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The Road Less Traveled

2008-05-07T23:18:02Z

Bwmathis: /* Notes */

{{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=
| US airdate=2 May 2008
| CAN airdate=2 May 2008
| UK airdate=6 May 2008
| dvd=
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39675
| prev= [[Escape Velocity]]
| next= [[Faith]]
| hulu=Y
}}

== 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 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, 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]] and his dead. 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 to kill himself. Later, when Tyrol lies awake in bed, 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, but eventually takes Baltar's hand when he offers it again.

=== 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 fulfill 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 that 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 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 it 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 against 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, just as it was during the Cavil-Boomer faction's ambush of the Natalie-Conoy faction.

== Analysis ==
* Instead of using his demotion as a wakeup call, Chief [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] has slipped further into despair and even contemplates to kill 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.
* Despite his tirade directed towards Adama in "[[Escape Velocity]]", Tyrol's love for Cally is what calms him down once he looks upon a photo of him and Cally. In spite of her shortcomings, his memories and feelings of Cally are what help ground Tyrol's mindset again.
* In spite of Foster clinging to the idea 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.
* 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 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.''"
* This episode states it 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.

== Questions ==

* Does Conoy sense that Anders is a fellow Cylon?
* How will the situation on the ''Demetrius'' be resolved?
* Will Galen Tyrol begin to associate with Baltar?
* If yes, will Baltar have a positive influence on Tyrol and help him to overcome his grief or uncertainty about being a Cylon?
* What have Tigh and Caprica-Six been doing recently?
* 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?

== 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 ==

* [[Aaron Douglas]] as Specialist [[Galen Tyrol]]
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Michael Trucco]] as Ensign [[Samuel Anders]]
* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Captain [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
* [[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]]

== 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:RDM]]

Exodus, Part II

2007-03-23T22:41:41Z

Bwmathis:

{{Episode Data
| title= Exodus, Part II
| image=TighAdamaReunion.jpg
| season= 3
| episode= 4
| guests= [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three]]
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| story=
| director= [[Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
| production= 304
| rating=1.5
| US airdate= 2006-10-20
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Exodus, Part I]]
| next= [[Collaborators]]
| podcast= Y
}}

== Overview ==

:''Commander [[Lee Adama]] of the battlestar ''[[Pegasus (RDM)| Pegasus]]'' has serious doubts about the success of the [[New Caprica]] rescue mission by ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''. On New Caprica, [[Saul Tigh]] decides the consequences for his [[Ellen Tigh |wife's]] betrayal of [[The Resistance | the Resistance]]. Aboard ''Galactica'', Admiral [[William Adama]] executes a dramatic rescue plan.''

== Summary ==

===Teaser===
*On ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', [[Lee Adama]] and [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]] talk of ''[[Galactica]]'s'' mission. Adama worries that Admiral Adama's mission will fail, and about his impending responsibilities as leader of [[The Fleet]]. Dee notes that Lee has given up hope on his father, but expresses her faith in her husband.
*On New Caprica, [[Samuel Anders]] confronts [[Saul Tigh]] about [[Ellen Tigh|his wife Ellen's]] betrayal and tells him that either Tigh "takes care" of Ellen, or someone less sympathetic will do so.

===Act 1===
[[Image:Saulellen.jpg|Saul handing Ellen her poisoned drink.|thumb]]
*Ellen Tigh explains her recent actions, that she would do absolutely anything to save Saul, including betraying the resistance. Tigh consoles her and provides her a drink when she asks. She falls unconscious, her drink having been poisoned by her husband. He says that he loves her, rests his head on her corpse, and weeps.
*On ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Gaius Baltar]] tells the Cylons that they have failed in their experiment and suggests the Cylons simply leave. A [[Number Three|Three]] voices the concern that one day the descendants of mankind might exact vengeance upon the Cylons, should they be left to their own devices.
*[[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] suddenly looks up, noticing dozens of explosions can outside the window, signalling the beginning of the [[Battle of New Caprica]].
*Anders and the resistance team has set a series of explosions, mimicking a Fleet attack and causing confusion among the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]].
*[[Tory Foster]] commands a team of section leaders in the evacuation and orders [[Maya]] to head for her ship with [[Hera|Isis]].
*Anders and a large group of resistance fighters retrieve weapons from beneath the [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] court to rescue the detainees in the [[New Caprica Detention Center|detention center]].
*In space above New Caprica, ''Galactica'' deploys a squadron of Raptors and Vipers. The Raptors launch [[swallow]]s to mimic the EM signature of two Colonial battlestars. The Cylons pick them up and fall for the ruse, moving two basestars with their Raiders away from the planet.
*The Cylon command on ''Colonial One'' initially are fooled by the swallows and their mimicked battlestar signatures.

===Act 2===
*The Raptors succeed in drawing off the entire Raider defenses of the two baseships, and leave the vicinity of New Caprica with the Raiders in pursuit.
*When [[Leoben Conoy]] leaves the residence inside the Detention Center to aid with the fighting, he keeps [[Kara Thrace]] inside. She assaults him and tries to escape, but he knocks her unconscious.
*[[Tom Zarek]] tasks [[James Lyman|Jammer]] to protect [[Laura Roslin]] as she makes her way to ''Colonial One''.
*At the entrance to the shipyard, where the Cylons keep the grounded Colonial vessels, a team under Tigh and [[Galen Tyrol]] are pinned down by [[Cylon Centurion]]s.
*The Cylons realize the decoy drones as ''Galactica'' jumps into the planet's upper atmosphere, avoiding initial detection from the baseships. As the ship plunges rapidly towards the planet, mid-descent, ''Galactica'' launches its Vipers.
*Before it could collide with the ground, the ship jumps back into space. The Vipers begin to attack targets on the ground and clear the way of Centurions for civilians to escape.
*As others are freed from the Detention Center, Anders finds his unconscious wife and carries her away.
*''Galactica'' is shaken up by her reentry to orbit. Their plan to remove the Raider fighter defenses to allow the civilians to escape is working, and, according to plan, the two basestars near the planet are coming for them. But when two more baseships appear out of the nebula, Admiral Adama realizes they cannot hold off all four.

===Act 3===
*The battle is turning against ''Galactica''. Her FTL drives are down, most of her weapons are offline and there is heavy structural damage from the atmospheric entry. The basestars are closing in and the battlestar is bombarded from all sides with no hope of survival. "It's been an honor," Adama says.
*At that moment ''Pegasus'' joins the battle, Lee Adama having disobeyed his father's orders. He opens fire with the forward batteries and incapitates one basestar in the opening salvo. Admiral Adama orders priority repairs on the FTL drives.
*When Thrace awakens, she goes back to retrieve [[Kacey]] against Anders' advice, who soon follows her.
*The Cylons realize that they have lost and decide to evacuate the planet. [[Number Three]] volunteers to stay behind and set off the nuclear weapon that was left in the city for such a contingency. She offers Baltar a place with the Cylons and leaves.
*Several Colonial ships initiate intra-atmosphere [[FTL|jumps]] from New Caprica as soon as they become airborne.
*''Pegasus'' succeeds in drawing fire off of her sister ship, and is heavily bombarded by missiles, having left all of her Vipers back with the rest of the civilian Fleet. Admiral Adama realizes that his son has planned a one-way mission for ''Pegasus'', and orders recall of ''Galactica's'' fighters.
*On ''Colonial One'', [[Felix Gaeta]] holds Baltar at gunpoint, and accuses of having betrayed humanity. Gaeta admits his guilt in idealistically believing in Baltar, but has realized, in the end, that Baltar was only thinking about himself. Baltar admits his own guilt and begs Gaeta to shoot him. Gaeta relents, however, giving Baltar a final chance to redeem himself: stop Three from setting off the nuclear bomb.
*With ''Pegasus'' dying, Lee Adama orders everyone to abandon ship. He sets the ship [[CBDR]] with a basestar as the last of the crew leaves in Raptors. ''Pegasus’'' collides with a basestar, destroying it; the remains of ''Pegasus’'' starboard [[flight pod]] collides with and destroys yet another basestar.
*Kara Thrace returns to the apartment to find Kacey, and Conoy enters with the child.

===Act 4===
*To try to regain possession of Kacey, Kara Thrace appears to give in to Leoben's demands to say "I love you." She does, and kisses him. As they are embraced, Thrace uses the diversion to stab the Cylon to death. She picks up Kacey and leaves with Anders.
*Three searches [[Dodona Selloi]]'s tent, but the [[oracle]] has left. Outside, [[Caprica-Six]] and Baltar find Hera next to [[Maya]]'s lifeless body, still alive.
*Three arrives, asks to hold the child, and leaves with her. [[Caprica-Six]] says Three no longer intends to detonate the nuke, then leaves the planet with Baltar.
*Laura Roslin and a group of resistance fighters enter the now abandoned ''Colonial One'' and are the last ship to leave the planet.
*On ''Galactica'', many people are reunited as Tyrol immediately takes charge of ushering the incoming refugees. When Thrace shows Kacey to Tyrol, [[Julia Brynn|another woman]] walks by and recognizes the girl as her daughter, whom the Cylons had stolen. The mother thanks Thrace for rescuing Kacey. Thrace is visibly and emotionally paralyzed by the revelation that Kacey is not her actual daughter.
*Admiral Adama gives a warm welcome to his son, who was happy not to have followed his son's orders.
*The admiral welcomes Tigh back aboard, and congratulates him on bringing everyone back from New Caprica. With a tremble to his voice, Tigh quietly replies, "[[Ellen Tigh|Not all of them]]."
*The colonists in ''Galactica's'' [[hangar deck]] begin chanting "A-dam-a, A-dam-a..." and carry the admiral on their shoulders in celebration. Adama turns to see Tigh wandering off, numbed with grief.
*Tory Foster tells Roslin that neither Maya nor Hera can be found, and it seems likely neither made it off the planet. Foster apologizes, but Roslin muses that this was part of [[Religion in the Twelve Colonies#The Lords of Kobol|something bigger than them]].
*Admiral Adama shaves off his mustache and returns to a fully staffed [[CIC]], aboard the now very loud, bustling corridors of ''Galactica''.

== Questions ==

*With Baltar missing at the conclusion of this episode, who will become the President of the Twelve Colonies? ([[Collaborators|Answer]])
*What will be the final disposition of the ''Pegasus'' officers, and the former military personnel who have returned from New Caprica? ([[Collaborators|Answer]])
*Did Ellen Tigh know or suspect that the drink was poisoned? ([[Exodus, Part II#Notes|Answer]])
*What consequences will Ellen Tigh's death have for her husband? Will Saul Tigh return to his old alcoholic habits? ([[The Circle|Answer]])
*What equipment and people were left behind on [[New Caprica]]? (Answer about people: [[Survivor Count]])
*Will Gaeta be the target of persecution or assassination as a collaborator? Or will people believe in him when he is found out to be the secret informant? ([[Collaborators|Answer]])
*Will [[Cally Tyrol]] identify Jammer as the NCP officer who released her, based on his voice? ([[Collaborators|Answer]])
* Now that ''Galactica'' is carrying the Viper squadrons from both battlestars, will the starboard flight pod be returned to service? ([[The Woman King|Answer]])
* What are the Cylons' plans for Gaius Baltar? ([[Torn|Answer]])
* How does Internal Six know that the baby [[Maya]] had was Hera?
* Where is [[Sharon Valerii (Caprica copy)|Boomer]]? ([[Torn|Answer]])
* How many ships are in the Fleet as of the [[Battle of New Caprica]]? Also, in light of the exodus, what of consumables and other resources needed to sustain the Fleet? Were these loaded into ships already as part of the escape plan?
*In what condition are ''Galactica's'' [[Battery|gun batteries]] following the Battle of New Caprica? Do any of them remain operable, or is ''Galactica'' largely stripped of its main armaments?

== Analysis ==

*There is a plothole concerning the continuity of the story from "Exodus, Part I". In Part I, D'Anna sees Caprica-Sharon in the detention center and is shot by her. Yet in Part II, D'Anna is in Colonial One, apparently unharmed, and has not alerted the Cylons to Sharon's presence.
**However, these appear to be two distinct copies of D'Anna. They are wearing different outfits.
*Either the scenes aren't in order or Baltar is not aware of what is going on. In the Gaeta-Baltar scene, Baltar says, "The Cylons have a nuke in this complex. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is getting off this planet alive unless I stop D'Anna." But this is after most of the civilian ships have already jumped.
*It is hard to believe that the Cylons were not keeping closer tabs on the whereabouts of the launch keys -- no alarms, etc. -- and didn't notice they were gone until the attack started.
*In general, the Cylons seem to have left the planet implausibly underguarded. Considering the strategic nature of the site, as well as the well-known fact that two battlestars remained at large, one would have expected the Cylons to have an overwhelming amount of protection for the planet -- perhaps dozens of basestars.
**RDM has mentioned in his podcasts that the Cylons do have major operations elsewhere hinting at future storylines in the season. It is possible that the Cylon higher command made a strategic decision to guard the planet with what they deemed the minimal required number of basestars to defend against two battlestars.
*With the former crew of ''Pegasus'' on ''Galactica'' now, the ship has something close to its standard crew size. (''Galactica's'' crew was deduced to be 2,693 in the episode "[[Water]]", and ''Pegasus's'' was introduced with a crew count of 1,752 in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" (see [[Crew tally]]). William Adama notes that over half of the crew has settled on [[New Caprica]] in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]", and Lee confirms that both ships are at half-strength in "[[Occupation]]".) Military operations should be much smoother now, and repairs to the ship in general are more feasible.
*While the combination of the ''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica'' air groups give the latter battlestar a full-strength fighter wing, the Fleet has suffered the loss of its most advanced and best-armed warship. With it also went the capability to build replacement Vipers, unless one of the civilian ships can be converted for such a purpose. Defensively, the Fleet is pretty much back to the position it was in when it left the Colonies.
*It appears during the whole conflict in atmospheric combat that the Raiders were spending most of their time running from the Vipers. This may be due to the fact that Colonial Vipers have a far superior atmospheric design where Raiders are optimized for space operations. The Viper has a stabilizing vertical wing which aids the pilot in maneuvering through the atmosphere just like all real-life combat aircraft. The Raider lacks this stabilizer wing much reducing their effectiveness in aerial combat, and maneuvering thrusters are not as effective in air as in space due to resistance. This made the tactic of depositing ''Galactica's'' Vipers into a solely air-support role for evacuating ships very effective once the space-borne Raiders were decoyed away from the planet so that the ''Galactica'' only had to face the basestars, not the Raiders.
*In the later episode "[[A Measure of Salvation]]" ''Galactica'' is able to engage multiple Cylon basestars in open combat, and in the episode "[[Eye of Jupiter]]" Admiral Adama feels confident that ''Galactica'' can hold off four basestars long enough to retreive his teams on the the [[Algae planet]]. It appears the major damage to the ship that occurs in this episode was repaired to the extent that the ship retains combat ability despite obvious scarring to the outer hull. This ties in to the evidence of the great survivability of the ship in general that has been displayed throughout the seasons. In the "[[Miniseries]]", ''Galactica'' survived a nuclear detonation to one of her flight pods. The ship also survived over 240 engagements with the Cylons during the retreat from Colonial space ("[[33]]") following the fall of the twelve Colonies. Colonial battlestars appear to be designed not only to be self sufficient for long periods as suggested for example in "[[Water]]", but to be able to survive major damage and undertake significant repairs. Though not explicitly stated, the presence of construction and refinery ships in the fleet combined with a presumed large storage capacity for spare parts means ''Galactica'' could probably repair even quite major structural damage given time.
*''Pegasus'' seems to fulfill its role just like the [[Pegasus (TOS)|original ''Pegasus'']], as it fights to the end to defeat two basestars and allows ''Galactica'' along with the last of the Fleet to escape from the Cylons. However, we see explicitly that the new ''Pegasus'' is destroyed and that most of its crew, including its commander, survive. The Original Series left the fate of its ''Pegasus'' to speculation.

== Notes ==
* "Exodus, Part II" was awarded the [[Awards and Honors|IGN.com Editor's choice award]], following a review in which it recieved a rating of 9/10. This marks the second of such awards presented for the third season, the first of which was awarded for the season premiere [[Occupation]].
* There is also a TOS comic named ''[[Exodus!]]''
*This episode marks the destruction of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]''.
* The two parts of "Exodus" were originally planned as one episode. However, it was quickly realized that the story was far too large for one episode and it was split in two. This happened before with "[[Scattered]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]" and "[[Resurrection Ship, Part I|Resurrection Ship]]." It also helped save money because the construction of New Caprica, the extensive location shooting, the number of actors, as well as the special effects for "Exodus, Part II" were very expensive and the production was over budget.
* The Viper Mark VIIs deployed by ''Galactica'' in this episode have a yellow engine-glow instead of their usual blue. This is also the case in "[[Maelstrom]]" suggesting that it is a normal effect in atmospheric flight.
* The moment where Lee pauses to look back at the ''Pegasus'' CIC and says "thank you" is reminiscent of a similar moment in the ''[[MemoryAlpha:Ds9|Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[MemoryAlpha:The Changing Face of Evil|The Changing Face of Evil]]", in which, after the doomed ''Defiant'' is ordered to be evacuated, Captain Sisko takes a long look back at his ruined bridge. As with ''Pegasus'', in the next shot, the ship is destroyed. Bradley Thompson and David Weddle, who wrote "Exodus, Part II", were staff writers on DS9.
*Kate Vernon on the SciFi Forums<ref>http://forums.scifi.com/index.php?showtopic=2250922&st=64</ref> stated that Ellen Tigh knew about the poison in her drink.
*The [[Battle of New Caprica]] scenes were constructed using [[w:Lightwave|Lightwave]], with each [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raider]] being [[w:keyframe|keyframe]] animated.<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/currentissue/7304.html|title=Heavy-Duty VFX Management for Battlestar Galactica: Tracking 100s of Layers to Render Huge Space Scenes on Deadline|date=1 November 2006|accessdate=10 February 2007|last=Frazer|first=Bryant|format=|language=}}</ref>
*When ''Galactica'' jumps several thousand feet from the surface of [[New Caprica]] a vacuum is created by the sudden loss of mass that consumes the re-entry fires engulfing its hull and the clouds surrounding it. A sonic boom and a shock wave are also produced when it jumps.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''Lee discussing Adama's orders with Dualla:''
:'''Dualla''': Hoshi's working on updating our map coordinates for the search for Earth. Civilian captains want to meet with you. They have questions, problems... [He is silent.] Talk to me, Lee.
:'''Lee''': I'm having trouble... accepting this.
:'''Dualla''': I know. But we have to push forward. Keep the Fleet together. Find Earth.
:'''Lee''': Right. That's our duty.
:'''Dualla''': There's still a chance they'll come back. Your father has pulled off more than a few miracles in his day.
:'''Lee''': I know that. And I haven't given up hope.
:'''Dualla''': Yes, you have. I saw the look on your face when you came back from the Galactica. Like you were never gonna see him again.
:'''Lee''': Am I that easy to read?
:'''Dualla''': Just to me.
:'''Lee''': He's taking on too much for one half-strength Battlestar to handle. And that's not opinion. That's military fact. He's not coming back from this. None of them are.
:'''Dualla''': All we can do is make plans for the future. We have to survive. We have to find Earth. If we don't, they'll be no one to remember a man named William Adama. Or a Battlestar named Galactica. That is our charge to keep.
:'''Lee''': To keep humanity going. No matter what the cost. No matter -- No matter who we leave behind.
:'''Dualla''': You can do this. You can get us there. You are Commander of this Fleet, and you will guide us to safety. And you will do it no matter the cost. Because you're an Adama.
:'''Lee''': Did I ever tell you how proud I am to serve with you?
:'''Dualla''': Not in so many words, no.
:'''Lee''': Well, I am proud to serve with you, Lieutenant. And to call you my wife. [They kiss.] Now let's talk about... map coordinates, meeting with ships' captains.

*''Discussing the failure of the occupation:''
:'''Number Three''': What would you have us do, Gaius?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Leave. Pack up your centurions, and go. Please. Go.
:'''Number Three''': And then what? What would you do if we really just left you here? You'd live out your lives in peace and never trouble yourselves with thoughts of us again? Or would you raise your children with stories of the Cylon, the mechanical slaves who once did your bidding, only to turn against you? Killers who committed genocide against your race, the occupiers of this city until we just ran away? Would you tell them to tell the story to their children, and to their childrens' children, and nurse a dream of vengeance down through the years so that one day they could just go out into the stars and hunt the Cylon once more?
:'''Gaius Baltar''': Blood for blood ...has to stop one day.

*''Roslin heads to ''[[Colonial One]]'':''
:'''Roslin''': My ship's up there.
:'''Zarek''': You sure have a sense of the dramatic.

*''Adama comes to accept ''Galactica'''s end:''
:'''Admiral Adama:''' Then that's it. It's been an honor.

*''After Hearing ''Pegasus'' Has Joined ''Galactica''':
:'''Admiral William Adama''': Damn You, Lee ...Thank You, Lee.

*''The ''Pegasus'' is evacuated before its destruction:''
:'''Dualla:''' Alright, people, let's move. Out! Let's go. (To Lee): You too, Commander.
:'''Commander Lee Adama:''' Yes, sir. (Begins to leave, then stops and looks around at ''Pegasus''): Thank you.

*''As the two Adamas reunite after the battle:''
:'''Admiral William Adama''': I guess you didn't understand my orders.
:'''Commander Lee Adama''': I never could read your handwriting.

*''Adama welcomes Col. Tigh back to ''Galactica:''
:'''Adama:''' You did it, Saul. You brought them back.
:'''Tigh:''' Not all of them.

== Official Statements ==

== Guest Stars ==
*[[Michael Hogan]] as [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lt. [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Henderson Tyrol|Cally Tyrol]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Michael Trucco]] as [[Samuel Anders]]
*[[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
*[[Rick Worthy]] as [[Simon]]
*[[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Leoben Conoy]]
*[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
*[[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
*[[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*[[Erica Cerra]] as [[Maya]]
*[[Luciana Carro]] as Lt. [[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]
*[[Leah Cairns]] as Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
*[[Madeline Parker]] as [[Kacey]]
*[[Dominic Zamprogna]] as [[James Lyman|James "Jammer" Lyman]]
*[[Eileen Pedde]] as [[Erin Mathias]]
*[[Ty Olsson]] as Captain [[Aaron Kelly]]
*[[Ryan Robbins]] as [[Charlie Connor]]
*[[Emilie Ullerup]] as [[Julia Brynn]]

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

{{episode list (RDM season 3)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:Exodus, Part II]]