe and Everything]]'' by Douglas Adams.
<blockquote>"The point is," he said, "that people like you and me, Slartibartfast, and Arthur -- particularly and especially Arthur -- are just dilettantes, eccentrics, layabouts if you like...We're not obsessed with anything, you see... And that's the deciding factor. We can't win against obsession. They care, we don't. They win."<br/>
"But unless we determine to take action," said the old man querulously, as if struggling against something deeply insouciant in his nature, "then we shall all be destroyed, we shall all die. Surely we care about that?"<br/>
"Not enough to want to get killed over it," said Ford.</blockquote>

=== Development ===

* This episode's title is a pun on the title of the 1926 [[w:Ernest Hemingway|Ernest Hemingway]] novel "[[w:The Sun Also Rises|The Sun Also Rises]]".
* [[Samuel Anders|Sam Anders]]' flipping a coin and continually coming up with heads is reminiscent of the early moments of Tom Stoppard's play "[[w:Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead|Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead]]", in which Rosencrantz has the same result on a coin flip over a dozen times. This leads Guildenstern to comment "Consider - One: Probability is a factor which operates within natural forces. Two: Probability is not operating as a factor. Three: We are now held within un-, sub-, or supernatural forces." The moral is that two minor characters within a play (namely, ''Hamlet'') have no control over their fate, and are condemned to carry out their role in the story regardless of their desperate attempts to change events.
* According to [[Michael Angeli]], Lampkin's first name, Romo, is from the first two letters of [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s first and last names.<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=The Son Also Rises Bonus|act=|id=|timestamp=~00:01:05|totalrunning=~00:47:39}}</ref> Romo Lampkin was also initially conceived as a "55 year old [[w:Alan Dershowitz|Alan Dershowitz]] character."<ref>{{cite_rdm_podcast|episode=The Son Also Rises Bonus|act=|id=|timestamp=~00:11:42|totalrunning=~00:47:39}}</ref>
* The door code to Romo Lampkin's temporary quarters on ''Galactica'' is 1234.
*[[Romo Lampkin]] exhibits symptoms of [[w:Kleptomania|kleptomania]]. Over the course of the episode he steals many objects Lampkin views as important to their owner from a psychological perspective, and thus provides him with knowledge of a person. Among the objects stolen:
** Gaius Baltar's worn fountain pen
** Laura Roslin's glasses
** Admiral Adama's uniform button, which Adama first searches for when Lampkin talks to [[Caprica-Six]]
** Ms. [[Cassidy]]'s sandal
** [[Aaron Kelly]]'s magnetic component, used in his bomb-making
*The assassination of Baltar's lawyer was inspired by attacks on [[w:Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein]]'s defense team ([[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion Season Three]]).
* Information from [[Sources:The Son Also Rises|the script]] reveals that the names of the ship captains taken out of the glass bowl by Foster to be revealed by Roslin are:
** Captain Simpson Markson, ''[[Argo Navis]]''
** Captain [[Jules Tarney]], ''[[Pyxis]]''
** Captain [[Doyle Franks]], ''[[Prometheus (ship)|Prometheus]]''
* The scene where Foster and Roslin reveal the last ship captain, in this case Admiral [[William Adama]], [[Sources:The Son Also Rises|was unscripted]].

== Analysis ==
* A noticeable pattern between the two Adamas is evident whenever both are going through a stressful or traumatic situation. Whereas the [[William Adama|elder Adama]] has the experience and the desire to focus on the job that he has to do, the [[Lee Adama|younger Adama]] consistently displays an inability to cope and process his emotions. This difference between the two has often led to sharp divisions, causing another tear in their damaged relationship:
** In the [[Miniseries]], Bill Adama is trying to get on with his life after the loss of his son Zak, but Lee is still full of rage over the incident and quite unambiguously holds his father responsible for what happened.
** When the two Adamas do not agree on the same method of coping with the destruction of the ''Olympic Carrier'' in "[[33]]". This eventually leads to Lee Adama becoming [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]'s military adviser and eventual co-conspirator during the hunt for the [[Arrow of Apollo]].
** During the planning for the [[Battle of New Caprica]], the two Adamas butt heads again over strategy and whether it is worth the risk of losing the last remnants of humanity that were with [[Galactica (RDM)|''Galactica'']] and [[Pegasus (RDM)|''Pegasus'']] at the time.

* Lee Adama has consistently shown a tendency to prove that he is not like his father, even though both are described as stubborn by [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] and [[Carolanne Adama]]. This tendency is evident in the last argument between the two when Apollo accuses Adama of not wanting him to become like his grandfather.

* When Lee Adama mistakenly calls [[Racetrack]] "Starbuck," his mental state is reminiscent of "[[Black Market]]" when he constantly found himself recollecting events on Caprica before the genocide.

* William Adama's failure to listen to Carolanne Adama's pleas and advice to tell his son how proud he is of him comes back with a vengeance when Apollo repeatedly asks his father if he is giving him an order, the implication being that Apollo wants to know if his father is treating him as a son or as a soldier. Adama's refusal to ask Apollo to obey his orders as his son will probably lead to further dissension between the two.

* [[Romo Lampkin]], though he appears to be a lawyer with little, if any, courtroom experience, has demonstrated a deep understanding of the human psyche. He takes Roslin's glasses to prevent her from being taken seriously during the trial. His other feats such as raising doubt and bringing out [[Caprica-Six]]'s feelings for [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]], and his slow but sure persuasion of Lee Adama into helping with Baltar's case, give hints to a man who obviously has immense experience with the art of manipulation.

* Lee Adama honors [[Kara Thrace|Thrace]]'s request of having her photo posted next to [[Louanne Katraine|Kat]]'s. His inability to let go of the photo may represent a possible marriage conflict with Dualla if he is unable to truly move on.

* [[Cally Tyrol]] correctly states that the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] wouldn't even need to fire one shot because they may find the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] had torn itself apart because of humanity's tendency towards self-destruction. However, it is also clear that she has not realized that she and the many workers are just as much a part of the problems when they essentially risked the existence of the Fleet with their work strikes, refusal to refine [[tylium]], and disobedience toward military orders ([[Dirty Hands]]). The summary of all those acts cannot be attributed to Cylon intervention as Cally Tyrol is implying that [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] is responsible for the bombings.

* Two weeks have passed since the events of "[[Maelstrom]]". During this time, Adama apparently has been mulling over his memories of Starbuck, including a review of her military record. The audience sees, amongst the items in the folder, a hand-made birthday card which Thrace gave Adama for his birthday once. It jokingly shows Thrace with a color pen mustache and glasses, and asks if Adama can see the resemblance. This moment reinforces the theme that Starbuck was very much a daughter to Adama, even though he stated otherwise in "[[Torn]]". It is very clear that he still sees Thrace as a daughter to him.

* After the events of "[[The Woman King]]", Helo has been reinstated amongst the pilots of ''Galactica'', as the original purpose of assigning him to [[Dogsville]] was in response to his objections and sabotage of the Cylon biological weapon. Starting with "[[Dirty Hands]]", Helo is present at briefings in the ready room, and appears to be a squadron leader. Thus, once Apollo's flight status is revoked it is only natural for Adama to promote Helo to the CAG position because of seniority and trust.

* It is unclear whether Helo has experience with a Viper, but numerous Viper pilots have been flying Raptors so far. Whether this goes both ways it yet to be seen, but with Helo's position as head of a squadron and now CAG, it appears that he has at least enough operational and tactical knowledge to do the necessary organizational and administrative duties. His previous experience as ''Galactica's'' [[XO]] may also have been a factor in his appointment.

* Though Kelly tells Apollo that he would never have detonated the bomb with him inside, the fact that the bomb had been planted and that Kelly couldn't anticipate Apollo's impromptu decision to join Lampkin makes it clear that Kelly's original intention was to kill Lampkin ''and'' Athena. Whether this is an indirect statement on Kelly's view on Athena's Cylon heritage or his desire to raise the stakes by not only killing Baltar's lawyer, but sacrifice a member of the crew, is unclear.

* This is the first episode since the end of Season 2 that any member of the "[[The Colonial Gang]]," specifically [[Playa Palacios]] appear in the series. This episode and the nature of the remaining episodes may indicate a return to the President-news press relationship that the audience has seen in the past.

== Questions ==
* Is Lampkin's statement to Roslin and Adama that he is seeking the fame (or infamy) of being Baltar's lawyer true, or is there an ulterior motive?
* Will Captain Kelly be punished and if yes, how?
* Besides the attacks caused by Kelly, have there been any other incidents of violence on the scale that Zarek warned Roslin about?
* Will the death of Thrace bring Lee Adama and Sam Anders closer as friends in the future?
* Would the bomb on the Raptor have gone off if Tyrol hadn't discovered it? Is Kelly telling the truth that he would not have triggered it with Lee Adama inside?
* Is Cally's hatred of the Cylons truly towards all Cylons or is she afraid of Athena because of her connection to Tyrol's former lover, Boomer?
* Why does Lampkin wear sunglasses in most of his encounters with people?
* What caused the rift between William Adama and his own father?
* Given Karl Agathon's temporary promotion to CAG, does he have previous flight experience as a Viper pilot?
* Given the reappearance of [[Playa Palacios]] in this episode, what of her other fellow "[[The Colonial Gang|Colonial Gang]]" correspondents, [[James McManus]] and [[Sekou Hamilton]], or the program itself? ([[The Ties That Bind|Answer #1 (Hamilton)]], [[Sine Qua Non|Answer #2 (McManus)]]

== Official Statements ==

=== Cast Comments ===

* ''[[Mark Sheppard]] discusses how he approached portrayal of [[Romo Lampkin]]:''
: '''Mark Sheppard:''' Ron had said that he gave [[Michael Angeli]] ''carte blanche'' to make this character as odd and as wide as he wanted to make it. Michael Angeli is a very, very, very clever writer. It’s wonderful dialog, it’s a wonderfully convoluted, complicated character. You know the glasses idea was his idea, he wears dark glasses a lot, Michael Angeli, and the glasses were very important to him. And he put the cat in and all these strange elements and the kleptomania. and there are all these other questions, is he a Cylon? a manipulator? is he this, is he that. All of these things are kind of irrelevant. I played him as the last sane man in the universe. If you think of the episode "The Son Also Rises", my first episode, it’s the episode after "[[Maelstrom]]". Maelstrom is a disaster, an absolute disaster! The end of "Maelstrom" leaves you with this huge hole, this gap and I walk in to a group of people in mourning. They are in mourning for [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]]. I think I’m the only person paying attention. I think none of them are paying attention because of the events of [[New Caprica]] and everything that has happened since New Caprica. I mean basically they just want to tear [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]] to pieces, they kind of admit that they will move the trial forward because people need it, they need the trial, they need something.<ref name="tsw">{{cite_web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/mark_sheppard_01.htm|title=The Sci-Fi World: Mark Sheppard interview|date=1 May 2007|accessdate=24 May 2007|last=Nuytens|first=Gilles|format=|language=}}</ref>

* ''Mark Sheppard discusses a deleted scene involving [[Jerry]], the [[Lance|cat]]:''
: '''Mark Sheppard:''' There is this lovely scene that they cut out. At the end of the scene when [[Lee Adama|Lee]] says if anything moves don’t touch it, if anything is in the wrong place, it’s when he is worried about me finding a bomb. And my line is if they want to kill me they’ll find a way, now how do I get to see the [[Caprica-Six|Cylon woman]]. And I looked down and Jerry the cat is sitting there and what is funny is I looked at him and there is a line [where I say], "Please go boom." And what happened is the cat looked up at me when I spoke to him, then as I looked away, he looked away. It was very funny. (laughs) Cats do what they wanna do.<ref name="tsw"/>

* ''Sheppard discusses his reaction to [[Ron D. Moore]]'s offer of being Lampkin in three episodes:''
: '''Sheppard:''' It’s very, very weird. It was a very, very, very weird day. But it was kind of brilliant. I think he took great delight, and as I take great delight, in the fact that most of the time I tend to play what are termed "villains" – I don’t think of people as villains, but people with massively different agendas than the heroes usually in our pictures, especially in sci-fi. And this, I think, is very, very different. I think Romo is very, very different. I mean…somebody asked me, "Do you think he’s a [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]]?" First thing Eddie [[Edward James Olmos|[Edward James Olmos]]] said was, "The first thing I’d be thinking was: he’s a cylon." I’m like, but does it really matter? Does it matter whether he’s a cylon? It actually doesn’t. I mean, his principles are extraordinary. His logic is I think extraordinary.

: It’s just because he's very deliberate in the way that he executes what he does. As a character – the character is written very deliberately, in a manner that he has a very different set of moral values than the people around him. Which I think is an absolutely amazing thing to play. Plus being a kleptomaniac, you know – if you have a bizarre trait it doesn't hurt along the way. Michael Angeli's [writer] kind of brilliant when it comes to that kind of writing.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/battlestar-galactica/exclusive-interview-mark-shepp-7849.aspx|title=Buddytv.com Exclusive Interview: Mark Sheppard, from 'Battlestar Galactica'|date=3 July 2007|accessdate=13 August 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>

=== Podcast ===

Information from [[Podcast:The Son Also Rises|the podcast]]:
* Ron Moore admits that it's a stretch to have both Adamas involved intimately in the trial and even on opposite sides. But the writers decided to go for increased drama, since the trial would otherwise only be carried by guest stars with the show's main characters sidelined. Moore also believes that Admiral Adama is capable of making fair and rational decisions.
* Romo Lampkin's cat was supposed to run out of the Raptor, but when shooting the cat only strolled. Since it's difficult to direct cats, the film was sped up instead.
* That Lampkin always wears sunglasses was a decision made by the writer that was ultimately supported, despite concern on the part of the actor and the director.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

* ''Colonel Saul Tigh tells Admiral William Adama the good news:''
: '''[[Saul Tigh]]:''' Your Honor. (Adama looks at Tigh, confused) You haven't heard? Where have you been? They've just announced it. You won the lottery. You own exactly 1/5th of [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar]]'s ''skinny ass''.

* ''[[Romo Lampkin]] replies to [[William Adama]]'s question regarding his qualifications for defending [[Gaius Baltar]]:''
: '''Lampkin:''' I was born for this. That, and the fact I have a pulse.

* ''Admiral Adama rips [[Lee Adama]] another one:''
: '''William Adama:''' What the hell were you doing out there? I gave you an order. To do a job.
: '''Lee Adama:''' Excuse me, I was ''doing my job''.
: '''Bill:''' Yeah, being led around by the nose! This bastard yanks your chain and you jump.
: '''Lee:''' He wanted files from ''[[Colonial One]]''–
: '''Bill:''' It was the middle of the night.
: '''Lee:''' Well, you assigned me to security.
: '''Bill:''' Yeah. And there was a bomb on [[Raptor|that ship]]. And you ''missed it''. Security? I gave you ''explicit orders''.
: '''Lee:''' [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] was piloting.
: '''Bill:''' You coulda died. Plain and simple. ''You're a soldier. Live like one. Start acting like one!''
: '''Lee:''' [[Kara Thrace|She]]'s [[Maelstrom|been gone]] two weeks. I didn't realize the clock was running.
: '''Bill:''' ''(softly)'' Stop.
: '''Lee:''' No, I'm sorry. Maybe because we're just built differently.
: '''Bill:''' You stop. Don't you dare quantify my loss.
: '''Lee:''' You have no idea. ''You have no frakking idea.''
: '''Bill:''' What, you think yours is deeper?
: '''Lee:''' Well–
: '''Bill:''' Yours is greater? ''(Lee doesn't respond)'' In two weeks, there's going to be a trial. And I'm going to do what I was chosen to do, and so are you! You build a [[frak]]king nest around this man and you ''protect his ass''!

* ''Lampkin (ostensibly) confides in Caprica about his tortured romantic past:''
: '''Lampkin:''' I loved a woman. Beautiful, beautiful woman. But so serious. This frowning face, trapped in the middle of a daisy. She had a way of walking, processional. As if she were on her way to her own execution. We had ten years. Then it fell apart under its own weight.
: '''Caprica:''' Is that what you wanted?
: '''Lampkin:''' I thought if I could get over her, I could get over anything. I could endure. Conquer. Be a man, stand up to any and all kind of punishment. I clung to an empty, spinning bed for months. And that... that is when I finally realized how much I loved her. If I needed ''all that strength,'' ''...what, was the '''point'''?'' I needed to be with her.

* ''[[Cally Tyrol]] apparently learns from her [[Dirty Hands|mistakes]], and misses the point:''
: '''Tyrol:''' I believe that the Cylons want us to destroy ourselves and this is how they're doing it. By planting bombs, making us suspicious of each other. You know what's funny? By the time the Cylons catch up with us, they won't even have to attack. They'll just clean up the mess we made. I think they're here.
: '''[[Sharon Agathon]]:''' I think you're wrong.

* ''Apollo and Lampkin discuss Joseph Adama:''
: '''Lampkin:''' Everybody has demons. Them, Baltar, you, me. Even the machines. The law is just a way of exorcising them. That's what your father's father told me. You want to know why I hated him? Because he was right.
: '''Apollo:''' So you hated him because he was right, and I hated the law because it was wrong. Because of what— of what it put him through. I mean, he defended the worst of the worst. I remember reading about him. The outrage, helping murderers go free. What I don't understand is why he put himself through all that abuse—
: '''Lampkin:''' You think he gave a flying frak? Joe Adama cared about one thing: understanding why people do what they do. Why we cheat our friends, why we reward our enemies. Why we go to war, sacrificing our lives for lost causes. Why we build machines in the hope of correcting our flaws and our shortcomings. Why we forgive, defying logic and the laws of nature with one stupid little act of compassion. We're flawed, all of us. I wanted to know why, so I did what he did: I spent my life with the fallen, the corrupt, the damaged. Look at you: you were so ready to get on that Raptor with me, be the bad boy, the prodigal son!
: '''Apollo:''' No, I was just doing my job, protecting you!
: '''Lampkin:''' What are you doing in my business? Suddenly I'm handcuffed to a serial contrarian?!
: '''Apollo:''' No, I am not— oh, OK.
: '''Lampkin:''' My bed is made. I suggest you toil on your own. Now, if this cross-examination is over, I'd like to take a crap.

* ''Lee Adama discovers Lampkin's kleptomania:''
: '''Lampkin:''' My demons. I borrow things. My parents disappeared when I was nine years old. They were kidnapped. Murdered for the money they had on them, which wasn't enough. I went to live with an uncle, stole from him until I could run away.
: '''Adama:''' So what did you take from me?
: '''Lampkin:''' I was thinking the photograph that you carry. The girl. The pilot. The one you carry [in your pocket]. But you've had enough stolen from you already.

* ''Lee Adama confronts Kelly about the bomb:''
: '''Kelly:''' I would have never let Athena airborne with you on the Raptor. I would have stopped it. You know that.
: '''Adama:''' Yeah, I know that.
: '''Kelly:''' You'd better lock me up. And I don't want any trial. I won't stop. I will keep trying. I'll keep at it, I will. I did my job, sir. And I have done my job for two years. Every day I've sent people out to fight. I cleared them all to die. So many people. I just got tired of living with that. You ask that man, if you had to choose between giving up his life for a Cylon or human, what do you think he'd say? I had to do something.

* ''Baltar reads a note from Lampkin, after retrieving his pen from the envelope:''
: '''Lampkin:''' There's no greater ally, no force more powerful, no enemy more resolved than a son who chooses to step from his father's shadow. Romo Lampkin.

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]
* [[Nicki Clyne]] as Specialist [[Cally Tyrol]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Capt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lt. [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Lt. [[Anastasia Dualla]]
* [[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lt. [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Cpt. [[Aaron Kelly]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lt. [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Don Thompson]] as [[Anthony Figurski]]
* [[Tyler McClendon]] as [[Alan Hughes]]
* [[Stephen Holmes]] as Reporter #1
* [[Christina Schild]] as [[Playa Palacios]]
* [[Alison Matthews]] as [[Karen Fallbrook|Fallbrook]]
* [[Chris Boyd]] as Marine [[Henry Cheadle|Cheadle]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart|Nowart]]
* [[Jerry]] as [[Lance]] (uncredited)<ref name="tsw"/>

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 3)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Son Also Rises, The}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Episode Guide]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Berufung (Episode)]]
[[zh:虎子崛起]]

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-10T13:07:54Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-10T03:41:28Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-10T03:40:53Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-10T03:31:48Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 01
| number = 1
| start = July 17th, 2005
| end = September 14th, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|01|Complaints and Concerns}} {{archive-item|01|Spoiler Warning}} {{archive-item|01|What is a spoiler?}} {{archive-item|01|Vote}} {{archive-item|01|When does this vote close?|end=Y}}
|}}
{{archive-header
| archivenumber = 02
| number = 2
| start = September 14th, 2005
| end = September 23rd, 2005
| items = {{archive-item|02|Compromise #1}} {{archive-item|02|Discussion|end=Y}}
|}}

__TOC__

==External Links==
Links to Wikipedia using the Wikipedia: interwiki namespace still show up inside spoiltext. Example

{{spoiltext|[[Wikipedia:Battlestar Galactica|Battlestar Galactica]] [http://www.google.com Google]}}

Fix: add this to the CSS:
td.spoiltext_box a.extiw {color: #000;}
--[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 23 September 2005 (EDT)
:It is now fixed... a year later. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:32, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Shane.. fix the hover css Spoiler outside link code... [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:21, 1 January 2008 (CST)
::Fixed. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 00:35, 1 January 2008 (CST)

== "Spoiler Boxes" ==
:''moved from [[Helana Cain]]''
The spoiler boxes have a serious flaw--you can't see the "this is a spoiler" line at the top when you're using the Monobook skin. It's too dark to read. I highlighted and ended up seeing the spoiler, and I didn't want to. Of course now I know what the box is and I won't highlight it anymore, but I would appreciate it if the box could be edited to be compatible with all the skins. Thanks. --[[User:Fang Aili|Fang Aili]] 00:16, 24 September 2005 (EDT)
::I think oncer the "new" design is active, the CSS will be updated for a single skin and then that skin will be changed so CSS would be the primary way to color tables, instead of hardcoding values. The other skins joe should have deleted (as he did before the 1.6.x upgrade) to make sure we all worked from one skin when working on the site. So that's with the problem with the monoskin right now. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 01:15, 20 April 2006 (CDT)

==Ron D Moore personally addresses the recent spoilers issue==
:''Moved from [[Battlestar Wiki talk:Citation Jihad]]''

I was in a discussion with Ron's wife Terry on the messageboard in [http://mboard.scifi.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1791636&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=11266ab308ea04f98580cf16eae24b66#Post1791636 this thread], when she then handed the keyboard over to Ron Moore himself and he posted the following messagee, about two minutes ago:

:I want to ask all of you, and KoenigRules in particular, to please refrain from posting detailed spoilers about our upcoming season. It's only April, and we're a long way from the premiere in October, and it's frankly dispiriting and depressing to all of us on the production team to see spoilers appearing this early. We're all working very hard to provide the audience with a unique experience and it takes a lot of the joy out of our process when we know that people have already judged the work before it's ready. This isn't about secrecy or having a NSA-like production, it's about letting the artisans and craftsmen on this show finish their work before it's displayed. Short descriptions of scenes and storylines aren't the same thing as watching an episode of the show and by putting this material out there for everyone to chew over months in advance, it really only allows people to make up their minds about a piece of work that is incomplete by any measure.

:I understand the desire to peek inside the tent. I've felt it myself about many projects from the Star Wars sequels to new episodes of Project Runway, and there's nothing juicier than getting the inside dope. However, there's a difference between that one on one insider knowledge and shared secret and posting it on the internet where it gets passed around literally the entire world or putting in on a radio show for all to hear.

:There's nothing I can do to stop this kind of thing from happening. When I was at Trek, we tried every known method of encoding scripts and plots and they always got out. The only thing I can do is appeal to your sense of decency and fair play and ask that you not spoil the larger fan community that cannot help but be aware of these things as they get massive distribution through the message boards. Self-restraint on the part of those in possession of inside information is the best way to prevent this from happening all through the Spring and Summer, so I appeal to you as fans of the show to help me keep the cloak over this piece of art until it's been polished and ready to be presented to you, the audience.

:I appreciate your consideration,
::Ronald D. Moore

In light of this, I think we should change our decision. I originally had the lukewarm idea that if other news sites like Gateworld and Galacticastation ran one of these stories, we might as well run it too, but only if they did it first. However, I have now completely rejected this idea: we shouldn't post anything more than "generic episode descriptions" which don't actually give away essential plot elements. At first I thought it pointless to try to stem the tide as Gatewold and GS might just report it anyway, but I now really think it is our duty to set precedent on the matter and not post spoilers that are this sensitive, if they have been leaked from anonymous sources. Granted, if Lucy Lawless herself spills the beans in an interview with a magazine that's between her and the production team; moreoever, if they wanted her to stop they could hold up her Screen Actors Guild confidentiality papers and give her a warning. But ''any'' support, even tacitly, of these spoilers, I don't think we can or should do anymore. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:16, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: I think this pretty much sums this debate up. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:22, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
: Here's the point where I feel I must play devil's advocate, as it were: Ron D. Moore doesn't run Battlestar Wiki. I appreciate the fact that he doesn't want story lines and important plot points spilled out. I can understand that. However, as long as we have the appropriate warnings in place, I do not see the point in ''not'' posting the spoilers. We're really not in the business of censoring information, just because someone asks us to do so. Am I wrong? -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 17:37, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::You are not wrong. But I been pointing to send posting anonoymous soruces as a legit way for referreces is not a good idea. People who are still in Season 2 (UK) have no seen three Episode names for Season 3. We need to just be carefull, if we allow anonoymous soilers and spoilers alike, that we be carefull that they be totallt seperate. And seasons that have not offically started keep out the "Episode Data" block also. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 17:44, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Well I can understand why you're saying that Joe, but I've really got to differ on the matter. There's a difference in my mind between "an actor or crewman leaked this out, and if they wanted it to stop they could give them a warning" and "this person is anonymous, and thus is free from being punished by the production company for breach of contract or simply because they don't want people doing that". Lets see what everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 17:47, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::I agree with Moore on this, as I did during our initial discussion of the spoiler policy many months ago. Nevertheless, this is a settled issue on Battlestar Wiki. Do we really want to re-open it? --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:29, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
:::Merv, your "stand" has changed four times and now this spans two pages so I am trying to "keep" the posted times right in my head. I think we need to really move these discussions to their own page so everything is together. Peter, I understand that this is a project of Citation and spolier poilcy, but this is becomeing to confusing on where everyone stands. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 18:50, 26 April 2006 (CDT)
::::It's very simple. The discussion on Citation Jihad is about whether we should allow anonymous sources. The discussion here is about whether we should revise the spoiler policy. The two topics may have originated with the same controversy, but they are not related, nor should they be confused. If The Merovingian wants us to revisit the horribly contested and partisan spoiler policy debate from last fall, this is the place he needs to propose it. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 18:53, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

I admit it's a little confusing Shane: well, officially (as you can see above with the most recent thing): I do not think we should use anonymous spoilers information, because RDM implored everyone not to, and we're only aiding whoever the leak is; if they're afraid of revealing themselves because they think they're breaching a non-disclosure contract or something and thus doing something actually illegale, I don't think we should support that by reporting their information here. Further, it's not always right as it's based on early scripts. Well, that's where I stand on the subject, though I don't know how everyone else thinks. --[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 19:39, 26 April 2006 (CDT)

:I agree that RDM request should override any other concerns for ethical reasons. It is analogous to insider-trading info. Remember the conversation between Apollo and Tigh about the black market. If we do it because everyone does, it doesn't make us right, just whole lot of people wrong. --[[User:Gougef|Frankie Gouge]] April 26, 2006 21:40 EDT

:: I, myself, try not to read spoilers. Sometimes, I accidentally do while I'm editing a page or something, but I take that as my "fault" kind of, for editing that page. It happens and usually it's not a big show ruiner for me. I would not oppose re-opening this debate, but I don't know that we ''need'' to, either. My main concern about spoilers is that, even if they're from a citable, reliable source, they're often wrong (because they get changed before air-date or whatever). Also, I am kind of partial to the idea of doing as RDM asks because I respect him as a creator and he asked in a nice, mature, respectful (to us fans) way. I do, however, allow that a rational person could disagree. --[[User:Day|Day]] <sup>([[User talk:Day|Talk]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Administrators' noticeboard|Admin]])</sup> 00:39, 2 May 2006 (CDT)

Hey, this is Commander Me. I would be willing to help translate the Spoiler Policy page into German. Just contact me at my user talk for more info. --Commander Me.
: check out http://www.battlestarwiki.org/de/w/Battlestar_Wiki:Spoiler_Richtlinien

== Questions Section ==

I seen recently a lot of spoiler info come into these sections in the form of {{tl|spoiltext}} for answeres, but with the [[BW:ES]] project, shouldn't we keep the real Answers, even in {{tl|spoiltext}} out until the Episode shows IF the spolier comes from a known episode? --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 22:25, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
: Provided that the Spoiler Policy and Citation Jihad are adhered to, then the spoilers should be encased in {{tl|spoiltext}}, whether the spoiler is in the form of a question or an answer. Furthermore, we should probably go ahead and tack on the spoiler warning to the top of said page, provided that there are enough spoilers on that page to justify it. However, again, the policies need to be adhered to -- if the spoilers come from Joe Smoe and not an official source, then they should be eradicated with prejudice. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:10, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::I don't think a spoiler header is necessary - that indicates that the ''entire contents'' of the tagged page are spoiler material. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 23:12, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Ditto. Unforentently, StrayCat0's contrib, in [[Exodus%2C_Part_I#Questions|Exodus, Part I]] brings this up. (Not singling out StraayCat, because it happened in previous seasons). No cite, so it fails that for right now, but in general, when we do mark these "Questions" answered, we usually go <nowiki>([[Episode Here|Answer)]])</nowiki>, and leave it like this. I am going to created {{tl|spoilli}} to work within numbered lists... {{tl|spoiltext}} ruins a lot of formating. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 23:19, 15 October 2006 (CDT)
::Actually, it can be read either way -- and after reading it, the connotation seems inconsistent to me, particularly the last sentence of the warning, so I've gone ahead and [[Template talk:Spoiler|proposed a change in wording]]. As for spoiltext, I look forward to a better version of it. :-) -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 23:56, 15 October 2006 (CDT)

Will the Turkish translation of this article be visible on the main page? Or are we going to wait until we have our own tr.battlestarwiki.org domain? :) [[User:Redlinetheturk|Redlinetheturk]] 09:23, 12 November 2006 (CST)

== Spoilers in the examples ==

Should the example of using the spoiler tags really include a spoiler for those who possibly haven't seen that episode? [[User:FredTheDeadHead|FredTheDeadHead]] 15:33, 23 January 2008 (CST)
:I have removed it, however, following the policy, it's not considered a spoiler anymore. [[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 16:24, 23 January 2008 (CST)

== Spoiler policy: please rethink ==

Having just joined the wiki a few minutes ago, I doubt my opinion will have much weight, but here we go:

I also am a recent fan of BSG. I got the box set a month ago and am now into season 3.

At the beginning, I made a habit of reading the relevant article here on each episode after watching it. That went okay, till Season 2, when out of the blue I find that two characters were revealed to be "Final 5" Cylons, a fact not revealed till Season 4, I think.

Of course when I read an article about an episode, I expect anything that comes up IN THAT EPISODE OR A PREVIOUS ONE to be fair game. I was not expecting facts from episodes broadcast two years later to be.

I guess your "anything broadcast is fair game" policy made sense back when the show was on the air, and most readers here were watching it on live TV.

Now, several years later, that is not the case. There will be people like me, starting the series from the beginning and watching it in sequence, on reruns or DVD or online.

The "Any spoiler anywhere" policy you have have means that I, and any other new viewer, will avoid this site like the plague once they've been burnt. I was very disappointed, as the contemporary quotes from producers and writers collected here was quite illuminating to read after watching. But not at the cost of having major future plot points revealed.

You may be fine with that, but this policy drives away new fans. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 11:06, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

: Hi Alan,

: Before I begin to address your concern, I wish to express my appreciation for the time and effort you took to bring up your viewpoint. As project leader, I do understand that there are doubtless folks that feel as you do. However, the intent of this website is to serve as a reference for everything that occurs (or is part of) on any of the ''Battlestar'' series.

: The fundamental issue is that anything can be a "spoiler" depending on where people are in watching the series, and so protecting everyone from "spoilers" detracts from the project (which is to collect and disseminate information), because everything on here is a spoiler at one time or another. We cannot protect people from every spoiler, certainly, as "spoilers" are integral parts to the overall story.

: Reality is that we only have a finite amount of contributors (less than 1% of the active fanbase), and the best use of their time is research and collaboration... not protecting people from spoilers. Yes, that's a bit off putting to some, but that's acceptable to me given reality.

: I do understand that people may not visit the website until they've watched the series entirely, that's fine. If people do not use the website because of it, then that's up to them as well. We're like a library... you can use it, or you cannot. We leave that choice to our viewers. -- [[User:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|Joe Beaudoin]] <sup>[[User talk:Joe Beaudoin Jr.|So say we all]] - [[Battlestar Wiki:Site support|Donate]]</sup> 13:21, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

:: It's not true that "anything can be a spoiler". I'm not talking about the whole wiki, just the articles about specific episodes. If I look up [[Final Five]], well, I'd expect to find out who they are, and it's my own look-out; but that fundamental "secret" if revealed earlier really, literally, spoils your experience of the show, and I was very pissed off when that happened to me when reading an article about a season 2 episode. Your wiki, your choice, but you are alienating any new fans from reading, let alone participating. I've just watched "Dirty Hands", I'd like to read some backgound on it. But I can't, here, without risking reading something someone added two years after it was broadcast that they thought was "ironic" in light of something that happened in the series finale. I want to read about the episode I've watched now, not months later when I've forgotten the details. I'm not a mega fan, when I watch a show I like to think about it about it, but after I've seen them all I'm not going to rewatch it and analyse it for years later. So, good luck and goodbye. [[User:AlanHK|AlanHK]] 23:31, 9 July 2012 (EDT)

User:AlanHK

2012-07-09T15:22:42Z

AlanHK: Created page with "Now not a red link."

Now not a red link.

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-09T15:12:12Z

AlanHK: /* Spoiler policy: please rethink */

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-09T15:07:28Z

AlanHK: /* Spolier policy: please rethink */

Battlestar Wiki talk:Spoiler Policy

2012-07-09T15:06:59Z

AlanHK: /* Spolier policy: please rethink */ new section