Deadlock

"Deadlock" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 4, Episode 16
Writer(s)	Jane Espenson
Story by
Director	Robert Young
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	418
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	February 20, 2009
CAN airdate	Early 2009
UK airdate	Early 2009
DVD release
Population	39,556 survivors ()
Additional Info
Full Credits
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
No Exit	Deadlock	Someone to Watch Over Me
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
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Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
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Overview

Ellen and Boomer return to the fleet. The Cylons consider leaving.

Summary

Teaser

• A mixed Cylon and human work force is making repairs to the Galactica using the organic metal Chief Tyrol described. Admiral Adama asks if he can touch it. After doing so, he asks the Chief if it is alive.
• In Dogsville a group of Marines are distributing food. The civilians in line become rather unruly, pushing and shoving despite the Marines assurances that "everyone will get their share."
• Caprica Six is walking nearby with her head covered. She is recognized by a group of civilians who attack her. She beats them back, but is struck in the process.
• Adama tells Tyrol "This had better work."
• In sick bay Doc Cottle tells Caprica and Colonel Tigh that their baby is perfectly healthy and "has a heart like a kettle drum." He shoos them away but Tigh wants Caprica to stay in sick bay just in case. They have a good laugh about the fact that he doesn't trust the machine. She says that Liam is fine and she would sleep better at home.
• In CIC Hoshi picks up the Raptor that Boomer and Ellen Tigh are on, reporting that it was logged as missing over a year ago. The CAP, led by Starbuck, moves to intercept it. Starbuck attempts communication, the transmission is garbled. Boomer acknowledges she can hear them via signal light. A Number 6 flying a Heavy Raider with the CAP reports that the voice sounds like an Eight. Adama orders the CAP to bring it in
• On the Hangar Deck Ellen steps out of the Raptor. She states how thrilled she is to see everyone. Hot Dog wonders aloud "How many dead chicks are out there?" Tigh is elated to see Ellen, and the two kiss passionately. Tyrol approaches Boomer, grins slightly, and says "Nice to see you again." He informs Adama that this is Boomer, and he orders her taken to the brig.

Act 1

• In the Admiral's quarters Ellen is speaking with President Roslin, Lee Adama, Colonel Tigh and Admiral Adama. She reports that the destruction of the Resurrection Hub has resulted in Number One becoming psychologically unbalanced as he does not feel biological procreation can assure Cylon survival. Noting the wary look on all of their faces she says that she is still the same Ellen and asks if anyone has a flask. Adama hands her one. She reports that Boomer helped her escape and hopes they won't treat her too badly. She asks to see the rest of the Final Five. Ellen says they are like family, asking the others to imagine what it would be like if, instead of 50,000 survivors, there were only 5 and how close they would all be. She asks Tigh how much he remembers. He replies "just flashes." Lee tells her about the condition of Sam Anders. She asks to see him and the others. Adama says he'll see what he can do, exchanging concerned glances with Lee and Roslin.
• Once Ellen and Tigh are alone, he tells here there is so much to ask her and tell her. She is not interested in talking, asking him "floor or table?" He says that he doesn't care, and she sweeps everything off the table. Just before they make love, Tigh briefly projects that she has the face of a Six.
• Meanwhile, in Tigh's quarters, Caprica Six has a sudden flash of pain. She drops the bowl she is eating from, clutches her belly and groans.
• The followers of Gaius Baltar are loading pistols and discussing supplies as he walks in. Jeanne is excited to see him, running over and kissing him immediately. Paulla Schaffer is somewhat less enthusiastic, saying that they "wondered if he was coming back." He replies that his return was always a matter of course and asks what he missed. She states that people started stealing their food, prompting them to take guns from the bodies of dead mutineers once they realized they had "been abandoned." He replies that he never abandoned them, prompting Jeanne to amend "abandoned by God." He replies that he knew his extended absence would teach them self-reliance and that is why he stayed away for so long. Paulla sarcastically remarks that is very wise of him. Baltar's Virtual Six appears to tell him that "The sheep have a new shepherd."
• Ellen and Tigh are getting dressed. She compliments him on his sexual technique and asks who he's frakked. She states that after thousands of years of marriage she is quite familiar with his lovemaking style, adding that she's not mad as he thought she was dead. He admits to sex with a Six but added he always thought of her. She reminds him of the incestuous nature of the relationship as they created the Sixes and is not happy about being his "mental porn." He admits that he is still seeing Caprica but does not mention Liam.
• Adama is once again inspecting a work area.
• In sick bay, an Eight, a Six, Tory Foster, Tigh, and Tyrol are visiting Anders. Cottle tells them not to unplug anything. Ellen enters and says that this was "how it was" as she gently brushes Sam's cheek. The Six tells her that the others are considering jumping away and starting a new life with the Final Five. Tigh is incredulous at the suggestion that they abandon the fleet. The Eight says they are not safe there, mentioning the attack on Caprica. Tory agrees, leading Tigh to accuse her of plotting this all along and argue that Sam could not survive on the baseship. The Eight disagrees, and Ellen tries to change the subject by saying "Caprica Six is pregnant?" She argues with Tigh, but Tyrol says the two should stick to the matter at hand and argue in private. The Eight says they should have a binding vote as that is the way the Five taught the other Cylons. Tory and Tyrol vote to go, Tigh votes to stay and points out that is exactly what Sam said they should do before losing consciousness. Ellen abstains and walks out the door, leaving the Five deadlocked.
• Paula leads Gaius and the others to Dogsville. Jeanne remarks on their improved living conditions since arming themselves. Gaius greets a beautiful young woman with a small boy. She says that her name is Naya and her son is named Gaius, after his father (implying that he is Baltar's child). Gaius asks Gaius if he is hungry, to which the boy nods. Baltar makes a grand speech promising to feed all the people of Dogsville. Naya embraces him in gratitude, but Paula is not happy about it.
• Roslin walks up to Caprica in the corridors of Galactica. She congratulates her on her pregnancy and personally apologizes for the assault in Dogsville. She mentions their shared visions, and Caprica says she has not had them since becoming pregnant. Laura says she has not either and asks if this child is "important." Caprica pretends to not know what she means stating that all children are important and walks off.
• Tyrol walks into Joe's Bar and orders a drink. Starbuck is there and remarks on how watching Ellen and Tigh felt like watching her parents make out. She asks Tyrol if he has visited Boomer in the brig. He says no. She suggests that he do so while she is sleeping, and says that she could no longer stand to watch Sam sleeping. Tyrol takes a bottle and walks out. Starbuck plays with the bullet removed from Sam's brain.
• Adama is inspecting the repairs yet again.
• Ellen walks into to Tigh's quarters and tells Caprica they should talk. In explaining her relationship with Saul she lets it slip that they made love, and realizes from the look on Caprica's face that she did not know. Ellen tells her not to worry as their baby is living proof that Tigh loves her. Ellen remarks that they tried to have children earlier, implying that he does not love her as much, and reassures Caprica she will not make him choose between them.
• In Dogsville Gaius and company are distributing food. Paula makes a worried remark that when the Marines tried this a riot broke out, but Gaius states that here there are no uniforms, assault rifles or other symbols of oppression. A group of rough-looking men led by Enzo walk up to them and demands they surrender their food. Gaius defies him and asks his followers to show they are armed. When they nervously do so Enzo replies "ours are bigger" and the strong-arm men pull out Colonial military sidearms. They take the food and walk away.
• Adama and Tigh are getting drunk. Adama has clearly had more and is constantly refilling his glass. He asks Tigh if there have been any "mythic revelations" since Ellen's return, to which Tigh replies "Nothing new to report, sir." Adama asks if Tigh was actually born on Earth. Tigh nods. Adama states that is "not very machine-like" of him. Tigh jokingly defends his machinehood by saying his "great-grandpa was a power sander." They have a good laugh. Adama confesses to mixed feelings about using Cylon technology to repair Galctica, fearing that she will no longer know who she is, but that combined with Cylons flying CAP might just be enough for the fleet to survive. He says that he needs the help of the Cylons in general and Tigh in particular, and Lee and Laura know it. Tigh has no response to this.
• Gaius dresses Paula down for not telling him that the Sons of Ares have begun hoarding food. Paula replies that this should have been obvious. Virtual Six appears and asks Gaius if he really wanted to feed those people, to which he replies that it felt good to help people. Six tells him to give his people the hope that Paula can't. He proceeds to berate his followers for "lapping up Paula's icy pragmatism." At Six's prompting he promises to get them "more guns, bigger guns, better guns!" The cultists are quite enthusiastic about the idea.
• Adama inspects the repairs, again.
• Ellen and Tigh meet alone. He tells her to hate him if she must but Galactica needs the Rebel Basestar. She ignores him, asking why he made love to her when his real love is at home. Tyrol and the others enter, leading Tigh to realize that this meeting was anything but private. Ellen says she has voted to join the baseship and they are leaving. Tigh refuses to leave, pointing out the millenia long cycle of human/machine violence and claiming that only by coming together can either form of intelligence hope to survive. Ellen seems to gloat, pointing out to Caprica that there is something he loves more than her and the baby, namely Galactica and Adama. Caprica grabs her stomach, groans and falls over.
• In sickbay, Cottle tells Tigh, Ellen and Caprica that the baby is fighting back. Tigh blames Ellen, stating that she should have known what forcing him to choose would mean. She apologizes, saying she was only trying to hurt Saul and of course humans and Cylons should stay together. Caprica yells at them to stop fighting. Ellen walks away, but then walks back to put her hand on Saul's shoulders.
• Adama is once again inspecting the repairs.
• Ellen tells Tigh to talk to the now sleeping Caprica and tell her that he loves her. He tries, but is unable to and asks why he should have to say it when she knows he feels it for all of them.
• Adama is still inspecting the repairs.
• Liam's heart rate drops. Caprica begs Cottle to cut it out of her, even if it means her death. Cottle refuses, stating that not even a Cylon baby could possibly survive outside the womb after only four months. Ellen tells her that Tigh loves her more and promises to go to the basestar so that the three of them can be a family. Liam flatlines. Tigh says that it is his fault and he is sorry. Cottle shoos them away. Caprica cries the cry of the bereaved mother.
• Gaius is talking to Lee, Roslin and Adama. Adama refuses to listen at first, saying that he is going to the head for a "project I've been working on." Gaius stops him, warning him that the decreased security in Dogsville resulting from losing so many Marines during the mutiny is causing a revolution to brew. He states that Adama has two options for stopping it. He can either bring Centurions over from the baseship or take the "last human solution" that Baltar is offering him.
• Apparently Adama has agreed to arm Baltar's cultist as some kind of auxiliary security force, as the Marines are passing out assault rifles to them. Paula is impressed. Gaius clearly has no idea how a rifle works.
• Tyrol comes to visit Boomer in the brig while she is sleeping.
• In sick bay Sam's brain waves suddenly become very active.
• Tigh enters Adama's quarters weeping uncontrollably and nearly collapses. Adama says that Liam is a good name, short for William. Tigh says that "it's not like that." Adama embraces and comforts him.
• Roslin and Adama are walking arm in arm through the memorial hallway. Laura notices a Six putting up pictures of the Cylons who have been lost since joining the Fleet. Laura is taken aback, stating "Oh my Gods, it's already happening isn't it?"
• Adama touches the ID of an Eight.

Analysis

• Foster's plan to rebuild a pure Cylon society seems ill-considered even in light of the unborn Tigh baby. There is no evidence that pairings of Number Twos with Number Sixes or Number Eights will suddenly be fertile after so many failures. All the pregnancy really proves is that the Final Five could reproduce with Twos, Sixes, and Eights, which is hardly a broad genetic base.
• In this episode, Ellen Tigh shows more characteristics of the "old Ellen", though she is still more intelligent and compassionate. Adama once said that Ellen brings out Saul's worst instincts, obviously the reverse is also true.

Questions

• Are the Cylons now flying regular joint CAPs with Galactica's vipers?
• What will be the consequences of Baltar's cult being given access to weapons?
• What will happen to Boomer?
• Why was a random Eight and Six at Anders's side urging Ellen to go to the Baseship and jump away and not Caprica Six and Athena? The same later when Ellen confronted Tigh and made Tigh choose between the baby and Galactica? Caprica Six was there that time but why wasn't Athena?
  • Like Tigh, Athena would have never agreed to abandon the Fleet.
• How did the Cylons imagine they could take Anders aboard their Baseship without Starbuck's approval?
• Why has Anders' brain suddenly started showing activity again? What is his exact condition? Does he still possess his Cylon memories?
• Will Caprica seek revenge on Ellen for the death of her unborn child?
• How will the death of Liam affect Ellen and Saul's relationship? How will it affect Saul and Caprica's relationship?
• What was the actual cause of the death of Caprica's baby?
• How did Ellen and Boomer find the Fleet? Is Cavil tracking them?
• Why was Tyrol so eager to leave the Fleet? (Answer)
• Is Tyrol able to identify the Eight piloting the Raptor as Boomer due to his personal experience with her, or by the previously demonstrated ability of Cylons to distinguish between copies by sight?
• What has happened to Helo? Is he still recovering from his injuries received in The Oath?
• Who has been placing photographs of Cylons on the memorial wall? Other Cylons, Colonials or both?
• Will any of the humans object to the Cylon pictures?
• How close will the Cylon and Colonial pilots become now that they fly together? Will the Cylon pilots receive callsigns?

Official Statements

• Aaron Douglas addresses the Chief's vote on this blog:
  • Galen does not believe that he and the other Cylons will ever be accepted in the fleet.
  • He is the Chief in name only, because Adama asked him to be. This was a recognition of the fact that he is the best person to fix the ship, not true acceptance.
  • He has no strong emotional ties to Galactica's people now that he knows Nicky isn't his son.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Upon seeing Ellen Tigh emerge from the Raptor:

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

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

Galen Tyrol (to Boomer): Nice to see you (she smiles; to Adama) This is Boomer.

Adama: Marines!

Marine: Sir!

Adama: Take this Number Eight to the brig!

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

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

Guest Stars

• Kate Vernon as Ellen Tigh
• Donnelly Rhodes as Dr. S. Cottle
• Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
• Roark Critchlow as Piano Player
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brenden "Hotdog" Constanza
• Keegan Connor Tracy as Jeanne
• G. Patrick Currie as Enzo
• Brad Dryborough as Lieutenant Louis Hoshi
• Lara Gilchrist as Paulla Schaffer
• Rebecca Davis as Naia
• Merwin Mondesir as Marine #1
• Tammy Gillis played Marine #2
• Bear McCreary as Joe's bar patron (uncredited)

Re-imagined Series definition: standard deployment of craft on defense posture, an anachronistic colloquialism used to refer to patrols in space

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

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