Experiment in Terra (TV movie)

For the regular broadcast episode, see: "Experiment in Terra".

"Experiment in Terra" An episode of the TV movies
Episode No.	Movie {{{movie}}}
Writer(s)	Glen A. Larson
Story by
Director	Rod Holcomb Ron Satlof Gene Palmer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	{{{US airdate}}}
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate	{{{UK airdate}}}
DVD release
Population	{{{population}}} survivors
Additional Info	Telemovie on "Saga of a Star World", "Experiment in Terra", "The Return of Starbuck"
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack	Experiment in Terra	Conquest of Earth
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Listing of props for this episode
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			@ BW Media
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Overview

A longer, televised version of "Experiment in Terra" with scenes from other episodes, such as Galactica 1980's "The Return of Starbuck".

Summary

Teaser

• Event 1.
• Event 2.

Act 1

• Event 1.
• Event 2.

Act 2

• Event 1.
• Event 2.

Act 3

• Event 1.
• Event 2.

Act 4

• Event 1.
• Event 2.

Notes

• This TV movie comprises of content derived from the episodes "Saga of a Star World", "Experiment in Terra", and Galactica 1980's "The Return of Starbuck".
• The movie shows us the first depiction of organic Cylons, with Adama claiming that they are serpent like beings.

Analysis

Type in an analysis of the episode. You may be as critical as you believe necessary, as so long as you can substantiate your claims using evidence from this (or previous) episodes. Also, make sure that everyone's POV is properly represented.

Questions

• How long has Adama's log book floated through space?

Official Statements

Refer to Noteworthy Dialogue for format.

Noteworthy Dialogue

• The opening credit dialogue done by Patrick Macnee:

Patrick Macnee: There are those who believe that life here on Earth began out there. Far across the universe with tribes of humans, who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans, that they may have been the architects of the great pyramids, or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis. Again and again we launched our spacecraft into the solar system to probe and search for a planet having the same composition as our Earth. The planet with the air and soil so essential to life, as well as the necessary geological processes. A planet from which extraterrestrial visitors to Earth might live, or might once have lived, and although it became more apparent with each space exploration that such a planet could exist, it always eluded us.

It was on one such routine expedition that the astronaut, [indiscernible], accidentally saw an object floating in space. Disregarding the space hazards, he retrieved the object, which upon examination proved to be a log book from the battlestar Galactica.

It was the first documented proof that life as we know it, as well as other forms, exist or existed in the galaxy. But in the galaxy, as on Earth, where ever mankind is present, love and warfare prevail, as well as mankind's dream of everlasting peace.

• The astronaut reads from Adama's log book, learning the events that lead up to the Colonials' exodus from the Twelve Colonies, as narrated by Adama:

Adama: In case we do not survive, this is a true record of the war between the Cylon Centurions and the human race in the star system. Commander Adama, Battlestar Galactica.

Somewhere in sometime in our galaxy, there evolved an intelligent race of serpents known as Cylons. First they created machines of super-intelligence: the Cylon Centurions. Then they created the ultimate in machinery technology, the ruler known as the Imperious Leader. But due to a slight error in their programming, the Imperious Leader turned against his creators and ordered his subjects to exterminate all human life forms. Thus began a war with the Cylon Centurions that erased all of the human race in the star system.

One of our greatest defeats was the Battle of Molecay. The Fifth Fleet, including its flagship, the Pegasus, under our great military leader Commander Cain was destroyed.

After a battle alleging to depict the Battle of Molecay:

Now there remains only one fleet of warships consisting of five flying battlestars, with the flagship, battlestar Galactica, under my command, to protect the tired and weary Twelve Colonies.

After the new Imperious Leader spares Baltar's life to explain to the humans his policy of tolerance:

Unexpectedly, the Cylon Centurions sued for peace, asking for an armistice conference. They chose the ruthless and treacherous Baltar as their liaison. And unknown to our intelligence force was Baltar's bargain with the Cylons, whereby he would rule over our colonies after we were conquered. Nor were we or Baltar aware of the Cylons' real plans.

After Adama warns Adar of the incoming ships, which attack the battlestar fleet:

And so we were taken by surprise as a thousand Cylon Centurions attacked and engaged our fleet in battle.

Guest Stars

As ordered by the beginning credits.

• Lorne Greene as Commander Adama
• Richard Hatch as Captain Apollo
• Dirk Benedict as Lieutenant Starbuck
• Herb Jefferson Jr. as Lieutenant Boomer
• Maren Jensen as Athena
• Tony Schwarz as Jolly
• Terry Carter as Colonel Tigh
• Melody Anderson
• Lew Ayres as President Adar
• John Colicos as Baltar
• Peter D. MacLean as President Arends
• Nehemiah Persoff as Supreme Commandant
• Logan Ramsey
• Ken Swofford
• Edward Mulhare as John
• Patrick Macnee as Narrator/Imperious Leader