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Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:bsg-klg1-1.jpg|thumb|"Kobol's Last Gleaming Part 1" (credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]
{{Episode Data
== Overview ==
| image =Home_pt1-Kobol.jpg
''The Galactica discovers Kobol, and a chain of events are set in motion that threaten to change everything.''
| title=Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
| series=
| season=1
| episode=12
| guests=
| writer=[[Ronald D. Moore]]
| story=[[David Eick]]
| director=[[Michael Rymer]]
| production=112
| rating= 2.2
| US airdate=2005-03-25
| CAN airdate=2005-04-02
| UK airdate=2005-01-17
| dvd= {{Season 1 NTSC DVD release date}} '''US'''<br/>{{Season 1 PAL DVD release date}} '''UK'''
| population= 47897
| oldpopulation= 47898
| syfyname= kobol_s_last_gleaming_part_1
| prev=[[Colonial Day]]
| next=[[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]
| podcast=Y
| itunes=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D102232241%2526id%253D102796450%2526s%253D143441%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| itunes CA=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D102232241%2526id%253D102796450%2526s%253D143455%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| itunes UK=http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=VWbyALbmqZY&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewTVSeason%253Fi%253D102232241%2526id%253D102796450%2526s%253D143444%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30
| amazon=y
|archives=y}}
 
 
:[[Galactica (TRS)|Galactica]]'' discovers {{RDM|Kobol}}, and a chain of events are set in motion that threatens to change everything.''


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
* Following the [[Colonial Day]] celebrations, [[Baltar, Gaius|Baltar]] finally beds [[Thrace, Kara|Starbuck]], but as they make love, she cries out for [[Adama, Lee|Lee Adama]], shattering Baltar
* Following the [[Colonial Day (holiday)|Colonial Day]] celebrations, [[Gaius Baltar]] finally beds [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]], but as they make love, she cries out for [[Lee Adama]], shattering Baltar's mood.
* Stricken by her apparent rejection of him in their coupling, Baltar in turn comes close to rejecting [[Number Six|Six]] and find it impossible to concentrate on anything – including his duties as Vice President
* Stricken by her apparent rejection of him in their coupling, Baltar in turn comes close to rejecting [[Number Six|Six]] and finds it impossible to concentrate on anything – including his duties as Vice President.
* Elsewhere on ship, [[Valerii, Sharon#"Boomer" Valerii|Boomer]] attempts to take her own life, but breaks down in tears before she can shoot herself – and she is called to the Ready Room for a pre-flight briefing
* Elsewhere on ship, [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] attempts to take her own life, but breaks down in tears before she can shoot herself. She is called to the Ready Room for a pre-flight briefing.
* [[Roslin, Laura|Roslin]] discovers that her cancer treatment is not going well; her cancer has in fact spread to her lymphatic system, giving her perhaps 6 months to live
* [[Laura Roslin|Roslin]] discovers that her cancer treatment is not going well. Her cancer has spread to her lymphatic system, giving her perhaps 6 months to live.
* Baltar verbally fences with Lee Adama and is somewhat insulting to Starbuck, tipping Lee off that the doctor has slept with Starbuck; later, still thinking about Starbuck, Baltar cracks in front of Roslin
* Baltar verbally fences with Lee Adama and is somewhat insulting to Thrace, tipping Lee off that the doctor has slept with Thrace. Later, still thinking about Thrace, Baltar cracks in front of Roslin.
* Following a recon mission, Boomer and [[Crashdown]] return to the ''[[Galactica]]'' with evidence they’ve stumbled upon [[Kobol]]
* Following a recon mission, Boomer and {{callsign|Crashdown}} return to ''{{RDM|Galactica}}'' with evidence they have stumbled upon {{RDM|Kobol}}.
* Determined to have things out with Starbuck, Lee confronts her in the hanger bay, and the two come to blows, Starbuck realising that her actions with Baltar have hurt Lee Adama
* Determined to have things out with Thrace, Lee confronts her in the [[Hangar Deck]], and the two come to blows. Thrace realizes that her actions with Baltar have hurt Lee Adama.
* Reviewing the evidence returned by Boomer and Crashdown, Roslin has a vision which [[Elosha]] confirms to be the [[City of the Gods]] on Kobol
* Reviewing the evidence returned by Boomer and Crashdown, Roslin has a vision which [[Elosha]] confirms to be the [[City of the Gods]] on Kobol.
* Roslin has two further visions – the [[Arrow of Apollo]] and the [[Tomb of Athena]], and accepts the scriptures as fact
* Roslin has two further visions – the [[Arrow of Apollo]] and the [[Tomb of Athena]], and accepts the scriptures as fact.
* Boomer, still confused, attempts to take her own life – “encouraged” by Baltar in defiance of Six
* Boomer, still confused, attempts to take her own life – “encouraged” by Baltar in defiance of Six.
* When [[Adama, William|Adama]] reviews the evidence, he orders an extensive surface survey of the planet, seeing it as a opportunity for them to settle. Warned his should get off the ''Galactica'' by Six, Baltar assigns himself to the survey
* When [[William Adama|Adama]] reviews the evidence, he orders an extensive surface survey of the planet, seeing it as an opportunity for them to settle. Warned he should get off ''Galactica'' by Six, Baltar assigns himself to the survey.
* Roslin tries to convince Adama that Kobol will point the way to [[Earth]], but they must use the captured [Cylon Raider|Raider]] to return to [[Caprica]] and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo
* Roslin tries to convince Adama that Kobol will point the way to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]], but they must use the captured [[Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raider]] to return to {{RDM|Caprica}} and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo.
* Three Raptors depart the Galactica for Kobol, but on arrival they find themselves in the midst of a Cylon force of Raiders – and a basestar
* Three Raptors depart ''Galactica'' for Kobol, but on arrival they find themselves in the midst of a Cylon force of Raiders – and a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]].
* One Raptor is destroyed, and one - carrying Baltar – is forced down on Kobol
* One Raptor is destroyed, and one – carrying Baltar – crash-lands on Kobol. The third escapes back to the Fleet.
* Before a rescue mission can be launched, the basestar must be taken out – and Starbuck hatches a plan to do just this using the captured Raider
* Before a rescue mission can be launched, the basestar must be taken out – and Starbuck hatches a plan to do just this using the captured Raider.
* Hearing this, Roslin meets with Starbuck and subverts her into going to Caprica instead
* Hearing this, Roslin meets with Starbuck and convinces her into going to Caprica instead to retrieve the Arrow, by telling her that Adama does not actually know where Earth is.
[[Image:bsg-klg1-1.jpg|thumb|right|Adama studies ancient documents on Kobol.]]


===On Caprica===  
===On Caprica===  
* [[Agathon, Karl C.|Helo]] is on the run – alone – when he encounters “his” [[Valerii, Sharon#Caprica Valerii|Valerii]], and he shoots wounds her. Unable to kill her outright, he takes her with him
* [[Karl Agathon|Helo]], alone and on the run, encounters “his” [[Sharon Agathon|Valerii]]. He shoots and wounds her. Unable to kill her outright, he takes her with him.
* When Valerii tries to explain things to him, Helo informs her that all she is to him is a way off the planet.
* When Valerii tries to talk to him, Helo cuts her off and insists that she is now just a means for him to get off the planet.
 
--[[User:Ernestborg9|Colonial Archivist]] 09:59, 26 Jan 2005 (EST)
 
== Questions ==
* Why did the people leave [[Kobol]]?
* What happened to the gods who lived on Kobol “with man?”?
* Did the gods remain on Kobol after humanity left?
* Given the similarities with the [[Greek Gods|Greek Pantheon]], did the gods decide to follow the 13th tribe to Earth, thus establishing the myths of the Olympian gods?
* Do the Cylons consider Kobol as their spiritual home as well (“The birthplace of us all” – [[Conoy, Leoben|Leoben Conoy]], [[Flesh and Bone]])?
* Did Boomer's Cylon personality interfere in her attmept at suicide, resulting in her wounding herself, or did her human personality lack the conviction of the act, resulting in the wound?
* If the disk devices investigated by Gaeta is indeed an [[IFF]] transponder, why did the Cylons make such an attempt to destory the ''Galactica'' during their first attack - up to and including deploying nuclear weapons against her? Was the device inactive - if so, why was it in [[CIC]] in the first place ([[Mini-Series]])?


== Notes ==
*Thrace leaves Baltar's quarters at the start of the episode with her blue dress from "[[Colonial Day]]". It seems like this episode continues directly on from the previous episode.
*There are now 47,897 survivors in the [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]], a net loss of 1 since "Colonial Day," accounting for the death of [[Valance]].
*The Fleet is beginning to run short of supplies.
*Humans departed Kobol for the Twelve Colonies some 2,000 years prior to the setting of the series.
*Kobol is a place where the "gods and man lived ''together'' in paradise".
*Some of the "gods" appear to be buried on Kobol, as demonstrated by the [[Tomb of Athena]].
*[[Socinus]] has been released from the brig and returned to duty; Socinus' release from the brig by [[Galen Tyrol|Chief Tyrol]] was filmed, but ended up on the [[List of Deleted Scenes - Season 1 (RDM)#Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I|cutting room floor]].
*[[Ellen Tigh]] does not appear in this episode, but she is present in deleted scenes. 
*The [[Cylon transponder]] is an indirect nod to the {{TOS|Battlestar Galactica|Original Series}}, in which {{TOS|Apollo}} and {{TOS|Starbuck}} use an IFF-type device to identify their [[Raider (TOS)|Raider]] to Colonial forces when they launch an attack on a Cylon basestar {{OS|The Hand of God}}.
*When Adama asks Starbuck what she is doing and she replies "Bringing home the cat," she is referring to their first exchange in the Miniseries: "What do you hear?" - "[[Nothing but the rain]]."
*The last scene, with Kara Thrace leaving in a Raider to return to Caprica, is scored differently on the US DVDs than either the UK DVDs or the initially broadcast version. In the initial broadcast, the score uses the drum sequence from the opening titles. The US DVD set, however, is scored with a drum cue from the Miniseries. Neither is the version originally scored by [[Bear McCreary]], who went with a middle ground between intense action and subtle drama. (This version can be found on his [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=444 blog]). <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=444|title=Bear McCreary's blog: BG Season 1 Mx Mix-Ups}}</ref>


== Analysis ==
== Analysis ==
*''Why would Starbuck have sex with Baltar?'' As Starbuck says, she feels she is a screwup. Based on what viewers have seen and heard of Starbuck throughout the season, and specifically Apollo's comments in this episode, she has a history of recklessly diving into physical relations with no thought whatsoever as to the consequences; Starbuck instinctively starts thinking something must be wrong when things are going right, such as her growing relationship with Apollo, because she's so used to things going wrong.  Also, Lee Adama left her dancing with Baltar in the last episode.
*When Sharon shoots herself, she is holding an automatic pistol, but the sound is that of the larger sidearms carried by pilots when flying off-ship missions (only slightly suppressed), rather than the report of a "normal" pistol being fired.
*When Roslin tells Starbuck that she is dying from breast cancer, she says that she only told three people. However, four people ([[Sherman Cottle|Doctor Cottle]], [[Billy Keikeya]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Elosha]]) actually know of Roslin's illness by this time. Whether this is a continuity error or whether Roslin simply misspeaks is unknown.
**Billy inferred her condition before she told him, {{TRS|Miniseries}}, so maybe she is being very particular, since he did not learn of it through her telling him.


The finest episode of Battlestar Galactica to air so far; so finely tuned the it barely misses a beat. This is also the first episode where music is used to its most evocative effect, further lifting the story into the realm of outstanding drama.
== Questions ==


From the outset the audience knows it is in for something special; the re-cap of previous episodes so tightly defined, it for once deals with a single strand of the story to date: the Cylons, only opening at the end to reveal the motivating thrust to this episode: the finding of Kobol.
=== Answered Questions ===


This leads into one of the most beautifully-constructed teasers witnessed in television drama. Evocative, moving – and entirely minimalist in terms of dialogue -, it really is proof that frequently, less really is more. Why waste time with words, when actions and expressions speak so much louder, and music can imbue the underlying emotions.
{{answered questions|season=1|series=RDM|episode=Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I}}


Battlestar Galactica has not always fared well where music is concerned. The opening theme is one that is either liked or disliked, with little middle ground; incidental music in previous episodes has been sporadic in its ability to act – as music should – as the aural scenery that helps bring the drama to life. Sometimes it has worked, in others – notably the otherwise brilliant The Hand of God – it has been so out of keeping with the atmosphere of the show, it has detracted from the overall enjoyment of the episode.
* Why did the Thirteen Tribes leave {{RDM|Kobol}}?
* Given the similarities with the Greek pantheon, did the gods decide to follow the 13th tribe to Earth, thus establishing the myths of the Olympian gods?
* Do the Cylons consider Kobol as their spiritual home as well (“The birthplace of us all” – [[Leoben Conoy]], "[[Flesh and Bone]]")?


Here, however, the music is perfect – and it is interesting to see that in immersing the audience into the subtleties of the teaser, the episode uses a “classical” approach through the use of an orchestral sound, rather than the more tribal beats common to Battlestar Galactica.
=== Unanswered Questions ===


And the result is remarkable. Utilising the string section in the foreground – violins and cellos slowly building a theme to which is added further instruments as new revelations are made concerning the moods and responses of the various characters; providing an aural tapestry through which everything is linked; the bringing together and the falling apart of relationships; the expression of needs,  and emotions.
* What happened to the gods who lived on Kobol “with man”?
* Did the gods remain on Kobol after humanity left?
* Did [[Sharon Valerii]]'s Cylon personality interfere in her attempt at suicide, resulting in her wounding herself, or did her human personality lack the conviction of the act, resulting in the wound? Or was it simply an accident that she missed?


The music perfectly underpins one of the main thrusts of the teaser: a demonstration of how alive the humans are; how driven by passion and instinct. It was in “Flesh and Bone” that Doral stated his envy of a human’s ability to experience such extremes. Now we’re cleverly shown everything the Cylon’s aspire to experience themselves: passions unbounded by the need for constraint, given form in both the boxing and in Starbuck’s fantasy view of her coupling with Baltar (“Lee”).
== Official Statements ==
 
Turning to the boxing, it is evident more is going on here than a simple father-and-son sparring match. Aggression and frustration are being dealt with here – as witnessed by the clear satisfaction Lee gets from striking and hurting his father. When he lands his first big punch, he asks, “Are you OK?” not out of concern, but out of satisfaction; it could have so easily been followed by, “Because there’s plenty more where that came from.” Even so, his frustrations are released guardedly, whereas his father’s response is not. He allows himself to enjoy striking his son, giving his instincts the freedom of expression they need.
 
Another fascinating element of the teaser is the manner in which Boomer’s situation is offset with Valerii on Caprica. As Boomer takes her handgun and prepares to shoot herself, Valerii finds Helo, and tells him to shoot her. Both of them have reached the same point in their existence, both of them because of their entirely human responses – in Boomer’s case fear and in Valerii’s the anguish of lost love. Fear and love – perhaps the strongest of emotions we can experience; and both have driven these instances of Valerii to despair. In doing so, these emotions reveal both the “flaw” within the Valerii model that makes it “weak” in Six’s eyes while also demonstrating the Cylon experiment has succeeded – perhaps in a way the Cylons could not have conceived.
 
The rest of the episode is no less rich. Roslin’s acceptance of her roll and the reality of the scriptures, though sudden, is entirely in keeping with all that has been shown in recent episodes. The issues arising from this are both immediate and long-term. She has already subverted the strike against the Cylon basestar – putting the entire fleet at risk, as well as the lives of some 8-10 members of the Galactica’s crew stranded on Kobol. Whether Adama be willing to let this go if / when Starbuck returns with the Arrow of Apollo remains to be seen. However, as Billy points out, if she continues to act upon what he sees (and no doubt others will believe) as “drug-induced hallucinations”, then the stability of the entire government within the fleet will be put at risk – possibly well before the scheduled elections. 
In a similar way, the flare-up of jealousy and anger between Lee and Starbuck is entirely in keeping with recent events: their potential attraction has been seen in brief flashes throughout, while their frustrations with one another have been witnessed through the likes of “Act of Contrition” and most recently, “The Hand of God”. Beyond that, they have a history together that bonds them from their time at flight school, where Zak Adama initially brought them together as friends through to Lee’s arrival aboard the Galactica. Thus, Lee’s very evident attraction to her during the Colonial Day party, is fully in keeping with what we have seen: but she ends up bedding Baltar.
 
While this latter point is somewhat surprising given the degree of open contempt she has shown him of late (“Bastille Day”,  “Litmus”, “Secrets and Lies”), given the availability of drinks aboard the “Cloud Nine” their coupling could be put down to the effects of alcohol. Certainly, Baltar has never hidden his lust for Starbuck, and it is hard to see him missing the opportunity to take advantage of his new-found position as Vice President and the fact that Six has given her permission to sleep with whoever he likes.
 
Why did she do it? Probably because, despite his attraction to her, and her to him (hence her orgasm-induced cry) Starbuck sees Lee as unobtainable – possibly because of that same history they share. So in her inebriation, she opts for the closest available target – Baltar.  Whatever the reason, her actions are more than enough to both become the perfect catalyst for Baltar’s conflicts with Six and his apparent desire to confound her (as evidenced through his conversation with Boomer), and to act as a catalyst to bring Lee’s jealousy to the surface.
 
Baltar’s time with Boomer is interesting. Taking heed of Six’s warning concerning the danger the Galactica while face and acting in defiance of her mocking comments in the bunkroom itself, he acts in defiance of her, gently bringing Boomer to the point where she can carry out the attempt on her own life. Through it all, Six is obviously confused by his actions. That Boomer’s Cylon persona more than likely stopped her killing herself, the fact that Baltar was willing to act as he does has a major impact on Six – hence her more gentle reminder to him when the survey of Kobol is being planned.


The episode also can’t be faulted for the standard of performance turned in. Across the board all of the ensemble cast put in sterling performances that serve to ratchet-up “Kobol’s Last Gleaming Part 1” so it stands head and shoulders above what has already been a remarkable first season run. Thus, to single any individual member of the cast out at the expense of the others would be somewhat unfair; everyone appearing on-screen – be it for 40 minutes or 4 – makes their character utterly engrossing to watch. 
=== Regarding the lack of definitive information regarding Kobol ===
{{from_RDM_blog}}


The final elements that round-out this episode are the writing and direction. With this story, Eick and Moore demonstrate they have a clear vision for where the series will hopefully go (allowing for future renewals), the territories it may cover and the ways in which the various threads can be intertwined and then neatly separated again to build a complex picture of humanity and circumstance. Furthermore, in ramping-up the Roslin arc, they are simultaneously bringing some of the threads that have formed the fabric of this first season to an end, while opening new potential avenues for exploration in future seasons.  
:''"In the last two episodes it is noted by the priestess that the thirteen tribes left {{RDM|Kobol}} about "2000 years ago" and the initial estimate of the age of the ruins is the same, but nothing is concrete of course. This is where I have a problem: They were obviously a star faring civilization to leave Kobol to being with. To do so requires information technology. Why is their history of that time so sketchy and lacking of concrete records? Yes it was 2000 years in the past but come on, it's not like they only had [[Wikipedia:papyrus|papyrus]] to write on."''


Having veteran BSG director Rymer (mini-series, “33”) helm this episode is also a smart move. In both the mini and “33”, Rymer firmly established the look and feel of the finished Galactica product, and here he demonstrates his finesse with the docu-drama style the production has striven for; using the technique to draw the audience into the drama almost as if they are themselves participants.  
:I've been presupposing some kind of cataclysm or crisis that occurred soon after mankind settled on the 12 worlds which either wiped out the knowledge base or had it deliberately destroyed for some reason. This doesn't seem that implausible when one considers that a tremendous amount of knowledge from the Greco-Roman tradition was lost after the fall of the [[Wikipedia:Roman Empire|Roman Empire]] and plunged the western world into the so called [[Wikipedia:Dark Ages|Dark Ages]]. Clearly, the Colonials did not fall all the way back to papyrus, and they do in fact, know that they are descendants of refugees from Kobol, hence the term "[[Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Colonies]]." They must have possessed star-faring technology at the time of the exodus, but I don't know how far we'll go into this specific backstory in the series, however.


=== Regarding Storyline Evolution and Potential Casting ===


--[[User:Ernestborg9|Colonial Archivist]] 13:06, 19 Jan 2005 (EST)
* Early on during the "[[Daybreak, Part I|Daybreak]]" Blu-Ray/DVD audio commentary track, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick mention that original BSG actor [[Dirk Benedict]] was, at one point, considered for the role of "God" in an earlier draft of the script; presumably after the Colonials arrive at Kobol and the [[Opera House]] there. This plot-point was discarded not long thereafter, as the final version of the episode's storyline evolved into a different form.


== Notes ==
=== Other Statements ===
*It is 3 days since the events of [[Colonial Day]]
*There are now 47,897 survivors in the fleet
*The fleet is beginning to run short of supplies
*Humans departed Kobol some 2,000 years prior to the setting of the series
*Kobol is a place where the “gods and man lived <i> together</i> in paradise”
*Some of the "gods" appear to be buried on Kobol (Athena's tomb)
*Socinus has been released from the brig and returned to duty.


===Blooper Moments===
* ''[[Jamie Bamber]] talks about his response to the argument held between [[Kara Thrace]] and [[Lee Adama]] in this episode:''
When Sharon shoots herself, she is holding an automatic pistol, but the sound was that of the larger sidearms carried by pilots when flying off-ship missions (only slightly suppresed), rather than the report of a "normal" pistol being fired.


===Nods===
: It's sort of an explosion of jealousy that is a complete surprise to him because I don't think he's ... he's not fully aware of what he feels. There's something quite like a gut reaction that really was exciting to play. It was a surprise to me. [http://gateworld.net/galactica/articles/bamber01.shtml]
The use of [[IFF] transponders by the Cylons is an indirect nod to [[TOS Battlestar Galactica|the original series]], in which [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] and [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] use an IFF-type device to identify their [[Cylon Raider#Original Series Raider|Raider]] to Colonial forces when they launch an attack on a Cylon Basestar ([[The Hand of God (TOS)]]


== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
''In the bunk room, as Baltar interrupts Boomer’s second attempt on her life.''  
* ''In the bunk room, when Gaius Baltar interrupts Sharon Valeri’s second attempt at suicide:''  
*<b>Boomer</b> (as she pretends to be cleaning her hand gun): What’s going on?
:'''[[Sharon Valerii]]:''' ''[as she pretends to be cleaning her hand gun]'' What’s going on?
*<b>Baltar</b> (cautiously): Well, I was going to ask you the same question….Actually, I was looking for Lieutenant Thrace but, ah…(sitting alongside her on the bunk)…sometimes it’s good to, ah, talk these things over.  
:'''[[Gaius Baltar]]:''' ''[cautiously]'' Well, I was going to ask you the same question. Actually, I was looking for Lieutenant [[Kara Thrace|Thrace]] but...sometimes it’s good to...talk these things over.  
*<b>Six</b> (feigning pity): Deep down she knows she’s a Cylon, but her conscious mind just won’t accept it.
:'''[[Head Six]]:''' ''[feigning pity]'' Deep down she knows she’s a [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]], but her conscious mind won’t accept it.
*<b>Boomer</b>: Sometimes I have these dark thoughts…
:'''Valerii:''' Sometimes I have these dark thoughts.
*<b>Baltar:</b> What kind of dark thoughts?
:'''Baltar:''' What kind of dark thoughts?
*<b>Six:</b> Her model is weak (she allows herself a knowing smile), always has been. But in the end she’ll carry out her mission.
:'''Six:''' Her model is weak, always has been. But in the end she’ll carry out her mission.
*<b>Boomer</b>: I don’t know, but I’m afraid I’m going to hurt someone. I feel like I ought to be stopped.  
:'''Valerii:''' I don’t know, but I’m afraid I’m going to hurt someone. I feel like I ought to be stopped.  
*<b>Six</b> (moving to the other side of Boomer): She can’t be stopped. She’s a Cylon. (Pity entering her voice again) You can’t help her, Gaius…(tone turning to a sneer) but you could probably sleep with her.  
:'''Six:''' ''[moving to the other side of Valerii]'' She can’t be stopped. She’s a Cylon. You can’t help her, Gaius...but you could probably sleep with her. That’s what you want, right?
(Baltar reacts with a look of disgust at Six.)
:'''Baltar:''' ''[to Valerii]'' I’m not sure why...sometimes...we must embrace that which opens up for us...
*<b>Six</b>: That’s what you want, right?  
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' Embrace?
*<b>Baltar</b> (to Boomer): I’m not sure why….sometimes…we must embrace that which opens up for us.
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' Life can be a curse as well as a blessing. ''[more intensely]'' You will believe me when I tell you: there are far worse things than death in this world.
*<b>Boomer</b>: Embrace?
:'''Sharon Valerii:''' So you’re saying…?
*<b>Baltar</b>: Life can be a curse as well as a blessing.  
:'''Gaius Baltar:''' No. No, no, no. What I say...is meaningless. Listen to your heart. Embrace that which you know to be the right decision.
(Six reacts in confusion; this is not what she expected to hear from Baltar.)
: ''[They look at each other as Six regards Baltar with a look of complete incomprehension, then Baltar stands and kisses Boomer on the forehead before walking out of the bunkroom. Seconds later there is the sound of a single gunshot from inside.]''
*<b>Baltar</b> (becoming more intense): You will believe me when I tell you: there are far worse things than death in this world…
*<b>Boomer</b>: So you’re saying…?
*<b>Baltar</b>: No. No, no, no. Ah…What I say…is meaningless. Listen to your heart. Embrace that which you know to be the right decision.  
(They look at each other as Six regards Baltar with a look of complete incomprehension, then Baltar stands and kisses Boomer on the forehead before walking out of the bunkroom. Seconds later there is the sound of a single gunshot from inside.)
 
== Official Statements ==
 
== Statistics ==
 
<!-- All the odds and ends items go here. -->
 
=== Guest Stars ===
<!-- Please use this format when listing actor/characters. -->
<!-- Also don't forget to link characters through the Wiki by using the brackets: [[ ]] -->
 
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Lorena+Gale Lorena Gale] as [[Elosha]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Donnelly+Rhodes Donnelly Rhodes] as [[Doctor Cottle]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Alonso+Oyarzun Alonso Oyarzun] as [[Socinus]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Nicki+Clyne Nicki Clyne] as [[Cally]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Bodie+Olmos Bodie Olmos] as [[Constanza|Constanza / Hot Dog]]
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Stephen+Spender Stephen Spender] as Pilot
*[http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+James+Bell James Bell] as ECO
<!-- Please link people to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB). -->
<!-- Example of Link [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Edward+James+Olomos Edward James Olmos] -->
 
=== Writing & Direction ===


*Story by [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+David+Eick David Eick]
* ''On the hangar deck:''
*Teleplay by [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Ronald+D.+Moore Ronald D. Moore]
:'''[[Lee Adama]]:''' Going hunting?
*Directed by [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Michael+Rymer) Michael Rymer]
:'''[[Kara Thrace]]:''' ''[loading ammunition into the Cylon [[Raider (RDM)|Raider]]]'' I'm manning the gunnery for the jump test tomorrow. See if our boy here can shoot anything with our ammo.
:'''Adama:''' So it's a boy now.
:'''Thrace:''' I changed my mind.
:'''Adama:''' You ever wonder why everyone else calls it a "she," but to you, it's a "he"?
:'''Thrace:''' That's fascinating, Lee. You should write a paper.
:'''Adama:''' Well, that's not really my style. I'm not as smart as...say, Doctor Baltar. How is the Vice President, by the way?
:'''Thrace:''' I don't know. Haven't seen him.
:'''Adama:''' ''[thinks for a second]'' So...he's a love-them and leave-them kind of guy, I guess.
:'''Thrace:''' I guess.
:'''Adama:''' Ships just pass in the night...
:'''Thrace:''' Yep.
:'''Adama:''' Didn't mean a thing.
:'''Thrace:''' No.
:'''Adama:''' You were just bored, looking for something to do. So frakking the Vice President of the Colonies seemed like a great waste of time!
:'''Thrace:''' Do you want something from me?
:'''Adama:''' Not a thing—
:'''Thrace:''' —because I don't owe you anything.
:'''Adama:''' No, you don't owe me anything. Because I'm just a [[CAG]], and you're just a pilot. A pilot who can't keep her pants on! Oh, it's just like old times, Kara. Like when you got drunk and you couldn't keep your hands off the major—
: ''[Thrace turns around and swings a punch at Adama, but Adama returns the favor by punching Thrace in the eye.]''
:'''Adama:''' Why'd you do it, Kara? Just tell me why.
:'''Thrace:''' Because I'm a screw-up, Lee. Try to keep that in mind.


<!-- Please link people to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDB). -->
* ''As Kara Thrace pilots the Cylon Raider in a weapons test, she contacts Commander Adama:''
<!-- Example of Link [http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Edward+James+Olmos Edward James Olomos] -->
:'''[[William Adama]]:''' ''[to Thrace]'' Go ahead.
:'''Kara Thrace:''' I believed you. Believed in [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].
:'''Adama:''' What are you doing, Starbuck?
:'''Thrace:''' [[Nothing but the rain|Bringing home the cat]], sir.
:'''Adama:''' We can talk about this.
:'''Thrace:''' No, I don't think so.
:'''Adama:''' I want you to remember one thing. I do not regret anything that I did. Be sure that whatever you're going to do, you don't regret it later. Do you understand me?
:'''Thrace:''' I guess we'll find out. ''[Thrace uses the [[FTL]] computer to jump to {{RDM|Caprica}}.]''
:'''Lee Adama:''' ''Galactica'', Apollo. Starbuck has jumped away. Repeat, Starbuck has jumped away.
:'''[[Saul Tigh]]:''' She wasn't scheduled for a jump test! Where the hell did she go?
:'''Adama:''' [[Caprica (RDM)|Home]].


=== Production Notes ===
== Guest stars ==
*[[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel [[Saul Tigh]]
*[[Aaron Douglas]] as Chief [[Galen Tyrol]]
*[[Tahmoh Penikett]] as Lieutenant [[Karl Agathon|Karl "Helo" Agathon]]
*[[Kandyse McClure]] as Petty Officer [[Anastasia Dualla]]
*[[Paul Campbell]] as [[Billy Keikeya]]
*[[Alessandro Juliani]] as Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta]]
*[[Samuel Witwer]] as Lieutenant [[Alex Quartararo|Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo]]
*[[Lorena Gale]] as [[Elosha]]
*[[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Doctor [[Sherman Cottle]]
*[[Alonso Oyarzun]] as Specialist [[Socinus]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
*[[Stephen Spender]] as Raptor 3's Pilot
*[[James Bell]] as Raptor 3's ECO


*Series: 1 (2004 / 2005)
== References ==
*Production Number: 1.12
{{reflist}}
*Airdate Order: 12 (of 13)


=== First Run Air Dates & Releases ===
{{episode list (RDM season 1)}}


*UK Airdate: 17 January 2005 (Sky One)
[[Category:Episodes written by Ronald D. Moore]]
*US Airdate: (Sci-Fi Channel)
[[Category:Episodes with story by David Eick]]
*DVD Release: N/A
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Rymer]]
[[Category:RDM]]


[[Category: A to Z]]
[[de:Kobol, Teil I]]
[[Category: Episode Guide (Re-imagined)]]
[[fr:Épisode:À la recherche de la Terre, 1re partie]]

Latest revision as of 04:14, 22 February 2024

Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
"Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I"
An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No. Season 1, Episode 12
Writer(s) Ronald D. Moore
Story by David Eick
Director Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No. 112
Nielsen Rating 2.2
US airdate USA 2005-03-25
CAN airdate CAN 2005-04-02
UK airdate UK 2005-01-17
DVD release 20 September 2005 US
28 March 2005 UK
Population 47,897 survivors (Population decline. 1)
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous Next
Colonial Day Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
Photo Gallery @ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
Amazon: Standard Definition | High Definition
iTunes: USA | Canada | UK



Galactica discovers Kobol, and a chain of events are set in motion that threatens to change everything.

Summary[edit]

  • Following the Colonial Day celebrations, Gaius Baltar finally beds Kara "Starbuck" Thrace, but as they make love, she cries out for Lee Adama, shattering Baltar's mood.
  • Stricken by her apparent rejection of him in their coupling, Baltar in turn comes close to rejecting Six and finds it impossible to concentrate on anything – including his duties as Vice President.
  • Elsewhere on ship, Boomer attempts to take her own life, but breaks down in tears before she can shoot herself. She is called to the Ready Room for a pre-flight briefing.
  • Roslin discovers that her cancer treatment is not going well. Her cancer has spread to her lymphatic system, giving her perhaps 6 months to live.
  • Baltar verbally fences with Lee Adama and is somewhat insulting to Thrace, tipping Lee off that the doctor has slept with Thrace. Later, still thinking about Thrace, Baltar cracks in front of Roslin.
  • Following a recon mission, Boomer and Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo return to Galactica with evidence they have stumbled upon Kobol.
  • Determined to have things out with Thrace, Lee confronts her in the Hangar Deck, and the two come to blows. Thrace realizes that her actions with Baltar have hurt Lee Adama.
  • Reviewing the evidence returned by Boomer and Crashdown, Roslin has a vision which Elosha confirms to be the City of the Gods on Kobol.
  • Roslin has two further visions – the Arrow of Apollo and the Tomb of Athena, and accepts the scriptures as fact.
  • Boomer, still confused, attempts to take her own life – “encouraged” by Baltar in defiance of Six.
  • When Adama reviews the evidence, he orders an extensive surface survey of the planet, seeing it as an opportunity for them to settle. Warned he should get off Galactica by Six, Baltar assigns himself to the survey.
  • Roslin tries to convince Adama that Kobol will point the way to Earth, but they must use the captured Cylon Raider to return to Caprica and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo.
  • Three Raptors depart Galactica for Kobol, but on arrival they find themselves in the midst of a Cylon force of Raiders – and a basestar.
  • One Raptor is destroyed, and one – carrying Baltar – crash-lands on Kobol. The third escapes back to the Fleet.
  • Before a rescue mission can be launched, the basestar must be taken out – and Starbuck hatches a plan to do just this using the captured Raider.
  • Hearing this, Roslin meets with Starbuck and convinces her into going to Caprica instead to retrieve the Arrow, by telling her that Adama does not actually know where Earth is.
Adama studies ancient documents on Kobol.

On Caprica[edit]

  • Helo, alone and on the run, encounters “his” Valerii. He shoots and wounds her. Unable to kill her outright, he takes her with him.
  • When Valerii tries to talk to him, Helo cuts her off and insists that she is now just a means for him to get off the planet.

Notes[edit]

  • Thrace leaves Baltar's quarters at the start of the episode with her blue dress from "Colonial Day". It seems like this episode continues directly on from the previous episode.
  • There are now 47,897 survivors in the The Fleet, a net loss of 1 since "Colonial Day," accounting for the death of Valance.
  • The Fleet is beginning to run short of supplies.
  • Humans departed Kobol for the Twelve Colonies some 2,000 years prior to the setting of the series.
  • Kobol is a place where the "gods and man lived together in paradise".
  • Some of the "gods" appear to be buried on Kobol, as demonstrated by the Tomb of Athena.
  • Socinus has been released from the brig and returned to duty; Socinus' release from the brig by Chief Tyrol was filmed, but ended up on the cutting room floor.
  • Ellen Tigh does not appear in this episode, but she is present in deleted scenes.
  • The Cylon transponder is an indirect nod to the Original Series, in which Apollo and Starbuck use an IFF-type device to identify their Raider to Colonial forces when they launch an attack on a Cylon basestar (TOS: "The Hand of God").
  • When Adama asks Starbuck what she is doing and she replies "Bringing home the cat," she is referring to their first exchange in the Miniseries: "What do you hear?" - "Nothing but the rain."
  • The last scene, with Kara Thrace leaving in a Raider to return to Caprica, is scored differently on the US DVDs than either the UK DVDs or the initially broadcast version. In the initial broadcast, the score uses the drum sequence from the opening titles. The US DVD set, however, is scored with a drum cue from the Miniseries. Neither is the version originally scored by Bear McCreary, who went with a middle ground between intense action and subtle drama. (This version can be found on his blog). [1]

Analysis[edit]

  • Why would Starbuck have sex with Baltar? As Starbuck says, she feels she is a screwup. Based on what viewers have seen and heard of Starbuck throughout the season, and specifically Apollo's comments in this episode, she has a history of recklessly diving into physical relations with no thought whatsoever as to the consequences; Starbuck instinctively starts thinking something must be wrong when things are going right, such as her growing relationship with Apollo, because she's so used to things going wrong. Also, Lee Adama left her dancing with Baltar in the last episode.
  • When Sharon shoots herself, she is holding an automatic pistol, but the sound is that of the larger sidearms carried by pilots when flying off-ship missions (only slightly suppressed), rather than the report of a "normal" pistol being fired.
  • When Roslin tells Starbuck that she is dying from breast cancer, she says that she only told three people. However, four people (Doctor Cottle, Billy Keikeya, Lee Adama, and Elosha) actually know of Roslin's illness by this time. Whether this is a continuity error or whether Roslin simply misspeaks is unknown.
    • Billy inferred her condition before she told him, (TRS: "Miniseries"), so maybe she is being very particular, since he did not learn of it through her telling him.

Questions[edit]

Answered Questions[edit]

For answers to the questions in this section, click here.
  • Why did the Thirteen Tribes leave Kobol?
  • Given the similarities with the Greek pantheon, did the gods decide to follow the 13th tribe to Earth, thus establishing the myths of the Olympian gods?
  • Do the Cylons consider Kobol as their spiritual home as well (“The birthplace of us all” – Leoben Conoy, "Flesh and Bone")?

Unanswered Questions[edit]

  • What happened to the gods who lived on Kobol “with man”?
  • Did the gods remain on Kobol after humanity left?
  • Did Sharon Valerii's Cylon personality interfere in her attempt at suicide, resulting in her wounding herself, or did her human personality lack the conviction of the act, resulting in the wound? Or was it simply an accident that she missed?

Official Statements[edit]

Regarding the lack of definitive information regarding Kobol[edit]

From RDM's Sci-Fi Channel Blog

"In the last two episodes it is noted by the priestess that the thirteen tribes left Kobol about "2000 years ago" and the initial estimate of the age of the ruins is the same, but nothing is concrete of course. This is where I have a problem: They were obviously a star faring civilization to leave Kobol to being with. To do so requires information technology. Why is their history of that time so sketchy and lacking of concrete records? Yes it was 2000 years in the past but come on, it's not like they only had papyrus to write on."
I've been presupposing some kind of cataclysm or crisis that occurred soon after mankind settled on the 12 worlds which either wiped out the knowledge base or had it deliberately destroyed for some reason. This doesn't seem that implausible when one considers that a tremendous amount of knowledge from the Greco-Roman tradition was lost after the fall of the Roman Empire and plunged the western world into the so called Dark Ages. Clearly, the Colonials did not fall all the way back to papyrus, and they do in fact, know that they are descendants of refugees from Kobol, hence the term "Colonies." They must have possessed star-faring technology at the time of the exodus, but I don't know how far we'll go into this specific backstory in the series, however.

Regarding Storyline Evolution and Potential Casting[edit]

  • Early on during the "Daybreak" Blu-Ray/DVD audio commentary track, Ronald D. Moore and David Eick mention that original BSG actor Dirk Benedict was, at one point, considered for the role of "God" in an earlier draft of the script; presumably after the Colonials arrive at Kobol and the Opera House there. This plot-point was discarded not long thereafter, as the final version of the episode's storyline evolved into a different form.

Other Statements[edit]

It's sort of an explosion of jealousy that is a complete surprise to him because I don't think he's ... he's not fully aware of what he feels. There's something quite like a gut reaction that really was exciting to play. It was a surprise to me. [1]

Noteworthy Dialogue[edit]

  • In the bunk room, when Gaius Baltar interrupts Sharon Valeri’s second attempt at suicide:
Sharon Valerii: [as she pretends to be cleaning her hand gun] What’s going on?
Gaius Baltar: [cautiously] Well, I was going to ask you the same question. Actually, I was looking for Lieutenant Thrace but...sometimes it’s good to...talk these things over.
Head Six: [feigning pity] Deep down she knows she’s a Cylon, but her conscious mind won’t accept it.
Valerii: Sometimes I have these dark thoughts.
Baltar: What kind of dark thoughts?
Six: Her model is weak, always has been. But in the end she’ll carry out her mission.
Valerii: I don’t know, but I’m afraid I’m going to hurt someone. I feel like I ought to be stopped.
Six: [moving to the other side of Valerii] She can’t be stopped. She’s a Cylon. You can’t help her, Gaius...but you could probably sleep with her. That’s what you want, right?
Baltar: [to Valerii] I’m not sure why...sometimes...we must embrace that which opens up for us...
Sharon Valerii: Embrace?
Gaius Baltar: Life can be a curse as well as a blessing. [more intensely] You will believe me when I tell you: there are far worse things than death in this world.
Sharon Valerii: So you’re saying…?
Gaius Baltar: No. No, no, no. What I say...is meaningless. Listen to your heart. Embrace that which you know to be the right decision.
[They look at each other as Six regards Baltar with a look of complete incomprehension, then Baltar stands and kisses Boomer on the forehead before walking out of the bunkroom. Seconds later there is the sound of a single gunshot from inside.]
  • On the hangar deck:
Lee Adama: Going hunting?
Kara Thrace: [loading ammunition into the Cylon Raider] I'm manning the gunnery for the jump test tomorrow. See if our boy here can shoot anything with our ammo.
Adama: So it's a boy now.
Thrace: I changed my mind.
Adama: You ever wonder why everyone else calls it a "she," but to you, it's a "he"?
Thrace: That's fascinating, Lee. You should write a paper.
Adama: Well, that's not really my style. I'm not as smart as...say, Doctor Baltar. How is the Vice President, by the way?
Thrace: I don't know. Haven't seen him.
Adama: [thinks for a second] So...he's a love-them and leave-them kind of guy, I guess.
Thrace: I guess.
Adama: Ships just pass in the night...
Thrace: Yep.
Adama: Didn't mean a thing.
Thrace: No.
Adama: You were just bored, looking for something to do. So frakking the Vice President of the Colonies seemed like a great waste of time!
Thrace: Do you want something from me?
Adama: Not a thing—
Thrace: —because I don't owe you anything.
Adama: No, you don't owe me anything. Because I'm just a CAG, and you're just a pilot. A pilot who can't keep her pants on! Oh, it's just like old times, Kara. Like when you got drunk and you couldn't keep your hands off the major—
[Thrace turns around and swings a punch at Adama, but Adama returns the favor by punching Thrace in the eye.]
Adama: Why'd you do it, Kara? Just tell me why.
Thrace: Because I'm a screw-up, Lee. Try to keep that in mind.
  • As Kara Thrace pilots the Cylon Raider in a weapons test, she contacts Commander Adama:
William Adama: [to Thrace] Go ahead.
Kara Thrace: I believed you. Believed in Earth.
Adama: What are you doing, Starbuck?
Thrace: Bringing home the cat, sir.
Adama: We can talk about this.
Thrace: No, I don't think so.
Adama: I want you to remember one thing. I do not regret anything that I did. Be sure that whatever you're going to do, you don't regret it later. Do you understand me?
Thrace: I guess we'll find out. [Thrace uses the FTL computer to jump to Caprica.]
Lee Adama: Galactica, Apollo. Starbuck has jumped away. Repeat, Starbuck has jumped away.
Saul Tigh: She wasn't scheduled for a jump test! Where the hell did she go?
Adama: Home.

Guest stars[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Bear McCreary's blog: BG Season 1 Mx Mix-Ups (backup available on Archive.org) (in English).
Re-imagined Series Episode List — Miniseries and Season 1


Battlestar Galactica (Re-Imagined) Miniseries (2003): Miniseries, Night 1 | Miniseries, Night 2

Battlestar Galactica (Re-Imagined) Season 1 (2004-2005) Episode List

33 | Water | Bastille Day | Act of Contrition | You Can't Go Home Again | Litmus | Six Degrees of Separation | Flesh and Bone | Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down | The Hand of God | Colonial Day | Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I | Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II | Next Season Episode >

Re-imagined Series definition: transponder-based system to positively identify friendly spacecraft (TRS: "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II")

Re-imagined Series definition: Battlestar Group (TRS: "Water"). It also doubles as an acronym for the television series itself.

Re-imagined Series definition: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another

Re-imagined Series definition: all-purpose vulgarism; Colonial version of "fuck" (see: frak)

crew member handling electronic countermeasures of a craft; ECOs are standard crew aboard Raptors (see: ECO)

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