The Road Less Traveled

"The Road Less Traveled" An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 4, Episode 5
Writer(s)	Mark Verheiden
Story by
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	407
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	2 May 2008
CAN airdate	{{{CAN airdate}}}
UK airdate
DVD release
Population	39,676 survivors
Additional Info
Episode Chronology
Previous		Next
Escape Velocity	The Road Less Traveled	Faith
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

The prospect of a truce between the remnants of humanity and the Cylons encourages Kara Thrace to trust an old enemy.

Summary

Notes

• The title is derived from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

The common interpretation is that one may be rewarded greatly by choosing a more difficult path than the one used by the crowd. The phrase may also have had a religious meaning for Frost, alluding to Matthew 7,12-14, which mentions a broad gate leading to destruction and a narrow gate leading to salvation.

• The survivor count increases by one, meaning that at least one child has been born in the Fleet.
• It has been 58 days since the end of "Six of One", when Kara Thrace is given the command of the Demetrius.
• Sergeant Mathias's first name, Erin, is spoken for the first time on screen.
• Neither William Adama nor Laura Roslin appear in this episode. In both cases, this is unprecendented.

Analysis

• Instead of using his demotion as a wakeup call, Tyrol has slipped further into despair and even contemplates to kill himself. That he has completely shaven his head might also be an indicator of his state of mind.

Questions

• Does Conoy sense that Anders is a fellow Cylon?
• How will the situation on the Demetrius be resolved?
• Will Galen Tyrol begin to associate with Baltar?
• If yes, will Baltar have a positive influence on Tyrol and help him to overcome his grief or uncertainty about being a Cylon?
• What have Tigh and Caprica-Six been doing recently?
• Why does Baltar's broadcast appear to soothe Nicholas Tyrol?

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Gaius Baltar to about his conversion to a believer:

"I know it's hard to...make sense of things sometimes. In my own life, I...in my own life I've joined the fleet as a scientist, as a skeptic, as a...supposedly a man of reason. Only to have fate turn that all on its head. But I understand now that there is a purpose to it. We change. We evolve. Maybe we even learn something along the way. (pauses) I have committed...unconscionable crimes. And I have been offered one last chance at redemption, because I chose to accept my fate and not fight it anymore."

Guest Stars

• Aaron Douglas as Specialist Galen Tyrol
• Michael Hogan as Colonel Saul Tigh
• Rekha Sharma as Tory Foster
• Michael Trucco as Ensign Samuel Anders
• Alessandro Juliani as Felix Gaeta
• Bodie Olmos as Lieutenant Brendan "Hotdog" Costanza
• Tahmoh Penikett as Captain Karl "Helo" Agathon
• Callum Keith Rennie as Number Two
• Eileen Pedde as Sergeant Erin Mathias
• Jennifer Halley as Ensign Diana "Hardball" Seelix
• Keegan Connor Tracy as Jeanne
• Lara Gilchrist as Paulla Schaffer
• Leela Savasta as Tracey Anne
• Finn R. Devitt as Nicholas Tyrol (credited as "Baby Nicky")
• Ryan McDonell as Lieutenant Eammon "Gonzo" Pike
• Alisen Down as Jean Barolay
• Lori Triolo as Phoebe

External Links

• Composer Bear McCreary on the episode's score: http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=306