Revelations

"Revelations"; An episode of the Re-imagined Series
Episode No.	Season 4, Episode 10
Writer(s)	Bradley Thompson ; David Weddle
Story by
Director	Michael Rymer
Assistant Director
Special guest(s)
Production No.	412
Nielsen Rating
US airdate	13 June 2008
CAN airdate	13 June 2008
UK airdate	17 June 2008
DVD release
Population	39,665 survivors ( 8)
Additional Info	Mid-Season Cliffhanger; Extra Act
Episode Chronology
Related Information
	Official Summary
	R&D Skit – View
	IMDb entry
	Listing of props for this episode
Related Media
	@ BW Media
	Promotional Materials
	Online Purchasing
	Amazon: Standard Definition \| High Definition
	iTunes: [{{{itunes}}} USA]

David Weddle" valign="top"

Overview

Lead by Number Three, the band of rebel Cylons hold President Roslin and Galactica's pilots hostage while attempting to lure the "Watchtower Four" out of hiding. Meanwhile, Kara Thrace's Viper may hold a previously undiscovered clue to finding Earth.

Summary

Teaser

Lee is in William Adama's office, looking up an illustration of the Temple of Aurora on Earth, as described by Pythia. Kara walks in an greets him, and they briefly discuss the temple, and the absence of William Adama and Laura Roslin.
Lee comments on how both he and Tigh are intimidated by Adama's chair.
Kara talks about how Leoben stated that, for children to reach their full potention, their parents have to die.
In the Basestar control room, Roslin, William Adama, D'Anna and Leoben discuss the plans to return the Final Five. D'Anna mentions that only four in the fleet, and refuses to provide answers when Laura questions her about the fifth's location. When Adama asks for their names, D'Anna expresses skepticism, suggesting that the Colonials may kill them, Roslin points out that the Colonials them because they know the way to Earth, Leoben recommends co-operation and D'Anna refutes him, citing the failure of co-operation on New Caprica.
D'Anna announces that she will hold the Colonials on the ship hostage until the Final Four are safely aboard the basestar, and there is a standoff between the Colonials and the Centurions, Roslin tells Adama to stand down and he repeats the order.
D'Anna tells Adama to accompany her to Galactica on a Raptor, he refuses, but Roslin tells him to go, and whispers to them that if the Cylons get the four, they get earth, and he can't allow that to happen, even if he has to blow the ship to hell.
In CIC Gaeta accidentally knocks over a bottle of pills, he expresses frustration and uses crutches to head towards the pills, however Dualla picks up the pill bottle, handing it to him, and he thanks her.
Tigh asks Gaeta if he wishes to be relieved, he declines and takes a drink.
Tigh notices the baseship and a Raptor.
In the hangar, Adama and D'Anna step out of the Raptor.
Anders mentions to Tyrol that D'Anna may not be able to identify them.
William Adama greets his son.
The final four stare at D'Anna, and D'Anna seems to stare at each of the final four.
William Adama and D'Anna explain the situation. D'Anna says that she is already in contact with the four, and that all the fleet needs to do is not interfere with shuttle traffic.
The Adamas agree to D'Anna's terms.
As D'Anna is about to leave, Tory Foster states that Laura Roslin needs her medication, and she needs to make sure she's alright.
Saul Tigh objects, stating that they can't give the Cylons more hostages.
Foster insists on going, and the Adamas agree.
The Adamas, Tigh and Starbuck discuss a plan to rescue the hostages, and mentions Roslin's recommendation, telling Lee that it's his call. Lee agrees.

Act 1

The Adamas, Athena, Starbuck and Tigh discuss plans for the rescue, Dualla is also present. Tigh expresses skepticism, saying there have to be other options, and Starbuck sarcastically comments that the four could give themselves up.
On the basestar, Tory Foster walks behind D'Anna and an Eight, as they pass a Centurion, Tory looks at it, and the Centurion looks towards them after they pass.
Upon reaching the Basestar control room, D'Anna announces that one of the final five has arrived. Leoben expresses doubt, D'Anna attests that she saw her in her vision, and Tory smiles.
In another room, Roslin bandadges Baltar and he thanks her for not killing her, Roslin responds by telling him that she told Adama to destroy the basestar if they get the four.
Foster walks in with a Six, greeting them and brining Roslin her medication, Roslin thanks her, and asks how she was able to do so, and Tory says that she came with D'Anna to be with her people.
Baltar attests that he knew, at least subconsciously, that she was one of the final five.
When asked if she had any idea, Roslin says no, and Tory tells her it might be worth pondering other things she's been wrong about, then stars to walk out.
Roslin tells Tory to stop, and asks her to convince D'Anna to release the hostages, Tory says she's done taking orders from her.
A body flies out of the baseship, in CIC, Lee receives a transmission form D'Anna, who announces that there has been a change of plans, that she has executed the first hostage, and that she will continue to execute hostages every quarter hour until they have the four. Lee tries to reason with D'Anna, attesting that she's not giving them a chance and they are co-operating, but Dualla states that she has terminated the transmission. Lee okays the rescue mission.
In the hangar, as the pilots and deck crew prepare for the mission, Tyrol begins hearing the music, heavily distorted by screeching and static.
In a pilot ready room, an Starbuck and Athena brief the pilots, Anders likewise hears the music.
Tigh in CIC and Foster in the Basestar control room likewise hear the distorted music, Foster falls into Leoben's arms, he asks her what's wrong, and she says she's "hearing it again".
Anders, Tigh and Tyrol are drawn to Starbuck's Viper, Tyrol suggests that something about the Viper has changed, and Anders suggests they get Starbuck, Tigh agrees, then walks out.
Tigh walks into William Adama's office, telling him to scrub the mission. Adama asks if Tigh has another option. Tigh confesses that he has known he is a Cylon since the Ionian Nebula, and he should've told him but he didn't have teh guts. Adama expresses doubt, suggesting that he could've been brainwashed on New Caprica and says they should see Cottle. Tigh says he should've airlocked himself when he found out, and suggests that D'Anna will back down if he is used as a hostage.

Act 2

Act 3

Act 4

Act 5

Notes

This episode is the mid-season cliffhanger for the first ten episodes of Season 4. The conclusion to the cliffhanger, "Sometimes a Great Notion", will not air until 2009.
The episode was given an advance screening in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 11th, in order to draw attention for the upcoming Emmy Award nominations. ^[1]

Analysis

How Earth came to the state which the Fleet found it in is uncertain. Given that the landing party tests the soil with a Geiger counter, and the ruins they come across appear to be from a nuclear blast, it is likely that some nuclear event occurred on Earth. Together with the clear remnants of a modern civilization, this means that the series is set in the future and not the past (barring that is is set in an alternate universe).

The area the landing party arrives at appears to be the Brooklyn side of New York City. The landing party is next to a broad river and across that river to the left is a wide bay. The other shore appears to be the edge of Lower Manhattan with a destroyed skyline of buildings. The camera pans to the right over what is ostensibly the East River until the last two seconds of the episode where at the far right edge of the screen stands a wrecked structure with a heavily abbreviated roadway. It appears to be the East Tower (Brooklyn side) of the Brooklyn Bridge. However, it should be noted that the information on this is incomplete. For instance, many speculations as to the gas giant that Kara Thrace sees in her journey from Earth (as first explained in "He That Believeth In Me") claimed that the giant was Jupiter, when this was later disproved.

As D'Anna airlocks one prisoner during the course of the episode, the population of the Fleet when it arrives at Earth is 39,664, not counting the Significant Seven Cylons who have now joined them.

Questions

Is Number Three honest in her claim that there are only four of the Final Five in the Fleet? If so, where is the fifth and last Cylon? If she's lying, is it because she still harbors distrust for her compatriots and the humans?
What of the other Twos, Fours, and Fives?
What happened to Earth?
Will the other Cylons find the Fleet and the rebels, as well as Earth? If so, will they finish what they started?

Official Statements

Noteworthy Dialogue

Admiral Adama is in a high degree of distress to the point of breakdown and has passed out drunk onto the deck of his quarters. he has just ordered Colonel Saul Tigh, now known publicly to be a Final Five Cylon after his confession to Adama to be used as a bargaining chip in the hostage crisis with the Rebel Cylons; and to his possible death. Lee finds him and drags his father's sobbing form to a bulkhead where he cradles his father from behind.

Adama: [Crying, Sobbing, dispair...]

Lee [voice quavering]: Dad listen...No one suspected, no one! Not with his record. Not what he did on New Caprica. His eye... What happened to his wife... Come on, let's get up.

Adama: What have I done? [breathlessly] All of the people I've sent to die? For what? For what!?!

Lee [quietly] For Earth...

Adama [angrily]: There is no Earth. [Sobs] It is a frakkin' joke! There is no Earth! [Sobs]

Lee: Okay dad, listen to me...[firmer and takes his father face between his hands] Listen to me!! Pull it together!!

Adama: I can't...

Lee [frustrated]: Yes you can! Come on!

Adama: I can't....

Lee [frustrated] Yes you ca...

Adama: I can't.... I can't kill him... I can't kill the bastard! I can't....

Lee: Okay, okay dad [he cradles his father's face]