The Son Also Rises

"The Son Also Rises" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 3, Episode 18
Writer(s)	Michael Angeli
Story by
Director	Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	318
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	2007-03-11
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release
Population	41,399 survivors ( 1)
Additional Info
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Maelstrom	The Son Also Rises	Crossroads, Part I
Related Information
Official Summary
R&D Skit – View
Podcast Transcript – View
[[IMDB:tt{{{imdb}}}|IMDb entry]]
Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
			@ BW Media
Promotional Materials
Online Purchasing
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iTunes: USA

Overview

With Gaius Baltar's trial merely two weeks away, Lee Adama is tasked with protecting Romo Lampkin, Baltar's second lawyer, and finds himself going up against his own father, who himself is appointed as one of the five judges in Baltar's trial.

Summary

Teaser

Adama happens upon an old, self-made birthday card from Kara Thrace, while reviewing her jacket.

• William Adama reviews Kara Thrace's service record file, which includes various disciplinary notices, commendations, and citations.
• Meanwhile, on Colonial One, Laura Roslin presides over a drawing of ship captains who will comprise of the five judges of Gaius Baltar's tribunal. Tory Foster picks up a folded card from the bowl, handing it to Roslin. It reads: Captain Elias Meeker, Gideon.
• Adama happens upon more records, including a commendation for bravery regarding her actions in recovering the civilians from Caprica.
• Foster draws out one last name from the bowl. When Roslin opens it, she initially begins to read the card aloud, but stops herself as she reads the name, clearly shocked.
• As Adama continues to slowly run through the jacket, he happens across a self-made birthday card she made for him. The cover reads: "You were always like a father to me...". Upon opening the card, he sees a picture of Thrace, who is wearing his glasses and has a hand-drawn mushdache. Above the picture are the words: "See the resemblance?"; below: "Happy birthday, young man" signing it with "much love, Kara". This elicits a laugh from Adama, who begins to tear up and sniffle.
• On the flight deck, a grieving and inebriated Samuel Anders stands on top of a Viper, who is tossing a coined-cubit, calling "heads" correctly for the fourth time in a row. Watching him are Anthony Figurski, Hamish McCall and Margaret Edmondson.
• In the memorial hallway, Lee Adama stands in front of the section containing Kat's picture. He thumbs with a photo of Thrace, keeping it close to his belly, then pocketing it as he hears the sound of Racetrack's footsteps. Edmondson then gets his attention by calling Adama by his rank.
• Still standing above the cockpit of the Viper, Anders holds out the cubit, saying that his "girl is too lucky to check out". Adama and Edmondson approach; Adama joins Anders on top of the Viper and attempts to talk him down. Emotionally distraught, he initially sits down, then jumps up, saying he has somewhere to go, but he doesn't complete his words as he slips and falls from the Viper. Adama climbs down from the Viper as some of the spectators begin to cluster near the fallen Anders, who says "I think I fell".
• As Adama checks Anders over for injuries, Anders asks him: "She's still alive, right?" Adama replies in the negative, which Anders tearfully claims he knows.
• In CIC, Colonel Saul Tigh tells Adama he's been selected as one of the five ship captains that form Baltar's tribunal.
• On the hangar deck, Racetrack complains about having to fly Baltar's lawyer back and forth from the Zephyr, saying he whispers into her ear and takes his shoes off on board.
• Skulls wonders why Baltar is even given a trial while he's obviously guilty, to which Cally replies it's justice.
• An explosive charge detonates aboard the Raptor. Racetrack walks out unharmed, but Baltar's lawyer is dead.

Act 1

• A press conference on Baltar's fate on Colonial One asks questions about the trial, a lawyer replacement, and other matters. Roslin stands firm against any terrorist acts affecting the trial.
• In the pilot ready room, the mood is also somber. Major Adama is making mistakes and distracted. A reconnaissance operation is planned.
• After a joke, Adama says "Starbuck" and not "Racetrack" after the Raptor pilot makes a joke to Sharon Agathon about checking under her seat, and an overwhelming awkwardness settles within the room. Adama dismisses the group hurriedly.
• Roslin interviews the new attorney, Romo Lampkin with Admiral Adama present. Lampkin abruptly introduces the Fleet leaders to his cat, who is in a foul mood.
• Adama asks his son to aid with attorney's affairs. When the younger Adama objects to being grounded as CAG and indicating that he's "okay", the admiral tells him that he knows that his son isn't okay because the admiral himself is also still in grief over Thrace's death.
• Lampkin is given his quarters and asks to see Baltar. Lampkin wants to choose a room that is unlikely to be wired for surveillance. He tells Major Adama that he was a student of his grandfather, Joseph Adama.
• The scene shifts to see someone's hands preparing explosive charges.

Act 2

• Baltar, in a bulletproof vest, is escorted by marines to his attorney in Major Adama's quarters. The major is present under client confidentiality.
• Baltar is agitated as he writes more quick notes for his manifesto. He knows that the tribunal will use Caprica Six against him.
• When Lampkin asks to be taken to Colonial One, Adama objects. When he insults Adama, the major reacts violently, his stress over the events of the last two weeks coming forth briefly.
• Adama manages to convince Captain Aaron Kelly to fly the Raptor with Athena and Lampkin aboard, despite the admiral's grounding order for the major.
• As the Raptor's door is almost closed, Lampkin's cat escapes through the hatchway, and the door is reopened while other deckhands scramble to chase the cat.
• As Chief Tyrol crawls under the Raptor to reach the cat, he discovers the bomb, and everyone madly scrambles away.
• Later, Admiral Adama is infuriated at his son for disobeying orders, noting how everyone is out of sorts since Thrace's death two weeks prior. The admiral orders his son to do his job, properly, for he will be on the other side of the courtroom as a tribunal member.

Act 3

• The bomb is dissected and analyzed. Deck crew and officers discuss the problem: One of them is a conspirator. Cally Tyrol states her opinion, and accuses the Cylons, and more indirectly Sharon Agathon, for the bombings and inciting the riots within the Fleet.
• Major Adama warns Lampkin to watch himself, but Lampkin is philosophical, realizing that someone will eventually get to him, no matter what.
• On Colonial One, Roslin grants Lampkin permission to interview Caprica-Six in the usual interrogation room. Tory Foster apologizes to Apollo for the difficulty and delay in getting the files Lampkin requested shipped to him.
• As Lampkin interviews Six, she notes her love for him. Lampkin relates his experiences in love, which moves Six. On asking if Baltar asked about her, Lampkin removes his glasses and shows Baltar's pen, telling her that his sacrifice of his one limited freedom is an expression of his love.
• Lampkin tells her, that unlike Baltar, she won't get a trial.
• Later, Anthony Figurski delivers the papers Lampkin requested from Colonial One, noting that Captain Kelly had inspected them. The marine escort is suspicious, and both they and Lampkin inspect the paper box to their satisfaction.
• As Lampkin enters his key code for opening his quarter's hatch, marine Cheadle notices a screw on the floor, and realizes that the key lock had been tampered with. He tackles Lampkin, pushing him to safety just as the hatchway explodes, taking the full force of the explosion.

Act 4

• Lampkin survives the bomb attack, but is in sickbay. Major Adama speaks with him and has brought a bag containing Lampkin's possessions.
• Lampkin states that he is a kleptomaniac, and master slight-of-hand thief. Major Adama begins to remove the items with Lampkin commenting on the signifigance of each: Roslin's glasses, a shoe from the prosecuting attorney, a button from the admiral's jacket. "I borrow things," he says. When the major asks what Lampkin took from him, he tells him that he found Thrace's picture, but didn't take it.
• Adama discovers a special object that could only come from an officer. He asks who Lampkin burgled to get this object.
• Major Adama interview Captain Kelly, who admits to be the bomber, warning that he would continue the attacks if left on duty.
• The admiral reinstates his son as CAG, but the younger Adama wants to help Lampkin, to his father's repeated objections. Eventually, the admiral, furious with the major, orders that the major be removed from the board and re-instate Helo as temporary CAG.
• Thrace's picture makes it on the memorial board as she requested, next to Kat. Anders, on crutches and with his left leg in a cast, comes in. The two come to terms with Thrace's death and possibly mend a friendship.
• Baltar finds an envelope with his pen, and a note from his attorney.
• The note contains a poetic line, telling Baltar that there is no more powerful ally than a son who decides to step away from his father's shadow.

Bonus Scene

• The scene begins with Athena and Cally Tyrol in the hangar deck while the rest of the deck gang is away.
• Athena begins to ask Cally why she accused her of being the bomber, upon which Cally denies ever making a direct accusation.
• Athena responds that she didn't accuse or even indirectly imply that Cally is the bomber, even though Cally was the last deck hand to inspect the Raptor.
• Athena allows Cally to take her gun and hold it to her chest, while Athena states why she knows Cally, despite her intense hatred for the Cylons, wouldn't shoot her. It is because she knows Athena loves her husband, her daughter, and Galactica. Cally, according to Athena, would never dare take a child's mother away.
• After a few tense moments, Athena grabs the gun, points it next to Cally's head and states in unambiguous terms that if Cally is discovered to be the bomber, Athena will kill Cally herself.

Questions

• Is Lampkin's statement to Roslin and Adama that he is seeking the fame (or infamy) of being Baltar's lawyer true, or is there an ulterior motive?

• Will Captain Kelly be punished and if yes, how?

• Besides the attacks caused by Kelly, have there been any other incidents of violence on the scale that Zarek warned Roslin about?

• Will the death of Thrace bring Lee Adama and Sam Anders closer as friends in the future?

• Would the bomb on the Raptor have gone off if Tyrol hadn't discovered it? Is Kelly telling the truth that he would not have triggered it with Lee Adama inside?

• Is Cally's hatred of the Cylons truly towards all Cylons or is she afraid of Athena because of her connection to Tyrol's former lover, Boomer?

• Why does Lampkin wear sunglasses in most of his encounters with people?

• What caused the rift between William Adama and his own father?

• Given Karl Agathon's temporary promotion to CAG, does he have previous flight experience as a Viper pilot?

• Given the reappearance of Playa Palacios in this episode, what of her other fellow "The Colonial Gang" correspondents, James McManus and Sekou Hamilton, or the program itself?

Analysis

• A noticeable pattern between the two Adamas can be seen whenever both are going through a stressful or traumatic situation. Whereas the elder Adama has the experience and the desire to focus on the job that he has to do, the younger Adama consistently displays an inability to cope and process his emotions. This difference between the two has often led to sharp divisions, causing another tear in their damaged relationship:
  • In the Miniseries, Bill Adama is trying to get on with his life after the loss of his son Zak, but Lee is still full of rage over the incident and quite unambiguously holds his father responsible for what happened.
  • When the two Adamas do not agree on the same method of coping with the destruction of the Olympic Carrier in "33". This eventually leads to Lee Adama becoming Roslin's military adviser and eventual co-conspirator during the hunt of Arrow of Apollo.
  • During the planning for the Battle of New Caprica, the two Adamas butt heads again over strategy and whether it is worth the risk of losing the last remnants of humanity that were with Galactica and Pegasus at the time.

• Lee Adama has consistently shown a tendency to prove that he is not like his father, even though both are described as stubborn by Dualla and Carolanne Adama. This tendency is evident in the last argument between the two when Apollo accuses Adama of not wanting him to become like his grandfather.

• When Lee Adama mistakenly calls Racetrack "Starbuck", his mental state is reminiscent of "Black Market" when he constantly found himself recollecting events on Caprica before the genocide.

• William Adama's failure to listen to Carolanne Adama's pleas and advice to tell his son how proud he is of him comes back with a vengeance when Apollo repeatedly asks his father if he is giving him an order, the implication being that Apollo wanted to know if his father is treating him as a son or as a soldier. Adama's refusal to ask Apollo to obey his orders as his son will probably lead to further dissension between the two.

• Romo Lampkin, though he appears to be a lawyer with little courtroom experience, has demonstrated a deep understanding of the human psyche. He takes Roslin's glasses to prevent her from being taken seriously during the trial. His other feats such as raising doubt and bringing out Caprica-Six's feelings for Baltar, and his slow but sure persuasion of Lee Adama into helping with Baltar's case, give hints to a man who obviously has immense experience with the art of manipulation.

• Lee Adama honors Thrace's request of having her photo posted next to Kat's. His inability to let go of the photo may represent a possible marriage conflict with Dualla if he is unable to truly move on.

• Cally Tyrol correctly states that the Cylons wouldn't need to even fire one shot because they may find the Fleet had torn itself apart because of humanity's tendency towards self-destruction. However, it is also clear that she has not realized that she and the many workers are just as much a part of the problems when they essentially risked the existence of the Fleet with their work strikes, refusal to refine tylium, and disobedience toward military orders (Dirty Hands). The summary of all those acts cannot be attributed to Cylon intervention as Cally Tyrol is implying that Athena is responsible for the bombings.

• Two weeks have passed since the events of "Maelstrom". During this time, Adama apparently has been mulling over his memories of Starbuck, including a review of her military record. The audience sees, amongst the items in the folder, a hand-made birthday card which Thrace gave Adama for his birthday once. It jokingly shows Thrace with a color pen mustache and glasses, and asks if Adama can see the resemblance. This moment reinforces the theme that Starbuck was very much a daughter to Adama, even though he stated otherwise in "Torn". It is very clear that he still sees Thrace as a daughter to him.

• After the events of "The Woman King", Helo has been reinstated amongst the pilots of Galactica, as the original purpose of assigning him to Dogsville was in response to his objections and sabotage of the Cylon biological weapon. Starting with "Dirty Hands", Helo is present at briefings in the ready room, and by the implications of this episode, he appears to be one of the four squadron leaders. Thus, once Apollo's flight status is revoked it is only natural for Adama to promote Helo to the CAG position because of seniority and trust.

• It is unclear whether Helo has experience with a Viper, but numerous Viper pilots have been flying Raptors so far. Whether this goes both ways it yet to be seen, but with Helo's position as head of a squadron and now CAG, it appears that he has at least enough operational and tactical knowledge to do the necessary organizational and administrative duties. His previous experience as Galactica's XO may also have been a factor in his appointment.

• Though Kelly tells Apollo that he would have never detonated the bomb with him inside, the fact that the bomb had been planted and that Kelly couldn't anticipate Apollo's impromptu decision to join Lampkin, makes it clear that Kelly's original intention was to kill Lampkin and Athena. Whether this is an indirect statement on Kelly's view on Athena's Cylon heritage or his desire to raise the stakes by not only killing Baltar's lawyer, but sacrifice a member of the crew, is unclear.

• This is the first episode since the end of Season 2 that any member of the "The Colonial Gang", specifically Playa Palacios has been seen in the series. This episode and the nature of the remaining episodes may indicate a return to the President-news press relationship that the audience has seen in the past.

Notes

• This episode's title is a pun on the title of the 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel "The Sun Also Rises".
• Starting with this episode, Katee Sackhoff's name is no longer listed in the opening credits.
• The population count at the start of this episode is 41,399, accounting for Kara Thrace's death in "Maelstrom". At least one birth must have occurred to set off Alan Hughes's death in the teaser. Assuming that marine Cheadle died in the explosion that almost kills Lampkin, the population count would be 41,398, a number that does not take into account any births or other deaths that occurred off-screen.
• Karl Agathon is temporarily assigned as CAG, despite not having any previously known experience as a Viper pilot. This might have been done for production reasons. After Apollo, Helo is the highest-ranking established pilot left. In-universe Marcia Case or Ricky Richardson are probably better qualified for the position. Hotdog, who has at least as much experience as former CAG Kat, is also passed over.
• The model ship which Adama destroyed in the previous episode is still sitting on a shelf in his quarters.
• Romo Lampkin exhibits symptoms of kleptomania. Over the course of the episode he steals many objects Lampkin views as important to their owner from a psychological perspective, and thus provides him with knowledge of a person. Among the objects stolen:
  • Gaius Baltar's worn fountain pen
  • Laura Roslin's glasses
  • Admiral Adama's uniform button, which Adama first searches for when Lampkin talks to Caprica-Six
  • Ms. Cassidy's sandal
  • Aaron Kelly's magnetic component, used in his bomb-making
• The door code to Romo Lampkin's temporary quarters on Galactica is 1234.
• Sam Anders' flipping a coin and continually coming up with heads is reminiscent of the early moments of Tom Stoppard's play Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, in which Rosencrantz has the same result on a coin flip over a dozen times. This leads Guildenstern to comment "Consider - One: Probability is a factor which operates within natural forces. Two: Probability is not operating as a factor. Three: We are now held within un-, sub-, or supernatural forces." The moral is that two minor characters within a play (namely, Hamlet) have no control over their fate, and are condemned to carry out their role in the story regardless of their desperate attempts to change events.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Romo Lampkin replies to William Adama's question regarding his qualifications for defending Gaius Baltar:

Lampkin: I was born for this. That, and the fact I have a pulse.

• Lampkin's cat jumps on Laura Roslin's desk:

Lampkin: Lance belonged to my wife. Don't worry, he doesn't scratch or bite like she did. If it's any comfort, I despise him as much as you do, having to hire me. So, there it is. Shall we get started?

• Admiral Adama rips Lee Adama another one:

William Adama: What the hell were you doing out there? I gave you an order. To do a job.

Lee Adama: Excuse me, I was doing my job.

Bill: Yeah, being led around by the nose! This bastard yanks your chain and you jump.

Lee: He wanted files from Colonial One–

Bill: It was the middle of the night.

Lee: Well, you assigned me to security.

Bill: Yeah. And there was a bomb on that ship. And you missed it. Security? I gave you explicit orders.

Lee: Athena was piloting.

Bill: You coulda died. Plain and simple. You're a soldier. Live like one. Start acting like one!

Lee: She's been gone two weeks. I didn't realize the clock was running.

Bill: (softly) Stop.

Lee: No, I'm sorry. Maybe because we're just built differently.

Bill: You stop. Don't you dare quantify my loss.

Lee: You have no idea. You have no frakking idea.

Bill: What, you think yours is deeper?

Lee: Well–

Bill: Yours is greater? (Lee doesn't respond) In two weeks, there's going to be a trial. And I'm going to do what I was chosen to do, and so are you! You build a frakking nest around this man and you protect his ass!

• Aaron Kelly opines on shuttling Gaius Baltar's lawyer:

Kelly: Every day I wave jocks out there. A lot of them are my friends. People I care for and love. It's hard enough watching them die in battle, but rickshawing Baltar's frakking attorney around? Frak that.

• Cally Tyrol apparently learns from her mistakes:

Tyrol: I believe that the Cylons want us to destroy ourselves and this is how they're doing it. By planting bombs, making us suspicious of each other. You know what's funny? By the time the Cylons catch up with us, they won't even have to attack. They'll just clean up the mess we made.

• Baltar muses over adding to his manifesto, before discovering his pen has gone missing:

Baltar: The nature of modern life is obsession.

• Lee Adama discovers Lampkin's kleptomania:

Adama: So what did you take from me?

Lampkin: I was thinkin' the photograph that you carry. The girl. The pilot. The one you carry [in your pocket]. But... you've had enough stolen from you already.

• Lee Adama confronts Kelly about the bomb:

Kelly: I would have never let Athena airborne with you on the Raptor. I would have stopped it. You know that.

Adama: Yeah, I know that.

Kelly: You better lock me up. And I don't want any trial. I won't stop. I will keep trying. I'll keep at it, I will. I did my job, sir. And I have done my job for two years. Every day I've sent people out to fight. I cleared them all to die. So many people... I just got tired of living with that. You ask that man, if you had to choose between giving up his life for a Cylon or human, what do you think he'd say? I had to do somethin'.

• Baltar reads a note from Lampkin, after retrieving his pen from the envelope:

Lampkin: There's no greater ally, no force more powerful, no enemy more resolved than the son who chooses to step from his father's shadow.

Official Statements

Information from the podcast:

• Ron Moore admits that it's a stretch to have both Adamas involved intimately in the trial and even on opposite sides. But the writers decided to go for increased drama, since the trial would otherwise only be carried by guest stars with the show's main characters sidelined. Moore also believes that Admiral Adama is capable to make fair and rational decisions.
• Romo Lampkin's cat was supposed to be run out of the Raptor, but when shooting the cat only strolled. Since it's difficult to teach cats what to do, the film was sped up instead.
• That Lampkin always wears sunglasses was a decision made by the writer that was ultimately supported, despite concern on the part of the actor and the director.

Guest Stars

• Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
• Aaron Douglas as Chief Galen Tyrol
• Nicki Clyne as Specialist Cally Tyrol
• Tahmoh Penikett as Capt. Karl "Helo" Agathon
• Alessandro Juliani as Lt. Felix Gaeta
• Kandyse McClure as Lt. Anastasia Dualla
• Michael Trucco as Samuel Anders
• Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
• Sebastian Spence as Lt. Noel "Narcho" Allison
• Mark Sheppard as Romo Lampkin
• Colin Lawrence as Hamish "Skulls" McCall
• Leah Cairns as Lt. Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
• Ty Olsson as Cpt. Aaron Kelly
• Bodie Olmos as Lt. Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza
• Don Thompson as Anthony Figurski
• Tyler McClendon as Alan Hughes
• Stephen Holmes as Reporter #1
• Christina Schild as Playa Palacios
• Alison Matthews as Fallbrook
• Chris Boyd as Marine Cheadle
• Colin Corringan as Marine Nowart