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https://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Act_of_Contrition&diff=26889
Act of Contrition
2006-01-25T21:43:45Z
<p>Piusaeneas: /* Analysis */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Episode Data|<br />
Image =[[Image:bsg-1-04.jpg|300px]]<br />
| Title=Act of Contrition<br />
| Series=[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|the Re-imagined Series]]<br />
| Season=[[Season 1 (2004-05)|1]]<br />
| Episode=4<br />
| Guests=[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Michael+Hogan Michael Hogan] (COL [[Saul Tigh]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Tahmoh+Penikett Tahmoh Penikett] ([[Karl Agathon|Helo]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Aaron+Dougl(Aaron Douglas] (CPO [[Galen Tyrol]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Jill+Teed Jill Teed] ([[Hadrian|SGT Hadrian]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Donnelly+Rhodes Donnelly Rhodes] (Dr. [[Cottle]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Lorena+Gale Lorena Gale] ([[Elosha]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Tobias+Mehler Tobi(Mehler] ([[Zak Adama]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Colby+Johannson Colby Johannson] ([[Dwight Saunders|Flat Top]])<br>[[Olmos, Bodie|Bodie Olmos]] ([[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Lucianna+Carro Lucianna Carro] ([[Louanne Katraine|Kat]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Terry+Chen Terry Chen] ([[Perry|Chuckles]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Bill+Melien Bill Meilen] (Caprica Cleric)<br />
| Writer=[[Bradley Thompson]] & [[David Weddle]]<br />
| Story=<br />
| Director=[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Rod+Hardy Rod Hardy]<br />
| Production=1.04<br />
| Rating=<br />
| US Airdate=January 28 2005<br />
| UK Airdate=November 8 2004<br />
| DVD=March 28 2005 (UK)<br>September 20 2005 (US)<br />
| Population=<br />
| Prev=[[Bastille Day]]<br />
| Next=[[You Can't Go Home Again]]<br />
}}<br />
== Overview ==<br />
<br />
:''When several Viper pilots are killed in a freak accident, Adama turns to Starbuck for help - but her involvement in the aftermath of the accident and in training new pilots causes the truth surrounding Zak Adama's death to finally surface.'' <br />
<br />
== Summary == <br />
* It is [[Dwight Saunders|Dwight “Flat Top” Saunder’s]] 1,000th deck landing, which brings ''Galactica’s'' pilots down to the hangar deck to celebrate<br />
* As the celebrations continue, a [[communication drone]] stowed on the [[Hangar Deck]] breaks loose from its restraints, falling to the deck and igniting its motor. The drone flies across the hangar, smashing into the celebrating pilots where it explodes, killing Flat Top and twelve others and putting seven more in [[sickbay]]<br />
* As the surviving pilots prepare for a memorial service for their fallen comrades, [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] has flashbacks to her first meeting with [[William Adama]], following the death of his son, [[Zak Adama|Zak]]<br />
* During the memorial service itself, she, [[Lee Adama]] and Bill Adama all have flashbacks – to Zak Adama’s funeral and (in Thrace's case) to her telling Zak he’s qualified as a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot<br />
* Following the service, Commander Adama asks Thrace to oversee the training of any new pilots they can find in the fleet <br />
* Thrace is initially hesitant, and the Commander guesses the cause is Zak's accident. He reassures her that his son’s death was not her fault – which causes Thrace to remember her admission to Lee Adama: that she passed Zak through his basic training when he had in fact failed ([[Mini-Series]])<br />
* She reluctantly accepts the duty, but memories of Zak continue to haunt her as she plays cards with [[Gaius Baltar]], oblivious of a conversation that takes place between [[Crashdown]] and [[Felix Gaeta]] concerning Baltar’s [[Cylon detector]] – a conversation that leaves [[Sharon Valerii#"Boomer" Valerii|Boomer]] very uncomfortable <br />
* Elsewhere on ''Galactica'', President [[Laura Roslin]] is examined by the ship’s medical officer, Doctor [[Cottle]]. His diagnosis is not good: her cancer is inoperable. Roslin decides that she wants to try alternative therapy using [[Chamalla]] extract – something entirely unproven in its effectiveness<br />
* Later, Thrrace meets her first batch of recruits. They are all pilots – but none have ever flown a Viper. With [[Computers#Colonial Fleet Computers|no simulators]] aboard ''Galactica'', the newbies – [[Nugget]]s – are thrown in at the deep end: straight into the cockpit of the real thing<br />
* Their performance during their first training flight is hardly stellar, and Thrace is uncompromisingly hard on the first batch of recruits, washing them all out <br />
* Captain Adama confronts her on her decision, and realises it is caused more by guilt about Zak than on the ability of the trainees. When she refuses to reinstate the trainees, he takes the matter up with Commander Adama<br />
* Commander Adama initially supports Thrace's decision, but a misunderstanding between him and Lee causes him to meet with Thrace to discuss Zak’s death <br />
* When Starbuck tries to dodge the issue, Adama pins her down, and she admits the truth: Zak botched his final training flights, but she passed him because she was in love with him and they were engaged – but Zak really wasn’t the right material for flying Vipers<br />
* Angered and hurt, Adama orders her to reinstate the trainees and to get out of his cabin<br />
* Starbuck leads a handful of the trainees on a training flight, only to have a group of [[Cylon Raider|Cylon Raiders]] show up<br />
* In the ensuing dogfight, Starbuck takes care of the Raiders (with [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]]'s aid), but her Viper is damaged, forcing her to eject inside the atmosphere of a weather-wracked moon<br />
<br />
===On [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]=== <br />
* [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Valerii#Caprica Valerii|Sharon Valerii]] are tracking the source of the signal they previously picked up out in the woods (“Water”)<br />
* The signal leads them to a restaurant in the city, which has a radiation shelter under it, stocked with everything they need to survive - water, food, blankets - even anti-radiation medication<br />
* Their arrival at the restaurant is observed by a copy of [[Number Six|Six]].<br />
<br />
==Summary from scifi.com ==<br />
After a flight deck accident kills 13 pilots and wounds many others, Kara is thrust into service as a flight instructor and ordered to turn a group of civilian pilots and academy washouts into full-fledged Viper pilots.<br />
<br />
The assignment brings back painful memories for Kara. She can't forget how she let Zak — Commander Adama's son and her lover — pass Basic Flight when he wasn't ready, and how it ultimately cost him his life. Determined never to repeat the mistake, she flunks out the would-be pilots on their first day.<br />
<br />
She is immediately confronted, first by Lee, then by Adama, and forced to admit to the Commander her role in Zak's death. Adama orders her to continue training the "nuggets." Meanwhile, Sgt. Hadrian continues her investigation into the detonators found in Sharon's spacecraft, and President Roslin consults the ship's doctor about her cancer.<br />
<br />
Far away on Cylon-occupied Caprica, Sharon and Helo find a secret cache of food.<br />
--This section ©2005, [http://www.scifi.com SCI FI]. All rights reserved.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Questions == <br />
<br />
<!-- Use bulleted lists. Try to list questions in number of importance. If the question was answered in a future episode, make a link to the episode. --><br />
* Did the scene with the Viper burning and Starbuck's ejection at the end actually happen then? The problem is that it was also shown earlier in the episode, in two parts, apparently as flashforwards for Starbuck. (This is the case in the Australian version, at least.)<br />
**This happened at the end of the episode. It was not a flashforward from Starbuck's POV, but for the audience.<br />
<br />
== Analysis ==<br />
An interesting episode that reveals a lot of the back story around the late Zak Adama, hampered by a weak start. <br />
<br />
The bonhomie between Starbuck, Lee and Adama as seen in the teaser doesn’t entirely work. Coming on top of the clear division between Adama and Lee following the latter’s activities on the ''Astral Queen'' just 48 hours before, it is hard to accept the cameraderie that they share here. <br />
<br />
Also, while hijinks are to be expected, even in the most dire situations – the crew are going to have to let off steam at times – the whole “1,000th” landing idea smacked too much of a contrivance to get ''Galactica’s'' pilots together so that a bunch of them can be knocked off. <br />
<br />
Moving on, there is Adama's cosy tête-à-tête with Starbuck regarding the role of instructor, the cosy little cuddle at the end just doesn't sit right. Until now, Adama has been portrayed as approachable but aloof. Personnel of all ranks have been comfortable in talking to him openly, and have clearly regarded him with respect. However, there has always been a degree of separation <br />
between him and those around him. So it's a little hard to accept Adama as a man given to heartfelt hugs with junior officers - no matter what their past. <br />
<br />
The hug serves a single purpose: a means to give Adama's relationship with Starbuck a little extra depth ready for his fall when her revelation concerning Zak is finally made. <br />
<br />
However, once the story gets past these little wobbles, it turns into a finely-crafted piece, weaving the past, present and - in Starbuck's case - the future into a picture of love, guilt, betrayal, need, and hurt. The acting throughout is outstanding, and the framing superb throughout. The interweaving of Starbuck's and Adama's recollections of Zak's funeral with the Service for the Dead on ''Galactica'' is particularly potent, while Starbuck's flashbacks in particular serve to reveal her angst far more effectively than any amount of dialogue. To quote an old cliché: a picture is worth a thousand words. <br />
<br />
Alongside the main story arc, other elements are moved forward, either directly, or through dialogue. It is through the latter that we learn that the water situation in the fleet is still not resolved, and that operations are continuing on the ice moon discovered by Boomer and Crashdown in "[[Water]]"; we also learn – via the card game – that secrets on ''Galactica'' are proving hard to keep: rumours are already spreading that Gaeta is assisting Baltar in the development of his Cylon detector. <br />
<br />
Given a more direct reference is Roslin's illness. In a nice follow-on from "[[Bastille Day]]" she meets the ''Galactica's'' medical officer. Something of a cliché himself - a healer killing himself through smoking - but even so, he is a useful foil for opening a new mini-arc to Roslin's character: her determination to fight the cancer through orthodox and possibly unorthodox means. <br />
<br />
Finally, on Caprica, it is now clear that the Cylons want Helo to remain with Valerii. The receipt of the "military signal" and the discovery of the cosy little "radiation shelter" are together too much of a coincidence. The shelter is a honey-trap, and Valerii is the bait. <br />
<br />
An essential element to any story is the performance of the actors, and "Acts" presents some of the strongest performances just seen in BSG. In this, [[Edward James Olmos]] clearly silences any critics of his acting abilities. With barely a turn of the lips, an opening or narrowing of the eyes, he conveys everything we need to know about Adama's reaction to Thrace's admission in his cabin: confusion, hurt, betrayal, loss, anger and finally – fury. It's been a while since such a range of emotional reactions have been so powerfully portrayed, and full kudos to Mr. Olmos and to the episode's director and director of photography for the manner in which the scene is crafted. <br />
<br />
Equally deserving of praise is [[Katee Sackhoff]] for her handling of Thrace's memories and dilemma. Here, for the first time, we get to see what goes on behind the “Starbuck” mask; and the flashback scenes to her time with Zak are handled with extraordinary poise, and add the required depth needed to reinforce her guilt at his loss, and her fear of what might happen should she ever be put in a similar position again – or that Adama should ever discover the truth. <br />
<br />
Overall, a vastly different episode from all that has gone before and one that is, as stated before, saved from mediocrity only in the interweaving of the various story elements – future, present and past – and the outstanding performances from both Sackhoff and Olmos, well-supported by [[Jamie Bamber]] and [[James Callas]].<br />
<br />
== Notes == <br />
<br />
*It is 48 hours since the prisoner uprising on the ''Astral Queen''<br />
*Water replenishment ops are still underway <br />
*''Galactica'' has a remaining contingent of 40 Vipers on top of her 5 Raptors (revealed in "[[Water]]"), but now only has 21 combat-ready pilots and a further 8 newbie “nuggets” <br />
*Cylon Raiders have guns of an apparently similar nature to those mounted on Vipers <br />
*Zak and Starbuck were engaged, and that led to her passing him for flight duty <br />
*Adama's relationship with Starbuck is not as long-standing as the mini appeared to suggest: they have only served together for 2 years<br />
*Word is leaking out about Baltar's “Cylon detector” <br />
*Helo and Valerii still appear to be the only “people” left alive on Caprica. Neither seem in any hurry to get off the planet. (More humans are discovered in the second season episode, "[[Resistance]]".<br />
*The Colonial military use what appear to be HumVees and Deuce-and-a-half trucks!<br />
*While the Viper is burning on entry into the atmosphere, the Viper's [[Altimeter|altimeter]] is going in reverse, indicating altitude gain.<br />
<br />
== Noteworthy Dialogue ==<br />
<br />
<i>In Adama's Cabin, with Thrace and Adama, discussing comments made earlier by Lee Adama:</i><br />
<br />
<b>Adama:</b> He said something else. That you might have been feeling guilty about something you did for Zak. What did you do for him?<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> I don't know. You'd have to ask Lee.<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> I'm asking you. <br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Well I don't kn- I, ah...I don't really know what he was talking about, so...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Don't fence with me, Kara. I love you like a daughter. I don't deserve that.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Ummm...Zak...failed...basic flight. He wasn't a bad pilot, he just had no feel for flying...and, um, when it came to his final check ride he...busted...three of the test manoeuvres, and I should have flunked him, but I didn't. The bottom line is your...son...didn't have the chops to fly a Viper...and it killed him.<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> (following a flashback): You did it because you were engaged.<br><br />
<b>Thrace (breaking down):</b> Because I made a mistake...because I was just...I was so in love with him...and I let that get in the way of doing my job...and um, and he um, he just wanted it so much, and I...I didn't want to be the one who crushed him...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Reinstate the trainees to flight status.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> I will...but I just want you to understand...that I...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Do your job.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Yes sir...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> And walk out of this cabin...while you still can...<br />
<br />
== Official Statements == <br />
<!-- Use bullets or standard paragraph form. Please use links to sources!!! --><br />
<!-- If you wish to create the source within the Battlestar Wiki, then do so! --><br />
<br />
== Statistics ==<br />
<!-- All the odds and ends items go here. --><br />
<br />
==External Links ==<br />
[http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season01/104/ "Act of Contrition"] at scifi.com.<br />
<br />
[[Wikipedia:Contrition|Contrition]] defined on Wikipedia.<br />
{{Episode List}}<br />
<br />
[[Category: A to Z]]<br />
[[Category: Episode Guide (RDM)]]<br />
[[Category:RDM]]</div>
Piusaeneas
https://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Act_of_Contrition&diff=26888
Act of Contrition
2006-01-25T21:42:35Z
<p>Piusaeneas: /* Questions */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Episode Data|<br />
Image =[[Image:bsg-1-04.jpg|300px]]<br />
| Title=Act of Contrition<br />
| Series=[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|the Re-imagined Series]]<br />
| Season=[[Season 1 (2004-05)|1]]<br />
| Episode=4<br />
| Guests=[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Michael+Hogan Michael Hogan] (COL [[Saul Tigh]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Tahmoh+Penikett Tahmoh Penikett] ([[Karl Agathon|Helo]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Aaron+Dougl(Aaron Douglas] (CPO [[Galen Tyrol]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Jill+Teed Jill Teed] ([[Hadrian|SGT Hadrian]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Donnelly+Rhodes Donnelly Rhodes] (Dr. [[Cottle]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Lorena+Gale Lorena Gale] ([[Elosha]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Tobias+Mehler Tobi(Mehler] ([[Zak Adama]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Colby+Johannson Colby Johannson] ([[Dwight Saunders|Flat Top]])<br>[[Olmos, Bodie|Bodie Olmos]] ([[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Lucianna+Carro Lucianna Carro] ([[Louanne Katraine|Kat]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Terry+Chen Terry Chen] ([[Perry|Chuckles]])<br>[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Bill+Melien Bill Meilen] (Caprica Cleric)<br />
| Writer=[[Bradley Thompson]] & [[David Weddle]]<br />
| Story=<br />
| Director=[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Rod+Hardy Rod Hardy]<br />
| Production=1.04<br />
| Rating=<br />
| US Airdate=January 28 2005<br />
| UK Airdate=November 8 2004<br />
| DVD=March 28 2005 (UK)<br>September 20 2005 (US)<br />
| Population=<br />
| Prev=[[Bastille Day]]<br />
| Next=[[You Can't Go Home Again]]<br />
}}<br />
== Overview ==<br />
<br />
:''When several Viper pilots are killed in a freak accident, Adama turns to Starbuck for help - but her involvement in the aftermath of the accident and in training new pilots causes the truth surrounding Zak Adama's death to finally surface.'' <br />
<br />
== Summary == <br />
* It is [[Dwight Saunders|Dwight “Flat Top” Saunder’s]] 1,000th deck landing, which brings ''Galactica’s'' pilots down to the hangar deck to celebrate<br />
* As the celebrations continue, a [[communication drone]] stowed on the [[Hangar Deck]] breaks loose from its restraints, falling to the deck and igniting its motor. The drone flies across the hangar, smashing into the celebrating pilots where it explodes, killing Flat Top and twelve others and putting seven more in [[sickbay]]<br />
* As the surviving pilots prepare for a memorial service for their fallen comrades, [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] has flashbacks to her first meeting with [[William Adama]], following the death of his son, [[Zak Adama|Zak]]<br />
* During the memorial service itself, she, [[Lee Adama]] and Bill Adama all have flashbacks – to Zak Adama’s funeral and (in Thrace's case) to her telling Zak he’s qualified as a [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot<br />
* Following the service, Commander Adama asks Thrace to oversee the training of any new pilots they can find in the fleet <br />
* Thrace is initially hesitant, and the Commander guesses the cause is Zak's accident. He reassures her that his son’s death was not her fault – which causes Thrace to remember her admission to Lee Adama: that she passed Zak through his basic training when he had in fact failed ([[Mini-Series]])<br />
* She reluctantly accepts the duty, but memories of Zak continue to haunt her as she plays cards with [[Gaius Baltar]], oblivious of a conversation that takes place between [[Crashdown]] and [[Felix Gaeta]] concerning Baltar’s [[Cylon detector]] – a conversation that leaves [[Sharon Valerii#"Boomer" Valerii|Boomer]] very uncomfortable <br />
* Elsewhere on ''Galactica'', President [[Laura Roslin]] is examined by the ship’s medical officer, Doctor [[Cottle]]. His diagnosis is not good: her cancer is inoperable. Roslin decides that she wants to try alternative therapy using [[Chamalla]] extract – something entirely unproven in its effectiveness<br />
* Later, Thrrace meets her first batch of recruits. They are all pilots – but none have ever flown a Viper. With [[Computers#Colonial Fleet Computers|no simulators]] aboard ''Galactica'', the newbies – [[Nugget]]s – are thrown in at the deep end: straight into the cockpit of the real thing<br />
* Their performance during their first training flight is hardly stellar, and Thrace is uncompromisingly hard on the first batch of recruits, washing them all out <br />
* Captain Adama confronts her on her decision, and realises it is caused more by guilt about Zak than on the ability of the trainees. When she refuses to reinstate the trainees, he takes the matter up with Commander Adama<br />
* Commander Adama initially supports Thrace's decision, but a misunderstanding between him and Lee causes him to meet with Thrace to discuss Zak’s death <br />
* When Starbuck tries to dodge the issue, Adama pins her down, and she admits the truth: Zak botched his final training flights, but she passed him because she was in love with him and they were engaged – but Zak really wasn’t the right material for flying Vipers<br />
* Angered and hurt, Adama orders her to reinstate the trainees and to get out of his cabin<br />
* Starbuck leads a handful of the trainees on a training flight, only to have a group of [[Cylon Raider|Cylon Raiders]] show up<br />
* In the ensuing dogfight, Starbuck takes care of the Raiders (with [[Brendan Constanza|Hot Dog]]'s aid), but her Viper is damaged, forcing her to eject inside the atmosphere of a weather-wracked moon<br />
<br />
===On [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)#Caprica|Caprica]]=== <br />
* [[Karl Agathon]] and [[Sharon Valerii#Caprica Valerii|Sharon Valerii]] are tracking the source of the signal they previously picked up out in the woods (“Water”)<br />
* The signal leads them to a restaurant in the city, which has a radiation shelter under it, stocked with everything they need to survive - water, food, blankets - even anti-radiation medication<br />
* Their arrival at the restaurant is observed by a copy of [[Number Six|Six]].<br />
<br />
==Summary from scifi.com ==<br />
After a flight deck accident kills 13 pilots and wounds many others, Kara is thrust into service as a flight instructor and ordered to turn a group of civilian pilots and academy washouts into full-fledged Viper pilots.<br />
<br />
The assignment brings back painful memories for Kara. She can't forget how she let Zak — Commander Adama's son and her lover — pass Basic Flight when he wasn't ready, and how it ultimately cost him his life. Determined never to repeat the mistake, she flunks out the would-be pilots on their first day.<br />
<br />
She is immediately confronted, first by Lee, then by Adama, and forced to admit to the Commander her role in Zak's death. Adama orders her to continue training the "nuggets." Meanwhile, Sgt. Hadrian continues her investigation into the detonators found in Sharon's spacecraft, and President Roslin consults the ship's doctor about her cancer.<br />
<br />
Far away on Cylon-occupied Caprica, Sharon and Helo find a secret cache of food.<br />
--This section ©2005, [http://www.scifi.com SCI FI]. All rights reserved.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Questions == <br />
<br />
<!-- Use bulleted lists. Try to list questions in number of importance. If the question was answered in a future episode, make a link to the episode. --><br />
* Did the scene with the Viper burning and Starbuck's ejection at the end actually happen then? The problem is that it was also shown earlier in the episode, in two parts, apparently as flashforwards for Starbuck. (This is the case in the Australian version, at least.)<br />
**This happened at the end of the episode. It was not a flashforward from Starbuck's POV, but for the audience.<br />
<br />
== Analysis ==<br />
An interesting episode that reveals a lot of the back story around the late Zak Adama, hampered by a weak start. <br />
<br />
The bonhomie between Starbuck, Lee and Adama as seen in the teaser doesn’t entirely work. Coming on top of the clear division between Adama and Lee following the latter’s activities on the ''Astral Queen'' just 48 hours before, it is hard to accept the cameraderie that they share here. <br />
<br />
Also, while hijinks are to be expected, even in the most dire situations – the crew are going to have to let off steam at times – the whole “1,000th” landing idea smacked too much of a contrivance to get ''Galactica’s'' pilots together so that a bunch of them can be knocked off. <br />
<br />
Moving on, there is Adama's cosy tête-à-tête with Starbuck regarding the role of instructor, the cosy little cuddle at the end just doesn't sit right. Until now, Adama has been portrayed as approachable but aloof. Personnel of all ranks have been comfortable in talking to him openly, and have clearly regarded him with respect. However, there has always been a degree of separation <br />
between him and those around him. So it's a little hard to accept Adama as a man given to heartfelt hugs with junior officers - no matter what their past. <br />
<br />
The hug serves a single purpose: a (transparent) means to give Adama's relationship with Starbuck a little extra depth ready for his fall when her revelation concerning Zak is finally made. <br />
<br />
However, once the story gets past these little wobbles, it turns into a finely-crafted piece, weaving the past, present and - in Starbuck's case - the future into a picture of love, guilt, betrayal, need, and hurt. The acting throughout is outstanding, and the framing superb throughout. The interweaving of Starbuck's and Adama's recollections of Zak's funeral with the Service for the Dead on ''Galactica'' is particularly potent, while Starbuck's flashbacks in particular serve to reveal her angst far more effectively than any amount of dialogue. To quote an old cliché: a picture is worth a thousand words. <br />
<br />
Alongside the main story arc, other elements are moved forward, either directly, or through dialogue. It is through the latter that we learn that the water situation in the fleet is still not resolved, and that operations are continuing on the ice moon discovered by Boomer and Crashdown in "[[Water]]"; we also learn – via the card game – that secrets on ''Galactica'' are proving hard to keep: rumours are already spreading that Gaeta is assisting Baltar in the development of his Cylon detector. <br />
<br />
Given a more direct reference is Roslin's illness. In a nice follow-on from "[[Bastille Day]]" she meets the ''Galactica's'' medical officer. Something of a cliché himself - a healer killing himself through smoking - but even so, he is a useful foil for opening a new mini-arc to Roslin's character: her determination to fight the cancer through orthodox and possibly unorthodox means. <br />
<br />
Finally, on Caprica, it is now clear that the Cylons want Helo to remain with Valerii. The receipt of the "military signal" and the discovery of the cosy little "radiation shelter" are together too much of a coincidence. The shelter is a honey-trap, and Valerii is the bait. <br />
<br />
An essential element to any story is the performance of the actors, and "Acts" presents some of the strongest performances just seen in BSG. In this, [[Edward James Olmos]] clearly silences any critics of his acting abilities. With barely a turn of the lips, an opening or narrowing of the eyes, he conveys everything we need to know about Adama's reaction to Thrace's admission in his cabin: confusion, hurt, betrayal, loss, anger and finally – fury. It's been a while since such a range of emotional reactions have been so powerfully portrayed, and full kudos to Mr. Olmos and to the episode's director and director of photography for the manner in which the scene is crafted. <br />
<br />
Equally deserving of praise is [[Katee Sackhoff]] for her handling of Thrace's memories and dilemma. Here, for the first time, we get to see what goes on behind the “Starbuck” mask; and the flashback scenes to her time with Zak are handled with extraordinary poise, and add the required depth needed to reinforce her guilt at his loss, and her fear of what might happen should she ever be put in a similar position again – or that Adama should ever discover the truth. <br />
<br />
Overall, a vastly different episode from all that has gone before and one that is, as stated before, saved from mediocrity only in the interweaving of the various story elements – future, present and past – and the outstanding performances from both Sackhoff and Olmos, well-supported by [[Jamie Bamber]] and [[James Callas]].<br />
<br />
== Notes == <br />
<br />
*It is 48 hours since the prisoner uprising on the ''Astral Queen''<br />
*Water replenishment ops are still underway <br />
*''Galactica'' has a remaining contingent of 40 Vipers on top of her 5 Raptors (revealed in "[[Water]]"), but now only has 21 combat-ready pilots and a further 8 newbie “nuggets” <br />
*Cylon Raiders have guns of an apparently similar nature to those mounted on Vipers <br />
*Zak and Starbuck were engaged, and that led to her passing him for flight duty <br />
*Adama's relationship with Starbuck is not as long-standing as the mini appeared to suggest: they have only served together for 2 years<br />
*Word is leaking out about Baltar's “Cylon detector” <br />
*Helo and Valerii still appear to be the only “people” left alive on Caprica. Neither seem in any hurry to get off the planet. (More humans are discovered in the second season episode, "[[Resistance]]".<br />
*The Colonial military use what appear to be HumVees and Deuce-and-a-half trucks!<br />
*While the Viper is burning on entry into the atmosphere, the Viper's [[Altimeter|altimeter]] is going in reverse, indicating altitude gain.<br />
<br />
== Noteworthy Dialogue ==<br />
<br />
<i>In Adama's Cabin, with Thrace and Adama, discussing comments made earlier by Lee Adama:</i><br />
<br />
<b>Adama:</b> He said something else. That you might have been feeling guilty about something you did for Zak. What did you do for him?<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> I don't know. You'd have to ask Lee.<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> I'm asking you. <br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Well I don't kn- I, ah...I don't really know what he was talking about, so...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Don't fence with me, Kara. I love you like a daughter. I don't deserve that.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Ummm...Zak...failed...basic flight. He wasn't a bad pilot, he just had no feel for flying...and, um, when it came to his final check ride he...busted...three of the test manoeuvres, and I should have flunked him, but I didn't. The bottom line is your...son...didn't have the chops to fly a Viper...and it killed him.<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> (following a flashback): You did it because you were engaged.<br><br />
<b>Thrace (breaking down):</b> Because I made a mistake...because I was just...I was so in love with him...and I let that get in the way of doing my job...and um, and he um, he just wanted it so much, and I...I didn't want to be the one who crushed him...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Reinstate the trainees to flight status.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> I will...but I just want you to understand...that I...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> Do your job.<br><br />
<b>Thrace:</b> Yes sir...<br><br />
<b>Adama:</b> And walk out of this cabin...while you still can...<br />
<br />
== Official Statements == <br />
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== Statistics ==<br />
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==External Links ==<br />
[http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/episodes/season01/104/ "Act of Contrition"] at scifi.com.<br />
<br />
[[Wikipedia:Contrition|Contrition]] defined on Wikipedia.<br />
{{Episode List}}<br />
<br />
[[Category: A to Z]]<br />
[[Category: Episode Guide (RDM)]]<br />
[[Category:RDM]]</div>
Piusaeneas
https://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Daru_Mozu&diff=25825
Daru Mozu
2006-01-21T07:36:57Z
<p>Piusaeneas: </p>
<hr />
<div>''Daru Mozu'' is a [[tylium]] [[refinery ship]] in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]]. It was damaged by a suicide bomber who was part of a [[Cylon]] peace movement ([[Epiphanies]]).</div>
Piusaeneas
https://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Action_stations&diff=22025
Action stations
2006-01-04T07:26:32Z
<p>Piusaeneas: spelling of imminent</p>
<hr />
<div>Ship alerts on [[Battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' are known as '''action stations'''. These alerts are given to prepare Colonial Battlestar crews for battle. The alerts are typically by voice as well as by a klaxon siren in the following format:<br />
<br />
''"Action stations, action stations. Set condition one throughout the ship."''<br />
<br />
The three states of readiness are:<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>''Condition One''</b>: Attack is present, or imminent. This alert places the ship at its highest state of readiness. All crews go to their combat posts. Bulkhead doors are closed in case of decompression. Additional [[Viper]] pilots are scrambled to supplement the [[Combat Air Patrol]] and flight support crews man their stations. The [[CIC]] is locked down and the ship's Commander is on station.<br />
<br />
<b>''Condition Two''</b>: Threat probable, but not present. Crew readiness is somewhat more relaxed then full readiness, and crewmen actually take sleep shifts (which is impossible in Condition One). <br />
<br />
<b>''Condition Three''</b>: This is the "all clear" alert, returning crews to their normal, day-to-day non-combat duties after Conditions One or Two. This is normal cruising during wartime. Weapons are partially manned, but the ship is at less than full readiness. <br />
<br />
==Note==<br />
<br />
*Condition One and Two are similar to the famous "Red Alert" and "Yellow Alert" used throughout the ''Star Trek'' television series.<br />
*The three known Conditions seem to follow the same Condition template that the US Navy does for Conditions One to Three. Ron D. Moore has been known to base much of the terminology in the Colonial Fleet on real-world terminology from the US Navy. If the Action Station system is the same in both, "Condition Four" would be normal peacetime cruising (which we may never see because they have been living "in wartime" since the Mini-series), and "Condition Five" would be normal peacetime condition while in port. <br />
<br />
<br />
[[Category:A to Z]]<br />
[[Category:RDM]]<br />
[[Category:Terminology]]</div>
Piusaeneas
https://en.battlestarwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Pilot_ready_rooms&diff=18848
Pilot ready rooms
2005-12-06T19:19:55Z
<p>Piusaeneas: </p>
<hr />
<div>The ready rooms are where the pilots go for their pre-flight briefings. It has several rows of chairs for pilots and it also seems that it can be used as a classroom for [[Nugget|nuggets]]. There is a dry-erase board which is probably used to log the landings and launches of each active pilot. It serves as a timetable. There is also an easel and a bigger non-wall-mounted dry-erase board in which can be written intructions, objectives, etc. Schematics of the [[Viper]] and guides to the [[Viper]] itself are also in the room for training purposes.<br />
<br />
The Ready room is also home of the famous [[Ready Room Picture|picture]] of the soldier on the roof of the capitol building on Aerilon during the attack.<br />
[[Category:A to Z]][[Category:RDM]][[Category:Galactica Areas]][[Category:Terminology]]</div>
Piusaeneas