War of the Gods, Part I

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Overview

As Viper pilots go missing, Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba come across a lone, engimatic survivor calling himself Count Iblis. Much to their amazement, he claims that he can help them in their quest.

Summary

• A recon patrol lead by Bojay scouts for possible threats to the Fleet. They subsequently encounter odd balls of light, which herald a larger ship made from light that overtakes the patrol and seems to incapacitate them.
• Meanwhile, the unsuspecting survivors of the Fleet watch the game of Triad played by Boomer, Starbuck, Apollo and a forth individual.
• After the game, Boomer comments that he would like to beat Starbuck and Apollo just once. As they are ready to go shower and get some drinks, Colonel Tigh informs them that there is an emergency meeting in the War Room.
• Adama tells Sheba, Apollo and Starbuck that Bojay's patrol went missing, and that a seismic event occured just around the time they disappeared. Despite Apollo's misgivings on having Sheba on the mission -- as she is still dealing with the loss of her father, Cain, and the Pegasus -- they leave to investigate.
• Tigh tells Adama that he doesn't like the implications of the seismic report; the activity is too sudden for a core tremor and he postulates that it could be the result of four Vipers impacting simultaneously -- or exploding while all four were on the ground.
• Apollo and his team come across a red planet that supports human life; Sheba questions why the planet has no life. Apollo speculates that it is possible no one from the Colonies made it out "this far".
• As they begin landing, Sheba comments that the color of the vegetation is red. Starbuck notices that there is an impact crater that could mean something large hit the area.
• They come across the crater and the wreckage of a ship. When they try to investigate, they are told to stop by an unscathed humanoid man.
• The man claims that the radion levels are too high; when questioned, he tells them that he can help them and that the ship was destroyed by the "Great Powers" (not Cylons).
• At the man's request, the trio leave the perimeter of the crater, as the sight discomforts him; he also replies that there are no others like him on the planet.
• Apollo attempts to scan the survivor, finding that his scanner does not work. The man claims that the radion field is too strong, rendering the scanner useless.
• Starbuck and Apollo discuss the survivor they rescued, Apollo questions how the man could survive without a mark on him.
• Meanwhile, Sheba is talking to the man, who claims to be weary and drained of energy. When offered food, he claims that it is not food that he needs...
• Apollo questions the survivor. The man does not know how he survived. There were people on the ship, which leads to him questioning them.
• The man offers to help them, claiming that his knowledge of the universe is "infinite". He grows more concerned, commenting that they'd better "be going".
• The three warriors discuss what they should do with him. Sheba is all for bringing him to the Fleet. Apollo airs his concerns, stating that he may be a spy planted by those who caused the disapparance of the patrol. Starbuck convinces Apollo that if they keep an eye on him, he shouldn't be able to do any damage.
• Apollo sends Starbuck to fetch a shuttle.
• Apollo and Sheba inform the survivor that they'll bring him along. As they walk along, the balls of light fly overhead. Sheba and Apollo are unable to bear the sound; the man is not fazed, claiming that they'd better hurry, as "They" were searching for him.
• They bring Iblis back to the Galactica, where he is introduced to a skeptical Colonel Tigh. Apollo offers that he would be glad to give Tigh a quick debriefing.
• Sheba escorts Iblis to the Life Station so that Iblis can recouperate.
• Starbuck and Apollo talk to Adama, where Apollo comments that Iblis was being evasive and, as such, was not trustworthy. Adama orders that Iblis be given a full working over, including a cranial probe and psycho-electron recall.
• Sheba offers Iblis a quick energon treatment and hyper nutrients; Iblis states that he does not know whether or not Colonial technology is "destructive" to him. Instead, he convinces her to show him the Galactica.
• Sheba takes Iblis to Core Command, where equipment in his proximity begins to malfunction.
• Tigh informs Adama that Iblis and Sheba have just left Core Command; Adama is furious, demanding to see them at once.
• Coincidentially, Iblis tells Sheba that he wants to see Adama, claiming that he heard the name while they were on the bridge.
• Adama orders that Sheba, Apollo and Starbuck remain in one place; they elect to go to the Officer's Club.
• Iblis tells Adama about his enemies in vague terms, that they are infinite and "beyond comprehension". He then tells Adama of Earth, and that it has seen great rises and falls; Iblis tells Adama that they will go there, if that is their wish, and that the would be safe under his leadership.
• Apollo and Starbuck visit Salik and Cassiopeia in the Life Sciences Center. There they discover that no scan made of Iblis could tell whether or not he was human. Salik suggests that they visit Wilker, after Apollo puts forth that Iblis may be an android.
• On an Agro Ship, Iblis tells Sheba that the quest that burns truly closest to her heart is finding her father, Cain, and the Pegasus. Iblis tells her that everyone can read one another, it just "needs time and experience". He promises that should Sheba open her heart to him, all things would be possible.
• On Core Command, Adama and Tigh now see the balls of light. According to Athena (TOS), they're present, but they do not stay long enough to register on the sensors. After being bombarded by communications traffic, Adama informs the Fleet that the lights are not a threat and, in essence, to discontinue their messages.
• Wilker tells Apollo and Starbuck that constructing a life-like android is plausable, but there would be ways to tell; he is interrupted by the alert klaxon.
• On the Agro Ship, Iblis tells Sheba that, despite their light, "they" (the balls of light) conceal "everlasting darkness".
• Scrambled as a "precautionary intercept", Brie and Greenbean pursue the lights, only to disappear themselves.
• Adama receives the news of Red Squadron's disappearance -- influencing his decision have Blue Squadron return at once.
• Adama questions Starbuck and Apollo regarding the lights,

Questions

• What exactly are the balls of light? (Answer)
• Sound cannot travel in space, so where does the high-pitched sound that seems to coincide with the appearance of the Ship of Lights come from?
• How the frack does one do a Four-Point Peel-Off with five Vipers?
• Why do the Viper pilots disappear?
• Who or what is Iblis? (Answer)
• What lies in the wreckage of the ship?

Bloopers

• In the teaser, Bojay tells the pilots to do a Four-Point Peel-Off as the Ship of Lights overtakes them. Problem is, there are five Vipers.
  • According to Adama, there were four Vipers in the patrol; despite the fact we saw five. (So we can assume the writers meant there to be four Vipers, but reused footage that had five.)
• The opening shot of the Galactica and the subsequent appearance of the Triad game make the audience believe that the game is being held on the Galactica. In later episodes, Triad tournaments are held on the Rising Star (Murder on the Rising Star)
• The Gold team (Starbuck and Apollo) are wearing red / orange suits.
• When the trio of Warriors come across the crater / wreckage of the massive ship, the footage is not captured through a red filter.

Notes

• This is one of the few episodes that does not make use of the "There are those who believe..." opening narration.
• This is the last time we see Jack Stauffer as Bojay.
• This episode marks the first apperance of the Triad game.
• The hand grasping / group spinning sequence during the Triad game was influenced by Herb Jefferson Jr., Dirk Benedict, and Richard Hatch when they would stand together prior to shooting. As they were their own stand-ins, they thumb wrestled to pass the time.
• It was commonly assumed that the wreckage was that of the Pegasus. Suffice it to say, it isn't.
• Kirk Alyn who gueststars as a Gemonese Man is far better known as the first man who played Superman on screen.

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Patrick McNee as Iblis
• Kirk Alyn as Gemonese Man
• Paul Coulos as Pilot
• John Williams as Council member
• Bruce Wright as Guard

Writing & Direction

• Written by Glen A. Larson
• Story by ThusandThus
• Teleplay by ThisandThat
• Directed by Daniel Haller

Production Notes

• Season 1 (1978 / 1979)
• Production Number: 1.13
• Airdate Order: 12 (of 21)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate: Date
• US Airdate: January 14, 1979
• DVD Release: December 28, 2004

Original Series definition: a title of nobility (e.g. Count Iblis)

Original Series definition: unit of energy, akin to a rad

Original Series definition: interchangeable term for a computer monitor and television set (see: scanner)

Original Series definition: agriculture ^{(TOS: "The Magnificent Warriors")}

Galactica 1980 definition: a term meaning "rats" or "shit" (see: frack); it is only used by Starbuck ^{(1980: "The Return of Starbuck")}

Original Series definition: expletive, similar to "shit" (see: frack)