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Blood on the Scales

2009-05-19T17:34:34Z

GSwarthout: /* Analysis */

{{Concision Fairy}}

{{Episode Data
| image=Blood on the Scales promo.jpg
| title= Blood on the Scales
| season= 4
| episode=14
| guests=
| writer= [[Michael Angeli]] <ref name="battlestarsitrep">{{cite_web|url=http://galacticasitrep.blogspot.com/2008/05/angeli-also-rises.html|title=Angeli Also Rises|}}</ref>
| story=
| director= [[Wayne Rose]]
| production=416
| rating=1,767,000<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/10/monk-wwe-raw-the-closer-and-burn-notice-lead-cable-viewing/12499|title='Monk , WWE RAW , The Closer and Burn Notice lead cable viewing|date=10 February 2009|accessdate=17 February 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 6, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=February 6, 2009
| UK airdate=February 10 2009
| dvd=
| population=39603
| oldpopulation= 39643
| prev=[[The Oath]]
| next=[[No Exit]]
| forumthread= 2552
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Felix Gaeta]]'s mutiny continues while Roslin finds refuge on the Cylon Basestar.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===
* Rebel marines led by [[Aaron Kelly]] storm the airlock and capture [[Admiral Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh]] both of whom were stunned by a flash grenade.
* Tigh recognizes Kelly and calls him "the brig rat." Kelly is visibly uneasy about all this.
* Meanwhile, the [[Raptor]] with President [[Roslin]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] on board heads for the [[Basestar (RDM)#Rebel basestar|Basestar]].
* A pair of Vipers, piloted by Narcho and Hotdog, pursue the Raptor. Hotdog, who is unaware of the mutiny on ''Galactica'', gets the Raptor in his sights, but doesn't fire. Instead he orders the Raptor to identify itself.
* Narcho tells Hotdog to destroy the Raptor, but Hotdog continues to ask for the target's identification.
* Roslin transmits a message from the Raptor saying that she is aboard the Raptor. [[Gage]] blocks the transmission, but not before Hotdog receives it.
* [[Gaeta]], now in command of the CIC, contacts Hotdog and orders him to destroy the Raptor. When Hotdog continues to hold his fire, Narcho goes in and launches a pair of missiles at the Raptor.
* The [[Eight]] piloting the Raptor successfully avoids the missiles, which hit the Basestar instead. The Raptor successfully docks at the Basestar.
* Gaeta orders Colonel Tigh to be placed in the brig with the other Cylons, but orders Admiral Adama to be brought to the CIC.
* On board the Basestar, the Cylons demand to know why they're being fired upon. Roslin explains the situation. Fearing that the government has been overthrown, the Cylons want to jump away from the Fleet.
* Roslin insists that they give Adama a chance to retake ''Galactica''. Baltar points out that it's unlikely that Adama will win and that Gaeta and Zarek have the majority of support on ''Galactica''. Roslin counters that they've already seen evidence that not all of ''Galactica'''s crew support the mutiny.
* Roslin tells the Cylons to move their ship into the middle of the Fleet, so that ''Galactica'' won't be able to fire upon them.
* Back on ''Galactica'', Adama is brought to the CIC. Gaeta asks him to call Roslin and convince her to surrender.
* Adama refuses and instead pulls off his admiral pins. He throws them to Gaeta and sarcastically tells Gaeta that he's the admiral now and to make the call himself.
* Gaeta orders gun batteries to target the Basestar, but before they can do so, the Basestar moves into the middle of the Fleet. Gaeta calls off the attack and orders the Basestar to be quarantined. He also gives orders to prepare for [[Tom Zarek]]'s arrival.
* Adama asks Gaeta if he's planning on shooting him. Gaeta gives no response.

=== Act 1 ===
* ''[[Colonial One]]'' lands on ''Galactica'''s flight deck, with Zarek and the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] on board.
* Kelly, Narcho, [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Diana Seelix|Seelix]], and other rebels escort Zarek from the flight deck, while [[Lee Adama|Lee]] and [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] watch, hidden behind some machinery. Once they are out of sight, Lee and Starbuck move on.
* In a Raptor aboard the rebel Baseship, Roslin attempts to transmit a signal to anyone who will listen, without success.
* In the holding cell, Hera looks with concern at Helo's head wound. Athena attempts to assure her that he will get better.
* Caprica-Six nurses Tigh's ear, bleeding from the stun grenade.
* Anders wonders aloud what Gaeta will do. Tigh quips, "In your case, cut off one of your frakking legs."
* In Adama's quarters, Gaeta tells Zarek that he has "a net" over the Baseship, and thus Zarek did not need to bring the entire Quorum with him to ''Galactica''. Zarek replies that as long as Gaeta insists on having a trial for Adama, he wants the Quorum where he can keep an eye on them. Zarek says they need to move on, but Gaeta replies that before that can happen, people must answer for what they've done, beginning with Adama.
* Tyrol continues to sneak through the corridors of ''Galactica'' unnoticed. On Deck D Corridor 2, he hears the sound of a door opening and runs for cover.
* Hidden from view, Tyrol observes Kelly and two rebel marines escorting [[Romo Lampkin]] at gunpoint. Romo wonders if anyone will feed his dog.
* In Adama's quarters, Zarek reads the charges against Adama: treason, desertion, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and gross dereliction of duty. Zarek reminds him that the punishment for these crimes is death by firing squad. All the while, Adama glares at Gaeta.
* Zarek tells Romo that the Admiral is entitled to a court martial, but they need a lawyer to handle his defense. Adama mutters, "They need a pimp."
* Romo wonders why they are doing all of this. Gaeta replies, "For justice." Romo, considering the tone of the room, conjectures that if he should choose to pass on this "field trip for justice," that the two marines guarding him will instead use him for target practice. Zarek impatiently tells him to just do his job.
* Zarek goes on to say that "Commander" Gaeta will represent the people, and that Zarek himself will be serving as judge. Romo wonders if they've run out of ship's captains. Gaeta replies that the captains are busy defending their ships against the Basestar Adama welcomed into the Fleet. "Shove it up your ass," Adama tells Gaeta pointedly.
* Gaeta continues to argue with a mockingly defiant Adama. Adama points out that the rebel Cylons gave "aid and comfort" to the fleet, not vice versa. As the argument begins to escalate, Romo asks for a few minutes with Adama.
* On the Basestar, Roslin continues to unsuccessfully try to use the Raptor's communication system to contact anyone, with the Cylons looking on. A Six remarks that they no longer have the protection of the Fleet, and the Viper patrols are becoming increasingly bold, firing into space, inviting the Cylons to react. Tory Foster tells the other Cylons that they should all talk.
* On ''Galactica'', Tyrol uses a crowbar to pry the cover off of a service tunnel, and crawls inside.
* On ''Colonial One'', Zarek addresses the Quorum. As Zarek speaks in support of Gaeta's leadership of the military, the Quorum delegates are visibly concerned. Zarek tells the Quorum that he has brought them to ''Galactica'' to show Gaeta that the Quorum delegates are people who, "at the end of the day, still stand by your president." At this, the Quorum bursts into an excited discussion, which ends with [[Jacob Cantrell]] telling Zarek, "I think you should leave now, Mr. Vice President." The other delegates are in agreement.
* Zarek walks out of the conference room in defeat. In the adjacent corridor, he tells two marines, "Shoot them." Zarek then tells Kelly to get Gaeta. Kelly walks away to the sounds of screams and gunfire. He is visibly disturbed by the sounds.

=== Act 2 ===
* On ''Colonial One'', Gaeta looks in horror on the slain Quorum delegates, and angrily rebukes Zarek. Zarek reminds him that Gaeta began the coup, and that this is just another consequence of that. Gaeta is in disbelief, remarking that until now they had the truth on their side. Zarek tells him that the truth is told by whoever is left standing, and reminds him that Adama must be eliminated.
* On ''Galactica'', Tyrol continues to crawl through a cramped and dirty service tunnel.
* On the rebel Baseship, Tory informs Roslin that the Cylons have decided to jump away to ensure their own survival. The Six tells Roslin that Gaeta will likely execute Tigh, Tyrol, Anders, and any of the others who oppose him, such as Kara, Helo, and Adama.
* Roslin urges the Cylons to stay, reminding them that they have all made a habit out of beating the odds, particularly William Adama, and that when he returns to command, he will know who stuck with him and who ran.
* Tyrol crawls out of the duct into an empty munitions locker, where he is met at gunpoint by Kelly. Tyrol notes that the rebels sprang him from the brig.
* Kelly tells him to get out of the duct, but Tyrol says that he is too tired and that Kelly should just shoot him. Kelly replies that he's a machine, to which Tyrol replies that Kelly is a "dumbass." Kelly and Tyrol both begin laughing at this, and Kelly lowers his rifle.
* They both hear the sounds of gunfire in the distance. Kelly remarks, "This was a hell of a ship once." Tyrol agrees. Kelly tells Tyrol he heard his child wasn't a Cylon, and that he could have told Tyrol that Cally was "trouble." Tyrol laughs, saying it would not have mattered.
* After collecting himself, Kelly again points his rifle at Tyrol, but when Tyrol braces himself for the shot, Kelly instead tells him to leave, yelling "Go on skinjob, go!" After Tyrol crawls back into the duct, Kelly berates himself.
* In Adama's quarters, Romo hands Adama a pen to sign a statement. Adama refuses, but Romo urges him to put his innocence on record, and to give his people time to retake the ship.
* One of the rebels who was guarding the holding cell goes to the latrine, where Starbuck smashes his head into the wall.
[[Image:Lida.jpg|thumb|Lida approaching Baltar.]]
* On the rebel Baseship, a Six named [[Lida]] asks Baltar if he is injured. He replies that they typically use the word "damaged" instead of "injured."
* In the corridor outside the holding cell, Lee and Starbuck argue over the best way to overpower the guards. Lee throws a grenade into their midst, and in the ensuing panic Lee and Starbuck gun them all down. Immediately after the last guard goes down, Starbuck ducks for cover, but an amused Lee nonchalantly walks to the thrown grenade and picks it back up. He tells Starbuck that he never pulled the pin, to which she states, "Not funny."
* With the guards dispatched, Lee and Starbuck free the prisoners, but Lee is upset to learn that his father is not among them.
* On their way out of the cell, Starbuck and Anders search the guards for weapons, but Lee tells them that they are quickly running out of time.
* A rebel turns the corner and fires at Starbuck and Anders. Starbuck shoots the rebel in the chest, but not before Anders is struck by a bullet in the neck, causing him to stumble.

=== Act 3 ===
* While Lee covers them, Starbuck looks after a wounded Anders. Sounds of yelling and gunfire indicate that there is fighting nearby. Lee insists that they need to leave.
* Tigh tells Caprica-Six to take Hera to Baltar's followers for safety, as "no one wants to go near those nutjobs." She insists she can take care of herself.
* Lee yells for Tigh to help him get Anders off the ground, but Starbuck tells Lee to go after his father instead. Athena and the others go with Lee and Tigh, while Starbuck stays with an incoherent Anders.
* In Adama's quarters, the "court martial" proceeds apace, with Gaeta arguing that Adama deserted them on New Caprica. Romo objects, saying Gaeta is badgering the witness. Not surprisingly, his objection goes unheard by Zarek.
* As Adama continues to mock Gaeta, Zarek receives a call telling him that Tigh and the other "skinjobs" escaped. Zarek tells Adama and the others that Tigh was killed trying to escape. At the news of his longtime friend's death, Adama shows the first signs of emotion, and tells Gaeta that he is not answering any more of his questions.
* Zarek declares the prisoner guilty as charged, upsetting Romo, who says, "This isn't a trial, this is an asylum." Zarek angrily grabs Romo and pushes him against the bulkhead.
* Roslin's voice is heard over the wireless, prompting a smile from Adama and looks of concern from everyone else. Roslin announces that Gaeta took command of ''Galactica'' by force, and that the Cylons were merely defending themselves when they moved the baseship into the Fleet. She then commands the Fleet ships to power down their FTL drives.
* On the rebel Baseship, Roslin exclaims that their signal could not be jammed. Behind her, a [[Number Two|Leoben]] is leaning on a device with flashing red lights, to which the Raptor's comm system is presumably connected. "I thought this would do the trick," he says with a grin.
* Back on ''Galactica'', Starbuck slowly drags an unconscious Anders a short distance before falling on the floor, exhausted. [[Parr]], the rebel marine escorting a bound Romo, happens upon them, commanding Starbuck to show him her hands. Romo readies his pen. Starbuck draws her sidearm and pulls the trigger, but the weapon is empty. Seizing his opportunity, Romo stabs his captor in the neck repeatedly with his pen. After removing his restraints, he retrieves his sunglasses and a sidearm from the fallen guard.
* Starbuck implores Romo to help her get Anders to Dr. Cottle, but Romo refuses, citing the fact that on the way there, he and his "friend" had already been shot at twice, once by his own men. Further considering the situation, an obviously conflicted Romo chooses to turn around and help.
* In CIC, Gage informs Gaeta that ten of the thirty-five ships remaining in the Fleet shut down their FTL drives after Roslin's announcement. Narcho is upset, but Gaeta tells him that Roslin did them a favor in exposing those ships who would cause them trouble. Gaeta tells Gage to give jump coordinates only to those ships that kept their FTL drives online, and to order them to jump immediately.
* Gaeta then tells Narcho to assemble an execution detail comprised of men he can trust, to secure the main hangar bay launch tube, and to take Adama down there and await further orders. Narcho shows some reluctance, but he insists that Gaeta can count on him "all down the line."
* Gaeta asks Zarek, who is waiting nearby, if he is spying on him. Zarek insists that they simply need to get through the current predicament, and move on.
* In a corridor somewhere on ''Galactica'', Narcho leads a team of six rebel marines who are escorting Adama to the launch tube, with Kelly walking behind the group. After some consideration, Kelly breaks off from the group and goes to the [[memorial hallway]], where he drops his rifle and breaks down in tears.
* In a nearby corridor, Tigh and Athena keep watch while Lee opens a service panel and disconnects a power line, causing the main lights to go out. Sounds of gunfire indicate there is still heavy fighting nearby.
* Tyrol continues to crawl through service tubes, this time crawling behind a latrine. He coughs and gags at the smell.
* In the memorial hallway, Lee confronts Kelly, who is nearly catatonic with grief. He finally admits to Lee that the others are planning on executing Adama in the main launch tube. Lee moves to punch Kelly, but Tigh pulls him away. As they run to the hangar deck, Kelly picks up his rifle and runs after them, yelling, "I'm coming with you!"
* On the rebel Baseship, Baltar dreams of Adama's death by firing squad, which wakes him violently. In bed with him, Lida attempts to comfort him, but Baltar rebuffs her, saying that he has run for his life yet again. She tells him that fear makes people act differently, but he says that he did not run out of fear this time.
* For the first time, Baltar admits that he is merely playing the role of religious leader to humor his followers, and that he privately scorns their "provincial intellects" and their unfailing willingness to make him feel better; however, he also admits that he feels responsible for them, and that he must go back.
* On the hangar deck, Adama is tied to a chair in the main launch tube by a marine while Narcho stands nearby, distressed. As Narcho walks towards the eight marines with rifles at the ready, Adama spits.
* From the rebel Baseship, Roslin gives the rebels five minutes to return command to Admiral Adama.
* In CIC, an increasingly concerned Zarek listens to Roslin's ultimatum, and looks around for Gaeta, who is absent.
* In Adama's quarters, Gaeta walks to Adama's desk, where he drops the admiral pins on ''Galactica'''s watch log. He then calls Narcho, telling him to carry out the execution.
* On the hangar deck, Narcho replies, "Yes, sir," and hangs up with Tigh pointing a sidearm at his head. Meanwhile, Lee unties his father from the chair in the launch tube, and Kelly and Athena have their rifles pointed at eight marines, all disarmed and kneeling with hands behind their heads.
* Adama is overjoyed to see Tigh, who he was told was dead. Tigh replies that for a while, he was.
* Adama addresses the kneeling, disarmed marines, saying, "I'm gonna take back my ship." Adama then addresses Narcho, who tells him that while he has always respected him, he hates the Cylons, and he cannot take orders from a leader who won't fight them. At this, Tigh raises his weapon to Narcho's head, but Adama orders him to stand down, and orders Narcho to be tied up instead.
* Sitting at Adama's desk, Gaeta removes his prosthesis and scratches the stump underneath.
* Deep in the bowels of ''Galactica'', Tyrol finally has enough room to crouch rather than crawl, allowing him to move faster.
* In CIC, Zarek orders Vireem to pass him through to Roslin. As Gaeta walks into CIC, Zarek addresses Roslin on the rebel Baseship, introducing himself as the President of the Twelve Colonies. He announces that Tigh was killed in an escape attempt, and that Adama was tried, found guilty of his crimes, and was executed by firing squad earlier that morning. Zarek insists that Roslin think of the welfare of the people of the Fleet, and surrender.
* Roslin vehemently refuses, vowing to use every weapon at her disposal to come after Zarek and the other mutineers. The weapon emplacements on the Baseship open, targeting ''Galactica''.

=== Act 4 ===
* In CIC, after Zarek's statements to Roslin, Gaeta remarks that now they have a military leader and a president in one. Zarek questions how Gaeta would have handled the situation, had he been there.
* Gage indicates that the Baseship is arming itself, and that they are jump ready. Gaeta orders the board be set to green, and a crew member inserts the FTL key at gunpoint.
* Tyrol rushes down a set of stairs in ''Galactica'''s FTL engine room.
* Adama marches towards CIC, leading an increasingly large group of marines, officers, and enlisted crew.
* In the FTL engine room, Tyrol breaks open the door to the auxiliary control station, and attempts to shut down the FTL drive with his command code.
* As Adama and his group of loyalists continue their march to CIC, Roslin's voice is heard over the wireless, commanding ''Galactica'' to surrender.
* In the FTL engine room, Tyrol's command code is denied (as he is not currently in active duty). Instead he looks to some nearby machinery and, with some effort, removes a [[Sync coil|vital component]] and shuts down the FTL drive.
* In CIC, Gage announces the FTL drive's shutdown. Zarek begins ordering crew members to look into it, but no one moves. He tells Gaeta to launch Vipers to defend themselves, but Gaeta ignores him, and instead recalls his own words: "One day soon there's gonna be a reckoning."
* Gage announces that gun batteries have fixed target bearings and are ready to fire. With Zarek at a near-panic, Gaeta realizes they are defeated, and orders a weapons hold.
* Adama arms himself with the sidearm from a nearby marine, and the group storms CIC. No resistance is offered by the mutineers.
* Adama gets on the wireless, identifies himself, confirms that he has retaken command, and tells Roslin to stand down. Roslin, Baltar, and even the Cylons are relieved to hear his voice.
* Zarek, Gaeta, and the other mutineers are taken away at gunpoint.
* In the FTL engine room, an exhausted Tyrol drops the component as the massive FTL drive slowly come to a halt. As he turns to the bulkhead, he notices some significant structural damage which concerns him greatly.
* On ''Galactica'', Roslin climbs down a ladder and, seeing Adama alive for the first time since she boarded the Raptor, cries tears of joy. The two leaders walk together, his arm around her.
* In Gaeta's quarters, Gaeta and Baltar are smoking cigarettes - something Gaeta has not been seen doing for quite some time. Gaeta is telling Baltar of the many careers he once dreamed of pursuing: architecture, medicine, engineering, photography, and finally, science.
* Baltar, on the verge of tears, begins to say something, but Gaeta stops him. He assures Baltar that he is fine with the way things turned out, and that his only wish is that eventually, people realize who he is. Baltar tells Gaeta that he knows who he is.
* Gaeta and Zarek are seated in the main launch tube of the hangar deck, with Adama, Lee, Tigh, and Baltar standing behind the firing squad.
* Just before Adama orders the execution detail to fire, Gaeta looks down at his severed leg in astonishment and remarks, "It stopped."

== Notes ==
*The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] were murdered on Zarek's order for supporting President Roslin. [[Lee Adama]] survived as he wasn't present during the Quorum session. Two other regular Quorum members (Gemenon Delegate and one other delegate) were replaced by temporary stand-ins (who were killed), and their fate is unknown.
*Romo Lampkin while being forced to serve as Adama's lawyer during his trial he referred to two looming Marine guards as "Wynken and Blynken". This was in reference to the poem of ''[[Wikipedia:Wynken, Blynken, and Nod|Wynken, Blynken, and Nod]]'', a late 19th century Dutch child's lullaby by [[Wikipedia:Eugene Field|Eugene Field]] about three fishermen fishing in the starry night in the sky with the help of the moon and uses a magic wooden shoe as their boat.<ref>[http://www3.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/literature/eugenefield/poems/poemsofchildhood/wynkenblynkenandnod.html Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" Lullaby]</ref>
*This episode marks the death of Felix Gaeta and Tom Zarek, who are executed by firing squad for their mutiny against Adama and the government.
*The character Captain Kelly was last seen during season 3 when he was arrested for his bombing and assassinations of Baltar's lawyers. His character has appeared intermittently since the show began and it is fitting that he would be a double-turn coat as he was part of the original senior staff and his love for Admiral Adama is proven to be stronger than his hatred for the Cylons.
*The events depicted in "The Oath" and "Blood on the Scales" cover approximately nine hours: Tigh enters Adama's quarters at 0620 at the beginning of "The Oath", culminates with Gaeta seizing the CIC at 0922, and concludes with Adama and his loyalists retaking the CIC at 1532 in "Blood on the Scales". The executions of Gaeta and Zarek, however, take place at an unspecified time later.
*The firing-squad executions of Gaeta and Zarek mark the first time a method other than [[airlock|airlocking]] has been used on screen, although the action takes place in the same location where most recent airlocking incidents have occurred.
*The ship's [[FTL]] drive is seen for the first time.
*Baltar becomes involved with a previously-unseen copy of [[Number Six]] (referenced off-screen by the name [[Lida]]). Discounting his Virtual Six, this makes the third copy of Six with whom he has had relations, after [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Gina]].

== Analysis ==
*Despite all of the support that Gaeta and Zarek seemed to have at the beginning of the mutiny, Roslin and Adama had more support from people opposed to it and possibly people who rethought it like Kelly. On Roslin and Adama's side were ''Galactica's'' senior staff (the members of CIC were either people on Gaeta's side or forced to work at gunpoint by marines), at least most of the crew given how many people joined Adama's march to CIC, the Quorum of Twelve and the Cylons and Baltar's followers. Gaeta and Zarek had the supporters they'd managed to gather amongst ''Galactica's'' crew and about 25 ships who refused Roslin's order to stand down FTL drives. In the end Adama and Roslin were successful because the people supported them more and Adama had enough respect from his crew that he was able to turn a lot back to his side just by stating his intention to retake the ship and walking by others. Gaeta and Zarek had to use force to get what they wanted. Many people, both in support of Gaeta/Zarek and in opposition, were killed. Given the death count, 40 in the first four hours of the mutiny, from 06:32 hours when Zarek was released from the Brig to sometime after 10:30 hours when Adama and Tigh are captured in the stowage bay (with most of the killing starting shortly after 09:02 hours after Capt. [[Kara Thrace]] rescues Delegate [[Lee Adama]] in the Hanger Deck. [[Peter Laird]] was the very first death, occuring shortly before 07:00 hours.), the attack on those Loyal to Adama was vicious. The break down of mutineer and loyalist deaths hasn't been given yet, but it is most likely that most of these deaths were those loyal to Adama since Gaeta/Zarek forces had the elements of both surprise and preparation in their favor. The 40 figure only represents the deaths by the end of "[[The Oath]]", near the approximate halfway point of the mutiny at 10:30 hours. With the retaking of CIC by Adama and Tigh, the mutiny ended at 15:32 hours, approximately nine hours elapsed time (they may have been resisters after that time not wishing to be taken into custody). Mutiny death figures since 10:30 hours, including the murder of the Quorum delegates, will be reflected in the survivor population count after the teaser of "[[No Exit]]" unless otherwise indicated.
*Gaeta's sudden lack of pain in his amputated leg signals that his chronic pain (which he tried to numb with painkillers during the webisodes) was partially psychological. Once he was at peace with who he was and what he had done, his mental pain and much of his physical pain and itching disappeared. His last words acknowledged that the irritation had stopped.
*The marines who eventually joined Adama's side near the end of the episode indicates that other mutineers simply were part of the coup out of self-preservation or at least wanting to be on the "winning" side. Once it was clear that Adama and the senior staff were rising up and reclaiming the ship, the marines, and others finally arose as well.
*By sparing Narcho's life, Admiral Adama characteristically shows his love and compassion for those who serve under him. Despite his speech of "no forgiveness" in "The Oath", it is clear that Adama will attempt to give the some of the mutineers a second chance.
**Not likely, the podcast for Deadlocked says they were all imprisoned on the ''Astral Queen''.
*From a pragmatic standpoint, Humanity, such at the verge of extinction anyways, can not afford to lose large numbers of people.
*The mutineers at no point subdued all resistance aboard ''Galactica''. As Adama marched on CIC, many crew members rushed to join him, indicating that they were either still resisting or were waiting for a sign that the tide had turned. CIC also was controlled by Gaeta through the use of marines who held most of the staff at gunpoint.
* Tyrol, while attempting to disable Galactica's jump drive notices odd tears in the hull near the FTL assembly. It is not known whether this was hull stress caused by Tyrol disabling the FTL as the ship was about to jump, or an as-yet unexplained problem that has an impact on Galactica's hull.
**''Galactica'' may be suffering from serious long term metal fatigue and/or cumulative battle damage, as evidenced by the bulkhead deformation Tyrol discovers in the FTL drive room. Over the course of the series, Tigh has made a number of comments on ''Galactica's'' worsening structural condition, especially in absence of any possibility for repair at a shipyard. The ship itself is 50+ years old and has seen combat in two wars against the Cylons, and after all the damage its taken - the [[Battle of New Caprica]] being the most obvious example - it is not all that surprising to see the ship's structural integrity begin to fail like this.
** It is extremely unlikely that the damage witnessed by Tyrol was a result of his improper shut-down of the FTL, a tear of that size in metal would likely have been extremely loud and Tyrol does not notice the damage until he just happens to glance up at it. While it is possible that the FTL drive spun up would be louder than the sound of such a crack there is also no strong vibrations shown either in engineering or on the bridge, which would no doubt accompany such a large tear. Given that the area where Tyrol is an auxiliary control center, which is unlikely the be manned unless there is a problem with the FTL drives or for periodic maintenance, it is eminently possible that the tear has been there for some time since it has been quite some time since Galactica has been depicted as having FTL problem. However, as were are dealing with a device that can bend time and space, nothing can be completely discredited at this point.
*Roslin threatens to attack ''Galactica'' if Gaeta and Zarek do not surrender. Numerous missile emplacements are then shown opening along the arms of the rebel basestar. Due to the known incompetence of ''Galactica's'' mutineer crew (Gage being unable to jam Roslin's transmission in [[The Oath]] without Gaeta's help), the chaos aboard ''Galactica'' with a mutiny still ongoing, and ''Galatica's'' status as an undermanned vessel, it is possible that the basestar could have successfully engaged and destroyed ''Galactica'' or at least severely damaged her enough to prevent her escaping.
*Captain Kelly, after having been locked up in the brig for his attempts to assassinate Baltar's lawyers, still holds a deep love for the Galactica and her commander. As he was a part of the original senior leadership (3rd in command as shown after Adama's near-assassination), his nostalgic comments with Tyrol indicated his withering resolve to be part of the coup. In addition, being a witness to the cruelty of Zarek with the Quorum was probably the first catalyst for his repentance.
*Gaeta, prior to his execution, is shown smoking and having drinks with Baltar. This is significant as Gaeta is rarely shown smoking during the show, and when it is shown, it was done when Gaeta finally felt free to be who he wanted to be. The first time was during his taped interview with D'Anna where he "let his hair down" so to speak. Incorporating a final smoke for Gaeta seemed appropriate to allow the audience to see a humanized Gaeta again.
*Gaeta and Baltar have a civil conversation before Gaeta's execution indicating that the two have forgiven each other for thier past transgressions: Gaeta trying to kill Baltar and Baltar's involvement with the Cylons on New Caprica.
*Baltar, despite admitting to not really liking his followers, has developed a sense of responsibility towards them as shown when he's speaking with [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]] about them and deciding to go back. This is the first time that Baltar has been shown to truly care about something besides himself indicating he may have changed somewhat.
*Dialogue in this episode indicates there are 35 civilian ships left in the fleet. This is the first time since abandoning [[New Caprica]] that significant information on the number of ships left in the fleet has emerged. This number doesn't seem to tally with the observed losses in the fleet since the first season, although the number of ships has been portrayed inconsistently throughout the miniseries and the main seasons (a figure in the mid 70s being mentioned in [[Home, Part I]]). The figure of 35 stated here- indicating a loss of half the fleet's ships- seems somewhat inconsistent with a the human population that has only declined by about one fifth since the arrival of Pegasus's crew which bolstered the number of survivors to close to 50,000. Ships being abandoned on New Caprica or afterwards may explain this strikingly low number unless it is a continuity error. If 35 is a correct figure, the other ships in the fleet must have somehow found a way to take a huge number of extra people aboard.
**It is possible that the 35 civilian ships that were mentioned were the total number of ships that had initially sided with Zarek and Gaeta, rather than the entire number of ships in the fleet. If they had been ready to jump at Zarek and Gaeta's order, their FTL drives would have been spun up. With Roslin's broadcast, though, 10 of the 35 would have switched sides again and shut down their FTLs, indicating the end of their desire to follow the coup leaders.
*Ronald D Moore has commented that ''Galactica'' is severely undermanned at this point and therefore large parts of the ship are empty, making it easier for mutineers and counter-mutineers to move around unobserved. This however is contradicted by the fact that ''Galactica'' now has the crew of ''Pegasus'' aboard and the ship has in fact been seen to be overcrowded. Even allowing for losses on New Caprica and the fact that ''Pegasus'' was undermanned, the ship should still have a larger crew compliment than when she began her journey. In orbit around New Caprica the two ships still had over 2000 personnel still serving and doubtless most if not all former crew re-enlisted after the evacuation of New Caprica. Galactica's combined crew have not been seen to have taken any substantial losses since leaving New Caprica that would leave much of the ship empty. This may be a retcon or continuity error. It should be noted, however, that a large proportion of the people on the ship following the escape from New Caprica were civilians who may have since been relocated. Furthermore, it may be that only certain areas of the ship - such as the living quarters - are overcrowded. The exact number of personnel that a fully manned ''Galactica'' should have is unknown.
*Despite [[Sharon Agathon]]'s vision-induced paranoia of a Six taking her daughter, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]<ref>Sharon kills [[Natalie]] in "[[Sine Qua Non]]" when she sees the latter with Hera in a corridor after Sharon, President Roslin, and Caprica-Six all have a vision of a Six absconding with Hera at the opera house.</ref>, she does not protest [[Caprica-Six]] carrying Hera while Sharon supports her injured husband, [[Karl Agathon|Karl]]. It must be remembered that it was Caprica Six who aided in the escape of Athena with Hera from the Baseship after she got Helo to kill her so she would resurrect on the Baseship and recover their daughter. Caprica Six killed [[Sharon Valerii]] ("Boomer", who later resurrected) after Valerii tried to kill Hera for rejecting her and then Caprica Six helped get both Athena and Hera off the Baseship. Ironically, Caprica Six is the only character who has been seen specifically committing infanticide (not counting Baltar's dream about Adama drowning Hera).<ref>Caprica-Six snaps a human infant's neck in her first scene in the [[Miniseries]].</ref>
*Assuming the writers maintained their preference to mirror real-world military traditions, the firing squad assembled to execute Gaeta and Zarek would likely be composed of low-level mutineers who were treated with leniency and then required to seal their loyalty (and feelings of guilt) by executing their former conspirators.
*It isn't clear whether Gaeta and Zarek were given any sort of trial before being executed. Given Adama and Roslin's preference (albeit sometimes waveringly so) for maintaining the rule of law, it would be surprising if the lead mutineers were just shot out of hand.
* During Tyrol and Kelly's discussion in the arms locker, Kelly mentions that he could have told Tyrol that Cally was trouble, Tyrol's response "Thanks, it wouldn't have mattered", indicates that, even if he had known that Cally had been sleeping with Hot Dog, he would still have married her. This clearly indicates that Tyrol loved her, and the way in which he says it clearly indicates that he still does. This means that Tyrol's tirade against the Admiral after his wife's death was an act, possibly out of grief, possibly to get himself dismissed from the Deck Crew so he couldn't sabotage anything should he have any hidden programming.
* The Cylons among the fleet are, collectively, more loyal to Roslin and Adama (and more willing to forgive past conflicts) than are the humans.

== Questions ==
* What will become of the other mutineers (Racetrack, Narcho, Seelix, etc)? Will Adama follow through with his promise of "no forgiveness"? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
* Will Kelly be allowed to resume his duties on ''Galactica''?
* Who will take over Gaeta's duties? ([[Deadlock|Answer]])
* What repercussions will the Quorum's assassination have on the Fleet? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* What is the significance of the damage Tyrol discovers in the engine room? Has it been there long, or is it a result of the improper shut down of the FTL drive? Do other areas of the ship show similar signs of damage? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Is the same structural deficiency present near the other FTL drive?
* In the [[Miniseries]], Colonel Tigh tells Lt. Gaeta to "spin up FTL drives 1 and 2". Why did Tyrol's deactivation of one FTL drive stop Gaeta from ordering the other's use? Is the other FTL drive still functional?
** Answer: The ship needs both FTL drives to make a proper jump, and Tyrol pulled the [[sync coil]] between the two.
* Will Anders survive his injuries? Were Starbuck and Lampkin even successful in getting him to sickbay? ([[No Exit|Partial Answer]])
* Will the rebel Cylons become less trusting of the humans as a result of this mutiny? Or will they be more inclined to trust certain humans, such as Roslin, since she managed to convince them to stay and follow her leadership?
* What was that device Roslin and Leoben were using to communicate with the rest of the Fleet?
* Why was Lee Adama - as opposed to Roslin - present at Zarek and Gaeta's execution?
* What will be done to the 25 ships who did not obey Roslin's order to power down their FTL drives?
* Will the FTL upgrades proceed once order has been brought back completely?
* Will there be a faction that will attempt to portray Zarek or Gaeta as martyrs?
* Will Helo survive his injuries? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
* How will Baltar's new-found sense of responsibility toward his flock change his behavior?([[Deadlock|Possible Answer]])
* Will the Cylons' assistance of, and subordination to, President Roslin (and/or Colonial political leaders' fears of being associated with the failed coup d'état) secure them the citizenship and Quorum representation they seek?
* Do the Articles of Colonization include pre-approval language for the joining of the fabled "13th Tribe", now known to be Cylons? Such is often the case of comparable federation constitutions; the United States' former [[wikipedia:Articles of Confederation|Articles of Confederation]] included such language with respect to "Canada" (meaning Ontario) and Bermuda.
* With Zarek dead and Lee Adama being the only surviving member of the Quorum (or one of the few surviving members, considering that two regular delegates were replaced by stand-ins), will he become the new Vice President? ([[No Exit|Possible Answer]])
* Are ''Galactica'''s computers now networked?
* With most of the Quorum dead, will Roslin and Adama use the attempted mutiny as a basis to declare martial law? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
* Were Gaeta and Zarek given trials?
* How much time passed between the mutiny and the execution?
* Did Zarek subsequently target the absent members of the Quorum for assassination? Do any of them, other than Lee, live through the mutiny?

== Character Development ==
*''In the [[Miniseries]] (in the teaser) the first time we see Lt. Felix Gaeta and then-Commander Adama, Gaeta was handing him routine reports-and also unknown to them the first indications of trouble-while he was practicing his public address on the occasion of ''Galactica'''s-and his-retirement. It is of note considering what we now know of what the unimaginable future had for them:''

:'''Gaeta''': Morning, sir. (hands him messages) Com traffic from the midwatch.

:'''Adama:''' Morning. (re: messages) Anything interesting?

:'''Gaeta:''' Mostly housekeeping. Oh, there is one odd message we were copied on. (shows him the message) The one from Fleet headquarters. Courier officer's overdue coming back from Armistice station.

:'''Adama:''' Hm.

:'''Gaeta:''' They're asking for a status report on all FTL capable ships in case they need someone to jump out there tomorrow and see if his ship's had a mechanical problem.

:'''Adama:''' I think we're a little busy tomorrow, Mr. Gaeta. What do you think?

:'''Gaeta:''' (grins) Yes, sir. And may I also take this opportunity to say it's been both a pleasure and an honor to serve under you these past three years.

:'''Adama:''' It's been my honor, good luck on your next assignment.

*It's also interesting to note that the first time Roslin meets a Number Two, he is trying to sabotage the fleet and she has him executed ([[Flesh and Bone]]); in this episode she and a Number Two are seen cooperating and sharing a friendly moment. It may have even been the same Number Two, as Leoben is still alive and has been prominent among the rebels.

== Official Statements ==
*[http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-gaeta-blood-scales-angeli.html Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews Michael Angeli about the episode:], The Six who sleeps with Baltar on the baseship is named [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]].

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*'''''Tom Zarek''' delivers his ultimatum to '''Laura Roslin''''':
:'''Zarek''': This is Tom Zarek, President of the Twelve Colonies. It's over, Laura. Saul Tigh was killed attempting to escape. Bill Adama was tried and found guilty of his crimes. A firing squad executed him this morning. It's done, Laura. You want to think about the people of this fleet now, and surrender.
:'''Roslin''': No. Not now. Not ever. Do you hear me? I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have down to my own eyeteeth to end you. I swear it!''' ''I'm coming for all of you!'''''
*'''''Felix Gaeta''' is disturbed by the sight of the slaughtered Quorum delegates:
:'''Gaeta''': We--we had the truth on our side. Now . . . now . . .
:'''Zarek''': The truth is told by whoever is left standing.
*'''''Lee Adama''' has just thrown a grenade towards the marines guarding the Cylon Prisoners, allowing him and '''Kara Thrace''' to kill them, after which Kara takes cover and Lee looks at her both amused and pleased with himself:
:'''Lee Adama''': ''walking forward and picking up the Grenade'' I never pulled the pin.
:'''Kara Thrace''': Ok, that is not funny.
:'''Lee Adama''': It would have been if you had thought of it.
:'''Kara Thrace''': No, still not funny.
*'''''Laura Roslin''''' broadcasting to the fleet:
:'''Roslin''': This is President Laura Roslin speaking from the Cylon baseship. Felix Gaeta has seized ''Galactica'' by force. The Cylons were defending themselves. They will not harm you. I repeat, the Cylons will not harm you. I am asking all ships' captains not to jump. Do not jump! Shut down your FTL drives!
*'''''Felix Gaeta''' is about to be executed for his crimes:
:'''Gaeta''': (referring to the pain from his lost leg) It stopped.

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lieutenant [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Captain [[Aaron Kelly]]
* [[Derek Delost]] as Specialist [[Vireem]]
* [[Mike Dopud]] as Specialist [[Gage]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Sergeant [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Iris Paluly]] as Speaking Delegate [[Dahlia]]
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Adrian Holmes]] as Marine [[Parr]]

== 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]]

Sometimes a Great Notion

2009-05-18T06:28:48Z

GSwarthout: /* Official Statements */

{{Episode Data
| image=Sometimes A Great Notion Promo 026.JPG
| title= Sometimes a Great Notion
| season= 4
| episode=11
| forumthread=2307
| extra='''Season 4.5 Premiere'''
| guests=
| writer=[[David Weddle]]<br/>[[Bradley Thompson]] <ref>Mentioned by Ron Moore in the [[Podcast:Revelation|podcast]] for "[[Revelations]]".</ref>
| story=
| director= [[Michael Nankin]] <ref name="brad">{{oldlink|title=Battlestar Wiki:Official Communiques|oldid=149966|text=Confirmed}} by [[Bradley Thompson]]</ref>
| production=413
| rating= 1.6<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/20/battlestar-galactica-returns-with-double-digit-gains/11149|title='Battlestar Galactica Returns With Double Digit-Gains|date=20 January 2009|accessdate=27 January 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>/2,112,000<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/21/wwe-raw-cinderella-icarly-and-monk-lead-weekly-cable-viewing/11185|title='Updated:WWE RAW, Cinderella, iCarly and Monk lead weekly cable viewing'|date=21 January 2009|accessdate=17 February 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=January 16, 2009 <ref>http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=2&id=61270</ref>
| CAN airdate=January 16, 2009 <ref>http://www.spacecast.com/bsg/</ref>
| UK airdate=January 20, 2009 <ref>TV guide in ScifiNow Magazine and Sky Magazine.</ref>
| dvd=
| podcast=Y
| oldpopulation= 39665
| population= 39651
| prev=[[Revelations]]
| next=[[The Face of the Enemy]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] learns that the dire predictions of the Cylon [[Hybrid]] might be correct, and a devastating discovery plunges the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] into chaos and despair.''

== Summary ==

===Act 1===
* The leaders and central staff of both [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]] and the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] wander about aimlessly on the planet [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], whose surface has been utterly destroyed in a nuclear conflagration for some time. [[Saul Tigh]] stands on a desolate beach, staring out at the ruins of buildings, their mangled shortened skeletons jutting up from the lands ahead in jagged spires. [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Samuel Anders]] stand about the ruins in confusion, as does [[Anastasia Dualla]], who stoops at the water's edge to mournfully examine it.
* [[Lee Adama]] grimaces as he looks about the dead landscape as [[Laura Roslin]] picks up a short rounded prickly plant, the only visible life found on the world.
* [[Helo]] reports to Admiral [[William Adama|Adama]]: Other scouts report in from around the planet. The destruction is the same all over. No signs of human life and no responses to any hails. [[D'anna Biers]] confirms her rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] scouts have had the same findings.
* The Final Four Cylons accompany the senior Colonial scouting team.
* [[Kara Thrace]] stands on the surface holding her Viper's Colonial emergency locator beacon, with a [[Leoben]], trying to home in on the signal only it can read, the signal that lead them to this world. The signal of the transmitting beacon is fading from a low battery. Leoben believes it must have been transmitting for a long time.
* Baltar has a team confirming that the radiation from the holocaust has embedded itself in the plant life and water chain. Helo gives a more detailed version of Baltar's findings: the planet was nuked over 2,000 years prior. Adama directs that all be instructed not to ingest the water and plants. Caprica-Six remains on the surface until early in Act 2, and digs in the dirt.
* Roslin quips, "It's perfect. We traded one nuked civilization for another." Adama orders his [[Raptor]] to leave.
* Dualla finds a watch in the dusty soil, and some children's jacks. She is near a breakdown as their Raptor returns to ''[[Galactica]]''.
* The [[hangar deck]] is filled with people, anxious for any news on the new world. But Roslin, typically someone who can manage to say anything in the darkest times, can only mutter to Adama, "Get me out of here." Lee Adama tries to placate the crowd's confusion and questions, shouting that the news will be revealed in due time.

===Act 2===

* Kara Thrace and Leoben continue to narrow in on the Colonial signal when she finds the beacon: a standard issue ''Colonial'' device used for all aircraft, part of their [[Avionics|inertial navigation system]].
* Leoben finds some wreckage and reads off the number on its charred skin: "757-NC." Kara immediately becomes agitated. "The number on my [[Viper Mark II|ship]] is [[Viper 8757|8757-NC]]," she says--referring to the Viper that she flew back to the Fleet after she was [[Maelstrom|apparently killed]].
* On ''Galactica'', the Agathon family plays together happily as Dualla comes over to babysit little [[Hera Agathon]]. While Dualla says to the Agathons that she "looks forward" to spending time with the child, she later tells young Agathon as her parents leave, " You have no idea what's happened, do you? Today's just another day."
* On the planet, amidst some seemingly human skeletons dug up, [[Caprica-Six]] and others find something very unexpected: the remains of a head of what is obviously a type of Cylon Centurion, similar to the old [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|original model]] from the [[First Cylon War]], but clearly not the same.
* Aboard ''Galactica'' in Baltar's lab, Caprica-Six confirms that other Centurion helmets were found with about 250 skeletons from four sites around the planet as well. A [[Number Eight]] confirms that, while the Centurion design is similar, they have never seen this design before.
* Roslin notes that, apparently, the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] created their own Cylons (paralleling what occurred in the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol]]). Lee Adama completes her sentence: Like on the Colonies, these Cylons also rebelled against their masters.
*Baltar notes that they dug deeper to test the skeletons themselves. The astonishing fact, confirmed by his Caprica-Six, is that the every one of the skeletons themselves are also [[Humanoid Cylons|humanoid Cylons]]. ''The Thirteenth Tribe were Cylons''.
* After the meeting, Lee Adama asks Roslin what she will say to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. But a visibly disheartened Roslin has nothing to say at all. Admiral Adama tells his son to "carry the ball" for Roslin.
*As the admiral and Roslin leave, Tigh asks to speak to his friend, but the scene is unclear if Adama stops to listen.
*Back on the planet, [[Galen Tyrol]] is attracted to a fragment of wall. As he gets closer, he hears echoes of ghosts saying things like "Fresh fruit, get your fresh fruit!" He sees a human silhouette on the wall, looking as if it were painted there. Surrounding the silhouette is weathered writing, barely readable. Tyrol touches the silhouette--and is thrown into a vision of the world as it once was, and Tyrol as he once was, wearing glasses and a sportcoat as he passes through a bustling marketplace of open carts of fruit and flowers and other goods. He stops to buy an avacado himself then continues walking. A massively bright flash of light appears as Tyrol shields his eyes--
* Tyrol stumbles back, falling to the ground.
* Elsewhere, Kara Thrace questions that, if her Viper is scattered about this planet, then who flew it here, and how did she herself get back to ''Galactica''. Leoben cautions her, telling her, "[[#Noteworthy_Dialogue|You might not like what you find.]]" Thrace is perturbed by his words as Leoben has been, typically, very optimistic in his words to her in the past. She questions if the news would be more disturbing to her, or to Leoben himself.
* In the [[ready room]], Lee Adama stands in thought as Dualla appears, asking him why he hasn't boarded a readied Raptor for his Quorum briefing on ''[[Colonial One]]''. Adama laments the many pilots that had once sat here, many of them lost forever over a dead dream. He doesn't want their sacrifice to be meaningless.
* Dualla tells him that his expression reminds her of what he looked like when his father said that he would [[Exodus, Part I|execute the New Caprica rescue with ''Galactica'' alone.]] When he wonders what to say to the Quorum, Dualla tells him to tell the truth. "If anyone can give them a reason to go on, it's you. Apollo." As he leaves, hesitant, he asks her to meet him for a drink later. She accepts.

* Kara Thrace finds a large piece of wreckage, overturned. She and Leoben turn it over. It's a Viper cockpit, the burnt remains of its pilot still helmeted, still inside. Cautiously, she lifts the head to find it had blonde hair...''her'' hair. Thrace retches.
* As tears well up, she reaches inside the [[flight suit]] of the body to pull out the [[dog tags]]. In clear letters, the tags read "K. THRACE." A ring, her wedding band, is also attached to the chain. Leoben steps back in fear as Thrace asks for an explanation. "I--I don't have one," he says. She recalls what the [[Hybrid]] said, that she would be the "harbinger of death." She yells to the Leoben as he walks away, unable to answer her question, "If that's me sitting there, then what am I?!"

===Act 3===
* [[Samuel Anders]] finds the remains of a stringed instrument, probably a guitar. He holds the neck piece, placing his fingers on it as if to play as he recalls a song: [[The Music|"So let us not talk falsely now, 'cause the hour is getting late."]] He drops the neck and runs to find Tyrol, sitting placidly by the wall and the vision. They both share their visions, both realizing they lived there, in that area, once. Anders recalls that he played that song for a woman he loved. They are joined by [[Tory Foster]], who also recalls that he played that song for [[Final Five|all of us]].
* "That was me," Tyrol says, pointing to the flash-silhouette on the wall.
* Anders angrily questions the paradox. Why they were all still alive? How did they come to the Colonies, to believe they were human? "Two thousand years is a long time to forget!" he says.

* In Admiral Adama's quarters, Laura Roslin sits on the floor. She has set fire to one of the pages of the [[Sacred Scrolls]], specifically, the Pythian Prophecy, turning successive pages to burn each into ash, one by one.
* Adama arrives to ask Roslin to help figure out a way to shore up the Fleet's quickly sagging morale. She is passive. He tells her that she'd missed her [[doloxan]] treatment. Roslin "didn't feel like it," she says, refusing to reschedule. "You just gonna...lie down and quit?" Adama asks. She laments that he took her advice to leave their Colonial solar system, of all the men and women who had died for what appears to be a fruitless series of visions.

* In the twilight, Kara Thrace creates a funeral pyre, burning the corpse of herself found in the wreckage, sitting alone as the flames consume it.

* Lee Adama and Dualla come back from her date as he humorously (and drunkenly) recalls his report to the Quorum. "We are no longer enslaved to the ramblings of Pythia, no longer pecking at the bread crumbs of the Thirteenth Tribe...We are now free to go where we want to go, be who we want to be." Dualla smiles back warmly as they kiss. They stop kissing mutually both stopping from it getting further. Dualla bids Lee goodbye and enters her quarters. Inside, [[Felix Gaeta]] watches her as she hums. "You're glowing," he says with slight amazement. Then he makes a comment on how Earth is a waste of a planet. Dualla chides him for bringing up the subject. "I want to hold on to this feeling for as long as I can." She looks at a childhood picture of herself in her opened locker, taking off her pendant. "She has no idea what she has ahead of her," she says of her younger self. Gaeta leaves as Dualla stops humming briefly looking at him leave in the mirror, then resumes humming. She looks at a cameo of her parents and then calmly places her wedding ring on the locker hook.
* Without any hesitation at all, Dualla pulls out a sidearm from her locker, places it against her temple, and fires.
* [[Diana Seelix]] arrives inside first, with Gaeta not far behind. Both are aghast at the sight of Dualla's body, blood pooling around her hands. They call for medics repeatedly in fear and distress as the scene ends.

===Act 4===

* Lee Adama stands by the shrouded body of Anastasia Dualla in the ship's morgue as his father enters. "She kissed me goodnight 45 minutes ago, and there was joy in her eyes. So tell me why would she do this?" Lee asks. The admiral's stony face melts into a drunken expression. "I don't frakkin' know," he slurs out, taking out a bottle of alcohol to offer to Lee, who refuses it. Anger rising in his face, Lee leaves, passing by Gaeta outside without a word.
* Inside, Admiral Adama looks under the shroud momentarily, covers Dualla's body, as he cries, holding her head, asking to himself, "What did you do?" He kisses the body, saying, "I let you down. I let everybody down."

* Adama comes out into a corridor, demands a sidearm from one of the [[marines]] standing there. Adama storms down a corridor as other stand or sit expressionless. Two men are fist-fighting, crossing Adama's path. He ignores them as he heads to Saul Tigh's quarters.
* "Sit down, Cylon," Adama says angrily after pulling out Tigh's sidearm, arms it and drops it on a table. Adama pours both of them a drink, but Tigh slowly pushes it away.
* Tigh tries to apologize about his revelation of being a Cylon, but Adama is beyond angry. "Is that how it worked? They program you to be my friend? Emulate all the qualities I respect. Tell me jokes...and I laugh at them."
* Tigh counters that he wanted, chose to be his friend. Adama throws insult after insult about [[Ellen Tigh]], angering Tigh to pick up the sidearm to shoot his friend. "Do it! Or I'll do it myself!" Adama says, pointing his own sidearm to his temple.

===Act 5===

* Tigh's gun is pointed at Adama's forehead, but he hesitates pulling the trigger. Adama goads him, "Go on," but Tigh realizes, returning Adama's insult as he rips out the gun's magazine and safes the weapon. "I'm sorry, Bill, but this is the one time I can't help you." Adama drops his gun and reaches for a bottle, but Tigh tries to stop him.
* Adama drinks from a glass anyway as he speaks of his uncle as a kid in the summers spent there, of foxes that would attack his henhouses, of the dog hunts that chased down the foxes at night, forming into a team, forcing the foxes toward the river. Half of the foxes would fight, the others would try to cross the river. But some of them would turn with the current, swimming away into the sea. "Because they wanted to drown," Tigh adds. "Maybe. Or maybe they were just... tired."

* Tigh, uncharacteristically, becomes the sober one giving the other a dressing-down, telling Adama that he can't be like the foxes lost to the sea, reminding him that he is the commander and Tigh is still the XO of the ship, that killing himself would not help himself, or the ship.

* In the presidential office aboard ''Colonial One'', Lee Adama slowly wipes away a numeral "1" from the [[Survivor count|census]] board as Kara Thrace arrives. At some point on the surface, she sustained a laceration on the front-right quadrant of her neck.<ref>According to Ronald D. Moore's commentary podcast, the dressing was blood-soaked when filmed, and was distracting when viewed - particularly given that her sustainable of the injury is not noticeable to the viewer (including himself). Accordingly, the blood was digitally removed in post-production, leaving a pristine white dressing.</ref> Kara had officially reported that she lost the signal, but needs to confide in him about something. Before she does, Lee tells her the news about Dualla. Both can only wonder why Dee killed herself. Kara presumably decides not to tell Lee about her discovery.

* Adama passes by more passive crewman and some graffiti: "Frak Earth", sprayed on the wall as he heads to [[CIC]], where he meets up with Colonel Tigh wearing his service uniform and rank insignia for the first time since being granted amnesty by then-Acting President Lee Adama. Ordering Lt. [[Hoshi]] to Dualla's old communications station, Adama directs Gaeta to find any nearby stars compatible with habitable planets, and Hoshi to invite the rebel Cylons to their next destination. Adama addresses the Fleet, telling them that, while Earth is no longer a choice, he will find them a new home. "This is a promise I intend to keep."

* Saul Tigh, still in service uniform, organizes the evacuation of the survey crews on Earth in preparation for their search for a new home. On the beach, he greets [[D'Anna Biers]]. She doesn't want to leave, deciding to stay behind, believing that the cycle of life will keep going on as dreadfully as before. "...and it beats the hell out of being out there with [[Cavil]]. Gonna die in the cold and the dark when Cavil catches up with us." Tigh tries to give encouragement, but Biers asks if he ever wanted to just give up, reminding him of Adama's story of the penned-in foxes.

* Tigh thereupon begins to walk into the bay. Chest-deep in water, he continues down. Hearing faint screams, he reaches down and lifts a mangled post box hatch from his apartment building's lobby two thousand years ago. Holding it, he has a vision of the end of his former life. He wears a civilian business suit, his face is clean shaven but bloodied, and he has both of his eyes. A voice calls out, "Saul!" from the floor in front of the post boxes. There he finds Ellen, trapped under debris he cannot move. His present-day self thrashes about in the bay while remembering his past self frantically pulling the lighter debris from around Ellen. As more bombs detonate, Ellen delivers a prophecy: "Saul, it's okay. Everything's in place. We'll be reborn... again. Together."

* The vision fades as Tigh realizes the truth. "Ellen... Ellen! You're the [[Final Five|fifth!]]"

== Notes ==

* [[Katee Sackhoff]] noted that this episode could have served as the series finale had the [[WGA strike]] gone longer.<ref name="roadrunner">{{cite_web|url=http://roadrunnerdm.livejournal.com/84288.html|title=Roadrunner - Newsdump from Burbank convention|date=19 November 2007|accessdate=20 November 2007|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref> However, the strike ended with sufficient time for production to resume; the previous episode was aired as the mid-season finale, with this episode airing in the first quarter of 2009.
* The scenes were among the last shot and were shot during the crew's shut down partly due to the [[WGA strike|2008 Writers Strike]], so Sackhoff was unable to attend.<ref name="roadrunner"/>
*The title of the episode comes from the novel ''[[w:Sometimes a Great Notion (novel)|Sometimes a Great Notion]]'' by [[w:Ken Kesey|Ken Kesey]], which itself quotes the blues song "[[w:Goodnight, Irene|Goodnight, Irene]]". In the song, the singer contemplates suicide: "Sometimes I get a great notion / to jump in the river and drown."<ref name="chicagotribune">{{cite web|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/01/final-fifth-cylon-ellen-tigh-battlestar-galactica-dualla-dee-.html|title=Chicago Tribune: 'Battlestar Galactica's' Ron Moore addresses the shocking developments of 'Sometimes a Great Notion'|date=17 January 2009|accessdate=19 January 2009|last=Ryan|first=Maureen|format=|language}}</ref>
*The last Cylon is finally revealed in a vision Colonel Tigh has of the past: it is his dead wife, Ellen Tigh.
*While "[[The Face of the Enemy]]" webisodes were released before "Sometimes a Great Notion", they actually take place several days after it.
*According to Moore in his podcast, his wife [[Terry Dresbach|Terry]] believed that Dualla was the Fifth Cylon right up until she shot herself. She had long ago stopped reading show scripts beforehand.
*The alarms sounding after the nuclear attack during Tigh's flashback are identical to the two-tone, randomly-overlapping red alert klaxon heard on battlestars in the original series.

== Analysis ==
*The Cylons have testing methods which can distinguish between human and Cylon remains.
*The Thirteenth Tribe Cylons were apparently all unique models and included children, based on the jacks found by Dualla, which fittingly resemble baseships.
*Saul Tigh also had the first name "Saul" in his past life.
*The destroyed city serving as the "home base" for the Colonials and Cylons remains unnamed, however when Col. Tigh wades into the water, what appears to be the pedestal of the State of Liberty atop the former Fort Wood can be seen in the distance to the right of Tigh's back. This lends further credence to the speculation originating with "[[Revelations]]" that they are in the vicinity of New York City, and adds to the two episodes' homage and references to ''The Planet of the Apes'' which ends with Col. Taylor's discovery of the statue's damaged upper portion. Coincidentally, Fort Wood's shape is known as a "star fort".
*Dee's decision to spend her final hours with Lee is in keeping with her deleted engagement scene in "[[Unfinished Business]]". In accepting Lee's marriage proposal, Dee acknowledged that the marriage would not survive Lee's continued feelings toward Kara Thrace, and that the Cylons would likely find and kill them all anyway; nevertheless, she wanted to spend what little time she could with him and happy.

== Questions ==
*What was the source of the nuclear attacks on Earth? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Was Ellen Tigh able to resurrect after her death in "[[Exodus, Part II]]"? If so, is she with the Cavil faction? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Did Ellen Tigh resurrect between the events of the [[Miniseries]] and [[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]? If so, how did she get aboard ''[[Rising Star]]''? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Was Ellen Tigh aware of her Cylon identity? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Was Ellen Tigh the one who [[D'Anna Biers]] apologized to in [[Rapture|her vision?]] ([[Sometimes a Great Notion#Official Statements|Answer]])
*What is Kara Thrace?([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Partial Answer]])
*Was the corpse found in the field that of the "real" Kara Thrace? If so, how and when did her Viper crash on Earth? And how did so much of her Viper and body remain relatively intact after seemingly being completely disintegrated in the gas giant?
*Why does Thrace keep the dog tags and wedding ring found on the body? ([[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Possible answer]])
*Will Thrace or Conoy tell anyone about their discovery? How will others respond to this information? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer #1]] [[Islanded in a Stream of Stars|Answer #2]])
*How will the Cylons in Cavil's faction respond to the discovery of the identities of the Final Five? ([[No Exit|Partial answer]])
*How did the Final Five come to be living in the Twelve Colonies 2000 years after their deaths on Earth, without their memories and unaware of being Cylons? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*What similarities and differences exist between the method by which the Final Five were reborn and the Significant Seven's process of [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]]? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Did the Thirteenth Tribe Cylons have any influence on the development of the Significant Seven 2000 years later, or was it mere parallel evolution? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*How did the Significant Seven come to be aware of the existence, though not the identities, of the Final Five? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Are there other survivors of the Thirteenth Tribe besides the Final Five?
*Does the presence of children among the Thirteenth Tribe indicate that they reproduced among themselves? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*If the Thirteenth Tribe reproduced biologically, did the Final Five have Cylon parents, grandparents or other ancestors on Earth? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*Did Baltar's Cylon detector successfully identify Ellen Tigh in "[[Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down]]"? If so, did Baltar withhold that information from D'Anna Biers during their search for the Final Five? If he did tell her could this have been what she meant when she told him "you were right" in [[Rapture]]? If he didn't, what were his reasons?
*With D'Anna Biers remaining behind on Earth, who will take over as the leader of the rebel Cylon faction? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me|Answer]])
*Given the speculation following [[Revelations]] that the survey site at the end of that episode and the start of this, was in Brooklyn, with the remains of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background; and given that the writers paid an homage to ''Planet of the Apes'' with Leoben's Dr. Zaius quote; is the thick, stubby structure in the background toward which Colonel Tigh wades at the episode's end, the pedestal on Liberty Island?
*Will [[D'Anna Biers]] stay on Earth? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion#Official Statements|Answer]])
*Does Tigh retain the mailbox hatch from his apartment building, and does Anders retain the guitar neck which he had dropped?
*Were the Thirteenth Tribe Cylons generally aware of Cylon resurrection/reincarnation, and the cyclical nature of Cylon life, or was Ellen Tigh unusually prophetic? ([[No Exit|Answer]])
*How was dead Kara's hair left unburned while her facial flesh was charred beyond recognition?
*Are the visions/memories experienced by the Final Five on Earth perfectly accurate?
*Will Tigh reveal Ellen's status as the final Cylon? How will others react? ([[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|Answer]])
*Three refers to "the bones of [her] ancestors", yet no Significant Seven models are depicted in either flashback scene, and early Colonial Cylons (Graystone' creations and [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Centurion Model 0005]]s) were created two millenia after Earth's destruction. What is the lineage of the Significant Seven? ([[No Exit|Partial answer]])
*Did human/Cylon hybrids ever occur when the two races cohabited Kobol, or is Hera the first of her kind in all of history?
*Did Anders originally write "[[The Music|All Along the Watchtower]]", or did he merely cover it?

== Official Statements ==
*[http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/01/final-fifth-cylon-ellen-tigh-battlestar-galactica-dualla-dee-.html#more Chicago Tribune interview with Ronald D. Moore:]
*Ronald D. Moore has confirmed that Dualla is dead and that Ellen Tigh is in fact the Final Cylon.
*Moore indicates that Ellen Tigh was the Cylon whom D'Anna apologized to in "[[Rapture]]".
*In his podcast commentary to "Sometimes a Great Notion", Ronald D. Moore confirmed that [[D'Anna Biers]] stays on Earth and that her story has ended.
**Also in his podcast Moore says that Kara Thrace did actually die when her Viper was destroyed, not some trick.
** Moore states that there was an intention in the Director's Cut (but dropped) to subtly imply that Anders wrote "All Along The Watch Tower" himself, and not as in reality, Bob Dylan.
**Moore admits that the scene just before Dualla's suicide was intended as an emotional "sucker punch" to imply that Lee and Dualla were perhaps going to get back together.
**Moore said Admiral Adama used the actual real life [[Wikipedia:Star#Classification|star system classifications of F, G, and K]] when he orders Gaeta to search for appropriate star systems that could support human life.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*'''''Leoben Conoy''' echos to Dr. Zaius' final caution to Col. Taylor at the end of ''The Planet of the Apes'':'' "You might not like what you find." Like Taylor, Starbuck is a time-traveling<ref>To her, her disappearance and reappearance were brief; to everyone else's perspective, she was gone weeks.</ref> military astronaut surveying post-apocolyptic Earth (possibly also in the outskirts of New York City), and the "harbinger of death."

*'''''Saul Tigh''' upon seeing Ellen Tigh in a flashback on Earth:''
: "Ellen - You're the Fifth!"

*''After finding her body, '''Kara Thrace''' shouts to Leoben:''
: "What am I?!"

*'''''Laura Roslin's''' assessment of Earth:''
: "It's perfect. We traded one nuked civilization for another."

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Lucy Lawless]] as [[Number Three (Downloaded copy)|D'Anna Biers]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]
* [[Don Thompson]] as Specialist [[Anthony Figurski]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix]]

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

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

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

Six of One

2009-05-13T17:44:55Z

GSwarthout: /* Notes */

{{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=
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39698
| prev= [[He That Believeth In Me]]
| next= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| imdb=0993926
| unbox=B0017QYNKE
| podcast=Y
| frakr=Six of Nine
}}

== 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]], Tigh suggests that he might know something about the final Cylon or them. Noting that Baltar has had sex with a Cylon, he suggests Foster flirts with him. Foster is repulsed.
*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 believe 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 Constanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Constanza]]
* [[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:Six of One]]
[[zh:半斤八两]]

Six of One

2009-05-13T17:18:02Z

GSwarthout: /* Notes */

{{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=
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39698
| prev= [[He That Believeth In Me]]
| next= [[The Ties That Bind]]
| imdb=0993926
| unbox=B0017QYNKE
| podcast=Y
| frakr=Six of Nine
}}

== 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]], Tigh suggests that he might know something about the final Cylon or them. Noting that Baltar has had sex with a Cylon, he suggests Foster flirts with him. Foster is repulsed.
*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 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 believe 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 Constanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Constanza]]
* [[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:Six of One]]
[[zh:半斤八两]]

The Ties That Bind

2009-05-13T16:40:40Z

GSwarthout: /* Notes */

{{Episode Data
| image=4x03 - The Ties That Bind - Promo 2.jpg
| title= The Ties That Bind
| season= 4
| episode= 3
| forumthread= 888
| guests=
| writer=[[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director=[[Michael Nankin]]
| production=405
| rating= 1.1
| US airdate=18 April 2008
| CAN airdate=18 April 2008
| UK airdate=22 April 2008
| dvd=
| population=39676
| oldpopulation=39676
| prev= [[Six of One]]
| next= [[Escape Velocity]]
| podcast=Y
| unbox=B00182LPDU
| frakr=The Whips That Lash
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace]] leads a [[Demetrius|ship]] in her search for [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], while ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> crew deals with political and marital issues. On the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] side, the [[Significant Seven]]'s solidarity is challenged.

== Summary ==

=== On ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' and the Colonial Fleet ===
* [[Cally Tyrol]], waking from [[Nicholas Tyrol|her son's]] cries, has dreams recalling arguments with her husband, [[Galen Tyrol|Galen]], of apparently finding herself spending more time alone with her child and Galen avoiding her through work or other activity. In one scene she is taking medication, perhaps to help her sleep, or to fight depression.
* The dark room is unkempt, and medication and baby formula bottles are stacked on a table.
* When Cally Tyrol realizes that Nicky is actually crying, she comforts him and returns him to his crib. She calls [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]], apparently to try to find her husband with no luck. She finds a napkin for [[Joe's bar]] in his clothing.
* At the bar, Galen Tyrol and [[Tory Foster]] are drinking [[ambrosia]] and other spirits. Galen laments that, before [[Final Five|their revelation]], he knew what he was: husband, crew chief, and father. Now, his identity is taking a beating.
* Foster flirts with Galen as Cally walks holding her son in a dreamy state (presumably drug related) to Joe's Bar. Cally's distorted vision believes she sees Foster touching Galen's arm seductively. Entering the bar, Cally angrily yells at Galen as he tries to explain. Angry and hurt, Cally takes her son and leaves the bar as Foster looks on, still drinking and not the least upset that she might have caused the Tyrol's strife.
*In [[sickbay]], Dr. [[Cottle]] administers to [[Laura Roslin]] another [[Doloxan]] treatment, noting that the drug's nausea should go away in an hour.
* As Roslin tries to relax on the bed, [[William Adama]] sits by her bedside and begins to read from a book to her, ''[[Love and Bullets]]'' by Nick Taylo, apparently a detective mystery novel.
* The book's passages of a character's lost love appear to reflect through Adama as he gazes at Roslin while he completes the passage: "From the moment I open my eyes, she's in my blood, bittersweet, tinged with regret. I'll never be free of her, nor do I want to be. For she is what I am, all that is, should always be."
* The scene shifts to a press conference on ''[[Colonial One]]'' where [[Lee Adama]] accepts appointment to the [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprican]] seat to the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]]. Vice President [[Tom Zarek]] is also in attendance.
*The press asks about questions of loyalty between Lee Adama and his role in the [[Gaius Baltar]] trial, which Roslin dismisses.
* Reporter [[Playa Palacios]] asks about the whereabouts of the ''[[Demetrius]]'', missing now three weeks, Roslin defers the question to Admiral Adama, who cryptically explains that the ship is on a military mission. When [[Sekou Hamilton]] asks if [[Kara Thrace]] was made captain of that ship, Adama dismisses that as rumor.
*Roslin quickly ends the press conference. In her office, Roslin tells Adama she is surprised that the press took as long to ask about the ''Demetrius'' as they did. When Adama tells Roslin he think the issue will "blow over," Roslin disagrees. Not told of the mission, Roslin is angered that she may have to help Adama cover the true mission of the ship for a long time. Adama explains that he had to give Thrace a chance and himself a chance to believe in the [[Maelstrom|presumed-dead]] pilot, but Roslin only says, "Apparently." Adama leaves her office in silence.
*Galen Tyrol tries to explain to Cally that he and Tory Foster aren't having an affair, but Cally all but ignores him, telling him to drop their son off to the day care area and to ask the caregivers not to feed Nicky any of the [[Algae planet|algae mash]] as she thinks Nicky is allergic. Frustrated by Cally's avoidance of the subject, he slams his fist down on the table, upsetting his son, and tries to comfort him.
*On ''Colonial One'', Lee Adama is in a conference room for the Quorum meeting. Spotting the nameplate for Caprica, he tentatively sits down. Tom Zarek arrives, his mood dark. When Adama tells Zarek that he wanted to see Roslin to discuss some projects that [[Cowen]], his predecessor as Caprican delegate, had before she died, Zarek counters, explaining that, like himself, Roslin is keeping Adama on the sidelines. Zarek believes that Roslin does not forgive and forget easily. When Adama asks Zarek why he nominated him for the Quorum's side, Zarek tells him that it was because Adama stood up to defend Baltar and confront Roslin, he believed Adama would make an effective ally.
*Zarek feels that Roslin's increasingly secretive nature, by refusing to allow meetings to be recorded, is a sign of a larger issue, despite claiming to Adama that he remains loyal to Roslin. When Adama tells Zarek that he won't be giving a repeat of his work in Baltar's trial to undermine Roslin, saying that having a "benevolent tyrant" is better than the opposite, Zarek strongly disagrees. He asks Adama to trust him to aid in his fight to uncover the secrets that Roslin hides. He leaves a classified folder with Adama and leaves.
*In sickbay, Cally Tyrol asks for another sedative and for sleep, but Cottle objects, not wanting to turn his sickbay into an "[[opium den]]." He asks about her family life, which Cally tells all is not well since reaching the [[Ionian Nebula]].
*Cottle does side with Cally about her husband's problems, asking her to bring him in for examination. Cally smiles at Cottle's "tough love" stance but Cottle warns that she might actually be imagining things as her fatigue and drug use could be influencing her thoughts. Cally counters that she might, indeed be crazy, considering she married a man who [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|once broke her jaw]]. When Cottle asks if that was the last time that Galen had attacked Cally, she responds that she'd wished that he'd do so again (taking Cottle's cigarette from his hand and taking a drag), if only for her to gauge what Galen really felt about her. Cottle tells her to get some rest.
*On ''Colonial One'', the Quorum meeting continues. [[Sagittaron]] Quorum delegate [[Jacob Cantrell]] strongly questions Roslin about the ''Demetrius'' mission, which she defers to answer out of matters of security. Others are visibly upset with Roslin's answer and of each other when Roslin tries to steer the meeting back to other matters of the floor while Zarek, acting as the chair of the meeting, tries to establish order.
*Lee Adama speaks out, trying to calm the others through inferring, based on his own military experience, that the president and Admiral Adama are exploring all possible routes to Earth. The Quorum audibly relaxes at Adama's words, but Roslin sees Adama as trying to be her "spokesperson" and chastises him. She directs Cantrell to continue with his discussion on medical supplies.
* Lee Adama calls a point of order, which Zarek uses to compels Contrell to yield the floor for Adama to speak. Adama brings up Executive Order 112, which would concentrate more executive power. The Quorum angrily erupts when Roslin tries to bury the issue.
*On ''Galactica'', Cally Tyrol sadly recalls her good times with her husband. She kisses her son and goes to close a door when she sees a note stuck in the door that tells her to meet at Weapons Locker 1701D.
* When Cally arrives, she finds her husband, [[Saul Tigh]] and Tory Foster entering. She opens a maintenance panel, tiny and dangerous, and enters to listen in on the conversation.
*What Cally hears shocks her more than the suggestion that her husband is having an affair. Tigh had left the note to meet at the weapons locker for Galen, and suddenly realizes that Cally could have intercepted the note. Tigh warns of the complications if Cally discovered that her husband was a Cylon.
* Cally's shock knocks a metal plate, which tumbles noisily down the ship's interior, a series of pipes and conduits that run dangerously deep from where Cally is standing. The others in the room halt their discussion for a moment before leaving. Cally escapes the tunnel and runs back to her quarters, but Foster leaves and notices that the maintenance panel was ajar.
* Cally is back in her quarters, visibly upset, when her husband returns.
* He tries to apologize, tell Cally that the affair never happened, and that his commitment to his family is paramount. But Cally believes that Galen used her to have a hybrid child and strikes him with a wrench, knocking him unconscious. She takes her son and leaves but not before taking a key from Galen's pocket.
* Walking through the corridors to the [[hangar deck]], Cally (still holding Nicky) enters a [[launch tube]]. She looks at the stars through a window, then opens a maintenance door. Inserting the key she took from Galen, Cally activates the launch tube airlock. Tory Foster arrives, and approaches Cally and Nicky.
* Cally closes the launch tube airlock door, sealing them inside. Foster tries to reason with Cally, asking her to think about what she's about to do to herself and to her child. Foster explains that they only recently found out they were Cylons, and that they are still the same people, and that they are as scared and confused as everyone else. Cally breaks down and collapses on her knees, apologizing to Nicky for what she was about to do to him. Foster comforts Cally and takes Nicky in her arms, then suddenly strikes Cally with surprising strength, knocking her to the deck and putting her in a daze.
* Foster retrieves the launch tube key and exits the launch tube, Nicky in her arms. When Cally comes to, she finds herself alone trapped in the airlock, and Tory inside the launch control booth. Tory uses the key to activate the launch controls and opens the outer airlock door, sending Cally to her death in open space.
* Admiral Adama breaks the news of Cally's death to a motionless, silent Tyrol.

=== On the ''[[Demetrius]]'' ===
* On day 22 of the mission, ''Demetrius'' continues on its mission to find [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], with as many as four [[Viper Mark II]] fighters magnetically locked onto its top hull.
* Inside, Kara Thrace appears frustrated as she pores through star charts and other navigation data, trying to gain her fix on the direction of Earth. [[Felix Gaeta]] enters the room as Thrace tells him of a decision.
* In a mess hall on the dark, dirty ship, [[Diana Seelix]] asks in frustration what they are looking for in deep space. A pilot named [[Eammon Pike|Pike]], looking at the centerfold of ''[[Nymph]]'' magazine, explains that they are searching for a gas giant with rings orbiting a trinary star cluster with a comet. Seelix angrily retorts that the search is more like a "[[frak|cluster-frak]]" to her when [[Helo]] admonishes her.
* [[Sharon Agathon]] and [[Samuel Anders]] are also in the room.
* Some of the group complains that Thrace's repeated course corrections are pointless. When Pike says that he thinks ''Galactica'' is hounding them in secret, waiting for Thrace to show her "true colors" as a Cylon, Anders defends her. When the mood darkens more, Helo orders everyone to be quiet.
*Thrace is quietly approaching, listening to the conversation from above the mess hall deck, and soon yells for Helo to talk to him. Anders looks above him to Thrace (standing on steel mesh decking) and asks if there is more that she can tell them about their destination, but Thrace coldly admonishes him by rank for asking. Thrace gives Helo new [[FTL]] coordinates.
*Anders meets with Thrace, as she paints what she has seen on a bulkhead. Anders complains that she needs to open up more about the mission with the rest of the crew, but Thrace disagrees. Reminding her that some of them volunteered for the mission, Thrace steers Anders's concerns to that of their failed marriage. Anders joins their marital arm tattoos, trying to remind her of what is real. Thrace angrily tells Anders that she married him only because he was a safe choice and he was naive enough to do so.
*The two exchange more words. Thrace explains to Anders that she's not the same woman he married. He pushes her into a bunk as their anger dissolves into sex.
*After sex, Thrace questions that she and Anders's marriage was real. She questions how her feelings, her perceptions of her past, as if she were watching it from another "alien" body far away. Ander's face suggests comprehension about [[Final Five|feeling unsure of identity]].

=== On the [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]]s ===
* On a [[Resurrection Ship]], a [[Number One]] is [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrected]]. Another One tells his confused brother that he was shot by one of their own [[Cylon Centurion]]s. [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] is there with him.
* The first Number One wants to return to his baseship, but the second One tells him that he has been effectively kicked off from his own ship in a type of coup. Boomer apologizes that her swing vote to enforce the [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]] "reconfiguration" failed, and kisses him deeply.
*On the same baseship where the Centurions shot several [[humanoid Cylon]]s for their part in the Raider reconfiguration, a Number One returns to the conference room where a Centurion is busily cleaning up the mess caused by their shootout.
*The Number One tries to understand why [[Natalie]] shifted power, suggesting to reunify the group. Natalie explains that the Raiders were only a symptom of a larger problem: Cavil's [[Rapture|earlier pressure]] on the group to [[box]] all [[Number Three]]s. Natalie says that mere unification of the [[Significant Seven|seven]] is not enough. She and the Eights at the table tell Number One that unification with the [[Final Five]] is the desired goal. Natalie wants all the Threes unboxed and work on unifying with the Five to begin.
*Cavil dislikes the idea of resuming the D'Anna's "messianic quest" that seemed to lead the remaining Cylons to this juncture, but agrees to bring Natalie's case to the other models. Natalie orders a Centurion to escort Cavil off the ship, but it hesitates until she says, "please." Cavil warns her that removing the [[inhibitor]]s from the Centurions has caused a bigger problem than Natalie realizes.
*Later, two Number Ones tell Natalie and two Number Eights the result of the vote: The consensus is to unbox the Threes, although Cavil/One remains against the idea.
*An Eight tries to solicit the Ones' support since his side was outvoted, but Natalie agrees with the Ones that the vote does not give Natalie's side the right to change the feelings of the Ones and create more discord.
* Cavil/One tells Natalie that the Threes' consciousness is being downloaded at the central [[Resurrection Hub]] and can be resurrected at a server node six jumps away. Still harboring bad feelings about the decision, the two sides agree to stay on different baseships as they make their way back to hear of the Threes' discovery on the [[algae planet]].
* Cylon baseships controlled by Cavil join the rest of the fleet at their destination, but without the [[Resurrection Ship]]. The newly-arrived baseships break formation and surround Natalie's baseships, then launch an attack.
* On Cavil's baseship, Boomer worries that murder, permanent killing of their own kind without chance of resurrection is wrong. Cavil says coldly that God will watch over the dying Cylons' immortal souls. When Boomer questions who will watch over their souls, Cavil says, "We're machines, dear. We don't have souls."

== Notes ==

* This episode sees no net loss of life in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]], with the exception of [[Cally Tyrol]]'s death later in this episode, reducing the overall survivor count to 39,675.
* The number and alphabetical designation of the [[weapons locker]], 1701D, is a ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' reference. 1701-D is the registry number for the ''[[MemoryAlpha:USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|USS Enterprise]]'' from that series, which [[Ronald D. Moore]] formerly worked on. Further, Michael Taylor did write for the ''Star Trek'' franchise alongside Moore on ''[[MemoryAlpha:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]''.
*Like "[[He That Believeth In Me]]" and "[[Valley of Darkness]]", this episode's title is derived from Christian traditions; [[w:Blessed Be the Tie that Binds|Blessed Be the Tie that Binds]] is a Protestant hymn celebrating the unity that comes from love.
* Prior to the episode airing, [[Michael Taylor]] stated: "we say goodbye to another longtime character, though who that is and the manner of his or her departure should come as a surprise."<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}} </ref>
* The script was being written while "[[Razor]]" was still in pre-production.<ref name="thewatcher"/>
* For the first time since the second season, the journalist [[Sekou Hamilton]] makes an appearance.
* The Fleet still subsists on the food collected on the [[algae planet]], as evidenced by Cally Tyrol's suspicion that her son may be allergic to it.
* When Cally enters the launch tube 06, she looks a side window and sees stars where one would expect to see launch tube 07. This is inconsistent with the known layout of the flight pods. The launch tubes are internal and perpendicular to the length of the flight pods, so it would be impossible to see stars from a side portal in the tube. However, when she exits the tube, the scene shows open space to the right of the the launch tube.
*Thrace has the [[Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn|Aurora]] figure she gave to Adama in "[[Maelstrom]]" on her desk and plays with it in her frustration. According to the [[Podcast:The Ties That Bind#Act 1|podcast]] for the episode, a scene where Adama gives her back the figurine in "[[Six of One]]" was cut for time. A scene where she and Gaeta discuss Aurora was also cut from this episode.
*Since a scene was deleted from "[[Six of One]]" in which this was indicated in dialogue, the scene in which [[Boomer]] kisses the revived [[Cavil]] is the first explicit indication that a romance exists between the two (explaining, in lieu of the deleted scene, why she broke ranks to vote with him). This is the first time two of the "Significant Seven" have been shown in such an embrace.
*A deleted scene (included on the DVD release of Season 4.0) shows Galen Tyrol strangling Cally to death in her bed. Snippets from the scene -- but not the strangling -- appear in the final episode. It's unclear whether this is a vision of Galen's (similar to Tigh imagining himself shooting Adama), or if this was considered as an alternate death for Cally. The scene, as shown, does not resolve the issue either way.

== Analysis ==

=== General ===
[[Image:Orion belt.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Orion's belt. [[:Image:Orion belt highlighted.jpg|View Highlighted Version]].]]
* The constellation [[w:Orion (constellation)|Orion]] appears in this episode 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>. It is clearly visible in the background of the basestars shortly before Cavil's ships begin to attack, and may be visible when Cally looks out the window in the launch tube shortly before she is confronted by Foster. This would indicate that both fleets are relatively close to Earth. However, for them to see Orion in the same two-dimensional configuration as from Earth, they would have to be within a few light years of Sol and in a relatively narrow corridor between it and Orion.
* The ringed gas giant [[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] claims to have seen is shown in this episode, bearing a striking resemblance to [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
* Once again no one notices the use of a [[Launch tube (RDM)|launch tube]]. It is hard to believe that such a critical system is not monitored, especially at night when the hangar deck is deserted.
* When learning that her husband is a Cylon, Cally remembers seeing him cutting his finger and licking off the blood. Tyrol may have done this to convince himself that he is human. The drop of blood hitting the floor is the same image used as a framing device in "[[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]" to signify the connection between Tyrol and Boomer.

=== Characters ===

* The scene with Adama sitting down next to Roslin and beginning to read a murder mystery to her is a throwback to their common love for the genre that was established back in "[[Water]]". In that particular episode, Adama gives Roslin the novel ''[[Dark Day]]'' as a gift because it was one of the novels that she had wanted to read but never found the time to. With Roslin's probable death looming in this particular season, it appears that Adama has determined to aid Roslin in reading her favorite genre before she passes away.
* Although in public [[Laura Roslin]] claims to have forgiven [[Lee Adama]], and even to admire his convictions, she apparently still holds a grudge for how he treated her during Baltar's trial. She refuses to see him to discuss political issues, and later snubs him in a Quorum session where she ribs on his inexperience.
* During the episode, [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|Galen Tyrol's beating of his wife]] is mentioned as when he displayed pure emotion towards Cally. Tyrol's attack was based on his fear of being a Cylon, and Cally suffered because she interrupted his mental suicide. Ironically, it is now Cally who savagely bludgeons Galen because he really is a Cylon. The beating also makes way for her murder-suicide decision with her son.
* Another parallel drawn from "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]" in regards to the Tyrols can be seen in that then and now, it was Galen's apology that triggers Cally to release her true feelings towards him, whether it was love or hatred. In the former, her love was finally allowed to be expressed, in the latter, the rage that built up during the episode was released.
* Based on "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I", it was Cally's love and forgiveness towards Galen that enabled him to forgive himself and move on as a "human being." With her death, a crucial anchor in his life is gone, which may indicate an upcoming deterioration of his mental state as he now knows that he is a Cylon.
* Cally plans to blow herself and Nicky into space, something that she experienced but survived in "[[A Day in the Life]]". This may indicate that she believes, on the basis of her earlier experience, that it would be relatively quick and painless for both of them. It seems unlikely that she would choose what she felt would be a particularly unpleasant death, especially for her son.

=== The Quorum of Twelve ===

* The episode shows a lot about the Quorum of Twelve and about the state of fleet politics in general. The Quorum meeting is reminiscent in format of [[w:Question Time|Question Time]], a tradition of many parliamentary systems including that of the United Kingdom and Canada.
**The rowdiness and backtalk of the Quorum in particular is reminiscent of Prime Minister's Questions. However, unlike in Prime Minister's Questions or similar Question Time periods in real life parliaments, President Roslin makes some attempt at directing the meeting, rather than adopting the defensive posture the British Prime Minister is placed into. This suggests either a stronger constitutional role for the president or a further consolidation of power by Roslin.
** The Quorum is also, at least at this point, a non-partisan body. While parliaments and legislatures in real life are divided along party lines, there is no sign of this here. In particular, while government backbenchers usually ask flattering questions in contrast to the more challenging questions posed by the opposition, Adama is openly chastised by Roslin for attempting to ask an easy question.
* The absence of [[Sarah Porter]], [[Marshall Bagot]], [[Robin Wenutu]], and others from the first post-[[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]] [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] can be attributed to the destruction of ''[[Cloud 9]]'' by [[Gina Inviere]] in "[[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]" or events leading up to the [[Second Exodus]]. After the Second Exodus, the current Quorum is sworn in by then-President [[Tom Zarek]] in "[[Collaborators]]", before said Quorum can ratify Roslin as his vice president and perform the presidential switch-a-roo that gives Roslin the presidency.

=== The Cylons ===

* Cavil and Boomer apparently have some sort of relationship. This was hinted at in the previous episode, when she dances lightly attired in front of him, but unclear.
* The force with which Tory hits Cally indicates that the Final Five possess the Cylons' superhuman strength and if they possess this trait it is likely that the have other, physical Cylon traits as well.
* Foster also seems to be calmer, cooler, and more calculating than in the recent past. She appears to be more accepting of her Cylon nature than the others.

== Questions ==

=== Answered Questions ===

* Are all of the "renegade" Cylon baseships destroyed? ([[The Road Less Traveled|Answer]])
* Does Natalie escape? ([[Faith|Answer]])
* Now that power has shifted to the more aggressive models, will the Cylon renew their attacks on the humans, or will the stress and distraction of the Cylon civil war protect the human fleet for the time being? ([[Sine Qua Non|Possible answer]])
* Will Cally's death be declared as another execution that went unnoticed, such as those performed by the [[Circle]]? ([[Escape Velocity|Answer #1]], [[The Road Less Traveled|#2]])
* Will Boomer abandon Cavil's side now that he has resorted to lethal measures against Natalie's faction? ([[The Hub|Possible answer]])
* Will the renegade models be boxed? ([[The Hub|Possible answer]])
* How will Tyrol handle being a single parent? ([[Escape Velocity|Possible answer]])
* Are Foster's actions indicating a gradual shifting of her allegiance from the humans to the Cylons? ([[Revelations|Answer]])
* What will Tyrol do should he discover that it was Foster who ejected Cally into space? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* Does the vague warning given by Cavil to Natalie about removing the inhibitors hint towards a Centurion rebellion against the humanoid Cylons? ([[Daybreak, Part II|Answer]])
* Is the execution of the Sixes, Eights, and Twos limited to the Cylon fleet or does it also stretch to the Cylon homeworld?
* Has [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] been left in foster care by her parents? If so, who have they found to look after her? ([[Sometimes a Great Notion|Future Answer]])
* What is Foster's true motivation for killing Cally Tyrol? ([[Revelations|Possible Answer 1]], [[No Exit|Possible Answer 2]])

=== Unanswered Questions ===
* Is the execution of the Sixes, Eights, and Twos limited to the Cylon fleet or does it also stretch to the Cylon homeworld?
* For those allergic to the algae mash, like [[Nicholas Tyrol]], what alternative foodstuffs are available?

== Official Statements ==
*[[Mark Verheiden]] on the episode:
**"Regarding the parallels with "[[Maelstrom]]." [and the sex scene with [[Leoben]]] I asked writer [[Michael Taylor]] if it was intentional and he says "no." Regarding Kara, she remembers everything from "Maelstrom" up to the explosion. So yes, she remembers her vision about her Mom."
**"[[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]] is the resident expert in star charts and the like, so he's a natural addition to a search mission. As to whether he volunteered or was ordered, I don't think we really discussed it that much. But Gaeta certainly wants to find Earth as much as anyone." <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/04/21/battlestar-galactica-interview-mark-verheiden-on-starbucks-relationships-and-cylon-motives/|title=Battlestar Galactica Interview: Mark Verheiden on Starbuck's Relationships and Cylon Motives}}</ref>

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

*''[[William Adama]] reads the opening of ''[[Love and Bullets]]'':''
:"It started like it always did. With a body. This one was in the river, and I could tell she had once been beautiful, but this bullet and fast current had taken away from her. All we are, or that we think we are, all that we are certain about, is taken away from us. When you've worked the streets and seen what I've seen, you become more and more convinced of it every day. [[Caprica City]] has been my teacher, my mistress. From the moment I opened my eyes, she is in my blood, like cheap wine. Bitter and sweet, tinged with regret. I'll never be free of her, nor do I wanna be, for she is what I am. All that is, should always be."

*''[[Tom Zarek]] and [[Lee Adama]] about [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]]'s leadership:''
:'''Adama:''' Well, sometimes a benevolent tyrant is exactly what you need.
:'''Zarek:''' No. A tyrant craves power for its own sake. And all Laura wants is to save us all.

*''[[Samuel Anders]] confronts [[Kara Thrace]]:''
:'''Anders:''' You know, some of us actually volunteered for this mission.
:'''Thrace:''' "Some" meaning you. Because that's what this is about, Sam. You know what the deal is, with us, with our marriage? It didn't make much sense to begin with. Makes even less now.
:'''Anders:''' I don't buy that. I don't think you believe a single, frakking word you're saying. You're just scared. You see that, mhh? You see [[Arts and Literature of the Twelve Colonies#Kara Thrace .26 Samuel Anders|this]]? Remember those? You remember when we got 'em? That's what's real, ok. That's part of who we are. That is a part of what ''you'' are, whether you will admit it or not.
:'''Thrace:''' Dumb motherfrakker. I only married you because it was safe and it was easy, Sam. And you were just pathetic enough to go along with it. So get the frak out! (She shoves him out) Sam, get out! Get out! Leave, come on! Get out! (Anders takes her by the arms and holds her. They are almost kissing.) I don't want to fight, Sam. I wanna frak. You don't get it, do you? I'm not the same girl you married. All I wanna do right now is frak. Really frak, like it's the end of the world and nothing else matters. So come on, Sam, make me feel something. I dare you.
:(Anders shoves her away, then gives her a second shove onto the bunk bed.)

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Nicki Clyne]] as [[Cally Henderson Tyrol]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Sherman Cottle]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Christina Schild]] as [[Playa Palacios]]
* [[Biski Gugushe]] as [[Sekou Hamilton]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]] (credited as "Baby Nicky")
* [[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")
* [[Ryan McDonell]] as Lieutenant [[Eammon Pike|Eammon "Gonzo" Pike]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== External Links ==
*Composer [[Bear McCreary]] on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=245

== References ==
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{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:RDM]]

[[de:The Ties That Bind]]